London-based consumer technology brand Nothing has unveiled Ear (2), a set of wireless earbuds for hi-res audio.
The new Nothing Ear (2) is characterized by ‘Nothing’s iconic transparent design with engineering excellence and personalized settings for the ultimate audio experience’, according to the manufacturer. They continue their introduction: ‘Ear (2) delivers an authentic sound experience, with Hi-Res Audio certification and LHDC 5.0 technology. Users can also create their own personal sound profile through a hearing test via the Nothing X app. Ear (2) then adjusts equalizer settings in real time for optimal sound quality.
The earbuds feature a custom 11.6 mm driver for deep, powerful bass and crystal-clear highs, while a new dual-chamber design improves overall sound quality with smooth airflow. In addition, Ear (2) features Dual Connection so users can easily switch between devices, while enhanced wind- and crowd-proof Clear Voice technology and personalized active noise cancellation that adapts to the user’s unique ear canal shape’.
Delighted
“We are excited to introduce Ear (2) as a major upgrade to our first Ear (1), which has sold more than 600,000 products,” said Carl Pei, CEO and co-founder of Nothing. “With Ear (2), we redesigned everything from the ground up and used advanced technology to create the ultimate personalized listening experience.”
Authentic sound quality
Nothing: ‘Ear (2) is Hi-Res Audio-certified for a truly immersive sound experience that takes you into the recording studio. LHDC 5.0 codec technology ensures that even the smallest sound details can be heard delivering frequencies up to 24 bit/192 kHz at speeds up to 1 Mbps. Featuring an 11.6 mm dynamic driver with a modified diaphragm, Ear (2) offers enhanced acoustic performance. The redesigned combination of polyurethane and graphene materials delivers even richer high frequencies and deeper, softer bass. In addition, the unique dual-chamber design creates a larger space for even smoother airflow and clearer sound’.
Redesigned brilliance
Ear (2) is a big improvement over Ear (1). According to the manufacturer, it offers users ‘a more personalized listening experience tailored to their daily needs. This includes Dual Connection, Personal Sound Profile, and Nothing’s most advanced Clear Voice Technology and Active Noise Cancellation to date’.
Dual Connection
Ear (2) offers Dual Connection, which allows users to simultaneously connect to two devices and seamlessly switch between playing music or receiving calls. For example, if a user is listening to music on his/her laptop and receiving a call on his/her phone, Ear (2) will automatically alert them of incoming calls. Furthermore, you can easily answer an incoming call with the push button on the earphones, and when the call is finished, the earphones automatically resume playing music from the laptop.
Personal sound profile
With Ear (2), Nothing ‘has developed an audio product that can meet the listening needs of each individual. Ear (2) allows users to use their hearing ID to create a personal sound profile. After taking a hearing test in the Nothing X app, Ear (2) adjusts equalizer levels in real time to match the user’s hearing for an optimal listening experience.
Clear Voice Technology
For clear conversations, Ear (2) features Nothing’s ‘best Clear Voice technology to date. With three high-definition microphones on each earpiece and an AI noise reduction algorithm capable of filtering more than 20 million sound samples, Ear (2) can eliminate background noise and enhance the user’s voice during conversations in real time,” the announcement reads.
Active Noise Reduction
Ear (2) is designed with what the manufacturer says is ‘Nothing’s best noise reduction technology to date and can achieve up to 40 dB of noise reduction. With personalized active noise cancellation adapted to the exact shape of the user’s ear canal, and an adaptive mode that automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation in real time to the environment, Ear (2) provides the optimal experience in this field’.
Enhanced performance
The Ear (2) has a battery life of up to 36 hours after the earbuds are fully charged in the case (without using ANC, 6.3 hours out of the earbuds themselves). After a 10-minute charging time, Ear (2) gets a play time of up to 8 hours already. The Ear (2) also supports wireless charging up to 2.5W and can be charged through the device with compatible devices such as the Nothing Phone (1).
Ear (2) is designed to meet everyday needs with an IP54 water resistance rating for the earbuds and IP55 for the charging case.
For a more comfortable and precise user experience, the Ear (2) has pressure controls to prevent unintended touch and discomfort when tapping in the ear canal. Users can skip tracks, switch between noise canceling modes and adjust volume – all at the touch of a button. Controls can be customized to individual needs in the Nothing X app, which is a one-stop shop for everything from Ear (2) and available for download from the Google Play Store and App Store.
Fast connection
The Ear (2) supports Google Fast Pair on Android devices and Microsoft Swift Pair on Windows devices. Once the earphones are connected to the Phone (1) in Game mode, they automatically switch to Low Lag mode for an enhanced gaming experience. For users of devices other than the Phone (1), they must manually enable Low Lag mode in the Nothing X app.
Price and availability
The Ear (2) is priced at $149 and will be available first on nothing.tech. Starting March 28, the Ear (2) will be available for purchase at all of Nothing’s global partners, both online and offline.