The HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1 and Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO MKII are both positioned as high-resolution, open-back reference headphones designed for critical listening. While they share a similar target audience, engineers, audiophiles, and serious home listeners, their design philosophies and sonic priorities differ in meaningful ways. In this comparison, we’ll break down how these two premium headphones stack up across comfort, design, soundstage, frequency response, and technical performance.
What You Get
| HEDDphone D1 | DT 1990 Pro MKII |
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Look & Feel
The HEDDphone D1 takes a lighter, more understated approach than the DT 1990 Pro MKII. They feel more refined and modern, with soft velour pads and a suspension-style headband that prioritizes long-term comfort. Its lighter weight is immediately noticeable when worn, making it less fatiguing during extended listening sessions. The DT 1990 PRO MKII maintains Beyerdynamic’s iconic industrial aesthetic. Built with metal yokes and a spring-steel headband, it feels rugged and confidence-inspiring. While slightly heavier than the D1, the weight distribution is excellent, and the similar velour pads provide a secure yet comfortable fit.
Design
The HEDDphone D1 utilizes HEDD Audio’s Thin-Ply Carbon Diaphragm (TPCD) dynamic driver technology, designed to deliver fast transient response and low distortion. In contrast, the DT 1990 PRO MKII features Beyerdynamic’s TESLA.45 dynamic drivers, which use a powerful magnetic system to improve efficiency and resolution. These drivers are known for their ability to deliver strong dynamics, high detail retrieval, and excellent control across the frequency spectrum. Neither headphone is as hard to drive as some of their predecessors are known to be, but it’s best to use either a dedicated headphone amplifier or an audio interface to drive them.
Soundstage
The HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1 presents a soundstage that feels intentionally realistic rather than exaggerated. Instead of stretching width for dramatic effect, it focuses on spatial accuracy and proportional placement. Instruments are rendered with convincing left-to-right positioning and a strong sense of front-to-back depth, allowing mixes to breathe naturally. Imaging is especially precise in the center image, where vocals and lead instruments feel firmly anchored without drifting or smearing.
By comparison, the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO MKII delivers a noticeably wider and more expansive soundstage. There is an immediate sense of openness, with instruments occupying clearly separated zones across the stereo field. Imaging is sharp and highly resolved, making it easy to pinpoint individual elements within dense mixes. This expansive presentation can be especially useful for mixing and mastering, where understanding spatial relationships and separation is critical. While the DT 1990 PRO MKII can feel slightly more “produced” in its spatial presentation, it excels at revealing placement decisions within a mix.
Low End
Bass performance on the HEDDphone D1 is defined by control, texture, and restraint. Rather than emphasizing impact or weight, the low end focuses on accuracy and tonal balance. The DT 1990 PRO MKII offers a more assertive and dynamic low-end response. Bass has greater punch and physicality, lending energy to modern genres like rock, electronic, and cinematic scores. Despite the added weight, the bass remains tight and well-controlled, avoiding excessive bloom or muddiness. This balance allows the DT 1990 PRO MKII to sound engaging without sacrificing clarity, making it a versatile option for both professional and recreational listening. The D1 prioritizes realism over excitement, which will appeal to listeners who value neutrality and faithful reproduction.
Mids
Midrange reproduction is one of the strongest aspects of the HEDDphone D1. Vocals, strings, and acoustic instruments are rendered with a natural timbre that feels unforced and emotionally engaging. There’s a sense of openness and transparency through the mids that allows subtle nuances, like breath, vibrato, and room reflections, to come through clearly. The D1 avoids midrange coloration, making it an excellent reference headphone for evaluating recordings and mixes where tonal honesty is critical. The DT 1990 PRO MKII approaches the midrange from a more analytical perspective. Mids are clean, articulate, and well-separated, allowing individual elements to stand out clearly within a mix. While the presentation is slightly more forward and clinical compared to the HEDDphone D1, it excels at revealing detail and structure. This makes the DT 1990 PRO MKII particularly useful in studio environments where clarity and separation take precedence over warmth or musicality.
Highs
Treble performance on the HEDDphone D1 is smooth, extended, and refined. High frequencies are presented with air and openness, but without sharp peaks or excessive brightness. The DT 1990 PRO MKII is more energetic in the treble region, offering a crisp and highly revealing top end. While this heightened treble response contributes to the headphone’s reputation for clarity and resolution, it can sound bright on certain recordings or to listeners who are sensitive to high-frequency emphasis. For analytical listening and studio work, however, this treble tuning can be a valuable asset. The D1’s treble tuning supports long listening sessions, as it delivers detail without inducing fatigue or harshness.
Summary
Both the HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1 and Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO MKII represent top-tier open-back headphone engineering, but they appeal to slightly different segments of the audiophile and professional markets. The D1 offers transparent, clinical reference performance with a natural tonality, ideal for listeners who prioritize precision. The DT 1990 PRO MKII, with its dynamic TESLA drivers and wide soundstage, remains a versatile pick for studio contexts and everyday critical listening with a bit more sonic excitement. Choose the D1 if you want honesty and nuance in every note. Choose the DT 1990 PRO MKII if you prefer bold detail, soundstage expansiveness, and a headphone engineered for both studio and high-fidelity enjoyment.
The HEDD Audio HEDDphone D1 and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKII are available at Audio46.
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