Beyerdynamic Tesla DT 1350

Zaluma

New Head-Fier
Pros: BASS, case, accessories, build quality, overall clarity and sound
Cons: noisy cable, limited long-term comfort, big plug, can be harsh and analytical dependent on source
The beyerdynamic DT 1350 has been quite the surprising headphone for me. As a reference point, most of my listening is with the VModa M100 (XL pads), followed by Grado SR60i, and Sennheiser HD558 mainly for movies. As a college student, I highly value portability and comfort, so I will be offering some direct comparisons to the V Moda M100. I enjoy a relatively neutral sound signature with a slightly elevated bass, but most importantly, a natural sound is important to me.
 
Build Quality and Accessories
The DT1350 appear to be very well built with a nearly all metal construction. No apparent shakes, rattles or creaks are present. The hinged headband is smooth and adjusting after a while is necessary to increase long-term wearability. The ear cup rotating mechanisms seem solid. Beyerdynamic offers a very nice carrying case with extra carrying space for adapters, splitters, and even my Fiio x3 (Gen1).
 
When comparing the V Moda M100--a headphone renowned for its build quality and transportability, I give high marks to the DT1350. The DT 1350's ear cups rotate flat for storage in its case. While it doesn't store in as small of a case as the M100, the DT1350's thin, flat case is more suitable for stowing in a backpack along with books and tablets.
 
Comfort
My present standard for comfort is the Sennheiser HD558 which disappear on your head. The DT 1350 do not present this level of comfort. Their strong clamping force keeps them snug on your head, but they never truly disappear. I have no issues with the pads; however, the narrow gap between the adjustment mechanism and your ears makes it hard to adjust eyeglasses while wearing the DT 1350. Also, as noted in other reviews, this adjustment mechanism can be quite the hair-puller. The split headband provides moderate comfort, but the rear band develops a hot spot on my head long before the front one. Generally, I can get a comfortable 1.5-2.5 hours of wear out of the DT1350.
 
Sound
My first impression of the DT1350's sound was "wow, the BASS." As a headphone geared toward the professional community, I was not expecting the DT1350's bass. The DT1350's bass digs extremely deep, and is precisely controlled. I consider the V Moda M100 a reference for its bass quality and control. To my ears, the DT1350 trumps it. The DT1350 will rumble on certain tracks, even with my flat EQ. Kick drums kick and bass guitar notes thrum just as they should. To really put the DT1350's bass through the ringer, I played Nigel Stanford's Cymantics. The bass synth drop part way through blew me away, it's bottomless.
 
My next reaction to the DT1350 was its incredible detail. I could hear Lady Gaga's mouth open as she began to sing with Tony Bennett. As their duet continued, the strength of the DT1350's mids became clear. Vocalists come alive with detail and richness. Female vocalists such as Florence Welch and Adele sound powerful and full-bodied. Guitar work by the likes of Pink Floyd, Boston, and August Burns Red are crunchy and gritty when called for, but also soar into the treble also. Attack and decay on cymbals is quite good, but can be slightly abrasive and harsh at times. 
 
The soundstage and imaging of the DT1350 is impressive for its compact size. Bands sound like they are playing in a moderate sized space, but larger orchestral numbers do tend to sound cramped or unnatural.
 
The monitoring quality of these headphones is excellent, and at times can be even too revealing for some consumer uses. Particular songs in my collection are revealed to be poorly recorded or mastered under the DT1350's lens. I judge this aspect to be a big positive, even if it means I cannot enjoy some songs. The DT1350 scales well with recording and mastering quality, as well as file bitrate. All listening for this review was done using my Fiio x3 Gen 1 and Motorola Droid Turbo. I suspect that the DT1350 will scale quite well with higher end equipment.
 
Other
-The DT 1350's cable does have quite a bit of cable noise present when moving around a lot.
-Ear cup adjustment mechanisms must be fully retracted to fit in the case
-The full-sized 3.5mm plug with 6.3mm screw-on adapter are rather large for mobile use.
 
Tracks used
Florence + the Machine- "Ship to Wreck"
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett- "They All Laughed"
Pink Floyd- "High Hopes"
Boston- "Hitch a Ride"
London Grammar- "Metal & Dust"
August Burns Red- "Everlasting Ending"
Nigel Stanford- "Cymantics"

Dobber

Head-Fier
Pros: Isolation, Strong bass good mids & highs, Responds very well to amping, Portability
Cons: High clamping force, Non replaceable cord, Sound can be a little muddy & flat from phone/portable HO
Not much to say about these that hasn't been said. They really shine with an amp though. They sound very nice out of the Magni2, But to my ears they have more presence and just sound slightly better from my old Shellbrook Super Mini Moy. Comfort is acceptable. Isolation is amazing, I've used these on flights out of my old Sony A726, Very nice. Vacuuming while wearing these is a little spooky, I could easily kick the cord from the wall and not know. I bought these from amazon as a cosmetic blemish item for $129. I lucked out the out side box had some slight damage, but the inner contents were pristine.
Russell Dawkins
Russell Dawkins
I took my 1350s to a recording gig yesterday, alongside my trusty and long-owned Etymotic ER4Ss. I was recording a good choir in a small church and wanted to compare what I was hearing in real life with each of these. I already knew the Etymotics were very good at this comparison, as I have done it often during the 26 years I have been recording choirs, and the 19 years I have owned the (two pairs) of ER4Ss. Unfortunately, the 1350s did not do well in this comparison, but it must be said that, from my experience, almost no headphone would except the AKG 240DF, and they are open back so pretty useless for live recording monitoring. In a quiet environment, though, the 600Ω 240DFs pretty much match the ER4S.
Briefly, the differences I heard between the 1350 and the ER4S were:
Ety - much lower distortion through the upper mids and lower treble, more natural frequency balance throughout bass/mids/treble. Bass a little light but more like the real thing. There was a boomy PA set up for announcements and the Ety's were much like the real thing.
Beyer 1350 - hooded-sounding, i.e., sounded like a moderate treble roll-off and the upper mid/lower treble detail was just not really there. The sensation was of a slow transient response. Bass slightly raised but admirably clean and extended compared to almost any other headphone I have listened to. I really like the bass on these, even if in direct comparison the the Etys it is slightly raised in level (like a shelving boost). What was most bothersome, though was what sounded like a relative ton of added distortion right where we are most sensitive to it: 300-4000Hz, at a guess.
The Beyers still have their value as something to offer clients for a quick listen, and sometimes for their quick remove-ability, compared to the Etys which, of course, cannot be offered to clients!
 
Bottom line Etymotic ER4S much cleaner and more natural, Beyer surprisingly good (or, at least, enjoyable) bass, convenient.

kleefurd

Head-Fier
Pros: Nice isolation, and ergonomics. Good packaging effort. "Honest" - Good materials sound awesome, bad materials sound like the crap they are.
Cons: Clamping a little tight, have to bend the frame to loosen a little. Microphonics a little irritating when listening in low levels. Mids can improve.
Decided to go shopping to buy myself a replacement for the Sennheiser HD25-1 which has served its purpose touring with me for the last 9 years. Auditioned quite a few headphones, and almost missed the DT1350. Thankfully I was not happy with the sound of the other headphones and headed to another shopping district and chanced upon the DT1350 on demo. Fell in love with the voicing. Had bad relationship with Beyerdynamics in the past, and hated the DT90, but the DT1350 won me over. Big time. Glad I gave the cans a chance, and fell in love. Well done, Beyer.

Mids could be more accurate in my opinion. The high mids somehow sounds a little off. I am used to listening to studio monitors and use them as a point of reference since I spent more than two decades in recording studios.

- - -

Observations after 1 week of using them
 
Isolation might be affected by the microphonics especially when used in flights/trains. While they are closed cans, they are still better used at home rather than outdoors. Else one will be left guessing where all that "rumbling, second bass note, etc" are coming from. I was hoping that Beyerdynamic and all the headphones company learn something from Westone... BRAID YOUR CABLES!
 
Geesh... If you are making something portable, consider the microphonics!
 
Fit is better than it was a week back, and I am loving the seal and how the sound is smoothing out... funny how cars and cans have in common... the "first thousand clicks" to burn/run it in.
I still love the voicing of the DT1350 but this is personal, rather being a "this is the best sound". Because there is no such thing. One man's meat is definitely another man's poison when it comes to preference for sound.
 
Nice and meaty mids, soundstage still not as open as thousands of other cans out there. If you want an "intimate sound" like listening to a pair of near field monitors in a quiet room, this pair of cans will make you smile.
 
Make sure you audition a pair of burnt-in cans though... new from the box, they can be a little disappointing.
 
Aesthetics build, so-so, there are prettier cans out there. Lots of nicer looking ones. These are industrial looking but they get the job done. And comfortable. Wore them for most part of a 12 hours flight, and I was not sore when I landed. That is a sign of a good fit. (I am of medium build).
 
- - -

Week 2

(more observations, average listening per day : 4 hours. Can burn-in time : over 200 hours).

The fit is less clampy now. I would say comfortable but you still feel it there. The pads softened as mentioned by the others, and the seal and sweet spot is easier to find now. (Had that "where is my bass" moment before the pads softened). Microphonics still a problem, and would be looking at a solution at some point when I can get some nice braided cables to replace the stock ones.

The voicing of the DT1350 makes me happy, because it reminds me of the Quested speakers I used to love so much in the early years in the studio. The mid range is beautiful, in my opinion. And the low extension is enough for me to enjoy what the bassman is playing without having to feel like I am standing beside a bass amp or subwoofer. Highs can get a little bright but matching with the TEAC HA-P50-B smoothes them out. The DT1350 does not match well with the FiiO E17+E09K combo, as the amp/DAC brings out the worse in the cans. Mids become hollow-er, brights just get brighter... not good at all.

The high frequency response of the DT1350 is really good, and I love the fact that I can pick up all the subtle strings, vocal parts, harmonies, etc. in the recordings. Behaves a little more like the ribbon tweeter monitors at the top end. But for me, the overall voicing works very well. It has the "typical British sound" that I love. (This is an old school reference).

I don't think there is much to add about the "stock version" of the DT 1350. If I get to "upgrade" the very noisy cables, I will come back and post again. Otherwise, this shall be the last update.

If one likes clarity and a neutral sounding pair of close cans, with an intimate sound close to your ears, this is probably one of the best cans out there. Not really on the cheap side, but it will be money well spent.
 
- - -

(more to come if I manage to find material and time to replace the stock cables)
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takato14
takato14
The lower mids were scooped and the lower treble/upper midrange had an odd artificial "hissing" noise to it, sort of tizzy and hazy. It shows up as an 8kHz peak/resonance on CSD plots. It was actually the reason I got rid of mine, as I'm very sensitive to that region and it sounded downright irritating, to be honest. Probably could've been fixed with a little bit of cup dampening, but companies can't be assed to do that nowadays so whatever.
 
Glad you like them. Good review.
kleefurd
kleefurd
I think a "warm sounding" amp cleared up the high fizz quite a bit. But you are right about the scooped lower mids.
kleefurd
kleefurd
Isolation might be affected by the microphonics especially when used in flights/trains. While they are closed cans, they are still better used at home rather than outdoors. Else one will be left guessing where all that "rumbling, second bass note, etc" are coming from. I was hoping that Beyerdynamic and all the headphones company learn something from Westone... BRAID YOUR CABLES!

Geesh... If you are making something portable, consider the microphonics!

Fit is better than it was a week back, and I am loving the seal and how the sound is smoothing out... funny how cars and cans have in common... the "first thousand clicks" to burn/run it in.
I still love the voicing of the DT1350 but this is personal, rather being a "this is the best sound". Because there is no such thing. One man's meat is definitely another man's poison when it comes to preference for sound.

Nice and meaty mids, soundstage still not as open as thousands of other cans out there. If you want an "intimate sound" like listening to a pair of near field monitors in a quiet room, this pair of cans will make you smile.

Make sure you audition a pair of burnt-in cans though... new from the box, they can be a little disappointing.

Aesthetics build, so-so, there are prettier cans out there. Lots of nicer looking ones. These are industrial looking but they get the job done. And comfortable. Wore them for most part of a 12 hours flight, and I was not sore when I landed. That is a sign of a good fit. (I am of medium build).

Nothing to hate about them.

DigitalFreak

镇老鹰
Pros: great detail, great bass, great treble, good soundstage, good isolation, durable
Cons: microphonic cable, needs detached cable, needs amp to sound their best
Video review finally up. hope you guys enjoy, I've been meaning to do this review for awhile
 
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Claritas
Claritas
I would welcome a short written summary too.
collider
collider
Hi, 
 
I've watched your video and it is one hell of a review. Thanks for that.
 
My question is, for someone who owns TMA-1, and really dig their sound when EQ properly, but can't stand the fact they keep breaking, how do you think the DT1350 compares?

Asr

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Durable, very transportable, good clarity, decent musical versatility
Cons: Uncomfortable, slow impulse response, prone to unnatural-sounding instruments
Originally published on June 2, 2013
 

(click for larger pic)

- download a printable 5-page PDF version of this review (target goes to a location on my Dropbox)

Intro

I'll admit it upfront, I haven't exactly been a fan of Beyerdynamic's headphones so far. The 2005 DT880, 2003 DT770-80, 2003 DT250-80, T50p, T1, and T70 have all been disappointments to me in one way or another. But when I started reading the raving on the DT1350 last year, including by Tyll Hertsens (of InnerFidelity.com), I decided that I had to hear them for myself and ordered up a pair in November 2012. This review is hence based on approximately 5 months of ownership (Nov '12 - Apr '13).

Equipment Setup

- Source components: Plinius CD-101 (CD player) (Signal Cable Silver Reference power cord, directly into wall), desktop PC w/ headphone jack on Yamaha YSTMS50 speakers, iAudio X5
- Analog interconnects: Emotiva X-Series RCA
- Headphone amplifiers: Burson Soloist, Schiit Magni
- Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-AD2000 & ATH-ES7, Fostex TH900, HiFiMan HE-400, V-MODA M-100

Evaluation Material

Music:
- Alison Krauss - Forget About It
- Alison Krauss & Union Station - Paper Airplane
- Carlos Kleiber & VPO - Beethoven Symphonies 5 & 7
- Goldfrapp - Black Cherry
- Helloween - 7 Sinners
- In Flames - The Jester Race
- Jane Monheit - Surrender
- Julia Fischer - Bach Concertos
- Massive Attack - Mezzanine
- Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction [MFSL]
- The Crystal Method - Vegas [2007 Deluxe Edition], Tweekend
- The Prodigy - The Fat of the Land
- Trifonic - Emergence

Movies & Games:
- Black Hawk Down [DVD]
- Far Cry, Half-Life 2 [Windows]

Pros & Cons

+ Hang-able on the neck (because you'd be surprised at how many closed portable headphones can't be worn around the neck!)
+ Split headband allows for a greater degree of comfort than a single-piece headband
+ Extremely transportable with the supplied carrying case
+ Durable
+ Very good overall sound quality and versatile with multiple genres

- Supra-aural clamping pressure created a lack of comfort during extended listening sessions (i.e., caused ear soreness)
- Not really efficient enough to get loud enough out of portable sources at medium settings
- Relative lack of clarity
- Slow impulse response
- Uneven frequency response leading to some unnatural-sounding instruments (like string instruments)

Computer & Portable Applications

For computer audio in general, I found the DT1350 to be an overall strong performer, but crippled by its lack of comfort for long usage sessions. I frequently had to take them off due to discomfort approximately every half-hour or so, primarily due to the supra-aural clamping pressure from the relatively small-diameter earpads. If the earpads were larger in diameter (close to the diameter to that of my Audio-Technica ES7), it probably would have increased comfort substantially.

Overall the DT1350 did well with movies & games - specifically the action-based material that I tested it with. Explosions were decently boomy on it, and it seemed to have accurate-sounding gun reports too - importantly, automatic gunfire having quick-sounding reports (I'm sort of a stickler on automatic gunfire sounding fast). It had a fairly open-sounding soundstage too, which worked well for locating enemies by ear. In fact, it was a significant improvement over my ES7, which has a flat soundstage and doesn't work well for locating enemy positions by ear.

As far as amplification, the DT1350 seemed to sound nearly as good out of my PC (through a headphone jack on my PC speakers) as it did on my reference audio CD system with dedicated headphone amps. Although it did sound best out of the Burson Soloist, it wasn't really a huge difference from out of my PC. It sounded just about the same on my portable DAP (iAudio X5) as well. The only thing that I really noticed with the iAudio X5 was that the DT1350 wasn't very efficient, as I had to turn up the volume past 20 (out of 40) for it to sound loud. In comparison, my JH Audio JH13 IEMs were slightly louder at 17-18 than the DT1350 got at 22-23.

Critical Music Listening

Honestly, the DT1350 wasn't particularly "excellent" or outstanding to me, and I wouldn't use any superlatives to describe its sound. However, that's mostly because I've heard headphones that are way better than it, that are also more expensive (some a lot more). I'd class it as "average" in my overall ranking of headphones, in the company of others like the AKG K2xx/K70x, Senn HD6xx, and the Grado SRxxx/RSx lines. So if those other headphones impress you (or would be upgrades from whatever you currently have), then sure, I'd recommend the DT1350. However, if those don't impress you, or you already have something like the more-expensive Senn HD800 or Audeze LCD-2 (or something else comparable), then the DT1350 likely won't impress either.

However, just because I call the DT1350 "average" doesn't mean it's bad - I only say that to provide a frame of reference against headphones that are both worse/cheaper than it and better/more expensive than it. In fact, I thought it sounded very good, better in many ways than a lot of other closed portable headphones that I've heard over the years. It was decently clear-sounding, with a good frequency balance (recessing primarily the upper treble & lower bass), and provided just enough satisfaction that I could use it for a decent variety of genres. There were actually only 2 genres that I thought weren't very good on it - electronica & classical. Primarily because the DT1350 lacked general bass quantity and extension to really provide a satisfactory impact for electronica, and it effectively reduced large orchestras to sounding small & smashed-in. It added a somewhat unpleasant bronzy/nasal character to violins, brass, & woodwinds too.

For my other genres though, like bluegrass/folk, rock, & metal, I found the DT1350 to be very good-sounding - and could believe that it'd even be potentially "great" to those who it would be an upgrade for. I'd sum it up as a semi-assertive- & clear-sounding headphone (not too different in style from the Shure SRH840/SRH1840) without distracting mid-range colorations (like forward vocals or anything like that), and relatively mid-range- & bass-light. And definitely closed-headphone-sounding too - i.e., it had a compacted soundstage not unusual for closed headphones, but fortunately the soundstage wasn't too small either, as it was deceptively large for such a physically small headphone.

I'd say the DT1350 would be a sonic upgrade from the following headphones specifically (all of which I've owned/heard): Audio-Technica ES7 & M50, Creative Labs Aurvana Live, Sennheiser HD419, Shure SRH840, and Sony MDR-Z700. Moreover, I recommend it for anyone looking to buy a set of closed portable headphones for the first time. Beyerdynamic has finally made a headphone that I can get behind for once! Granted, it doesn't exactly win sonic awards from me in the grand scheme of things though - let's just say that if it cost twice its $300 MSRP, I would've been a lot more critical of it and wouldn't be purposely glossing over the sonic nitpicks that I have with it. The best praise that I can give it is that it sounds like a $300 headphone. I can't think of any better closed portable headphones at its price and I'd call it the best new headphone of its type currently available for combined computer & dedicated music applications! I was actually more impressed with it as a computer headphone though and it'd be my first recommendation for anyone seeking a computer headphone since it combines moderately good sound with a very good level of isolation. It's easily the best "office cubicle"-type headphone that I've ever heard and if that's your intended use, then buy one now!

The best way that I can spin the DT1350 would be to call it something like a closed version of a micro-HD800. Not "mini", which would be stretching it a bit for me, just "micro" along with everything that implies. Not that "micro" is bad - in the case of the DT1350, that's actually a good thing!

Comparison: V-MODA M-100

I found that the DT1350 and M-100 sounded somewhat opposite to each other - the DT1350 being substantially clearer-sounding with less mid-range and bass overall than the thick- & full-sounding M-100. In fact, if the M-100 is considered bassy (as many people claim it is), then the DT1350 was definitely bass-light compared to it. However, while I thought the M-100 had very good bass and mid-range (with especially nice, full-sounding vocals), it was also somewhat suffocating-sounding to me, as if it was literally trapping the music within its confined driver chambers, while the DT1350 had more of a spacious (i.e., "airier") and spread-out sound. Its diffuse presentation was definitely a plus for certain music genres, as it allowed music to sound spatially bigger than the M-100 did. Nothing sounded too up-close with the DT1350 either, as opposed to the M-100 which was very up-close & intimate-sounding.

However, in the grand scheme of headphones, neither the M-100 or the DT1350 impressed me by their sound quality all that much, but that's only because I've gotten used to some very good-sounding headphones in recent years like the Audeze and Sennheiser flagships, including my previous high-end electrostatic system (Stax OII & BHSE). But at the $300 price point, it's hard to find better than either the DT1350 or M-100, and I think the choice of headphones comes down to the type of music you listen to and what kind of sound you like. I view the M-100 as the more obvious choice for most listeners of contemporary music genres who favor bass - pop, rock, metal, electronica, etc. The DT1350 might be the better choice for those who don't care as much about bass quantity and listen to classical or generally acoustic (non-synthesized) music. I'd go even further to say that the DT1350 and M-100 are sonically-clear byproducts of their respective manufacturer's geographic regions - Europe for Beyerdynamic, the USA for V-MODA.

Related Reading

Story of my closed portable headphone journey: http://www.head-fi.org/t/235997/how-my-journey-for-closed-portable-bliss-came-to-an-end
Beyerdynamic T70 mini-review: http://www.head-fi.org/t/584599/mini-review-beyerdynamic-t70
Beyerdynamic T1 vs Senn HD800 review: http://www.head-fi.org/t/511201/review-beyerdynamic-t1-vs-sennheiser-hd800
V-MODA M-100 review: http://www.head-fi.org/products/v-moda-crossfade-m-100/reviews/10283

Addendum - Review Notes

My review notes are included here in their own section for convenience. These provide specific detailed info not included in the review. Notes start below the asterisks.

***
Far Cry / Half-Life 2: Clearer than ES7, and just about as fast - quick gunfire and satisfying explosions. Better imaging - sound field more spread out which helps to locate enemy positions by ear. Also easier to hear layered effects like footsteps, etc.

Trifonic - Emergence: Lacks overall "dimension" to the spatial image, so this type of music (ambient electronica) completely lacks the "empty-space void" feeling. Spatially flat-sounding - almost no sense of "air" within the music. Very closed-in sounding; however, this type of sound not unusual for closed headphones in general. Acceptable spatials for a closed headphone, could be worse. Also lacks some clarity, though treble and bass quantity is decent. However, treble lacks precision. Bass also lacks depth & general quantity (below 80Hz).

AKUS - Paper Airplane: Intimate-sounding but lacks a presence factor compared to flagship headphones - doesn't sound very "physical/existential". Lacks center fill in the imaging. Also seems to be somewhat "dead" sounding - no vividness to sound, and no particular emphasis anywhere in the spectrum either. Relatively neutral though.

Megadeth - Countdown To Extinction [MFSL]: Front-loaded/forward male vocals not a detraction here, helps make the music sound more "metal". Assertive-type sound - neither "aggressive" or "passive" per se. Reminds me of Shure headphones in a way. Background details either lost in mix or blurred.

Helloween - 7 Sinners, In Flames - The Jester Race: Good drive, overall very appropriately-assertive sound for this type of music. No obvious emphasis on either bass (instruments) or guitars. If anything, guitars somewhat in background compared to most treble-heavy headphones (sort of like a counter to the Grado-like sound). Not really fast enough to keep up with fastest speedruns though, and relative lack of clarity subtracts from the enjoyment. Small-ish soundstage does work great for this music type, provides a good "up-close w/ band" feel.

Goldfrapp - Black Cherry: Bass lacks drive and ultra-low extension. Relative lack of treble quantity as well. Female vocals sound only ok, nothing noteworthy. Again sounds "dead" - lacks a spark to make it engaging, reminds me of K701 in that aspect, which also sounded dead.

The Crystal Method - Tweekend: Bass in general acceptable for this music type - decent impact & quantity. Easy to hear bass, even if it doesn't extend very low. Not enough bass though to truly satisfy like an Audeze.

Massive Attack - "Teardrop": Bass rolled off, notably on the heartbeat rhythm (lowest notes inaudible). Also lacks a heavy/fat presence. Texture/slap of kick drum also muddled, not very easy to tell it's a kick drum.

Julia Fischer - Bach Concertos, Carlos Kleiber & VPO - Beethoven 5 & 7: String instruments not very clear-sounding. Lack of soundstage depth distracting but not a total dealbreaker. Because of the "closed" nature, music sounds a bit stuffed-up/suffocating. Decent balance overall between sections and frequencies - no major flaws. Violin treble level acceptable - not too much, not too little. Strings overall nasal/bronzy-sounding, consistently initially off-putting on every listening session. Not really ideal for classical music due to off-putting frequency balance (the nasal/bronzy sound) and lack of clarity. However, not terrible either - just acceptable enough.

Seems to have a slight "veil" over everything as well. Not as "transparent" as it could be and has a slight "muffle" factor that especially affects guitars (especially overdriven guitars).

Overall: For the cliché "I hear more details with xxx new headphone!", the reverse is true for DT1350. The details that should be on the music test tracks weren't there on DT1350 - i.e., "With the DT1350, I can't hear the details that I know are there!". Not bad, but not great either. Squarely decent, acceptable for price and for being closed - hard to get a decent-sounding closed headphone in this price bracket. To that point, above-average considering the other options of its type in this bracket.

Also scales with amps somewhat - sounds substantially better on Soloist than on Magni. Most obviously clearer throughout the spectrum, with improved soundstaging as well (more depth & width).
Krisman
Krisman
Could not disagree with your review more. Apart from comfort these are a great headphone and for their size are pretty much unmatched in my experience.
Maybe your amp/source set up did not agree with these and they are more for portable rigs not what you have listed?

dortego

New Head-Fier
Pros: Good build, easy to remove and rest above ears or neck, isolation
Cons: short cord, unremovable cord
I didn’t realize that these were an on-ear design until after I ordered them. I was kicking myself as I knew they wouldn’t be to my liking with the whole isolation thing’. I almost requested an RMA before they even arrived. However, when they did arrive I just had to open the box and again, I looked into the pouch and saw those diminutive cups while I gently shook my head from side-to-side. Even so, I decided to try them.

At first I thought that I was trying to force myself that they were not that bad. But then when I started to listen to them and also to feel how they molded to my years, I noticed that they were quite comfortable. Also, the isolation is considerably better than I imagined, even for my home studio broadcasts. Anyway, I decided to keep using them and sheepishly, I realized that I had profiled these cups in a negative light.

Overall, I think these are keepers’ as the sound is great; the fit is comfortable, as they don’t sweat your ears, and they’re easy to dismount onto your head above your ears or rest on your neck, as the cups turn flat. Another perk is that they don’t over-power my bald head and that’s important when I may use these during a video webcast. Also, they have an 80-ohm resistance that tilts them away from strictly portable use. I could easily connect these to my channel strip once it arrives. This is not to say they can’t be used on my iPhone because they can.

Ok, I do wish it had a longer reach than the non-detachable 5-foot cord provides. In any event, I’m more satisfied than not.
:)
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dablues

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: Accuracy, neutrality, bass, highs, build quality, lack of distortion
Cons: Clamping force, uncompromising with inferior sources
Oh my. If this is how beyerdynamics builds their stuff, then I WANT MORE.
 
These are the perfect complimentary 'phone to my Sennheiser Momentums. Both are built like tanks, but the sound qualities are so different. Where the Momentum is warm and forgiving, the DT1350 is cold and analytical. Where the Momentums are mid-centric, these are flat. Where the Momentums have character (good character), these are robots.
 
This is the best analogy: the Momentum is Kirk, and the DT1350 is Spock.
 
I am a scientist, and love quantitative data to back up claims, but the frequency response curves for this headphone does not tell the whole story. I can tell you, as a former recording musician and possessor of a very sensitive ear, that these are as accurate as 'phones get in the under-$1,000 category. The sub-bass is strong and punchy, but not overdone. Bass is strong and present, but, again, not overdone. Mids are not recessed, but not overdone; very smooth. Treble: what a revelation! You can have treble, and plenty of it, but it doesn't have to be sibilant and piercing! Amazing! I was startled several times when I heard Paul McCartney breathing whilst singing on "She's Leaving Home". I really thought my wife was trying to talk to me - because I can't hear a darn thing with these on.
 
I didn't like the AKG K550 because it was too piercing, but I loved the accuracy. This is like the K550, minus the extreme pickiness of placement (although take your time with these) and fizzy highs. If you need a headphone that makes everything sound good, get the Momentum - it's seriously amazing. If you need a headphone that makes everything sound exactly as it was meant to sound, get this - it's seriously amazing!
Gram2
Gram2
Are these good for all genres of music and for an mp3 with a Fiio E12 amp?
Did you ever listen to the Grado's are they anywhere near these headphones?
Thanks
dablues
dablues
Well, comparing them to Grados is a strange one. They're fast and sharp in attack, which is similar, but more low end and more accurate. As for their performance with an E12, I couldn't say, but they are easily drivable by anything.

Spillelister

New Head-Fier
Pros: Great sound, built well, portable
Cons: Hurt my head after 3-4 hours of wearing
They're pretty great. The sound is very detailed. They're very durable. One con. They start to make my ears ache after a couple hours. Isn't it great how I said the exact same thing in the pros/cons bar?
kimvictor
kimvictor
Short and sweat review. I guess you can expand more, but if you don't feel like it, it's totally fine. I agree with you generally. But how do you where them for 3-4 hours? I can't get past 2 hours.

kimvictor

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Spectacular bass, rich mids. Supreme clarity and detail. Isolation.
Cons: Small soundstage, clamping
Simply spectacular phones.
 
DT1350 is a very unique headphone with a warmish natural sound. I am yet to hear anything like this. It has very punchy as satisfying bass, rich yet not too forward mids, and smooth and extended highs. However, what is important is the clarity and detail. DT1350 is better than SE535, costing $200 more, in terms of detail and clarity.
 
About myself: http://www.head-fi.org/t/674373/story-of-a-new-reviewer-kimvictor
 
Here is by break down:
Sub bass: Well extended and deep
Mid bass: Punchy and impactful
Lower mid: Slightly thick and rich
Upper mid: Clear and slightly forward
Lower treble: Clean and detailed.
Upper Treble: Well extended and smooth, but lacks air.
 
Soundstage: Small. More like an iem than a headphone.
Clarity: Very good. Although not at the level of SRH940, it's better than SE535 and M50.
Detail: Very good as well. One of the best details I've heard. Slightly less detail than SRH940.
Isolation: Good. Almost iem level isolation, but comes with sacrifices.
Clamping: This is the sacrifice. It's tight. For the first month, I felt pain in my ears, but it's getting better.
Source/Amping: I didn't think that it really benefited much from Magni/Modi, but it may be due to bad synergy. I'll report back once I have Leckerton UHA-6S MKII.
 
Just last week, I decided sell most of my gear besides ones I love to fund a amp/dac for my UERM. I sold SE535, AD700, M50, X20 and kept SRH940 and DT1350. There is a clear reason. They are just simply class above everything I've sold. Very impressed.
 
Update: For got to mention other portables. I was also looking at momentum, hd-25ii, and esw9a. Momentum failed as it was bit too bassy and didn't have that mid I was looking for. It did have pretty good clarity and detail. HD-25II seemed fun, but didn't fit with my acoustic music. ESW9a was most considered, buy it had rather bad clarity, so I dropped it. 
Also, I have to mention that DT1350 sounds very full, which is a good thing for me.
 
Update 5/22/13:
Thankfully, it pairs well with Leckerton UHA-6S.MKII. These Leckertons are awesome. They deserve more recognition.
 
Update 5/27/13:
Siblilance: DT1350 is the least sibilant of all gears I own. Amount of sibilance is similar to HD598, which has close to 0 sibilance.
 
Update: 6/2/13:
DT1350 compared to other hps: http://www.head-fi.org/t/665919/100-300-headphones-shootout-ath-m50-vs-ath-ad700-vs-hd598-vs-srh940-vs-dt1350-v6-coming-soon#post_9492283
 
Update: 6/18/13
Price on these are dropping! New version of them are out. They have bigger earpads, replaceable headband, and coiled cable. No difference in drivers though. I'm adjusting the value because it's cheaper now!
 
Please ask if you have any questions.
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ayaflo
ayaflo
sorry, but how does detailing get 'worse' ? it can get lesser or better .. but worse ?
kimvictor
kimvictor
Wrong phrasing. I meant that there is less detail than SRH940. Sorry for the confusion. I'll edit it.

hotcom1023

New Head-Fier
Pros: Balance , Neutral , Comfy , Isolation , Portable
Cons: Soundstage , Little Bass lack
:)I have this headphone for a year. I must say that this is the greatest close-sealed headphone I have ever heard at the level of $300.
Some people say DT1350 isn't comfy at all . At first ,I had the same feeling about this. However, as time went by , DT1350 become more and more comfy.
At sound quility , I think it kick HD-25 sp ii's ass. It's treble and mid have lots of energy impact , and it's bass is deep . It's very nuetral and balanced ,so It suits well with people who love to listen all kinds of music.
Although it is unfair to judge this size of headphone (closed) , it's sound stage is small . You need to require more effort to imagine a stage (and it sounds like you're on stage).Besides,it doesnt have too much bass.
Easy to drive enough sound (130 SPL ) and have greater performance with amp.
Highly recommended for building a mobile hi-head system.
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LTTan

New Head-Fier
Pros: Neutral sounding
Cons: does not fit my ears and head well
I tried many ways to fit these headphone but i can not find a way to make it fit confortable. i cannot listen to this headphone for more than 30 min than my ears start hurting. i tried bending and repositioning but it does not work for me. My trusted HD25-1 II with the velvet earpads and shortened HD650 cable sits much more comfortable on my head and can listen to it for hours.
Yes, the DT1350 is sonnically a bit more neutral / ballanced but what good does it when ears are hurting?
So comfort and quality must go hand in hand in my opinion.
Soon i'll try the amperior  :)
M
modulor
I also own the DT1350 and I have the same sentiments, though I can't compare them to the HD-25 (or any other supra-aural headphones for that matter) which was what I was considering along with these. While they do indeed sound great, I can't wear them for more than 20 minutes with glasses, and without after about 45 minutes it becomes slightly uncomfortable. I haven't tried any bending yet, so that may be an option, but I don't see them working out with glasses since they require a good clamp for the best sound quality. Stylistically and construction-wise, they are very nice, and quite neutral, but comfort is a major plus for me. Since I preferred something portable and with good isolation, I've moved into IEM territory. The Tesla driver is something though!
LTTan
LTTan
I wear also glasses so i needed to relief some pressure from the upper part of the pads. I bent the angular shaped bracket that holds the swivel a little inwards. Its made of steel so a bit tough to bend. i stopped fiddeling with it because i think i will sell them ...i wish i could buy some iem's but my ear canals are to small to fit any uni-fit iem...
hotcom1023
hotcom1023
BENDING IT OUTWARD LOTS OF TIMES WILL HELP

longbowbbs

Reviewer at Hi-Fi+
Pros: Very neutral, Comfortable for long listening, Good Isolation
Cons: Narrower Sound stage than open cans
I have been mainly a Sennheiser fan for many years. The DH650's are my go to home HP's and the HD25-1 ii's are the "On the road" reference HP's. There I was in Best Buy and much to my surprise next to the latest Beats was a couple of pair of the DT-1350's! So before I knew what I was doing I had them in the car and plugged into the Fostex HP-P1 and the iPod Classic filled with AIFF lossless files. Luckily I had some time between appointments!
 
Over the next 4 days I have logged 15+ hours on them and I am really enjoying the experience. They are a terrific compliment to the Senn HD25's. More neutral with a smoother Bass. The 25's have more low end punch.
 
I found that I had a similar experience to the one Jude described in Head-Fi TV Episode 004:
 

 
I am now tossing both the HD25's and the DT-1350's into the bag for travel. I'll post more as I get more time and can consider my comments, but each of these portable reference headphones are long term keepers!
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longbowbbs
longbowbbs
My feelings too so far. They both have a home here!
EDP
EDP
I am an elctronic music listener, but I own the DT 1350. I amp my DT 1350 to be a bit more emphasized in the lower bass regions, using a JDS Labs cMoyBB with the bass boost switch turned on. Much electronic music (and pop music) often use the entire sound spectrum at almost the same time. I think the bass amped DT 1350 sounds very well with its grand mids and clear highs. I like that better than a fun sounding headphone, so I can always turn on some Frank Sinatra as well. :wink:
All the portability conveniences these cans have, combined with the great sound, make the DT1350 the perfect choice for me.
longbowbbs
longbowbbs
No surprise you are enjoying them. You will appreciate their flexibility with many styles of music.

Pingupenguins

Member of the Trade: BTG Audio / Q Audio
Pros: Best portable I've ever heard
Cons: Typical On-ear gripe. Hard to wear over a long time
So I got these used from another head-fi member for $220 shipping. EPIC WIN! I also won some HD25's from Razordog Deals back in June, so I get to compare the two!
 
I'm not into writing huge reviews since I don't consider myself to have "golden ears". I'll just say that the HD25's had horrible comfort issues and I hate the plastic build. The DT1350 are much more comfortable, but still have the typical over-ear issues. Pain after prolonged use.
 
The main thing I noticed was less of the treble sparkle on the DT1350's vs the HD25's. I like this because I hate piercing sparkle. Another thing I noticed is how the Dt1350 have more impact on the bass than the HD25's. I'd give the edge to the Hd25's for electronic, but for everything else, the DT1350 delivers.
 
That's my review. Short and sweet.

EDP

Head-Fier
Pros: Very accurate sound, the best isolation ever from on-ear 'phones, great design with a double head band for a perfect head fit, built like a tank.
Cons: They might press too much on your ears, but one gets accustomed to this. They might also get a little warm, but not too much.
UPDATE: I own the DT1350 a little over 4 months now and I want to adjust my review. The adjustments can be read in the last section of this review.
 
Introduction
If you want to read this review in (under) one minute, just read the orange marked parts and you'll get the idea about these headphones!
 
This is my first review. I would like to be able to write one of those kick-ass detailed reviews that describe every single hiss and pop and twinkle and rumble the reviewer can get out of the headphone, but I'm not that experienced. So I'll do my best to convince you of the awesomeness of these cans based on my experiences with it. By the way, the $254 is a conversion from about €204.
 
Tell me why you got these cans!
Well, actually I did not buy them, but I got these cans from my parents. I would have bought the DT1350 though. The runner up in the selection was the Sennheiser HD25-1 II. The odds for buying the Beyers:Senns were about 10:1. The reason for this is the build quality of these cans. I have several reasons for wanting a headphone like a 'tank', but here's the main reason:
 
All the headphones I have owned broke in some way, partly from heavy usage and not too much care. I don't have the money to buy me a new set of cans every now and then, so I want the headphones to last as long as possible. Now I had never held the DT1350s or the HD25-1 IIs, so I could not judge on what I wanted, but I could judge based on past experiences. I happen to have owned 5 Sennheisers (PX200, PMX200, HD238, CX300-II and PX200-II in that order, to be accurate) and 1 Philips (some old and crappy model) and they all died on me in some way. This is the reason I got not too confident about the Sennheiser build quality. Now, I know I'm comparing a different class of headphones with the HD25-1 II, so my judgement is not fair. I even read reviews stating that the build quality of these Senns are awesome, but I simply wanted different. So I went for the Beyerdynamic Tesla Dynamic Telephone 1350.
 
Well, since you say these cans are so sturdily built, I want to hear more!
You'll definitely hear more with the DT1350s, but more on that later on. Let's talk build quality.
 
It all starts with the jack plug (3.5mm / 1/8 inch). You will never see a jack plug like this one again in your life. It's so large that you are actually tempted to try and break it. You won't succeed. Okay, I'm overstating this. It's gold plated metal and metal can be bent if you'd want to. The manual part of the plug is thick and large, but still made from plastic, so obviously not unbreakable. The point is: this is not the plug you'll rip the cable out of accidentally, nor will it show signs of wear after a long time. A 1/4 inch screw-on gold-plated jack plug as well as a quite sturdy looking airplane connector come with the headphone.
 
The cable is next. It's not too thick nor too thin. I really hated the uber-thin cable the PX200-II cans have. I needed something else and the DT1350s gave me that.
 
Next up: insertion. The cable enters single sided into the actual ear pad and these pads, wow, to put it in an honest way, are quite bulky! I can image one would not like the depth of them, but I love the size. They radiate potential. The ear pads show real sturdiness and at the same time great comfort and isolation. The foam is dense, hence the ultimate isolation.
 
The ear pads hang from the aluminium head band and this one is not only very well built, but the design is absolutely gorgeous. The double head band provides a great wearing stability. These cans won't slip of your head accidentally if you bump them to something somehow. The two bands are beautifully thin and therefore won't leave a headband mark in your hair, like some bigger headphones will do. Wearing these cans with the head bands a bit split looks great. The little cushions on each of the bands are small but serve their purpose well.
 
Another part of the head band is the cable from the left to the right ear pad. It leaves the left ear pad on the opposite side of the jack cable insertion and enters the right ear pad in the same way. This cable it a little thinner and is exposed around the head band joints. It's the only downside in the build quality, but I think it's hard to hurt one of these two cable parts. They benefit the design, though!
 
The Beyerdynamic DT1350 comes with a carrying case. What can I say about it? The case is black, it's the smallest possible size for these cans, it comes with two handy closable pouches and it's a little too hard to fit the headphone in the bag. I simply can't find the right head band length to make them fit perfectly in the bag!
 
The overall build quality is excellent. The headphones are quite heavy for their size, mostly due to the weight of the drivers. The 'tank' criterion is met with.
 
Enough jabbering about the build quality, let's get to what we want to hear (pun intended): sound quality.
Like I said in the introduction, I don't know how to describe sound due to my experience (not too much and with lower quality headphones), so don't expect my description of the sound to be that accurate.
 
Overall sound
The DT1350s have a very natural sounding signature. I would describe them as very neutral, accurate and analytical, which is good for people that want to hear all the details in music.
 
The sound stage is quite impressive, but nothing too overwhelming here (like I said, neutral). The low-mid-high balance is very pleasant.
 
The quality of these headphones really showed when I tried using the equalisers in my digital sources. The headphones will produce a different sound when you alter the input to them, but the sound would not get better (which was not the case with my other headphones). I like the sound the way it is meant to be heard by the artist and the Beyerdynamic DT1350 gives me just that. Separation of instruments is easy with these cans and it gives me a great deal of fun to rediscover music.
 
Also, these cans do their job at low and high volumes. I was pleased to hear this, because I do use my volume controls quite a lot and I hate it when a certain part of the frequency spectrum drops when lowering the volume again, which is not the case with the DT1350.
 
Low
The bass is there and to my standards (I like punchy and rumbling bass) very well produced, but not too punchy or rumbling, but controlled all the way down to the lowest frequencies. The way these Beyers produce the bass really complements the mids and the mids complement the bass as well in the mid-bass part of the spectrum.
 
Mid
The mids are stunningly beatiful. Again, not too harsh or over produced, but so accurate it's breathtaking sometimes. The song by 'Birdy' (female vocaliste-pianiste) called 'Skinny Love' is reproduced very moving (emotionally). Male vocals sound 'complete', which means that the lows and highs are all there. The mids are the best feature of these cans' sound quality.
 
High
The highs are, like the bass, very well complementary to the mids. The 'image' is complete. The highs are not harsh nor fatiguing, but they are to be heard (of course) and I think that the DT1350 reproduces all but the highest of high frequencies very well, which every headphone in this price range does sooner or later.
 
Isolation
The isolation of these headphones is so good, I say it's the new isolating standard for portable headphones. Even on low volume music is left inside and noise is left outside. I believe that the best headphones, except for the ones for listening at home, block out as much as possible noise. This way, you won't need to crank up the volume that high (which isn't good for your ears either) and you hear what you want.
 
Well, that sounds great (it does
wink.gif
), how do they fit?
These cans, like most, will need some getting used to in the beginning. I came from light weight headphones and these phones are certainly not light weight. The first time I put them on my thoughts were: I really can't wear these, they hurt too much. Maybe my 'two little flaps' are too sensitive, maybe my head is too big (it is quite long, but not too wide, which is the direction the pressure works).
 
En fin, my ears got used to the pressure and now I enjoy the comfort the DT1350 brings. The pressure also ensures the superb isolation. I read in review people had trouble positioning their DT1350 for optimal isolation and comfort, but I have no trouble at all. When you find out what head band size is for you, they'll pop onto you head and ears without a problem. Just plug it in and enjoy listening!
 
The dual head band ensures you of a comfortable and secure fit.
 
The dense foam on the ear pads tend to isolate more than just sound: heat. The DT1350 is not cool, but they're certainly not unpleasantly hot.
 
I can wear them for prolonged sessions, but it's comfortable to put these off my head once per hour. Maybe I'm still getting used to them.
 
So, are they worth the price?
Definitely! The Beyerdynamic DT1350 is a great headphone for people that want a portable headphone that is almost indestructible, isolates you from noise and, oh, most importantly, sounds breath taking. Its price is a step up from most portable cans but its experience is at least two steps up from the others.
 
Thanks for the review. I'm certain to buy these now!
My pleasure. I enjoyed writing my first review and I hope you'll enjoy these cans as much as I do. Consider your options and needs well and you'll see that this is an all-round winner.
 
4 months later: adjustment of opinion on the Beyerdynamic DT 1350
After some time of intensive usage, I'd like to adjust my review on a few points.
 
First of all is the comfort. I have stated that these cans can press quite hard on your ears, up to the point that it hurts. This is not true anymore. I don't know what's changed, but I could wear these for hours without noticing a thing. The extreme isolation adds to the comfort (psychologically). Maybe the head band pressure has decreased over time, due to use. Maybe my ears and head have adapted themselves completely. I think it's probably both.
 
Secondly, the sound quality. I almost exclusively use my JDS Labs cMoyBB portable headphone amp while listening to these cans. I do this, because of the bass boost switch and the effect on the sound when it's turned on. It's not that I don't like the bass in the DT 1350, but I think that it's tremendous mid-high quality sometimes makes the bass feel a bit shy. This is especially the case in electronic music, where usually the entire sound spectrum (from low to high) is used, all frequencies almost at the same time. There it's noticeable that these 'phones are really detailed and clear, but for my taste a bit lacking in bass (even though the punch is there). With the aforementioned amp, the minimal lack of bass is turned into a bass experience to be proud of, while the clean sounding mids and highs are still shining to their full power.
These two adjustments, along with many, many practical conveniences these Beyers have, make the DT 1350 the perfect headphone for me.
 
I have adjusted the comfort rating from 4 to 4.5 stars, because I think the long term comfort is better than the short term (still no 5 stars, which would be a headphone that does not press on your ears at all).
Night Crawler
Night Crawler
Love the implementation of the orange text for a quick read! In any case, great write-up. I'd have to agree with the sound impressions, but for long term listening, I found them terribly uncomfortable. Please note, however, that I wear prescription glasses (without which I'm practically blind), and I tried for months time to become accustomed to on-ears, particularly the DT1350 and HD25-1 II. While I absolutely love the sound of both, in the end, neither one served practical for my intents and purposes, and the persistent pressure of on-ears does NOT fare well for long-term listening, as far as I'm concerned. I instead opted for the ATH-ES10 after having read |joker|'s review of them, and I've never, ever, ever looked back. On the other hand, I didn't find the ES10's pads at all uncomfortable, but I still went the extra mile, and modded my ES10's to fit my ATH-M50 pads, after which they were no longer on-ear, but over-the-ear. The end result is simply... how do you I put this... O.O
I'm mentioning the above NOT to undermine the DT1350 by any means, because my case is rather unique. Rather, take it as a warning to those who, like me, wear glasses. Where SQ is concerned, the DT1350 hardly disappoints, and I'd recommend them through and through in that regard. As far as comfort is concerned, to those, like me, who wear prescription glasses, try them before you buy them, that's all I'm saying. Else, consider the ES10's, which are still every bit portable on-ears, sound stellar, have significantly larger pads than either the DT1350/HD25-1 II, and may serve far more practical for long term listening. :)
EDP
EDP
Thanks for the comment, Night Crawler!
This encourages me to write more reviews when I have more gear... At the moment I only own the DT1350 and some older stuff, which have been reviewed tons of times before on Head-Fi (not that these cans haven't been reviewed a lot already...).
The ATH-ES10 looks like a great headphone too. I like the design, although it's less 'outspoken' than the DT1350's looks. Like you might have read above, I'm a bit afraid of plastic headphones nowadays. The ES10 looks a bit plasticky too, but the core might be metallic.
I totally agree on your point of wearing glasses. Yesterday I tried to wear sunglasses with them while on the street, but it was hard to get used to it. I don't think it was impossible and it was not uncomfortable, but just not practical. I think that for people wearing glasses, the DT1350 is not the best option. You might want to take a step down (wallet friendlier too) to cans with smaller ear pad size, like the Sennheiser PX100(-II) (open) or PX200(-II) (closed). They weigh about half and press less on the ears, while still having a bang-for-you-buck sound. In the US there might be better options, Beyers and Senns are cheaper in Europe, 'cause they're European brands.
I think that larger headphones (covering the enitire ear or full sized) need to have very comfy foam pads. Something like the Beyerdynamic DT880 is extremely comfortable (not this category of headphone), so my guess is that those are worth a consideration.
I might look into a DT1350 mod for the earpads some day. Don't know if this is possible at all, but they're replaceable, so maybe some softer pads (that isolate less) could add a little to comfort.
Maybe giving the headband a stretch will help too, since it's metal and that will adapt when you stress it a bit. I think it wouldn't help much, though.
Thanks for the heads-up and happy listening!

ohaider

100+ Head-Fier
Pros: -Sounds great -Very portable
Cons: Need to play around with fitment to get a nice seal. Gets hot.
I already have a nice computer rig to listen to, but I will be transferring to school in another place, so not wanting to lug around my computer, etc I set out for a nice pair of portables.
 
Choices were quite easy for me - it was between the HD25-1 II and the Beyerdynamic DT1350 as I wanted the best pair I could get in terms of durability and SQ.
 
At this very moment I do own both pairs of headphones. I originally bought the HD25s first because it was the most recommended pair of portables I had read about. When I received them, I thought, "They really live up to the hype" After a day or two I read about the DT1350 completely beating out the DT1350, so I just had to order myself a pair to see what that was all about.
 
Fast forward a week and my DT1350s arrived. I took them out immediately and tried them out and my first impressions were that they were extremely neutral. If I had to compare them to any pair of IEM/HP I have, I would say they are like a better sounding Etymotic HF-5 or HD600.
 
Bass: It is very well extended and is moderately punchy if the song calls for it. It doesn't sound as punchy as the HD25 most likely due to the mid-bass hump on the HD25. This is probably the reason why I thought the 1350 sounded a bit thin at first compare to the HD25.
 
Mids: There is no competition here between the DT1350 and HD25. The DT1350 have beautiful mids and aren't recessed at all compared to the HD25. I thought the HD25's mids sounded fine and then I put on the 1350 and the mids were upfront with the rest of the FR. This, in my opinion, is what makes the 1350 better than the HD25.
 
Highs: Don't have much to say here. I think they both have great treble and I can't really tell that much of a difference with either. Neither is harsh or fatiguing to listen to.
 
My only gripes with these HPs are that: I really have to fiddle around with the fitment to get them to seal all the way. They can get a little hot when sitting on my ears. The cable is also moderately microphonic, but not enough to annoy the crap out of me.
 
Overall, these headphones really impress and I could not be happier with this purchase.
 
 
 
 

Siftah

New Head-Fier
Pros: comfy, closed, sound quality, ergonomics.
Cons: none
I bought these to use in the office at work as my other headphones are Grado SR325is which are open and therefore bleed too much noise.
 
I spent a lot of time reading reviews and trying to choose between these and the HD25-ii's. I'm very happy with this purchase - they don't sound *quite* as good as the Grado's I have, but they're excellent in every other respect.
 
The treble isn't quite as crisp on these as the SR325is's, you can't always pick out the detail in high-hats or cymbals as well as the Grados. but in every other respect they sound great, this really is nitpicking.
 
They're much lighter and easier to wear, the single (much thinner) cable and 3.5mm jack is perfect for use in the office. They stay comfortable for extended wear and fit my small head perfectly :)
 
The carry case provided is ideal for packing them into and taking them home each night (no way I'd leave these in the office overnight!).
 
I mostly drive these from an iPhone 4S so they're ideal having a 3.5mm jack and a nice thin cable. I don't really think they need an amp, comparing the sound straight from the iPhone 4S with them being driven by an Aune MKii, digitally fed over coax from a RealTek 888 and iTunes playing lossless audio - the difference is tiny, if any. Having said that, I have got a Fiio E17 on order so I'll do further testing then...
 
Highly recommended pair of closed cans, perfect for the office, seem to be easily driven and with enough quality to really let you get immersed in the music.
JSitthi
JSitthi
I'd love to hear your impressions on the DT1350 paired with the E17, it's a combo I am considering as well. Please update your review when you receive the Fiio, thanks!
Jazz1
Jazz1
I'm also enjoying the DT1350. Going on my first flight with them this week to MacWorld. I hope they keep most of the noise out on the plane. I also hope they hold up comfort wise. I've got a B&W P5 to back them up should they become uncomfortable on my 5 hour airtime.

turokrocks

Headphoneus Supremus
Pros: Wonderful sound
Cons: The right side cup was not holding in its position horizantly
I got the Beyerdynamic Tesla DT 1350  because of Jude's review, and I thank him for that, the sound is fantastic the portability factor is very welcomed, I love this headphone it sounds great and easy to handle.
I wished the metal piece that moves the cups up and down would stay in its position esp. the right one .
pockits
pockits
I do think like you, they sound better that the t50p... and they are more confortable aswell.
kiteki
kiteki
Wow Turok, you bought the Tesla, omggg
turokrocks
turokrocks
Yeh, I wanted to get the Tesla feeling, I love its neutrality

aamefford

I have a custom title!
Pros: Sound Quality, form factor, cool case, isolation
Cons: price, sensitivity, sort of uncomfortalbe
I love them - great sound, a detailed, slightly warm, non-fatiguing sound signature.  They are very portable, cool looking, well built.
 
I tolerate the lack of comfort and the fact that they are quite sensitive, and leave most amps with very little volume travel.
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AstralStorm

500+ Head-Fier
Pros: Supreme neutrality, detailing, extension; portable; very secure fit; easy to drive; good isolation; room-like soundstaging and reverberation
Cons: Highish pressure on ears initially (lessens with time); might be fiddly with large ears; standard, nonserviceable cable; could use a bit more subbass
See:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/564273/the-beyerdynamic-tesla-dt-1350-fan-club/75#post_7792890
AstralStorm
AstralStorm
Actually, the comfort is steadily improving - seems like the earpads are modeling to the ears.
AstralStorm
AstralStorm
Just as a reminder, these are not the best headphones ever. Just potentially the best headphones in this form factor.

metalsonata

1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: Amazing sound, sounds alright even out of poor sources, great case comes with headphones, great isolation, very handsome and sturdy
Cons: Not many user replacable parts, a little pricey, uncomfortable for long listening sessions, some design/aesthetic flaws, very finicky
I couldn't believe my ears the first time I heard the DT1350. It seriously blew me away. I was expecting it to sound pretty good, given all of the positive reception it has been receiving here and elsewhere, but Jesus. I wasn't expecting it to sound *this good. * In fact, I was so awestruck by it that I even thought it might be better than my full-sizes. (It's not, as I later confirmed--though it played a lot nicer with my jazz collection than my Denon AHD2000, to my ears. Mingus's The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady was simply beautiful on the DT1350.)
 
The Great:
 
-The sound. I've listened to the Sennheiser HD 25-1 II, which many people seem to agree is the best sounding on-ear sealed portable headphone in production. And they are certainly very good headphones, there's no denying that. I think these are significantly better, however. The bass is more finely controlled (but still deep and heady enough to feel positively seismic at times), the sound stage is wider, the instrument separation is clearer, and all the little hidden details from your favorite tracks are easier to pick out. Other people are far better at describing a headphone's sound signature than I am, so I'll leave the rest to them. Suffice to say, I'm very impressed with the way these headphones perform.
 
-The DT 1350 does respond very well to amping, I've found--but even plugged straight into my 4-year old iPod Touch they maintain a lot of their positive sonic character. (Update: that said, they do sound quite a bit better amped--I'm not sure that I'd recommend these headphones unless you have an amp to power them, but they'll still do the trick without one.)
 
-These are very portable. Whether folded flat around your neck or traveling with you in the supplied carrying case, the DT 1350 can pretty much go with you everywhere that you need to go.
 
-Speaking of the case, it's pretty nice. I use it to not only hold the headphones, but also various adapters, interconnects, and even a couple of hex wrenches. You know--stuff you need everyday. ^^
 
-They isolate extremely well. If you're like me and earbuds and IEMs cause you physical pain and discomfort, but wish there was a headphone out there that approached their ability to isolate, you're in luck.
 
The Good:
 
-Very attractive design. Probably not to everyone's taste, but I find them to be a real joy to hold and look at every time I take them out for use, aside from a few issues I raise below.
 
-The split headband is nice--I've never worn a headphone that was easier to keep in place than the DT1350.
 
The Nitpicks:
 
-So far as I can tell, the only things that are easily replaced by users are the ear pads. In this regard, I wish Beyerdynamic had paid more attention to the design of the HD 25-1 II.
 
-Kinda sorta pricey. Do your research first before taking the plunge on these.
 
-They're not the most comfortable cans in the world. Not that anyone in their right mind would expect them to be... But boy, if you get overzealous about listening to them, you're really gonna pay the price for it later when you have to pry these things off your aching skull. The clamping force on these is seriously pretty intense--which no doubt helps with the isolation and whatnot, but ouch. I recommend not wearing them for much longer than 2 hours--4 absolute max, unless you're made of far sterner stuff than I am. (Update: the comfort is considerably better after these break in--or after your head breaks in.)
 
-While I like the overall design and aesthetics of these headphones, I do have a few niggles with them:
      -If you're not careful when swiveling the ear pads flat, you can catch the cord right where it enters the cups between the metal bales (think that's the right term) and the metal band that holds the adjustment sliders. If you did this particularly forcefully and repeatedly over a period of time without realizing it, I imagine that this would not be a good thing.
     -The plastic sheaths on the split headband look and feel rather cheap.
     -The pleather padding on the underside of the headband is not convincing. Not only do the two strips of pleather seem to be off center on my pair, but they also seem to be unevenly and under-stuffed. The overall effect of the headband is a tad bit on the sloppy side. (Update: One of these crummy pads came nearly completely off on my pair after about 4 and a half months of semi-regular use--so not only are the pads themselves of poor quality, but it would seem that the adhesive that holds them onto the band is sub-par, as well. Obviously, it wasn't anything that a little bit of firm glue couldn't fix, but still, I was pretty annoyed.)
 
-Finding the sweet spot for these headphones can be a real challenge. Even if you have no troubles finding it once, you may be hard pressed to find it the next time you put them on. And even once you do have them on and have them sounding great, if you're at all like me, you're gonna be constantly readjusting and poking and proding them trying to see if you can make them sound even better. In my experience, the bass is the easiest to recognize aspect of the DT 1350's sound that is affected by how close you are to the sweetspot. Close but not quite and it sounds pretty flabby. Too far away and it's painfully anemic.
 
The Bad:
 
-This applies to folks with long, wavy/curly hair only. These will pull on your hair. They will pull your hair out. They will get stuck in your hair. If someone is trying to talk to you and you're trying to take the headphones off so that you can listen to them without seeming rude but you're doing it too fast, they will get caught in your hair and make you look like a complete doofus. You will seriously be standing there with these headphones tangled up and hanging in your glorious mane of hair with someone laughing at you and offering to fetch you a pair of scissors. The key? Remove them slowly, extending the headband as you go.
 
-The cable makes a lot of noise when it rubs against other objects. Pretty lame for a portable pair of headphones.
 
In Sum:
 
The DT 1350s are a pretty finicky and occasionally painful little pair of cans that sometimes make you want to hate them. But then they slip into their sweetspot and they're positively magical, and all is right with the world, for at least a little while. There may be other portable sealed headphones out there that will match your needs and price range better than these will--so, as always, do your homework first. And take into serious consideration the problems that people are bringing up with these headphones. I think they're worth it--you may not think the same.
 
(Update: Lowered the overall score a little bit and tweaked the other scores to make room for my frustration with the headband pads--read above.)
 
(Update: It seems to be pretty universally accepted that Beyerdynamic has been having some quality control issues with these headphones--if you get a pair that sounds like it should it's awesome: but it would seem that there are some pairs out there that sound and measure terribly.)
Lord Soth
Lord Soth
Wonderful review.
I actually prefer the DT1350 to my Beyer DT880 (600 Ohms), sonics wise that is.
However, my DT880 are more suitable for long term (i.e. 5-8 hrs) listening.
I might fork out the US$1 GRAND for the Beyer T1 model just to get the same amount of combined sonics and comfort. :)
jagathon
jagathon
I appreciate the comment on cord noise, if it's portable use that I want then cord noise is important. Wish more reviews commented on this. Thanks.
jackrabbitslim0
jackrabbitslim0
This applies to folks with long, wavy/curly hair only. <<< So True.:sweat_smile:

It hurts every time...even short / medium length hair. my partner she used it sometime and gave up coz of that...
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