Headphone Innovation Award
Headphone Innovation Award
Any fan of high-end headphones will be unlikely to require conversion to the joys of electrostatic headphones, which are an aspirational high for head-fi lovers everywhere. Renowned for speed and detail, electrostatic designs replace the usual cone speaker inside a headphone with a flat diaphragm held at a fixed charge, while a dedicated headphone amplifier biases and modulates the voltage across perforated metal grids (stators) on either side. (Not to be confused with planar magnetic designs, in which the signal is applied to the diaphragm itself, positioned between fixed magnets.)
At least, that’s how electrostatics have worked for the last 60 years. But Warwick Acoustics, based in the UK, has come up with a different take, which does away with the grid between the diaphragm and your ears, instead using only a back grid of stainless steel mesh, to which the usual high bias voltage is applied, modulated by the audio signal. A diaphragm of HPEL (High Precision Electrostatic Laminate) sits where the front grid would normally be, tightened across a series of large open cells on a spacer layer to create a series of small ‘drum skins’, all driven in parallel from the rear grid. The sound from each cell’s drum skin combines with the others, but unwanted resonances should average out, avoiding the specific resonant peak of a larger single driver. The amplifier is part of the Model One system, the two components together selling here at at $7499 — such is the price of such high-end and new technology, hence our innovation award, rather than a value-based ‘Product of the Year’ type award. The amp accepts a digital coaxial input or USB-B from your computer, plus two analogue options, selected by three lovely toggle switches.
Unlike some electrostatics, the first impression is not one of open skies and scintillating top-end jangle, rather the timing of the M1’s performance is a revelation, and will thrill classical fans in particular. An audition is recommended for these remarkable headphones.
More info: www.busisoftav.com.au
JUDGES’ COMMENT “A new drum-skin ‘cell’ take on electrostatic headphones together with its own headphone amp and some wildly effusive packaging — the Sonoma is a remarkable debut.”