So many new headphones are look interchangeable from each other. If you were to scrub off the logos and put Bose and Sony’s flagship models side by side and asked me to guess which is which, I’d only have a 50% shot at getting it right. That’s why I’m always interested when a brand tries to do something different which is why the Nothing Headphone (1) have grabbed my attention. These hybrid active noise cancelling over-ear headphones even happen to be on sale at the moment. Usually going for $299, a 27% discount at Amazon has chopped off $80, bringing the price you pay to just $219 for a limited time.
So the first thing that catches your eye with the Nothing Headphone (1) is their shape. The ear cups are rectangular with rounded corners. Personally, I dig that. This design alongside the partially transparent casing that allows you to see the inner components gives off a sort of 90s idea of a futuristic aesthetic. I’m here for it.
As for sound, these over-ear headphones from Nothing have been acoustically engineered in collaboration with KEF, a speaker brand that has been doing this sort of thing for more than 60 years. These produce bold, high-fidelity sound in which the vocals sound natural and details are rich.
The headphones even have support for 306-degree audio. They use built-in headtracking to create a virtual soundstage to simulate what it’s like to be right there in the middle of the recording studio as you listen. You can turn your head as the audio sources seem to stay in place.
Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation
Beyond that, the Nothing Headphone (1) have remarkable noise cancellation. Using dual feedforward and feedback microphones, they effectively are able to eliminate most undesirable sounds coming in from around you in your environment. The system checks in every 600ms in order to adjust the noise cancellation in real time.
In those instances where you would prefer to hear your surroundings, you can flip over to transparency mode. With this on, those outside sounds will filter through into the headphone speakers. This way you can stay aware of what’s happening around you and even maintain a conversation without having to uncover your ears.
Incredibly, these headphones has a crazy long battery life of 80 hours. Even if you listen exclusively with ANC enabled, you’re still be able to achieve up to 35 hours on a single charge. Then when it comes time to recharge them, being plugged int for just five minutes will provide them with another five hours of playback time.
Nothing has its signature over-ear headphones available in two style choices. The Nothing Headphone (1) come in either black or white. Since both are now on sale for $80 off, you can go ahead and just pick whichever best suites your taste, knowing you’re still getting the best deal.
