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In Reply to: RE: Raal SR1a Ribbon Headphones posted by sisterray on April 25, 2020 at 18:19:58
I own these. I find them... stunning.
Re: special amplification
They are not your standard set of headphones. The ribbons used only present a 0.2 ohm load! They do require special amplification. The basic configuration requires the use of a special interface box full of resistors (included with the headphones) to increase the resistance (and modify the response curve to increase the bass) along with a good *speaker* amp (typically at least 100W per channel). RAAL also makes a custom headphone amp, and Schiit has produced a custom headphone amp, both of which eliminate the need for the resistor box (and it's associated veil). I use the Schiit amp.
I have come to believe that *every* transducer (speakers, headphones, turntable cartridges) requires "special amplification". That is, that there is synergy required between transducers and amplifiers to make magic.
Re: comparisons
I have limited comparisons. I have only owned high impedance headphones from one manufacturer (Sennheiser, HD650 and HD800). I have in the past preferred the HD650 for when I want to rock'n'roll, and the HD800 for classical/jazz/acoustic.
But the RAAL is *special*. There is a clarity and reality to the sound that stuns me. Pianos sound *right*. Stringed instruments sound *right*. Recordings that I thought I knew well have details revealed to me that are exciting. They give me goosebumps.
They are not flawless. The ribbons have limited bass excursion; people who are "bass heads" cannot crank these without hitting their limits. They are also slightly tilted up in the treble region, which, combined with their transient speed, makes them a little relentless. However, the purely resistive load that they present means that they respond nicely to equalization; I use a very minor amount of parametric EQ in ROON that takes the edge off without losing the magic.
They are "open baffle". There is no isolation from the outside world, and the outside world will hear what you are playing. But that also means that they don't have earcups to generate odd resonances.
I find that they are not for "casual" listening. If I want something warm and cozy to fill the background while I read or play on the computer, these are not the headphones. They draw me into the music and soon I am just spinning discs instead. Fair warning. :)
Cerebrate!
Follow Ups:
On the downside, the next upgrade amp comes in at $3900. Add the already expensive headphones, and we are talking about some serious money for "only" headphones.
On the upside, the HSA-1a amp also will feature 4-pin XLR jack for normal headphones and have speaker binding posts (class A 10 watts into 8 Ohms).
The unknown. Since HSA-1a has been tuned to synergize with Raal SR1a, early word is that amp adds warmth and smoothness, which may or may not synergize as well with more "neutral" speakers and non-ribbon headphones. We shall see..
Have not heard the RAAL amp, but I have no desire for anything "better" at this point...
If and when new headphone meet-ups start again, I would love to hear what I am "missing". (grin)
IMO, they are worthy of the best DAC you can afford. I had the optional Schiit multi-bit DAC card included with my Jot-R to make it an all-in-one unit, but the Ayre QB-9 and the Schiit Yggdrasil quickly took over conversion duties.
Vendors are offering package deals of (headphones + Jot-R - speaker adapter box) that are discounted from the full retail cost of buying the headphones/adapter box from RAAL and Jot-R from Schiit.
What is remarkable is the nearly universal praise that these "head speakers" get from reviewers. Whether the reviewer is labeled as "objectivist" or "subjectivist" doesn't matter -- they drool. Maybe it is just the honeymoon phase of the product...
Cerebrate!
in order to squeeze out that last 10%, better headphones cables do make a difference. Unfortunately, Raal is using different pinouts for their connectors than customary, not to mention using female XLR connectors at cable-end instead of male.
This makes it very difficult to use expensive aftermarket headphone cables you already own with Raal.I had to unsolder the wire from the ring of TRS connector and make/buy 4-pin female XLR to female XLR adapter(different pinout) to use my OCC pure silver litz headphone cable (Hifiman standard) with Raal, but it sure brought significant SQ improvements over stock cables.
Edits: 05/07/20
Hey Jon, those cables look familiar. Glad that it worked out for you!
Steve
Haha. And coincidentally the Norne cable cover matches the carbon pattern on the Raal 'phone!
Conventional headphones will NOT like being connected to these "direct drive" amps. Using the opposite sex connector keeps you from doing bad things to your other headphones.
Reasonable people disagree on how much difference cables make. I have to wonder how much difference a home-brew adapter makes; it adds two connectors and their associated impedance mismatches to the chain. But if it sounds "better" to you, then who am I to say? Enjoy!
Cerebrate!
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