Over-Ear
Nectar Hive
85Outstanding
$197
Full review dataNectar Hive vs Nothing Headphone 1: which should you buy?
On aggregated review scores the Nectar Hive comes out ahead with an HearWiki score of 85. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.
Our pick: Nectar Hive - Outstanding overall at around $197.
Over-Ear
Nothing Headphone 1
78Great
$324
Full review dataScore breakdown
Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.
Nectar Hive
Sound9.0
Value7.0
Nothing Headphone 1
Sound8.0
Noise cancelling8.0
Battery9.0
Calls7.0
Value8.0
Specifications
| Spec | Nectar Hive | Nothing Headphone 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Price (USD) | $197 | $324 |
| HearWiki score | 85 / 100 · Outstanding | 78 / 100 · Great |
| Released | 2022 | 2025 |
| Audio | ||
| Driver | Electrostatic | dynamic |
| Driver size | - | 40 mm |
| Drivers per side | - | 2 |
| Frequency response | 20Hz-7kHz | 20 Hz - 40,000 Hz |
| Sound signature | Bright neutral | - |
| Impedance | - | 16 Ω |
| Wireless | ||
| Bluetooth | - | 5.3 |
| Bluetooth version | - | 5.3 |
| Codecs | - | AAC, SBC, LDAC |
| Multipoint pairing | - | Yes |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | - | 80 h |
| Battery life (ANC on) | - | 35 h |
| Quick charge | - | 5 min = 2.4 h playback |
| Wireless charging | - | No |
| Features | ||
| Active noise cancelling | - | Yes |
| ANC type | - | hybrid |
| Transparency mode | - | Yes |
| Companion app | - | Yes |
| Custom EQ | - | Yes |
| Wear detection | - | Yes |
| Controls | - | both |
| Voice assistant | - | Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair |
| Design | ||
| Weight | 370 g | 329 g |
| Case weight | - | 264 g |
| Water resistance | - | IP52 |
| USB-C | - | Yes |
| Calls | ||
| Microphones | - | 6 |
What reviewers said
Nectar Hive
The Nectar Hive is a wired electrostatic over-ear headphone priced around $600, weighing just 370 grams. It delivers a bright neutral sound signature with a frequency response spanning 20Hz to 7kHz, offering a detailed and airy presentation that leans toward analytical clarity. This model earns high marks for its tonal balance and technical performance, making it a strong contender in its price bracket for listeners who prefer a crisp, revealing sound.
- Pro:Excellent tonal accuracy and neutrality
- Pro:Impressive technical detail retrieval
- Pro:Featherweight design for comfort
- Con:Bright tilt may be fatiguing for some
- Con:Limited bass impact due to electrostatic nature
- Con:Requires dedicated amplifier for proper use
Nothing Headphone 1
The Nothing Headphone 1 is a stylish over-ear wireless headphone that pairs a distinctive design with a robust feature set, including adaptive ANC, LDAC support, and up to 80 hours of battery life. It delivers solid performance and convenience through multipoint connectivity and quick charging, though its sound quality may not fully justify the premium price for audiophiles. Overall, it's a competitive option that stands out more for its aesthetics and features than for class-leading audio.
- Pro:Distinctive, eye-catching design
- Pro:Excellent battery life without ANC
- Pro:Good codec support including LDAC
- Con:Sound quality doesn't match top-tier rivals
- Con:ANC battery life is notably shorter
- Con:Build feels less premium than expected
Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.
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