Received update 1.0.1.81. The angry rant will come at the end, but first things first: the latest fix has finally made it possible to fully use the “Bass Optimization” feature. I tested it on the same tracks I mentioned in my previous review (and that was a positive review, back when the issue with the non-functioning bass seemed to me like something temporary and easily fixable.)
The device, player, and codec remain the same (Samsung S22 Ultra, PowerAmp, LDAC, completely flat EQ, no sound “enhancers” enabled).
Wherever there had been a lack of depth or bass energy, enabling “Bass Optimization” fixes it. In most cases, levels 2 to 3 are more than sufficient. On a couple of tracks I pushed it to level 4 (Michael McCann – The Hive), though that was more about recreating the atmosphere of the club from the game Deus Ex.
Instrumental music also sounds much more enjoyable now. For example, the album Ichiru by Daigo Hanada can once again be listened to the way the composer intended. On the previous “broken” firmware versions, certain frequency ranges seemed to be cut out, which made piano keystrokes sound lifeless and flat.
In “Smooth Criminal”, the accelerating heartbeat at the beginning of the track is finally audible, instead of something resembling someone clapping against a blanket in the next room.
In my case, “Bass Optimization” works the same in all modes — Transparency, Noise Cancellation, and with noise cancellation turned off. I simply powered the headphones off and on after the update; I did not perform a reset. Before that, firmware version 80 was installed.
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As for what remains unchanged — the volume level is still somewhat low. I have to set it above 50–70% just to hear the details (in a room at home).
And a major downside is Nothing’s attitude toward its customers. Users began noticing sound issues back in August 2025 (correct me if I’m wrong). Since then, three or four updates were released during which the manufacturer stubbornly ignored the problem, while the company’s customer support demonstrated a remarkable level of unprofessionalism. Only after user dissatisfaction spread beyond the Nothing forum to YouTube, Reddit, 4PDA, and similar platforms did the company finally “notice” and fix the issue.
I find this approach extremely irresponsible. No matter how much I like the headphones in their current, corrected state, I will most likely refrain from purchasing other Nothing devices, and I probably won’t be recommending them to my friends either.
