German model HEDD Audio has a status for producing high quality monitor audio system, however took a daring leap into headphone monitoring extra just lately in 2020 with the £1479 HEDDphone One — a flagship providing that was subsequently up to date in 2023 with the extra compact Two mannequin.
The brand new D1 open-backs supply a extra inexpensive entry value and try and rival the quick transient response of planar magnetic headphones — standard for mixing and mastering — by utilizing an progressive dynamic Skinny-Ply Carbon Diaphragm developed with Composite Sound of Sweden. And so they put my very own planar headphones within the shade.
Unboxing and sporting the HEDDphone D1
The D1s are available a soft-shell carry case that’s not outsized, plus a pouch for the two-metre cable. Like many high-end cans, the cable connects to the headphones through twin 3.5 mm mini-jacks, and so balanced output could be doable with the right cable and DAC/amp, for those who’re so inclined. Impedance is 32 Ohms, which means these will work fortunately with audio interfaces and laptop computer headphone outputs. You don’t want a flowery exterior headphone amp.
Strapped in, the D1s are supremely comfy, even for a glasses wearer. There’s simply the suitable sufficient clamping pressure to assist a strong bass extension, plus a beneficiant depth to the ear cups that helps to keep away from over-heating whereas additionally enhancing immersion — one thing this specific set of headphones excels at. Lengthy periods are doable with out discomfort, because the headphones nearly appear to vanish.
What does the HEDDphone D1 sound like?
The sound signature has gloriously fizzy highs, verging on being too harsh at instances however bringing out unimaginable element in vocals and hi-hats in the identical method because the AMT tweeter on HEDD’s monitor audio system. HEDD’s co-founder Freddy Knop himself likens this sound to the AMT tweeter in a Head-Fi discussion board submit, citing a “good form of obsession with element and transients, precision, realism”. As time goes on, I develop more and more impressed with the transient and color element of the highs on the D1. It’s a high quality that creeps up on me and, swapping again to my planar daily-drivers —the (admittedly-cheaper) Hifiman Sundara open-backs— I’m shocked at how trashy and anaemic the treble presentation immediately seems compared to the HEDDs. The D1s additionally take the lead compared to different dynamic-diaphragm fashions at decrease monitoring ranges, the place the sound stays simply as outlined within the excessive finish.
On the reverse finish of the spectrum, there’s loads of bass extension too. Many open-backs are shy of bass out of the field —planars particularly— so this helps kicks and sub-synth bass traces to actually come alive. Moreover, this bass heft is extraordinarily useful when performing playback translation checks in digital rooms utilizing software program resembling Realphones and House Replicator because the frequency stability is extra speaker-like. All nice up to now.
The mid-mids and low-mids are somewhat too cumbersome to my ears, resulting in a slight nasal honk, and a low-mid build-up much like the impact of putting studio screens on a desk. Mild cuts with a easy graphic EQ at 500 Hz and 128 Hz clear issues up properly. That is comparatively trivial to attain by myself audio interface that may host headphone EQ in its DSP, however would possibly show annoying to those that don’t have such luxuries. Submit EQ, music is extra pleasurable to take heed to and mixes translate higher as I don’t attempt to both scoop the low mids as a lot to cut back vocal proximity, or lower murky resonances round 500 Hz too severely.
Hitting the goal with HEDDphone D1
Excessive-mids are as revealing because the treble vary, with ample articulation on kick beater clicks, under-snare mics and fuzzy electrical guitars. To my style, this in the end seems brash and so I revert to my regular EQ desire — dialling in a Harman goal curve. I have a tendency to make use of a Harman curve for a standardised method to monitoring, I benefit from the fuller bass and the smoothness of an evened-out mid and treble vary. It helps with translation checks, too. I find some Harman goal settings for the D1 in an Audio Science Assessment discussion board submit and, with a parametric EQ utilized there’s a dramatic distinction in tonal high quality. Granted, outcomes seem much less thrilling, however they’re way more suited to purposes of blending and mastering. I’m in my glad place.
And again to the topic of immersion. HEDDphone D1 has probably the greatest spatial representations of any headphone I’ve listened to, with a tremendous sense of depth, and a surprisingly expansive stereo discipline. Reverse-panned, crunchy electrical guitar layers spring to life and stretch into the far distance in one in all my go-to reference tracks — Gethsemane by Richard Thompson. In the meantime, trivialities in panning choices are revealed in contrasting, synth-layered tracks. As soon as once more, my Hifimans are outclassed by a transparent margin, and to be frank, I’m left reeling.
HEDDphone D1 vs. the world
Mulling over rivals, the HEDDphone D1s outshine Neumann’s NDH30 for a extra pleasurable listening expertise, and are barely extra pleasing than Audeze’s MM-100 planar open-backs for tonal character and spatial presentation. In the meantime, Hifiman has a number of planar merchandise in an identical value vary, typically with steep reductions on outgoing fashions to provide you much more in your cash.
For producing, composing and having fun with music although, the HEDDphone D1 is troublesome to beat and by no means will get uncomfortable. Throw in somewhat EQ assist, and the D1 turns into a reliable mixing and mastering workhorse that’s articulate and revealing all through your entire frequency vary.
Key Options
- Open-back headphones
- Skinny-ply Carbon Diaphragm (TPCD) dynamic drivers
- Frequency Vary: 5 Hz – 40 kHz
- 32 Ohms impedance
- 2-metre, detachable unbalanced cable
- Delicate-shell carry case
- Weight: 350 g
Barry has been educating and writing about music know-how for over 25 years. With specific pursuits in immersive audio, recording with pure reverb, speaker and headphone developments and educating mixing workflows, the head of his expertise was working as an Audio Affiliate on the Banff Centre in Canada. When not engaged on recording and writing tasks, he may be discovered knocking out banging people tunes on accordion and bouzouki.
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