I once managed to lose a single earbud on a long-haul flight while unsuccessfully trying to get some shuteye. When I was back on solid ground, I quickly and begrudgingly set about replacing them, which is where I first ran into Nothing’s audio offerings. I wasn’t looking to drop a lot on a new set, so I landed on the brand’s budget option which, to my pleasant surprise, came packed with a decent set of functions and some solid audio quality, making them an attractive choice for those who want quality without the bank-breaking price tag.
Nothing has stayed true to this ethos with its over-ear alternative, the Nothing Headphones (a). Significantly reducing the price from its first-generation older brother, these unique looking cans are well-built and sound great, making them a worthwhile option…if you dig the aesthetic.
I’ll get to sound quality and features in a moment, but let’s talk about looks first. Your eyes will be immediately drawn to the Nothing Headphones (a) thanks to its bold design, and milage will vary based on personal taste. Bucking traditional conventions, these bad boys rock a rectangular earcup design, featuring Nothing’s trademark transparent casing which reveals some inner workings below. The centre of each earcup is offset by a round, solid-colour dome, which comes in black, white, pink, or yellow, giving the unit even more character.
You’ll be making a statement regardless of your colour choice
You’re buying headphones to listen to music, but these also act as something of a fashion statement as well. Save for the yellow option, which looks a bit too much like a fried egg for my liking, I vibe with the look. Most headphones look the same, so it’s refreshing to have an option that makes you look like you just rolled out of Jet Set Radio. The overall build quality is impressive as well, with high-quality hard plastics used for the body and comfortable memory foam used on the cups and headband.
While they aren’t exactly light, coming in at roughly 300 grams, the generously sized cups and cushiony foam make the Headphones (a) easy to wear for multiple hours at a time. Importantly, the depth of the cups ensures that your ears won’t rub against the mesh, which can often be the case with other brands. The earcups rotate 90 degrees for when you’re not wearing them, but the shape of the cups means they’ll rub together as they sit on your neck or knock together when you set them down. It’s not a huge deal, but it is a little awkward.
Another gripe I have about the build is with the size adjustment. Instead of extending at the cup, the extension points rest at the headband, and while this ensures it stays in place, it makes it all but impossible to adjust once it’s on your head. It’s not a deal breaker, but it means you’ll go through trial and error every time you decide to wear a hat.
They may bump together, but they look good doing it
Nothing has nailed the on-device controls here. An insanely satisfying vertical roller takes care of volume control, while also changing noise-cancelling modes with a press or hold. A similarly oriented paddle can also be programmed to change tracks, while a customisable and tactile button can be bound to voice assistants, call answering, or even a camera shutter. All these options can be changed at any time using Nothing’s simple and effective app, which doubles as an EQ mixer.
Speaking of EQ, we’d best talk about audio quality. The Nothing (a)’s are rocking 40mm titanium-coated drivers, and they meet expectations for a set priced around $300. The bass boost option is toggled on by default, and you’ll notice it right out of the gate. The punk beats of Joey Valence and Brae are a good fit for the headphone’s bass-heavy profile (even with the boost turned off), and the higher notes hit by Woodkid are decently serviced on the treble side of things. Everything in the midrange sounds good. Not great, not muddy and awful, just good. You can easily mess around with EQ presets, or create your own, and easily switch between them with the programmable button. Audiophiles won’t be reaching for the Nothing Headphones (a), but your regular music enjoyer (such as myself) will be happy with the clear audio.
Considering the price, the inclusion of decent active noise cancellation is another welcome surprise. Three options can be toggled between: Noise Cancellation, Transparency, and Off. The snug fit of the foam earcups does a commendable job of filtering outside noise as is, and the ANC option uses the mics to great effect to block out even more. I went on many post-work walks through busy neighbourhoods using ANC, and was happy with its performance, save for the wind that always seems to cut through, though that’s hardly an isolated problem. I will say, though, that the oddly seductive, breathy soundbite that plays when toggling to Transparency mode kept me from using the option. Some might get a kick out of it, but I found it to be a little…uncomfortable.
I can’t stress enough how satisfying that volume roller is
Outside of its cool design, the biggest selling point for the Nothing (a) should be its ludicrous battery life. Nothing boasts that a single charge will run you 130 hours without ANC off and 75 with the option on. I’d love to stress test that, but I’m still trying my best to run these things out of juice after a few weeks of use. To put those numbers into context, if I used these headphones with ANC on for two hours per day, I would only need to charge them after 38 days. Even if these stats are inflated, my set is still sitting at 65% charge after intensive use over the course of two weeks, which is mighty impressive.
Final Thoughts
It would be easy to look at the unique aesthetic of the Nothing Headphones (a) and assume that they are all style, no substance. While they are part statement piece, part headphone, the solid audio quality and great range of features make them more than just a pretty face. A handful of questionable design choices aside, these budget-friendly cans should make you think twice about spending a mint on a more expensive alternative.
Review unit supplied by the manufacturer
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