Beyerdynamic T 1 (2nd generation) Headphone Review

As the 600 Ohm impedance suggests, these are not the most mobile device friendly headphones when it comes to efficiency. But since the semi-open design provides next to no isolation from the outside world, you won’t be using T 1’s in noisy places anyway, and for playback of mastered content out of, say, a MacBook, the output level might be sufficient. But for any DAW work where you need to keep some headroom, using these with an audio interface is the only way, and even then not every interface will be able to drive them loud enough. But let’s be honest – as headphones for mobile work, T 1’s are compromised and Beyerdynamic clearly designed these headphones for use with an amp.

The shape and dimensions of the headphones are about the same as other Beyerdynamic over-ears, with the most noticeable difference being the super gentle and nice to touch ear pads. The super-soft synthetic leather headband finish is shared with its closed-back sibling T 5 p, while the satisfying headband adjustment mechanism can also be found on relatively more affordable DT 1770 / 1990 Pros. It’s an upgrade over a bit clunky-feeling one found on the workhorse models like DT 770 / 880 / 990 Pro. 

The materials used feel nice and premium. Yet there are a few plastic bits used, the worrying ones being the parts that connect earcups to the yokes. In case of failure though, spares are cheap and easily available from Beyerdynamic online store. 

All in all, high quality seems to be the theme here and that also extends to the textile-coated cable and the included storage case.

The perceived frequency response of the T 1 exaggerates all the typical characteristics of Beyerdynamic full-size over-ears – but the highs are taken to new heights. To T 1’s defense, high-mid frequency dips and extreme top-end boosts are common among headphones in this price bracket. Also the range from 50 Hz to 1 kHz is remarkably flat, and the sub bass extension is commendable for a semi-open set. 

Unsurprisingly, all Beyer’s Pro line headphones have a more tame perceived frequency response than the audiophile flagship. But all these differences are made irrelevant with Reference software, so once calibrated, the rather bright out-of-the-box sound of T 1 is no longer an obstacle for serious studio use.

Virtually no channel disbalance was found among the measured pairs. In this instance, high price equals high attention to driver matching and great manufacturing consistency.

As usual with the full-size Beyerdynamic over-ear headphones, none of our testers found any pressure points and found them to be very comfortable and easy to keep on one’s head for hours on end. The weight is just 10 grams less than DT 1990 Pro, but once the headphones are on the head they feel noticeably lighter due to the very evenly distributed pressure. Like all Beyer’s audiophile models, the clamping force is more relaxed when compared to Pro models. For people with smaller heads, they perhaps slide around a bit too easily, however, for long session comfort it’s beneficial. Overall, T 1’s are even a bit comfier than Beyer’s flagship studio open-backs – DT 1990 Pro, and there are very few headphones from other manufacturers that can compete.

In the value department, the flagship is somewhat cannibalized by Beyerdynamic’s own DT 1990 Pro and even DT 880 Pro. When it comes to real-world performance after calibration, all 3 will sound virtually the same, however, the superb comfort of T 1 will remain unmatched. Yet the more affordable rivals are still plenty comfortable, so whether it’s worth the price premium – it’s up to you.