Verdict

Pros

• Excellent sonic balance
• Natural tone
• Comfortable

Cons

• Feel cheap in parts
• Non-removable cable

Introduction

GermanMAESTRO is one of those companies that
clearly knows what it’s doing on some fronts, and yet seemingly hasn’t
got a clue on others. Where the prevailing trend leads headphone
stalwarts such as Denon to produce ever more Beats-like headphones,
GermanMAESTRO’s cans would get you laughed out of “da club”.

Despite
these urban style failings, the GermanMAESTRO GMP 400 headphones do at
least demonstrate that the company knows how to produce great sound
quality, though.

German Maestro GMP 400 – Design and Comfort

Like last year’s GermanMAESTRO GMP 8.35,
the GMP 400 are not exactly good-looking headphones. There’s a
guile-less industrial vibe to these cans, and while the GMP 8.35 at
least offer some kind of rugged credibility here it just comes across as
a lack of design nous.

Of course, as headphones designed for
home use, the GMP 400’s lack of style shouldn’t really be a problem for
anyone other than those with serious vanity issues. That said, the
GMP 400 don’t really look or feel worthy of their £200
price tag. Their lightweight plastic construction and clunky
manually-adjustable headband are things we simply wouldn’t expect to see
from rival manufacturers such as Sennheiser and
feel a little flimsy given quite how far they are removed from
entry-level cans.
 

Sadly,
the GMP 400 also use non-removable cables – surely it can’t be too hard to
incorporate plug-in cables into a set of headphones this large? These
issues and things like the odd chunky plastic ingot at the cable join
and short spiral bit on the otherwise straight cable are likely to turn
off some – if not many – buyers. We’re sure GermanMAESTRO could come up
with explanations as to why they’re there, but they just don’t make a
lot of sense in most common situations.

As we mentioned above, the GMP 400 are resolutely at-home headphones. They are open-backed, meaning that
they leak sound a fair amount and offer little isolation. This means that you’ll be able
to hear what’s going on around you, and if you crank the volume, people
nearby will hear what you’re listening to. Going open-back comes with
many sonic benefits, though – which we’ll cover later.

Aesthetics
and some build elements may not shine in the GMP 400, but
they are comfortable. They have a light-but-secure fit, their velour
pads don’t heat up, or stick to, your skin and they are light in
weight.

The
earcups are fixed to the headband using what’s called a cardamatic
suspension mount. This gives the cups a bit of springy give, helping
them to fit perfectly to just about any head. They may not look amazing
or feel like they could withstand being trodden on, but in use they’re
just as comfortable as any great high-end pair of headphones.

As
full-size over-ear headphones, the GMP 400 don’t have
much of a need for accessories. The cable ends in a screw-on
3.5 to 6.3mm jack adapter for easy use with just about any audio device,
but you don’t get a case in the box.

German Maestro GMP 400 – Sound Quality

Although
we’ve laid some criticism upon the GMP 400, in-use they
show that GermanMAESTRO has its priorities in the right place. These are
serious headphones that offer excellent value in the sound-to-cost
stakes.

These are natural-sounding, balanced headphones that
earn comparisons to the excellent Sennheiser HD 600/650 and AKG K702 – falling some way in-between the two.

They’re
not quite as laid back as the Sennheisers and not quite as fiercely
detail-driven as the AKGs. The sound stage isn’t quite as aggressively
expansive as some open-backed headphones either, but otherwise these
cans offer excellent sound quality.

Their impressive neutrality
and natural tone is given the extra hint of enjoyment with a smooth,
“warm” mid-range that is often missing from some of the more analytical
headphones. Relatively forward mids stop the GMP 400 from
sounding altogether too relaxed, wide and diffuse – or dull in other
words, as some of Sennheiser’s open-backed sets are often accused of
being.

With
a set of great, faithful headphones it’s often hard to describe sound
convincingly – outing an odd bass skew is much easier than pinpointing a
lack of one. The GMP 400’s great sound is down to the excellent
separation at the reasonable price and the natural, even tonality.
Although the sound stage isn’t dramatically wide for an open pair of
headphones, it’s the separation that matters most for critical listening
– and for getting that “high-end” sound.

Bass
tone is typical of what you’d expect from a good open pair of
headphones. It’s too diffuse to provide the ear-rocking slam you’d find
in a bass-driven closed pair, but technically it’s commendable. Depth is
good too and it’s just as balanced as every other part of the GMP 400 sound. Bassheads will find it too reserved for their tastes,
though.

Value

The GermanMAESTRO GMP 400 may not look
quite as good as most of the competition, and some of the construction
elements could be improved on too. However, at £189.99 they are simply
excellent value for money and more than able to compete with headphones that cost a
good £100 more. If you’re after natural-sounding “proper” headphones to
use at home, these are a top buy.

Verdict

The
GermanMAESTRO GMP 400 would probably never do well on the high street.
They lack both the style of the modern portable headphone and the swanky
in-hand feel of some at-home sets. However, in use they’re almost
universally excellent, with a comfortable fit and natural, finely
balanced sound that you’d have to pay a chunk more to hear from most of
the other big headphone names.  

Trusted Score