As a music enthusiast who’s always sought to blend my love for tunes with the reality of my surroundings, I can confidently say that the nwm One has been a game-changer! These open-ear headphones offer an exceptional listening experience that’s hard to beat.
For almost a decade now, headphone designs have remained largely consistent across various brands, despite their distinct appearances and sound characteristics. Recently, there’s been a significant rise in popularity of open-ear headphones that enable users to hear their surroundings while enjoying music or other content. These types of headphones generally adopt an earbud-like structure to achieve this functionality, with options like Shokz bone-conduction earbuds and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds using air conduction.
As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve had the privilege of testing out the nwm ONE headphones, a unique blend of traditional over-ear design with an open-ear concept. These headphones caught my attention at Tokyo HiFi a few months back and now that they’re here in North America, I was eager to give them a spin. So, is the technology behind these headphones living up to the hype? Let’s find out!
These particular headphone styles may not suit everyone, yet I’ve found myself wearing them continuously since I got them a few weeks back. Despite their seemingly playful appearance, these headphones offer an enjoyable user experience.
What’s In The Box?
- nwm One Headphones
- USB-C to USB-C cable (For power and USB audio)
Despite other high-end headphones in this price range offering additional items, the simplicity of the nwm One package (just including the headphones and a USB cable) doesn’t necessarily detract from its appeal. The minimalist design of these headphones, particularly in their light grey color scheme, aligns well with the sparse accessories provided. It’s not essential to download the nwm app for immediate use of these headphones; in fact, unless you wish to adjust the equalizer settings, it can be skipped entirely.
Based on the type of headphones you get, they come partially charged – about 60%. I managed to power them up and start playing music just a couple of minutes after switching them on. That initial charge was enough for us to carry out several days of testing, including extended listening periods.
Design & Comfort
Due to the minimal design of the nwm One headphones, with most of their bulk eliminated, they’re exceptionally lightweight and comfortable to wear for extended periods. As a glasses wearer, I found that the earcups didn’t exert too much pressure on my spectacles or dig into my head. However, it’s worth noting that these headphones lack significant clamping force, which makes them less suitable for intense workouts; instead, workout enthusiasts might prefer open-ear headphones like those from Shokz.
Due to our experience during testing, I think it’s important to note that these headphones may draw some unusual glances in places like grocery stores or public areas. Although they aren’t extremely futuristic in appearance, they have a design reminiscent of advanced technology from the future, as portrayed in shows like Star Trek. This isn’t necessarily a disadvantage, but if you prefer headphones that blend in, these might not be the best choice for you.
Connectivity
Primarily, the New Wave M1 headphones function as a daily Bluetooth device, which is their main purpose. However, they can also be used via USB audio when wired, offering convenience if they need to recharge or for a wired option on desktops, but it’s the Bluetooth functionality that truly shines.
priced at $299, these headphones undeniably fall into the higher-end category, which is why their Bluetooth connectivity and setup process feel of high quality. Yet, you might be astonished by how many expensive headphones have trouble maintaining a connection when not close to the device. The nwm One, however, managed to keep a reliable connection throughout my entire apartment, even with walls and doors obstructing the signal, making it effortless to listen to music with these headphones for extended periods, even when my phone needed charging.
It’s noteworthy that when you pair the One with a Windows PC, it will default to functioning as a headset rather than high-quality headphones. However, this can be effortlessly adjusted by navigating to the sound settings within your Windows system. This issue seems to stem more from Windows’ configuration than from the nwm One itself.
Sound Quality
What really impressed me about the nwm One was its exceptional sound quality, which stands out even among open-ear headphones. In fact, most other open-ear models fall short when it comes to matching the audio performance of conventional headphones, but the nwm One is different in this regard.
Even discerning audio enthusiasts may discover points of contention when examining the One, particularly in comparison to high-fidelity headphones. However, when we shift our focus from the technical specifications and compare the overall listening experience instead, the One presents an aspect that is currently hard to achieve with any other headphones on the market.
Experiencing music with these open-ear headphones is nothing short of enchanting, thanks to their exceptional driver quality and entirely open design. After trying them on just once, other open-ear headphones appeared rather dull by comparison. These headphones let you appreciate the richness of music without compromising any part of the mix or the brilliance in the higher frequencies, all while keeping you fully connected to your surroundings. While isolating yourself from sounds can be enjoyable at times, merging music with your environment makes it feel like a soundtrack, intensifying the emotional aspect of listening.
On numerous occasions throughout our trial phase, I found that these headphones enabled a richer listening experience compared to when I listened to the same playlists using active noise cancellation (ANC) headphones.
Overall Performance
Due to the completely open design of the nwm One, featuring two standard headphone drivers, it might seem like everyone around you could hear whatever you’re listening to. But here’s where the nwm One truly impressed us. Alongside the 35mm drivers that deliver the sound for you, there are 12mm drivers that employ phase cancellation to generate a wave that substantially decreases the music or podcast leaking from these headphones. Unlike many other headphones, these smaller drivers aren’t primarily used for active noise cancelation; instead, they work to minimize the noise that escapes from the headphones themselves.
Initially, when I came across this feature, I must admit my doubts about its efficiency ran deep. However, following hands-on experience with it, I can confidently say that those doubts have vanished completely. It performs remarkably well in minimizing sound leakage, even at maximum volumes, which, to be honest, can often become uncomfortable to the ears. Typically, I found myself using it at 50% volume or lower, yet its power was still more than sufficient.
Is The nwm One Right For You?
In simpler terms, if you’re seeking a headphone experience where you can fully enjoy your music while staying mindful of your surroundings, it’s challenging to find a more suitable choice than the nwm One at present. Whether you’re an enthusiast or a casual listener yearning for a unique audio journey, the nwm One delivers an exceptional experience that currently sets it apart from others in the market.
Few headphones elicit such enthusiasm from me to discuss with my loved ones, but these particular headphones spark conversations right away and are a blast to let others try out. Even those who aren’t avid headphone users can immediately identify the listening experience on the nwm One as one-of-a-kind.
Alternative Products
| Open-Ear Headphones Better Exercise | Shokz OpenSwim Pro | Check It Out Here! |
| Open-Back Headphones Alternative | HiFiMan Sundara | Check It Out Here! |
| Air Conduction Open-Ear Headphones | Bose Ultra Open Earbuds | Check It Out Here! |
FAQ
Q: Are open-ear headphones good?
Open-style earphones deliver the same level of raw power as conventional headphones but make them an ideal choice for activities like working out, commuting, or multitasking. This is because they allow you to listen to music while still being mindful of what’s happening around you.
Q: Are open-ear headphones better than bone-conduction headphones?
As a music enthusiast, I’ve found that open-ear headphones offer a more vivid and immersive audio experience because they don’t rely on bone conduction to transmit sound. On the flip side, bone conduction headphones are particularly beneficial for athletes who require enhanced water and dust resistance, features often lacking in regular headphones.
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2024-09-28 01:06