Quad ERA-1
Planar Headphones Review
The first headphones from Quad are a direct result of the iconic ESL electrostatic loudspeakers that have been a part of British Hi-Fi for nearly 30 years. The ERA-1 headphones feature low impedance, high efficacy and performance that mirrors the renowned ESL speakers.
A robust design and a premium finish provide an exquisite feel, yet they're still lightweight and comfortable when compared to other designs. Two kinds of earpads are included, one of which is made of soft leather and the other latex topped with fleece fabric that allows for personal tailoring for preferred comfort and acoustic qualities.
ERA-1
Quad ERA-1 headphones have a high degree of transparency, and a wide soundstage. They can be used for home, studio and DJ work, as well as mobile use. They feature a diaphragm that is very light and set between two magnets. This gives an even response to frequency without phase irregularities. This is in contrast to traditional dynamic cone drivers, which have a less even frequency response. The ERA-1s have an open and clear sound, with clear and precise vocals. The ERA-1s have a full, rich bass that's not overpowering. The treble is clear and inviting quality, while the mid-range is nimble and focused.
The soundstage is bigger than other headphones in the same price range. The earpads and the headband have leather-like surfaces that have a soft feel. Its minimalist design matches its high-end sound. It has a standard TRS connector that is detachable, which makes it easy to swap out if you require to. The package includes a hardshell carrying bag as well as an additional pair of earpads featuring different audio signatures.
The ERA-1 can be comfortable for long listening sessions. They are not lightweight, but they are lighter than other premium headphones with comparable performance. Additionally, they are extremely efficient and do not require a lot of power to run. The ear pads are also very soft, which means that you can wear them for hours with no discomfort.
The ERA-1s compete with headphones from Audeze, HiFiMAN, and MrSpeakers in a market that is heavily packed with moderately priced, high-quality planar-magnetic designs. In a crowded market it requires more than a quality brand name and a cheap tag to make a mark. I have listened to a track of Alter Natives who perform percussive rhythmic improv. The songs of Alter Natives feature a variety of instruments, including electric guitars, bass, flute and saxophone. The ERA-1s recorded the track with astonishing clarity and precision even at high volume.
ERA-2
It was a step ahead of its time, Quad's initial headphone elicited awe and reverence from both consumers and critics. The ERA-1 seeks to recreate the awe-inspiring sound of the company's legendary electrostatic loudspeakers into an open, transparent headphone with deep bass, soft and articulate mids, crystal clear highs and a soundstage that is intimate without being constricting. It's difficult to imagine an even better headphone with an appropriate tonal balance and convincing separation of instruments, making you feel like you're in the studio with the musicians.
The earcups are made of an incredibly lightweight and breathable material for comfort during long listening sessions. Its exclusive non-linear, patented vibration suppression technology is designed to suppress unwanted resonances in the headphones, improving clarity and precision. The ERA-1's drivers are audio-acoustically tuned to extremely tight tolerances, resulting in a high transient response and detail resolution. Its compact and sleek design makes it easy for transport. It also has a detachable cable that comes with two standard 3.5mm connectors. This makes it simple to use aftermarket cables.
Unlike electrostatic headphones, which require a particular bias voltage and very high-voltage audio signal to function,
planar magnetic headphone-magnetic designs can be driven by the output of a majority of portable digital audio players or by an external headphone amplifier. This allows them to provide a more natural and immersive listening experience than conventional headphones. The ERA-1's planar magnetic drivers also have a lower stored energy, which means that they can reproduce low frequencies more effectively than other headphones with a bigger diaphragm.
To test the ERA-1 I played various pieces of music, including classical works and contemporary recordings. I found the ERA-1 to have superb image and articulation. This was evident in an instrument with strings. Each note was clearly identified in space. It was less flesh-and-bone than the LCDX in this regard and is more full-bodied and natural presentation. Both devices can track the shapes of the notes with remarkable precision. However the ERA-1 is more coherent in its sound. It's also lighter in sound and thus more suitable for use on mobile devices.
ERA-3
With the exception of the best planars, the majority of headphones in the sub-$1000 range have a sound signature that is too cloistered and closed in. ERA-1 delivers the openness and transparency you expect from a planar design. The headphone's lightweight weight and
planar headphones low force of clamping make it suitable for long listening sessions. Our listeners were SoundStage! Solo editor Brent Butterworth; John Higgins who is a music performance graduate of USC and regular contributor to Wirecutter and Sound & Vision and saxophonist from Los Angeles, LeRena Major.
Unlike electrostatic headphones, which require an amplifier for the headphone to produce the required bias voltage and high-voltage audio signal that drives their diaphragms, the planars use an ultra-thin diaphragm set between two magnets. This allows all the parts of the membrane to resonate at the same frequency, which reduces intermodulation distortion caused by inductance.
Planars can also be controlled by an audio player portable with a driver sensitive enough. The ERA-1 headphones are just one of a few that can be used in this way. However, to get the most value from these headphones, you'll need an excellent headphone amplifier.
The ERA-1 offers an expansive soundstage, superb clarity, and a smooth and natural midrange. It also has a quick response, making it easy to follow 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 discovered that the notes for the string were well separated and remarkably well defined.
Compared with the excellent but more expensive MrSpeakers Amiron, the Quad ERA-1 offers better instrument separation and more precise imaging. It's a bit more relaxed, however it still has excellent detail and a 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 hear how well the ERA-1 reproduced the electric guitar, drums flute, saxophone, and flute. This track requires extreme dynamic range and speed to reproduce accurately. Its remarkable phase coherency and detail were apparent as was the bass, which had both depth and tightness.
ERA-4
After a long absence from the headphone market, Quad is back with their first-ever headphones. The ERA-1 planar magnetic headphones are built on the company's heritage of electrostatic speakers. It features a thin, high-quality diaphragm that is surrounded by drivers that are matched to tight tolerances. This lets the entire diaphragm including the earpieces, to move simultaneously. This improves the coherence of phase and the reconstruction of signals with peaks. Its lightweight and comfortable design also means that you can wear it for lengthy listening sessions.
