Berlin-based, HEDD Audio charmed the pants off of the Head-Fi neighborhood quite a few years in the past with the introduction of the HEDDphone; we spent a good bit of time with the fairly modern headphones that use an air movement transformer (AMT) as a substitute of the extra widespread headphone drivers (dynamic, electrostatic, and planar magnetic) that buyers are accustomed to.
An AMT differs from the entire widespread drivers however might be most carefully associated to a planar or true ribbon driver. As a substitute of a flat membrane although, the AMT makes use of a pleated membrane and air is moved laterally in a lot the identical approach that an accordion bellows works.
The traces on the again of the membrane act because the voice coil and the diaphragm sits between rows of magnets. An AMT acts as a dipole speaker and with its very small vary of movement has a really excessive response price much like or surpassing planar magnetic drivers on this regard.
AMT drivers are sometimes seen in tweeters and midrange drivers as they’re finest suited to maneuver a smaller quantity of air in a short time. For a lot of, the HEDDphone was the primary time the AMT had been seen in a headphone and the mixing provided glorious sonic outcomes.
However not every little thing in regards to the unique HEDDphone was excellent; now we have leveled criticism over time at a few of the planar magnetic designs for his or her weight and cumbersome “suitcase in your head” expertise and it will be authentic to tag the unique iteration of the HEDDphone with that as properly.
However not anymore…
HEDDphone Two
The HEDDPhone Two is already out there for pre-order and affords quite a few enhancements in regard to the AMT driver and the development of the headphone itself.
The brand new HEDDphone Two encompasses a new carbon fiber headband designed to enhance consolation and supply a wider vary of changes through the brand new good strap system.
The padding beneath the scarf has been redesigned as properly to enhance the distribution of weight throughout your head and in the end present higher consolation for longer listening classes.
The headscarf and ear pads are customary from vegan leather-based and had been redesigned to supply a significantly better expertise for these of us who put on glasses; which is definitely a a lot larger problem for customers who could require studying glasses for work while listening to music at their desks.
The connections have additionally been moved to the entrance of the ear cups.
However what in regards to the weight?
HEDD Audio has trimmed a few of the fats and the brand new mannequin now weighs 550 grams which is analogous to the Audexe LCD-4z and 25% lighter than the unique mannequin.
New AMT Driver
Internally, the HEDDphone Two makes use of an upgraded air movement transformer with a folded Kapton polyamide movie diaphragm and makes use of variable velocity transformation (VVT).
This mix gives as much as thrice the floor space of widespread drivers and a extra linear response throughout all frequencies; the result’s a headphone with a frequency response of 10Hz to 40kHz.
The brand new mannequin encompasses a nominal impedance of 41 ohms with a 89dB/W sensitivity score; one caveat with AMT drivers is that they want a number of energy to actually reveal what they will do and the HEDDphone Two doesn’t depart from that actuality.
The headphones require a minimal of 200mW of energy (Dongle DAC) and it’s the advice of the producer that customers search for a headphone amplifier or DAP that may output at the least 1 watt of energy.
The voicing has additionally modified considerably; HEDD developed the brand new mannequin with mastering engineers and mixing editors in thoughts who require a particularly correct and linear sonic signature.
Transient response has additionally been improved and HEDD claims that the brand new design affords the identical sturdy bass response of the unique design with improved velocity and readability.
The HEDDphone Two ships with a carrying case, spare pads, a 2.2 meter single ended cable with 6.35mm jack, 6.35mm to three.5mm adapter, 2.2 meter balanced cable with a 4.4mm pentaconn connector, and a 4.4mm to XLR adapter.
Specs
- Idea: Open-back over-ear
- Driver: Full-range Air Movement Transformer (AMT)
- Diaphragm: Kapton polyimide movie
- Frequency vary: 10Hz – 40 kHz
- Sensitivity: 89 dB/W
- Impedance: 41 Ohm
- Weight: 550g
- Energy Necessities: minimal 200mW, really useful 1000mW or extra
- Cable: Kevlar-infused, graded
- Vegan-Leather-based ear pads and head cushion
Within the Field
- Journey case to suit HEDDphone® TWO and Equipment
- 1x extra set of spare ear pads
- 1x 2.2 m unbalanced cable with 6.35 mm termination
- 1x 2.2 m balanced cable with 4.4 mm termination
- 1x unbalanced adapter from 6.35 mm to three.5 mm
- 1x balanced adapter from balanced 4.4 mm to XLR
Worth & Availability
HEDDphone Two is obtainable for pre-order now for $1,999 at Headphones.com.
All HEDDphones are handmade in Berlin, so preliminary provides shall be restricted with deliveries beginning in September for Europe and North America and barely later for different areas.
For extra info: hedd.audio
