Warwick Acoustics Bravura Electrostatic System Review

We’ve had some exciting electrostatic headphones come through in the past few weeks. If you remember, we recently had the Stax SRS-X1000 and Hifiman Mini Shangri-La systems in for review. Those are more entry-level electrostatic systems, offering bare bones setups with great performance to cost ratios. This week, we’re stepping up a bracket in the electrostatic world with Warwick Acoustics’ Bravura system, which includes the Bravura headphones, as well as the Sonoma Model 1 DAC/amp. The Bravura electrostatic system comes in at $6,995, or you can buy the headphones and amp separately for $2,395 and $4,600 respectively. Just note that Warwick’s various devices can only be used with one another as they use proprietary connectors. So aside from the DAC, which can be bypassed, this system was meant to stay together. So with that out of the way, let’s get into the review.

What’s in the Box:

• Bravura headphones
• Sonoma Model 1 amp
• Proprietary headphone cable
• External power supply
• USB-B to USB-A cable
• Quick start guides

Build:

Make no mistake: the Bravura/Sonoma combo is a luxury system. As such, the build of the headphones and DAC/amp are exquisite. The headphones use magnesium-injected earcups and compliments them with handmade sheep hair ear cushions. The headband is a hand-stitched leather. With its integrated design, the headband achieves a lightweight and comfortable feel. Here’s where I’ll mention the headphone weighs in at just 403 grams. So on paper, this is a very comfortable headphone. In real life, I appreciated the light weight, but did find the clamping force to be a bit tight. While this did give a great seal that I suspect helps achieve its warm and lush sound, it did become noticeable in extended listening periods.

The amp is a thing of beauty, though it also has its brawny side. It’s made from CNC-machined aluminum, which provides the DAC/amp’s shape and structure. On the front of the amp is a switch that controls your input selection, a volume knob with great feel and accuracy, and your headphone connector. There are also lights to signify the input source as well as a power indicator. 

On the back, you get the power switch, your power input, a USB-B input port, a coaxial input, as well as analog inputs. You also get one more switch to choose which analog input you’d like to select. 

The tight clamping force aside, the Warwick system is successful in presenting a luxurious, comfortable, and durable product. While the fit is snug, its finely made ear cups and headband are able to make listening a bit more enjoyable. 

Design:

As I’ve mentioned, this is an electrostatic system. The Bravura uses HPEL, single-ended electrostatic transducers, and requires a Warwick Acoustics amp/energizer to power them. The DAC stage of the Sonoma Model 1 employs a 32-Bit Sabre reference chip from ESS, an industry leading DAC chip manufacturer. It also employs an AKM Premium ADC, and custom 64-bit double-precision fixed-point DSP. This helps make for a high precision, ultra-low noise, low distortion system.

The HPEL transducers need a high-voltage drive amplifier to work, and so the Sonoma Model 1 provides a high-performance, single-ended, discrete FET Class-A amplifier. The amplifier is tailored to the Bravura’s needs, and is operated at a high bias level, making for better powered and more linear headphone performance.

Sound Impressions:

I was pretty surprised by the sound of this headphone. Given the usual characteristics of an electrostatic system, especially one with an ESS DAC, I expected a bright and airy response. Instead, I was greeted with a warm and relaxing sound that balanced great detail retrieval with superior resolving capabilities.

Low End: 

The bass on the Bravura is excellent, especially for an electrostatic headphone. Subbass goes deep with great texture and articulation. You don’t just get booms and loud hits, you get the actual feeling of the instrument being played. Stringed instruments had a visceral feeling and bass drums had a decay that matched the immediate impact of hits. Separation is also impressive here, as the sound never gets muddy, even with its darker presentation. 

Kick drum hits are snappy and quick, though they’re a bit more musical than I’m used to on electrostatic cans. I was impressed across the board, listening to classical and hip/hop alike.

Mid Range:

The midrange of the Bravura is sublime. Again, texture is key here. Voices are so clear that you can really pick up on singers’ timbre and vocal intricacies. Midrange instruments like violins or guitars have great separation. Detail retrieval, again, is top notch. But what I appreciate here is the Bravura’s ability to resolve these details in a relaxing nature, so that you don’t become overwhelmed by the detail. Unlike other headphones, the midrange showcases the ability to be clear and present without being forward.

Top End:

Part of this laid back sound comes from the treble performance, which also leans into the darker tonality. While there’s plenty of detail to be had up here, just like on the rest of the Bravura, it feels a little extra relaxing. Cymbals don’t shimmer, but rather resolve into a pleasant wave. On busier songs, this presentation is nice as it makes for an easy-to-listen-to experience. But on other tracks, it can cause spaces to feel a little less open, or a bit veiled. I tend to like warmer presentations so I wasn’t bothered by this sound. However, if you prefer a bright sound profile, or even a more neutral one, you might want to give these a try before you buy. 

Final Thoughts:

Fans of warmer sounding headphones might appreciate this darker approach to the top end, and it certainly makes sense when given the rest of the frequency response. It’s certainly a coherent sounding headphone. And at this price point, audio gear becomes more and more specialized. So if you like an ultra-luxurious, warm sounding headphone system, then the Bravura presents an awesome value as an all-in-one system. But definitely give them a try before buying to make sure the sonic characteristics are up your alley. 

The Warwick Acoustics Bravura electrostatic headphone system is available at Audio46.