After two weeks of use, here's my take on the Nothing Ear "a" wireless earbuds
The Nothing Ear a and Nothing 2 wireless earbuds have gained attention as top mid-range options in the market. I recently got my hands on the Nothing Ear 'a' for a detailed review of its performance and features. These earbuds have been the subject of much discussion and praise in recent months. The review will delve into the actual performance and features of the Nothing Ear 'a'. It is time to see if these earbuds live up to the hype they have received.
The Design and comfort
The charging case design stands out due to its resemblance to a tiny pill organizer. Aside from the earbuds, the text will address this in a few lines. The charging case is lightweight and compact, fitting nicely in pockets. The gloss finish on the case is prone to fingerprints and scratches, causing some concern for durability.
The Nothing Ear 'a' earbuds are lightweight and comfortable for extended use, with no inner ear fatigue. The critical question is whether the earbuds securely stay in the ears, and based on my user experience, the answer is yes. Even during rigorous training sessions at the gym, the earbuds remained firmly in place.
The Nothing Ear 'a' earbuds have an IP54 rating, offering protection against water splash and dust. The IPX2 rating applies to the charging case. Both the earbuds and case are durable providing reliable protection and functionality for active lifestyles in any environment.
The Sound quality
The most important factor when considering headphones is its sound quality and active noise cancellation. Sound quality should be judged based on personal listening enjoyment and music genre preferences. With that said, the Nothing Ear 'a' earbuds are highlighted as one of the best mid-range options in terms of sound quality. The earbuds can definitely compete with the more expensive alternatives.
Nothing Ear 'a' emphasizes bass significantly, without distortion and mudding, regardless of whether bass levels are increased. Despite this, the background sound stage and vocals maintain precision and clarity. Overall, the Nothing Ear 'a' earbuds offer impressive sound quality and value for their price.
The EQ adjustments via the app
The Nothing Ear "a" app is available for both Apple and Android users and offers an intuitive EQ adjustment setting. Users can choose Balance ( default), more bass, and more treble without drastic alterations to sound. Alternatively, you can manually adjust mid-highs graphically, resembling a steering wheel. How the EQ is utilized ultimately depends on the user's specific listening pleasure and music type.
Active Noise Cancelling and Battery Life
Active noise cancellation is a standard feature in mid-range and high-end headphones. The effectiveness of this feature depends on the manufacturer's engineering capabilities. The Nothing Ear 'a' earbuds excel at reducing ambient noise, even in noisy environments such as subway stations and crowded streets.
In specific environments, the transparency mode is presented slightly at a lower volume, though the sound is natural to the ears. However, while in transparency mode, I detected a hissing sound, which was cleaned up with minor adjustments to the EQ.
I tested the Nothing Ear 'a', and as advertised, you get 9.5 hours of battery life with ANC off and 5.5 hours with ANC on. The case can hold up to 33 hours of battery life with ANC off and 19 hours with ANC on. Overall, the Nothing Ear 'a' has impressive battery life for mid-range earbuds.
The Connectivity and Controls
The earbuds use Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity standard and support AAC, LDAC, and SBC. Google Fast Pair enables instant connection to smartphones. The multipoint sharing feature allows connectivity with up to two devices simultaneously. The Bluetooth connectivity is robust, allowing for a range of up to 30 feet before the sound quality is affected. Overall, the Nothing Ear 'a' earbuds offer solid and reliable Bluetooth connectivity.
The Nothing Ear 'a' earbuds don't have touch controls; they are controlled by holding the stem and a series of pinches. The control layout is identical for both earbuds, with different pinch combinations for various functions. Using the app, you can customize the control layout and configure volume controls, and the latest Nothing OS update offers access to ChatGpt and a pinch-to-speak gesture for AI interaction. The pinch control is preferred over tap touch controls due to its responsive feel and allows cycling through ANC and Transparency modes. Overall, the pinch control of the Nothing Ear 'a' earbuds provides a responsive and customizable way to manage playback, calls, and access the AI interface.
Epilouge
The Nothing Ear 'a' wireless earbuds, priced at $100, offer impeccable design and quality audio. They boast superb Bluetooth connectivity, codec support, and an audio customization app. In addition, the earbuds feature a robust build quality. Interested buyers can find the Nothing Ear 'a' on Amazon. It is a must-have choice for those seeking affordable, high-quality wireless earbuds.
