[Sonic Defender]

After watching and reading a handful of reviews, there seems to be a real big disagreement regarding the Quad's Treble frequency.
About 50% of the reviewers say the Quad's sound is low mid heavy with a slightly rolled off treble.
The other 50% say the headphones are incredibly balanced, soundwise,, with spectacular mids..... the bottom is not thick and overcooked, and the treble has "sparkle" and can even sound a bit etched if using solid state gear..
Well, .......... it can't be both.
Geez.
And Tyll's replacement said they are a "product of the year".
So, talk about "can't agree".........this one has the listener's pretty confused.
If anyone here owns them, and also the Audeze X's or the Hifiman HE 500s, i'd love to read what you think about them........as compared......


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You are in a way, answering your own question. People hear differently, they have different frames of references so how will asking for another viewpoint clarify anything? The only impression that matters is yours in the end. Are you at all able to find the ERA-1 from a vendor with a return policy? The other thing that I try to keep in mind is how the same person can have different hearing acuity throughout a day. Sometimes at night I find a headphone sounds differently than I remember it sounding, but the next day it may sound like I remember it. I'm not trying to be difficult, and I hope that you do get to hear the Quad for yourself, I personally thought it sounding very well voiced.

 

[Beagle]

They are like any decent headphone. Some days they will sound like all you'll ever need, other days you will want something else. That's why we're here.

 

[FullBright1]

You are in a way, answering your own question. People hear differently, they have different frames of references so how will asking for another viewpoint clarify anything? The only impression that matters is yours in the end. Are you at all able to find the ERA-1 from a vendor with a return policy? The other thing that I try to keep in mind is how the same person can have different hearing acuity throughout a day. Sometimes at night I find a headphone sounds differently than I remember it sounding, but the next day it may sound like I remember it. I'm not trying to be difficult, and I hope that you do get to hear the Quad for yourself, I personally thought it sounding very well voiced.

Do you remember Tyll?
There is a reason he reviewed headphones.
So, what else can i tell you....
The fact is, ... if i buy the Quads, and because i have a gigantic point of reference and really acute hearing, i can come right back here and define the sound of the Quads, so that anyone here can make a value judgement, for themselves.
I know what sizzle sounds like in the upper trebles... I know what low mids bleeding into the midrange, sounds like, and i know what a small soundstage is, and how to assess if a set of headphones is for a bass lover or not.
I guarantee you, that i can tell you if the trebles in the Quads are etched, like you find with most expensive AudioTechnica or many Hifi Man headphones.
I can compare the sound of the Audeze Sine's with the Quads and tell you why one sounds better.
I can do a direct comparison with my Audeze X's and tell you, which sounds better, and it not just be my subjective opinion.
Now, it is true that hearing is subjective, but its also true that a professional lister who has years of experience with hundreds of sets of headphones, can tell you what is right and what is wrong with the Quads, and it not be a "subjective guess".
And the reason that is wont be if i do it, is because im a professional listener, i have a huge inventory of hearing - listening experience, and can compare the Quads with about 200 sets of headphones.
I can tell you if they "sound better" then HD600s or Focal Classics, or, Audeze EL-8s.
Now maybe you can't, but i can.
So, as i said, if someone here has the Audeze X or the HE500, and can compare them with the Quads, i would love to read what you have to say.

thx

 

[FullBright1]

They are like any decent headphone. Some days they will sound like all you'll ever need, other days you will want something else. That's why we're here.

These are $800 headphones, so, they really need to sound better then "decent", dont you think?
And, i buy "more" headphones, not because i dont like what i own, but because im addicted to listening to music using new headphones.
This is a thrilling and life long experience for me, and i dont plan to stop, ever.
Headphone listening and buying, is an addiction for me, just like writing music, or buying handmade acoustic guitars and playing them.
Im a musician and a mastering specialist because im addicted to all things related to hearing and creating music.
There is no stopping this...there is no way back or way out........Its is what i do, it is what i love, it is what obsesses me, and im happy to be so obsessed.
I am a serious serious addict when it comes to collecting new and previously released music and also collecting new listening tools that allow me the thrill of listening to music, through them.
There is hardly a day that goes by when i dont buy a new CD, and there is certainly never a week that goes by when i dont buy new music.
As i have written before, here, i have a Youtube channel, and on it i have created about 300 videos, and then there is the other playlist, where i have gone all over Youtube and found the music that thrills me, created by videos of the highest (music) resolution, nearly 700 of these, and they are on my channel..
There is no other channel like mine on youtube.... There is nothing like it, if you just want to hear new music, high rez, and you can find this entertaining for hours.
1000 videos.
There is noone else that has done this on Youtube, as i have.
If you were to click on my picture here, and do a search of all the music i have posted on the Music thread, and listened to it, you would find that noone here does what i do. Noone posts music here like i do. The different genres`, the time i take to post only the best sounding videos, and the best songs.
So, im not your typical "music listening" person........believe me.
And before you debate me regarding what i just said....you should click on my FACE, and go to my "posted music" and listen to the last 100 songs i have posted and then tell me if im making it all up, or if in fact, .......there is noone here who does what i do.
Find out.
Give it a shot.
So.,
Im sure ii'll get the Quads, but i was hoping that someone here can evaluate the Quad's Treble and low mids, regarding "neutrality", and if possible, compare the Quads to Audeze X's and HIfiman He500s.

 

[TSAVAlan]

Back on topic...

For the treble on the ERA-1, I did notice a few things. The pads can make a giant difference. The velour pads that they came with on, I was just not a big fan of in any sonic sense. It sounded rolled off in the bass and treble with the velours.

The leather pads were an immediate improvement when I put them on on the Quads, tight and extended bass and really helped level out the treble.

Doing some listening on Questyle SHB2>CMA Twelve>Quad ERA-1 with leather pads, I went through our test tracks (Steely Dan, Snarky Puppy, Buddy Guy, etc) and wasn't hearing anything I would consider harsh or rolled off. Sounded pretty much in line with headphones like the Focal Clear. LCD-X had better treble extension over the ERA-1 but both sounded fine to me.

 

[AxelCloris]

Let's please keep the discussion on-topic and off one another. Thanks everyone.

 

[arteom]

Normally wouldn't have much interest in one of these "speakers manufacturers going into headphone world" products, but the house Quad sound is damn good and if a headphone can capture that, I would give them a shot. The headband doesn't give one much confidence though, HiFiMan learned that lesson. Though I know these are lighter, and Innerfidelity said it distributes weight well, still though.

 

[Beagle]

The phones are not that heavy and the grip on the head is rather light, so not a lot of tugging and hard flexing required. I don't see why the headband would not stand up with normal use.

 

[FullBright1]

If anyone here has the Audeze X or Hifiman HE500, and owns the Quad, then write me here or pm me and tell me what you are hearing when you listen to the Quad
as compared to the other 2.
One of the videos reviews here on this thread, ... he actually compares the Planar Quad with a Dynamic Sennheiser H600.
Sorry, but that's a NO.

thx

 

[Mark Up]

Are HM-5 type non-angled pads sized okay to work with these? I use the NVX Comfort Max Standard (non-angled) actually on my Shure SRH-1540 actually, as they are softer, and you lose less bass than with the HM-5. I just wonder if they would be an option or if they'd be too wide / tall in circumference, since these seem to have small ear cups. I noticed the leather earpads for these have a bit of increased space around the ear. These velour look like they'd be part on / part over the ear (Sennheiser Momentum sized). Also, does Quad include the leather or do you have to buy them separately?

 

[FullBright1]

Back on topic...

I went through our test tracks (Steely Dan, Snarky Puppy, Buddy Guy, etc) and wasn't hearing anything I would consider harsh or rolled off. Sounded pretty much in line with headphones like the Focal Clear. LCD-X had better treble extension over the ERA-1 but both sounded fine to me.

Do you agree with this assessment?
Do you think they are this outstanding?

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Choosing a product that qualifies as one that stands out above all others for enough different reasons is never an easy task, but taking sound quality, build quality, design and price all into consideration, the Quad ERA-1 headphones gets my nod as InnerFidelity Product of The Year 2018.

The ERA-1 is an incredibly comfortable, non-fatiguing, huge-sounding, tonal and timbrally pleasing set of headphones with outstanding resolution that breaks the sub-$1,000 USD barrier.



–Rafe Arnott

 

[UsoppNoKami]

Back on topic...

For the treble on the ERA-1, I did notice a few things. The pads can make a giant difference. The velour pads that they came with on, I was just not a big fan of in any sonic sense. It sounded rolled off in the bass and treble with the velours.

The leather pads were an immediate improvement when I put them on on the Quads, tight and extended bass and really helped level out the treble.

Doing some listening on Questyle SHB2>CMA Twelve>Quad ERA-1 with leather pads, I went through our test tracks (Steely Dan, Snarky Puppy, Buddy Guy, etc) and wasn't hearing anything I would consider harsh or rolled off. Sounded pretty much in line with headphones like the Focal Clear. LCD-X had better treble extension over the ERA-1 but both sounded fine to me.

I liked the angled pads out of solid state gear initially, but i went back to the flat pads once i started listening to my pair of ERA-1 through my tube amps. With the extra 'air' and bass from tubes, the angled pads became too muddy/bloomy for my liking. Great that Quad included 2 types of pads with clear sonic differences to tweak the sound to match the chain feeding it.

 

[UsoppNoKami]

@UsoppNoKami that cayin amp sure is nice looking how's it's sq ? also what are your impressions on the era-1's..enjoy

There is a Cayin HA-1A mk2 thread in the forum, can look for more impressions there. But basically, the amp really brings out the flavour of the tubes that you choose to roll. My current pairing with ERA-1 = NOS Mullard 12au7 drivers, Amperex Bugle Boy Treble Clef EL84 powers, and RCA 12DT5 rectifer. Very balanced sound, good bass, smooth mids, some sparkle up top. The latter may cause some harshness with rock music, but it's a fault of the mastering and crashing drums rather than the headphones. I would recommend the ERA-1 to anyone interested in picking up a pair.

 

[FullBright1]

Ok.
I pulled the trigger.
Mine will arrive tomorrow.
So, i'll check back here, hopefully by the weekend with some details and comparisons just in case anyone wants my opinion.
If i find that they have bloated low mids, are dark, and have a rolled off treble, as reported by about 50% of the reviews i have read or watched online, then i'll be here well before the weekend to confirm this, so that noone else gets sucked into the Quad void.......unless..... you want to.....
I'll be using an Oppo SE BDP-83 into a Headroom Max, and into a Rupert Neve Headphone amp.
I'll also go from Laptop into a Grace M900, and into a Apogee One.
The Oppo <> Headroom Max, will offer a Tube-Like Experience, and the rest are like straight wires.
If all 4 of these sound horrible thru this "product of the year", as defined by Tyll's replacement @ "Inner Fidelity", then i will certainly let you know.

Happy listening everyone.......



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[TSAVAlan]

Do you agree with this assessment?
Do you think they are this outstanding?

I think its a fair assessment, the more I hear the Quads, the more I appreciate them.

I liked the angled pads out of solid state gear initially, but i went back to the flat pads once i started listening to my pair of ERA-1 through my tube amps. With the extra 'air' and bass from tubes, the angled pads became too muddy/bloomy for my liking. Great that Quad included 2 types of pads with clear sonic differences to tweak the sound to match the chain feeding it.

Hadn't even considered using them with different pads on the tube amp! My knee jerk reaction most of the time is to listen on solid states but will give it a shot on tubes. Our Quad rep is coming by soon with the new Quad PA One+ so will love to see how they sound together on a full Quad system.