Quad VA-One + Tube Amp Discussions | Drop

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Quad VA-One + Tube Amp

Mar 29, 2020

With so few reviews of the QUAD ERA-1, I wonder how it compares to less expensive planar magnetic headphones in today's market. Namely: Hifiman Sundara, Audeze LCD-1, and SendyAudio Aiva. Also, QUAD ERA-1 looks incredibly similar to Brainwavz Alara, which we know is a failed product. I never demoed the QUAD ERA-1 and I'm not saying anything good or bad about it. Simply, the lack of reviews and general interest in this headphone is strange.

Mar 29, 2020

cutekitty

Mar 29, 2020

ArjestinI have both Sundara and Aiva. Very different sounding headphones IMO. Unless ERA-1 brings something new to the table of 2020 planar magnetic cans, why bother?

Mar 29, 2020

Vote

MaverickAH

747

Apr 14, 2020

ArjestinI purchased the QUAD ERA-1 through Drop when they were initially offered so I've own them for a while. My 1st pair were faulty but Drop exchanged them with no issues. This 2nd set has performed flawlessly. I haven't listened to the Sundara but I have listened to the LCD-1 & the Avia. My opinion would be that they thoroughly trounce the LCD-1's. I was not impressed in the least with the LCD-1. Outside of liking the form factor, I thought that it was a very pedestrian sounding headphone. I felt that the planar drivers were just too small. If they were half the asking price, maybe...... The Sendy Avia was an interesting comparison. The Avia's held an advantage in the upper mids & treble. The presentation was more delicate & airy. The QUAD ERA-1 held a distinctive advantage in the bass though. The ERA-1's gave an overall warmer presentation. My understanding, from everything I've been able to read, on the Brainwavz Alara & the QUAD ERA-1 is that while the chassis are similar, the internals are different. The folks at QUAD made sure that the ERA-1 had the sound profile they wanted for a headphone that was going to carry their brand name. They succeeded. Their sound does resemble a set of the electrostatic speakers but with bass. Quickly hitting the good & bad:

Headband is too big & can be problematic for some.
Build quality is excellent but they are heavy.
Overall sound quality is on the warm side of neutral.
Highly musical with very good image placement. Only needing a little bit more air in the upper frequencies.

Let me finish with some comments about the Alara & QUAD in general. Now I haven't heard them but I would call them an abject failure. What reviews there are have been fairly positive. Their biggest problem were that headband & that they were "Brainwavz". I think that the brand name raised eyebrows more than anything else. Now I've been familiar with QUAD products for over 40 years if not longer but that's because I live where I've always had access to multiple high end audio shops. They are not a household name in the U.S. & they never will be nor are they trying to be. Outside of their speakers, their electronic have never been what would call "visually attractive". They were sonically very good but hard on the eyeballs. FTR...…., I love my ERA-1's. Sonically, they are not fatiguing in the least & only headband comfort is an issue. I'm in the process of comparing these to both the Ether CX & the Elex. Hopefully I'll have something to say by the end of the month.

Apr 14, 2020