Imagine that a Minecraft fan discovers in Vind a radio -mail of the 1980s, decorated with the Pop/Breakdance culture of those years. With this information creates an image, composed of geometric pixels of some helmets and only uses two colors: white and black. But, as a touch of light is missing, add a red point. And nothing more. Well, they are New Over-Ear de Nothing helmets, the Headphone (1).
The first thing that awakens looks is its design, as with all Nothing products. In this case it is as if Stanley Kubrick would have asked Frank Gehry for advice to design the helmets of 2001: space odyssey.
Geometrically, they are not usual by their profile with more straight lines than we are accustomed to for Over-Oar and retro aesthetics. It is a very daring bet, yes and as such It will not be “the preferred taste” of the whole world, but they attract attention. And what does not enter through the eye, will certainly do it by the ear.
Once placed, their vegan leather pads adapt with care to the ear and begin to isolate us from the environment. Those of us who chose over-overalls instead of intraneural, do it for two reasons: They usually isolate better and have a higher audio quality. And Nothing meets both. The sides evoke the characteristic transparency of the brand, with two cassette plastic ovals on an aluminum housing that houses the internal components (transmitters and everything else).
In the same way that smartphone manufacturers have allied with photography experts (as Huawei did with Leica) to produce the best cameras, Nothing has worked with The high -fidelity audio company KEF, which was responsible for the optimization of the audio and part of the hardware.
The Headphone (1) have a 40 mm dynamic controller, a nickelined diaphragm with edge and dome that adds stiffness and, in Nothing’s words, It is designed to “improve clarity in acute and power in serious.” And the system still works in the highest volumes.
The key to this not only lies in the hardware, but also in the software: the application Nothing X allows you to adjust the sound manually, determine the levels of active noise cancellation (ANC) and equalize both for pre -established and granular adjustments. What gives the Headphone (1) the playful part that pursues its design.
As to ANC, reaches 42 cancellation decibels and have adaptive function, so it fits automatically according to the noise levels around you. As always, you can choose the level manually at the Nothing X app if you don’t want adaptive cancellation.
If we compare with other previous nothing audio products, His collaboration between Kef shows and puts the bar very high. Both in benefits and in price: € 299.
The playful and “vintage” part is complemented by a series of physical buttons: A roller, a palette and a normal button. The first acts as a volume wheel and if we press it activates and deactivates the ANC.
Then there is the lever: with it we can advance and go back songs and if we press it in a sustained way we advance the song. Finally, There is a circular button in the upper right corner of the left headset to activate a voice assistant (Compatible with iPhone or Android devices that are not nothing).
We finally have the battery. NOHING announces 35 hours of battery with active cancellation of activated noise and up to 80 hours with active noise cancellation deactivated. That supposes 15 hours more listening time with activated cancellation compared to a range of range such as the Max Airpods.
Ah, and there is something else: the headphones They have a 3.5 mm connector to listen with cable, surely a KEF bet to focus on quality auditory experience.
Summary: Nothing has opted, with the Headphone (1) for A much higher audio experience than its previous products. And in this case it has succeeded, although aesthetics is not suitable for all tastes. But, what remedy, thus the design is revolutionized as well.