In the present day, Marcus evaluations the HEDD Audio HEDDphone TWO GT, a brand new ‘audiophile’ version of those distinctive open-back Air Movement Transformer driver headphones. They’re priced at €2,199.
Disclaimer: This pattern was bought with a reduction in alternate for my trustworthy opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks. Many due to HEDD Audio for his or her assist
You possibly can learn right here about earlier HEDD Audio merchandise I’ve beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our newest scoring tips, which you’ll be able to learn in additional element right here.
HEDD Audio HEDDphone TWO GT Overview
Abstract
The HEDD Audio HEDDphone TWO GT provides a brand new, wider, and extra interesting dimension to their headphone sound signatures. While the non-GT nonetheless has an edge for its lovely, wealthy vocal sound, there is no such thing as a denying that the GT model brings a extra pleasing degree of energy and punch to the line-up.
Execs
Extra dynamic and highly effective sound signature.
Quieter, comfier headphone design
Improved ear pad choice
Cons
Nonetheless would like one cable with a modular jack system.
Whereas technically not a technology 3, the brand new HEDD Audio HEDDphone TWO GT has some important adjustments to the unique TWO model, which we reviewed at first of final yr.
Priced at €2,199, this new GT model is an exposé on knowledgeable group suggestions mixed with in-house studying from what has come earlier than.
Meaning the same, smaller ‘TWO’ headphone kind issue with its distinctive and progressive pressure-adjusting HEDDband strap system.
Nevertheless, this time, it comes with an much more comfy sporting expertise, an improved alternative of ear pads, and maybe extra importantly, a refined AMT driver providing enhanced energy and dynamics extra suited to on a regular basis listening.
Does it deliver the enjoyable issue in comparison with the older authentic HEDDphone, however maintain the identical pleasant technical functionality of the 2nd Gen TWO? I discovered in my full assessment under.
Driver Modifications
So what has modified from the TWO’s driver to the one contained in the HEDDphone TWO GT model? Nicely, on a excessive degree, you’ll in all probability assume not an excessive amount of.
That is nonetheless an open-back circumaural or full-sized open-back headphone with a full-range Air Movement Transformer driver, or AMT for brief, rated at 41Ω impedance with a really shut SPL of 88 dB/mW.
As was the case with earlier iterations, you’ll nonetheless want to make use of a really succesful amplifier to listen to the perfect performances from the HEDDphone TWO GT.
Nevertheless, in case you dig somewhat deeper, you’ll discover there was a little bit of change in how this driver is designed.
This features a new multi-layered Kapton polyimide movie for the diaphragm and a change to the dampening to scale back the potential for distortion, a key requirement for this driver (or any driver) if you wish to stiffen the lows.
This new damping software is seen to the bare eye when altering the ear pads. On the TWO, it was a single, centered darkish acoustic stripe and an uncovered gold-colored ribbon driver.
This time, the motive force is behind a white layer of acoustic materials with a darker textured wedge on high and to 1 facet of the encompassing baffle.
One of many clear advantages of those adjustments, at the very least to my ears, is a vastly decreased ‘crinkle-effect’ from the motive force when positioned in your head, one thing which the older TWO suffers extra from.
Design
The HEDDphone TWO GT’s kind issue and 500g weight are the identical because the TWO. Save for the brand new velour pads, the supplies are largely unchanged, with a carbon fiber headband arch mixed with a mixture of leather-based and foam for the HEDDband strap and a magnesium alloy body.
And but, it feels completely different. Now, this can be only a pattern variation mixed with the brand new acoustic dampening remedy, however the HEDDphone TWO GT sounds firmer and quieter.
What I imply by that’s the basic degree of articulating noise or ‘creak’ from shifting the headphones’ cups or placing them on my head is decrease than the earlier pattern I’ve right here.
I additionally briefly talked about that the motive force crinkle impact is vastly decreased within the new model, which additionally helps tame a number of the bodily noise when dealing with the headphones.
Aesthetically, the HEDDphone TWO GT differs in a couple of areas from the earlier iteration. Probably the most noticeable is the darker vibe from the motive force enclosure to the brand new engraved pivot blocks and HEDD emblem; all the pieces has much less ‘white’.
What white there may be left is saved for the strain strap stitching, which supplies it extra of a high-contrast two-tone impact.
I’m not an enormous fan of white stitching, however I really like the brand new darker tone total. If the stitching can mix in seamlessly, it will be excellent. That is simply my style in leather-based ending, your views would possibly differ.
Consolation
The HEDDphone TWO GT retains the distinctive HEDDband strap system, which might goal head measurement and strain stability on the similar time. I do know of no different headband that may do each in such a granular style as this.
I’ve been utilizing the brand new system on the unique TWO for a yr, and I’d say on reflection that it’s a lot better geared up for heads of all sizes and styles in comparison with the unique HEDDphone’s single headband and heavier weight.
Nevertheless, lateral strain continues to be a factor after an hour or two; even in case you program the strap for a really unfastened match, there may be nonetheless some unease within the becoming after some time. You don’t want it to be too unfastened or the efficiency drops, however it is usually simple to overcompensate on lateral strain when aiming for a safe match.
The brand new HEDDphone TWO GT velour pads clear up a few of that lateral strain, permitting me to go a bit tighter than the unique with out introducing any elevated discomfort.
You possibly can nonetheless change to the unique quasi-perforated leather-based pads, which come as an optionally available additional, however provided that the efficiency between the 2 pads is similar, I caught with the comfier and better-ventilated velour pads.
The drop in driver ‘crinkle’ and the smoother articulation of the HEDDphoneWO GT construct are additionally main elements in perceived consolation.
There’s a lot much less noise all through the headphones when on my head, which immediately makes me really feel extra relaxed than utilizing the unique TWO.
Inventory Cables
HEDD Audio has retained a wonderful number of cables for the HEDDphone TWO GT.
You continue to get two 8-wire Kevlar-infused braided 12 x 4 OFC copper cables in SE and balanced terminated. Alongside these, you get two adaptors, together with a 6.35 down to three.5mm SE and from 4.4mm as much as 4-pin XLR balanced.
That ought to provide you with nearly each helpful connection choice on the market for moveable units and desktop amplifiers.
What they’ve modified is the ending in two key areas: the wire jacket and the barrel sizes and styles. The older cables had been terminated with a tightly braided PET jacket, giving them a reasonably small profile.
For the HEDDphone TWO GT variations, this jacket has been changed by a softer (and lighter) cloth jacket with a looser braid that feels lighter within the hand than the earlier design.
The low-profile matte black aluminum splitter, jack, and matching termination barrels have a curvier design with a recessed portion and grippy strains to will let you grip them higher.
The converter cable barrels are additionally slimmer with a barely longer size of wire, which ought to place much less stress on the joints when linked to amps.
Packaging & Equipment
The HEDDphone TWO GT packaging is nearly the identical because the earlier TWO by way of field measurement, the way it unboxes, and what you get inside for equipment. The one substantive change is the outer sleeve design and labelling, which has a darker ‘racier’ end.
Meaning a giant, heavy field, the type of huge that makes you’re feeling you’re getting your cash’s value.
Simply watch out when unboxing the equipment. They arrive in two separate trays with covers tightly packed into the primary container. They are often pulled out with a small tab, however in case you pull too arduous, you may pull off the tab, which occurred to me with one of many older HEDDphone TWO trays a couple of months again.
In case you are new to the HEDDphone TWO GT unboxing expertise, it’s a actual deal with. All the things is superbly laid out, together with the cables and pads in a single presentation tray with the primary headphones inside their carry case within the second bigger accent field.
The HEDDphone TWO GT carry case is unchanged from the earlier model. It’s a stiffened design with a cloth and zipper end and loads of area to carry nearly all the pieces safely inside, together with cables and even the spare pads in case you place them excellent.
Click on on web page 2 under for my sound impressions and really helpful pairings.
