The HEDDphone TWO GT is the Gran Turismo take on the original TWO, with softer “suspension” and leather “upholstery” for a more relaxed ride down music’s winding road.
HEDD wasn’t the first to put an AMT transducer in a pair of headphones, but it was—so far as I know—the first to run a single driver across the whole audio band, bass included, even though AMTs are usually pressed into service as tweeters. It harnesses the lightning-fast transient response of the Air Motion Transformer with VVT (Variable Velocity Transformation): a pleated, accordion-like diaphragm that moves air with remarkable speed and cleanliness.
I’ve covered this in detail in my 2021 review of the original HEDDphone and again in 2024 (HEDDPhone TWO - Follow-Up), so there’s no need to repeat the entire primer here (please click to read).
As the name implies, the TWO GT is the “Gran Turismo” version of the TWO. Let’s home in on the differences—not as a replacement, but as two distinct takes on the same concept: the TWO GT is tuned and trimmed for long journeys; the TWO leans towards studio duty and microscope-level listening.
HEDDphone TWO GT - Travel hard case
Love and Hate
HEDDphones tend to divide opinions. You’ll find everything from “unlistenable” and “uncomfortable” to “fantastic” and “highly adjustable,” especially about the original model, which was both heavy and a touch “crinkly.” With the TWO GT, some describe the midrange as “mediocre,” while others insist it’s “the most neutral” and unique in the market. After extended listening, I am inclined to support the latter.
So where do we stand?
Headphones are among the most subjective components you can buy—taste matters, but a good fit matters even more. If the pads press on the ears and compromise the seal, the signature shifts, and the bass is compromised. Enclosing the ear fully improves things, but ear shape, positioning and headband tension still play their part.
It’s no coincidence that lab measurements often tell you little about how they actually play music. Amplification, for one, can change the story dramatically. I tried the TWO GT with four amps and got four distinct presentations: all sounded magnicent.
The four magnicent: Austrian Audio Full Score, Bricasti M3/H, iFI Diablo 2, Luxsin X9
- Austrian Audio Full Score One: transparent, open, with impressive treble reach.
- iFI Diablo II: solid and dynamic, with real shove and snap in Nitro mode.
- Luxsin X9: voicing you can tailor—Harman Curves or flat—to taste.
- Bricasti M3-H: With XLR-4 it’s a reference pairing: authority, focus, and a black background.
You Need Nails to Play Guitar
Whether you use the 6.35 mm jack or opt for balanced (XLR-4 and 4.4 mm Pentaconn) connections, the difference is significant. To let the engine truly roar, the GTs thrive on super-premium fuel—i.e., a balanced feed.
If you don’t have a powerful amplifier with balanced outputs (at least 1 W of headroom), the HEDDphone TWO GT won’t reveal its full potential.
Drive them from the Bricasti M3-H’s XLR-4, though, and you can forget the rest—just don’t expect the 6.35 mm jack to have the same “nails” to play this guitar.
With 41 Ω impedance and low sensitivity (~88–89 dB/1 mW), the TWO GT needs both voltage and current to come alive. On the M3-H, the 4-pin XLR is a true differential (bridged) output, while the 6.35 mm jack is single-ended (unbalanced).
In differential mode, each channel operates as a push-pull pair, effectively doubling the voltage available at the headphones and yielding roughly four times the current into the same load. The single-ended 6.35 mm tap uses only half the output stagecircuit—and likely carries a small series resistor for protection—so it naturally feels less punchy.
And it isn’t just about volume: balanced you get greater bass energy, grip and extension, broader macro-dynamics, richer harmonic texture, higher tonal density and cleaner timbre.
HEDDphone TWO GT - Accessories jewel box.
Little Has Changed
The same platform as the TWO: light-alloy (magnesium) yokes and forks, plus the celebrated HEDDband with height, width and curvature adjustment.
The same 550 g weight (-25% versus the original HEDDphone). The GT isn’t lighter than the TWO; however, it may feel more comfortable thanks to its pad choice and voicing, although comfort isn’t the HEDDphones’ strongest suit.
Two pad sets (velvet and leather) with proper sealing and distinct acoustic flavours: leather brings a touch more bass density; suede adds a bit more air. Counter-intuitive, perhaps—but leather does tend to seal better against skin.
High-quality cables and adapters (copper/silver alloy) with dielectrics and shileding that resist microphonics and cover all bases (6.35 mm SE, 4.4 mm balanced, XLR-4). Open the jewel box and take your pick.
Inside job
Remove the pads, and you’ll spot immediate differences between the TWO and TWO GT even before you press play:
HEDDphone TWO - AMT ribbon visible
- TWO (Studio) — exposes the pleats of the AMT’s Kapton film with that classic amber polyimide hue behind a simple protective mesh. It’s the original VVT, voiced for linearity and speed.
HEDDphone TWO GT - Protective mesh and foam damping visible.
- TWO GT (Gran Turismo) — keeps the full-range AMT concept but moves to a multilayer, coated Kapton film with added acoustic damping materials (mesh/felt/foam) up front. Visually, there’s a veiled layer over the motor that apparently filters out acoustic “impurities”.
Do They Sound Different?
I don’t have the TWO on hand for a direct A/B. Still, from memory, the GT carries more midband flesh and sounds natural (not so mechanical) with a less incisive, more sibilant-friendly treble—without losing information or contrast.
If memory serves, the TWO is a shade more analytical and “studio monitor” in character. The GT feels more domestically tuned and invites long sessions without fatigue. It’s the same car but now equipped with softer springs and leather seats.
It still won’t forgive poor recordings. There are millions out there; one random example: “Back to Black”, Amy Winehouse live at Oxegen Festival 2008—teeth-grinding stuff. I make better recordings with my pocket Nagra SD…
The Bricasti M3/H DAC and Headphone Amplifier
Audiophile Charisma
The HEDDphone TWO GT retails for €2,200, positioning it against heavy-hitters from Audeze, Hifiman, and Meze in the planar-magnetic arena. Its voicing is not far from the Audeze MM-500. Meze’s Poet, crowned EISA Premium Headphones 2025–2026, is lighter, more comfortable and more finely finished.
The TWO GT’s acoustic performance has a character of its own: not as “airy” as the best open-backs, nor as “wide” in staging or as deep in sub-bass reach. Yet it delivers voices and instruments with such solid, lifelike presence that it repeatedly startles the listener, as if they were there—as if the sound were almost tangible.
As noted, amplification is key. For my final session, I settled on the Bricasti M3-H (also distributed by Exaudio), a DAC now fitted with a balanced headphone stage, about which I once wrote one of the most enthusiastic reviews of my career: Bricasti Design M3 – de ilustre desconhecido a referência DSD (only available in Portuguese; use Google at your own peril)
HEDDphone TWO GT - It only shows its potential with balanced connections.
Brief Listening Notes
“Mariza – Concerto em Lisboa”- “Transparente” is Mariza’s only truly “audiophile” record—perhaps alongside “Mariza – Concerto em Lisboa,” where she triggers a collective epiphany with “Ó Gente da Minha Terra.” The GTs allow the air, thick with her emotion, to pass through—and by empathy to the audience. I know; I was there, and I still tear up every time. And while listening to “Melhor de Mim,” from “Mundo,” the GTs make it feel as if she’s whispering sensually in my ears. Goosebumps, every time.
- “Himalaya: The Rearing of a Chief
“Norbu,” from the soundtrack to “Himalaya: The Rearing of a Chief,” carries real gravitas—not only spiritual weight but physical authority. Some say the GT’s bass lacks ultimate extension of, say, Hifimans. True, it doesn’t plunge as deep as the very best planar magnetics, but it has the right weight, with a subtle lift around 80 Hz that adds percussion attack and spring without muddying the lower mids—giving male voices just the right amount of chest.- Jacques Brell: JoJo
- Have you heard Brel sing “Jojo,” from “Les Marquises,” in a stripped-back arrangement with guitar? I’ve heard sharper “r’s” and more spittle on his teeth, yes, but what lingers here is the humanity—an elegy to friendship and loss, delivered with solemn restraint and a broken heart. A tribute to Georges Pasquier aka Jojo:
- “Jojo, six feet under, and yet not dead”. The GTs bring Brel back to life—and Jojo with him.
Dominique Fils-Aimée´: “Rise”- I’m a committed admirer of Canada’s Dominique Fils-Aimée, who will be High End Vienna’s ambassador in 2026. Cue up “Rise,” from “Nameless,” and savour the interplay of voice, percussion and bass on the GTs; you may come away a fan of both the artist and the headphones. In fact, play the whole album—indeed, her whole catalogue.
- Eagles; “Hell Freezes Over” (remaster 2018)
The deep rhythm of the congas, the fingerpicked crossed guitars with plastic nails grazing the nylon, and Henley’s vocals on “Hotel California,” live on MTV in 1994, make a textbook demo. But today, try “Wasted Time” instead—you won’t waste your time. Note the synthesised bass at the start, the guitars, the vocals, and the drum kit—each rendered with passion and clarity, never faltering. It demonstrates what the GT can do for your favourite music.
Verdict
The HEDDphone TWO GT doesn’t replace the TWO; both still serve different purposes. The TWO is more analytical—ideal for studio-style analysis—while the TWO GT is designed for acoustic comfort during long sessions. Neither is perfectly neutral, but the GT offers a distinct charm for high-end listening—especially when paired with a balanced stage capable of around 1 W into 40 ohms. Always listen and compare before buying. Enjoy. I did. Very much.
EQ Suggestion
The Bricasti M3 is Roon and Audirvana certified. All listening tests were performed in flat mode. However, to fit my taste, I used this Audirvana EQ:
Audirvana EQ suggestion.
Specifications
- Headphone type: passive, open-back, circumaural.
- Driver: full-range Air Motion Transformer with VVT™ and multi-layer Kapton polyimide diaphragm (coated).
- Frequency range: 10 Hz – 40 kHz.
- Impedance: 41 Ω (flat).
- Sensitivity: 88 dB SPL @ 1 W. (Note: HEDD states sensitivity at 1 watt, not at 1 mW.)
- Weight: 550 g.
- Cables (GT): high-grade, nylon-textured SPC (silver-plated copper).
- Included accessories (GT):
- 1 pair leather ear pads (pre-installed) and 1 pair velour ear pads
- Hard travel case
- Unbalanced cable (~1.6 m) with 6.35 mm plug + 6.35→3.5 mm adapter
- Balanced cable (~1.6 m) with 4.4 mm Pentaconn plug + 4.4→XLR-4 adapter
- Warranty: 5 years (after registration).
- Power recommendation (manufacturer): minimum 200 mW @ 40 Ω; ≥ 1 W preferred.
Product tested: HEDDphones TWO GT
Price: €2.200
Distribuidor: EXAUDIO