Quad ESR-1 teaser

Quad is launching it's first headphone at Munich. Looks like a planar magnetic even if they play heavily on the ESL-57 heritage.

Teaser video at https://m.facebook.com/quadhifi/

 

I don't have facebook. Have a Google+ link?

 

Did you open the webpage? Login not necessary.

 

I blocked Facebook on my domain.

 

@Elnrik - Does embedded video work for you?

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1422898891148103

This ad is soooo cheesy. Like an 80's sex hotline ad.

 

I unblocked it to watch (don't tell my boss) then blocked it again. Thanks for the link.

Interestingly, I had 74 unique Facebook visits logged during the time it took to watch the video. Do my employees sit there all day hitting the refresh button hoping the page block goes away? Users... I swear.

 

I do hope this leads to an e-stat headphone. Stax is pretty much the only option and with Quad's background in e-stat speakers it seems like a natural follow-up.

 

The Mr Speakers 'stat is finally out and not a bad option if you're already swinging in that price range.

Quad leading with planar magnetic does make you wonder if you walked in the Magnepan door by mistake though. It would be great if they followed up with a 'stat and excellent if they made it Stax compatible too.

It's probably just the "Like" buttons which infest every corner of the internet these days. Those kind of thing clog up my logs all the time.

 

Probably be like $3000-$4000 right? Isn't that the average starting point now?

 

I'm sick of $3k - $4k headphones. It's just not worth it.

 

Better than 6k, at least.

Le edit: watched the hotline ad, wow playnar without suspension, that'll be comfortable I'm sure.

 

I wonder if that counts the embedded social media sharing schtick on websites.


Seems like QUAD found oppo's OEM? Very similar looking to the PM3.

 

All I have to say about the video is that the ad copy reads like something someone who thinks rich people have to be browbeaten over the head with just how suitably luxurious (?) a product is would have written. The BGM was meh, and the transitions looked like something out of an early 2000s PowerPoint presentation I did when I was in primary school.

Having said that, always cool to see new players on the block. Definitely getting OPPO vibes off the aesthetic, and I wonder just how "transparent" these are really gonna be?

 

Mhm, that's a spot on description. Cans look interesting tho.

 

The headband may look similar, but not much else.

 

Quad's first ever headphones: the ERA-1 are planar magnetic headphones designed to sound like electrostatics. Specifically, Quad claims they're "similar in performance to the world famous ESL loudspeakers". A bold claim. Pricing is set to be around £650.

https://www.whathifi.com/features/munich-high-end-show-2018-in-pictures

 

Well, the price has my attention!

 

The pricing and the glowing recommendations from (although flawed) InnerFidelity certainly add to the Quads' appeal. Has anybody tried them yet?

 

I've got an order in on these (longtime dealer is a QUAD dealer) but no idea when/if they arrive. I was also a proud owner of an aging pair of Jecklin Floats when we lived in the UK and loved them, despite the Star Trek TNG looks and odd behaviour. Still own a set of the QUAD/Spendor monitors. The golden age of UK hairshirt audio -- loopy, baffling, and pure Class A. What a time to be alive and almost-but-not-quite-penniless in London!