1. The ERA-1 is made in China. Designed in the UK. 2. Brainwavz did not license the technology from Quad which is why they had to discontinue production of the Alara. 3. The ideology behind them was to replicate the sound of the Quad ESL electrostatic speakers but with added bass. They’re one of the best kept secrets in audio. I’ve had mine since their introduction. I never have found them difficult to drive. Their overall timbre is on the warm side but they’re very musical in the same way as a BBC speaker. The only big negative is that it’s not for small heads and it’s weight. Meze cables work perfectly as well as other 3rd party cables.
HI! I own my pair for about 3 yrs now. They are gooood. Quite delicate and detailed sounding, I compared them briefly to Clear MG once and definitely can agree on, that these are more detailed and have better timbre. The physicality was better on MGs, but the separation not, with smaller stage. A big win for Quads, for half the price. The cable... You can buy one from ForzaAudioWorks from Poland. I did, only after 2 yrs or so of owning them. The copper-silver cable has brought them to another level. Detail, separation, stage has got better. Beautiful. I have not tried them on high-end amp yet, but I believe my Burson with Sparkos op amps pushes them well. And I like the flatter pads more too. Thank you and keep posting! Enjoy life. TM
I bought this Quad ERA-1 based on your incredibly well detailed review of this headphone. Uses the Simaudio Moon 430 HAD which has enough power to drive this headphone to its potential. This is the best headphone I have tested and I have tested many. THANKS FOR YOUR AWESOME TEST WHICH IS 100% CORRECT BASED ON MY TESTS (OWNER) OF THIS HEADPHONE. I was actually going to buy a new Focal Clear MG, but after your test I ended up buying a used Quad ERA-1 here in Norway, the unit is like new. Because of your very good test of the Quad ERA-1, you have saved me for a lot of money.
Loved this review. I returned my lcd x because it was too polite and boring, but I really miss that air and bass definition. Going to splurge on the era 1 ASAP and hopefully it does something close
when you say "Pirates of the Caribbean" by Hans Zimmer, which track are you specifically referring to? he seems to have had a part in all of the Pirates movies, but there isn't an actual track with the name Pirates of the Caribbean.
Bought these a few years ago but returned them as the headband had almost 2 cm to my head in it lowest position. I normally do not have a problem with headphone fits. 400 euro in Denmark.
Great review, I had not heard of Quad before but I see that they have been around for a while. I am just curious to know - how does this compare to the LCD-X 2021? I have that as well as the Clear MG already but am intrigued by this one, and they seem to be available in Australia for quite reasonable money. Thanks
Excellent review, very thorough 👍 Agree on all points. Incredible value but horrible connectors. I have Ferrum Oor and use leather pads (needs eq). Tip! The CLEAR cables sold on eBay from a German seller fits nicely. Recommended (no affiliation).
Follow up: Switched pads to the hybrid pads for first time. Not bad, not bad at all. Slight hit on technicalities but an even more pleasant presentation 👍 Playing around with hybrid pads and eq has turned this headphone into an improved Sennheiser HD 650. This is now the daily driver that I’ve been looking! Thanks again 🙏
Hi. I've read several reviews online that say they're easy to drive, but you say they are difficult to drive and need top amp. I tend to use a very portable amp, as I travel frequently. Is the dragonfly compatible with them? What amp would you recommend for portability? Thank you
1. The ERA-1 is made in China. Designed in the UK.
2. Brainwavz did not license the technology from Quad which is why they had to discontinue production of the Alara.
3. The ideology behind them was to replicate the sound of the Quad ESL electrostatic speakers but with added bass.
They’re one of the best kept secrets in audio. I’ve had mine since their introduction. I never have found them difficult to drive. Their overall timbre is on the warm side but they’re very musical in the same way as a BBC speaker. The only big negative is that it’s not for small heads and it’s weight.
Meze cables work perfectly as well as other 3rd party cables.
HI! I own my pair for about 3 yrs now. They are gooood. Quite delicate and detailed sounding, I compared them briefly to Clear MG once and definitely can agree on, that these are more detailed and have better timbre. The physicality was better on MGs, but the separation not, with smaller stage. A big win for Quads, for half the price. The cable... You can buy one from ForzaAudioWorks from Poland. I did, only after 2 yrs or so of owning them. The copper-silver cable has brought them to another level. Detail, separation, stage has got better. Beautiful. I have not tried them on high-end amp yet, but I believe my Burson with Sparkos op amps pushes them well. And I like the flatter pads more too.
Thank you and keep posting!
Enjoy life.
TM
🐅
Thorough, incisive and authoritative summary. As I’m in the market, very helpful too. Thank you for your hard work - much appreciated.
finally a reputed reviewer making a vid on this, nice and thank you mr koji.
I hope you enjoy it, and you’re welcome
❤️🐅🥃
I bought this Quad ERA-1 based on your incredibly well detailed review of this headphone. Uses the Simaudio Moon 430 HAD which has enough power to drive this headphone to its potential. This is the best headphone I have tested and I have tested many. THANKS FOR YOUR AWESOME TEST WHICH IS 100% CORRECT BASED ON MY TESTS (OWNER) OF THIS HEADPHONE. I was actually going to buy a new Focal Clear MG, but after your test I ended up buying a used Quad ERA-1 here in Norway, the unit is like new. Because of your very good test of the Quad ERA-1, you have saved me for a lot of money.
Thank you for the kind words I’m glad you found the review useful, welcome to the fam 🐅
Same with Hifiman ananda, easy to drive BUT to drive to max potential it needs +6W power.
I have got to get that and the Sundara in for review at some point
Loved this review. I returned my lcd x because it was too polite and boring, but I really miss that air and bass definition. Going to splurge on the era 1 ASAP and hopefully it does something close
So hows it holding up?
when you say "Pirates of the Caribbean" by Hans Zimmer, which track are you specifically referring to? he seems to have had a part in all of the Pirates movies, but there isn't an actual track with the name Pirates of the Caribbean.
I love the headphones very well!
These headphones are better as my Enigmacoustics Dharma 1000!! They are very harsh in treble!!
Well this is the first time I have heard of this company.
Oooo no, they’ve been around for donkeys years, producing speakers.
@@ConvinceMeAudio Well I am mainly a headphone person as I never had the space for speakers.
@@jarjared3522 in that case, I am not too surprised, I believe this is their first offering
Bought these a few years ago but returned them as the headband had almost 2 cm to my head in it lowest position. I normally do not have a problem with headphone fits. 400 euro in Denmark.
Could you mention who the retailer is?
Great review, I had not heard of Quad before but I see that they have been around for a while. I am just curious to know - how does this compare to the LCD-X 2021? I have that as well as the Clear MG already but am intrigued by this one, and they seem to be available in Australia for quite reasonable money. Thanks
Extremely different tune in to those headphones mate
But man, does it require some power
Excellent review, very thorough 👍
Agree on all points. Incredible value but horrible connectors. I have Ferrum Oor and use leather pads (needs eq).
Tip! The CLEAR cables sold on eBay from a German seller fits nicely. Recommended (no affiliation).
Follow up: Switched pads to the hybrid pads for first time. Not bad, not bad at all.
Slight hit on technicalities but an even more pleasant presentation 👍
Playing around with hybrid pads and eq has turned this headphone into an improved Sennheiser HD 650. This is now the daily driver that I’ve been looking!
Thanks again 🙏
Grab yourself a Quad power amp for these.
Pungent!👍🏽
Hi. I've read several reviews online that say they're easy to drive, but you say they are difficult to drive and need top amp. I tend to use a very portable amp, as I travel frequently. Is the dragonfly compatible with them? What amp would you recommend for portability?
Thank you
I think you can get them loud on a lot of things
loud is different to driving well sounding good
Ifi Diablo is a fantastic option
Which kind of cable would you recommend? Copper / hybrid / silver? Thank you for your work!
Silver, or silver plated, copper might actually play very nicely
And thanks, it’s very much appreciated. 🐅❤️