German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

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German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Long, long ago when life was simpler, cares were less and a pint cost less than a quid (yes, THAT long ago) - I was venturing slowly into the world of audio and great, great music. Somehow a pair of headphones came into my possession that weren't Sennheiser's (gasp - was there anything else but Senn's with the yellow foam and plastic headband?).

These odd cans had large round enclosures and a basic, lightweight feel. But they sounded awesome and I wore them completely out, never to see (or hear) anything like them ever again.

They were MB Quart 75x headphones, made in Germany and little-known in the UK.

Image

Years passed, headphones came and went but I never forgot the name MB Quart. An idle search of Google suddenly kicked up a lead. MB Quart were alive and well but now called themselves German Maestro - and they were still making headphones. In fact, they were still making THE SAME headphones!

A small company in Bavaria who do everything in-house, design and manufacturing. Makers of speakers and audio gear for specialist and professional users. Their headphones especially praised for studio and recording use.

The story is that the American owners of the name MB Quart decided that they wanted to shift their production to China and pulled out of the German operation, leaving that business completely in the lurch. Renaming themselves German Maestro, they continued their approach of sensibly-priced, high-quality, self-manufactured equipment and are still running.

The MB Quart 75x is now the German Maestro GMP 250. Same cans, new number. Their flagship model is the GMP 450 Pro (previously the MBQ 95x) a closed-back design for musicians and recording engineers. Amazon had them on offer for 200 euro, I couldn't resist.

Packaging is simple and spartan. A printed cardboard box. No frills. The phones themselves are utilitarian, they don't look expensive or showy, these are cans to be used, not admired.

Image

Here pictured right, beside the Philips Fidelio X2HR, which do look expensive and luxurious.

The GMP 450 is very light, really, you hardly feel them at all which means you can have them on for long sessions without any fatigue. The plastic enclosures have a tough, unbreakable character - these are cans for hard, intensive use.

The sound ... ?

Well, I am still running them in and comparing them. Be patient.

:grin: :guiness;
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antonio66 (Thu Jun 09, 2022 6:53 am) • CycleCoach (Thu Jun 09, 2022 8:00 am) • Latteman (Wed Jul 20, 2022 1:44 pm) • Geoff_Burns (Thu Aug 24, 2023 8:55 am)

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Time for an update as I have been using these cans fairly intensively for a couple of days.

Sonic character of the GMP 450 can best be described as dry and neutral. Separation of instruments is exceptionally clear and the level of fine detail is astonishing - I'm hearing things on favourite albums that I've never noticed before.

They appeared initially to be bass-light, but that isn't the case; the bass is there (and these phones can go really low) but is is tightly defined and well-separated - intricate basslines are easy to pick out of the mix and follow. You can tell that this is a pro-use headphone as recordings are not changed for that 'audiophile experience' but are presented as-they-are, so the good ones sound amazing and poorer ones somewhat ho-hum.

For some reason the GMP 450 sounds rather bright when driven by the Schiit Magni3, I might have to dig out the MF XCanV3 (valve output) and see how that sounds. On the headphone output from the Cambridge Alva Duo phono preamp the cans sound great and have a lovely clear and relaxing presentation.

Comparisons: the tonal balance is similar to Grado SR80, slightly less bright and with a fuller lower end and a narrower soundfield.
Philips X2HR is richer in the mids but duller at the top - which makes for a more relaxing listen, although the external isolation of the GMP 450 is superior (when your better half is watching her daily soap).

This is a headphone with a forward, intensive presence. They are so light that you can forget that you have them on and the music takes over. Which is probably the main attraction - they literally 'disappear'. Don't know if they will become a favourite but when you actively want to really hear the music, this is a go-to headphone.

Still running them in and I am hearing a softening of the hard-ish top end and better integration of treble-mid-bass. They do get my foot tapping a lot!

:music-listening: :music-listen: :music-listening:



German Maestro make 3 versions of this headphone: closed-back GMP 450, open GMP 400 and portable-friendly GMP 435. There is also a heavy-duty (read: indestructible) monitor the GMP 8.35D. No-frills, affordable headphones with the emphasis on clarity and musicality.

Info here : https://www.german-maestro-shop.de/epag ... ageSize=10
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Geoff_Burns (Thu Aug 24, 2023 8:56 am)

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Image

As I suspected, the GMP 450 is an excellent match for the MF XCanV3, after rejigging my office rig to incorporate it.

Sound is full and detailed with the richness of the valve amp being balanced by the fast, neutral character of the headphones.

:music-listening:
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slinger (Sat Jun 18, 2022 10:37 am) • antonio66 (Sun Jun 19, 2022 5:47 am)

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Another update on these cans, regular use has got them reasonably run-in and they sound sweeter and fuller, without losing their exquisite detail and neutrality. :music-listening:

As these are 300 ohm I began to suspect that the Schiit Magni was having trouble driving them, whereas the MF XCanV3 handles them with ease. Looking at the German Maestro range, one set of cans keeps popping up in reviews, the GMP 8.35D. These are the infamous 'indestructible' portable monitor phones with 35 Ohm impedance.

Trying to get hold of a pair but DHL have mislaid them in transit. :doh:

Watch this space ... :epopc:


Image
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slinger (Wed Jul 20, 2022 1:44 pm) • antonio66 (Thu Jul 21, 2022 4:23 am)

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Image

Despite DHL's best efforts to lose it, this has just arrived - the German Maestro GMP 8.35D.

And then in a flashy, red-accented 'JFB' version. JFB being a British DJ and these are then being promoted for use by DJ's and remixers. However the differences are purely cosmetic and these are basically, exactly the same cans.

An initial listen on the XCan amp immediately reveals a punchy, weighty sound that gets my foot tapping and head nodding. The fit is tighter than the GMP 450 with better sound isolation and these are lighter and smaller than I had expected.

SQ character is powerful and direct, I suspect that the JFB 8.35D is a real Rockers headphone. :music-headbanger:

Got to do some work now but I'll try and get some more time with these later.

:dance:
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CycleCoach (Thu Jul 21, 2022 1:50 pm) • Latteman (Thu Jul 21, 2022 9:18 pm) • antonio66 (Fri Jul 22, 2022 5:51 am)

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Comparison time. Just had a shoot-out with the 8.35D, GMP 450 and a pair of Grado SR80's, the SR80 having the closest sound signature to the German Maestro phones and being a known 'benchmark'. This all through my office setup with Sonos Connect / DacMagic 100 and MF XCanV3.

The SR80's have that airy 'open' feel with fast dynamics, wide soundstage and oodles of detail. Going to the GMP 450, the soundstage is better defined with clearer spacing of instruments and a finer sense of distinguishing layers in the mix, The 450 gives a precise insight into the recording without any colouration.

So, the GMP 8.35D. This is a different beast. Tighter soundfield, fuller midrange and controlled, slamming bass. Detail is incredible and takes no prisoners - you are simply 'inside' the music. There is a slightly smoother top-end than the 450 which is kinder to poorer recordings. Putting on Black Sabbath's 'Paranoid' was a revelation - these cans ROCK and let you hear every instrument with absolute clarity. Really stunning!

Furthermore I tried the 8.35D on an old Sandisk MP3 player last night and the results were just as incredible - the low-impedance drivers left me wondering if there was a full-sized amp hiding somewhere. Again astonishing presence and detail. Reckon that this combination might get some serious use in my summer break when I can sit in the garden and relax.

Isolation is great, in the sitting-room with the TV blasting I couldn't notice it. In fact the makers recommend the 8.35D (version with a detachable lead) as highly effective ear-defenders! So what we have here is an industrial-strength, unbreakable, go-anywhere, do anything headphone which has a cool, retro-chic style coupled with a bizarrely accurate, immersive and involving sound. Also they don't cost the earth - 180 euro's from Amazon.

What's not to like? :banana-guitar: :banana-blonde: :banana-guitar:
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CycleCoach (Fri Jul 22, 2022 9:51 am)

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Last year's discovery of planar headphones has had me listening exclusively to my Monolith and HifiMan cans but left me with a top-notch headphone amp in the office and no headphones there to use it with.

Got around to wondering how the GMP 450 Pro would work with this amp so, no time like the present. let's fire them up.

Terrific! The GMP 450 is a studio design and does need a lot of oomph/wattage to get it performing decently - well, the Monolith THX AAA 887 has that in spades and superb SQ to boot. A match made in heaven.

These cans are still VERY revealing and can be edgy/rough when not driven properly, with the Monolith amp they exhibit a precise smoothness and pleasingly-wide soundstage. I had also forgotten how lightweight and comfortable these are after the solid and bulky Monoprice planars.

I will keep these here for now - a thoroughly enjoyable combination.

:music-listening:


Image
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antonio66 (Wed Jul 26, 2023 5:36 am)

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Been using the German Maestro GMP 450 Pro in combination with the Monolith 887 amp for about a month now and it is causing me to seriously re-think headphones in general.

This amp was about the final addition to my setup last year and I was then in a phase of solely listening to planar models, due to their perceived abilities in terms of detail, space and dynamic speed. Something I hadn't experienced so noticeably with dynamic designs.
Previously I had used the GMP 450 with an MF XCanV3, essentially a tube-driven headphone amp with a pleasing, smooth sound, but somehow remaining veiled and not entirely satisfying.

Discovering a new generation of headphone amps led me finally to the THX AAA series which deliver high-end clarity and power. Running the GMP 450 through this certainly provides a 'planar-like' speed and transparency. These being high-impedance 300 Ohm cans, it is clear that, up to now, I haven't had an amp capable of driving them at their optimal capacity.

Also pulled the 'industrial' GMP 8.35D back off the shelf to give them a fresh listen and was again impressed by their full, clear, punchy, no-nonsense sound.

Image

These have a low-impedance rating of 35 Ohms and sound great when driven by a phone or MP3-player, also they have excellent sound isolation. A recommended headphone if you need something incredibly tough and able to handle any knocks or abuse. These have also found a marketplace as an ideal headphone for Autistic or mentally-disabled persons who can be unwittingly rough on these sort of things.

I cannot remember being so conscious of what the impedance of headphones meant before. The 'studio-model' GMP 450 is a 20th-century design when cans were run from full-size amps and portable devices were less common. This is providing me with a new insight as to why some headphones sound good in certain installations and less on others.

I am also curious to hear the MB Quart 75x again - the set that started off my love of headphones. Nowadays they are called the German Maestro GMP 250 but physically identical to the model I had back in the 1980's: closed-back, 100 Ohms. Might well try to get hold of a pair, just for old times sake.

:music-listening:

https://www.german-maestro.de/Englisch/ ... es/#gmp250

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antonio66 (Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:11 am)

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Found a store in Slovakia (of all places) that has a GMP 250 going half-price and reasonable P&P. Ordered !

They still have a GMP 450 Pro at 50% discount if anyone is interested.

:dance:

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Re: German Maestro GMP 450 Pro Headphones

Unread post by Fretless »

Today's post has delivered the German Maestro GMP 250 and it's time for a major nostalgia trip.

Image

250 here on right, next to 450. Headband, suspension and cable look to be the same but the 250 is noticeably lighter in weight - due to different driver units.

The lightness of the 250 makes them extraordinarily comfortable, a headphone you really can wear for hours on end. Soundwise on initial startup they are rather bright with recessed mids and lows - but I have left them running for some burn-in, that should improve matters. One thing that was evident is their exceptional clarity and that is already impressive.

My faint memory of the MB Quart 75X had them as larger but the clear and transparent character does revive a sense of familiarity.

Serious listen later after they settle in a bit.

:music-listen:
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George Hincapie (Fri Sep 01, 2023 3:25 pm)

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