• 2 min read
HEDDphone D1 nails the brief at $799.99
HEDD’s open-back HEDDphone D1 pairs new carbon-diaphragm drivers with standout sound, according to TechRadar’s review.
Image: TechRadar
HEDD’s HEDDphone D1 aims squarely at the mid-range audiophile and pro-audio market, and according to TechRadar, it lands with unusual confidence. The review gives the open-back wired headphones full marks, calling them the best headphones the reviewer has used so far.
Built in Berlin and launched on 6th November, 2025, the HEDDphone D1 costs $799.99 / £599 / AU$999. HEDD — short for Heinz ElectroDynamic Designs — is the company founded by Heinz Klaus, also known for ADAM Audio and his work on AMT (Air Motion Transformer) transducers.
The D1 is HEDD’s fourth over-ear model, following HEDDphones ONE, TWO and TWO GT. Unlike those earlier headphones, which focused on AMT drivers, the D1 uses 50mm dynamic drivers built around a custom Thin-Ply Carbon Diaphragm (TPCD) design.
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HEDDphone D1 specs and features
Key specs listed in the review include:
- Open-back over-ear design
- 50mm dynamic TPCD drivers
- 32-ohm impedance
- 5 Hz to 40 kHz frequency range
- 350g weight
- 2 x 3.5mm TS connectivity
In the box, HEDD includes a moulded EVA case, a dual-TS to 3.5mm TRS cable, a screw-on 3.5mm-to-6.35mm TRS adapter, and a drawstring velour cable bag.
TechRadar says the low 32-ohm impedance makes the headphones easy to drive from a wide range of sources, while the carbon-fibre-composite diaphragm helps deliver low distortion, strong transient response, and tonal balance.
Sound quality and comfort
The strongest praise is reserved for the sound. TechRadar describes the D1 as delivering incredible clarity, a deep and spacious low end, and an expansive soundstage. The review says the headphones manage a rare balance: detailed enough for monitoring, but still rich and enjoyable for home listening.
The reviewer notes a slight bass lift, which could give some studio users pause, but says it also gives the D1 unusual weight and presence for an open-back design. Across streaming and vinyl listening, the headphones are praised for separation, vocal definition, tight transients, and long-session listening comfort.
On design, TechRadar highlights the firm clamping force and soft cushioning, saying the fit stays comfortable over long periods. The main drawbacks are more practical than sonic: some underwhelming material choices, the expected sound leakage of an open-back design, and a supplied cable that the reviewer found too long for desktop use.
Even with those caveats, the verdict is blunt. TechRadar scores the headphones 5/5 for features, sound quality, and the overall review, placing the HEDDphone D1 among the best wired headphones currently available.
Gadgets Editor
Eli is obsessed with the tangible future. He reviews phones, wearables, and everything with a battery. Known for his rigorous testing protocols and unabashed teardowns, Eli has broken more review units than he cares to admit, all in the name of discovering the truth about durability and repairability.
via TechRadar
