Nothing Headphone (1) Pro Sound Quality Review: Triple Drivers Deliver Detailed Audio

Inside, the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro takes an unusual approach to audio. Instead of using a single dynamic driver across the entire frequency range, these headphones feature a triple-driver design: a bass dynamic driver, a precision dynamic driver, and a treble xMEMS driver.

Each driver handles a different frequency range, with the goal of producing clearer, richer sound with less distortion. It is a significant risk, especially when major noise-canceling headphone brands typically rely on a single dynamic driver. Fortunately, the Headphone (1) Pro’s sound quality is excellent.

Detailed mids and treble bring familiar songs to life

I’m not going to pretend to be an audio engineer. But songs I’ve been listening to for years came back to life on the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro, with unexpected emphasis, clarity, and energy in the midrange and treble.

The difference was especially noticeable with “Staring at the Sun.” Stevie Wonder’s “Another Star,” a dense mix of vocals, hi-hats, trumpets, and guitars, sounded more expansive on the Nothing headphones than on the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd generation).

Bass is clear, though it is not as punchy as the low end on headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM6. I didn’t mind the difference, but music from Bad Bunny, Kendrick Lamar, and artists in the EDM genre was a little less engaging. A simple EQ adjustment addressed this issue.

Sound profile and focus

The emphasis on appealing mids and treble meant that the Nothing headphones drew my attention to the music more often. In fact, I had a harder time achieving deep focus while working with the Headphone (1) Pro than with the bass-heavy sound profiles of the Sony XM6 or Bose QC Ultra 2nd Gen.

Sound is highly personal. Everyone has different ears, hearing abilities, and preferences. Fortunately, the Nothing Headphone (1) Pro does not force you to settle for a single sound profile.