Nothing Buds 2
Denon PerL 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
Denon PerL Pro
The Denon Perl Pro earbuds receive high praise for their outstanding sound quality, especially after personalized tuning via the app, with many users calling them the best they've heard. However, several verified reviewers report serious reliability issues, including one earbud dying within weeks and the charging case failing to deliver the advertised battery life. Customer service for warranty claims is also criticized as slow and unhelpful. Overall, the sound is exceptional, but build quality and support are major concerns.
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality
- Personalized tuning via app
- Comfortable for long wear
- Effective noise cancellation
- Good battery life
Cons
- Reliability issues (earbud dying)
- Charging case underperforms
- Poor customer service
- App requires personal info
- Social mode muffled voice
Scores
Specifications
| Nothing Buds 2 | Denon PerL Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Design | ||
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless | true wireless |
| Ear Tips | — | XS, S, M, L, Foam |
| Weight | 0.04 kg★ | 0.05 kg |
| Audio | ||
| Driver Type | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size | 11 mm★ | 10 mm |
| Drivers | 2★ | 1 |
| Freq Min | — | 20 Hz★ |
| Freq Max | 5 kHz | 40 kHz★ |
| Impedance | 32 Ω | — |
| Hi-Res Audio | — | ✓★ |
| Codecs | SBC, AAC | AAC, aptX, aptX Adaptive, aptX LL, SBC |
| Surround | — | Spatial Audio |
| Noise Control | ||
| ANC | ✓ | ✓ |
| ANC Type | hybrid | adaptive |
| Transparency | ✓ | ✓ |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | 5.4★ | 5.3 |
| Profiles | — | A2DP, AVRCP, HFP |
| Multipoint | ✓ | ✓ |
| Earbud Battery | ||
| Battery Life | 13.5 hrs★ | 8 hrs |
| Charge Time | 0.16599999368190765 hrs★ | 1 hrs |
| Fast Charging | 10 min for 7.5 hours playback | 5 Minutes for 1 Hour |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Case Battery | ||
| Case Battery | 55 hrs★ | 32 hrs |
| Case Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wireless Charging | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Microphone | ||
| Microphone | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mic Count | 6 | 8★ |
| NC Mic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Features | ||
| Voice Assistant | ChatGPT | Siri, Google Assistant |
| Touch Controls | ✓ | ✓ |
| App | Nothing X | Denon PerL |
| Volume Limiting | — | ✗ |
| Gaming Mode | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Bone Conduction | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Water Resistance | IP55 | IPX4 |
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
Denon PerL Pro
- Strong mic (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong sound (100th percentile)100th %ile
- Strong connectivity (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong anc (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Below average user sentiment (33rd percentile)
Pricing
Nothing Buds 2 offers 8.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 89 overall, wins 6 of 7 usage categories and 8 of 37 specs.
