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Raal Requisite SR-1A

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Zhanming057, Dec 31, 2018.

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  1. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I just read the amp requirement for this. They should have just terminated these with banana plugs
     
    Cspirou, Jul 12, 2019
    #81
  2. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    @purr1n I thought these sounded promising at RMAF, but unfortunately was not familiar with the music they were playing. It seemed rich, tactile, and well-behaved, as best as I could surmise. (The RAAL guys were also playing it wildly loud, which was sort of a nice change of a pace from the usual ambient-noise level testing most nerds seem to do when testing their anime OSTs.)

    I'm encouraged by your findings so far! It certainly seemed like a cool highlight at RMAF, but one that needed more hands-on testing here.
     
    Hands, Jul 12, 2019
    #82
  3. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    That's just their main reference stack, Alex did most of the development of the cans on that combo (along with other amps of course) and they have an official collab with Benchmark.

    Not exactly to my tastes either, but it seems like a reasonable option assuming that the bundle price is good enough.

    The adapter box has taps on the back and there are bananas in the package. The XLR is reversed from normal headphones to physically stop you from plugging them into anything except the box.
     
    Zhanming057, Jul 12, 2019
    #83
  4. Negura

    Negura Friend

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    Matching the SR1a is going to be a long discussed topic, like with anything. Some people like a warmer sound, or whatever, and that's just that.

    However, if you have a high resolution DAC that you like the sound of (assuming one has actually heard the sound of the source before coloured or degraded too much by pre/amplification), one or two AHB2 will deliver some of the highest performance and transparency available in amplification today, in my experience. Highly recommended with the SR1a, and a lot of other stuff.

    I don't particularly like DAC3. It is OK, but there are better sources out there.
     
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2019
    Negura, Jul 12, 2019
    #84
  5. james444

    james444 Mad IEM modding wizard level 99

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    Thanks for your awesome review!

    As a side note, I use a cable with right-angle plug while lying down with the Mysphere 3.2, which makes the position of the cable exit less of an issue for me.
     
    james444, Jul 13, 2019
    #85
  6. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    AHB2 is not sufficient for great sound from the SR1A but I guess they wont sell any units unless they propose an 'affordable' option.

    In related news, I will be placing a very lightly used AHB2 up for sale soon ;)
     
    ogodei, Jul 13, 2019
    #86
  7. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    FYI Jason posted about "Weldenheim" today on HF

     
    allegro, Aug 2, 2019
    #87
  8. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    It looks like most people here already have SR1a.

    Is the headband completely removable from what anyone can see? i.e. remove not just the leather straps, but also the metal band that provides the clamping force.

    I posted in the other Sr1a thread here that the main issue for me is comfort right now and it squeezes my above average sized head too hard (it looks like it was meant for average and below sized heads). I have a few ideas for a replacement headband (and 1 that uses the stock headband still) decently thought out by now but at the same time I don't want to have to "permanently" break the metal parts of the headband on the SR1a ((it does look like I could rejoin a thin piece of metal or have it welded back together if needed but I'd rather not have to do this).
     
    penguins, Sep 24, 2019
    #88
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    More than any other piece of gear I've experienced, the SR1s exhibits the transducer first (then amp, then source) philosophy. And this comes from someone who tends to embrace a source or even amp first approach. None of the approaches are right or wrong, they are just different methods which may be more or less applicable depending upon your sonic priorities, experience, and weakest link in the chain.

    The SR1a pretty much sounds good from any amp which has enough power.

    With the conversion box, the SR1a does favor less bright sources and amps - it's tuning is reminiscent of the Yamaha NS10 for understandable reasons. However, if you are willing to use EQ, that will only broaden the range of upstream components that can be used. I've often eschewed EQ for headphones because I feel it's a band-aid approach that doesn't quite work. The frequency response irregularities arise from interactions inside the earcup and the ear structures. To a large extent, these are time-domain errors, of which frequency response corrections via EQ are just a kludge. Not so with the SR1a. No cups, just free air.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2019
    purr1n, Sep 24, 2019
    #89
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    P.S. A prototype of the Weldenheim I heard was by far the clearest, cleanest, most resolving, and most dynamic amp I've heard so far. Makes sense because of the much much simpler component chain: two stages vs. three in a power amp and no conversion box with chain of resistors and transformers, The Weldenheim is a Nexus design, so it imparts a richness and a hefty bottom end, which IMO the SR1a can really benefit from. The tuning is slightly different from the converter box: more laid-back upper mids while retaining the lower high emphasis. The sound might not be to everyone's tastes. It's unforgiving and unrelenting. In the sense of how some folks felt about the Dangerous Music Convert-2 DAC, or the Focal Utopia when it first came out. The Weldenheim did lighten up some and get more nuanced after an hour. This could just require a bias tweak to get right. Again, it's a prototype, so not even voicing is final. (The first POC based on the Jot sounded like ass. It worked, but sounded like ass.)
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2019
    purr1n, Sep 24, 2019
    #90
  11. defiant00

    defiant00 New

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    So how badly do these leak sound? Yes, I know they're basically open baffle headphones, but are they noticeably worse than other open cans like Focal Elex or HD650?
     
    defiant00, Sep 28, 2019
    #91
  12. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Consider them speakers. They don't 'leak' sound, they are little speakers that generate sound into the room. They just happen to be placed near your ears.
     
    ogodei, Sep 28, 2019
    #92
  13. netforce

    netforce MOT: Headphones.com

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    Only things that came close with leakage was a Stax. SR1a leak a lot.
     
    netforce, Sep 28, 2019
    #93
  14. defiant00

    defiant00 New

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    Makes sense, thanks. With the volume I typically listen at, if I hold my HD800s at arm's length I can barely hear them, so was just trying to get a sense if these would be worse if I wore them around others (which it sounds like they would be).
     
    defiant00, Sep 28, 2019
    #94
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Much worse. Entire house can hear what's playing.
     
    purr1n, Sep 28, 2019
    #95
  16. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    Good. Everyone who lives with me must appreciate my taste in music with me even when I'm not using speakers.
     
    ChaChaRealSmooth, Sep 28, 2019
    #96
  17. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    drgumbybrain, Oct 13, 2019
    #97
  18. Zhanming057

    Zhanming057 Friend

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    How full are we talking about? The carbon fiber frames are removable but they are threaded with loctite, fine for swapping out a broken frame but I would not casually disassemble those. The way I've traveled with them is either with a headphone hard case (something designed for the HD800 will probably fit) or folded down, wrapped in a leather pouch and stowed with the adaptor box.

    I haven't tried them with this particular Luxman, but I have tried a few of their amps and they do good stuff. Very clean and controlled.
     
    Zhanming057, Oct 13, 2019
    #98
  19. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    Is the hard case provided with the SR1a too bulky for travel?
     
    Metro, Oct 14, 2019
    #99
  20. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Its a pelican hardcase, maybe 14 by 18 inches. https://raalrequisite.com/accessories/ Weighs 6 or 7 pounds loaded ? It will fit in an overhead on the plane or certainly in the trunk of your car, whether you want to travel with another carry on bag is your preference. I wouldn't lug them on a business trip.
     
    ogodei, Oct 14, 2019
    #100
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