Nothing Headphone 1 Pro: A $400 Headphone with a Glaring Flaw

The reviewer emphasized that a $400 price point sets high expectations, implying that any major flaws would be unacceptable for a product in this segment.

The Headphone One Pro maintains Nothing's signature transparent aesthetic and cassette-tape square shape, evolving their distinct design language.

The headphones incorporate premium materials, including aluminum frames, titanium arms, and 9H Panda glass, while the ear and headband cushions are noted for their exceptional softness. Despite the premium materials, the glass panels are highly prone to attracting fingerprints, and the device is heavier than all-plastic alternatives, though lighter than the AirPods Max.

The roller serves as a multi-function button for play/pause and toggling active noise cancellation, while the paddle enables intuitive track navigation and media scrubbing.

A dedicated physical switch labeled 'flat' on the headphones removes all audio processing and coloration, delivering a neutral sound profile.

This feature aims to provide users with the original, unadulterated audio as intended by the creator, bridging the gap between consumer-focused 'fun' sound signatures and neutral, reference-style audio.

The reviewer found this feature particularly interesting for his personal use case, specifically for editing videos on the go.

The new configuration includes a bass driver covering 10Hz to 10kHz, a mid-range driver from 5kHz to 15kHz, and a treble driver handling 10kHz to 40kHz; however, the reviewer noted that a higher driver count, similar to megapixels in cameras, does not automatically guarantee superior audio quality.

The sound signature features a classic V-shaped EQ, though performance lags behind top-tier competitors with a 7 out of 10 rating for overall quality.

Despite this, the bass lacks punchiness, described as akin to "hitting a drum with a mitten over it," and instrument separation is weaker compared to competitors like the Sony XM5s or AirPods Max, ultimately earning a 7 out of 10 for sound quality against top-tier headphones.

This transformation is likened to viewing footage in a log format, which reveals finer details in both shadows and highlights.

Notably, users can still maintain active noise cancellation even when operating in flat mode, offering flexibility for focused listening.

The new Nothing app features an 8-band EQ that allows users to precisely adjust specific frequencies.

Users can manually select frequencies, modify the Q-factor or bandwidth, and set gain levels, complemented by various custom EQ presets tailored for different genres and listening experiences.

The noise cancellation effectively mutes ambient sounds without harshness, particularly excelling at blocking mid-frequency office sounds such as voices and keyboards.

This superior performance is primarily attributed to the high-quality cushion seal of the headphones, earning an ANC rating of 8 out of 10 when compared to Sony's top-tier 9 out of 10.

The microphone quality is perfectly average, but the transparency mode has seen significant improvements, making it sound much more natural.

The headphones support Bluetooth 5.1 and multipoint pairing, boast a battery life exceeding 30 hours with ANC enabled, and carry an IP52 rating, making them suitable for workout use and travel.

The carrying case is heavily criticized as the worst ever encountered, featuring a hard plastic shell that is prone to fingerprints and feels cheap.

The hinge showed noticeable signs of wear after only one week of use, and the case lacks a charging pass-through, necessitating it to remain open during charging.

Compounding these issues, the case design leaves the top band of the headphones completely exposed and unprotected, diminishing the overall premium experience.

The headphones aim to offer a balanced experience with both enjoyable listening and critical editing modes, though the reviewer noted the general principle that two-in-one devices rarely excel at both functions.

For better value, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are suggested as an alternative, currently priced around $300 instead of $400.

Despite the major flaw of the case, the Headphone One Pro is still commended for its design and intuitive controls.