Nothing (Nothing x KEF) "Headphones (1)" - New ANC Headphones

n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm on 02/07/2025 - 18:49
Last edited 02/07/2025 - 21:07

these just got released. they were leaked a few days ago so looks like that was the final design/appearance.

new ANC headphones from Nothing and KEF collab.
shorter review for impatient users: Macrumors, SoundGuys

slightly longer review by this reviewer I've watched a few times and keep getting recommended: TechSpurt

probably sound decent. have a unique look, and the App EQ is really advanced PEQ.
just like all the others tries in this segment, from Dyson, Sonos, Ziljian, Beyerdynamic their ANC can't compete with the recently released Sony XM6.

but for anyone looking for alternate design and great battery life it looks like a option.

Retail price US$299. Official Page

⁕Up to 80 hours of playback (one review says 30 hours, with LDAC, ANC on maximum = sounds pretty much equal to Sony XM which claims 30 and gets that with ANC on, like 28 with LDAC on, and 40+ with everything turned off but why).
⁕Sound by KEF
⁕Real-time adaptive ANC

Electrical & Electronics Headphones Nothing Technology Ltd

Comments

  • CheapandUsed on 02/07/2025 - 19:51
    +1

    Love the cassette futurist design of these.. like something out of 2001: a space Odyssey

    • n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm on 02/07/2025 - 21:12

      yeah the looks are interesting at first.
      but pretty sure it's one of those things which, if you don't have the money, kind of wears away quickly. like already I wouldn't be buying these 100% based on appearance.
      at the same time I know this kind of initial hype is what draws a lot of customers. and if you really like it and buy it now, you will probably be happy with the looks for much longer.

      after having time to watch the full Techspurt review. one odd thing is when around your neck, the two corners of the square shape bang against each other when you walk, and one side already had the paint scratched. tbh though with decent transparency these days, you won't bother to hang the headphones around your neck at all, just quickly press the button to enter transparency if you need to hear ambient sounds.

      claimed battery life of 80 hours is also a "Up to" best case scenario. they said 30 hours with LDAC, ANC on max. tbf not many people going to use LDAC so will probably be a bit better with just ANC on max.

      also worth mentioning the shorter Macrumors review mentions the case is pretty big. this is a problem for many people apparently they want the case as compact as it can get.

      • n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm on 04/07/2025 - 19:22

        just adding some more battery life info from watching reviews.

        30 hours = LDAC on, ANC on.
        35 hours = ANC on. LDAC off.
        80 hours = ANC off, LDAC off.

  • CrispyChrispy on 02/07/2025 - 19:52

    I do wonder when the day will come that consumer headphones won't be tuned as absolute bass cannons out of the box.

    • n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm on 02/07/2025 - 21:15

      Nothing's app EQ is very advanced PEQ. you can literally fix any sound issue with it. I knew about this since their TWS earbuds (Ear series).

      so imo it's one thing that it has over the Sony XM6. which has a much better GEQ than the XM4/5. but still very limited in fixing issues with sound compared to PEQ.

  • Wiadro on 02/07/2025 - 23:53
    +1

    They look cool; I’ll buy when $99

    • n3ck3ntry8bort0rgasm on 03/07/2025 - 18:19

      I’ll buy when $99

      I'll consider when $149 AU dollars. fyi $299 is US dollar retail price.

      50% off is reasonable. but I'm hoping for that price in AU dollars.

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