QUAD ERA-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones

QUAD ERA-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones

PRODUCT INFORMATION

"The Closest Approach To The Original Sound"

These words have formed the cornerstone of the QUAD philosophy since 1936. More than just a slogan, they underscore the company's commitment to producing the finest audio equipment capable of reproducing all the elements and emotions of a live musical performance.

QUAD has been responsible for many groundbreaking products throughout its history, but none are more famous than the ESL – the world's most famous electrostatic flat-panel loudspeaker, a technology invented by QUAD founder Peter Walker. QUAD has leveraged its experience with electrostatic loudspeakers to develop its planar film-diaphragm headphones – the ERA-1. To ensure natural sound in keeping with the company's heritage, QUAD engineers developed a planar magnetic drive film that delivers fast, open, and transparent performance, similar to the famous ESLs.

Most headphones use mass-produced dynamic cone drivers, whose limitations can hinder transient response and cause uneven frequency response. For the ERA-1—the company's first headphone—Quad developed a planar magnetic driver. The resulting sonic realism and fidelity to the source are fully in keeping with the brand's heritage. QUAD's cutting-edge planar magnetic technology delivers a more natural and precise sound, allowing every detail of the music to be heard.

Technology

Most headphones use mass-produced dynamic cone drivers, the limitations of which can affect transient response and cause an uneven frequency response. Quad's cutting-edge planar magnet technology delivers a more natural and precise sound, ensuring you hear every nuance of a recorded musical performance.

The Quad ERA-1 features an ultra-thin, electrically active diaphragm—thinner than a human hair, yet extremely strong and highly elastic, weighing less than the volume of air it displaces. It is fused with a precisely positioned magnet system that maximizes the sensitivity and consistency of applied force across the entire driver range.

Patented nonlinear vibration cancellation technology ensures the driver's extended frequency response can be heard pristinely, ensuring outstanding clarity. The metal cavity behind the driver is specifically engineered for optimized acoustic performance, and the drivers themselves are precisely matched to deliver a spatial, three-dimensional stereo image.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Type: Planar magnetic headphones
• Impedance: 20 Ω
• Sensitivity: 94 dB/mW
• Frequency response: 10 – 40,000 Hz
• Total harmonic distortion: ≤0.2% (1 kHz, 100 dB)
• Rated input power: 100 mW
• Weight (without cable): 420 g