The HEDDphone D1 Review: The Open-Back Everyone is Scouting

After a stunning premiere at Can Jam Dallas, the HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1 has finally arrived at Audio46. This headphone has been scouted just as much as a D1 athlete, which makes its name quite apropos. It comes in as a direct competitor for the Sennheiser HD 600 and other similar open-back reference headphones. So does this headphone live up to the hype? We're going to dive into all the details and find out. 

The HEDDphone D1 is a well-constructed headphone. It doesn't have a flashy design, but HEDD Audio makes sure it still looks presentable in any environment. Its dark grey color palette makes the D1 blend in and go incognito in a setup, so you're only focused on the sound rather than the look. On top of that, you can tell HEDD Audio definitely had long-term comfort in mind. The earpads in perforated velour are perfect for a comfortable fit and a bit of ventilation to prevent overheating while wearing. 

While wearing the D1, I noticed the headband was exceptionally padded to prevent any fatigue at the top of the head. The earcups had some slight rotation so you could adjust them to the shape of your head, which is slightly more than you get from some other options. 

In terms of connectivity, the HEDDphnoe D1 is easy to plug and play. The cable has dual 3.5mm connections, and since the port is not recessed, you can integrate a lot of different 3rd party upgrade cables to elevate your listening experience. Even for outside gear, you won't need too much outside power to get these headphones up and running; however, pairing the D1 with a nice amplifier definitely opened up the signature. 

• Design: Open-back over-ear headphone
• Drivers: Dynamic with a Thin-ply Carbon Diaphragm
• Frequency Range: 5Hz-40Hz
• Maximum SPL: 100dB at 1mW
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Pads: Perforated Velour
• Cable: Textile-covered premium cable
• Inputs: 2 x 3.5mm
• Weight: 350g

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Onto the listening! My first impression of the D1 headphone was that it was very neutral. The entire signature was laid out in front of me in a very wide soundstage, so there was space for all the instruments to be placed with ease. The D1 stands to be a reference headphone from a first impression alone. I liked how the soundstage was wide to get that proper imaging, where you could appreciate the separation of each element in a track. While everything laid relatively flat, there was still a dynamic element to the entire signature that kept things more interesting and entertaining for more diverse listening habits. 

Overall, the signature of the D1 was natural but still V-shaped. The midrange came forward to highlight vocals and more melodic elements. I was definitely a fan of how balanced everything sounded, and it became clear why these headphones were held in such high regard. The punchy bass paired with airy light treble, then a detailed midrange with natural sound reproduction are all marks for a fantastic sounding headphone. The D1 delivers all these elements with ease, as the headphones are easy to pair with an amplifier or to just plug and play. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

When analyzing the individual frequency ranges, I noticed some finer details that made this signature sound like it does. The bass frequencies, I found, were a hit or miss to me and my colleagues. The D1's bass response is definitely fast and punchier than other reference headphones. I liked how it had more body and depth than something like the Sennheiser, where I found the bass to be a bit lacking. The D1 offers a low end that is colorful and full of warmth, so you always have a steady foundation for other frequencies to build up from. I could see how this heavy response may become fatiguing to some ears, and its punch may be a bit too powerful for more sensitive ears. Still, any audiophile will appreciate the extra layer of warmth and color that comes from the bottom layer. It makes tracks more colorful and dynamic and keeps the signature from becoming too flat or boring. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

Showing off the V-shape in the signature, the midrange comes forward to be the star of the show. All the detail and clarity comes through in this range, and it sits right at the front so you don't miss a thing. The vocals are a highlight and one of my favorite parts of the D1; vocalists sounded like they were singing right in front of you in the space. There were layers of instruments that filtered backwards and took up space in all areas of the soundstage, and it made the sound more three-dimensional as opposed to solely flat. The coloration of each instrument was exceptional with detail and had good texture to make instruments sound exactly how you would expect. This range shows off the reference sound that you'd want out of the D1.  

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

To round out the signature, the treble in the D1 came in with lightness and an airy quality to lift everything up. It was like a breath of fresh air after having the powerful low end and highly detailed midrange, and its openness prevented the signature from being too heavy or compressed. Frequencies dissipated naturally in the top end, though you may find a lack of roll-off so it feels like frequencies are extended farther out than you'd imagine. I still appreciated all the texture and detail that came in through the treble, and it carried into the textures of the bass and midrange as well. Orchestral pieces were a pleasure to listen to because of the instrumental placement in the soundstage and the space for room space to live. Reverbs and other post-production effects lived in the top and got a nice feature in certain genres. 

If you're looking for open-back headphones that have good reference sound and retail for under $1k, there are a lot of options to choose from. In the same price range as the D1, it narrows that list down to some key players:

• Sennheiser HD 600 / HD 650
• Meze 109 Pro
• Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MK II
• FiiO FT7

While you may see more options than this, I picked these out to mention because of their similar sound profiles. Each of these headphones has a reference sound quality to it, and makes it a good competition for something like the HEDDphone D1. When listening to the D1's signature compared to these other ones, you'll find that the D1 is notably more dynamic than something like the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MK II or the Sennheiser HD 600. I would give it a close comparison to the Sennheiser HD 650, which has slightly punchier bass than the model that came before it. Still, the D1 blows them out of the water and delivers a low-end response that balances more accurately than the competition. If you're someone who prefers a light bass when you mix, the D1 may not be the headphone to invest in.

Conversely, there were other headphones I found to be more fun than the D1. If it's entertainment and wide soul you're going for, take a look at the Meze 109 Pro or the FiiO FT7. Both of these have very good natural sound, but have more of a dynamic sound signature than something that is flat like the D1 or the Sennheiser. The 109 Pro is especially wide and has a much more open top end sound, which is a step above what the D1 gives you with its airy treble. Both sounds are catered to different listeners, so it depends on what type of sound you're looking for in a headphone. 

The HEDDphone D1 is a great headphone for people looking for an upgrade but still with the sound they know and love. Mixing engineers will appreciate the neutral signature and natural sound reproduction that expands across any genre. You can even use this headphone as a regular listening headphone, as the bass and treble are colorful and textured to keep tracks interesting and not too clinical. If you're looking to upgrade from your Sennheiser or Beyerdynamic, I would definitely consider the HEDDphone D1 as your next open-back headphone. 

You can get the HEDDphone D1 at Audio46.