Nothing Buds 2
CCA Castor Pro
What Buyers Say
Nothing Buds 2
The CMF Buds 2 are widely praised for delivering excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable fit at an affordable price. Users highlight the rich bass, clear vocals, and solid ANC performance that rivals more expensive models. While some note the bass can be slightly overpowering and the touch controls have limited customization, the overall value is considered outstanding. The long battery life, USB-C charging, and premium build further cement these as a top budget choice.
Pros
- Excellent sound quality with rich bass
- Effective noise cancellation for the price
- Comfortable and secure fit
- Long battery life with USB-C charging
- Premium build and design
Cons
- Bass can be slightly overpowering
- Limited touch control customization
- Case lacks functional dial
- Case is somewhat bulky
- No Google Fast Pair support
CCA Castor Pro
The KZ Castor Pro Bass Enhanced IEMs are overwhelmingly praised for their powerful, controlled bass and excellent clarity, especially when paired with a DAC. Users highlight the dual 10mm drivers, tuneable switches, and great value for the price, though comfort and stock ear tips are common complaints. A few users report durability issues or find the sound less impressive than cheaper alternatives, but the majority consider these a fantastic budget option for bass lovers.
Pros
- Powerful and controlled bass
- Excellent clarity and detail
- Great value for money
- Tuneable bass/treble switches
- Dual 10mm dynamic drivers
Cons
- Uncomfortable stock ear tips
- Mediocre overall comfort
- Requires DAC for best performance
- Durability concerns for some units
- Sound quality drops on low-end devices
Scores
Specifications
| Nothing Buds 2 | CCA Castor Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | — |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | — |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | 10 mm |
| Drivers | 2 | 2 |
| Freq Max | 5 kHz★ | — |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | 16 Ω |
| Hi-Res Audio | — | ✓★ |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | KZ Castor Pro Tunable in Ear Monitor, HiFi Improved Bass in Ear Headphone, Dual-Dynamic Driver Gaming Earbuds, IEM Earphones with 2PIN-C Detachable Cable |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓★ | — |
| ANC Type | hybrid | — |
| Transparency | ✓★ | — |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓★ | — |
| Bluetooth | 5.4★ | — |
| Multipoint | ✓★ | — |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 13.5 hrs★ | — |
| Charge Time | 0.16599999368190765 hrs★ | — |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 7.5 hours playback | — |
| Charging | USB-C★ | — |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 55 hrs★ | — |
| Case Charging | USB-C★ | — |
| Wireless Charging | ✗ | — |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6★ | — |
| NC Mic | ✓★ | — |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | ChatGPT | — |
| Touch Controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| App | Nothing X | — |
| Gaming Mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | — |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | — |
Pros & Cons
Nothing Buds 2
- Strong mic (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong connectivity (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong battery (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong anc (93rd percentile)93rd %ile
CCA Castor Pro
- Strong social proof (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong sound (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (67th percentile)
- Below average comfort (29th percentile)
- Below average anc (31st percentile)
- Below average build (34th percentile)
Pricing
Nothing Buds 2 offers 1.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 7 of 7 usage categories and 15 of 32 specs.
