# Raal Requisite CA-1a - Official Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Official Headphone Model Discussion\ **Tags:** raal-requisite, ribbon\ **Created:** [November 1, 2022, 9:09pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/raal-requisite-ca-1a-official-thread/19191 "2022-11-01T21:09:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 8
**Author:** ![MokhaMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dfb087/32.png) [@MokhaMark](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MokhaMark)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/raal-requisite-ca-1a-official-thread/19191/8 "2023-03-20T23:11:46Z")
I have not posted in a long while, so I am sharing here some impressions of the Raal CA-1a. ![_DSC4044-2](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/d/a/da549201826bb398811fe2babac138c29d94bd82.jpeg) I’ve owned the CA for a couple of months now and I find them to be the perfect complement to the SR-1a. However, they need not be considered only as a partner to the SR-1a. And they need not be considered as an overly complicated or expensive headphone to amplify. They are affordable flagship level all on their own. It is no surprise or secret that one of the perceived inadequacies of the SR-1a, (without EQ, and on some amplification) is the bass. Depending also on how wide one opens the baffles, the bass from the SR can be “heard but not felt” in comparison to other circumaural headphones. While the bass goes deep and is textured and accurate, I agree it can lack some of the visceral qualities for many genre of music. There are, of course, qualitative differences to this based on amplification, and EQ can solve some of this. Those that own Raal’s VM1-a tube amplifier insist it becomes a non-issue altogether, even without EQ, but I have not had the privilege yet of hearing this for myself. Also, with the old adapter box, some expensive speaker amplifiers have been noted to change bass response. And now there is the new TI-1b box that may do the same thing with headphone amplifiers of appropriate specifications. For me, EQ does the trick when I feel I need more bass with the SR-1a. Having said that, **the CA-1a do not have a bass issue!** And in this respect, they are like two headphones in one. This is due to the very different character the two included pad sets create. The partially open pads bring the speed and detail of the SR to play, but add bass and a hauntingly rich vocal range. The fully enclosed pads bring bass that rivals the best headphones I have owned, along with a proportionally more intimate position to the vocals. The CA-1a have deep bass extension like a Susvara, and slam like a Utopia. All the while retaining the speed, astonishing detail, and attack unique to ribbon drivers. This is not hyperbole, just an honest opinion. Swapping the two pads in this case gives a more important change than pad rolling, for example, with a ZMF headphone. Because I also own the SR, I tend to keep the solid pads on my CA. Although I’d suggest the sound is less “reference”, the more exhilarating bass provides a bigger contrast to the SR. I use them for different genre. If I did not have the SR, I suspect I’d gravitate toward the vented pads for what I perceive a slightly more open sounding presentation and a bit less bloom in the mid-bass. The SR, for me, is still the best “on head” monitor for solo piano, chamber jazz, and large scale orchestral music that I have heard. I repeat, “that I have heard”. Although I’ve had many different ways to amplify them, I currently use the modest Jotunheim R while a VM1-a is being built with my name on it. I almost always add EQ or convolution filter to the SR (and to be honest, out of the JotR, it is necessary as I do not care for the baffle compensation of the JotR). But outside of those limited genre, I almost always listen on the CA now. It is especially engaging with any music with important pedal tones or dynamic bass. But, it’s not that simple. The vocal range is incredibly seductive. It’s unique to any other headphone I’ve listened to, I cannot think of a better word for it! There is body and richness to voices, but with a halo of detail in harmonics and partials. It’s electrifying. I laughed in agreement when @Resolve wrote “To me its as if I’m listening to music after having three cups of coffee… This thing is intense in a good way.” So true, the CA are indeed intense. They are not for passive listening IMO, unless at very low volume. The speed and dynamics just distract from anything besides the music itself. Until recently, I added no EQ to the CA, and I am of the opinion they do not need it. But I have been listening with the two adjustments suggestions from @Aleksandar_R and I apply it sometimes when I want to temper some of the sizzle. This is often after I’ve been listening to a darker headphone and switch over to the CA. Without EQ, the CA do have a couple of elbows on paper, but they are not in areas that bother me. @Resolve ’s EQ profile also evens out the response, but for my own HRTF also takes away some sparkle. Others might find it perfect. Once my brain has adjusted to the musical space the CA create, I find them to be one of the best headphone experiences I have had. And easily the best for the money spent, in my own experience. I cannot offer any impressions yet of the TI-1a/b adapter box. I did have one on hand for a bit but lacked any headphone amplifiers of adequate power at the time to do better than the Jot R. But it is an exciting development and I applaud Raal Requisite for further democratizing access to these wonderful monitors by lowering the barrier to entry. I encourage everyone in the market now for a new headphone in this price range, and especially anyone already owning a headphone amplifier to adapt with the new adapter boxes, to give these a listen. I’ve always felt like the open baffle SR-1a have been perceived as a novelty headphone. Without arguing the right or wrong of that, I can safely say the CA-1a is a more conventional headphone experience, with less amplification hassle and expense, and a true flagship sound quality. Happy Listening. --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.headphones.com/t/raal-requisite-ca-1a-official-thread/19191)._