Headphone 1 (Pro) Review: Nothing’s Best-Sounding Headphones Yet

As someone who has traveled with both the CMF Headphone Pro and Headphone (a), there was an immediate sense of an upgrade when I first put on Nothing’s new Headphone (1) Pro. The materials are noticeably more premium – the titanium, in particular, feels genuinely lush – but what surprised me most was the weight. At 327 grams, it feels much closer to the Headphone (a) than I expected, despite all the additional hardware and metalwork. That matters to me because weight was one of the reasons I never pulled the trigger on the original Headphone (1).

I remember when it launched last summer and immediately being drawn to its retro, almost Braun-esque aesthetic, but after trying it on, I found it just a little heavier than I would have liked. Living in a subtropical climate didn’t help either: over-ear headphones are usually something I reserve for traveling or the cooler fall and winter months, when wearing them doesn’t mean immediately breaking into a sweat. So, despite thinking about the Headphone (1) for months, I held off.

Then, in late September, I was gifted the CMF Headphone Pro and took it on a proper road test during a trip to Japan. For its price, it genuinely impressed me. The sound was solid, the battery life was excellent and its own take on retro design gave it plenty of personality, even if it looked very different from the Headphone (1). I also loved being able to buy replacement cushions in different colors. Beyond the customization, there was something reassuring about knowing that one of the parts most exposed to wear and tear could easily be replaced. I enjoyed the CMF pair enough that it became my go-to travel headphone, although I never quite got used to how far the earcups protruded. I have, embarrassingly, grazed them against elevator doors more than once.

That changed again when Nothing introduced the Headphone (a) earlier this year. I first tried it at an event in the spring and was pretty much sold immediately. It retained much of the visual character that made the Headphone (1) attractive to me, but the lighter construction and flatter profile suited my head much better. The four colour options – Black, White, Pink and Yellow – also scratched the same personalization itch that I liked about the CMF model. I eventually bought the pink pair, and it quickly became my favorite of the three. Sound quality was at least on par with the CMF Headphone Pro, if not slightly better to my ears, but comfort was really what won me over. The slimmer earcups also meant I could walk into elevators with a little more confidence.

Then, at the end of last month, Nothing surprised me again with its new flagship, the Headphone (1) Pro. This one feels like a much more substantial upgrade. At $399 USD, it sits $100 above the Headphone (1)’s original $299 USD price, but the additional cost is reflected in both the build and, more importantly, what is happening inside the earcups. Instead of a single main driver to cover most of the audible spectrum, the (Pro) uses a three-driver architecture comprising a 40 mm dynamic bass driver, a separate precision dynamic driver for the mids and an xMEMS driver dedicated to the upper frequencies. This makes the (Pro) model able to cover a 20 Hz to 40 kHz range, with each driver handling a more focused portion of the spectrum. In practice, the difference is more about separation and texture than simply making everything louder: bass feels more controlled, vocals sit more clearly in the mix and finer details in instruments come through with more definition.

The ANC is another area where I noticed the (Pro) pulling ahead. Nothing has built a 10-microphone system into the headphones, with five microphones on each side feeding its real-time adaptive ANC. It automatically moves between Low, Medium and High levels depending on the environment, with claimed noise reduction of up to 46 dB. Nothing also says average noise reduction is 5 dB stronger than on the Headphone (1), while cancellation operates across a 40% broader frequency range. For me, that difference is particularly noticeable in the sort of environments where I actually use over-ear headphones – planes, trains and offices – where the (Pro) does a noticeably better job of pushing background noise further away from the music.

The collaboration with Metropolis Studios is where things become a little more interesting. One of my favorite additions is the physical Flat EQ switch. Unlike a typical EQ preset designed to make bass hit harder or vocals brighter, Flat EQ strips away additional coloration and processing to give the music a more neutral presentation. It’s primarily intended for things like reviewing tracks and comparing mixes, where hearing the recording without extra sonic flavoring is more useful than having a particularly exciting tuning. I actually enjoy using it in the office for that reason: the ANC takes care of much of the external noise, while Flat EQ lets me focus on the recording itself. It’s also worth noting that engaging Flat EQ disables Transparency Mode, Spatial Audio and other EQ settings, so it really is designed as a separate, more focused listening mode rather than another preset.

When I want something more immersive, though, I go in the opposite direction. The Nothing X app gives the Headphone 1 (Pro) a much deeper level of EQ customization, while Dynamic Spatial Audio and head tracking can reshape the sense of space around a recording. There are different environments tailored towards different kinds of music, including Live House, Concert Hall and Metropolis’ own Studio B-inspired setting. With a good live concert recording, that combination can be surprisingly effective. It obviously cannot recreate actually being there, but adjusting the spatial presentation and EQ can bring back some of that sense of scale and atmosphere that gets flattened through conventional headphones.

Battery life, interestingly, is one area where the (Pro) isn’t necessarily an upgrade. Nothing rates it for up to 68 hours of playback with ANC switched off and 30 hours with ANC on, with a five-minute charge supplying around four hours without ANC or two hours with it enabled. That is less than the Headphone (1), which is rated for up to 80 hours without ANC and 35 hours with it, and considerably behind the CMF Headphone (Pro)’s 100/50-hour figures and the Headphone (a)’s massive 135/75-hour ratings under comparable AAC testing. Real-world mileage will obviously depend on volume, codec and how aggressively ANC is being used, but it does mean that anyone prioritizing outright endurance may still find the Headphone (a) or CMF model more practical. Personally, 30 hours with ANC is still comfortably enough for the way I travel, but it is worth acknowledging that the (Pro)’s flagship status does not translate into flagship battery life.

Another thing I have to talk about is the carrying case. The CMF Headphone (Pro) comes with a simple suede-like drawcord pouch, while the Headphone (a) uses a plastic-coated, paper-like pouch with a polyester lining and two compartments. The latter definitely feels less premium, but I have actually found it surprisingly useful when traveling — particularly on flights, when the extra compartment becomes somewhere to throw my passport and charging cables.

The Headphone 1 (Pro)’s case wins on design for me, though. It’s a proper hardshell design lined with soft TPU, with integrated loops for attaching straps, charms or keychains. Yes, it’s heavier and bulkier, and its design technically concentrates protection around the earcups while leaving the headband exposed, but visually it turns storing the headphones into part of the experience. I have seen the Headphone (1)’s black zip-up hard case, and while it is undoubtedly practical, it’s not something I would particularly want taking up space inside my bag. The (Pro)’s case feels more sculptural – almost like a retro portable console – and I actually like its slightly handbag-like approach. Some people may find carrying it that way awkward, but being able to hook the headphones onto a bag handle or simply prop the whole thing neatly on my desk works for me.

Ultimately, that also sums up how I feel about the Headphone 1 (Pro). The Headphone (a) is still the one I would choose if lightness, battery life and everyday practicality were the priorities, and the CMF Headphone Pro remains difficult to fault for the money. But the (Pro) is the first Nothing over-ear model I have tried that feels like it’s actively chasing a more serious listening experience without sacrificing its distinct design language that made me interested in the lineup in the first place. Its stronger ANC, more sophisticated three-driver setup, Flat EQ and deeper spatial and EQ controls make the upgrade easy to hear — even if, somewhat ironically, it is the battery rather than the sound that now requires the bigger compromise.