Nothing Headphone (1) Pro Review: Triple-Driver Premium ANC Headphones at $400
The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro, available for $400, goes head-to-head with the $450 Sony WH-1000XM6, the $450 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), and the $550 Apple AirPods Max 2. Constructed from high-quality materials like aluminum, titanium, and glass, it is 2 grams lighter than its predecessor, the Nothing Headphone (1). The product comes with a hard-shell case, enhanced padding, a broader headband, and a reduced clamping force for improved comfort. Although its noise cancellation and transparency features are better than before, they still do not match those of Sony and Bose. The triple-driver setup provides exceptional sound quality with distinct bass, and users can customize settings via a physical FLAT switch and the Nothing X app, though ANC and transparency remain less competitive.
Key facts
- The Nothing Headphone (1) Pro costs $400 and competes with the $450 Sony WH-1000XM6, $450 Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), and $550 Apple AirPods Max 2.
- The headphones use a triple-driver design: a bass dynamic driver, a precision dynamic driver, and a treble xMEMS driver.
- The square cans are made from a solid aluminum block, the arms from titanium, and the transparent outer window from glass, with almost no plastic.
- The Headphone (1) Pro weighs 2 grams less than the Nothing Headphone (1).
- The hard-shell case protects the ear cups but leaves the headband exposed, similar in concept to the Apple AirPods Max 2 case.
- A physical FLAT switch on the left ear cup enables a neutral EQ intended for reviewing music, producing, or mixing, and increases volume by roughly two steps.
- The Nothing X app offers a simple three-band EQ and an advanced mode with +6 dB to -6 dB adjustment per frequency band on the main and precision drivers, plus five Explore presets.
- The reviewer tested the headphones for nearly a month, including in New York City, and found bass less punchy than the Sony XM6 but midrange and treble more engaging.
Entities
Artists
- Harry Rabinowitz
- Stevie Wonder
- Kendrick Lamar
- Bad Bunny
Institutions
- Nothing
- Sony
- Bose
- Apple
- Wired
- TV on the Radio
Locations
- New York City
- United States