Beyerdynamic Tesla 1, often called T1, is a terrific headphone, indeed, but if I have to say, I’d say that T1 is an interesting headphone, rather than a terrific headphone, IMO.
Premise: I listen to classical music, like symphonies, concertos, piano solos, etc.
Let me talk about the normal pros first, which are outstanding but not so unique.
T1 has great transparency, same as HD800. Both cans have the ability to rebuild the “atmosphere” of the scene of recording. T1 and HD800 do much better in atmosphere rebuilding than other cans (I have to apologize for having not heard to PS1000, 007mk2 and other flagships singing.) do, at least better than K701, HD650, and DT990/880 do.
T1 is very balanced, with great energy. With great balancing and tremendously wide dynamic range, T1 is able to play symphonies easily. I believe that HD800 is balanced as well, but sometimes, when HD800 is plugged into a “wrong” headphone amp, the bass disappears and the sound image becomes loose: even if HD800 has pin-point positioning, it’s not so enjoyable when listens to symphonies. Very weird. Of course, on the contrary, if HD800 is plugged into “right” amp, it will be enjoyable listening to symphonies with HD800. However, pleasure got by the listeners hearing to T1 and HD800 are different: It’s about the “scene type.” Lets talk about this later.
And it’s the neutrality. Sound of T1 is very neutral; however, if compared with HD800, T1 loses. Some say that HD800 has “the art of neutrality.” I think the statement meets the exigency. I like neutrality, and I like T1 better, but I have to admit HD800 does better in neutrality, IMO.
At last, let me talk about what makes T1 so phenomenal and what makes me love T1. Interesting and great, but more interesting.
I haven’t heard to many cans so far, but in my experience with K601, HD800, DT990 and so on, “stage” and “scene” created by T1 are totally different. Stage and image created by T1 are so right and normal that these created by other cans seem deformed a little, including these created by HD800. I’ve heard a way of saying, which somehow can express my thought: to analogize, if T1 has a normal len, then other headphones have wide-angle lens, in which images of objects usually seem distorted. Holographic, I’d say, even if the stage created by HD800 is bigger than this created by T1 by a -not big but- obvious gap. Because of such great imaging, maybe, all details go to the position they ought to be at, making the whole music more natural. In my opinion and experience, no other cans has such ability, and just this characteristic makes T1 phenomenal.
To sum up, T1 has these pros (some aren’t discussed):
-Neutrality. (HD800 does a little better.)
-Detailed.
-Great transparency and ability rebuilding atmosphere.
-“Normal,” “right” imaging and soundstaging. (HD800 has a bigger stage, but not so right.)
-Grainless.
-Energized.
-Musical and exquisite.
BTW, I want to complain that I always spend much time putting my T1 to the right position on my head. To me, this is the only con of T1.
