Open Ear Headphones Just Got a New Competitor: The NTT Sonority nwm ONE Open-Ear Headphones

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Open Ear Headphones Just Got a New Competitor: The NTT Sonority nwm ONE Open-Ear Headphones

Highlights

  • The nwm ONE headphones combine traditional over-ear design with open-ear technology for a sleek and innovative look.
  • These headphones use noise suppression to prevent sound leakage, addressing a common issue with open-ear headphones.
  • While battery life may be slightly below average, the nwm ONE offers impressive features like Sony 360 Reality Audio support.
Open Ear Headphones Just Got a New Competitor: The NTT Sonority nwm ONE Open-Ear Headphones

As a long-time gamer and audio enthusiast, I have tried my fair share of headphones over the years – from noise-cancelling to open-back, wired to wireless. But nothing quite piques my interest like the NTT Sonority nwm ONE open-ear headphones.

You may be familiar with open-back and open-ear headphones, but NTT Sonority’s new nwm ONE headphones offer something unique. These headphones combine the classic over-ear design with an open-ear concept, creating a stylish and innovative pair of headphones that are both visually appealing and different from what you’ve seen before.

In more relaxed and clear terms: For quite some time, high-end headphones with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) have blocked out external sounds, isolating users from their surroundings. However, there’s been a growing trend towards open-back headphones. The nwm ONE is an innovative solution that provides this open design while minimizing sound leakage, ensuring those around you won’t hear your music clearly. This could be the ideal choice for people who want to stay connected to their environment without compromising their listening experience. Instead of blocking external sounds using ANC technology, the nwm ONE uses it to reduce sound leaks, making these headphones a promising option for enjoying your music while staying aware of your surroundings.

nwm ONE Key Features

Open Ear Headphones Just Got a New Competitor: The NTT Sonority nwm ONE Open-Ear Headphones

Open-ear headphones are primarily designed for individuals in the fitness and commuting communities, who require being attentive to their surroundings and essential sounds. With an increasing number of options emergent, it’s likely that these headphones will expand their user base, including parents who need to monitor their children constantly. ONE is a promising contender to initiate this shift.

These wireless headphones may not provide the deep, resonating bass some prefer in their headphones through the primary 35mm driver. However, they compensate remarkably by offering compatibility with Sony 360 Reality Audio. This technology creates an immersive audio experience with spatial sound from compatible applications. In conjunction with the high-performance Bluetooth LC3 codec, using streaming services like Tidal, Amazon Music Unlimited, or other supported Sony 360 audio apps results in a remarkable listening experience.

An intriguing aspect of these headphones lies in their noise suppression capability, achieved primarily through the 12mm tweeter with phase cancellation technology. This innovation generates a wave that markedly diminishes music or podcast leakage from the headphones. While other headphones have employed second drivers or smaller tweeters for noise cancelation, this application is less common when it comes to suppressing sound leakage, typically found in active noise-canceling (ANC) headsets. It’s uncertain if phase cancellation can completely eradicate sound leakage; however, it will undoubtedly represent a significant advancement compared to bone conduction and other open-ear headphones.

Using advanced technology, it’s understandable that the battery life of these overhead headphones falls short of average compared to other models. They offer a playback time of up to 20 hours per charge and require approximately 1.5 hours to fully charge from completely drained. While these figures are not disappointing, it’s likely that NTT Sonority will prioritize improving battery life in future versions.

nwm ONE Pricing and Availability

The nwm ONE is only available in Japan for 39,600 Yen or about $250. Unfortunately, NTT Sonority has not yet mentioned or announced plans for a wider release. So, for North American readers, unless you are willing to figure out a multiple-stop shipping scheme to get your hands on these, the best options for open-ear headphones will be the Shokz Open Fit and Bose Ultra Open Earbuds.

FAQ

Q: Are open-ear headphones good?

Open-ear headphones may not have the same level of raw power as conventional headphones, but they are excellent choices for activities like working out, commuting, or handling multiple tasks at once. With open-ear headphones, you can listen to music while still being mindful of your surroundings.

Q: Are open-ear headphones better than bone-conduction headphones?

Open-ear headphones don’t need to use your bones to send sound, allowing them to produce a more robust and complete audio experience compared to conventional headphones. Meanwhile, bone conduction headphones remain advantageous for athletes as they offer enhanced water and dust resistance that standard headphones typically lack.

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2024-07-25 22:05