One German is good, but two is better! Almost a year ago I had a chance to listen to the GermanMAESTRO GMP 8 headphones with the review.300 D
model review
, and now I have another model from the noble family on my head â
GMP 8.35 D
, Probably the most popular among audiophiles. Why the most? There are five reasons for this.
The first reason is a good, if not the best, soundproofing. You can listen to music outside and in a noisy room without city noise.
The second reason is the low impedance of the headphones. So it can be paired with low-power sound sources: portable players and even smartphones. True, the volume is not enough for everyone and not always, but your ears will show their true face only with quality soundtrack.
The third reason is the nice design.
The fourth reason is quite a reasonable price.
The fifth reason is the most important: the sound quality.
For anyone interested in a brief excursion into the history of the GermanMAESTRO brand, welcome to last yearâs review of the GMP 8 headphones.300 D, moreover the new design is indistinguishable from the old model.
Thanks to XChesserAudio for providing the sample for the listening
Specifications
| Bandwidth | 10 â 24000Hz |
| Impedance | 35 Ohm |
| Earphone type | Closed |
| The fit to the ears | Covering |
| Cushion material | Synthetic leather |
| Cable type | One-way straight with a twisted section,3m |
| Cable length | 3 m |
| Plug | Jack 3.5 angled + adapter6.3 mm |
Good looks and ergonomics
Remember the story of âradio girl Katâ from the GMP 8 review.300 D? So the same thing happened with this model. But, my people, accustomed to everything, seeing something black on my familiar head, thought that I was nostalgic in the image of a radio operator â not German, not MAESTRO of the last year sound. They would also tighten my pioneer tie..
Yes, outwardly old and new are identical, only the ear cushions make the difference. But the material of the ear cushions is the same here, only the inner shape is different, this time the ear cushions donât fully embrace the ear, but only partially adjoin it. I already had a similar shape in my ear with the GermanMAESTRO GMP 435 S. Other than that, from the box to the jack, 8.35 D and 8.300 D is like two clones, so you canât tell which one tastes better, the one on the left or the one on the right.
Looking back and into the present, I report equally brutally on the âsturdy buildâ of both models and the meticulous German assembly. And in both cases I was listening to the very âstudio, real, solidâ.
Material â plastic, leatherette ear cushions, durable cable, 3 meters, 3.5 mm connector. In the kit adapter with 3.5 mm ona6.3 mm, with threads. Tip-top, made in Germany.
And hereâs something different on the inside. The impedance of headphones is much lower, so portable sources sound much better.
Sound
The main listening was done on a MyST DAC 1866OCU V.2, QLS qa-360, Lotoo PAW Gold.
With all sources headphones played at the appropriate level, but the best result, of course, they showed in conjunction with the stationary MyST DAC 1866OCU V.2.
Having experienced a âmystical warm upâ on all GermanMAESTRO, I put this model on the run as well â for about 80-100 hours. And the mystique is again manifested, having a positive effect on the sound quality. What has changed? My ears picked up that the tweeters became less bright, the midrange got an enviable smoothness, the woofers got more collected and faster. In general, the class!
Iâll start with the fact that the ears just dazzling playing both old rock and modern alternative and in addition to electronic music. This is one of the most genre versatile headphone models Iâve heard.
The sound I would describe as smooth, neutral-monitoring, without any obvious peaks and troughs, but at the same time not devoid of musicianship and drive. Unlike the same GMP 8.300 D, GMP 8.35 D has no extra âhummingâ on the woofer, the bass is very clear, harsh and expressive, I would call it refined. In rich tunes it doesnât dominate the rest of the frequency range, it goes along with it, but has a nice accurate punch and sets the tempo of the whole composition well.
But, as I remember now, the GMP 8 model.The 300 D is notable for its more voluminous and enveloping delivery. Although there is more in common in these âyearlingsâ and in the sonic manner in general. If you insist, this is how I would compare these ears: GMP 8.The 300 D could be described as a big studio sound, and the GMP 8.35 D as in fine studio sound. Nothing, I bent it well?
From both models, âsmellsâ of vintage and basement, in a good way. The sound is tight, with good detail, studio-inspired beauty and very musical at the same time. There is something arresting in their notes, smelling that real, analog sound of 70-80-s of the twentieth century. For all their power, they can handle music in such a delicate way that you wonât be able to stop listening.
GermanMAESTRO GMP 8 model.35 D is one of the most worthy representatives of the closed-type headphones, made on the basis of the dynamic radiator. Although, I donât know how for fans of modern pop genres, but for rockers it will definitely be a total disaster!
Tweeter â there are not many, but they are precise, crisp, qualitatively and quantitatively they are moderate to my taste. On weak and bright sources they can accentuate, can unintentionally âbrightenâ, so it is better to choose the right device in advance.
The midrange is very detailed, smooth, without peaks and valleys. The musical material is presented in a naturalistic, smooth way â class!
LF- fast, precise and with good punch. The bass, if it stands out in some compositions, just a little. At the same time it does not break the boundaries and harmony with the rest of the frequency range, but clearly cooperates and appropriately complements it. Good punch together with good speed characteristics gives the sound energy and drive.
Conclusion
Nice earphones, Iâm even thinking of keeping them. Everything is in assortment: reliable construction, not garish appearance, good soundproofing, an attractive price tag and, most importantly, a good sound.
Speaking of the price, in American online stores it is about 13 000 Dollars. To such a price tag and a discount is worse than an insult..
Pros
Sound, price, isolation, reliability.
Disadvantages
Not everyone likes the design and ergonomics
Do these GermanMAESTRO GMP 8 over-the-ear headphones really improve their performance after a mystical warm-up? Iâm curious to know how this warm-up works and if itâs worth trying!