Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus

The low-impedance Custom One Pro Plus is the successor to the Custom One Pro. A dynamic, closed-type headset, it is perfect as a mobile hi-fi headphone and as a monitor headphone for various studio applications. The most important distinguishing feature compared to its predecessor is its cable length – the ‘Plus’ refers in part to mobility – and this Beyerdynamic model gives the listener an approximately 1.5-metre long headset cable with one-button remote control.

Customisable Headphones

This Beyerdynamic headphone has a left-handed, one and a half metre long cable, which may be a bit short for some studio applications. With a plug-in connection (gold-plated 3.5 mm stereo jack), however, this can easily be exchanged and retrofitted. At the other end is the gold 3.5 mm jack and the screw-on adapter to 6.35 mm. A special feature of the Custom One Pro is the interchangeability of almost all attachments of the headphones to allow you to completely reshape the look to fit your own personal taste.

Beyerdynamic’s Accessories Store provides in-depth specs here.

Thanks to the soft padding of the ear cups themselves, I find it extremely pleasant to wear the Custom One Pro Plus. The high-quality artificial leather of the ear and headband upholstery, as well as a moderate pressure of the ear cups, all contribute to the gentle but firm fit.

Although, due to the design, it’s not as comfortable as wearing an open headphone, medium-to-longer listening sessions are possible without issue.

Top Construction – “Made in Germany”

In its original state and without any changed-out parts, the Custom One Pro Plus looks and feels extremely robust. Only the exposed cables from the headband to the auricle, which I’m already familiar with from other headphones from this manufacturer, seem a bit fragile. It’s as if it’s just waiting to be damaged during transport, or even when resting them on one of my headphone stands.

Customisable for Rich Bass

A distinct feature of the Custom One Pro Plus is the Custom Sliders, located on both the left and right ear cups, that influence the sound output. By moving the sliders and changing the number (0 to 3), bass reflex openings can be adjusted mechanically. When the sliders are set to “0”, ie. without a visible opening, the sound is quite thin and somewhat nasal, whereas the number “3” setting brings the bass to life. In my opinion, settings “1” and “2” are the ideal choices; the former already produces a rich bass foundation, while two visible openings change the bass response to favour more pleasant hi-fi sound. The following reviews are based on these two settings. The transparency and homogenous playback characteristics are remarkable for a closed headphone and, in conjunction with the crossfeed function of the headphone output of my SPL 2Control, it develops a natural sense of space, which is in no way inferior to many open-top headphones. The Beyerdynamic Custom One Pro Plus and crossfeed fit together like a hand in a glove. In addition to hi-fi and monitoring applications, I can attest to the Plus’s suitability for supportive use in mixing and mastering, in which case it tends to gloss over the signal, especially in the bass range. The resolution and transient imaging are very good for a headphone in this price range. In fact, in comparison to some more expensive models, you’ll see that they can even perform a little better, which is partly a matter of nuances.