What if you can get a pair of good earphones that don’t exceed $400?
This is the question of a UK-based tech startup that tries to answer with the new Nothing Headphone (1) headset that just unveiled this week. A bunch of tech publications have to try out new headphones before they are revealed and released, which means there are plenty of reviews available for interested in getting this $299 high-sounding jar.
No phone number (3) announced. Please refer to specifications, prices, booking details
No headphones (1) price
What are the comments from critics about these new headphones? For beginners, many agree that their value is $299. The closest point to comparing features and audio quality is the likes of the Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones and Apple AirPods Max, both of which retail for $400. From this perspective, there is no advantage.
But what about everything else?
design
For beginners, these headphones have a funky design that may turn off certain customers but may attract others. Their earmuffs have large rectangular boxes, and only two colors: white and black. Ben Schoon summed it up nicely in 9to5google’s comments:
“The designs here are not unique to say the least. Partly square, partly rounded designs exuding cassette tape, which I prefer.”
Almost all other comments I read are consistent with that point of view. Whether you personally enter the design or not, you should not receive any honors for trying something.
Mixable light speed
Meanwhile, Matt Bolton made sure to emphasize in Techradar’s comments that headphones are suitable for long sessions regardless of their appearance.
“This fit is also a bit split – some people really prefer lightweight headphones without having to grab too many headphones – but I find them more comfortable than the Airpods Max and have a good time to wear.”
sound
This is the tricky part. On headphones, there are few other designs, comfort or active noise cancellation, which are more important than sound quality. Unfortunately, in most reviews, I read that this is one area of the price difference between headphones (1) and their closest to the competition.
This is not to say that the sound is Badalthough. In James Pero’s comment on Gizmodo, he praised the noise reduction quality and the quality of audio output in general. It may not be fully up to AirPods Max levels, but the price difference between the two is $250, so it may be expected.
“I still think Apple’s Airpods Max has a slight advantage in the sound division – the mid-to-high texture and slightly higher space, which makes the vocal feel more organic and clear,” Perot wrote. “That being said, there’s nothing to object to a competitor that charges a very large premium.”
Bolton’s comments on Techradar, on the other hand, are even more important.
“The audio is tuned by the great high-fidelity brand KEF and is quite refined, balanced and extensive,” Bolton wrote. “But it also feels compressed and lacks the openness and spacious sound of testing competitors at this price to test competition.”
Battery life
For just $300, you’ll expect a pair of headphones to have good battery life. It sounds like there is nothing in that department. Schoon said in his 9to5google review that the battery lasted 35 hours and the ANC turned on 80 without batteries. Oh my god, that’s so good.
According to these reviews, it sounds like nothing is the first earphone that is firm and worst of all. You may have to deal with slightly worse sound quality than some more expensive models, and you may not like designs, but their value seems to be a good value.
