My main amp is the Jotunheim and multibit. It doesn’t sound dramatically different between them. The Jot sounds better but it’s not night and day.
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Thanks for the response back. Appreciate the information. 
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Well to me it handled it just fine… a little lean and I had to push the volume knob to between 12-3 for proper volume… but all in all a decent outing when paired together (HEDDPhone and the Fidelice RNamp)
and another one with more appropriate green on green…that green LED is no joke…the reflection looks like the Deathstar beam lol…
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Nice!
The Fidelice does have slightly more “gain” than the Neve RNHP, but this gives me hope.
Thanks for looking into this.
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Hey,
Thanks not just for the reviews but for the listing of music that moved you. While I may not be in the target market for these, I will test the phones I have with these.
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That’s what it’s All about. 
Check out the music threads, there’s some great recommendations posted.
Welcome to the community.
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Hello and welcome @sirothe.
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I don’t think the SR1a vs. it is an unfair comparison at all. Same with HEDDphone vs. anything else you want to compare it to, SR-009, Susvara, LCD-2, etc. Many others are comparing it favorably to many of those on another forum. I think cost is not an object on determing performance no matter how big/small that amount may be, it’s the sound that matters mainly. I liked the HEDDphone way better than the RAAL from my experience. They both have somewhat similar tech and granted the HEDDphone’s soundstage isn’t as large (well the RAAL is probably the biggest soundstage and most speaker-like sound of any headphone out there), but IMO the HEDDphone won by a large margin in terms of tonal balance / bass response and dynamics, something most people agree on who tried both.
But of course you may prefer the RAAL based on different sonic preferences. As well, many say the HEDDphone is very transparent and revealing of source, both DAC and amp can make it sound drastically different so your chain may be making it sound quite different than it could.
I listened to a few of your songs linked above. The music content itself is great, but I immediately noticed the mastering on those is crap on all but perhaps one. Extremely digital sounding; unfortunately that’s inevitable these days with probably 99% of music digitally mastered, brick walled and compressed to sound good on not much more than a speakerphone or iPod earbuds at best since unfortunately that’s what most people out there use. I highly recommend looking for pre-1995 analogue era recordings and hear the difference between analogue and digital; for example older Fleetwood Mac, Prince and Giorgio Moroder, one of the founders of electronic music with disco, made with all analogue gear in the 70’s. Also try Acker Bilk’s old stuff if you’re into instrumental acoustic jazzy stuff. (Just avoid anything that says “remastered”). Sorry for the rant and you may have already known these.
PS- I’m also a sound design artist and do mastering myself. My artist name is Modlift.
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Maybe, it sounds not fair to compare those two systems for professionals like you
But, for old simple amateurs and for more or less the same investment around 4200-4400$ SR1A+ Schiit Jotunheim “R” and 4000-4200$ Heddphone+SPL Phonitor X … to be used sitting deeply in a armchair in a living room, it’s a comparison some like me really expect to see in forums !!! …
Basically, In my situation, a few months ago, I expected to continue with electrostatic headphones as I am already using at my office KS-H04+M10. So, I was going for a SR-009s or at least a SR-007MKII and a good little stax Amp ( Stax SRM-007tII ?) => But those 2 new ways (SR1A/HEDD) can be potentially be more more adapted to my wishes with a real step forward in transparency with a really comfortable and accurate low and high frequencies available too (better than what many other systems can really offer without distortion).
I have no mind to spend more than 5K$ in any headphones+amp or multiply the headphones in my living room. I already use dédicated Electrostatic at Office and good closed headphones for travel (Airpod pro and Ultrasone ed15 Veritas)…
I really hope that some have the chance to help us to choose between those 2 ways. I will never have a chance to compare them directly. So any advice and help are welcome… even if it’s not really fair.
Luckily … I am more than 60 and I don’t feel concerned anymore with any type of Vinyl’s or analogue music/mastering issues , I will still envoy listening to old analogue music but exclusively through Tidal/Qobuz.
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Glad you like the HEDDphone too…how long have you had them and the SR1A in your collection? Did you get one of the first production units of the HEDDPHONE?
I find the SR1A to be, honestly, in my opinion, a “smoother” More engaging listen especially when a/b’ng between the two.
The reason I find it unfair to compare the two is they are actually presenting sound in completely different ways. One is circumaural (HEDDPhone) and one is a “Earspeaker” or “near-field” speaker that sits on your head lol, which presents sounds more “naturally” to the ear. This makes a big difference. Both of these devices I find pretty outstanding in their respective spaces.
But, in all honesty, if I am reaching for a headphone to listen to for enjoyment… I’m probably going to grab one of my ZMFs, not always but that is my preference for relaxing to music, I am fortunate enough to have multiple options when choosing which chain to listen to, and I like variety (it is the spice of life) so I mix it up all the time to see what happens.
Every one has an opinion and feelings on things, remember to not crap on anyone for theirs. Music is very personal, I get it. Please remember you are the protagonist to your story…but so is everyone else the protagonist to their stories 
Seeing as the HEDDphone has just started to trickle out to the hands of buyers, who are these “people” that are stating that they “beat” everything under the sun? I would advise caution to any who read those statements as that can lead to massive over-hype and disappointment. Also take with grains of salt any who are comparing under limited time frames and in show/meet settings as that isn’t exactly critical listening. Also, new toy syndrome hence forth known as NTS is a real thing to keep in mind over the next couple weeks.
Now that, being said, I do think these are great and definitely deserve some of the hype… are they king killers…depends on your preference. These are not perfect! They have some issues, not deal breakers for me mind you, but, they are there… such as mid-bass bleed, mids can get shouty, and they can seem at times to have a “metallic” sheen and echo. None of these things have deterred me from enjoying them greatly but, I am, I not you or anyone else. So if someone comes in and fairly disagrees please respect their opinion.
I stand by my opinion that these can be disrupters in the headphone space, just so long as they don’t get overhyped and people don’t get disappointed by the overhyped new toy.
Price to performance matters, as it allows people that haven’t had the opportunity to hear things of this caliber for extended periods, to afford this quality. It is why people pursue “king killers” in the first place. I think these easily compete at higher price brackets of some of its competitors.
I’ll have to check out your music… what platform are you on? Soundcloud? Spotify?
Cheers, and I look forward to reading about your experiences with your HEDDPhones!
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I know it’s not the same, but I’m curious if you tried the HEDDphone with the matrix crossfeed on the Phonitor.
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Yes, I have, it helped a bit but it wasn’t drastic, I’m right now testing it again…for better accuracy in my response (from my point of view)… it helps with putting the sound more in front…but, seems to come at the cost of width. It still sounds shallow… which isn’t a bad thing, just how it presents. Also, it seemed to heighten the “metallic” sheen coming off some notes. It is interesting to play with…but, I tend to just leave this option off with the Phonitor.
I think with it off it sounds better for me though.
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Don’t forget your DAC has cross-feed options too (which work a bit differently to the Matrix functions on the Phonitor …).
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Oooh, I did forget! It’s like finding a new unopened toy!!! Thanks for the reminder!
…
Ok, listened to a couple of songs with the RME ADI-2DAC crossfeed enabled… and it seems to have fixed some of the issues I mentioned. Also, I’m only hearing a small difference, this isn’t like some magical switch that makes you have amazing soundstage lol but, the RME version seems more “natural” with these HEDDPhones to me at least. It seems like the imaging and soundstage is pushed more center and slightly deeper…but vocals still seem in my head and not out in front, and a little bit like a the voice is coming around a blank spot in the middle of the stage…
I still prefer the sound with crossfeed off in both circumstances =) but fun to play with! Tonight I might have to check out EQ options with the HEDDPhone just for science…personally I’m not a big EQ guy…but I’ll f’ around and see what I come up with…any suggestions on where to apply some bumps and dips would be greatly appreciated from the more experienced EQ folks…
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I’m really happy I bought the HEDDphone. My music sounds really amazing for the price. I’m using tt2 and gsx-mini for source and power. I am using Skruag Norne balanced cable.
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Nice!
And you’re a self proclaimed “bass head” if I’m remembering correctly. That’s good to hear that the low end is satisfying for you (an assumption as you didn’t specifically say that).
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I completely agree with you about the midrange. It’s the only sonic thing that bothers me on the HEDDphone. I don’t like the bump at 1-3K. I wish it was dead flat there or even slightly sloping down towards 6K. I also think that that extra energy is what makes vocals sound so close or “in your head”. Don’t get me wrong, on some tracks it makes vocals and guitars sound amazing. But if there’s already extra energy there it makes them sound shouty/bright/metallic.
But I’d still take that tuning over treble peaks at 6K, 8K, and/or 10K. But in a perfect world, I wish Hedd had just left it uncolored there.
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I am a bass head. The HEDDphone does not have the 1266 bass but it’s still good. The SQ is just killer. They aren’t in your face or laid back very engaging. The bump doesn’t bother me.
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Yup certainly the SR1a has it’s place and can be better than the HEDDphone for some, depending on sonic preferences and genre preferences especially; and although both require separate amp systems, one can also sound better than the other depending on system synergy. For me I prefer the HEDDphone for a more weighty / impactful and energetic sound. I actually don’t have either of these two, but going by memory of when I tried both a few times at CanJam. I better hold off on any more impressions until getting to spend more time with either.
Oh thanks for your interest in my music! I’m an avant-garde experimental electronic musician that hand crafts sounds from real world samples, filtered with custom DSP effects. Just Google “Modlift” and you can hear my album on almost any service; Bandcamp has lossless download and Apple Music has a decent quality stream available. Would you believe it I’m also an occasional DJ, and you can hear some of my sets on Soundcloud as well under that name. 'Been too busy with a 9-5 for any recent works though.
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Thanks to expeditious handling by @taronlissimore at headphones.com, my HEDDphone just arrived. Now I get to listen properly and at length, though maybe I’ll post some impressions on their sound/performance in a couple of hours or so.
Quick-and-dirty “pictures or it didn’t happen”:
Will start with the new RME ADI-2 DAC fs, one of the development-amplifiers (Phonitor X), driving them balanced with my own exotic cable. And then maybe throw them on DAVE followed by DAVE -> my big tube amp …
I should add that this is not a “review” or “loan” set of cans. I just decided to jump in and buy them. So any comparisons will be in the context of my ownership of the HEDDphone and my other flagship/speciality cans.
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