I will be the first to admit that I wasn't very kind to the Nothing Headphone (1) when I reviewed them on launch. As much as I liked their standout design, premium materials and wicked controls, I simply didn't like the way that they sounded out of the box, especially when compared to the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM6.
Since their launch, however, Nothing has been piling software update after software update into the cans — and having had a play with them in 2026, I think they might have just shifted my perspective on the quirkiest headphones you can buy.
What was once a con...
... has since become a pro. The EQ was already very strong in the Nothing Headphone (1), with an incredible amount of adjustment to fix the underlying poor sound quality.
My issue was that it felt like you had to dip in and change the sound so that they were in any way listenable. Given you're spending triple figures on your new headphones, you should expect good sound out of the box.
When I picked them up again and checked the EQ menu, I was impressed by the custom EQ options available from the Nothing community. I'm used to these things being left by the wayside, forever sinking in a mire of forgotten headphone features.
Now, instead of presets straight from the factory, I can experience music the way others do. The creativity on display here is impressive — I've since had plenty of fun trying out other users' sound profiles. I still like mine the most (it's more subtle, more refined), but it might just be one of the biggest improvements to a pair of headphones I've ever seen.
It would be the biggest, but Nothing saw fit to add one of my favorite headphone things in, like, forever.
More custom audio options
To assume that headphones should be a "one size fits all" sound profile would be reductive.
Everyone's ears, and by extension, their ability to hear, are different. Perhaps you hear more bass than your mom, while she's able to hear more high-range frequencies. Maybe your dad needs more volume across the frequency range because he spent his youth at loud punk gigs.
Either way, to assume that headphones should be a "one size fits all" sound profile would be reductive. It's why reviewing headphones can be so contentious — someone else might like bass-heavy headphones because it means they can hear more of their music, while to others it can sound boomy.
Which is where audio customization engines like Audiodo are so helpful and, by extension, good. I love Audiodo. It's effectively a simple hearing test to see what frequencies you can hear and how well you can hear them.
From there, it changes the sound of your headphones, manipulating the core frequencies so that they sound their best for you.
You can then build on the Audiodo tuning with EQ to make them sound just the way you like. I've used Audiodo on more expensive options and cheaper ones alike, and every time it makes a big positive difference to the way headphones and earbuds sound.
So when I saw that Nothing had packed Audiodo tuning into the Headphone (1) with a software update, I was excited. No matter where I've seen Audiodo, it's been a massive improvement to sound, and thankfully, it's no different here.
It allows my slightly-less-useful left ear to hear everything, and improves clarity in the low end. For such a quick process, the improvement is immeasurable. I wouldn't say I no longer needed to dip into the EQ with the core sound, but the difference is still night and day.
Will I be changing the review score?
I gave the Nothing Headphone (1) a 3-star review thanks to the dark sound and other niggly bits. With the improvements to their software, I would be tempted to shift the review score — the core sound, thanks to Audiodo, has improved, and the incredible array of different user EQs to choose from is loads of fun.
That's not to say they'll be getting five stars. There are still issues here, like the lackluster call quality and horrible, grating clicking sounds when you use the controls.
But, after Nothing's Improvements in the software, they're now a viable alternative to the best headphones at a price that undercuts the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones 2.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
