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Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. I go through phases with earbuds and headphones. One minute, I'm craving immersive sound and absolutely zero distractions pulling me away from my music. Next, I'm overstimulated and require either silence or the calmest ambience delivered at arm's length away from my precious ears. Because of this, I've taken to open earbuds nicely. Pairs like Nothing's Ear Open or Bose's Ultra Open deliver rich sound with a healthy distance. When I tested these earbuds out, I had no trouble going on long walks with them in, as I tuned into my environment while listening to my music. Also: I wore 5 different headphones across 8 flights - here's how each pair won (and lost) I wore them to the grocery store, something I'd never do with a pair of noise-canceling earbuds, given how busy my Brooklyn Trader Joe's is and how unaware I become of my surroundings with earbuds in my ears. So when I found out that Nwm was selling open headphones, called Nwm One, I jumped at the chance to try them out. How on Earth would these work, I thought to myself. A few weeks of working and exercising with the headphones bring me answers to that very question. Are they the next big thing in audio, and should you buy a pair of open headphones for yourself? I get into all of that below. The Nvm open-ear headphones resemble normal headphones, except that their centers have been cut out. The ear pads in a standard headphone are replaced with shiny coned speakers in these. Because these headphones don't cup my ears and instead rest inches away from them, the pressure buildup or sweaty ear syndrome associated with heavy noise-canceling, over-ear headphones is nonexistent in this pair. This makes them maximally comfortable and effortlessly light to wear on walks, to the gym, and at work. Also: You should clean your headphones and earbuds ASAP (and it goes beyond sanitary reasons) When it comes to work, if you spend your days in an office and find yourself constantly taking off your headphones to answer colleagues' questions, consider this your perfect pair. The awareness that lends itself to the Nwm's form factor ensures that I can have full conversations with coworkers while playing my music at a moderate volume. The audio on the Nwm One is rich and crisp. The headphones produce loud, clear, and balanced sound. With that being said, however, I must note that there is more audio leakage from these open-ear headphones than from other products I've tested, but that's par for the course for such a unique and unprotected form factor. I wouldn't purchase these if you're looking for a headphone that quiets it all down. Quite the contrary: I'd purchase these if you want to hear loud, clear music alongside your environment. I tested these out in my bustling gym's weight room. Also: I'm an audiophile, and these are the only cheap earbuds you should consider right now I heard the clanks and bangs of loud equipment alongside the voice of my podcast host in my ear. At times, it was difficult to fully hear what my host was saying without turning the volume all the way up. When I moved to a less noisy part of the gym, my music was clearer, and when another gym member came up to me to ask me a question, I didn't have to pause my music, take my headphones out, and say "Sorry, could you repeat that?" to a stranger. That's because the audio allowed his words to break through my music, dissolving the usual barrier between the gym's fellow exercisers and me that noise-canceling earbuds often create. When I'm walking on the street, I don't have to take my headphones off to hear cars beeping or bicyclists passing. It is exactly these use cases that highlight when and where someone should wear the Nwm One headphones. ZDNET's buying advice If you're looking for a unique form factor, sound that keeps you immersed in your music while still being aware of your surroundings, and headphones that you can use during exercise, work, and throughout the day, I'd recommend the Nwm One. If noise cancellation is high on your priority list, I'd consider other options on the market -- there are plenty that get that job done.
