Below is my original review and I stand by everything I wrote. However, with some fiddling, I have improved the sound a bit to my liking. The first thing I did was enable the LDAC codec. I was unaware when I purchased these that I could do so. It provides a better baseline for the music to begin tinkering with EQ settings. I also bumped up the streaming quality of the music to its highest level before "lossless". And the third thing I did was install the app (sorry....I HATE apps), and refined the curve to my hearing limitations.

I get that these are not audiophile level headphones, but I didn't pay for that. I paid for solid and enjoyable and I received that in spades. I love the physical controls... the vol wheel (LOVE it) and the paddle selector (LOVE it). The range of the bluetooth connection is truly impressive. I can be on the other side of our house from the phone and it's still connected without cutting in/out. Are they a bit heavy? Yep. Are they a tad tight? Yep. Noted. But again, I have worn these for a couple of hours straight without any issue. The ear pads comfortably cover my ears and do not cause them to heat up from pressure or friction.

Now.....I did get these at the $239 price when they were being promoted, so understand that that is where my price/value perspective is from. I do not use them when working outside or during work outs. I know they have the whole sweat/water resistance thing going on, but they are too heavy for me compared to a $50 pair I own and that I don't mind getting dirty and nasty. Besides, when I'm mowing or edging or cutting etc...I'm not in "fine sound delivery" mode. I use these when I want to kick back and enjoy what I'm listening to and am able to pick out the little detailed nuances that make the music ......... mmmmmmm..... more of a treat.

So, that's my update after owning these for a couple of months and using them quite a bit.

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Simply....wow. I haven't done anything except pair them and put them on. No equalizer fiddling, no anything. The pairing was flawless and as quick as any device I've ever paired. The fit is extremely comfortable. I've had them on for over an hour and they are not causing any discomfort with the ears or the head. I took a phone call while listening to music on my phone and the clarity is pretty good. Switching from music to phone to music again was no issue. The noise cancelling was pretty cool. I could not hear myself talking at normal volume. There is a little bit of "stepping on" each other if trying to talk at the same time. The musical sound is great for a pair of headphones at this price point. Clear, not tinny or muddy. Bass is not obnoxious nor is it a background feature. It's crisp, if you can call bass crisp. The sound stage is not totally enveloping, but it's encompassing enough to fill itself. Not sure that makes sense, but it's the only way I know to describe it. Will I fiddle with the settings? You bet. But at first listen, these are definite keepers. Never heard of the company before, but I am impressed.

I was so excited to try these out the moment I saw them. The design is of course very eye-catching with the mimicking of a retro tape cassette, and pictures don't really do it justice for how cool they look in person. The fit of them is nice and comfortable, with an easily adjustable band. It feels very sturdy and not flimsy like some.

The buttons are really handy on this, great for those like me who are a bit fatigued with everything being touch activated and accidentally tapping things without meaning to. With these you have full control of volume with a sleek roller, and a paddle button to easily skip/rewind tracks. Bluetooth connectivity was swift and easy, no issues there, and I really like that it comes with an audio cable to listen wired too!

Sound is excellent. Great noise cancellation. After listening to some tracks, it can be a little heavy on the bass, but I assume this is something you can tweak with the app, which I have not done. I'm fairly happy with how it sounds as is, but good to know this is an option.

Overall, definitely worth the price. Fully in love with these and will be using daily!

The design is subjective but I really liked how they looked enough to give them a try after watching a lot of reviews. To me, the other styles look like full diapers. I'm normally an IEM wearer (Shure SE425, Fiio FH5s) with a couple Sennheiser wired headphones (HD598/558) and prefer a well balanced sound. The only wireless set I've used before this was the Bose NC700 which I felt were ok as far as sound quality.

Comfort: They're good considering the metal housing makes them a heavier headset. I wish there was thicker padding so it sealed better over glasses. They will feel warm after a few hours of use which is normal with the silicon pads used.

Features: The buttons are one of my favorite features. Having used headphones with touch/tap/pinch navigation I much prefer physical ones. The app also is nice & simple, with advanced features there if you need. The battery life is outstanding and the range goes way further than I expected. I can be be on the other side of the house and they still work.

Sound: Out of the box they sound too flat in the bass and almost too bright in highs. It's not bad, it's just not what I'm desiring. Breathy would be the best way to describe it. The simple EQ adjustments don't seem to do it for me, but the advanced EQ allowed me to dial it in exactly how I wanted and they sound terrific. Warm in the lows/mids and just enough clarity in the highs to not be irritating. The fact you can share custom EQ profiles is awesome and Nothing have a feature where you can try other users settings to find what you like. There is a bug at this time of writing where increasing the levels in the custom EQ will make the sound quieter. You can just up the volume to compensate.

Noice canceling: I find the passive NC works well enough but I've only really been in quiet environments. I used these in a waiting room with that had music playing and people talking and the ANC blocked most of it out. ANC wasn't a critical feature for me.

Overall they are priced right at $300 and a deal at $250.

I've seen tons of headphones that follow the same safe, monotonous design language. The Nothing Headphone (1) is not one of them. This is Nothing's ambitious first entry into the over-ear headphone market, and it's clear they aimed to do more than just compete. They came to make a statement. After putting the headphones through their paces, I can say they’ve created a product that is as compelling as it is polarizing, blending standout design with features that challenge the top players, though not without a few important caveats.

Design & Controls: A Masterclass in Tactile Satisfaction

The first thing you'll notice about the Headphone (1) is the design. It's a stunning piece of retro-futuristic industrial art, with unique square-ish earcups, transparent elements, and a high-quality aluminum frame. They feel premium and sturdy, and they will absolutely turn heads.

More impressive than the look, however, are the controls. In an era of finicky touch gestures, Nothing has opted for gloriously tactile physical controls. No confusing touch-sensitive pads that screw up the listening experience. There's a satisfying power switch, as well as a "paddle" for skipping tracks. And the star of the show: a metal "roller" for volume. It’s intuitive, precise, and an absolute joy to use. This is, without a doubt, one of the best control schemes on any pair of headphones today.

A few things to note on the design front: they're a bit heavier than the best sets from Sony or Bose, and while the memory foam earpads are plush, comfort over long periods might vary depending on head shape. That said, you should almost certainly be good for flights across a few time zones. They also fold flat to make it easy to slide into a backpack, but they don't fold up into a ball, so they aren't the most compact you can get. Personally, I prefer them to fold flat & thin, even if it means taking a wider shape, but to each their own. A huge, unexpected plus is the IP52 rating, offering dust and water resistance that is virtually unheard of in this category, making them a viable option for the gym or a commute in light rain.

Sound Quality: A Tale of Two Experiences

The sound of the Headphone (1) is complex. Out of the box, the audio, tuned in partnership with high-end audio brand KEF, is clean and clear but can feel a bit reserved or "sterile." It lacks the immediate "wow" factor thumping some might be expecting at this price, but that's where the settings come into play.

The magic is unlocked in the Nothing X app, which features one of the most comprehensive and powerful 8-band equalizers available. If you are willing to spend a few minutes tweaking the settings, these headphones absolutely sing. You can dial in a sound profile that is rich, dynamic, and perfectly suited to your tastes. For those who enjoy tinkering, the audio potential is immense. For those who want a perfect plug-and-play experience, the default sound might feel underwhelming. Plus users can share your audio setup with a QR code. This means it's easy to find audiophiles that've made an ideal sound profile for your preferred type of music. This makes the headphones a music junkie's delight! Additionally, although the Bluetooth connection has been perfectly reliable, the headphones come with 3.5mm cable as well, if you want that physical connection for your audio.

ANC, Battery, and Features: Punching Above Their Weight

The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is surprisingly potent. It does an excellent job of silencing the consistent, low-frequency drones of planes, trains, and air conditioners, putting it in contention with models that cost significantly more.

Battery life is simply phenomenal. Nothing claims up to 80 hours with ANC off and a massive 35-50 hours with ANC on. My experience confirms these numbers are accurate, placing the Headphone (1) at the very top of the class for endurance. In regards to ANC & Battery, these headphones are a superb value, especially at their pricepoint.

The Verdict: A Uniquely Compelling Choice for the Right Person

The Nothing Headphone (1) is a fantastic and refreshing product. It's not trying to be a direct copy of its competitors; it's forging its own path. It succeeds by offering a truly unique design, the best physical controls on the market, class-leading battery life, and powerful ANC.

Who are they for?

If you value distinctive design, love the satisfaction of tactile controls, and enjoy personalizing your audio with an EQ, these are an outstanding choice. The excellent battery life and rare water-resistance rating add a layer of practicality that's hard to ignore.

Who should look elsewhere?

If your top priorities are the very best-in-class comfort, or the most compact design, you may want to look at lighter, more foldable competitors.

For those whose priorities align with what Nothing offers, the Headphone (1) is a brilliant debut that delivers style and substance in equal measure.

First off, I really dig Nothing and their brand. While I’m an iPhone user, I have always been envious of the nothing phone hardware.

I have used the AirPod’s for as long as they have been out. First the original, then AirPod Pro, and now the Pro2. They are great but I wanted something more with better sound.

I will say I looked at the AirPod Max’s and tried some- but they didn’t quite hit the nail on the head. They sounded amazing and felt premium, but the price was on the higher end of what i wanted to pay, but ultimately, the reason i opted not to get them was because of the lack of a dang power button! Having to put them away in that little bra thing just seemed annoying.

So when Nothing announced the Headphone 1, my ears perked up! Cool retro-futuristic styling (this is going to be based on your personal preference, but I love the way these look), real buttons and a dedicated power switch, and AUX out?! To good to be true.

The connected just fine to my iPhone 15 Pro Max. I downloaded the Nothing app, synced them via Bluetooth and played a song….and was immediately let down. They sounded extremely underwhelming. The bass was fine, and the mids were okay, but the high end and treble sounded washed out and really lacking.

But here is the thing: the Nothing app has the almost unrivaled ability to use a powerful and super customizable equalizer. Even better, you can scan a QR code from others to import other custom equalizer settings. I found one specific profile on the YouTube video where the Nothing CEO reacts to reviews of the Headphone 1. In there he shares the QR code from a well respected audiophile group.

Once I applied the custom EQ settings, the sound quality was much improved, but still not as good as the AirPod Max.

The Volume was sufficiently loud, and the ear pads are very comfortable. The head strap also was perfect for my large melon, although I had to extend the arms out as much as possible.

Build quality is also very premium. It’s a combination of metal and plastic. I love the way it feels and nothing feels loose or cheap about it.

The headphones fold over, which is fine for most people, but I have a thick neck (18-19 neck for dress shirts). So I couldn't actually fold down the headphones onto my clavicles as others can, but they felt just fine sitting on my neck as long as I didn’t flip the earphone things down.

I tried the AUX, hoping it would improve the audio but it sadly didn’t really do much. Also, the headphones must be powered on and have battery power in order to be used as AUX.

Active noise cancellation seemed pretty good, but I’ll be honest, my AirPod Pro 2s sound much better. To be fair, I think they get a much stronger seal in my ear. But these will work just fine for drowning out the cabin noise in an aircraft, car ride, or just trying to tune out the office.

The mic quality isn’t bad but it isn’t exceptional. It will work just fine for answering calls or using for Discord.

But then we come back to the whole point of headphones- the sound. The overall sound quality of these is just okay. I don’t consider myself an audiophile, but I guess I am enough to know the quality is lacking.

Why would Nothing put out mediocre headphones in such a beautiful package? Well, I suspect they are actually trying to market it as a fashion/lifestyle accessory and not as cutting edge sound.

I will say if you love the look of these, and are looking for something that feels premium, has great battery life, and is super comfortable for long wear, and have average quality sound- these are the ones for you!

If you decide all that stuff is secondary, and want something with high end sound, I’d say this isn’t it and you need to look at Sony or Bose for the higher fidelity audio.

I have a pair of Beats Studio3s that I’ve used for the last 3 years and I finally got fed up with them because the ear cups were to shallow and would press on my ears and I would be in pain 30 minutes after putting them on. The Nothing Headphones are perfect, they don’t press on my ears, the sound amazing, I LOVE they they can be wired and Bluetooth and it sounds great either way. Sometimes i forget I don’t have AirPods in because the sound quality is so good. They look amazing and the although the controls look intimidating it’s actually very intuitive. My only complaint it that they make sound when you interact with the controls. The weakest point of these headphones is the carrying case, mostly the outer material being felt. I really don’t know why they decided to make the case felt on the outside but it traps Altair and fur like nobody’s business. The case otherwise is very protective and high quality though. I would recommend these headphones for anyone looking for some.

Since Bose QC35ii, I haven't seen wireless ANC headphones I didn't immediately feel like returning soon after putting them on. Not so this time.

Physical controls are that important and that much better than the weird trend of making everything controlled by touch. No triple tap or two finger swipe combinations to figure out and remember, which may also be incompatible between brands if you use headphones from multiple brands. No accidental pauses, skips or volume changes because you accidentally touch something, brush against a pillow or a hood. It's like comparing typing on an iPad screen vs. a mechanical keyboard. You just get satisfying clicks, toggles and rolls.

The 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable may be a tad annoying to switch to since I have the tiny 2.5mm to 3.5mm cables strategic plugged into some of my devices or instruments but is obviously a better choice since the 2.5mm plugs and jacks wear out so quickly.

I was surprised to find how satisfying and secure the rectangular earcups make it to grab and hold your headphones. They may seem slightly weird at first, but I think this may be a great improvement!

No automatic pause when taking off by default, but that also means you won't accidentally stop playback when you just want to scratch your ear or adjust the earcup. You can turn it on though.

With the long lasting battery, I may also finally not need multiple pairs of headphones to have a spare any time I don't charge my QCs overnight for all day use.

The spatial audio with head tracking feature seems fun. I'm going to keep it on for a while to see if it's more of an improvement or an annoyance. It basically makes the sound seem to come from in front of you, so when you turn your head - it moves the stereo balance a bit in the other direction. I'd turned it on once or twice for novelty, but then turned it off and forgot about it.

There are tons of settings to explore in the app including supposedly most customizable equalizer and... Essential News widget?

So far, these seem like the most innovative tech product I got in a long time out of a very long list of gadgets.

Now, after a month of use I did see a few issues.

Compared to my QC35s, they squeeze your ears a bit harder and the padding also isn't as soft. If you don't have them in the exact right place - they may also end up pressing hard plastic into your ears. Overall, they may be a bit less comfortable in long use, but I'm sure YMMV.

The other issue is that they have a problem where occasionally when I pause playback from my phone using the button on the headphones and a minute later try to resume it the same way - the headphones end up resuming playback on my iPad instead of the phone which I last paused. Hopefully a firmware update will fix it soon.

Thirdly, the battery lasts a few days, which is great, except now I'm getting out of the habit of charging my headphones every night, which can be a pain since you need to then open the app to see how much juice is left!

One thing which can be a positive or negative depending on the user - they do turn some heads. I had quite a few people compliment or ask about them when I went out with them on. If you want to wear your headphones to hide and isolate from society - these may not be for you! :)

Overall, 95% happy with the purchase.

Absolutely love these. They're a decent weight but not too heavy and feel durable. Visually they have a very unique look that you won't just see a bunch of people wearing, so they stand out in a unique way, which I love. The sound is very solid and the standard app allows you to adjust the EQ to your liking.

I love the button setup also. On other headphones I have to assign certain basic functions (fwd, rwd, vol up/down, play, stop, pause) But these have enough physical buttons that at least ALL basic headphone functions you would want all have dedicated buttons out of the box. So you don't have to assign them to double press or hold functions.

The bass and overall sound are great also.

Tardo en llegar pero muy buen producto

I really like this headphone, the sound is perfect and it looks so cool. highly recommended.

Excellent rapport qualité prix, propose des fonctionnalités que l’on retrouve sur des casques à 2,5* le prix, excellente finition ainsi qu’un design original!

Pour la qualité sonore n’étant pas professionnel c’est en regardant des tests de « Pepe » que je suis passé par la case achat 219€ pour un produit pareil c’est juste cool!

Malzeme kalitesi, ses kontrolleri çok iyi fakat ağırlığı ve ses kalitesini beğenmedim

Hab die Kopfhörer jetzt seit ein paar Tagen in Schwarz. Es wurde jetzt ein neues Software-Update rausgebracht, meiner Meinung nach klingt der Sound jetzt viel besser, den Equalizer trotzdem zu benutzen wär trotzdem zu empfehlen weil der einfach unfassbar gut ist, man kann quasi alles einstellen.

Die Geräuschunterdrückung ist zwar nicht die beste aber macht ihren Job gut, da die Kopfhörer auch so gebaut wie sie eben gebaut sind (Ohrcushion geht ziemlich tief und isoliert sehr gut) ist die Geräuschünterdrückung auch wenn sie eigentlich aus ist ziemlich gut. Der Transparenz-Modus funktioniert auch wunderbar, so dass man trotzdem Gespräche führen kann. Die Cushion passen sehr gut, Ohren schwitzen aber ziemlich vor allem beim Sport, da der Stoff nicht so luftdurchlässig ist. Die Cushions sind auch abnehmbar / austauschbar, muss man nur das ganze Teil abziehen, einen Ersatzcushion zu finden könnte schwer werden aber naja sieht man dann.

Das Design sieht in echt meiner Meinung nach noch besser aus als auf den Fotos, siehe Bilder.

Die Verarbeitung ist hervorragend gut, falls Plastik dran ist sieht & fühlt man es nicht, das kalte Gefühl vom Aluminium gefällt mir sehr.

Die Bedienung mit den physischen Tasten ist auch angenehm und simpel, fühlen sich auch sehr gut an.

Das Case ist auch gut verarbeitet und sieht genauso elegant aus.

Alles in allem, meiner Meinung nach hervorragende Kopfhörer definitiv wert den Preis.

Der Hauptkaufpunkt ist das Design & da gibt es keine anderen Kopfhörer die es besser machen.