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Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.4
Reviewed Apr 11, 2019 at 10:37 am
Latest change: Writing modified Sep 14, 2021 at 09:06 am
Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016 Picture
5.1
Mixed Usage
7.6
Neutral Sound
3.9
Commute/Travel
5.4
Sports/Fitness
4.6
Office
4.4
Wireless Gaming
6.4
Wired Gaming
1.7
Phone Calls

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

5.1 Mixed Usage

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.

Pros
  • Durable build.
  • Comfortable fit.
Cons
  • Can be tight for some.
  • Poor isolation and leaky by design.
  • Bulky and cumbersome design.
7.6 Neutral Sound

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.

3.9 Commute/Travel

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.

5.4 Sports/Fitness

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.

4.6 Office

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.

4.4 Wireless Gaming

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.

6.4 Wired Gaming
1.7 Phone Calls
  • 5.1 Mixed Usage
  • 7.6 Neutral Sound
  • 3.9 Commute/Travel
  • 5.4 Sports/Fitness
  • 4.6 Office
  • 4.4 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.4 Wired Gaming
  • 1.7 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Mar 24, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  2. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
  3. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  4. Updated Apr 11, 2019: Review published.
  5. Updated Apr 09, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
  6. Updated Apr 09, 2019: Early access published.
  7. Updated Apr 07, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  8. Updated Apr 02, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Headphones

Comparison picture

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.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are better headphones for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation 2016. The Sennheiser are more comfortable, and their sound profile is more neutral, especially in the treble range, which some users may prefer. They have a remarkable soundstage, which you can attribute to their fully open-back design. The Sennheiser are also better built than the Beyerdynamic, but they don’t come with a hard case like the Beyerdynamic for when you want to travel with them.

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO

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. 

HiFiMan Ananda

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.

Focal Elear

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. 

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Semi-Open
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic

The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Gen are great-looking over-ear headphones. They have a similar mesh design on the ear cups to the Beyerdynamic DT 880. They have similar semi-open circular ear cups, but the headband frame and hinges are a little different. They also have thick velour padding on the cups, and their overall feel looks premium and high-end.

7.5
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.97 lbs
Clamping Force
1 lbs

Like most Beyerdynamic headphones in the DT lineup, the Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Gen are comfortable but can feel tight for some. The cups are well-padded and large, and most ears can easily fit inside them. The headband is also well-padded and distributes the weight of the headphones effectively. It is, however, a bit rigid and fairly tight, which can become uncomfortable during long listening sessions.

0
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
No Controls
Ease Of Use No Controls
Feedback No Controls
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control No
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls No
6.4
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 6.1 °C

The Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 2's semi-open back design traps more heat inside the ear cups than the similarly designed Beyerdynamic DT 880. You may feel a temperature difference when wearing them for a bit, meaning they won’t be a great option for sports as you would sweat more than usual. This shouldn’t be too much of an issue during casual listening sessions.

5.4
Design
Portability
L 8"
W 6.3"
H 4"
Volume 202 in³
Transmitter Required No

Like most Beyerdynamic headphones, the Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 2 aren't very portable and take up lots of space. They don’t fold into a more compact format, and the cups don’t swivel to make it easier to slide them in a bag. They come with a nice hard case, but it's bulky.

8.0
Design
Case
Type Hard case
L 9.6"
W 7"
H 5"
Volume 336 in³

The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation come with a nice hard case that protects the headphones well against physical damage, water exposure, and scratches. The interior of the velour case is molded, and there’s no wiggle room that could cause damage to the headphones. However, this is a very bulky case, and it might be a bit hard to travel around with. It's still slightly less bulky than the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO and Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO cases, but it feels more premium.

8.0
Design
Build Quality

These headphones have a great build quality. They feel solid, thanks to their metal-framed headband and hinges. They should survive a few accidental falls without too much damage. Also, there are no exposed cables on the ear cups like the DT headphones, which is good.

7.0
Design
Stability

The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation are sufficiently tight on the head, and they won't fall during casual listening sessions. If the cable was to get stuck on something, it might not detach and could yank the headphones off your head. However, they're too bulky to run with comfortably. The large ear cups can slide off your ears during physical activity, so like most critical listening headphones, they won't be ideal for working out, but they aren’t designed for this use.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Generation headphones
  • 1/8" TRS audio cable
  • 1/4" adapter
  • Carrying case
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
-0.86 dB
Treble Amount
-2.22 dB
8.0
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.39 dB

The Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 2's frequency response consistency is very good. Like most open and semi-open headphones, they perform consistently in the bass range across different users, but you may experience a drop in bass if you wear glasses or have thick hair. They're also consistent in the treble range under 10kHz across multiple reseats.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
8.0
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.51 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
50.4 Hz
Low-Bass
-4.23 dB
Mid-Bass
-1.29 dB
High-Bass
2.13 dB

The Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 2 have great bass performance. They have an underemphasized low and mid-bass, so they lack thump and rumble. However, this is to be expected due to their semi-open back design. There's also a bit of overemphasis in the high-bass range, which adds extra boom to mixes. Users shouldn't find it too overwhelming, though.

8.1
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
2.5 dB
Low-Mid
1.38 dB
Mid-Mid
0.02 dB
High-Mid
-3.39 dB

The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Gen's mid-range performance is great. The response throughout the range is fairly well-balanced, but there's a small tilt favoring lower frequencies. The bump in low-mid is the continuation of the high-bass, which results in vocals and leads sounding slightly cluttered at the expense of their intensity and projection.

5.7
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
5.77 dB
Low-Treble
-5.19 dB
Mid-Treble
2.83 dB
High-Treble
-9.13 dB

The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Gen's treble accuracy is sub-par. The response is fairly uneven in this range. Vocals and lead instruments lack detail and brightness, while sibilants like cymbals are piercing.

6.3
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.63 dB
Dips
1.59 dB
8.8
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.1
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.27
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.78
Weighted Phase Mismatch
7.55

These headphones have excellent imaging. Their weighted group delay (GD) is 0.1, which is excellent. The GD graph shows that their entire group delay is under the audibility threshold. This ensures a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. Also, the L/R drivers of our unit were very well-matched in frequency, amplitude, and phase response. This is important for accurate placement and localization of objects, like footsteps and instruments, in the stereo field. However, these results are only valid for our unit, and yours may perform differently.

7.8
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
2.26 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
3.7 dB
PRTF Distance
9.61 dB
Openness
9.3
Acoustic Space Excitation
8.4

The Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 2's passive soundstage is good. Due to the angled and deep drivers, there's a decent amount of activation and pinna interaction, and it's fairly accurate as well. Their semi-open back design also helps them to be more open-sounding than most closed-back headphones. However, there's no 10kHz notch present, which means that while their soundstage sounds relatively large, it will be perceived to be inside the listener’s head as opposed to in front.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
8.0
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.255
WHD @ 100
0.095
Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
No Firmware
Power
Passive
Connection
Wired
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
No Microphone
Isolation
2.0
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-4.86 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
0.03 dB
Mid
-0.64 dB
Treble
-13.84 dB

The Beyerdynamic T1 2nd Gen have bad isolation performance by design. They're rated as semi-open but their isolation performance is very similar to fully open-back headphones, therefore they don't isolate well. They provide no isolation in the bass and mid ranges. In the treble range, they achieved about 14dB of isolation, which is sub-par.

2.0
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
61.8 dB

The Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 2 have bad leakage performance by design. Due to being semi-open-back, these headphones leak a considerable amount of sound. A significant portion of their leakage sits between 200Hz and 20kHz, which is a very wide range. The overall level of leakage is also loud. With the music at 100dB SPL, the leakage at 1 foot away averages at 62dB SPL and peaks at 75dB SPL, which is above the noise floor of most offices.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic No
0
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
N/A
LFE
N/A
FR Std. Dev.
N/A
HFE
N/A
Weighted THD
N/A
Gain
N/A
0
Microphone
Noise Handling
Speech + Pink Noise N/A
Speech + Subway Noise N/A
SpNR
N/A
Active Features
0
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
No Battery
Continuous Battery Life
N/A
Additional Charges
N/A
Total Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Passive Headphone
Charging Port None
0
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No
Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
N/A
Android Latency
N/A

The Beyerdynamic T1 Gen 2 don’t support Bluetooth. Thanks to their wired connection, you practically don’t have any latency, which is great for watching video and gaming.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 9.8 ft
Connection 1/8" TRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms

You can use these headphones with any 1/8” AUX jack or even a 1/4” AUX jack, thanks to their adapter.

Connectivity
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC/PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PC/PS4 Wired USB
No
PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox One Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock