The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 are good, premium headphones for neutral sound. They have a slightly warm sound profile and have a great build quality. They're comfortable to wear for a while but may feel a bit tight for some. By design, they don’t isolate any noise and are very leaky, making them unsuitable for commuting. These headphones are only really suitable for their intended usage, neutral sound.
Our Verdict
The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 are sub-par for mixed use. The semi-open-back headphones have a slightly warm sound profile and can reproduce vocals and lead instruments well. However, they won’t isolate ambient noise, meaning they're a poor choice for commuting and use at the office. Their bulky design won’t be suitable for sports. Since they're wired headphones, their cable’s length won’t be long enough for you to enjoy movies and shows from your couch. While they don’t have a microphone for online games, they can be a decent option for gaming if you don’t need a mic.
- Durable build.
- Comfortable fit.
- Can be tight for some.
- Poor isolation and leaky by design.
- Bulky and cumbersome design.
The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 are good for neutral sound. They have a consistent, extended, and powerful bass and a well-balanced mid-range but an uneven treble range. However, their bass is also slightly boomy. Overall, they're fairly suitable for a wide variety of music genres but might lack a bit of detail on some tracks, while sounding sharp on S and T sounds like most Beyerdynamic headphones.
The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 are poor for commuting and traveling. Their semi-open design practically doesn’t isolate any noise, especially the deep rumbles of bus and plane engines. The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Gen are also quite bulky and aren’t the easiest headphones to carry around.
The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 are disappointing for sports. These headphones are very bulky, and over-ears usually aren’t ideal for this use. They're also very hard to carry around. Even if they're semi-open, they still trap a decent amount of heat under the ear cups, which can make you sweat more than usual.
The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 are poor for the office. Their semi-open back design practically leaks as much as fully open headphones, which can disturb people surrounding you. They also don’t isolate much ambient noise, which won’t be ideal for concentrating on your tasks.
The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 are sub-par for gaming. These headphones don’t have a microphone, so they won’t be great for online games where communication is needed. On the upside, they practically don’t have any latency due to their wired connection. If you don’t need a microphone and play in a quiet room, they can be a decent option for gaming.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 24, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
- Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Apr 11, 2019: Review published.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 are good over-ears for neutral sound, fairly similar to other Beyerdynamic headphones. They have the same distinguished look with a great build and slightly warm sound profile. However, they may not offer the best value, so we suggest looking at our picks for the best audiophile headphones.
See our recommendations for the best headphones for studio use and the best DJ headphones.
The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO are better headphones for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016. They feel better built than the T1 2nd Generation 2016 due to the high-end materials being used and replaceable parts. They have a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer, and they sound less sharp on already bright tracks.
The open-back Focal Elear are slightly better headphones for neutral sound than the semi-open Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016. They are more comfortable to wear during long listening sessions since they aren’t as tight as the Beyerdynamic and are remarkably well-built. They also don’t sound as sharp as the Beyerdynamic.
The HiFiMan Ananda are better headphones for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016. The HiFiMan are open-back, planar magnetic headphones that are very comfortable but slightly bulkier than the Beyerdynamic. Their sound profile is more neutral, which some users may prefer, and they have a remarkable soundstage. Unfortunately, they don’t come with a case like the Beyerdynamics to protect them while you’re on the move.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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