Brainwavz Alara Planar Headphones - Review Thread & Future Brainwavz Planar Development

[dpump]

Question for Brainwavz: You stated sometime ago that you were working on leather pads for the Alara which would be similar to those on the Quad ERA1. Is this going to happen? I had the Quad here but had to return it for QC reasons, but I confirmed that the Quad earpads fit the Alara just fine. If Brainwavz isn't going to have leather pads for the Alara I would like to know so I can ty to obtain a pair from Quad.

 

[Natarian]

I thought the Alara was abandoned.

 

[SoundHelmet]

nvm

 

[bagwell359]

Has anyone had these in hand? Is the rear of the cup metal or plastic? They look like they are about 85% closed, far more than the Quad. I'm surprised none of the TH-50RP or HFM modders have taken these on. People talk of borderline too much bass and a small image size? Hmmm.

 

[bagwell359]

Got them Tue the 30th. Breaking in (5 CD changer with various challenging audio selections) x 3 times a day. I've listened :15 minutes per day (with hours of my usual cans mixed in).

First impression: better build quality than any can I own. Cups metal. Fairly heavy, fair amount of clamp force. Good fit for my above average sized head.

0 hours: deep bass, elevated from 60-400 hz, treble decent, but not elite. Short soundstage, Soundstage and images in row AA, not deep, all on same plane.

10 hours: soundstage starting to get wider and deeper - but it doesn't sound parallel to listener - it's at an angle and very low. Occasional odd notes in mids seem to be gone

20 hours: focus is in low mids and upper bass - very "warm" - like a listening room with loose walls, sound may be getting sweeter and more coherent.

30 hours: deep bass not as obvious as at first. It's good. But its not LCD2C. Treble seems to be getting more 3D. Mids not however getting better. Missing details - well better than the HE5SE IMO, these don't sound threadbare. A bit more bloom over all developing, still instruments very close. Change in pads coming.

The structure of the back of the can is about 80% closed. So the idea that these are open is off the mark - way off. Removing the rear cover would cut reverb/early reflections from 400 Hz down, should open soundstage. This change wouldn't be as extreme as the two sided HFM's (HE-500, HE-6), but more like the MD 4xx and HE5SE. Cup changes also may offer maybe a bigger change than the screens. Time will tell.

Amazon is bringing me a set of very fine size hex keys to get behind the driver. Will start using pads from my collection to see what i manage with that, along with removing the screen.

 

[bagwell359]

Oops looks like a torx pattern, ordered those, due today.

Hour 70: Not much different from 30. Bass is very nice, but from 80-500 its slightly pumped and sounds warm and a little veiled. Soundstage getting slightly wider and taller. On complex passages drums can go a bit hollow, and there is a bit of hash/bleed on images - but - let me stress these passage eat most headphones. Still only listening :30 every other day and continuing with my top 3 (see sig).

As they are, they are better to me than: TH-X00, HE5LE, HE5SE, TH500RP, MD 4XX - but only by a bit in the case of the HE5LE.

They are the 4th best of my cans (but a weak 4th). If taking off the screens can do away with the low mid/upper bass warmth, and improve the sound stage, they could be better (maybe a lot better) If that works then its time for mods (felt & dynamat), and then an XLR cable.

 

[bagwell359]

Whoa. Got off the screen (careful but it comes easy once you get how it fits) and treated the backside. The driver itself is mounted on plastic, so it needs some treatment. The wires are so frail I never want to open them up again unless there is an absolute need.

Pic 1: Outer shell; Pic 2: Screen - both all metal.

Note: pic with dynamat reflects a mistake I've been making for about 3 months - the metal backing of the dynamat has to be on it to work. HD-600, HE5SE, and these have to be corrected !!



Great.... so?

Mids are much sweeter - esp female vocals. Treble softer, and overtones more obvious/true. Upper bass might still has some veiling - need more time to be sure. Soundstage much taller, hearing distinctly more cues from the rear of the Hall or recording room - like an unusual amount for a can I would say overall has less than average sound staging. Still - staging not as good as say HE-500. Added note: I'm using MrSpeakers Ether Angled pads - much better than stock - sticking on by gravity.

Dunno if this is really an ERA-1 - it is now mid centric. I do know I'd rather listen to these than the Sundara or either Aeon any day, any time.

I think Brainwavz has a real winner here (or the manufacturer), the build quality is excellent, they just need to make them truly open, and not faux open.

Next step: 50 more hours break-in w/ no listening. Then spend lots of time with my 3 refs at least 5 hours each. Then 20+ hours on the Alara so I can write an actual review - not a string of observations.

I paid $339.15 for these, good buy.

 

[bagwell359]

OK, mixed results.

I corrected my dynamat mistake (taking off the metal), and with that in mind, improvements from mods:

Good news:

* mid bass/low mids flatter, male voices not effected as much (too chesty stock)
* much more coherent from bass up to about 1500Hz, definition, clarity, and timbre all improved.
* both HFM 560 Rev 1 pads and MrSpeakers Ether Closed pads sound better than the stock - more depth, treble more focused - I'm sure there is a better pad available - whatever they may be.
* much taller soundstage, somewhat wider than stock

Not so good:

* Over 1500 Hz - suppressed - in volume and in definition. Also timbre mistakes - tend to clang in every now and then - these issues are beyond not so good - it's a killer. EQ can help the treble level, but, I think the definition issue will remain. My HEX v2 more than the HE-500 really show where the Alara is short.
* Brainwavz has written me that they do not sell the pad mounting peg thing, they also say they do not have ANY pads for sale that fit this can. So I have to experiment with them fit in by hand and held in by the clamp, then when I decide - tear up one or both stock pads to get the mounting plate out, and then install.
* Soundstage still not very wide, and instrument placement while steady isn't quite where other cans have things.

Note: nuggets may help these fit better. IMO these should be classified as ON EAR, not over ear, having a headband that fits Lurch and pads that fit a teenage girl is a poor deign.

Summary: As they are today - they are better IMO than HE5SE, HE5LE, MD 4XX, HE400i. Still haven't heard the ERA-1 - but with the 1.5k and above issues these have I cannot see all the comments on the ERA-1 describing the same driver. It's made it to a weak 4th on my listening list. I'll try a re-wire to XLR and maybe an internal re-wire and snag a few more angled pads, but I don't expect an OMG change. I'll check in from time to time as these things change.

 

[bagwell359]

I tried several pads:

Used used MrSpeakers Ether Angled w/ and w/o protective gauze. Better with gauze off. Bigger soundstage, more treble, however less bass.

Took protective gauze off the stock pads, bit more treble.

Built pads out of HFM angled pads that came with 560's a few years back. Better with gauze off, might be the best - but they are pretty rough physically. Think the ERA-1 angled sheepskin might be the best, not sure I'll spend to find out.

Regardless, what goes on under 1700 Hz (very nice bass, solid mids), Alara isn't a match for my 3 best cans (see sig). It's not as good as the Sundara either.

As usual I learned something, like with the HE5SE, but if I had the money instead of the cans I could afford a HE6SE right now - ugh.

Edit: gave up and sold them. Such a shame, with a bit more budget and a higher vision they could have been great.