Quad ERA-1 Planar Headphones Review

After spearheading British Hi-Fi since 1936 with iconic ESL electrostatic panel loudspeakers Quad has launched its first ever headphones. The ERA-1 headphones have low impedance, high efficacy and performance that mirrors the legendary ESL speakers.

The robust construction and premium finish make them feel luxurious however they're comfortable and light in contrast to other designs. Two types of earpads are included one made of soft leather, and the other made of latex and fleece. This gives you a more personalised fit and better audio quality.

ERA-1

The Quad ERA-1 headphones are an open, planar-magnetic headphones with the highest degree of clarity and soundstage expansion. They are perfect for home, studio audio, DJ work and mobile use. They feature a light diaphragm, which is placed between two magnets that provides a smooth frequency response with no any phase shifts. This is in contrast to conventional dynamic cone drivers, which have a more uneven frequency response. The ERA-1s provide clear and spacious sound with precise vocals. The ERA-1s are full and rich with bass that isn't overpowering. The treble has a crisp and inviting sound, while the mid-range is nimble and focused.

The soundstage of the ERA-1 is a lot bigger than other headphones that are priced at this level. The earpads and headbands are made of leather surfaces with a soft feel. Its design is elegant and simple, with a minimal look that matches its high-performance audio. The cable has the standard TRS connector, and it is detachable, making it easy to replace or swap out if you require to. It also comes with a carrying case made of hardshell and a second pair of earpads to accommodate different sound characteristics.

The ERA-1 can be comfortable for long listening sessions. They're not lightweight on the ears however they are much lighter than other high-end headphones that offer similar performance. Additionally, planar Headphone they are extremely efficient and do not require the use of a lot of power to operate. The ear pads are also very soft, which means that you can wear them for a long time without discomfort.

The ERA-1s compete against headphones from Audeze HiFiMAN, Audeze and MrSpeakers in a market that is heavily filled with moderately priced, high-quality planar earphones-magnetic designs. In a crowded market it requires more than a quality brand name and a low-price tag to stand out. I was listening to a track from Alter Natives who perform percussive rhythmic improv. The songs by Alter Natives use a variety instruments, like electric guitars and bass, flute, saxophone, and more. The ERA-1s reproduced the track with amazing clarity and precision even at loud volumes.

ERA-2

Quad's first headphones were hailed as a tech breakthrough by both critics and customers. The ERA-1 seeks to capture the awe-inspiring qualities of Quad's legendary electrostatic speakers in a wide transparent, transparent headphone that has rich bass, delicate, articulate mids, pristine highs, and a large, intimate soundstage without being constricting. It's difficult to imagine a better headphone that has a proper tonal equilibrium, and believable instrument separation that makes you feel like you're in the studio right with the musicians.

The earcups are constructed of a breathable and lightweight material that is comfortable for long listening sessions. The patented nonlinear vibration suppression technology is designed to suppress unwanted reverberations within the headphones. This improves clarity and accuracy. The ERA-1's drivers are also tuned acoustically to extremely precise tolerances, which results in superb transient response and detail resolution. The slim and elegant design makes it simple for transport. It also comes with a detachable cable that has two standard 3.5mm connectors. This makes it simple to use aftermarket cables.

These headphones can be powered either by the output from the majority of portable digital audio players or via an external headphone amp. This gives them a more immersive and natural listening experience than traditional headphones. The ERA-1's planar magnetic drivers also have less stored energy, which means they can reproduce low frequencies with greater ease than other headphones that have a larger diaphragm.

To test the ERA-1 I played an array of music, including classical works and contemporary recordings. I found that the ERA-1 had excellent articulation and imaging, which was especially evident on a piece of string music, with every individual note clearly outlined in space. However, it was a little less flesh-and-bone-like than the LCD-X as it has a richer and more natural sound. Both devices can track the shapes of the notes with astonishing precision. However the ERA-1 just sounds more coherent. It also has a softer sound which makes it more suitable for mobile usage.

ERA-3

The majority of headphones priced under $1000 have a the sound of too boxed in and closed. The ERA-1 has the openness and transparency you would expect from a planar Headphone design. The headphone is light and has a low force of clamping making it suitable for long listening sessions. SoundStage was among our listeners! Solo editor Brent Butterworth; John Higgins, a music performance student of USC and regular contributor to Wirecutter and Sound & Vision and Los Angeles-based saxophonist LeRena Major.

As opposed to electrostatic headphones that require an additional headphone amplifier to produce the required bias voltage and high-voltage audio signal which drives their diaphragms, the planars use an ultra-thin diaphragm set between two magnets. This means that all components of the diaphragm are equally resonant and remove the intermodulation distortion caused by inductance that can give electrostatic drivers a bright or edgy sound.

Planars can also be controlled by a portable audio player equipped with a driver sensitive enough. The ERA-1 is one of the few headphones that can be used this way, however, to fully unlock their full potential you will require a top headphone amplifier.

The ERA-1 has a wide soundstage, great clarity, and a natural smooth midrange. It also has a fast response, making it easy to follow notes on strings in complicated arrangements. I tried 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 remarkably defined and had excellent separation.

Quad ERA-1 is a better alternative to the MrSpeakers Amiron. It offers more precise image and better separation of instruments. It's a bit more relaxed than the Amiron however, it still offers great detail and excellent 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 well the ERA-1 reproduced the drums, electric guitarist flute, saxophone, and flute. This track requires a high dynamic range and speed to reproduce it accurately. Its impressive phase coherency and clarity were evident as was the bass, which was both tight and deep.

ERA-4

After a lengthy absence from the headphone market, Quad is back with their first ever headphones. The ERA-1 is a planar magnetic headphone which builds on the company's history with electrostatic speakers. It is constructed with a thin, high-quality diaphragm and is surrounded by drivers that are matched to exact tolerances. This allows every part of the diaphragm to move simultaneously and provides better phase coherency and signal peak reconstruction. Its light and comfortable design means that you can wear it for long listening sessions.

The ERA-1 is a great choice for music fans who require a clear and spacious soundstage, with outstanding imaging. It's more user-friendly than most planar headphones and works with any smartphone or portable audio player. It's low impedance makes it compatible with a variety of amplifiers. The earcups of the headphones are padded to make them more comfortable. Its soundstage is spacious and its high-frequency response is a great transient response. The midrange is clear and natural, and its bass is full of depth.

The ERA-1 has identical drivers on both sides of the headphone. This allows for equal sound quality in both ears. This feature is important for listeners who prefer to listen to music in a group or share it with others. The open-backed design of ERA-1 gives great sound isolation and minimizes bleed from external sources.

The ERA-1 headphone by Quad is a great option for those who want the most excellent sound. Its low-profile design and lightweight build makes it an easy fit for Planar Headphone any head shape. The headphone comes with a carry case as well as an additional set of earpads, making it an ideal option to take on trips. The ERA-1 also has an unattachable cable that can be replaced by a custom-made one.

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 smooth and clear sound is suitable for any music genre. Its rich detail and clear vocals are especially impressive. The ERA-1 is available at an affordable price and can be purchased from many online retailers.