RAAL-requisite SR1a - Earfield™ Monitor/Headphone - Official Thread

[chris962x]

Well can now say that I will be selling the HEDDphone and keeping the sr1a. This is what I expected to happen in the long run, a zillion reviewers can’t be wrong, but luckily I don’t think there’s likely anything like confirmation bias at work.

First, the sonic profile of what I’m hearing is changing rapidly. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I’m burning in with pink noise for over 8 hours per day. I think it is more likely due to my ears/brain adjusting.

Now in a/b comparisons of the sr1a and the HEDD, it’s difficult to say which I enjoy more for pleasure listening. They are different. The HEDDphone is still a traditional headphone, the sound comes from inside my head, whether or not I use CanOpener for cross feed. The tuning is a bit U-shaped. This is all incredibly pleasant, immsersive, and eveloping mind you, while still being revealing. But the sr1a provides other pleasures. With a tiny bit of bump in the bass when the wings are part of the way open, it can be just as full as the HEDD, but with the sound coming more in front of your head than within it. I wouldn’t say the pleasure is fully speaker-like, it’s kinda its own thing, between speaker and headphone.

When it comes to analytical precision rather than pleasure listening, the sr1a wins hands down. I think one reviewer described it as an audio microscope, and I see why. I feel like I am hearing everything that’s there in whatever full immediacy and transparency can be provided. And damn its fast.

One thing I am now starting to hear which I hadn’t before is the resonant enclosure in the HEDD, and how it muddies the bass a bit. Not having to worry about that with the sr1a makes it a clear winner for studio reference purposes.

I’m still currently using a high-shelf to tone down some of the spiky-ness of some of the highs, otherwise my ears are still getting fatigued, but much less than they had before. So long as I match it with my reference tracks, I have no concerns there, and even if I always need to roll off some treble, I’m not concerned so long as it does what I need it to by matching my reference tracks.

I’m not going to say this replaces headphones for pleasure listening, for whatever that’s worth. But eq is able to sculpt the sound here in a very transparent way. I’m running it through the linear phase eq in Logic, which is super flexible and clean, and the way it takes eq is super clear, I feel like I can sculpt it to sound like what I want, starting from a very clean canvas.

I’m pretty amazed how much what I’m hearing is transforming by the day in favor of the sr1a. Damn impressed. Not to say the HEDD isn’t great, as it clearly is, but for my needs, sr1a wins out. As a studio mixing tool, wow, like I said, microscope for audio, a clear investment in the future. I’m glad for this much cash it comes in a very sturdy case.

I can see a tube amp before the Jotunheim being a nice way to warm it up if I want that (though I’m unclear on precisely what is involved in stacking amps in such a way, though I figure it must be possible), and perhaps a Loki as well.

[FLTWS]

The quality of the recording is always the 1st most important component.The more revealing a transducer the more important the recordings SQ. If there is a shortcoming in the source recording (mic’ing, balancing, post recording session manipulation) it can’t really be fixed by the electronic chain or even EQ.

I’ve discovered many recordings in my collection that are sound extraordinarily good with no help, including bass reproduction on the SR1a. I’ve got others that benefit from a little twiddling with modest EQ. I’ve got others that can’t be helped by any means.

[chris962x]

I’m curious about what can help provide some tube warmth for the sr1a with Jotunheim setup. I’m guessing that any amp can go between my DAC’s analog outputs and the Jotunheim’s analog inputs, but I’m unclear about whether an amp, preamp, or a unit that could do both makes sense. Also curious what people would recommend, preferably 1k or under, unless those options just won’t be good enough for the task in a way that is up to sr1a quality.

I’m guessing I’d want something OTL, particularly as I would still be using this for mixing, but would just like to roll off a tiny bit of the harshness and provide a little tube warmth and body. Would something like the drop La Figaro 339i work? They seem well reviewed, new batch arriving soon, and price works. I head it shines with some darker tubes. Or would anyone recommend something else? Does it need to specify that it’s a pre, or does an amp into an amp work fine here?

[MrCypruz]

I’ve had excellent results with a Schiit Freya+ tube preamp with upgraded NOS tubes. Check it out on Schiit’s website https://www.schiit.com/products/freya-1

[chris962x]

So being a a noob to high end cans (but not audio/recording/mixing or tube amps/preamps more generally), I’m a bit confused with tube options in the headphone realm to complement sr1a/Jotunheim R combo.

First, do I need a preamp or regular amp before a unique unit like a Jotunheim R? I totally get why preamps are used with mics, but less so with headphone amps. I’ve also read that OTL tube systems are used with high impedence headphones, but does that rule them out before Jotunheim R? Perhaps this should go in a new thread, though I suspect folks here would know best. Freya looks cool, though it has quite a few features that I’m not sure what they do. I realize tube rolling is a nice concept, so variable bias seems a worthwhile option to have.

How would a Schiit option like the Freya compare to similarly priced option for this task as Feliks (Espressivo 2 or Echo), Drop La Figaro 339i, Hagerman Tuba (supposedly great sound, perhaps would distort if not sent to high-impedence can?)?

[FLTWS]

I just confirmed that Freya+ has 1 configuration that is all tube in and out with SS power supply (not tube rectification). I’d venture a guess that if you want to get that extra special tube-y-ness factor, that’s the way to go as MrCypruz says above.

Note that LYR 3 is a hybrid so you’ve got some FET’s (I think) in the signal path somehow. Whether it will make a difference in the end sound will be up to each individuals take.

It would be very cool to see if a direct drive OTL tube in and out amp could be made to drive the SR1a but I think the problem is getting a tube circuit to deliver the kind of current that phone likes and OTL’s seem to prefer high impedance loads. And with transformer output might be even more problematic given the 0.4 ohm load that amp would be working into. Those would be questions for the electronically sophisticated members here.

Note: I have tried the the SR1a with it impedance matching box off the 4 ohm taps of my PL EVO 400 integrated (at around 75 watts per channel) transformers but felt SS amps (Ragnarok 1 and now Jot R), sounded better to me.

[bpcarb]

@chris962x

I can see a tube amp before the Jotunheim being a nice way to warm it up if I want that (though I’m unclear on precisely what is involved in stacking amps in such a way, though I figure it must be possible)

It generally isn’t favorable sonically to stack a tube preamp with an integrated amplifier. An integrated amp has both a preamp and power amp. Compounding preamp stages and adding unnecessary gain may not improve the sound and potentially worsen. Preamps are generally intended to be used with power amps, not integrated amps (subject to line level connections). That being said, some have had success with using a preamp with an integrated amp, and it may work in certain chains/configurations.

It looks like the Freya + tube stage outputs 12 dB of gain, which is relatively high for a preamp. That might be too much sonically to go into the Jotunheim R.

I believe one can introduce tube influence to a SR1a chain by using a tube preamp and a SS power amp, or using an integrated tube speaker amp with adequate power (more expensive), or potentially using a switchable attenuator with the Jotunheim R which I’m not aware of anyone trying yet.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/A15AS--shure-a15as-switchable-attenuator

See discussion below, including the video comments.

Using a preamp and integrated together

https://www.sweetwater.com/sweetcare/articles/whats-the-difference-between-mic-instrument-line-and-speaker-level-signals/

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/understanding-signal-levels-audio-gear/

[MrCypruz]

@bpcarb

It looks like the Freya + tube stage outputs 12 dB of gain, which is relatively high for a preamp.

12dB is actually pretty good gain for a pre-amp, upwards of 17-20dB is on the high side.

Not sure if 12dB is going to be “too much” for the JotR, it certainly isn’t for the HSA-1a and HSA-1b, it’s actually ideal.

[bpcarb]

True, I’m more familiar with tube preamps that have gain less than 12 dB. Glad to hear you’re able to attest to favorable tube sonics actually implemented in the field!

[chris962x]

Wow, that video was suuuuuper helpful (now that I’ve had a moment to watch it). No nonsense answers like that are great.

[generic]

I demoed the SR1a through a McIntosh MHA150 headphone amp, and did not like it at all. What came to mind is piping audio through boiling hot oil. Deep fried sound. The resolution wasn’t great, and the mid range was both exaggerated and rounded off.

Does anyone else have experience with this combo? Any different views? Was it a misconceived or misconfigured setup? I honestly cannot believe the SR1a would be intended to be so heavily colored by design. I reserve judgement.

[cpp]

@generic

SR1a

I was looking at the manual on the SR1a and it notes “Your SR1a Earfield Monitor requires an outboard amplifier with a minimum of 100-watts RMS. Amplifiers of 200-500 watts RMS are also suitable and even preferred but, care must be given to not overdrive the ribbon.”. The MHA150 is only 50 watts, maybe thats the issue. OR maybe is all about the current. Torq had a good article on the SR1a. and it mated with the jotunheim. Schiit Jotunheim "R" - Direct-Drive Amplifier for SR1a "Earfield™ Monitors" - Review – Headphones.com

I did find this in the MHA150 manual

[Torq]

@generic

I demoed the SR1a through a McIntosh MHA150 headphone amp, and did not like it at all.

Didn’t work for me either.

I think it’s down to a combination of lacking sufficient power, which invariably makes the SR1a sound like ass (at more than low volumes) and the auto-formers.

The Jotunheim R, or a Vidar + Interface, run rings around the MHA150 with the SR1a … for WAY less money.

[tmarshl]

Recently, I have been switching between the Raal Requisite SR1a’s and the MySphere 3.2’s, both “earfield” speakers. The bottom line is that I love them both! I was trying to decide which one to keep, but they are both so compelling, that I think I will keep them both. Amplification is certainly an issue with both of them, so getting that right is really important.

The SR1a’s are so precise that I can hear every nuance of the music, with great spatial instrument detail and vocal separation. It is a real pleasure. It is certain still the best headphone I have ever heard (driven by an SPL s800 beefy amplifier). I tried it with the Jotunheim R, but it didn’t do it for me by comparison.

But the MySphere 3.2 is a more relaxing and engaging experience which doesn’t need a powerful speaker amplifier to show it’s stuff.

So, how do I choose? It is a matter of what sort of mood I am in: leaning into the music, playing close attention to every nuance (SR1a), or leaning back and letting the music wash over me (MySphere 3.2).

[FLTWS]

Having just 1 HP is like having 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of socks, 1 pair of sneakers. Makes choosing what to wear every day easy but…

Your on the right track with 2 phones that complement by way of differences rather than 2 that are identical in sonic qualities.

[Tim_Gray]

I agree 100%. For “serious” listening, My time is split roughly 50% speakers (Buchardt A500) 25% SR1a Jotunheim and 25% Focal Stellia. My untested hypothesis is that if I had just one I’d end up on an endless cycle of tweaks and new gear.

[cburns]

Torq hope you see this before you leave. I am 70 have a slight ringing in one ear and have lost some of my hi frequency hearing, of course, because of age. I have been into high end equipment since the 70’s. I have been following your account of the Raal headphones. I have used a pair of Sennheiser hd 600 for years. What do you think the Raals for my main headphone? Also should I go with the Raal Amp? What Dac do you recommend. I was going to go the Headphone show this year in Irvine CA but they cancelled it twice. If you could help me for with a response I would appreciate it. Craig

[Torq]

It’s hard to make any kind of recommendation, since I don’t know what you listen to, how you listen, nor what your signature preferences/biases are.

Nominally, the resolution and response of the SR1a would be something I could see helping to compensate for age-related hearing loss. At the same time I could see it being a waste, if it is more than simple loss of high-frequency sensitivity. And worse still, depending on the cause of the ringing you experience, might even clinically exacerbate it.

So that’s more of a question for your audiologist than me.

Unfortunately, that means I can’t really make any specific recommendations (something I’m trying not to do on a personal basis anymore anyway). If you think the RAAL gear is interesting, I’d suggest taking advantage of their 14-day at-home trial and see for yourself.

[cburns]

Ian,

Can you tell me if you think the Raal is well suited as a main headphone or would I be better or with a standard headphone like the ZMF OV
Craig

[Torq]

Again, it depends on what your signature preferences are and what you listen to.

For me, it gets the most listening time vs. every other headphone I own (in fact more than all the others combined). I listen to an extremely wide range of genres (pretty much everything … though country and metal are probably underrepresented in my collection vs. every other genre) and I find it to be the best overall performer across them.

And in that context, it’s my choice for best (main) headphone.

If I was someone that listened primarily to poorly recorded pop/rock, coupled with a high percentage of EDM or other artificially sub-bass heavy material, then it’d be a fair way from optimal as a “main” headphone.

Best way to know for sure is to take RAAL up on their 14-day trial.