Nothing unveils flagship Headphone 1 Pro at $399
Nothing has launched its new flagship over-ear headphones, the Headphone 1 Pro, featuring a triple-driver design and a unique switch to disable audio processing. The Verge's reviewer calls it the best headphone Nothing has made so far.
Following the release of the Headphone A and Ear 3A earbuds earlier this year, Nothing has introduced a new flagship model: the Headphone 1 Pro, priced at $399. The over-ear headphones include active noise cancellation, multiple sound profiles, and intuitive controls, but they also stand out with features not commonly found in competing products.
A Flat EQ switch
One of the headphone's most notable features is a Flat EQ switch located on the inside of the left ear cup, which disables EQ processing and spatial audio settings in the Nothing X app. The feature was developed in partnership with Metropolis Studios, a London recording and mastering facility, with the goal of letting audio professionals hear their mixes without added coloration from the headphones. According to the review, the default setting emphasizes mids and highs, while switching to Flat EQ produces a more balanced sound, though it loses some airiness. Research on listener preferences suggests most people actually prefer a curve with boosted bass rather than a perfectly flat response.
Triple drivers and other features
Unlike competitors such as the Sony XM6, AirPods Max 2, and Bose Ultra Headphones, which use a single driver per ear cup, the Headphone 1 Pro uses three: a 40mm dynamic driver for bass, a separate midrange driver, and an xMEMS driver for high frequencies. The headphones support LDAC, high-res audio up to 24-bit/96kHz, and wired lossless audio over USB-C up to 24-bit/192kHz. They can also function as an Auracast transmitter or receiver.
The noise cancellation impressed the reviewer, though it falls slightly short of the current top performers from Sony, Bose, and Apple. The headphones carry an IP52 rating and offer up to 30 hours of battery life with noise cancellation on, or up to 68 hours with it off. The reviewer has not yet issued a final verdict but describes the Headphone 1 Pro as the best product Nothing has produced to date.
