The Official Beyerdynamic T1 Impressions and Discussion Thread

[Focker]

Quote:

what is the minimum amp. which will let the T1 shine ?

 
If you don't already have the T1s, I would strongly consider one of Jan Meier's combo deals. When you buy the T1s from him, he gives you a crazy deal on one of his amps. If you already have the T1s, I'd still consider his "Corda Rock" amp...that would be the minimum I'd go for, personally....and it's actually a very good minimum. You could also consider the Fiio E9 amp. I had problems with the one I bought for the DT880s and sent it back, but others seem to have success.

 

[eyal1983]

you prefer the E9 OVER the O2 -?
(and i still don't own the T1)

 

[calaf]

Quote:

(and i still don't own the T1)

since you don't own the T1 I would seriously consider Focker suggestion. Meier sells you a T1 and a Concerto Corda Classic for $1500 (if you are in the US). If you like the T1 sound signature (or lack thereof I would say), that is a combo that should keep you happy for many years.

 

[Focker]

Quote:

you prefer the E9 OVER the O2 -?
(and i still don't own the T1)

 
Not familiar with the O2, actually.

 

[zilch0md]

Regarding my search for a published list of Beyerdynamic-authorized U.S. resellers (from whom products can be purchased with a valid U.S. warranty)...
 
I was just told by a Beyerdynamics representative that there is no such list.  It does not exist.
 
If you want to know whether or not a U.S. retailer is a Beyerdynamic-authorized U.S. reseller, you must contact one of the two U.S. distributors listed at this website:  
 
             http://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/distributors/worldwide.html
 
Note that of the two U.S. distributors shown there currently, one handles Pro Audio products, and the other handles Consumer Audio products, so choose accordingly.  
 
Contact information for both distributors can be found at that link.
 
Good luck!
 

 
Now at least we know that, unlike Sennheiser, Beyerdyanmic does NOT publish a list of authorized U.S. resellers, so don't waste your time looking for it, but remember...  If you shop at an unauthorized reseller, you won't be eligible for warranty coverage.  
 
Contact the appropriate U.S. distributor (Pro or Consumer), and find out before you buy.
 
Hint to dealers:   If you are a Beyerdynamic-authorized U.S. reseller, you should plaster it all over your home page (along with a list of other brands you're authorized to sell).
 
Mike

 

[incrediblejian]

thanks for all your suggestions!
 
that Meier combo deal really looks attractive! too late i already have my t1

. and i also prefer an solid state amp with balance I/O feature, just in case i get a balanced headphone in the future.
 
talking about SPL, i learned phonitor has a crossfeed circuit that auditor has not. does anyone know how that affects sound? does it worth another 1k?
 
 

 

[preproman]

Quote:

thanks for all your suggestions!
 
that Meier combo deal really looks attractive! too late i already have my t1

. and i also prefer an solid state amp with balance I/O feature, just in case i get a balanced headphone in the future.
 
talking about SPL, i learned phonitor has a crossfeed circuit that auditor has not. does anyone know how that affects sound? does it worth another 1k?
 
 

 
 
What's your budget?

 

[calaf]

Quote:

that Meier combo deal really looks attractive! too late i already have my t1

. and i also prefer an solid state amp with balance I/O feature, just in case i get a balanced headphone in the future.
 
talking about SPL, i learned phonitor has a crossfeed circuit that auditor has not. does anyone know how that affects sound? does it worth another 1k?
 
 

the crossfeed circuit is definitely not worth $1K, but the VU-meters may

Also sorry if I am stating the obvious, but if you want to go balanced throughout,  neither SPL amp would work for you (both have a  plain 1/4" headphone jack).

 

[incrediblejian]

no more than 1k. of course, those are relative cheap while with good performance is always preferred. i have very conservative marginal return curve

 

[incrediblejian]

Quote:

the crossfeed circuit is definitely not worth $1K, but the VU-meters may

Also sorry if I am stating the obvious, but if you want to go balanced throughout,  neither SPL amp would work for you (both have a  plain 1/4" headphone jack).

that is fine, but the balanced input is preferred since my dac has balanced output. i believe it should be better than rca connection
 
also, i have a question, since my dac already have a amp circuit, if connect to another amp, will it mess up sth?

 

[itshot]

you prefer the E9 OVER the O2 -?
(and i still don't own the T1)

I had a ODAC>E9>T1 setup for a good few months.

Sounded good at the time. The bass wasn't especially promenint, but looking back, it was bright af.

My ears.... :basshead:

 

[eyal1983]

the T1 was bright (?)
you have an sr125 (!)  ...

 

[MacedonianHero]

Quote:

I had a ODAC>E9>T1 setup for a good few months.
Sounded good at the time. The bass wasn't especially promenint, but looking back, it was bright af.
My ears....

 
Quote:

the T1 was bright (?)
you have an sr125 (!)  ...

 
Have a look at his source and amp. 

 
The T1s are showing you what was upstream. That's the rub with transparent headphones....they should you the weaknesses in your upstream rig.

 

[calaf]

Quote:

that is fine, but the balanced input is preferred since my dac has balanced output. i believe it should be better than rca connection
 

using XLR cables is better in terms of noise reduction, particularly if you run 30-100 feet of them as the pros often do. In a home system with 3 feet-long ICs I doubt you could tell the difference between XLR and RCA. To get the real benefit of balanced connections (no L-R cross-talk) you have to stay in dual-mono throughout, including your headphone cable and connector.  Also, if you do plan to use an analog crossfeed (which actively introduces a cross-talk among channels) I am not sure it makes sense at all to go balanced.

also, i have a question, since my dac already have a amp circuit, if connect to another amp, will it mess up sth?

I am not sure what you mean by that. Does your DAC have preamp outs or a headphone out? What kind of volume control? In any case, obviously  the less stages there are between the source and the headphone speakers, the better.

 

[zilch0md]

Quote:

I've rolled the dice by returning the defective T1 to Amazon for exchange.  
 
I want to HEAR a functioning T1, not to mention wanting to make worthwhile all the time I've invested thus far in securing a great price of $950.
 
[snip]
 
Mike

 
 
 
The replacement T1 arrived from Amazon yesterday.
 
I listened to it last night and have spent some time with it this morning, as well.  The verdict?
 
I believe these to be working as designed - no defects!  And I am very, very impressed - they are very pleasurably like nothing I've heard before (in my limited experience).
 
This early in the game at least, I still prefer the LCD-2 over the T1, but they are so different that two years of listening almost exclusively to the LCD-2 rev.1 is making the adjustment difficult, and the T1 is only just out of the box - with no break-in.  Even though I prefer the LCD-2 at this writing, I'm sure I'll be keeping the T1 for awhile.  

 
 
Here are my very premature assessments:
 
Using this source: WAV > Foobar > USB > DACmini CX with 1-Ohm output impedance mod 
 
...relative to LCD-2 rev.1,  the T1 has...
 
Similar bass extension
Much less bass energy
Similar bass detail / clarity
 
Similar mid energy
More mid detail / clarity
 
More treble extension?  (I suspect so, but can't tell, due to my hearing roll-off that starts kicking in above 12.5 kHz.)
Much more treble energy
Much more treble detail / clarity
 
Less warmth 
Less euphony
Less dynamics  (This might improve with break-in or with a more powerful amp)
Less efficiency  (Requires a higher volume control setting for equivalent SPL)
 
Better overall tonal balance (from the low treble and upward)
Much better soundstage
Much better imaging
Less forgiving of poor recordings  (Mostly due to treble detail that's so nice with good recordings)
 
Overall, the T1 offers a big improvement in resolution across the entire spectrum, is very neutral and balanced, but again, after two years of listening to the LCD-2 rev.1, the treble feels bright even though I know it's probably accurate. It's just that I'm used to the shelved highs of the LCD-2.
 
The soundstage is amazing.  I've never heard the HD800, but now I know what people are talking about, finally, as the LCD-2 has a much smaller, less defined soundstage.  As with the imaging - I'm able to isolate voices and instruments so much more easily with the T1, as long as the recording itself offers the information.
 
I should also mention that even though the T1 has a lot more treble energy, it is both detailed and smooth - not smeared, yet not etched or fatiguing.  As bright as it sounds to my LCD-2 accustomed ears, the treble is very, very nice.
 
Perhaps the least appealing trait of the T1, again for my ears, is that it doesn't have the liquid, organic sweetness of the LCD-2, which to me, makes the T1 sound somewhat mechanical - not grainy in the least - but violin strings, for example, just sound more natural on the LCD-2, though very nice in the T1, in terms of detail and texture, especially.
 
Perhaps the most appealing trait of the T1, again from my LCD-2 perspective, is the soundstage and all the micro-details that help define the space in which an acoustic recording was made.  The LCD-2 rev.1 lacks the resolution to pull this off.  Low-energy treble signals that simply cannot be heard under the LCD-2's shelved highs can easily be discerned with the T1.  This, more than anything else has really got me exploring my music collection with the T1 - as trite as it is to say this - I'm hearing stuff I've never heard before.  And that's always good!
 
I'm glad I heard the T1 before hearing the HD800 - as I don't think I could have handled the greater treble energy it's alleged to have (despite also having greater soundstage, going form what I've read.)
 
Even though I'm sure I prefer the LCD-2 over the T1, at the moment, I've already begun to appreciate the possibility of keeping both of them for the long haul.  I think both headphones are capable of serving as someone's one and only, as they are both good for many genres, but it comes down to taste. I don't want to let go of the LCD-2's organic neutral signature and the spectacularly well-controlled, deep, natural-sounding bass.   And, now, I don't want to let go of the T1's wonderful soundstage, imaging, and resolution.  
 
This probably sums it up best:  The T1 fixes everything that's wrong with the LCD-2 and the LCD-2 fixes everything that's wrong with the T1.  
 
Having not heard them myself, yet, I suspect the LCD-3 offers the best of both the LCD-2 and the T1.  
 
 
Mike