Quad ERA-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones & VA-One Amp

Quad has a long history of making top-notch hi-fi products, perhaps most notably the ESL: an extremely well-regarded electrostatic panel loudspeaker. Now, the company brings that high-end experience to a pair of headphones and their ideal amplifier pairing. The open-back ERA-1 headphones use planar magnetic drivers to deliver a fast, open, and transparent performance. Powerful enough to drive a variety of premium headphones, the VA-One compact valve amp also includes a DAC, a preamp, a power amp, and Bluetooth functionality. 

Headphone Guru  calls these headphones "a classic in the making" and adds: "Combining walk-around-town cosmetics and comfort with cell-phone levels of efficiency, it is the perfect headphone for on-the-go as well as at-home use. With the angled sheepskin ear pads, it is a pleasant and non-fatiguing listen, with great musicality and that British clarity of the midrange, along with the expansive soundstage that comes with a top-performing planar headphone."

In its five-star review, Hi-Fi Choice  says, "The VA-One is something of a star turn. It delivers at an emotional level, in that it looks and feels precisely how we’d expect a Quad valve amplifier to be, and it partners this with a level of t and nish that is impressive for the asking price. The masterstroke is combining this timeless charm with a selection of inputs and performance that are bang up to date. Used with a remotely sympathetic pair of speakers, it has all the headroom you could reasonably require alongside a selection of inputs that mean it can function as a hub for a useful array of sources. The VA-One might not be terribly big, but it is extremely clever."