For individuals in search of open-back headphones beneath $1k, you’ve gotten a number of choices to select from. Personally, I’ve all the time ranked the Meze 109 Professional as probably the greatest worth headphones in that class. With the brand new HEDDphone D1, is that title about to be handed on? On this comparability assessment, we check out the brand new HEDDphone D1 and the Meze 109 Professional aspect by aspect to see if one is healthier suited in your listening. Since they each retail for $800, is one a greater worth than the opposite?
Let’s begin with their bodily designs. The HEDDphone D1 has a basic over-ear design with delicate earpads and an opulent headband for optimum consolation. The plastic materials makes this a really sturdy headphone, meant for touring from studio to studio. The carrying case additionally makes it straightforward to take the D1 from place to position. The Meze 109 Professional makes it straightforward to take the headphones from place to position and features a carrying case for journey. The 109 Professional has a really completely different bodily design, with a self-adjusting headband that falls in your head completely with none want for adjustment. It is rather light-weight on the highest of your head, whereas the D1 is a little more cumbersome as a result of extra sturdy construct. The walnut wooden earcups have touches of metallic to make the headphone just a little extra luxurious and high-quality.
By way of match, I discovered each headphones to be fairly comfy. The D1 had a tighter clamping drive, so it stayed on my head with extra stability than the 109 Professional. The 109 Professional was a extra stress-free match, and the extra I wore it, the much less I observed it on my head. Each headphones had velour earpads, with the D1 having perforated ones versus stable ones just like the 109 Professional. This perforated design made the D1 extra breathable and balanced the tight clamping drive. The 109 Professional did not want the additional breathability because the headphone was already so light-weight.
Relying on what your put on preferences are, you will discover one headphone extra comfy than the opposite. For those who do not like a headphone that’s too stiff and like a light-weight, eye-catching design, the 109 Professional might be for you. However, in the event you like stability throughout use and do not care a lot for an excessively fancy design, the D1 is an ideal alternative.
SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING
Now for the portion that everybody is ready for: the listening! The HEDDphone D1 and the Meze 109 Professional are each glorious for pure sound replica and immersive listening, although they spotlight completely different parts to cater to completely different sorts of listeners. For starters, the HEDDphone D1 affords a really expansive soundstage that has very detailed imaging. The soundstage lies comparatively flat, which makes it basis for audio work like mixing or mastering. I appreciated the horizontal area the soundstage gave, although there wasn’t a number of vertical peak within the D1. For individuals utilizing it for mixing, this may not show to be a difficulty. For those who’re in search of a extra partaking tuning to listen to your tracks by, the D1 will not be the headphone you need to go for.
The Meze 109 Professional has the same vast soundstage. It feels way more open due to the separation of devices, in addition to the prolonged peak of upper frequencies. This soundstage sounded three-dimensional with the dynamic peak and width, in addition to the prolonged depth. The 109 Professional was a terrific headphone for individuals who wished one thing extra relaxed, because the sound was not as ahead because the D1 to make it overly analytical. With the pure sound replica throughout the signature, you might definitely use it for reference in the event you desired; nevertheless, I feel the 109 Professional is a greater headphone for stress-free and having fun with music with than making an attempt to research frequencies with.
General, the 2 headphones gave two completely different signatures. The D1 was flat and very exact, making it the perfect mixing companion. However, the Meze 109 Professional was nice for stress-free along with your favourite tracks and appreciating the nice and cozy signature that got here from the deep low finish.
BASS FREQUENCIES
The bass response was a spotlight on each of those headphones. Each the D1 and 109 Professional prioritized readability within the bass however did not compromise on highly effective and punchy hits the place they had been wanted. The bass was equally as driving and current in every headphone, so you were not left trying to find that low finish. Even in a reference headphone just like the D1, the bass was nonetheless very ahead and current, and stored up with the heavy hits of the 109 Professional.
Individually, these headphones confirmed off some slight variations of their bass responses. For one, the bass response within the D1 was far quicker than that within the 109 Professional. The 109 Professional stored the bass response comparatively slower and extra relaxed. It was higher for slow-paced genres like easy jazz or R&B, although it nonetheless did sustain in genres like onerous rock or metallic. As a result of the 109 Professional had a mellower bass response, it was simpler to hearken to this headphone for lengthy durations of time. The D1’s fast-paced and punchy response was very ahead and typically grew to become fatiguing if there was an excessive amount of emphasis on the bass in a monitor. Bassheads who need that critical punch will definitely be blissful; nevertheless, if you’d like one thing just a little extra low-key, the 109 Professional is a better option.
MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES
The midrange comes ahead on the 109 Professional and the D1, making a V-shape signature that’s noticeable on each headphones. The D1’s midrange would not come ahead as a lot and as a substitute stays extra consistent with the bass and treble to provide you a flatter response. The vocals and different melody devices keep entrance and heart, so that you’re all the time going through the primary occasion. The element on this vary may be very pure and filled with readability. Instrumental timbres had been straightforward to separate and determine in listening. The midrange of the D1 makes the headphone earn its title as a reference and mixing headphone, the place you possibly can undoubtedly hear the naturalness and element of every
Like D1, the Meze 109 Professional has a ahead midrange that’s nice for highlighting the melodies and featured devices in a monitor. What makes the 109 Professional stand out is that it has a starker separation between the midrange and the bookend ranges. It comes ahead extra so it has a really frontal sound, and the opposite frequencies undoubtedly filter backwards. I preferred the coloration of the devices on this vary, as they sound sincere to their timbres whereas nonetheless being entertaining.
TREBLE FREQUENCIES
On the prime finish, each headphones exhibit some intensive area and openness. The D1 is nice for these ultra-extended highs, as there would not seem like fairly the roll-off you’d anticipate from the highest finish. This could possibly be just a little disorienting for some listeners, but it surely does make orchestral and instrumental ensembles way more pure and simple to hearken to. The treble within the D1 is sharp and exact, and it balances the depth and depth of the low finish. You possibly can hear how the treble carries element all through the signature, ensuring the D1’s highly effective bass would not get too overwhelming and overtake the signature.
Equally, the 109 Professional has a really prolonged treble response that’s mild, ethereal, and filled with element. It was barely extra recessed than that of the D1, but it surely nonetheless supplied sufficient steadiness with the low finish. The 109 Professional provides you a number of area on the prime for these orchestral recordings. There was a noticeable roll-off that stored the signature tight and exact, but it surely did not really feel unnatural or awkward throughout listening. Treble frequencies had been just a little recessed within the 109 Professional as a complete, which contributed to the hotter sound signature. Identical to the D1, it was nonetheless a terrific steadiness and supplied element throughout the sound signature to maintain issues clear and exact.
On the finish of the day, it’ll come down to private preferences to decide on between the HEDDphone D1 and the Meze 109 Professional. If it is a terrific sound you are after, and beneath $1k, each headphones are positive to provide you a terrific listening expertise. Taking a look at their finer particulars, you will discover sure containers are checked for one headphone over the opposite.
For those who’re in search of your subsequent mixing headphone that may double as your on a regular basis driver, the HEDDphone D1 is a superb alternative. You will not get flashy aesthetics or a number of coloration in your listening, however the readability and exact placement will nonetheless impress and preserve you engrossed in your tracks for hours.
If the look issues simply as a lot because the sound, the Meze 109 Professional could also be a better option. It’s a very comfy headphone that’s excellent for hours of listening, and the relaxed, mellower signature will make your tracks all of the extra entertaining.
You may get each the HEDDphone D1 and the Meze 109 Professional at Audio46.
