Nothing Headphone (1) Pro review roundup: triple drivers impress, ANC still trails the big three

Nothing’s Headphone (1) Pro is landing as a design-forward flagship over-ear set that reviewers say finally puts sound quality ahead of gimmicks — even if active noise cancellation still trails the category leaders.

At US$399 on Nothing’s store (Canadian Reviewer lists $589.99 CAD), each cup packs a triple-driver stack: a 40 mm bass driver, a midrange precision driver and a solid-state xMEMS treble unit, plus LDAC, hi-res wireless and USB-C lossless up to 24-bit/192 kHz. A physical Flat EQ switch, tuned with London’s Metropolis Studios, strips processing for mix checks; Studio B spatial audio and Personal Sound EQ live in the Nothing X app. Official claims include adaptive ANC up to 46 dB with a 10-mic array, IP52 rating, and up to about 30 hours with ANC on or 68 hours with it off.

Gizmodo’s Raymond Wong scored the Pro 4.5/5 as an Editor’s Choice pick, calling the triple-driver sound “excellent” and the transparent glass-and-titanium look cooler than the original Headphone (1), while rating ANC only average versus Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen). Canadian Reviews’ John Higgins similarly liked the tactile roller/paddle controls and said ANC handles plane rumble and street noise well but still trails Sony XM6, Bose Ultra Gen 2 and AirPods Max 2; both note the hard case that leaves the headband exposed.

For Canadian buyers chasing distinctive design and studio-leaning tuning, the Pro looks like Nothing’s strongest headphones yet; shoppers who live on subway noise may still prefer Sony or Bose. Serious Pick has no commercial relationship with Nothing; product links are informational. Confirm live CAD pricing, stock and returns on Nothing’s site or Canadian retailers before buying.

Sources: Nothing — Headphone (1) Pro; Gizmodo review; Canadian Reviewer.