Nothing’s Headphone A: A Surprising Contender
▼ Summary
– The Nothing Headphone A are a $199, lightweight over-ear model offering up to 135 hours of battery life and a design similar to the pricier Headphone 1, but with opaque color accents.
– Their sound profile is highly customizable via a robust app EQ, though the default tuning is overly sibilant in the highs and heavy in the bass.
– The headphones feature excellent physical controls and good active noise cancellation for the price, but they suffer from poor microphone quality for calls.
– While comfortable for a while, they can cause pressure on the ears and head, and the ear cups lack breathability, leading to discomfort during extended wear in warm conditions.
– Key features include IP52 dust/sweat resistance, seamless dual-device connectivity, and wired listening via USB-C or 3.5mm, though they require power even for wired use.
Nothing’s latest audio offering, the Headphone A, presents a compelling value proposition in the crowded over-ear market. Striking a balance between distinctive design and practical performance, these headphones build upon the foundation of their predecessor with notable refinements. They deliver a robust 135-hour maximum battery life, a comfortable and lightweight build, and a highly customizable sound experience through a comprehensive app, all for a competitive $199 price point. While they make some expected compromises, their overall package is thoughtfully executed for everyday listeners seeking style and substance.
Visually, the Headphone A retains the brand’s iconic aesthetic but in a more approachable form. The signature transparent elements are now confined to the ear shells, while the oval enclosures on top come in opaque white, yellow, pink, or an all-black finish. The playful red and white squares on the ear cups, a nod to classic RCA cables, add a touch of character. The construction feels predominantly plastic, which aids in keeping the weight down to 310 grams, though some may desire a more premium tactile experience. Comfort is generally good for extended sessions, though the clamping force at the front of the ears and the pressure on the crown of the head may necessitate occasional breaks for some users. An IP52 rating for dust and sweat resistance is a practical inclusion many competitors lack, even if the ear cups’ lack of breathability became apparent during warmer weather testing.
Where these headphones truly excel is in their intuitive, tactile control scheme. Nothing employs satisfying mechanical controls instead of finicky touch panels. A dedicated roller handles volume and play/pause functions, a paddle manages track navigation, and a physical button can be customized within the app. This setup is remarkably user-friendly, allowing for adjustments without looking. The companion Nothing X app unlocks significant audio personalization, featuring both a simple three-band equalizer and a sophisticated 8-band parametric EQ. This level of tuning capability is impressive for the price, enabling users to sculpt the sound signature to their exact preferences, though the EQ’s operation, which seems to lower other frequencies rather than boost the selected one, can feel counterintuitive at first.
Out of the box, the default “Balanced” sound profile tends toward a V-shaped signature, with pronounced bass and a bright, sometimes sibilant treble. This can overwhelm finer details in complex tracks, making cymbals sound splashy and overpowering mid-range textures. However, the powerful EQ tools readily correct these tendencies, allowing you to rein in the low end and tame the high frequencies for a more balanced listen. The active noise cancellation (ANC) is competent for the price, effectively muffling constant low-frequency rumbles like airplane engines or city traffic. It offers multiple levels and an adaptive mode, though it understandably doesn’t match the absolute silence provided by flagship models from Sony or Bose.
The Headphone A’s most significant shortcoming is call quality. The three-microphone array struggles in noisy environments, often heavily compressing the user’s voice and allowing ambient sounds to intrude. During calls on a busy street, speech can become distorted and difficult to understand, a notable drawback for those who take frequent calls on the go. Connectivity, however, is a strong suit. Bluetooth 5.4 ensures a stable connection, and the seamless dual-device pairing works flawlessly, allowing instant switching between a phone and laptop. Wired listening is supported via the included USB-C or 3.5mm cables, though note that the headphones must be powered on for the analog connection to work, and the app’s EQ settings are unavailable in wired mode.
Ultimately, the Nothing Headphone A succeeds by refining the formula. The move to more subdued opaque accents makes the design more wearable, and the reduction in price to $199 makes it a far more accessible entry point. The exceptional battery life, excellent physical controls, and deeply customizable sound via the app form a compelling core package. While the mediocre call performance and the inclusion of a simple carrying bag instead of a hard case are drawbacks, they are trade-offs that many will accept for this combination of style, features, and value. For those who found the original Headphone 1 a bit too bold or expensive, the Headphone A is a focused and appealing alternative.
(Source: The Verge)
