After the presentation a few days ago, the time has come to try the new Nothing Headphones (a). These are complete and advanced over-ear wireless headphones, which completely surround the ear. A model with active noise reduction, high resolution audio and original design.
Let’s therefore analyze in detail all the features and performances of the new Nothing Headphones (a).
Design and packaging
The Nothing Headphones (a) also boast the original design that distinguishes all the English company’s products. Definitely modern lines, which strike at first glance. The two external pavilions stand out in particular, which reflect the particular design of Nothing’s smartphones, with a transparent cover and an underbody with futuristic lines, both in plastic. Design embellished with small recesses of various shapes and two small colored rectangles that distinguish the left pavilion from the right one.
Pavilions surrounded by a plastic frame, while inside we find soft ear cushions, in memory foam and covered in excellent eco-leather. Unfortunately, the ear cushions are not removable and therefore cannot be replaced by the user in case of wear. We also find joints with 90 degree rotation that allow you to flatten the headphones, unfortunately not foldable.
Let’s move on to the headband made of plastic and nylon reinforced with glass fiber; the hinges and arms are, however, made of steel. Sliding headband, with a single padding on the upper side, of good quality. However, the padding for the sides of the head is absent.
Headphones with dimensions of 177 x 78 x 190 mm, weight of 310 g, available in 4 colours: the lively pink and yellow and the more traditional white and black. Let’s not forget the IP52 certification for resistance to dust and liquids.
Finally, the package includes the user manual (no Italian), a soft fabric case, a cable for connecting to analogue sources and a USB-C.
Technical characteristics
Let’s move on to technical analysis. The Nothing Headphone (a) are closed, circumaural headphones, with 40 mm titanium-coated drivers and Pen+Pu diaphragm, capable of reproducing frequencies from 20 to 40,000 Hertz.
The Headphone (a) offers active noise cancellation up to 40 dB / 2 kHz that adapts in real time to changes in the surrounding environment. The 4-microphone system is supported by artificial intelligence (Clear Voice technology) trained on over 28 million acoustic scenarios, for clear voice quality even during calls in the most crowded contexts.
The connectivity is truly complete. On board we find a Bluetooth 5.4 module, compatible with Aac, Sbc, LDac codecs (Hi-res wireless audio up to 24-bit / 96 kHz). Furthermore, on the right pavilion there is an input for the 3.5 mm jack cable, supplied, useful for connecting to analogue sources. There is also a USB-C port which allows charging of the integrated 1,060 mAh battery and connection to digital sources (smartphones, laptops, etc.) with Hi-res audio. We also mention the possibility of connecting with two devices simultaneously, compatibility with Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair, for a quick connection with Android devices and Windows PCs, and the low latency mode for videos and games. The headphone position sensor for automatic management of audio playback is absent.
Controls
The Nothing Headphone (a) also boasts advanced and comprehensive physical controls on the right ear cup. Let’s start with the large wheel, in a lateral position and useful for adjusting the volume. Wheel that can also be short pressed to play or pause music; a long press allows you to select the active noise cancellation and transparency modes.
Immediately below we find a lever that can be pushed forward or backward to change tracks / answer or hang up on calls. Furthermore, a long press allows fast scrolling of the song in compatible apps.
On the outside of the pavilion we find a button that can be customized by the user, useful for activating the voice assistant installed on the smartphone or, on Nothing devices, for quickly switching between favorite audio apps.
Let’s not forget, inside the pavilion, the control for Bluetooth pairing, while at the bottom we find the switch for power management, accompanied by a status LED.
App, noise cancellation and audio customization
Let’s now analyze the Nothing X app for iOS and Android that accompanies these headphones. Application in Italian, with neat, complete and easy-to-use graphics.
Let’s start with the active noise cancellation function, with 3 levels available (high, medium, low) to which is added the Adaptive mode which automatically adjusts the noise reduction level based on the surrounding environment.
We also remember the Transparency mode which allows you to clearly perceive the surrounding environment even when we wear headphones; very useful function, for example, when we are on the road.
We continue with spatial audio with three options available: theater mode, concert mode and off.
Let’s move on to the integrated equalizer available in two variants. Let’s start from the basic version with 4 presets available: balanced, more bass, more treble, voice and user-customizable mode (treble, bass, midrange management). We also find an advanced eight-band equalizer to customize the sound with a higher level of precision. Additionally, via the Nothing X app, you can share your EQ profile or download others.
We also remember the quick command to increase the bass performance on 2 levels and the complete section to customize the physical controls of the headphones.
Nothing smartphone owners will also find the Channel Hop function in the app which allows you to switch from one audio app to another (music, podcasts, voice memos, etc.) with the simple press of a button on the headphones. We also remember the integration of ChatGPT, for owners of Nothing smartphones, and the settings menu that allows you to manage various functions such as codec and standby.
Let’s not forget the function that allows you to easily find the headphones if they are lost, with the Headphone (a) emitting a noise, unfortunately, of low intensity.
User experience and price
We conclude our review with the analysis of the audio which is quite detailed and has good power. The bass performance is convincing: deep, defined, but a little intrusive on the other frequencies. Let’s move on to the natural voices, the mids are soft, but slightly closed, and the highs are not always very clear.
Passive noise cancellation is excellent, active noise cancellation is good. Positive evaluation also on calls. Discreet spatial audio, suitable for films and video games.
The battery life is excellent: without noise cancellation you can get up to 135 hours of use. By activating the active noise suppression (ANC) the battery life drops to 75 hours. Battery capacity that reaches 90 and 62 hours respectively if you use the LDAC codec. There is also quick charging: 5 minutes of charging allows for over 8 hours of listening with ANC active (5 hours with ANC deactivated). Full charging takes approximately 2 hours.
The build quality is good, with some details that can be improved such as the simple headband, the non-foldable pavilions and the non-removable and not very breathable cushions.
Stable Bluetooth connection. Excellent physical controls. Good ergonomics: the ear cups are quite large and can accommodate almost any type of ear. Unfortunately, they make your ears heat up easily.
Compared to their bigger sisters Nothing Headphone (1), the Headphone (a) have a cheaper construction, simpler noise cancellation, lower performance with less detailed audio and reduced dynamics, but boast greater battery life.
Finally, the price of the Nothing Headphone (a) which can be purchased for 159 euros.
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