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Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Nothing Headphone (1) review: Bringing the weird
It's always difficult to know what to expect when a new manufacturer joins the headphones game. Which part of the package is going to stand out, which is going to need work for the next model? With Nothing and its new Headphone (1), things were slightly easier to foretell. Like the Oracle of Delphi, I could have told you that the headphones were going to look excellent. And they do — point one for the Oracle. I also could have told you they'd undercut the competition in price — and they do that too. Another point for the Oracle. What I couldn't have told you is how they were going to sound. Now that I've got them in my hands, I can tell you how they sound, and while the story is no Greek tragedy, it's not a shining tale of godly heroism, either: The Nothing Headphone (1) are treacherously close to being some of the best headphones, but they're going to require some work from you to adjust the EQ to your liking. And that's far easier said than done. The Nothing Headphone (1) have launched at a surprisingly compelling price for something that comes with so many flagship features. Here in the U.S. they undercut the Sony and Bose alternatives by a healthy $100 at $299, making them cheaper than both the Sony WH-1000XM5 and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. And that's important in the grand scheme of things. They're aimed directly at the flagship models with comparable build, styling and features. That's an impressive package for such a saving — but things do get trickier for Nothing's new headphones when you start to consider some of the similarly priced competition. They've got to fight off Cambridge Audio's less expensive and sonically superior Melomania P100, for one. That's a tall order with the gaping void between the two in core sound. Then there's the Marshall Monitor III, which take the battery life claims of the Headphone (1) to school. So yes, they are a similarly specced but cheaper alternative to the flagship models, but there's still plenty of competition for the Nothing Headphone (1) in an arguably more well-stocked price bracket. Nothing has become well-known for its standout, transparent design. The Nothing Headphone (1) were never going to be an exception to the rule, and from the moment you pull them from their cardboard prison, you're treated to one of the most unique-looking and feeling pairs of headphones you can buy today. They're square, a bit like the AirPods Max, but flatter thanks to Nothing's cassette motif. The initial plane of the earcups is metal and feels great under the finger, and then the transparent panel that brings the Nothing house style sits on top. Under that clear panel is what looks like a cassette on each ear. Remember those? It looks like the designer at Nothing does, because there are constant references to audio gear of the past all over the place. They've got a retro futuristic style, and it's one that I really appreciate. Headphones should be fun, and that's something that Nothing has got very, very right. I imagine the design will be quite divisive, however. Not everyone will be interested in a pair of headphones that look quite so 'out-there', instead preferring the classic look of the competition. And that's ok — it's nice to have variety. The spice of life, as it were, is different-looking headphones. The design and its thick cushioning make for a fairly comfortable fit, although there are a couple of foibles to dampen the experience. The headband foam isn't the thickest in the world, and I found that after a couple of hours of wear, I could feel the plastic headband beneath. The earcups are overall comfortable too, but a word of warning for earring and stud wearers (like me): If you've got a cartilage piercing, I found that the headphones press down in just the wrong place. It's not initially uncomfortable or painful, but it is annoying. They also have a habit of pressing down on my lobes in such a way that my piercings there were disturbed. Again, more annoying than uncomfortable. So that they can battle better against the established options from Bose and Sony, Nothing has packed the Headphone (1) full of features. That means you can expect a form of head-tracked spatial audio on board, a solid app to change a range of settings, and even different wired listening modes that rely on both the headphone jack and USB-C ports. We'll start with the spatial audio implementation — and, as with so many other uses of the term, it's another custom thing that Nothing has used. In this case, it's not going to use Dolby Atmos Mixes brought from Amazon Music Unlimited or Apple Music, instead doing its own job to try and widen the soundstage. If you absolutely need your music to sound like it's coming from all around you it's fine. But in the long run, it serves more to thin out the already anemic mid-range, and completely obliterate any form of body that the sound once had. Head tracking is fine, but overall, a mode worth leaving in the 'off' position. You'll find that 'off' switch in the Nothing X app, the same one you'll have used for Nothing and CMF's earbuds. It's a simple application to use, with large buttons and well-labelled functions and features. Here, you'll be able to control the ANC level, change the way that the on-device physical controls work, and play with the settings. There's also a very strong EQ menu which you're going to have to become extremely intimate with should you choose to pick up a pair of the Headphone (1)s. I'll talk more about it later on, but for now I'll just say this — I'm glad that there's so much adjustment here, because the core sound is so imminently disappointing that it needs a lot of work from you, the person who bought them, to sound better. There's also a bass slider. It makes the headphones sound boomy, even at the lowest level. Don't touch it. No, don't you touch that dial. There's also a very strong EQ menu which you're going to have to become extremely intimate with. There are three different listening modes. The Bluetooth connection is 5.3, with support for LDAC and other hi-res codecs. It's good, and about what you'd expect from Bluetooth headphones. Then there are the two wired listening modes. The first is the 3.5mm headphone jack. That means you can listen from older devices, like an iPod. It's fine, although it still requires the headphones to be turned on and filled with battery juice for it to work. That's a shame. Once the headphones are dead, they're dead. Boo. Secondly, there's the USB-C listening mode, which lets you listen to hi-res tracks from Apple Music, Qobuz and Tidal. It's great! I'm not entirely sure that many people are going to notice a groundbreaking sonic difference given the internals aren't capable of such nuance, but it's a welcome addition to the cans. There are few things I hate in this world. Wasps. Mashed potato. Square pizza. Touch controls. So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered that Nothing would be bringing physical controls to the Nothing Headphone (1). I was even more excited when I discovered how intuitive they are. Starting with the simple ones, there's a power switch on the bottom of the right earcup and a customizable button on the outer surface. Both are clicky and responsive, although the switch is perhaps a little small. It's the playback controls that are truly lovely, however. There's a volume roller thing which spins under the finger. It's an alternative to Apple's digital crown from the AirPods Max, and I love it. It clicks down to change ANC mode and play/pause the music as well. Underneath the volume roller there's what Nothing calls a paddle. It clicks forward and backward to skip tracks, and you can hold it to scroll through a track. Both controls are easily accessible and intuitive to use. There was no adjustment period here, just pure, rolly, clicky from one annoying issue. The sound that's piped into the headphones when you use the controls. The volume control clicks at an uncomfortable timbre, and the audio cues that tell you ANC is on and off are grating. It's a bit like nails on a chalkboard or someone rubbing some packing polystyrene. I'm not a fan and you can't turn them off. This is about as close to Sony and Bose as you're going to get if you're looking for solid noise canceling. I've been super impressed with the ANC of the Nothing Headphone (1) during my testing. It's got all the bells and whistles, including different ANC levels and even an adaptive mode that changes depending on the noise level of your environment. Play music and the outside world is all but completely silenced. In my small office space, I couldn't hear my fan at max level (it's really, really hot), the humming of my laptop, the sound of the fan outside or even the clacking of my keyboard — something that other ANC models often struggle with. If I tried really hard, I could defeat it — but what's the point of that? Taking the ANC outside gave me similar results. The bus was instantly calmer and more comfortable thanks to the headphones, with tire and engine noise silenced. There is one problem, however, and that's wind noise. The headphones struggle with blowy breezes more than some, as I found when I could hear the air from my fan and then the wind outside while I was on a walk. It's not massively distracting, but it is noticeable. And disappointing. I've found that the Headphone (1)'s call quality is almost the same amongst options at this price, but not quite up there in mic quality. The mic is uncommonly bad when compared to other options out there. My call partner complained that I sound like I was talking down a metal tube; not good. Things on my end were fine, thankfully — although you'll want to use the mic in your laptop for conference and work calls. The Nothing Headphone (1) are, apparently, tuned by one of my favorite audio brands: KEF. I love KEF. My speakers are KEF, my TV speakers want to be KEF, and my endgame HiFi contains a set of the brand's completely out-of-reach blade speakers. So you can imagine how I felt when I discovered that KEF would be behind the sound of the Nothing Headphone (1). Imagine my disappointment when I put the Headphone (1) on my head and discovered a sound signature that seemed counter to everything that I love about the brand. KEF is known for sonic analysis: High frequencies that are able to extract precise detail from a track and show you all the little bits you've been missing. The Nothing Headphone (1)s are…not that. My first listen showed me a pair of headphones that were mid-focused. With more listening, however, I noticed that there's a significant darkness thanks to an over-reliance on mid-bass, which swallows the highs and the mids completely. It's a restrictive soundstage, and it leaves music feeling distant and one-note. It's not horrible by any stretch of the imagination, but there are similarly priced headphones that sound much better out of the box. Thankfully, the EQ in the app is very strong, and lets you dial in the sound to your preferred listening curve. For better sound quality, I boosted the upper mids so that I can get more guitar and musical body, then lowered some of the mid-bass to get rid of some of the tonal darkness. The highs have been increased so that I can get more detail as well. It's worked well enough, although I suspect I will spend more time tinkering to get the sound I really want. As it stands, they now sound good, although there are still options out there that sound better, like the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100. The chainsaw guitars of Witchery in Legion require some of the upper-mid edge to sound as scary as they should, and after my adjustments, we're pretty much there. The dual guitars are fairly easy to separate throughout the brutal assault on your eardrums, but even after some adjustment to the lowest bass frequencies, the kick drum lacks a certain amount of 'oomph' that I look for. The vocals are well defined though, and after my high-range changes, the cymbals sound good and airy. It's cold and unforgiving, just as intended. TWICE's Strategy brings some decent low-end to the table, but some of the impact is lost at the very bottom. The vocals really shine, though, as the girls talk you through their titular strategy. The synths wobble smoothly, and every bell 'ting' is clear and concise. There's perhaps some control lacking in the very low stuff, but it's otherwise a good performance. Finally, Limp Bizkit bring the '90s with My Way. The mid-bass comes into its own, filling the soundscape with distorted bass guitar; Durst's slurred pseudo-singing is clear and well-defined, and the drums sound very good indeed. We're lacking some impact, again, but it's about as sludgy and filled with attitude as you'd hope. Nothing, where does that extra 45 hours worth of battery go when I turn the ANC on? The ANC is very good, but that's a gaping inconsistency that feels strange when the Sony and Bose options have far less difference between ANC on and off. The 80 hours of ANC off battery is very good, to be clear, but 35 hours with ANC on is about what you'd expect from the competition. Given how long they last with noise canceling off, it does feel like a shame that the battery isn't quite up there when it's on. Still, they've got decent battery life. My testing showed the battery life claims to be pretty much on the mark. After 8 hours of use I was down to about 70% battery, which is about what you'd expect. That's with volume at medium and with the ANC turned on. Just keep in mind that the overall battery life will vary depending on the set volume level, ANC level, and even the genre of music you're listening to. I'm torn. On the one hand, I really like the Nothing Headphone (1). They look excellent, and I'm genuinely excited to see something different in terms of design. I like how the price undercuts the likes of Sony and Bose while bringing comparable specs to the table, and I think it's important for upstarts to upset the established headphone norm. But there's a big sound-shaped issue that keeps me from whooping and hollering about the Headphone (1). EQ should be a nice extra to help you dial in your headphones to your preferred sound, not a fix for middling sound out of the box. It goes to show just how good a job Cambridge Audio did with the Melomania P100, mind you. In fact, I'd say you should probably look at those instead, if you don't mind leaving spatial audio behind. The Nothing Headphone (1) are a good pair of headphones, but their sonic downfall makes it tricky to recommend them over the competition. Instead, I can suggest you wait for the Nothing Headphone (2) to come out further down the line. If the sound is fixed, we're onto a surefire winner.
Mint
5 days ago
- Mint
Nothing Headphone (1) review: A distinct vibe
It's barely been five years since its first product, but Nothing has quite the reputation for defying convention with its liberal use of a now-signature retro-transparent look. With the Headphone (1), its first over-the-ear wireless headphones, Nothing is confident these cans will find a place atop your crown, offbeat design notwithstanding. Yet, while Nothing's earbuds have so far been priced in the mid-range or lower, their first foray into wireless headphones lands at ₹21,999, which then goes up against the likes of Sony, Bose and Sonos. Is it enough to earn Nothing a place on the big-boys table, on its first outing? You bet. Design daring At first glance, these headphones look like little else one has seen over the years, a bit of a lovechild of Nothing's retro-cool design language with the milled aluminum Apple favours. With transparent cassette tape-like oval outer earcups sitting atop a squared off aluminum housing, the headphones are available in black or white colourways, both of which are eye-catching—but then again, may not be your thing if you prefer your headphones discreet. No complaints whatsoever with the build quality and finish on the aluminum and plastic elements, and the rather premium feel compares well against its price segment peers. All said, it's definitely a vibe. What's less divisive is how they feel in use, with the moderate clamping force, plush padding and the adjustable headband allowing for the headphones to be worn for extended durations without headphone fatigue. At 329g, they land in between the lighter Sony WH-1000XM5 (249g) and the slightly heavier AirPods Max (386g), and while I was certainly aware of the extra weight over the distinctively plastic Sony headphones, the extra weight didn't really bear down on me. When not in use, the headphones fold flat into a softshell case along with the bundled 3.5mm cable and a charging cable, both of which can be used to connect the device for wired, lossless audio. There's support for head tracking for spatial audio too, but in the few tracks I tested, it didn't really add much to the experience. Click of a button Not on my bingo card for 2025 headphones was how much Nothing leaned into good ol' physical buttons for the Headphone (1), opting away from the du jour taps and swipes found on the competition. Three very distinctive buttons, each with their own tactile response and purpose—a roller, a paddle, and a programmable button—and that's not counting the Bluetooth pairing button or the on/off switch at the bottom. The pill-shaped roller controls volume, plays/pauses your audio and toggles between three modes—noise canceling, transparency and off, while the paddle allows you to skip or scrub through tracks. The customizable button can be set to launch a voice assistant, use a particular equalizer preset, mute the mic, or if you're using this with the new Nothing Phone (3), 'channel hop" between different audio apps. It takes the slightest amount of time figuring out the nuances of each button, but once I started operating them by feel, I'm left wondering how I'll go back to the fiddly-in-comparison gesture controls of the next pair of headphones I have to test. Pairing the headphones to the Phone (3) was seamless, but the cans also support Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair for quick pairing with Android and Windows devices, plus there's multipoint pairing for simultaneous Bluetooth connection to two devices. You'll want to use the Nothing X companion app to play around with the equalizer and the presets or choose which ANC mode and which Bluetooth codec—AAC, SBC or LDAC for higher resolution wireless audio—you'd want to use. Gamers will appreciate the low-lag modes, and there's on-head detection on the right earcup to automatically play/pause the music. Sound quality Now, when you pick up a pair of over-the-ear headphones, you're essentially willing to look past the convenience of wireless earbuds for better sound, better ANC, better battery life, better everything, essentially. It's safe to say that Nothing's collaboration with famed audio company KEF has paid off well in the first generation Headphone (1), as the headphones sound great right out of the box—clean highs, respectable bass, and mids that hold their own, with none of the frequencies overpowering each other—and that's before I even ventured towards the 8-band equalizer to tweak the sound signature to my preference. Bear in mind, while the bass has good attack, it doesn't have the sheer dominance of bass, as say the Sonys do, so you may want to play around with the bass enhancement setting to address that. The soundstage is immersive, the sound airy, and each instrument gets its own space to shine, and across genres, these headphones are a real bundle of fun to listen to, and some purists might even likely lean towards this pair over the segment peers. Active noise cancelation is respectable, and you get a decent amount of sound isolation courtesy the snug seal of the earpads, but it is at a level lower than the Sony WH1000-XM5 and the AirPod Max. Either way, battery life is great, delivering around 28-30 hours of battery life with music streaming over the higher-resolution LDAC codec and ANC turned on, and fast charging takes the battery to nearly half-full in 30 minutes. For a first-generation product, Nothing is certainly onto something with the Headphone (1). It competes impressively with the Sony and AirPods Max, the latter retailing at nearly thrice the price, while staying true to the stated goal of making something unique, away from the pack. Just one thing stands between you and owning one—the design—and if it's to your liking, Nothing's most expensive, most ambitious audio product is also one of its most compelling.
TECHx
5 days ago
- Business
- TECHx
Nothing Launches Phone 3 and Headphone 1 in Dubai
Home » Emerging technologies » Lifestyle tech » Nothing Launches Phone 3 and Headphone 1 in Dubai London-based technology company Nothing has officially announced the launch of its latest products, Nothing Phone (3) and Headphone (1). The event took place at the Museum of the Future in Dubai, marking a major moment in innovation and design for the brand. Nothing became one of the first smartphone companies to host a launch event at this iconic location. The event was held in collaboration with Creators HQ and attracted local, regional, and global media, along with top content creators from the Middle East. Against the museum's futuristic backdrop, Nothing showcased its commitment to pushing boundaries. Attendees explored how its new devices combine cutting-edge technology with bold, transparent design. Rishi Kishor Gupta, Regional Director of Nothing MEA, said the launch reflects the brand's values of innovation and creativity. He noted that Phone (3) and Headphone (1) offer more than just functionality they provide experiences that promote individuality and connection. Alia Al Hammadi, Deputy Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, commented on the UAE's appeal to global creators and businesses. She said the launch reaffirms the country's role as a creative and tech-driven hub. Abdulaziz AlJaziri, Deputy CEO of the Dubai Future Foundation, highlighted the UAE's leadership in future technologies. He stated that the event demonstrates the country's ability to attract global tech companies and foster innovation. Nothing introduced the following products: Nothing Phone (3): Features the new Glyph Matrix, a pro-grade camera, and Snapdragon® 8s Gen 4 performance. Features the new Glyph Matrix, a pro-grade camera, and Snapdragon® 8s Gen 4 performance. Headphone (1): Offers immersive sound engineered with KEF, tactile controls, and a unique transparent design. Live demonstrations showed the seamless integration of both devices into daily life. The launch aimed to redefine how users engage with technology. As part of its regional strategy, Nothing announced its exclusive #100Drops activation on 17 July at 7 PM at Sharaf DG, Dubai Mall. This drop will give early adopters a chance to purchase the new devices. Both products will be available in black and white. Open sales begin on 18 July 2025 across major retailers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Pricing details were revealed: Nothing Phone (3) 12GB+256GB: AED 2,999 / SAR 3,299 Nothing Phone (3) 16GB+512GB: AED 3,299 / SAR 3,699 Nothing Headphone (1): AED 999 / SAR 1,099 Nothing also announced a limited-time offer valid until 3 August 2025. Customers purchasing the 12GB/256GB variant of Phone (3) will receive a free upgrade to the 16GB/512GB model, along with complimentary Nothing Ear. The event highlighted the growing relevance of the UAE as a global hub for innovation, advanced technologies, and the creator economy.
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Business Insider
Are Nothing's new retro-inspired headphones all style and no substance? We put them to the test to find out
It's hard to make a splash in the personal audio space these days, but the Nothing Headphone (1) manage to instantly stand out. I mean, just look at them. Their boxy, minimalist design sets them apart from nearly everything else on the market. Though they fit right at home with the brand's similarly styled smartphones and earbuds, this funky look is sure to be a "love it or hate it" feature. But there's a lot more to these over-ear headphones than just a divisive aesthetic. Their comfort is top-notch, their wealth of connectivity options is a breath of fresh air, and they deliver good audio performance. I've been reviewing headphones for more than a decade, so I've tested all of the top models from brands like Bose, Sony, Sonos, and Apple. The Headphone (1) are good enough to be in the conversation with the best headphones out there. More importantly, they have many of the same features you'd get with those top-tier options, but undercut them in price. At $299, they're a tempting buy for a variety of needs, so long as their singular style suits your tastes. The square design is eye-catching, but still comfortable Addressing the elephant in the room, yes, these headphones ditch circular ear cups for a more rectangular retro-inspired design that fits in perfectly with the brand's established style, which is also present in the company's phones and earbuds. Though this look is at odds with most over-ear headphones, it doesn't affect their fit or feel. In fact, these are some of the most comfortable headphones I've used. This is primarily due to the soft foam in the ear cups and headband. The smooth material coating them also goes a long way toward making them feel as if they've disappeared while wearing them. I've received mixed reactions to the headphone's unique shape and semi-transparent look from people of various age groups. No one was shocked by them, but my teenage daughter did offer a disgusted face at first sight. Other people were mostly indifferent, commenting that they were "neat" or looked "fine." Based on my daughter's reaction, I do wonder if they skew more masculine, despite being color agnostic. They come in white or black at launch. Personally, I think the headphones strike a good balance between eye candy and subdued elegance. That is to say that they'll surely get noticed in public, but probably aren't quirky enough to have people constantly asking you what they are or where you got them. The headphones have the specs and controls to back up their flashy look The Nothing Headphone (1) aren't just about appearances. They also have functional design touches that work well. The controls, in particular, are excellent. There's a volume roller and track rocker on the right ear cup. You slide your finger left and right over the roller to change the volume. It feels great, really natural, and tactile. However, I do wonder why the direction wasn't up and down on the roller instead. The rocker paddle underneath the roller is easy to feel for and tap left or right. Supposedly, holding it down in either direction will activate fast forward or reverse scrubbing, but I couldn't get that to work with an iPhone using Apple Music or Spotify. But as great as those intuitive media controls are, my favorite design touch is actually the headphones' physical switch for power. It's a tiny detail but critical to everyday use. Nearly all headphones nowadays use a button for power, and depending on how long you press it, this same button is often used to activate Bluetooth pairing. As such, I'm never sure how long to hold a button to turn a pair of headphones on and off. This switch eliminates that problem. To round out the controls, there's an extra button on the exterior right cup, open to be customized. It's set to activate your voice assistant by default, but using the Nothing X app allows you to change it. I made it the ANC toggle and found that to be perfect. Under the hood, the Headphone (1) feature 40mm dynamic drivers with a frequency range of 20Hz-40KHz, and they support AAC, SBC, and LDAC audio codecs. Six microphones are built-in to enable real-time adaptive ANC, four of which are used for voice calls. The battery life is listed at 35 hours with ANC on or 80 hours with it off. You can ignore the 80-hour number as you'll only want to use these with ANC or transparency enabled. Once the battery dies, they charge quickly in 120 minutes, as advertised. They weigh 329 grams but feel lighter in practice. They also have multi-device support, on-ear detection, and an IP52 water and dust rating. The latter should make them safe for commuting during inclement weather, but they're not suitable for use with dripping sweat while at the gym. I love that these headphones support listening via Bluetooth, a 3.5mm cable, or USB-C audio. Most of the time, wireless will be sufficient, but having extra options is always nice. That said, they still require power when using a wired connection, which is a bummer if you want to listen with a cable as a backup when the battery has died. If there's one reason to be mad at these headphones, look no further than the case. It's woolly, scratchy, and just kind of sucks. Touching it nearly makes my skin crawl. The Headphone (1) case is similar to the Sonos Ace case. I don't like either of those cases because of the texture. The zipper isn't smooth to open or close either. More companies should look into magnetic closures and copy what Sony did with its WH-1000XM6 case. Audio quality is mostly neutral, but bass lovers won't be left out Stylish headphones with no brains would be disappointing. Luckily, the Headphone (1) sound good, providing ample substance to go with their flashy style. The headphones' acoustics have actually been developed in partnership with KEF, a company known for high-end audio products. The resulting sound profile is neutral and pleasing, but does lack some personality. They aren't as vibrant as headphones from Bose or Sony, but they still sound full. I never felt let down by songs with heavy synths, those pounding the kick drum, or ones with thick bass lines. Importantly, the headphones also have great clarity throughout the midrange. Vocals were present and detailed, while instruments like guitars were audible. All of this talk of the sound is in reference to the default experience with tuning left as is out of the box. But using the Nothing X app, you can heavily tweak the sound via simplified or advanced EQ settings. I'm not against adjusting a headphone's EQ, but I don't think you should need to, so it's great that the Headphone (1) perform well without any tinkering. However, there is a bass enhancement toggle to boost the low-end for people who crave a bit more oomph. This control is also in the Nothing X app and doesn't require knowledge of frequency bands to use. There's also support for a spatial audio mode, which can transform stereo sound into a "fully immersive experience." In other words, it's a simulated surround sound mode. Head tracking and fixed audio are both options for this spatial setting. I'm generally a fan of spatial music that's specifically been mixed for it, like Dolby Atmos tracks included on services like Apple and Amazon Music, but I don't care for artificially altering stereo playback. I did test this setting for music and movies to give it a chance, and while I didn't find the spatializer egregious, I also didn't find it useful or worth wasting battery life on. Noise cancellation is strong enough, but making calls is a weak spot Active noise cancellation has become a make-or-break feature of modern headphones. The Nothing Headphone (1) pass that test with very good noise blocking capabilities. Bose and Sony still reign supreme if you want the very best noise-canceling headphones, but these do an admirable job. I tested them against vacuum noise, café chatter, and airplane cabin ambience, and they muffled each of those enough to keep annoyances away. For those sensitive to head pressure, the amount of ANC is adjustable, or it can be adaptive to change with your environment. I usually left the headphones on their strongest setting, but the adaptive mode is worthwhile. When switching to the transparency mode to let outside sounds in, there's a breathy sound effect that gets whispered in your ears. It's creepy and a little unsettling. But the feature does provide good enough awareness to talk to others without voices sounding muted. Call quality is a highly touted feature of the Headphone (1), but I was disappointed by it when used in a noisy environment. My voice sounded fine when used in a quiet place, but with street noise around, I found my voice to be highly artificial and easy to get lost. Should you buy the Nothing Headphone (1)? In terms of raw value, the Nothing Headphone (1) present a compelling offer. They're comfortable, sound good, and are loaded with features. In many respects, I'd be willing to shell out $299 for these before spending more on other flagship options with marginal improvements in ANC and sound. I don't care for the case material, but that's easy to overlook in the grand scheme of things. The lackluster voice call performance could be the most meaningful downside for people using these in a business setting. For people commuting, traveling, or working from home, there's very little to complain about. In the end, the headphones' most superficial aspect might be their most important. Do you like how they look? If so, you might have already hit "buy." But if you don't, there's no reason to consider them.
Hypebeast
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
KEF Music Gallery Houses Launch Party for Nothing's Headphone (1)
Earlier this month,Nothingrevealed the latest addition to its library of audio products with Headphone (1). As well as being the tech brand's first-ever over-ear headphones, the new arrival marked another first in its collaborative design with British audio specialistsKEF. Celebrating the partnership – and therelease of Headphone (1)– Nothing and KEF recently hosted an exclusive launch event atKEF Music Galleryin central London. A state-of-the-art space, designed as a destination for discovering great sound with listening lounges, a café area, and a podcast room, the music gallery became an extension of the headphone's immersive audio as a collective of artists, tastemakers, and producers turned up to sample and interact with the sleek device. Having been heralded by Nothing's Head of Design as a product that 'looks different, works differently, and invites people to connect with sound in a more expressive way,' the event played on the theme of 'Come to Play' with DJ stations set up for guests to play their favorite tracks on the headphones as well as trial the recently launched flagship Nothing Phone (3). Elsewhere, the sound exploration continued in the cinema room, amplifying Nothing and KEF's acoustic innovation in full effect with clips from cult films. After a short speech from Head of Global Smart Products Marketing at Nothing, Andrew Freshwater, and the Associate Marketing Director at KEF, Zoe Baddeley, a live set from DJ, music curator, and co-founder of music platformTouching Bass,Errol, raised the tempo for the night ahead, using Headphone (1) to mix and select his tracks seamlessly. With drinks in hand – including playfully redesigned cans from Ghost Labs and beers from NOAM – the creative audience showed how self-expression came part and parcel of the audio experience, with the headphones bringing a new layer to their looks. Take a look at what went down in the event capture featured in the gallery above. Headphone (1) is now available to shop on Nothing'swebsite, KEF's dedicatedwebpage, and partner retailers for $299.
