Sennheiser HD1 vs 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones Review

For 100 bucks, MajorHifi has yet to come across an earphone that sounds as good as the Sennheiser HD1. But everyone’s talking about 1MORE headphones lately; word on the street is that they’re the best thing since Michael Jackson. Being a curious audiophile, I decided to compare their $80 Triple Driver model to Sennheiser’s indisputable favorite. Could this be the biggest audio upset of all time? My female intuition says no. But let’s find out for sure in this Sennheiser HD1 vs 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones Review.

Sennheiser HD1 vs 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones Review

IN the BOX

FIT

I was happy with the fit on both, the HD1 and the Triple Driver. But while both earphones felt light and secure, the HD1 was more snug and sat a little deeper, subsequently providing a greater level sound isolation.

DESIGN

The 1More Triple Driver has, you guessed it, 3 drivers. The HD1, on the other hand, has a humble single driver. But as my grandmother used to say, more drivers don’t always mean better sound. We’ll put her theory to the test below.

In terms of durability, the Triple Driver seems to have the more solid design. With a fabric covered cable and a well insulated plug, the Triple Driver may be less susceptible to wear and tear. That being said, Sennheiser provides a 2 year international warranty, so they obviously have confidence in the build quality of their products. And it’s important to note that 1MORE only provides a one year U.S. domestic warranty. So, my international friends, beware.

I will say that the packaging on the 1MORE is damn pretty. They offer a wider selection of eartips (foam tips also included) and throw in an airplane adapter and shirt clip to boot. The HD1, on the other had, only provides a total of four different sized eartips. And while both earphones come with a semi hard carrying case, 1More pulls it off with more style.

Both earphones come with a mic and remote. 1MORE has designed the Triple Driver to be compatible with both, Apple and Android phones. You have the same option with Sennheiser, but the Apple and Android versions are sold as two separate models. So, make sure you get the right one. I also noticed that the Triple Driver is available with a lightning connector as well. I know, we all hate that adapter thingy.

SOUND

Overall Impressions: The transparent, warm and emotive Sennheiser HD1 vs the bassy, muddy and underwhelming 1More Triple Driver. 

Lows

Both earphones have nice deep lows that do sweet justice to pop and hip-hop. But the Triple Driver is a bit of a slouch, conveying a fatter and less disciplined bass; the HD1 presents a much clearer profile with better definition. And unlike the Triple Driver, it doesn’t overwhelm or smudge into the rest of the mix. In short, the HD1 is the sure winner in this frequency range.

Mids

Both earphones show present and well -balanced midrange, making rock songs sound full-bodied and expansive. But next to the HD1, the Triple Driver sounds rather cloudy. And this becomes more abundantly clear when listening to folk music. Listening to guitar strums in the lower mids, all I got was mush from the Triple Driver. The HD1, on the other hand, had well separated notes, and the guitar picks came out crystal clear. So in terms of transparency and detail, there’s no competition. The HD1 is far more skilled in this frequency range.

Highs

The HD1 shows more presence and much greater clarity in the highs than the Triple Driver. Listening to strings, the HD1 displayed texture and nuance that was far superior to the lackluster performance of the Triple Driver. And going back to pop music, the HD1 presented crisp and sparkly percussion, making pop tracks sound super snappy and fun. Unfortunately, these elements were completely missing from the Triple Driver. And only listeners with extreme sensitivity to high frequencies would prefer its much more subdued highs.

Soundstage

The Triple Driver conveys a nice sense of dimension with accurate instrument placement. In fact, soundstage is probably what these buds do best. But you still get a slightly more spacious feel from the HD1, making the Triple Driver sound quite compact in comparison.

SUMMARY

I hate writing negative reviews. But drivers shmivers. After listening to the 1MORE Triple Driver, I’m left wondering what all the fuss is about. Don’t get me wrong; the 1More Triple Driver sounds fine for 80 bucks. And it comes with some nice accessories. But if you want superb clarity, warmth and versatility, be kind to yourself, and invest the extra $20 to get the all-time classic HD1. I promise, you won’t be disappointed.

You can find these earphones for the best price at:

Audio 46: Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Headphones (Use our promo code,
“majorhifi” to get 10% off)

Amazon: Sennheiser HD1 In-Ear Headphones (iOS version) – Black Red

Amazon: 1MORE Triple Driver in-Ear Earphones Hi-Res Headphones with High Resolution, Bass Driven Sound, MEMS Mic, in-Line Remote, High Fidelity for Smartphones/PC/Tablet – Silver

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