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Nothing Headphone (a) vs Shure Srh440a: which should you buy?

On aggregated review scores the Nothing Headphone (a) comes out ahead with a HearWiki score of 80. The full breakdown - sub-scores, specs and what reviewers actually said - is below.

Our pick: Nothing Headphone (a) - Great overall at around $162.

Score breakdown

Each axis is a 0–10 blend of what reviewers scored, not a lab measurement.

Nothing Headphone (a) leads on 6 of 7 measures.

  • Nothing Headphone (a)
  • Shure Srh440a
HearWiki score
80
67
Sound
7.4
7.0
Noise cancelling
7.9
-
Battery
10.0
-
Calls
6.5
-
Value
9.1
7.5
Price (USD)
$160
$110

Generation & platform

The scores rank quality. This is the other question: is the newer one actually newer technology, or the same platform in a new shell?

Half a step newer

Nothing Headphone (a) (2026) against Shure Srh440a (2022). The Nothing Headphone (a) edges ahead on platform, but only just: ANC type Adaptive against None. It also adds USB-C and Water resistance (IP52).

  • Headphone (a)20264 yr newer
  • Srh440a2022
What differsHeadphone (a)Srh440a

Platform

ANC type
Adaptive
None

Everyday features

USB-C
Yes
No
Water resistance
IP52
Not rated

Specifications

Headphone (a)Srh440a
Type
Over-Ear
Over-Ear
Price (USD)
$160
$110
HearWiki score
80
67
Released
2026
2022
Availability
Sold new
Discontinued
Driver
40 mm dynamic
40 mm dynamic
Driver type
dynamic
dynamic
Driver size
40 mm
40 mm
Drivers per side
1
1
Frequency response
20 Hz - 40 kHz
10 Hz - 22 kHz
Sound signature
-
neutral
Impedance
-
40 Ω
Sensitivity
-
97 dB/mW
Bluetooth
5.4
-
Codecs
SBC, AAC, LDAC
-
Multipoint pairing
Yes
-
Battery life
135 h
-
Battery life (ANC on)
75 h
-
Quick charge
5 min → 8 h
-
Wireless charging
No
-
Active noise cancelling
Yes
No
ANC type
adaptive
-
Transparency mode
Yes
-
Companion app
Yes
-
Custom EQ
Yes
-
Wear detection
No
-
Controls
buttons
-
Voice assistant
ChatGPT
-
Weight
310 g
268 g
Water resistance
IP52
none
Foldable
-
Yes
Detachable cable
-
Yes
USB-C
Yes
No
Connector
-
3.5 mm
Microphones
4
-
Call noise reduction
Yes
-
Call NR technology
AI ENC
-

What reviewers said

Nothing Headphone (a)

The Nothing Headphone (a) is a budget-friendly wireless over-ear option that brings strong core features like adaptive ANC, LDAC support, and excellent battery life for the price. It delivers solid sound quality and everyday usability, though it makes some sacrifices in comfort and premium refinement compared to pricier rivals.

  • Pro:Outstanding battery life of up to 137 hours without ANC
  • Pro:Supports high-res audio codecs like LDAC and LDHC
  • Pro:Adaptive noise cancellation and transparency mode included
  • Con:Slightly heavy at 310 grams, affecting comfort over long sessions
  • Con:Sound detail is not as refined as top competitors
  • Con:No wear detection feature

Shure Srh440a

The Shure SRH440A is a refreshed wired studio headphone that pairs a 40mm dynamic driver with a 40-ohm impedance, making it easy to drive from phones, laptops, and audio interfaces. Its tuning emphasizes present mids and controlled bass, which suits dialogue-heavy content, vocal monitoring, and general mix work. Built as a practical, closed-back tool with passive isolation and a foldable frame, it offers a neutral, no-frills option for entry-level studio use.

  • Pro:Easy to drive from most devices thanks to 40-ohm impedance
  • Pro:Clear, present midrange ideal for vocals and speech
  • Pro:Controlled low end suitable for monitoring
  • Con:Lacks wireless or ANC features
  • Con:No USB-C connectivity
  • Con:Sensitivity is modest, so may need more volume on quiet sources

Summaries are AI-condensed and paraphrased from published reviews and specs - not original hands-on testing. More on our method.

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New comparisonNothing Headphone (a)Shure Srh440a