NHT Audio is a well-established and respected speaker manufacturer. In this article, I’m reviewing the new NHT 0.2 TWS earbuds. The 0.2 comes with a proprietary 6mm dynamic driver and an IPX6 rating. It retails for $69.
Disclaimer: This sample was provided by NHT for the purpose of an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own based on my experience with the product.
NHT 0.2 TWS
Specifications
- Driver: Proprietary 6mm dynamic driver
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0
- Wireless codecs: SBC, AAC
- IPX6 water resistance
- Weight/pc: Main Unit/Set 4.8 / 39 (gr)
- Frequency: 20Hz-20,000Hz
- Battery life 4.5 h
Design
As far as physical design goes, the 0.2 TWS are fairly simplistic on the exterior. The shells sport the same glossy piano black finish as the brand’s speakers. There’s a subtle NHT logo on the faceplates just next to the single LED indicator.
The 0.2, like most TWS earbuds, utilizes touch controls that are located on the faceplates. Thankfully, the nozzles are similar to the ones commonly found on IEMs so tip-rolling is definitely an option with these. With my chosen eartips in place, the 0.2 is super comfortable and feels secure in my ears. Passive noise isolation is above average too.
The charging case is small and pocketable. It has a rubberized matte black finish and is nice and small, thus making it pocket friendly. A bonus for me is that this small case can easily accommodate my extra-large third-party eartips.
On the front of the charging case, there’s a single LED to display the battery status. It’s also a button, so you can check the battery level of the case without opening it. On the back is the USB Type-C charging port. In terms of battery life, the 0.2 reaches around 4.5 hours on a single charge and the case carries another 3 full charges.
Controls and Bluetooth Connection
The NHT 0.2 has a fairly standard control scheme. I found the touch controls to be responsive and didn’t experience accidental touches like what happens with some other TWS earbuds. Here are the available controls:
- Single tap L or R to play/pause
- Double tap L to go to previous song
- Double tap R to skip song
- Short hold L or R to activate voice assistant
- Long hold L or R to turn On or OFF
It’s a shame there is no volume control on the earbuds but having said that, you can actually adjust the volume using the voice assistant. Bluetooth connectivity is very consistent and the earbuds pair up with the source really quickly when you take them out of the case.
Calls, Video and Gaming
The 0.2’s microphone sounds reasonably clear but it’s a tad on the quiet side. In addition, I was getting some weird buzzing noise when recording audio with the 0.2 which is a bit distracting. The O.2 is usable for calls but if it’s something you rely heavily upon, these earbuds might not be the best choice for you.
Videos and games work great with the NHT 0.2. There are no sync issues when watching videos and hardly any noticeable lag when playing games either.
Sound
The NHT 0.2 has a light V-shaped signature that reminds me a lot of the NHT speakers house sound. It’s clear and detailed with a touch of fun thrown in.
There’s a moderate bass elevation with a slight emphasis on the mid-bass. It’s punchy and can thump pretty hard. But it’s a well-controlled bass with good definition and fast decay. It never sounds sloppy or overpowered but you’re never in doubt of its authority either.
Listening to “Dark Matter” by Feathers, the bass thumps effusively yet the midrange and vocals stay clear and unhindered. Both male and female vocals are a bit recessed. Voices are clear and articulate but could do with some added presence and vibrance. A subtle lift in the 3-5kHz region would help out here and would increase the clarity too.
Treble notes are crisp and detailed but still smooth. The lower treble is somewhat subdued but there’s ample energy in the upper treble, creating airiness and an open soundstage. Detail retrieval is good and on par with other TWS in this price range. I don’t hear any sibilance or harshness in the high frequencies.
The NHT 0.2 has a punchy, clean presentation with a neutral stage position. So it’s not an upfront, in your face type sound but one that’s spacious and clear.
Comparisons
Moondrop Sparks ($89)
The Moondrop Sparks is another single DD TWS earbud. The Sparks has more sub-bass power and a significantly better battery life. In the midrange, Sparks has a more forward presentation and better clarity compared to the 0.2. It also has a tad more treble energy and added detail retrieval.
Furthermore, Sparks has aptX support too, but it’s worth noting that the Moondrop costs an additional $20 (around 30% more) than the NHT. The 0.2, on the other hand, has a better fit and a much smaller charging case, making it more portable and pocket-friendly.
Shanling MTW200 ($89)
The Shanling MTW200 has a single 10mm dynamic driver. It has more bass presence than the 0.2 as well as a better battery life. At lower volumes, the MTW200’s midrange is more forward but it deteriorates rapidly as you increase the volume. In comparison, the NHT 0.2 maintains its tonal balance when you pump up the volume.
MTW200 has aptX support but again, like the Sparks, it costs $20 more than the 0.2. In addition, the Shanling’s charging case is extremely inhospitable in terms of fitting third-party eartips. Even with my smaller eartips, I wasn’t able to fully close the MTW200’s charging case, meaning I was hesitant to pick it up when I was heading out somewhere.
Verdict
The NHT 0.2 is a reasonably strong debut into the TWS realm for the brand. The earbuds have good build quality, are comfortable and come with a pocketable charging case. Perhaps most importantly, the 0.2 inherits NHT’s house sound, meaning it sounds clear, detailed and engaging. However, the battery life is underwhelming and the lack of Hi-Res codec support makes it feel somewhat behind the curve. Here’s hoping NHT continues to make more TWS earbuds but with updated features going forward.