Article: Review | RAAL-requisite SR1a Earfield Headphone Monitor

[yyz]

I have the SR1a and the new HSA-1b amp from RAAL in for demo. I was not able to get the new RAAL silver cable for this combo which is supposed to be even better. This RAAL pairs is an incredible system and very much like may brilliant Thiel CS3.7 which has professional DRC done and implemented as ROON Convolution files (in other words it sounds perfect). These headphones are so close to that sound, wow!

 

I tried the SR1a with my Benchmark HPA4 preamp and single AHB2 amp with a Delta Sigma Matrix Mini-i 3 Pro DAC. It was too hot on top and underpowered. It was close to 85% on the volume for moderate volume. Next week I am getting my second AHB2 for my Thiel CS3.7's to run in mono and I bet that that will be an excellent power source. I think a warm DAC will make it also very good with the Benchmark stack. Though I doubt ANY 2 channel amp will be as good as this RAAL HSA-1b preamp/headphone amp (no amp interface or speaker wires to cross).

 

I heard my warm sounding SACD player, the Sony SCD-1 (with mods), on the Benchmark stack and it was close to the HSA-1b in sound though underpowered in AHB2 stereo mode.

 

BTW - thanks to this thread I was able to hear this stuff.

 

Happy New Year. 

[yyz]

After more listening sessions I have decided to get the HSA-1b. Crossing the Amp Interface and the speaker wires just cannot be as good as a direct connection with the HSA-1b.  The SR1a is so good that I do not want to short change it with an external amp.

 

This is an amazing review of the HSA-1b. 

 

https://forum.headphones.com/t/raal-requisite-hsa-1b-switch-drive-amplifier-review/9973?u=mrcypruz

 

[yyz]

Currently streaming DISK 2 of Santana: The Woodstock Experience. I guess I can now say I was at Woodstock. This disk sounds incredible on the SR1a and HSA-1b. Perfect amount of bass without overwhelming the sound. I recently demoed a $36K speaker with about $45K gear with this same Santana disk. That demo left me fatigued and bummed out. The SR1a makes me feel like I am at the concert.

 

The speaker demo had obvious room acoustic issues. That is also such a cool think about headphones, the room is shown the door.

[yyz]

The have not released it yet. I read it was $1050 on Head-fi. I hope to get one from the RAAL dealer next week to have a listen. Though the stock cable is really working for me.

 

In a few posts above I said that the Sony SCD-1 via my great Benchmark HPA4 preamp into the 2 channel amp and then to the INTERFACE TO AMPLIFIER was almost as good as direct into the HSA-1b. I take that back after more comparisons. The HSA-1b is so much better. 

 

I also did a power cord comparison with the SR1a and the HSA-1b. Normally most "audiophile" cords that I have, Virtual Dynamics, Shunyta (sp?) and others sound similar. However, with the RAAL combo I was easily able to tell differences.  

[yyz]

3 minutes ago, TubeLover said:

Very interesting review, thanks for posting it. While I agree that having the amp connected via the SR1a interface isn't optimal, as good as the HSA-1b appears to be, losing the preamp that I am currently using in the system is not something I would choose to give up. And, as good as the HSA-1b seems, an integrated amplifier at this price is not something I can possibly imagine equaling a truly great stand alone amplifier, and preamp combination, (at far greater cost, of course) much as I wish they would somehow be able to forgo the interface. Just my thoughts. Although I am truly surprised at the level sound quality, and the specific references to midrange liquidity, etc., which aligns strongly with my preferences, that the HSA-1b would appear to provide. It is  a screaming bargain if all of that is accurate, especially as it would place it in a  tiny category of solid state amplification that offers at least some meaningful modicum of cherished tube characteristics. 

 

JC

For me cost does not equate better quality, especially in todays HiFi world.  However, I am not a tube guy so I do not know if this also applies to tube gear.

 

I do think the SR1a needs a warm sounding DAC. The HSA-1b is a bit warm (not annoyingly warm). I am using a backup DAC for  these listening sessions. I am looking to get the Halo  Audio KTE DAC and it should be great with the HSA-1b. I am also looking at the AudioByte Hydra VOX | ZAP | HUB. Likely getting both.

 

Here are some complaints with the SR1a:

1) not as comfortable as my Meze Empy. The SR1a is very light but it is not easy fitting on my bald head. Some hair would help with these headphone. Though this is a nitpick.

2) I am listening too loud and can damage my hearing if I do too much of this. 

3) I cannot really work with these headphones on. You need to stop and listen. My Meze is great for work.

[yyz]

I am just getting too carried away with this new toy. I will adjust the volume to better levels going forward.

 

I was commenting on a Headphone website about my desire to try a warmer DAC to tame a bit of harshness I hear with the Matrix Mini-i 3 Pro. I was given a great list of DACs that are considered warm sounding. However, the thing that was suggested to do first was to apply some DSP to the headphones. I run ROON so I am now trying to figure out a setting that I like. I should have thought of this myself and tonight I created 3 filter preset settings based on my 3 listening requirements:

 

1) Thiel CS3.7 - All Filters off except Convolution filter (by https://accuratesound.ca/)

2) Meze Empyrean - Bypass All Filters

3) RAAL SR1a - All Filters off except Parametric EQ filter 

 

I am going to use the "Brickwall" or "Fast Roll off - minimum" filter on the Matrix DACs filter settings as the baseline and fine tune that with ROON Parametric EQ.

[yyz]

7 hours ago, ShawnC said:

Or try a different amp, which many here have suggested.

I have tried the Benchmark AHB2 with the RAAL Interface to amp +Audience speaker wire. It was not as good as this RAAL headphone amp made specifically for the HSA-1a. The very last resort would be to spend money on another amp with a warm signature. Crossing that Interface to amp and speaker wire do not interest me as being the best solution.

 

After a few minutes with the ROON Parametric EQ I made a very slight adjustment on the treble and I also boosted the bass a tiny bit below 100 Hz. Now that sound is perfect. No fatigue. I was listening until 3AM last night to some hard rock and it was perfect. This is the type of music that can be fatiguing.

 

I will buy a much better DAC in about 6 months, the AudioByte VOX | ZAP | HUB and it may negate the need for the treble adjustment.

 

I should not have sold my Benchmark DAC3B last week. It would have been a better candidate for the Parametric EQ over the Matrix. 

[yyz]

On 1/1/2021 at 10:14 PM, TubeLover said:

Thanks. Any idea of the length of the cable? The original is a bit limiting. 

I will ask and post answer.

[yyz]

I was saying that the HSA-1b is a great amp with the SR1a. Well today I bought another amp, the CODA CSib integrated amp (Sept 2018 build)  that maybe also good with the SR1a. I bought it for my KEF LS50s in another room from where the HSA-1b will hopefully reside. I will hook up the amp interface and compare wit he HSA-1b. It is 150 | 300 in 8 and 4 Ohm. The first 18 watts are Class A. It should sound rather good with the SR1a. It will be nice to have 2 rooms where I can listen to the SR1a.

[yyz]

BTW - I was listening to the Waterboys on the SR1a last night and wow what an experience. I tried that same music on my Theil CS3.7 speakers and it was actually more enjoyable on the SR1a. However, I am severely underpowering the CS3.7's and will have mono blocks on them sometime very soon (already ordered). I expect the Theil to be the winner but the SR1a is sure making quite the impression with me.

[yyz]

On 1/22/2021 at 10:39 AM, ted_b said:

I may not have searched these RAAL threads enough, but have a question:

* I am now a day or so away from trying the interface box and my monoblocks/preamp combo, and comparing it to my Jotunheim-R.  What do folks think of the short included speaker cable umbilicals from RAAL?  Anyone know of better ones that come in the short "umbilical" style (I am not going to use my own speaker cable as they are too long and bulky for my RAAL setup)?

I use Audience Conductor SE for connecting to the interface box. I have 3 of these cables now. The long one is 3 meter and the 2 short ones are around a meter. I bought a long cable and had it chopped up to the 2 shirt ones. I completely forgot that I had the RAAL cables.

 

I will do a test later tonight but I am not sure how burned-in the RAAL wires are. I need to test some DACs so I cannot spend too much time this week to compare the RAAL wires.

 

BTW - I now have an extra Audience Conductor SE with banana on all ends that is gathering dust (if you are interested). Here is a thread on my amp journey with the RAAL,

 

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/best-or-most-interesting-speakers

 

[yyz]

3 hours ago, ted_b said:

YYZ, Nice report over on Audiogon.  I've had my eyes on both those integrateds (Coda and Krell) but for now have found some low cost magic by playing Roon-to-HQPlayer on two different pcs, into the Schitt Jot-R (via Holo Spring KTE dac).  The serendipitous combo of pulling Roon off my HQP server and putting it on my desktop pc for now has given me some warmth and yet tremendous detail (thx to HQPlayer).  As all of us RAAL users have stated, fatigue is one small move away if you don't watch it.  These ear speakers are so incredibly revelatory that all recipes upstream have a significant impact, plus or minus.  And since I am building my lower level audio room for my main listening (not sure what place the RAALs will have once that is opened) I am please that I don't really need to try the interface box and some of my amps.  BUT....your comments about the integrateds like Krell and Coda, along with Jeff and Chris's comments, keep that interface box sitting there staring at me.  🙂

 

 

I have also had the RAAL HSA-1b in the house but was only able to test with RCA. Most of my sources are RCA so I had to use an adapter. The HSA-1b was excellent as I said in prior posts on this thread. However, I will eat my words because  I said that an amp via the interface box cannot be as good as the HSA-1b. The CODA CSiB and KRELL K-300i integrated are just as good with the RAAL SR1a. The Audio Mirror Tubadore III SE was mazing with the Class A of the CODA (first 18 watts) and the KRELL (first 90 watts). Warmth, detail, and power. Just amazing sound. I kept the KRELL and sold the CODA only because of the quality of the internal DAC, especially with fibre optic streaming with an opticalRendu.

 

I just did a quick listen with the amp interface cables provided by RAAL. I only lasted 2 songs. Maybe it is not broken in but I had fatigue with these cables. The bass was missing too. I am assuming they need some break-in. I am not going to play around with these cables. The Audience Conductor SE are great with the interface box. 

 

I agree about everything being important or the RAAL will show it with fatigue (at least for me). I actually like that since it becomes very easy to hear (or feel) a negative change to the system.