- RATING
The Nothing Headphones (1) are an impressive first attempt at a high quality audio noise-cancellation that put them in the same company as other established well-known audio brands They are certainly different in terms of their design and look which might not suit everyone – but we can all agree they cannot be described as plain.
There are two sides to the Nothing Headphones (1) – one is the unique look and design and the other side is the sound quality – and it’s impressive on both fronts.
Nothing, the UK tech company, is known for its unique design and style for its products and naturally it has brought that over to its first over-ear headphones.
Each ear cup is backed with rectangular aluminium panel which is topped with a transparent oval-shaped cap – a style that’s unique to the brand.
The design of the Nothing Headphones (1) is both its strength and its weakness.
For some it is different and stands out in the crowd – that’s how we felt about it.
But it might be too much for other customers who are looking for a more subtle design.
They are also slightly heavier at 329g than other headphones. The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones are 254g.
We suspect the aluminium components have added to the weight.
The ear cups are made from soft memory foam which can also be found at the top of the headband.
And the good news is they’re comfortable to wear for hours at a time.
The earcups also create a seal for passive noise cancellation.
The Nothing Headphones (1) are adjustable to fit all head sizes including our own which is on the larger side. So if it can fit us, it can fit anybody.
Nothing has joined forces with well-known British audio company KEF to deliver a truly impressive listening experience.
With 60 experience at their back, KEF has brought to the table advanced acoustic engineering and tuning tools and built them into the 40mm dynamic drivers.
For a first attempt, the Nothing Headphones (1) have done well and offer a stunning sound with a great range to easily play back your highs and mids with great accuracy and clarity.
And it finishes it off with a nice level of bass that will complement rather than overtake the music.
The Nothing Headphones (1) also support LDAC, USB-C audio and has Hi-Res wireless certification for lossless audio which will please even the fussiest listeners.
Overall, the sound quality means it’s coming to same ballpark as other fancied brands like Bose, JBL and Sony.
The other impressive feature of the Nothing Headphones (1) is the noise cancellation and while it’s not the best we’ve heard – it’s not that far behind.
It did a great job blocking out the annoying engine sounds on a plane, the sounds on a bus or train on your commute and eliminating background office noise.
This is achieved through the feedforward and feedback microphones which listen out for the outside noise and generate a reverse waveform to cancel it.
We really liked the tactile physical controls on the right earcup which allowed us to easily adjust the volume and navigate our music and switch from noise cancellation to ambient mode and back again.
The keys are also different shapes and textures which made it easier to make the adjustment.
For example, the top controller works as both a roller and a button so it’s easy to adjust the volume and press it to pause and play again as well as long press to change listening modes.
The other button below it is like a paddle that can be pushed left and right to skip forward or back with your music and answer or reject a call.
You can also hold it in one direction to fast forward and rewind.
They are complimented by little sounds as well so you know you’ve made the right selection.
And the top right button on the right earcup is a shortcut to your preferred digital assistant – Google, Alexa or Siri.
Making and receiving calls with the Nothing Headphones (1) were nice and clear as well and does a great job at blocking background noise.
Nothing says it was trained on more than 28 million real-world locations like cafes and windy outdoor locations.
Battery-wise, you get up to a remarkable 80 hours of playback with ANC off and up to 35 hours with ANC on. That’s more than enough for long flights and a couple of weeks of commutes.
And a quick five-minute charge will get you up to five hours of listening so you’ll never be without your music or podcasts.
The Nothing Headphones (1) are available now in black or white and are priced at $549.
VERDICT
The Nothing Headphones (1) are an impressive first attempt at a high quality audio noise-cancellation that put them in the same company as other established well-known audio brands They are certainly different in terms of their design and look which might not suit everyone – but we can all agree they cannot be described as plain.
