Nothing has quickly gained popularity in the tech world with its minimalist designs and user-friendly products. This innovative brand from UK also shines with the Nothing Ear (stick) TWS model, delivering a remarkable performance. Here’s my experience with this model, enriched with thoughts from our local community. You can check out other TWS reviews written in years here.
Sound Features
– Driver: The Ear (stick) is equipped with a 12.6 mm dynamic driver. This sizeable driver is designed to produce rich, immersive sound with a good balance of bass, mids, and highs. The larger driver size helps in delivering more powerful and deeper bass, which enhances the overall listening experience, especially for genres that rely heavily on low-end frequencies.
– Diaphragm: It features a diaphragm made of PEN (Polyethylene Naphthalate) and PU (Polyurethane). The combination of these materials is known for its durability and flexibility, allowing the diaphragm to vibrate efficiently and produce clear, detailed sound without distortion.
– Codec: The earbuds support both AAC and SBC codecs. AAC is widely used and known for delivering high-quality audio on Apple devices, while SBC is the standard codec for Bluetooth audio. This ensures compatibility and decent sound quality across a range of devices.
– Tuning: The sound tuning is done by Nothing, aiming for a balanced and natural sound profile that suits a variety of music genres and listening preferences.
Connectivity Features
– Bluetooth Version: The Ear (stick) uses Bluetooth 5.2, which offers improved stability, faster connection speeds, and lower latency compared to previous versions. This results in a more reliable wireless connection and better battery efficiency.
– Bluetooth Profiles: It supports a wide range of Bluetooth profiles including RFCOMM, SPP, HFP, A2DP, AVDTP, AVCTP, AVRCP, and GAVDP. These profiles ensure comprehensive compatibility with various Bluetooth functions such as voice calls (HFP), high-quality audio streaming (A2DP), and remote control features (AVRCP).
My Experience with Nothing Ear (Stick) TWS
Despite its low price, the sound quality I achieved on an iPhone without using LDAC was quite impressive. The Ear (stick) delivers a balanced and clear audio experience that exceeded my expectations for its price range. When I compared it with the AirPods I listened to this Sunday, the Ear (stick) sounded much clearer and cleaner. The vocals were more pronounced, and the instruments had better separation. The bass was tight and punchy without overwhelming the mids and highs, providing a well-rounded listening experience that is enjoyable across different genres of music.
Unlike cheap TWS earbuds, this model doesn’t have the issue of the sound leaning towards one side of the spectrum. The soundstage is well-defined, creating an immersive audio environment that makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a live performance. Additionally, the Ear (stick) handles complex tracks with ease, maintaining clarity and detail even in the busiest parts of a song. The equalizer settings allow for further customization, enabling users to tweak the sound to their personal preferences. This feature is particularly useful for those who enjoy specific genres that may require a bit of adjustment to get the perfect sound. Overall, the Ear (stick) offers a high-quality audio experience that rivals more expensive models, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious audiophiles.
Additionally, you can adjust the equalizer settings from the menu, which allows for a personalized listening experience. This feature makes it perfect for electronic music, as you can fine-tune the bass, mids, and highs to your liking. I found the sound to be lively, clear, and well-balanced, which was a pleasant surprise for earbuds in this price range.
Insights from the Local Community
Other local users also praise the price/performance ratio of these earbuds. Especially notable is the high-quality sound it provides despite the low price. The absence of background noise with ANC mode on and its dark timbre offer an immersive performance while gaming. Our community highlights that the Nothing Ear (Stick) TWS is particularly ideal for electronic music and gaming. Rock, pop, hip-hop isn’t falling behind.
Many users have told me that the sound quality rivals that of much more expensive models, making it a fantastic value for money. The ability to customize the equalizer settings is another feature that has been well-received, allowing users to tailor the sound to their preferences. Additionally, the earbuds’ minimalist design and comfortable fit make them a popular choice for extended use.
Pros:
– Price/Performance Ratio: The Nothing Ear (stick) offers high-quality sound for under $100, making it an excellent value for money.
– Sound Quality: The sound profile is lively, clear, and balanced, with a good mix of bass, mids, and highs.
– ANC Mode: The Active Noise Cancellation mode effectively reduces background noise without introducing any hiss or other unwanted sounds.
– Equalizer Settings: The ability to highly customize the sound settings via the menu allows for a personalized listening experience.
– Design: The minimalist and stylish appearance of the earbuds makes them an attractive choice for those who appreciate good design.
– Features: The earbuds automatically stop music when taken off the ear and support head tracking for a more immersive audio experience.
Cons:
– Initial Equalizer Settings: The default equalizer settings do not start with all bands equalized, requiring some manual adjustment for optimal sound.
– Connection Profiles: Some users might prefer a wider range of connection profiles to accommodate different devices and use cases.
– Lack of LDAC or its supposedly higher bitrate producing codec. Sigh, I wish we had it but you know, you get what you pay for.
– Soundstage isn’t that wide
Nothing Ear (Stick) TWS Review Conclusions
The Nothing Ear (stick) model, with its minimalist design and powerful sound performance, is an ideal choice for both daily use and electronic music and gaming. These earbuds, which stand out with their price/performance ratio, are a perfect choice for users seeking high-quality sound at an affordable price. Supported by other opinions and my own experience, I highlighted the features and performance these earbuds offer. For those looking for both aesthetics and functionality, the Nothing Ear (stick) is definitely a model to consider despite its age.
In conclusion, the Nothing Ear (stick) TWS impresses with its excellent sound quality, effective noise cancellation (reduction actually), and customizable equalizer settings, all packed into a stylish and comfortable design. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or a gamer, these earbuds offer a compelling package that is hard to beat at this price point.
