Beyerdynamic T1 (3rd Gen) Review

Verdict

The new version of the Beyerdynamic T1 enveloping headphones surpassed its predecessors in sound quality and compatibility - and ranked among the best in its category.

Pros

Clear and balanced sound

impartiality and information

Comfort and build quality

Cons

Top-notch partners needed

The third-generation Beyerdynamic T1 headphones may sound familiar to you, and indeed, when creating them, the company successfully refined its old recipe, providing sound quality that is outstanding in all respects for this price category.

It's been ten years since we first trusted our ears to the original T1, and all this time they've been one of our benchmarks in the premium headphone category. The main difference between the third generation model and its predecessor is that it will be easier for laptops and mobile devices to "pump" the new version. The resistance of the previous one was 600 ohms, the new one had only 32 ohms.

As a result, the compatibility of these headphones has become even higher - however, a reservation should be made: T1 has not lost its transparency and, therefore, the high quality of the source remains a vital condition for them.

Construction and convenience

With the exception of the steel plate on the back of the cups, all other structural elements remained unchanged.

They're comfortable enough for long listening sessions, thanks to the cleverly shaped headband, partly covered in Alcantara, and voluminous velor ear cushions.

Unlike most competitors, the T1s don't overheat your ears with prolonged use - which is of course partly due to their open design. Weight - 360 grams (without cable) - also contributes to this.

These headphones are intended mainly for home use, and we were pleased to find a three-meter cable with a highly pure copper conductor in the box. Since it is removable, it can be easily replaced if damaged. 

The cable is equipped with a 3.5 mm plug and is equipped with a 6.3 mm adapter to it. Another advantage is that it almost does not transmit the noise that occurs during the movements of the listener.

We appreciate open-backed headphones for their high sound quality, but the downside is significant sound leakage. Keep in mind that wearing these headphones will likely disturb your next-door neighbors - and besides, you will not be particularly well isolated from ambient noise. 

Perhaps now is the best time to remind you: if you are looking for closed-back headphones that are as close as possible to the T1 (3rd Gen), then the 3rd generation T5 is perfect for you.

Sound

We have been listening to music with T1 headphones for almost ten years - and, to our joy, the third generation has not let down its glorious ancestors. Compared to the previous version, they play a little cleaner and more legible - but not so much that it is very noticeable.

The differences are small enough that we don't see a reason to switch from one pair to another, unless you intend to connect them to laptops or portable audio devices - the third generation T1s are better for this purpose, providing much louder sound at any volume control settings.

The tonal balance is also slightly different: the new version is slightly less bright, and the high frequencies are slightly smoother. Thanks to this, the headphones are more tolerant of aggressive electronics and medium-quality recordings.

However, they still have the same balanced and impartial approach. Beyerdynamic didn't overdrive the lower end of the spectrum to further wow the listener, and the T1 (3rd Gen) delivers just as compelling tonal character as ever.

These headphones are amazingly informative; they easily pick out many separate musical lines from Massive Attack 's Paradise Circus composition. We were impressed with the level of control and organization, as well as their ability to entertain the listener. High rhythmicity allows them to confidently recreate the pulsating rhythm of the song, the basses are distinguished by enviable energy, and the voices delight with purity and fine nuances.

Beethoven's Fifth Symphony performed by T1 (3rd Gen) is delivered with exceptional power and persuasiveness. These headphones don't try to make music more immersive - they faithfully reproduce exactly what they receive as input; and if the original signal is good, then the result is great.

Conclusion

The new version of Beyerdynamic headphones easily cope with the most powerful changes in dynamics, and even at high volumes, they are not characterized by rigidity and harshness.

They are not one of those lucky ones who amaze from the first minute of listening. But give them a few days or weeks and you won't be able to resist the charms of T1 (3rd Gen). We, as you can see, did not resist.

ASSESSMENTS

Sound 5

Convenience 5

Design 5