Review of Nothing Headphone 1: Impressive performance for a debut product in the market
The London-based technology company, Nothing, has entered the over-ear headphone market with its first product, the Nothing Headphone 1. Priced at £299 in the UK, €299 in Europe, and $299 in the US, this stylish pair of headphones offers a mix of notable strengths and some drawbacks across design, sound quality, battery life, and durability.
### A Distinctive Design
The Nothing Headphone 1 boasts a distinctive, striking design that stands out in the market. With a build quality considered superb, giving a premium feel at their price point, these headphones are sure to be a conversation starter. However, the glossy part of the body made from plastic and the aluminum frame's potential to show blemishes quickly might require cautious handling.
### Balanced Sound Quality
Out-of-the-box, the sound quality is somewhat flat and uninspiring, but users can customize the sound to their liking via the Nothing X app. With the bass boost mode and some tuning adjustments, the sound becomes livelier, delivering a balanced and surprisingly good sound. The headphones support LDAC for high-res wireless audio and offer spatial audio, although some reviewers found the spatial audio feature to be underwhelming.
### Decent Noise Cancellation and Excellent Battery Life
The active noise cancellation (ANC) is decent and functional, effective at reducing traffic and train noises, with three ANC levels plus a transparency mode. Although good, ANC is not quite at the level of leading rivals like Soundcore Space One Pro or Sony WH-1000XM5. One of the strongest points of the Nothing Headphone 1 is its battery life: up to 35 hours with ANC on and up to 80 hours with it turned off, surpassing many competitors like Sony WH-1000XM5. Fast charging is included, with a 15-minute charge allowing for 10 hours of playback with ANC turned on, enough for a long-haul flight.
### Thoughtful Controls and Customization
The Nothing Headphone 1 is probably the most thoughtful pair of headphones in terms of controls and personalization that the reviewer has used in years. The app offers extensive customization, including adjusting noise cancellation, transparency modes, head-tracked spatial audio, and fine-tuning the Bass Enhancer settings. The roller button for volume and other functions is praised as intuitive and satisfying.
### Room for Improvement
While the Nothing Headphone 1 offers a compelling package for its price, it falls short of meeting high standards in certain areas, such as sound quality. The default sound quality does not compare to more expensive competitors like the Sony XM6 or AirPods Max. There are also concerns about the build quality, with some reviewers expressing reservations about the potential for blemishes on the aluminum frame and plastic parts.
### Value for Money
Despite these drawbacks, the Nothing Headphone 1 offers good value for money compared to its key competitors. With its unique design, solid sound and ANC, excellent battery life, and thoughtful controls, it's a great first-generation product with room for improvement in areas such as durability and sound quality.
- The Nothing Headphone 1, with its sleek design that incorporates both gadgets and technology, immediately stands out in the over-ear headphone market.
- Its balanced sound quality, owing to the customization features in the Nothing X app, demonstrates the power of technology to personalize the listening experience.
