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Quad ERA-1 Planar Headphones Review After leading British Hi-Fi since 1936 with the iconic ESL electrostatic panel speakers, Quad has launched its first ever headphones. The ERA-1 headphones offer low impedance, high efficiency and performance that is similar to the famous ESL speakers. Robust construction and premium finish provide a luxurious feel though they are still comfortable and light when compared to other designs. Two types of earpads come included one made of soft leather, and the other of latex with fleece fabric. 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 wide soundstage. They are suitable for studio, home audio and DJ work, as well as mobile use. They feature a diaphragm that is extremely light and positioned between two magnets. This provides an even response to frequency with no any phase shifts. This is unlike conventional dynamic cone speakers which have an uneven frequency response. The ERA-1s provide an open and clear sound with precise vocals. They also have a rich and full bass that's not overpowering. The treble is clear 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 are constructed 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 comes with an ordinary TRS plug. This makes it simple to change or replace it in the event of a need. The bundle comes with a durable carrying bag and an extra pair of earpads featuring different sound signatures. One of the great things about the ERA-1 is that it can be very comfortable for long listening sessions. They're not the heaviest on the ears, but they are still significantly lighter than other premium headphones that have similar capabilities. They're also very efficient and require little power to drive. The ear pads are extremely soft, meaning that you can wear them for hours without discomfort. The ERA-1s are competing against headphones from Audeze and HiFiMAN in a market that is dominated by high-quality, moderately-priced planar-magnetic models. In a market that is crowded it requires more than a great brand name and a low-cost tag to make a mark. To determine how the ERA-1s perform compared to other models I played a track from Alter Natives, a band that plays percussive, rhythmic improv jazz. The songs by Alter Natives use various instruments, including electric guitars, bass, flute as well as saxophone and saxophone. The ERA-1s recorded the track with astonishing clarity and precision even at loud volumes. ERA-2 It was a step ahead of its time, Quad's first headphone garnered awe and admiration from both consumers and critics. The ERA-1 is designed to recreate the awe-inspiring sound of the legendary electrostatic loudspeakers into an open, transparent and spacious headphone that features deep bass, supple and precise mids, crystal clear highs and a wide soundstage that is intimate, but not restricting. It's hard to imagine a better headphone that has a proper tonal equilibrium, and realistic separation of the instruments and makes you feel as if you're in the studio right with the musicians. The ear cups feature an incredibly lightweight and breathable material that provides comfort for long listening sessions. The patented nonlinear vibration suppression technology is designed to reduce unwanted reverberations within the headphones. This enhances clarity and accuracy. www.headphonesshop.uk -1's drivers are also acoustically matched to very tight tolerances, resulting in a high detail and transient response. Its sleek and compact design makes it easy to transport. It also comes with a detachable cord that has two standard 3.5mm connectors. This makes it easy to connect aftermarket cables. Planar-magnetic headphones can be driven either through the output of the majority of portable digital audio players, or via an external headphone amp. This enables them to provide an even more natural and immersive listening experience than traditional headphones. The ERA-1's planar magnetic drivers also have a lower stored energy, which means they can reproduce low frequencies more easily than other headphones with a bigger diaphragm. I used various pieces of music to test the ERA-1. This included classical pieces and contemporary recordings. I found the ERA-1 to have superb clarity and imaging, which was particularly evident on a piece with string music. Each note was clearly separated in space. It was less flesh-and bone than the LCDX in this regard and offers a more natural and full-bodied presentation. Both can track the shape of notes with remarkable accuracy, but the ERA-1 is more consistent. It's also lighter in sound, which makes it more suitable for mobile usage. ERA-3 With the exception of the best planars, most headphones in the under $1000 range have a sonic signature that sounds too confined and closed in. The ERA-1 offers the transparency and openness you would expect from a planar design. The headphone is light and has a low clamping force, making it comfortable for long listening sessions. SoundStage was among our listeners! Solo editor Brent Butterworth; John Higgins, a music performance graduate of USC and a regular contributor to Wirecutter and Sound & Vision; and Los Angeles-based saxophonist LeRena Major. Unlike electrostatic headphones, which require an additional headphone amplifier to produce the required bias voltage and high-voltage audio signal that drives their diaphragms, planars utilize a diaphragm with a very thin profile that is set between two magnets. This means that all components of the diaphragm resonate equally and eliminates intermodulation distortion due to inductance which can make electrostatic drivers sound bright or edgy sound. Planars can also be controlled by an audio player portable with a driver sensitive enough. The ERA-1 headphones are among several that can be used this manner. To get the most out of them, you'll need an effective headphone amplifier. The ERA-1 has a large soundstage, great clarity, and a natural and smooth midrange. It has a quick response which makes it easy to follow the string notes in complicated arrangements. I tried the track “Mining for Gold,” from the Cowboy Junkies album The Trinity Session (16/44.1 FLAC, RCA), and found the string notes had excellent separation and were extremely well-defined. 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, however it's still a great sound with excellent clarity and black background. I then played the jazz-improv portion of Alter Natives' Over The Counter – Culture album on the SST Label (24/96 vinyl rip) to see how well the ERA-1 reproduced the drums, electric guitarist flute, saxophone, and flute. This track requires extreme dynamic range and speed to reproduce accurately. Its impressive phase coherency as well as clarity were evident, as was the bass that was both tight and deep. ERA-4 Quad has returned to the market for headphones after an absence of over a year. The ERA-1 is a planar magnetic headphone that builds on the company's heritage with electrostatic speakers. It is constructed with a thin, high-quality diaphragm that is surrounded by drivers that are matched to exact tolerances. This allows the entire diaphragm, including the earpieces, vibrate simultaneously. This improves the coherence of phase and the reconstruction of the peaks of signal. The lightweight and comfortable design lets you wear it for long listening sessions. The ERA-1 is a fantastic option for music lovers who want a detailed, open soundstage with excellent imaging. It is more user-friendly than many planar headphones, and is compatible with any smartphone or portable audio device. Its low impedance rating allows it to be used with all amplifiers. The earcups are padded and soft, making them more comfortable for extended listening sessions. The soundstage is wide, and its high-frequency response is excellent in its transient response. Its midrange is accurate and natural, and its bass is full of depth. The ERA-1 features identical drivers on both sides of the headphone. This allows for equal performance in both ears. This is a feature that is essential for those who prefer to listen to music in a group or share it with others. The open-backed design of ERA-1 offers 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 powerful sound. Its slim profile design and light construction make it a simple to fit on any head shape. The headphone comes with a carry case and an extra set of earpads, which makes it an ideal choice for travel. The ERA-1 also comes with a detachable cable that can be replaced by a custom-made one. When compared to other headphones When compared to other headphones Quad ERA-1 is a great option for those who love classic hi-fi. The open-backed design gives an expansive soundstage, superb imaging and a neutral and transparent sound that is suitable for all genres of music. The rich detail, as well as clear vocals, are particularly impressive. The ERA-1 is available for purchase at the best price, and it is available from a variety of online retailers.