Teufel Massive Headphone Review Quickie – The Devil Speaks German
The 99 Euro Teufel Massive is a monster of a full-sized over-ear headphone from German manufacturer Teufel out of Berlin. I bought it upon its release in 2015 during a visit in Germany. Teufel means “devil” in English and this headphone justifies its name.
The company was established in 1979 and produces loudspeakers, headphones/earphones, stereo systems, and home theatre systems. They have 320 employees and distributes their products directly – you have to order from them.
The headphone’s build is spectacular. The Massive is truly massive, it weighs 400 g and you can throw it at your enemy when being out of bullets. Metal hinges are so sturdy your kitchen cabinet maker could be jealous of. And you can fold it up to next to nothing. The earcups sit firmly around my ears, the thick cushioning makes for very good isolation. Comfort, well depends how you like over-ear hearphones, but it can be hot, let’s say, in Mexico.
Included are 2 cables and a storage pouch. One cable is 1.3 m long cable with a 3.5 mm jack plug that works with all standard smartphones, MP3 players, PCs, notebooks, and tablets.
An additional 3 m cable with removable 6.3 mm adapter is for use with A/V receivers and amplifiers. The fabric cover reduces cable contact noise, minimizes tangles and microphonics, and increases durability. The 50 mm neodymium magnet drivers have an impedance of 32 Ohm, so you can drive these little monsters with the weakest smartphone or dap. Frequency response is from 20 to 22,000 Hz.
In terms of sound, surprise surprise, the Teufel Massive are bass canons. The low end is as robust as the build. Distortion only kicks in at 120 dB, which makes the Massive a good choice for DJs. The bass does not bury the midrange, and the treble is refined and not grainy.
Dynamics is very good, even an iPhone produces a healthy punch, very efficient. Non-bassheads may find the overall sound a bit dull – and audiophiles typically cringe when they hear the Teufel Massive’s name. A great headphone for Techno, Hip Hop, Punk, and Rock….and not so much for acoustic sets.
In summary, the Teufel Massive’s sound is rock solid but rather a burger fare than a lobster roll. But a big, sizzling, dripping burger. Nothing wrong with that.
Until next time…keep on listening!
Get the Teufel Massive directly from Teufel.
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