Overhead headphones GermanMAESTRO GMP 400: after warming up the ears I dissolved in music as in a woman..

You have met a real German? I mean not a burgher with a beer mug and a Bavarian sausage on the plug, but something more – Maestro, in the original GermanMAESTRO with a very decent range of overhead headphones. We already gave a short history of maestro in our previous publication

Go to GermanMAESTRO GMP 8 review.300 D

. And today let’s talk and listen to the coolest model of the German brand. So, today on stage is the GermanMAESTRO GMP 400.

Thank you to XChesserAudio for providing the sample for your listening test

GermanMAESTRO GMP 400 overhead headphones

Specifications from the manufacturer

Frequency Response:14 – 24.100 Hz

Nominal Impedance: 300 Ohm

Acoustical Principle: open

Ear Pads: Velours, circumaural 41-6085

Average pressure on the ear: ~ 3 N

Weight without cable: 240g

Connector: Gold plated stereo-multi-jack 3.5 6.3mm

roundcable: with coiled strain relief 3m

Appearance and ergonomics

The appearance of flagship headphones I would compare to a noble metal inlay. If the younger model GMP 8.300 with its straightforward design encourages people to dig trenches for radiostress Cat, in the case of GMP 400 graceful simplicity borders on grace and combined only with branded perfume…

These headphones are very light and don’t look like they’re on your head. And while the GMP’s specs include 8.The GMP 300 has 220g and the GMP 400 has 240g, my head unambiguously votes for the weightlessness of the flagship. It seems that the headphones are at least fifty grams lighter than the younger model and it does not matter if you took a hundred grams or not . Probably the fluffy lightness of the rather imposing headphones comes from the comfortable fit and extremely soft pressing of the cups. And, lightweight – does not mean flying off the head in time with the music … Sits like soldered in.

With these ears on your head I wanted to sing Winnie the Pooh – “I’m a cloud, a cloud, a cloud, and not a bear at all…”. And the harmony of the sounds adequately produced an aftertaste of a cute honey barrel..

No claims for the workmanship and materials. All clear and without a hitch. The color is black, with silver mesh inserts on the outside. Material – plastic. The design is open. The cable is straight, with a coiled section near the branch. It’s pretty lightweight, black, 3m long, 3.5mm straight jack. Includes adapter from 3.5mm to 6.3mm with thread. The ear cushions are made of velour, soft and pleasant!

Because of the open design it is better to use the headphones not for a noisy party, but in concert silence, ideally – in the silent night, reclining in an armchair and dissolving in the music, as in a woman.

The flagship ears came to me in a nice black and red, sturdy cardboard box with the model designation. Inside the warranty card company, it is also the manual with detailed technical parameters of the whole line of GMP.

The sound

The main listening was done with MyST DAC 1866OCU V.2, MyST PortaDAC 1866OCUB, MyST PortAMP-II, QLS qa-360, Cayin N6. Music material is varied.

The GMP 400 sounded the most natural with the stationary equipment, which is totally understandable. In tandem with portable players it also turned out more or less decent, but the sound became a bit simplified. Although in general – also sounds good.

You could describe the sound of GMP 400 as neutral. There are no obvious peaks and troughs in the entire AFC, everything is smooth and very musical.

And now for a bit of mysticism. It’s not that I don’t believe in the “power of audiophile warm-up” of audio components, but I treat it with a degree of irony. Although in this particular case I was quite surprised.

After listening to the newly unplugged headphones “out of the box” I noticed that the sibilants in the treble area are not just hinting about themselves, but present themselves in assortment. Having reported my observation on the forum I received many opposite responses. Like there are no sibilants, and that’s it.

Of course we all have our own equipment and preferences, but how could it be?? To “hear the truth” I connected headphones to the sound source and let them work for about 27-30 hours. The changes were there, but they were kind of pulsating: “well, yes, I guess, here I hear some changes, but I guess they are not… maybe it’s a phase of the moon…”..” Added another 40-50 hours. During the “warm up” I practically didn’t listen to them, so as not to “warm up my brain”.

Putting on headphones and playing the same music material, I was pleasantly surprised. The sibilants have practically disappeared. No, they showed up, but only on records that were predisposed to them. The sound is drier across the whole frequency range. But the overall character of the sound has not changed. A slight brightness, although present, but it somehow smoothed and ceased to attract attention clearly. Such drums..

As a result we got a very good, smooth sound without any obvious shortcomings.

GMP 400 can not be called a monitor, they have more of a cheerful, musical, light nature of sound. But at the same time they are not tiring at all. Their style is captivating, engaging and makes you listen to the music “in the same breath.”. The bass is very well done. It’s fast, not a lot, but qualitatively it’s at a very good level.

The highs – after heating up a little bit softened unobtrusive but, nevertheless there is a little accent on this part.

MF – detailed, warm, the information is delivered in a very unobtrusive and musical way.

The bass is tight, fast and well controlled. Quantitatively there is not much of it, but its quality is high. To my taste, just great.

In general, the GermanMAESTRO GMP 400 is one of the most musical headphones I’ve ever heard. And this musicality is achieved not through distortion or distortion, but like this – unobtrusively, honestly, by its own forces.

Conclusions

To say that I liked the headphones, is not to say anything. I’m fascinated by their easy unpretentious way of presenting the musical material. Listening to familiar songs, you sink into a lived-in state of being in love, which you recall with a happy melancholy feeling…

At the time of writing this review, the price of the GermanMAESTRO GMP 400 in America was from 15,000 to 18,000 Dollars. I think that the Herman’s more than cover every penny.

Sound, comfort, build quality, price.

Although not too critical, but still demanding to the tract. For someone the price.