Quick impressions of the Quad versus the Stax Lambda Nova Signature. Both were connected to the Chromecast audio, with the SRM-212 feeding the Stax and the little Fiio E5 feeding the Quads. So a cheap setup for both of them but the point is to see the strengths and weaknesses of each.
The Stax is a very balanced headphone with a slightly darkish signature a la HD600/650, so none of the usual Lambda upper midrange coloration. I consider its timbre to be spot on.
I'm using the Quad with the velour earpads as they provide a darker/closer tone and I just enjoy them much more this way. I don't think the leather pads really have a different frequency response, they just add a different/clearer vibe. It's really cool to have the choice between those two distinctive sound signatures, depending on if you like darker/brighter signatures.
The Quad and the Stax actually have much more in common than not and comparing them just helps relativize their own strengths/weaknesses. There were moments when i had to double check which one I was wearing, which is always a good sign.
In terms of balance the Stax is a bit more mid-centric, with a similar but slightly rolled off bass and an invisible treble (noticing treble is always is always a bad sign in my book). I'm biased towards the Stax as it matches at 99% my personal tastes. The Quad is slightly more u-shaped in comparison, with a thundering deep bass that provides a super solid base foundation, and a more noticeable but still smooth treble. It's a very well balanced headphone overall, the bass is clean enough and the treble is never aggressive. You can switch from one to another and forget which one you are using. That's how close they are.
In terms of speed and detail the Quad is really surprising, even out an iPhone. I don't think it is any less fast than the Stax, the sound flows in a similarly effortless manner and at fast pace. The level of detail is not razorsharp (at least with the cheap setup I'm using) but I don't feel like I'm losing much on the Stax. It's just a very natural and liquid presentation with the sound flowing around you, rather than attacking your eardrums in an aggressive manner like many dynamic headphones would do. The sound is still a bit thicker than the ethereal presentation of the Stax but i think it's part of the technical differences between planars and electrostats. And I kinda like it.
Timbre is the point where they sound the most different. The Stax is super transparent and provides a timbre that is very faithful to the recording. I can hear a small coloration/smoothness in the Quad midrange, similarly to what
@zolkis noticed earlier on this thread (
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/quad-era-1-thread.878180/page-5#post-14492411). It's not a big issue and it probably won't be one for many people but I'm a sucker for transparency and realism, and I feel this may become a limitation for me on the long run with this headphone. The midrange is still enjoyable but i can't help but noticing the coloration.
Last topic is the soundstage. They have a different approach on this, Stax being faithful to its "earspeakers" appellation with its super open sound that spreads into blackness outside the headphone. Combined with its ability to make sound pop of nowhere, you get what I would call a ventriloquist headphone. The downside is that the soundstage is also flatter and more 2D-like because of the huge drivers being so close to the ears. The Quad has a well delimited soundstage that feels more intimate and 3D-like, which I appreciate. If you like to feel inside the music, i think you will like this headphone. And yet it has a great ability to let you pinpoint every instrument on acoustic recordings. We're in full high-end territory here.
In conclusion I think the Quad is a great all-rounder with a very balanced sound signature, terrific bass and speed, and a smooth sound that makes it very easy to listen during long sessions. They work well with any kind of music, just like the Stax. I don't know how well it scales with a good amp and if the timbre can improve but I think it's already quite impressive to have this kind of sound out of a portable setup.
For now the only alternative i have is an old audiophilie DAP that i still have (Teclast T51), it sounds pretty good out of it.
