Nothing Expands Audio Portfolio with Flagship Headphone 1 Pro
London-based hardware manufacturer Nothing is signaling a serious push into the high-end audio market with the introduction of its latest flagship offering, the Headphone 1 Pro. Priced at $399, the new over-ear headset arrives as a premium tier above the company’s existing audio lineup, aiming to balance consumer-friendly features with professional-grade technical specifications.
The most distinctive engineering choice in the Headphone 1 Pro is the implementation of a triple-driver architecture. Moving away from the single-driver standard utilized by many industry competitors, the device features a 40mm dynamic driver dedicated to low-end frequencies, a secondary midrange driver, and a specialized xMEMS solid-state driver specifically for high-frequency performance. This configuration is designed to achieve cleaner, faster transients and improved separation across the audio spectrum.
Perhaps the most unconventional addition to the hardware is a physical “Flat EQ” switch. Developed in collaboration with London’s Metropolis Studios—notable for its historical connection to the production of high-profile albums—the switch allows users to bypass digital signal processing. By disabling EQ and spatial audio features, the mode provides a flatter, less colored frequency response, catering to audio engineers or enthusiasts who prefer an objective, reference-style output. While this shift away from the industry-standard ‘Harman Curve’—which typically boosts bass and treble for broader consumer appeal—may sound neutral to some, the company has retained robust customization options within the Nothing X app for those who prefer more aggressive sound profiles.
Connectivity and versatility remain at the forefront of the design. The Headphone 1 Pro supports LDAC and high-resolution audio streaming, capable of handling 24-bit/96kHz wirelessly and 24-bit/192kHz via wired USB-C connections. Furthermore, the device integrates Auracast functionality, allowing it to act as both a transmitter and receiver, a standard that is increasingly becoming a requirement for flagship-tier portable audio hardware.
From a build perspective, the headphones maintain Nothing’s established industrial aesthetic, characterized by its distinctive transparency-inspired design language and tactile, physical controls. The user interface eschews capacitive touch surfaces in favor of a physical volume roller and dedicated buttons, which the company claims provides more reliable operation. The unit holds an IP52 ingress protection rating and offers competitive battery performance, boasting 30 hours of playback with active noise cancellation (ANC) engaged, or up to 68 hours with ANC disabled.
While the ANC performance marks a significant improvement for the Nothing brand—effectively mitigating environmental noise such as transit and office hums—the company has opted for a unique carrying case design. The hard-shell case protects the ear cups while leaving the headband exposed as a handle. This design choice represents a polarizing departure from the full-coverage soft or hard cases typically provided by major competitors in the premium headphone space.
As Nothing continues to iterate on its audio ecosystem, the Headphone 1 Pro stands as an attempt to bridge the gap between niche studio equipment and consumer lifestyle electronics. By offering high-bitrate wired support and a deliberate move toward flat, uncolored monitoring alongside traditional consumer ANC, the company is positioning itself to compete directly with established market leaders in the flagship audio segment.
Source: TechCrunch
