Quad ERA-1 Planar Headphones Review
After leading British Hi-Fi since 1936 with their iconic ESL electrostatic panel speakers, Quad has delivered its first ever headphones. The ERA-1 provide high efficiency, low impedance and performance, which is similar to their famous ESL speakers.
Robust construction and premium finish deliver an exquisite feel, yet they're still lightweight and comfortable compared to many planar designs. Two types of earpads come included, one made of soft leather and another made of latex and fleece. This lets you have a more customized fit and better acoustic performance.
ERA-1
Quad ERA-1 headphones have a high degree of transparency and a large soundstage. They are suitable to perform home audio, studio and DJ work, as well as for use on mobile devices. They feature a light diaphragm that is positioned between two magnets, which provides an even frequency response, without any phase shifts. This is different from traditional dynamic cone drivers, which have a less even frequency response. The ERA-1s offer a wide and clear sound, with clear and precise vocals. They also have a deep, full bass that is not overpowering. The treble is clear and inviting sound, while the mid-range is nimble and clear.
The soundstage is more spacious than that of other headphones in the same price range. www.headphonesshop.uk are made of leather with a soft, smooth surface. the headband is covered with leather. The minimalist design of the earpads matches its high-end sound. The cable can be detached and has the standard TRS plug. This makes it simple to swap or replace if necessary. It also comes with a hardshell carrying bag and a second pair of earpads for different sound styles.
One of the most appealing aspects about the ERA-1 is that they can be extremely comfortable for long listening sessions. They are not light on the ears, but they are still considerably lighter than other high-end headphones that offer similar performance. They're also very efficient and don't require much power to run. The earpads are extremely soft, meaning that you can wear them for hours without feeling uncomfortable.
The ERA-1s compete with headphones from Audeze HiFiMAN, Audeze and MrSpeakers in a market that is heavily packed with moderately priced, high-quality planar magnetic designs. In a market that is crowded it requires more than a good brand name and a low-price label to stand out. I was listening to a track from Alter Natives who perform percussive rhythmic improv. The songs of Alter Natives feature a variety of instruments that include electric guitars, flute, bass and saxophone. The ERA-1s recorded the track with incredible clarity and accuracy even at high volume.
ERA-2
The first headphones of Quad were hailed as a technology breakthrough by both critics and customers. The ERA-1 is a bid to capture the magic of the company's legendary electrostatic speakers in an open, transparent, high-quality headphone that offers deep bass, delicate articulate mids, crystal clear highs, and a large and intimate soundstage, without restrictive. It's difficult to imagine a headset with better transparency, proper tonal balance and real-world separation of instruments that makes you think you're actually in the studio with musicians.
The ear cups are made of a breathable and lightweight material that is comfortable for long listening sessions. Its exclusive non-linear, patented vibration suppression technology is designed to block unwanted resonances in the headphones, improving clarity and accuracy. The ERA-1's drivers are also tuned acoustically to extremely tight tolerances, resulting in superb transient response and high resolution. The sleek and compact design makes it simple to carry. It also comes with a detachable cord that comes with two standard 3.5mm connectors. This makes it easy to use aftermarket cables.
Contrary to electrostatic headphones that require a specific voltage of bias and extremely high-voltage audio signal to function they can be powered by the output of a majority of portable digital audio players, or an external headphone amplifier. This allows them to deliver a more natural and immersive listening experience than conventional headphones. The ERA-1 planar magnetic driver has less stored power, and can therefore reproduce low-frequency sounds more effectively than headphones with a larger diaphragm.
I tried different pieces of music to test the ERA-1. This included classical music as well as contemporary recordings. I found the ERA-1 to have excellent clarity and imaging, which was particularly evident on the music with strings. Each note was clearly identified in space. However it was a bit less flesh-and bone than the LCD-X it has a more full and more natural presentation. Both are able to recognize the shapes of notes with incredible precision however, the ERA-1 is just more coherent. It also has a lower volume and therefore more suitable for use on mobile devices.
ERA-3
Most headphones under $1000 have an sonic sound that sounds too closed-in and boxed-in. ERA-1 delivers the openness and transparency you would expect from a planar design. The headphone is extremely light and has a low force of clamping which makes it suitable for long listening sessions. SoundStage was among our listeners! Brent Butterworth, solo editor; John Higgins a music performance graduate from USC and a regular contributor to Wirecutter and Sound & Vision and Los Angeles saxophonist LeRena Minor.
As opposed to electrostatic headphones that require an amplifier for the headphone to create the necessary bias voltage and high-voltage audio signal that drives their diaphragms, the planars utilize a diaphragm with a very thin profile that is set between two magnets. This means all parts of the diaphragm sound equally and remove the intermodulation distortion caused by inductance which can give electrostatic drivers a bright or edgy sound.
Planars can also operate by a portable audio player equipped with a driver sufficient in its sensitivity. The ERA-1 is among the few headphones that can be used this way, however, to fully unlock the full potential of these headphones, you'll require a high-quality headphone amplifier.
The ERA-1 has a wide soundstage, great clarity, and a natural smooth midrange. It has a quick response that makes it simple to follow the strings in complicated arrangements. I listened to the track "Mining for Gold" from the Cowboy Junkies' album The Trinity Session (24/44.1 FLAC) and discovered that the notes on the strings were extremely clear and had excellent separation.
Quad ERA-1 is a better alternative to the MrSpeakers Amiron. It provides more precise image and better separation of instruments. It's a bit more relaxed than the Amiron, but still provides amazing clarity and a stunning black background. I then played the jazz-improv part of Alter Natives' Over The Counter - Culture album on the SST Label (24/96 vinyl rip), to hear how the ERA-1 reproduced the electric guitar, drums, flute, and saxophone. The track requires an extreme dynamic range and speed to reproduce it accurately. The ERA-1's remarkable phase coherency detail, phase coherency, and bass were all evident.
ERA-4
After a lengthy absence from the headphone market, Quad is back with their first-ever headphone. The ERA-1 is a planar magnetic headphone that builds on the company's heritage with electrostatic speakers. It uses a thin, high-quality diaphragm surrounded by drivers that are aligned to exact tolerances. This allows every part of the diaphragm to vibrate simultaneously which results in better phase coherency as well as peak reconstruction. The lightweight and comfortable design lets you wear it for long listening sessions.
The ERA-1 is an excellent choice for those who want a rich and spacious soundstage, with excellent imaging. It's more user-friendly than many planar headphones and is compatible with any smartphone or portable audio player. Its low impedance makes it suitable for use with many amplifiers. The earcups of the headphones are cushioned to ensure they are comfortable. The soundstage is large, and its high-frequency response is a great transient response. Its midrange and bass are both accurate and natural.
Contrary to other headphones that have driver complements, the ERA-1's is identical on both sides of the headphone. This allows for equal performance across both ears. This feature is essential for those who like to listen to music in a group or share it with friends. The open-backed design on the ERA-1 offers excellent sound isolation and reduces bleed from external sources.
The ERA-1 headphone by Quad is a great option if you want the most powerful sound. Its low-profile design and lightweight build make it an easy to use for any shape of head. The headphone includes a carrying case, a spare set of with earpads, and a carry bag. It's an excellent choice for travel. The ERA-1 comes with a cord that can be detachable that can be customized.
If you compare it to other headphones When compared to other headphones Quad ERA-1 is a great choice for those who enjoy classic hi-fi. Its open-back design provides an expansive soundstage and superb imaging, and its neutral and transparent sound is ideal for any music genre. Its rich detail, and clear vocals are impressive. The ERA-1 is available for purchase at a great price and is available from a variety of online retailers.