Nothing Headphone (a) Review: The Best Mid-Range Headphones Just Got Better

The Nothing Headphone (a) are a near-perfect follow-up to the original Nothing Headphone (1), fixing the soundstage issues that plagued their predecessor while keeping everything that made them great. And they’ve done it all while cutting the price in half in some regions. At $199 / £149 / AU$329, these headphones are poised to dominate the mid-range market.

Sound Quality: A Major Leap Forward

The most critical improvement in the Nothing Headphone (a) is the sound. The original model’s narrow soundstage felt claustrophobic, but these new headphones deliver an expansive, open audio experience that breathes life into every track. Songs spread out naturally, creating an energetic and emotive listening experience that’s hard to beat.

The bass response is particularly impressive. Coming out of the box with the ‘More Bass’ setting activated, these headphones deliver deep, powerful lows that work beautifully with electronic and pop music. The bass is well-integrated into the overall sound profile, maintaining clarity even when the lower frequencies get muscular.

However, there’s a quirk worth noting: the bass can be overwhelming for acoustic tracks. When listening to Allie X’s “Regulars,” the double bass sounded unnaturally heavy until I switched to the ‘Balanced’ EQ setting. Fortunately, Nothing’s app makes it easy to customize your sound, and I ended up setting up a quick EQ toggle for different music genres.

The mid-range performance is excellent, offering plenty of space for instruments to express themselves. Guitars have a satisfying chunkiness, complex arrangements remain clear, and vocals cut through the mix beautifully. The treble is well-balanced too—present and detailed without ever becoming harsh or fatiguing.

One area where these headphones fall slightly short is in micro-detail. Compared to the Sennheiser Accentum Plus, there’s less texture in guitar strings, tambourine hits, and drum skins. The Sennheisers also offer better instrument separation, though they come with their own trade-offs, including less bass depth and reduced dynamic impact.

Design and Build: Refined and More Approachable

Nothing has softened the design of these headphones compared to the original model. The cyborg aesthetic is gone, replaced by gentler curves and more rounded ear cups. The aluminum has been replaced with plastic, but the build quality remains premium. The design is still unmistakably Nothing, just more mainstream-friendly.

The weight remains a consideration at 310g—lighter than the original 329g but still heavier than many competitors. This requires a firmer clamping force to stay secure, and the synthetic ear pads aren’t particularly breathable, which can lead to warmth during extended listening sessions.

The color options are hit-or-miss. The yellow and pink variants look like a “fried egg” with the yellow mound surrounded by white. The black and white options are more universally appealing and feel like the right balance of Nothing’s signature style and mainstream appeal.

Controls: Best in Class

Nothing has retained the fantastic control system from the original model, and it’s arguably the best implementation on any headphones. The volume roller is a joy to use—premium feeling, reliable under the thumb, and with satisfying audible clicks. The rocker underneath for track skipping is equally intuitive.

The customizable button on the right ear cup adds versatility, allowing you to set it for voice assistant, EQ switching, camera remote, or mic mute. This level of customization is rare at this price point.

Features and Battery Life: Outstanding Value

The Nothing app is exceptional, offering extensive customization options including different noise cancellation modes, spatial audio processing (Concert and Cinema modes), multiple EQ presets, and gaming low-latency mode. The dual-device connectivity is a welcome addition, though it should probably be enabled by default.

Battery life is phenomenal—75 hours with ANC on and 135 hours with it off. This puts these headphones among the best in class for longevity. The noise cancellation is strong but not class-leading, which is perfectly acceptable at this price point. The Transparency mode works well without the robotic artifacts found in some implementations.

One notable omission is the lack of auto-pause when removing the headphones—a feature that’s becoming standard even in budget models. The carrying case is also a downgrade from the original, replaced by a simple drawstring bag that feels more like a swim bag than a premium accessory.

Should You Buy Them?

Buy them if:

• You want exceptional sound quality at a mid-range price
• You value extensive customization options
• You need outstanding battery life
• You appreciate premium build quality and controls
• You’re an electronic or pop music fan who loves bass

Don’t buy them if:

• You primarily listen to acoustic or classical music
• You need the absolute best noise cancellation available
• You want auto-pause functionality
• You prefer ultra-lightweight headphones
• You need a hard carrying case

Also Consider

• Sennheiser Accentum Plus: More neutral sound, lighter weight, better detail retrieval
• Sony WH-1000XM5: Superior noise cancellation and auto-pause, but significantly more expensive
• Soundcore Space One Pro: Similar price point with good features, though not quite matching Nothing’s sound quality

How I Tested

I used the Nothing Headphone (a) for a full week as my primary headphones, testing them during commutes, at work, and around the house. I compared them directly with the original Nothing Headphone (1), Sennheiser Accentum Plus, and Sony WH-1000XM4, switching between them to evaluate differences in sound quality, comfort, and features. Testing was conducted primarily over Bluetooth and USB-C wired connections, using a pre-release version of the Nothing X app.

As TechRadar’s AV team lead with over a decade of audio reviewing experience, I brought both technical expertise and real-world usage patterns to this evaluation.

tags: #NothingHeadphoneA #headphones #audio #techreview #soundquality #batterylife #ANC #NothingTech #midrangeaudio #wirelessheadphones

viral: “Half the price, twice the value” – Nothing’s pricing strategy is revolutionary. “The roller control is addictive” – Once you try it, you’ll never go back. “135 hours of battery life? That’s not a typo” – These headphones could last you weeks. “Sound so good, you’ll forget they’re budget” – Audio quality that punches above its weight class. “The app that does everything right” – Customization options that actually make sense. “Bass that makes electronic music come alive” – Perfect for modern music production. “Auto-pause who? These last 135 hours” – Battery life so good, you won’t miss the basics. “The carrying case that’s actually a bag” – Sometimes cost-cutting is too obvious. “Soundstage so wide, it’s like surround sound” – Immersive audio without the premium price. “Weight you can feel, but quality you can trust” – Premium feel with a few trade-offs.

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