I sometimes get the feeling that 1More’s company-“Robin hood”, created to take the technology from the top models and implement them in the more affordable segment. After a very pleasant traindriver hybrids I really wanted to see the model with 4 emitters, and this desire was fulfilled.
On the official website 1More unfortunately, there is no information about the crossover setting these headphones. There’s very little technical details (besides the story about what to tune the sound helped Grammy award-winner engineer Luca Bignardi). Yes, a speaker with the diaphragm made of carbon nanotubes, Yes, 3 valves… luckily, in preparation for the review, in a interview with the developers I read that they used an unusual tuning: the speaker is responsible for bass and lower half of the midrange, and all the “fitting” went on VSC – and treble range. To say that it is 100% true, of course, I can’t but reason to think so the sound is.
Separately enjoyable moment is the price worldwide recommended price tag of this model is $ 200 (or higher), and in Russia to buy 1More Quad Driver is just 7990 rubles (the price at the time of the review).
Specifications
- Transducers: dynamic + 3 x balanced armature
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
- Impedance: 32Ω
- Sensitivity: 99 dB/mW
- Rated power: 5mW
- The wire: a fixed, 1.25 m with three-button headset
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRRS
- Weight: 18.5 g
Packing and delivery
As always with 1More, with box everything is just fine. Bold printing the black “jacket”, the usual brown cardboard core boxes, stylish beige color interior, film for added protection from opening — it all looks very cool. Complete the picture of unusual prints inside of the box and carefully chosen accessories. In addition to the headphones, the kit laid out:
- convenient carrying case made of black leatherette with magnetic flap
- clip for attachment to clothing (and not vulgar clothespin as usual)
- absolutely stunning adapter to two mono 3.5 mm Jack (I’m not kidding, I don’t know why he’s so beautiful, but the fact remains)
- adapter for 6.3 mm socket
- three pairs of foam ear tips of different sizes
- 6 pairs of silicone ear tips in different sizes
- manual/garantinis/brand sticker
Even in the packaging of the attachments felt the attention, all boarding the nozzle is marked with the diameter in millimeters, so you will finally be able to know the diameter of your ear canal.
Design and comfortable wearing
In appearance 1More took a big step forward. Their trentinara model looked good, but compared to them, Quad Driver look like the Tesla in the background of the GAZ-24. Metal bodies streamlined shape is complemented by a red stripe-propyl, build quality is excellent — in appearance, this model is able to compete with headphones several times more expensive.
The buildings themselves are made quite compact, but the sound channel is relatively short and wide, so the head wear will have to choose carefully usual, the benefit included a lot of them. I admit that some individual “lucky” these headphones may not sit down, but I of problems with fixing not experienced. Initially this model is designed for traditional wear cable down, but I have no problem wearing them and behind the ear. Because of the short sound channel and open design soundproofing Quad Driver is slightly below average, however, for everyday wear on the street.
The cable though and not interchangeable, but are made very securely, and as insulation use thermoplastic polyurethane, inside wire is reinforced with Kevlar, which results in the desired flexibility, resistance to cold and softness, allowing the wire is not hard to get confused and almost does not rustle by the friction of the clothes. The developers have taken care about mechanical protection: housing near the earphone cable protects the metal leg, block splitter, and the plug is also equipped with protection against fractures.
On the wire going to the right earphone, the block is placed three-button headset, it is made of very high quality, entirely of metal, with a nice click buttons. The quality of the microphone is above average, it transmitted good.
Sound
To listen following equipment was used.
- Yulong DA9 and Resonessence Labs Concero HP in the role of DAC and amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2016 as the source
- Fidelia in the role of player
- Lotoo PAW Gold, theBit OPUS#2 and iBasso DX200 and the role of other portable players
- Recording high-resolution Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky have The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening headphones were heated for 48 hours, a noticeable change in the sound was observed.
I knew 1More design headphone for Xiaomi, and after meeting with the models released by the Chinese giant, was expecting the worst. Fortunately, it turned out that the models the developers are choosing a much more conservative and high-quality sound. In traindrivers model engineers have tested neutral, but not boring tuning, created for fans of unembellished submission. For chetyrehjadernogo they decided to add drama and “forged” a little V-shaped frequency response, providing an effective and involving sound.
Bass slightly accented, and the accent is done very carefully and is not limited to strictly midbass area, sinking a little lower. Thus this model provides a very powerful and delicious “backing” track which is the main body of the tune. Lovers of deep bass and layers of scathing udarnoi this model does not fit, the bass here tuningova in the direction of naturalness, which positively affects the transmission of the character “real” instruments. Very good for its price range, though not reinforcing the exorbitant speed characteristics and textures.
MIDs delivered there from the main beach of the most affordable hybrids of the junction of the emitters, presumably, the fact that. here “rap” is also a speaker. The midrange is a little laid by the wayside, but the emphasis is very elegant and temperate, so no adverse effects in fact not responsible. The midrange resolution is not prohibitive, but very good, which allows the headset without any problems to play the emotions and nuances of the recording. An imaginary scene more than the average width (presumably, partially open design) and the average depth, but the positioning of instruments and study the plans in depth — very good for large tracks headphones this parameter can surprise.
Vernacularly range clearly bears traces of a good tuning emitters. There’s no harshness, problematic regions from 3 to 8 kHz is slightly pressed (but without fanaticism), in this case made a reasonable peak around 10 kHz, providing the desired effect of airiness and lightness. Of course, it is not a perfect treble expensive reinforcing megadrivers, but it’s not traditional consumer goods in the style of “it’s either rings, or dull.” The top frequencies here delight good details (for this price category, of course) and attenuation, but the attacks would not prevent more aktsentirovano.
Perhaps a few comparisons will not do here.
Fiio F9. The most hyped competitor to the model. Abroad these headphones are the heroes of this review are different in price exactly in 2 times, but the local market dictates its own laws, and in Russia the price of these two models are close. On the side headphones the Fiio the best fit and slightly more articulated bass (the difference is not great) midrange more or less parity, but the HF have 1More clearly more versatile in less sharp emission.
1More Triple Driver. As I wrote above — then there is another concept of sound, more monitoring, more emphasis on mid-range, but the worst study of the “edges”, especially HF. Plus, of course, on the side of the Quad Driver a clear advantage in design.
Magaosi K3 HD. Ideologically close to the model, is also offering a “taste” frequency response, but with a greater emphasis on the V shape, more powerful bass, slightly more aggressive treble (although “hate” is the damping filters) a little more lightweight, but the improved resolution of the midrange, through the use of reinforcing radiator.
Ostry KC09. Perhaps, one of the best onedriver dynamic headphone, especially after rebate to $ 100. Ostry less punctuate HF, offering little more than a dark flow (very little), but sound more details in midrange, while offering more and more solid, very musical flow.
Compatibility
On the one hand, the headphones also come with a headset that would hint at their “mobile” application, again, the sensitivity and impedance of this model is quite “tough” to modern phones and smartphones with high-quality sound good. The fact is that these IEM still have sufficient quality players for the upper-elementary or lower-middle segments.
Genre headphones is very versatile, but, say, orchestral music, chamber music recordings, vocals and other “audiophile” tracks, they show unprecedented for the price range impression (although the tops and not short, but I play very exciting). The recording quality is fairly tolerant model, on a 10-point scale where a score of 6.
Traditional tracks are examples
Pink Floyd — The Nile Song. One of those tracks that became the forerunner and in many ways the ancestor of the whole “strand”. Despite the fairly rough shape, the composition carries the charge of melody, typical of Pink Floyd, which help to reveal 1More QD.
Danny Elfman — A Brass Thing. Not everyone knows Danny Elfman, meanwhile, is the man who created the music for “the Simpsons”, “Desperate Housewives”, almost all the works of Burton and a bunch of other movies and TV series. His symphonic album, Serenada Schizophrana is a perfect example of modern classics, epic, but not boring. With a spectacular submission 1More this composition will allow you to enjoy it to the fullest.
Diablo Swing Orchestra — Justice for Saint Mary. If there’s one group that can mix different genres as easily as do DSO, then I don’t know. That’s it, after 5 years of waiting, the light will see their new album, “Pacifisticuffs”, but now is a good time to listen to what happened “last time” and over all this track. An unexpected mix of lyrical ballads with an almost dubstep still sounds like a revelation, especially if a good pair of headphones allow you to enjoy all the nuances of the melody.
Insights
1More continue to surprise not only by design and sound but also price. Their headphones offer a configuration that is most often found only in the upper-middle class and above, but at a very affordable price. Chetyrehjadernyj no wonder hybrids are the status of the flagships of the range, offering a tasty feed with a V-shaped frequency response, stylish design and very nekusachie the price tag.
By the way, if you want to look at more headphones, I made a video dedicated to this model.
Overview 1More earphone Quad Driver 4 emitter for all
Pavel Dmitriev