- The HEDD D1 are the first open dynamic headphones for the general public.
- It is also the first model with a thin film coil diaphragm (TPCD).
- Launch price: €699
For those who are not yet familiar with HEDD, whom we will voluntarily talk about: he is a German audio specialist who developed the famous Air Motion transformer. Not to be confused with HED Technologies, a Swiss company known for launching the first Wi-Fi connected audio headphones (HED Unity).
Let’s go back to the double-D company, as HEDD has just introduced the D1 (yes, this time with just one letter D), representing both the first dynamic transducer headphones and the first dynamic outdoor consumer model ever made. The claim to be one of the best headphones on the market is clearly stated.
The real star of this model is called TPCD, a thin film school diaphragm, a world first in a dynamic converter. The goal: ultra-fast transients and minimal distortion. There’s a lot to discuss from an embedded technology perspective, so we might as well get into the details.
HEDDphone D1: what to pay attention to
Becoming the first dynamic headphones with TPCD technology was no easy task: the brand claims it took eight years to develop.
Behind this progress (and the 40-year acoustic legacy of HEDD founder Klaus Heinz) was the D1, developed in collaboration with Swedish Composite Sound, which specializes in the development and production of high-precision acoustic diaphragms.
Thin Layer Carbon (TPC) is not the same as regular carbon fiber. It is composed of ultra-thin layers of carbon, perfectly adapted and assembled. This material is particularly characterized by its exceptional stiffness-density ratio, its low mass and its high resistance, so much so that it was even chosen by NASA for the Ingenuity Martian helicopter or even for the Formula 1 chassis.
HEDD presents this technology as a “dynamic converter revolution”. It’s hard to judge without trying, but the urge to listen is very real.
Each D1 headphone is made in Germany and the patented TPCD membrane is manufactured exclusively by Composite Sound in Sweden. Also worth mentioning is a good eco-friendly initiative: all parts are replaceable and the helmet comes with a five-year warranty.
The HEDDphone D1 is available starting today (November 6) for 699 euros. Certainly much more than the new connected headphones from Neurable, specialized in daily cognitive analysis, or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd generation), known for their active noise cancellation performance – and these are just two references.
However, some high-end audiophile wired headphones can easily cost thousands of dollars. Therefore, this price positioning is still relevant in the wired world.
Since the design is open, there is no active noise reduction here. There is no need for Bluetooth or codec as the D1 is a 100% wired model. This type of setup is often praised for the precision and dynamics of sound reproduction. Enough to pique the curiosity of enthusiasts.