Lies and propaganda!
Uhhh… In this case I’m going to keep quiet. The SR1a has very specific amplification requirements. Not just any speaker tube amp would work, mostly because they lack the power and the OI is high.
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Sorry. I thought he meant a tube amp as a compliment to the HSA-1a! 
The Freya+ is a good option as a preamp for adding tube sound to the SR1A… it’s on my want list… but really any quality tube preamp will work
In his pre-review comments Chris Connaker has been praising the Audio Research VT80 SE.
RAAL-requisite SR1a Has Landed
Not sure what other amps he may include, but the full review is due to drop on the Audiophile Style home page any day now.
I realize it’s gonna take some time for tube amp experience to fully form into possible recommendations. That’s actually why I went for the HSA-1a package to get up and running with a strong start. But knowing full well that I may be lured back over to the Glow Side sometime in the future!
Interesting …
It’s an amplifier I’ve tried with the SR1a (early on in fact, and again more recently), since my primary HiFi dealer has demo rooms well stocked with Audio Research gear.
For me … I thought the VT80 SE was a less than ideal match. To the point I didn’t even bother to include it in my review. Not because it isn’t a lovely amplifier. With the right speakers its beguiling and seductive (and it’s rather interesting tapped for the HE-6, Susvara and Abyss, as well). But with the SR1a it seems like a rather expensive, if extremely pretty, way to defeat their most obvious strengths and turn them into something more comparable to a high-end-ish planar headphone.
And if you’re going to do that … why not skip all the hassle and expense and just go with the planar cans?
As a start, resolution lacks vs. Jotunheim R or HSA-1a (both direct drive) and even vs. the better solid-state amps using RAAL’s interface box. And then speed, dynamics and impact are also rather negatively affected vs. the various solid-state options I own/have through my hands.
SR1a via the AR VT80 SE after things like the Jotunheim R, HSA-1a or mid-priced solid-state speaker amps (e.g. Chord Étude) via the interface, result in something closer in performance and signature to, say, the HE1000-SE, than what the SR1a are actually capable of.
I don’t know if this is down to the comparatively glacial slew-rates involved, or the lack of raw power, or something else, with the various tube-amps involved but so far the best solutions I’ve seen for getting some “tube flavor” with the SR1a has involved solid-state drive with a tube-pre or buffer in the chain.
Otherwise there are much cheaper options if you want a slower/more ephemeral/rounded signature/delivery.
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I listened to the SR1a via the JotR all morning from 6AM to around noon then this guy showed up:
Well, it’s indeed a master in grabbing the SR1a by the balls and controlling it effortlessly, bringing the SR1a up to 13 I should say. This thing makes the SR1a get even closer to an ultra resolving near-field speaker-like listening experience, it brings that desired level of warmth, brings more body and soul to the SR1a and “tames” the slightly shouty character of the JotR. That already sweet bass gets even sweeter and even more resolved, it sounds fuller than it already was…It’s simply mind boggling how RAAL-requisite can manage to get this level of performance from a $7,100 system. I listened to this combo using the Chord Dave/M-Scaler for about 6 hrs since the HSA-1a arrival at my den.
Please bear in mind that these are VERY early impressions (around 20 songs or so of A/B tests vs Phonitor X) on the regular headphone output and that after the unit and brain burn-in, they may change significantly. Preliminary impressions indicates that the Phonitor X is not going anywhere. Focal Utopia sounded glorious with the the HSA-1a - I just felt an amazing level of control and the bass was so addictive, exactly where sometimes I “craved” for the Utopia. The VC combo didn’t sound great at the beginning, probably due to immediate change from the Utopia and the amp pickiness of the VC. I just went back to the Utopia to listen to the remainder songs (more to come with the VC sometime in the future).
The HSA-1a clearly can’t properly drive the Susvara from the regular headphone output and unfortunately the 4 Pin XLR Female to Female Adapter was not included in the box by mistake, so I couldn’t try the Susvara using the SR1a output. I will report back when the Adapter land on the den.
The two perceived “weaknesses” when compared to the Phonitor X is sound stage which seems to get a tad reduced and some level of refinement seems to get lost by a hair, and that’s probably due to the slightly warm nature of the HSA-1a vs the dead neutral of the Phonitor X and/or, once again, due to unit and brain burn-in.
Well, back to listening…it’s going to be another super unproductive evening here!
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Thanks for sharing the info. That’s pretty much what I guessed would happen with Raal HSA-1a with non-Raal 'phones since amplification to optimize SR1a will have no choice but to bring in a bit of extra warmth and body while also bringing in a bit of extra smoothness.
If HSA-1a owners have access to Abyss 1266 Phi TC or efficient speakers, please do share how these combo’s fare. TIA.
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Thank you! Really appreciated reading your observations.
If memory serves, Mr. Connaker admits having not been a big fan of headphones, but enjoyed the Utopia and STAX SR-009. So it was fun reading his enthusiasm for the SR1a turning into long, late night listening sessions. He also tried a pair of Schiit Vidars, and a McIntosh MC275, it seems because they were on hand to audition, but preferred the Audio Research VT 80SE. Perhaps some other amplifiers will make it into the review.
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If he’s coming from a position of not liking headphones, that makes more sense. Though either way, he’s entitled to enjoy what he enjoys.
Dual Vidar are more representative of what the SR1a can achieve than the VT80 SE. Which isn’t to say they’re going to be preferable for everyone. The SR1a are different even from other headphones, and demand attention in a away that most other cans (or speakers) do not. The VT80 SE would push them closer to more relaxed, less-conscious, listening.
The MC275 is another matter … can’t say much about that … I only tried the MA252 … which, despite having more power than the MC275, was still not up to the task, power-wise, for the SR1a (tonally quite wonderful, however). The MA352 is probably a better bet.
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It is my photo.
And the cables in question are ones I designed and build myself.
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not @Torq but these are his own 3rd party cables… they are my favorite cables outside of my ZMF Verite Silver cable… I will one day own a set lol 
they really are even better in person Torqs cables (and the ZMFs lol) that is.
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After 2 days of 10-14hrs of listening time each day, strictly with the HSA-1a/SR1a combo, I can safely say that this is the pinnacle of headphone performance and by far the best headphone listening experience that I’ve had to date - I almost forgot that I have the Susvara, Utopia, HEDDphone and VC at the house…
I can see some people “ditching” existing 2 channel systems or eliminating the need of acquiring one after getting this combo…(I’m not one of those people).
Is this combo for everyone? Most likely not (I’m sure it isn’t), this is for people that dig a studio-neutral presentation without any coloration of any kind nor compromises, simply the music as it was intended by the artist/engineer/producer.
In order to maximize the performance of this combo (to get closer to squeezing that “last drop”), I think one must ensure that the DAC isn’t a compromise, that the rig is fed with clean power and decent interconnects are used.
I didn’t think that the SR1a could get to this level of performance, heck, I didn’t even think that this level of performance was achievable…but now I know I was wrong!
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Review has dropped at Audiophile Style. The amplifiers did not change — McIntosh MC275 (MK V), Audio Research VT80 SE, and a pair of Schiit Audio Vidar monoblocks. Schiit is sending him a JOTUNHEIM R for evaluation.
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That is the most over-the-top review I have ever read, and the SR1a’s deserve every accolade in it!
This may be sounding redundant, but SR1a provides the best headphone listening experience I have ever heard.
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Sorry. Hit the wrong button. Meant to post this to the thread, not as a reply to your post.
I would go further and call them, to my ears, the Holy Grail of headphones (based on what I’ve heard to date)…I haven’t heard the Shangri-La Sr. neither the HE-90/HE-1 systems but I can’t see them beating the HSA-1a/SR1a technicalities, sound reproduction and overall performance. And if they beat the SR1a system, that should be “more than expected” at $50k+ vs a $7.1k system…I’m grateful to be alive in this day and age to experience this breakthrough in Hi-Fi…I’m simply astonished!!
If I was asked to keep only one pair of cans to live with for the rest of my life, the choice would be easy - the SR1a it is!!
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HSA-1a One Week Later
I’ve had the HSA-1a for a little over a week and it has been an eye opening experience. After getting a good grasp of how capable it is driving the SR1a, I’ve dedicated the last 4 days listening to the Susvara.
The upstream chain was the Dave/M-Scaler and Dave/M-Scaler + Schiit Freya+ Pre-amp loaded with NOS tubes that cost as much as the pre-amp itself. I’m amazed by how this $899 hybrid pre-amp can scale up with well-matched NOS tubes - I got ~90% of the performance of my Primaluna EVO 400 tube pre-amp with stock tubes at 5x the price, and to be honest I think some people may prefer Freya’s performance over the EVO 400. Impressive Schiit indeed!
The first thing that I learned is that, when using regular circumaural headphones, the baffle compensation switch must be turned off (or switched to circumaural) even when using the regular 4-pin XLR female headphone output. This will significantly reduce the warmth of the HSA-1a and present a more balanced and natural tonality. It is still warm but closer to neutral. This was the main reason why I considered this amplifier notably warmer than the Phonitor X (PX) on my early impressions - I wasn’t aware of how the baffle compensation affected the sound of circumaural headphones.
Below are my initial impressions of the HSA-1a performance driving the mighty Susvara:
As stated on my preliminary impressions post, the regular headphone output is not capable of properly driving Hifiman’s less efficient cans. However, the ribbon output using the RAAL-requisite’s own 4-Pin Female to Female adapter shows the Susvara that the HSA-1a is indeed in charge, controlling it with authority - that’s probably because of the high current output that the Susvara seem to love.
Similarly to my experience driving the Susvara using the SPL Performer s800 power amp, the HSA-1a opens the sound, there’s delicacy and air around the notes and life-like presentation to the voices. The stage while not as ample as the SR1a, is as deep losing only to the pin-point accuracy of instruments and spacial cues given by the SR1a. The bass notes are very detailed, well extended with amazing texture and they go deep. To me, the most impressive characteristic of the Susvara, when properly driven, is how effortlessly it delivers the music to one’s ears, the tiniest of details are there available to be heard in a silky-smooth fashion without the need of shoving them to one’s face, all you have to do is relax and indulge in the experience.
To my ears, The HSA-1a is still warmer than the SPL PX/s800 combo, a tad less refined and more intimate by a hair. Stage width gets slightly reduced while the depth is maintained when coming from the SPL combo.
Can the HSA-1a become a one box solution for me? The answer is no because I have the PX but it would be yes if I didn’t. I’m not always in the mood for the warmer presentation of the HSA-1a, and that’s when the PX comes to the rescue. I enjoy the VC with the PX more than with the HSA-1a and the opposite with the Utopia. Therefore, my PX is not going anywhere.
More impressions to come on the HSA-1a performance with the VC and Utopia…the next two weeks will be dedicated to those two cans.
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That’s a bit odd that baffle step correction circuit would be in the signal path for regular 4-pin female output… Then again, if I still had my AKG K1000, BSC would have been great!
Your review saves me some $$ since I’ve been curious how the regular Jotunheim would do compared to Jot R driving my Abyss. I think I have my answer and won’t need to buy the regular Jotunheim to find out 
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Taking it out of the path for normal headphones would require a lot more re-engineering.
If it had been part of the design from day 1, it’s be a different matter.
And you’d still have the same issue for cans like the Susvara anyway, since they need to come off the SR1a tap.
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