I’m in the camp that finds the SR1a to be incredibly comfortable, too. A minute on my head and they literally disappear. Coupled with the proper spatialization this arrangement enables, I imagine they will remain my preference vs. the circumaural (the effects of which can be handled with simple EQ).
And even that EQ isn’t really necessary with the HSA-1a … which is even richer and tonally weightier than the Jotunheim R. (Which is good for the SR1a, but I will have to see when it comes to regular cans).
And I don’t know if I crossed some threshold of hours of play on my SR1a and / or Jotunheim R, or both, or if it’s running the “R” with balanced input now most of the time, or if I’ve just become a victim of conditioning, but I’m finding less and less need for EQ. It is completely recording quality dependent on whether or not I feel the need for Loki. I thought many digital recordings could do without EQ, but over the past weekend I listened to a pre-digital ADD recording of Rachmaninov’s 2nd Symphony on EMI label from 1973 with Previn and the LSO…dam near perfect in the bass.
I’m going to need a second SR1a direct drive amp anyway, one for upstairs, one for downstairs, might as well not duplicate. Variety is the spice…as they say.
I prefer Nemal’s adapter size/design, without cables involved. Not sure if they got the pins’ configuration right. RAAL’s adapter is not in their website yet but you might want to send an email to Danny to check if they’re available for purchase. I got mine as part of the HSA-1a accessories, to be used to drive Low Efficiency headphones from the Ribbon Headphones output.
Wow the SR1a is Out of Stock on RAAL-requisite’s website and the initial run of 14 HSA-1a units has been out of stock for almost a week now! They must be selling like hotcakes and the praise train on the SR1a keeps on rolling full steam ahead.
The headphones themselves are out of stock for at least 2 weeks. We managed to snag a couple HSAs but the trouble with them is getting the parts currently to build them. COVID hasn’t been affecting domestic shipments too much aside from maybe a couple days but it’s absolutely wreaking havoc with international shipments right now.
Fingers crossed that things will return back to normal sooner rather than later!
Parts availability and international shipping probably is going to be big issue for quite a while I’m afraid. I wonder if they took back dealer stock of the old model to update? Danny would probably know.
I’m still waiting for “my” HSA-1a to come back from being updated, so the estimated shipping date doesn’t surprise me.
The only unfortunate part is that if it doesn’t make it back to me this week, it’s not going to matter, as I won’t have time to finishing reviewing it (or even use it), before I duck out for potentially, effectively, ever.
I’ll definitely be disappointed if that is how it works out.
I’ve “only” been able to try the HSA-1a with the SR1a, where it is definitely excellent, and the best way to drive them without spending significantly more (and maybe the best way to drive them period).
I was going to buy one just on the basis of their performance with the SR1a.
And then they let me know about the updates to support conventional headphones and cans like the Susvara as well - so I held off on buying until I could get the updated unit.
That was partly to avoid having to ship it back, wait for the updates, and then be around to receive it again. But mostly as a hedge against any potential change in performance coming from the added circuitry (there shouldn’t be, but stranger things have happened).
As it happens, with amazing demand for the thing, and global parts supply issues, that is starting to look like the smart choice (for me). Having had a loan unit that I shipped back for updates, I am now awfully close to the point where I won’t really be able to use it before I am done. That cut-off point is this Friday.
I am certainly not annoyed that something I had on loan, and was being updated, isn’t back in my hands - though I do miss it. But if I’d bought it, sent it in for updates, and it didn’t come back before I left I very much would be upset - as in such a case I’d much rather just wait to buy it until I was able to use it again - which is likely about a year out after this week (and who knows what’ll transpire in that much time).
They sound as good as the mastering will allow. Obviously the visceral bass isn’t there. I prefer my Audeze LCD XC for heavy death stuff over the Raals
