A new listening dimension that will surprise you

A few minutes ago, a novelty from the workshop of the innovative manufacturer Nothing saw the light of day – open headphones Nothing Ear (Open). I had the privilege of spending the last week with them and I have to say that I was very surprised by them. And in a good way.

What are open headphones?

But first, let’s talk about what open headphones actually are. It is relatively a new trend in the audio worldwhich became widely known thanks to models such as Bose Ultra Open Earbuds or Huawei FreeClip. These pieces do pretty much the exact opposite of what you’d expect from headphones – they don’t clog your ears. So no ANC, no isolation from surroundings. On the contrary, even if you play the music at full blast, you can still hear very well what is happening around you.

Headphones they hang by the ears and your ear canal remains completely free. So you can wear them for a really long time without feeling any discomfort. The key element here is the so-called three-point balance system. Nothing developed this system after 42 iterations and testing on 160 people from Asia, Europe and the US. The result is a universal fit that should fit most users. The ear hooks are made of pleasant silicone, and I personally have to say that after a few days of wearing them, I practically forgot about the headphones – they are so comfortable. Even when running or they stay firmly in place.

They keep Nothing Ear (Open). characteristic transparent design brands, but bring a completely new form. With dimensions of 41.4 x 51.5 x 14.0 mm and a weight of only 8.1 grams per handset, it is still a relatively tolerable solution. With its dimensions of 125.9 x 44.0 x 19.0 mm and a weight of 62.4 g, the case is relatively large compared to traditional headphones and may get in the way of your pocket every now and then.

Sound

Now for the most important part – how do they actually play? Surprisingly good. Nothing bet on 14.2mm dynamic driver with titanium membranewhich turned out to be a hit. The sound is clear, detailed and surprisingly spacious.

Sure, if you’re expecting booming bass like from closed-back headphones, you’ll be disappointed. But honestly, you can’t even expect that from open headphones. Even so, the bass component is strong enough not to make you reach for the equalizer every five minutes. Algorithms take care of it Bass Enhancewhich optimize lower frequencies in real time.

Each earpiece has two microphones and technology Clear Voice 3.0which should provide clear sound. The company did a solid job here as well. Outside while playing sports, the other party could hear me without any problems and even the stronger wind was partially suppressed.

What really got me is the technology Sound Seal System. Nothing claims that thanks to it, it minimizes the leakage of sound into the surroundings. And you know what? They don’t talk. Up to about 80% volume, you really won’t annoy anyone around you with your playlist. When listening, it seems almost unbelievable, because you feel that the person next to you must hear everything clearly, but they really hear practically nothing. This brings us to the scenario that I absolutely fell in love with Nothing Ear (Open).

Personal experience

Although Nothing Ear (Open) are primarily intended for everyday wear and sports activities, I found a completely unexpected use for them – playing games and watching movies in the evening. I paired them with the TV and I was in seventh heaven. I was able to enjoy a full sound experience without disturbing the rest of the household or feeling cut off from my surroundings.

The sound of the games was surprisingly rich and spacious. Whether it was enemy footsteps in Valorant or orchestral music in Kingdom Come, everything sounded clean and detailed.

But what really got me was a sense of some knowledge of the space around me. While I was immersed in virtual worlds, I was still aware of what was happening around me. I heard when someone walked down the hall or when the fridge started making strange noises. This aspect gave me a strange sense of peace – knowing I wasn’t going to miss anything important that might be happening in the real world.

It’s like having a miniature soundbar right in your ears. You hear every detail of the game or movie, but at the same time you perceive what is happening around you. No more paranoid checking to see if someone is tapping you on the shoulder, no more fears that half the house will burn down while you dive into virtual worlds.

Another thing I appreciated was the absence of mine sound claustrophobia. What do I mean? With traditional closed headphones, I sometimes feel the need to take them off and take a breath after listening for a long time. With Ear (Open) this problem has completely disappeared. I could wear them for hours without feeling any discomfort or the need to take a break.

I have to say that this unexpected use of Nothing Ear (Open) significantly elevated my evening relaxation time. Being able to enjoy a full audio experience from games and movies without disturbing others or feeling cut off from reality is something I’ve been looking for for a long time. And paradoxically, I found it in headphones that were (probably) primarily designed for completely different purposes.

Nothing X application

The Nothing X app is a key addition to the Nothing Ear (Open) headphones. It offers an intuitive interface with a number of useful functions. The main advantage is the advanced equalizer, which allows detailed adjustment of the sound profile, including frequency settings. You can create, save and even share your EQ profiles using QR codes with others.

In addition to the equalizer, the application offers the ability to customize control gestures and set a low latency mode for gaming. It also provides firmware updates, which by the way happened to me once before.

Connectivity and codecs

Ear (Open) support Bluetooth 5.3 and offers codecs AAC a SBC. The absence of more advanced codecs such as aptX or LDAC can be disappointing, but for an audiophile experience, a connoisseur will still put something completely different on his ears. It is also a matter of course low latency modewhich you will especially appreciate during the already mentioned gameplay or function Dual Connection allowing simultaneous connection to two devices.

Transparency that pleases

I won’t forgive myself for this and I just have to mention it. Nothing has a completely unique approach to presenting its products in the so-called reviews guide. This is a document that companies prepare for journalists and reviewers when launching a new product. So it’s a package of information that includes everything from technical specifications to key features. At a time when most manufacturers carefully filter information and try to show only the best aspects of their products, Nothing goes in the opposite direction.

Nothing shows a great deal of confidence, but at the same time respects the time of all tech journalists and creators

The company provided us clear comparison tablewhich places Ear (Open) alongside the main competitors in the open headphone segment. And what is remarkable – Nothing is not afraid to show not only its strengths, but also the areas where the competition can have the upper hand.

Function	Nothing Ear (Open)	Bose Ultra Open	Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo	Beats Powerbeats Pro	Huawei FreeClip
Dinner (EUR)	149	300	120	300	179
Design	Ear hook	Ear cuff	Ear hook	Ear hook	Ear cuff
Handset weight	8 g	6.4 g	9.6 g	11 g	5.6 g
Battery life (headphones)	8 hours	7.5 hours	7.5 hours	9 o’clock	8 hours
Durability with case	30 hours	27 hours	38.5 hours	24 hours	36 hours
Converter size	14.2 mm	12 mm	17 x 12 mm	12 mm	10.8 mm
Codecs	AAC, SBC	SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive	AAC, SBC, LDAC	AAC	SBC, AAC, L2HC
Water resistance	IP54 (earphones and case)	IPX4 (headphones only)	IP54 (headset only)	IPX4 (headphones only)	IP54 (headset only)
Sound leakage reduction	Sound Seal System	Open Audio technology	10 mm driver to reduce sound leakage	THAT	Reverse sound wave system

For example, they openly admit that Ear (Open) only supports AAC and SBC codecs, while, for example, Bose Ultra Open also offers more advanced aptX Adaptive. On the other hand, they show that they have the upper hand in terms of battery life or converter size.

I find this approach refreshing and also extremely helpful. Instead of a lengthy search and verification of individual specifications, we have everything clearly in one place. Nothing shows a great deal of confidence, but at the same time respects the time of all tech journalists and creators. Thank you!

Battery and features

With stamina 8 hours on a single charge (and a total of 30 hours with the case) belongs to Ear (Open) above average in its category. The fast charging will also please you – 10 minutes in the case will give you 2 hours of listening time.

Nothing has not forgotten about modern gadgets either. Headphones offer, for example integration with ChatGPTas well as the already existing Ear (2024) and Ear (a). Though to be honest, I didn’t want to use this feature, and I couldn’t actually, since it’s exclusive to Nothing phones. However, artificial intelligence assistants are coming at us from all sides anyway, so I like to take a break from them at least while listening.

Conclusion

Nothing Ear (Open) are not headphones for everyone. If you are looking for perfect isolation from the surroundings or a bass whirlwind, go for classic closed models. But if you want to stay connected to your surroundings, whether it’s for safety during outdoor sports or simply because you hate the feeling of stuffy ears, this is the choice for you.

For the price CZK 3,999 you get headphones that offer great sound, comfortable wear and a unique listening experience. Yes, they are more expensive than some competing solutions, but the sound quality and processing justifies the price difference in my opinion.

Nothing Ear (Open) are proof that even in the seemingly saturated headphone market there is still room for innovation. And that sometimes less (insulation) can mean more (comfort and versatility). If you’re looking for headphones that aren’t quite headphones, this could be the one for you.

Editor’s assessment: 95 / 100 %

We thank the Czech representation of the company for providing the watch Nothing.