Alpha Omega Ra

amrishmaggu

New Head-Fier
Alpha omega RA
Pros: - Good bass both qualitatively and quantitatively
- Exceptional lower mids
- Bass is articulate and well defined
- Warm and natural Male vocal
- Smooth and liquid tonality.
- Dark background.
Cons: - Lacks high frequency sparkle
- Upper Definition and clarith is subdued
Alpha Omega Ra IEM - Specification:
1 Beryllium plated Dynamic Driver for Low
2 Sonion Drivers for Low Mid
2 Sonion Drivers for Mid
2 Sonion Electrostatic Drivers for High

First of all I would like thanks Audio Geek brotherhood for sending me the Alpha omega RA tour unit for having a feel of it and share my expressions.

The opinions shared by me are my honest views and nobody asked me to share any biased reviews.



First of all i would like to start with driver details



Driver details

The Alpha Omega Ra constitutes a tribrid configurstion. Drivers includes a 10mm dynamic driver, 4 Sonion BA drivers, and 2 Sonion EST drivers.

The lower frequencies are taken care of by a 10mm beryllium-plated dynamic driver , dual BA drivers for the lower mids and a second dual driver BA set for the upper mids frequencies. Treble section is taken care of by not just 1 but 2 EST drivers.



.Construction

RA has a resin construction which not only is gorgeous to look at but sturdy at the same time. It has a unique fitting posture that sits vertically on your ear rather than conventional horizontal fitting of other iEMs, which is a very good fitting position in my personal view





It has an impedance rating of 28Ω @1kHz with an SPL of 105 dB/Vrms



Sound Impressions



Bass



I am not bass head and i dont look for skull shattering bass but still i am starting my sound impressions with bass. Beacuse its bass is so good in quality and quantity as well that you can really sense the waves and textures very clearly. The texture & feel of the bass was even better than verdandi which is nore than double its price. Thats enough for me to give a good rating to an IEM if it can beat an IEM of double its price in even a single area.

It is a stand out feature of this IEM and i must congratulate the Alpha omega team for wonderful delivery of this section.

It has good amount of sub presence, rumble and slam but it never felt it to be bloated or bass leaking into the upper mids section.





Mids

Mids are good as well. I found it be on warmer side and vocals had good amount of expressions in it.

Lower mids were very tactile and i could accurately hear the bass guitar notes and alacrity. Upper mids were fine too but could have been better as things got to become little bit thin as we are moving to higher frequency spectrum.

Guitar strings timbre was good but could have been better as it sensed a bit less metalic and could not present a shine in lead section.



Treble

I took a lot of time to express for treble coz i didnt want to say anything bad about it. Treble was only section which i found a bit weak. Sparkle was fine thanks to the dual sonions but its presence was not that much palpable.

Also the treble extensions was not that much great. Its shine was getting decayed so early at many occasions where i was waiting to listen the air after cymbals were struck and gradual decay but it was not there in RA.



Conclusion

If someone is looking forward for an IEM with excellent bass and warm luscious mids and an overall musical presentation and can be ok with mediocre treble extensions then Alpha omega RA would be an ideal choice at around 500$. It worths every penny you are spending on it and it deliver way more than its price

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DestinoAzell

New Head-Fier
ALPHA OMEGA RA
the smooth bassy one…

Pros:
- Smooth, laid-back tonality.
- Well-controlled bassline.
- Great for male vocal library.
- Good detail-retrieval despite its dark nature.
- Pitch-black background.
- Fatigue free.
- Highly customizable resin shell.
- Competitively priced.
- Unique tuning


Cons:
- Quantitative rather than qualitative bassline.
- Lacks treble-extension.
- Upper-mids can get a little hot on higher volume.
- Higher octave female vocals can sound a tad too thick.
- Not the most expansive stage.
- Below par resolution.
- Power hungry.
- Potential fit issue.



[MY PERSONAL HEAD-FI GRADING]
1 ★ - Appalling! please avoid this!
2 ★★ Subpar offering, there are better options out there!
3 ★★★ Decent with some caveats! Not a bad pick!
4 ★★★★ Not perfect but solid choice ! This should be in your shortlist. A nice addition to your collection.
5 ★★★★★ One the best in class! You should go right ahead & buy one! A must have!

ALPHA OMEGA RA 3 ½ ★★★

IMG_20240702_174933.jpg

▓▒░ SOUND-SIGNATURE ░▒▓
The RA is a sub-bassy, V-shaped-ish kind of set. Surprisingly, it doesn't sound that aggressive. It sounds more civilized than one might expect. The bass presence is noticeably higher the rest of the frequencies. However, the mid-range offers a good level of intimacy. The lower-mids is neither too recessed or thin. While, the upper-mids has ample of energy with a smooth overtone for a natural vocal rendition.
The treble is definitely on the darker side of the spectrum but it is well executed to keep everything sounds natural.

▓▒░ BASS/LOW-ENDSOUND ░▒▓
- It is a sub-bass oriented bassline. It is thick and sturdy but not as aggressive as you might think.

- The sub-bass presence is plentiful. It extends well down-low with a good amount of sustain. The attack is on the softer side with a neutral rate of decay, that is neither too fast or too long. Other than that, the elements of bass distortion and electronic farts is well heard.

- The mid-bass to upper-bass has a lesser prominence but it still delivers a decent sense of punch and slam when it is call forth.

- Sadly, the ghetto bass replay is not very satisfying. The bound & rebound rate is on the stiffer side. It just doesn’t sound bouncy enough.

- Despite being a bassy set, the elements of reverb or echo is not the most distinct. Which is a typical issue I've found on most resin-based set.

- Although the bass volume is high, it not the most detail bass per say. The sub-bass texture is quite blunted while the mid-bass is not the snappiest nor the tightest in its class. As a result, the sub-bass and mid-bass doesn't have the best of layering as they tend to blend in together. It's got the quantity but quality its lacking still. The dynamic is not there yet. As if the low-end is done by a balance armature rather than a good dynamic driver. And for bassy set, that is questionable.

▓▒░ MID-RANGE /VOCAL ░▒▓
- Despite its bassy nature, the mid-range is quite well separated from the lows which give its mid-region a good amount of clarity.

- Overall, the mid-range in on the intimate side but it is not overly forward.

- Thanks to the warmth coming from the lower harmonics, the overall vocal reproduction sounded lush and rich regardless who sings. Chesty-male vocals seems to benefit from this attribute the most, while high-pitch female tend to a sound a tad too thick.

- Speaking of female vocals, the higher-pitch of the voice has been dialed-down a little. There are times when female vocal just lack that last bit of extension that it needs. Depending on the songs, the vocal can lack that sense of airiness to them. And they don't seem to shout or scream when they do. Its evenly smooth upper-mids response makes it a good "anti-shout" set. Thankfully, they sound energetic enough to not sound boring.

- But what's not so good the RA is instrument like pianos, strings, violins, guitars will sound rather blunted on the attack which is not ideal if you're listen to OSTs or BGM tracks.

- Yes, the vocal transparency is not its strength. Some of the vocal texture or nuances are smoothed-over but it is not severely lacking in micro-detail. At the very least there is no such thing as grainy artifacts, harshness or edginess is heard. There is with a whiff of sibilance issue on some vocals but its bearable. All and all, it gives listeners a smooth and euphonic vocal experience that is soothing to the ears.


▓▒░ TREBLE/HIGHS ░▒▓
- The treble response is probably one of the darkest among the tribrids I’ve heard. It rolls-off way earlier than expected. Airy and open sounding treble is not what it is aiming to be. With the bass region dominating the tri-frequency, it is bound to happened.

Most of the time, the treble performance is carried by the lower part of the treble region which gives off a decent amount of energy and sparkles.

- The treble may not be the most transparent in its class but it sounds remarkably clean and clear. The level of clarity it possesses is what gives the treble a good sense of definition. Despite its darker nature, most of the treble elements can still be heard if you paid attention closely. It's got none of those degrading qualities such as grain, haze or distortion at all. It is surprisingly well-sorted in its response. Unless you cranked the volume up-high, there is hardly any unwanted resonance or peaks is heard.

- Having said that, the treble could use with a better attack definition. They can come across a tad too veiled or smooth-out in the mix. Instruments like cymbals, constant hi-hats or even percussion like drum-hit will have a more smoother-edge to them. Meanwhile, synthetic noise such electronics zings, shimmers or electric guitar seems to lack that extra bite that it needs. Thankfully the decay-rate was on point as the note ends when it needs to be.

- Despite the inherent flaws, the treble is still reasonably well-tuned. It is never offensive to listen to which is very ideal for a fatigue free listening session.

- Other than that, it is extremely forgiving to low-fi tracks. Most of the time you'll get annoyed by those poorly recorded tracks. But with the RA, it gives you a peace of mind. Gone is the bad artifact.

- In-short, from a dark treble perspective, this level of treble performance seems to work rather nicely.


✧ ════ •TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE• ════ ✧
- The RA's HEAD-STAGING is pretty ordinary. The perceived stage dimension is not that expansive. It is not the widest nor it gives much depth to the stage. However, the head-room is surprisingly tall. That must be the vent doing its work. As a result, the overall presentation is more on the intimate side. Each of elements of sound were still be given an adequate amount of space, even when the stage is crowded.

- The SPATIAL IMAGING OR INSTRUMENT PLACEMENT between channels are quite accurate but due to the darker treble response, the image-placement is not razor sharp.

- Which also affect its LAYERING AND SEPARATION capabilities. The vocals and instrument are mostly well separated. They never seem to face a major congestion issue. However, the separation level isn’t the best in class. With the imaging prowess aren't as vivid, those separated elements doesn't have the clearest spot.

- The overall RESOLUTION AND DETAIL RETRIVIAL is slightly behind its rival. But on the grand scheme of things, the level of micro-detail is not severely lacking when considering its tuning approach.

- The overall TONE AND TIMBRE is not the most analogue I’ve heard but it is by no means unnatural. Though the notes are nicely weighted, in the pursuit of being smooth, most of the attack-definition are softened which causes instrument hits to sound abit blunted and muffled. This very essence takes away some of the realism of the music.

- The DYNAMIC-RANGE is mediocre at best. Most of the time, the notes could use with greater impact as the contrast between the loudest and softest is quite subtle.

- The VOLUME SCALING is complicated. It cannot be played on lower volume as it will sound too bassy and low-res. But if you crank it too high, the treble will start to get peaky. The sweet spot is around low-mid volume [YMMV].

- Based on the specs, the DRIVER QUALITY is top notch. However, the implementation is not quite there yet. I believe you could squeeze more performance out of that 7-drivers. And not mention, it requires more power to achieve good fidelity. On a low powered AMP, it can sound underwhelming. At least, driver setup sounds coherent and harmonious with minimal timbre contrast. And its got no driver-flex issue.

So far It performs quite well for what it's trying to be. But how does it stacks against some of the well-known tribrids?

IMG_20240702_161005.jpg


Here's a simplified HEAD-2-HEAD

ALPHA OMEGA x KBEAR WIDE 8C GRAPHENE x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (S) vs
IO VOLARE x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (M) vs
LETSHUOER EJ07M x HAKUGEI SKYRIM x TANGZU SANCAI BALANCE (M)


<BASS>
Bass-Shelf : RA > V > EJ
Tonality (Warm-Neutral-Dry) : V (WN) > RA (WM) > EJ (N)
Subs Extension/Quantity: RA > EJ > V
Subs Attack : RA > EJ > V
- RA has the highest pressure, EJ is close behind. V softest abit loose abit a muffle.
Sub-bass kick: RA = dung-dung > EJ = thung-thung > V = bhung-bhung.
Sub-bass detail/texture: EJ > RA > V
- Although, the EJ don’t have the same volume as the RA, EJ subs have better clarity and detail. V rumbling detail & texture is the weakest.
Ghetto Bass (elasticity/decay rate): EJ > RA > V
- The EJ is bounciest.
Bass Distortion: EJ > RA > V
- The EJ’s has the clearest bass distortion.
Bass Drop: EJ > RA > EJ.
Mid-bass Presence: RA > V > EJ
Mid-bass Attack (Punch/Slam/Thud): V > EJ > RA,
- The EJ hit faster and slightly deeper than RA but RA hits bigger, thicker and heavier. Meanwhile V is a mixture of the 2, it carries similar width and depth in terms of impact of the RA but slightly slower than EJ and RA.
Mid-bass detail/clarity: EJ > V > RA
- The EJ mid-bass is cleaner and clearer than RA but RA has greater substance. V sits in between EJ and RA with a hint of more warmth than the other 2.


<MID-RANGE/VOCAL>
Mid-Range/Vocal Intimacy = EJ > V > RA.
- The EJ has the most forward, biggest image resolution of the 3.
Male Vocal: RA > EJ > V
- The RA just hits the right balance in terms of note-weight, clarity and energy. The EJ lacks abit of that density and overtone. On V, it can sound push-back or thinner at times.
Female Vocal: EJ > V > RA
- The EJ performs at higher octave while the RA is better for lower-harmonic female. V is in between. Overall, EJ performs better since it has no sibilance issue, greatest clarity with decent timbre.
Voice Range: V > RA > EJ
- The V & RA seems to have slightly higher extension. The EJ can sound a tad too safe and boring lacking that of crescendo on transient.
Transparency: EJ > V > RA
- Nuances like breath, instruments hits can be heard a hair clearer on EJ.
Clarity: EJ > RA > V
- Sometimes V vocals have a hint of haze/grain and the background is not as pitch-black vs the EJ or RA. The EJ is super clean by comparison.
Tonality (Warm>Neural>Bright): V(W-N) >RA(W-N) >EJ (N)
- The V has more apparent warmth to the voice/instrument. The RA slightly less. The EJ is almost uncoloured.
Tone & Timbre: RA = V > EJ.
- Depending on tracks the RA and V can out-performed each other, their mid-range somewhat sounds more natural and whereas EJ can sound too clean and neutral.
Transient/Attack: RA > EJ > V
- The RA seems to have heftier note-weight. The EJ is fast but less impactful. The attack on V is the softest. These traits will become most apparent on instrumental replay such as pianos/guitars/violins/strings.
Airiness: V > EJ > RA.
- The V sounds abit more airy-er thanks to its treble extension.
Reverb Level: V > RA = EJ.
- Due to longer decay, elements of overtone are better on The V. While EJ and RA are night equal.
Sibilance Control: EJ > RA > V.
- The EJ had 0 sibilance issue. The V is the least forgiving here. V has higher tendencies to get sibilance on male than female.
Shout Control: E J> V > RA.
- The EJ the most anti-shout set of the 3. The V comes in 2nd with borderline control. While with the RA, it can get abit hot on some female vocal but it is never too shouty.


<TREBLE/HIGHS>
Tonality (Dark->Neutral->Bright): RA (D) > EJ (DN) > V (NB)
- RA treble region is the most veiled here with V is being the brightest, the most sparkling here.
Air-Extension: V > EJ > RA
- V have the most air presence among the 3. The EJ and RA are closer to each other.
Evenness: EJ > V > RA
- All of them doesn't sound peaky on low-vol. but once you listen to them louder, the peaks will start to show up. Hence, the result.
Transparency: V > EJ > RA.
- V has the best transparency here. You do hear abit more twinkly-sparkling detail with the V. But the EJ is close behind while the RA seems to have the lowest-RES here.
Clarity: EJ > RA > V
- Quite consistently, there is a layer of haze or micro-grain somewhere around the treble region with the V and it sounds busier, RA is seemingly cleaner. While the EJ is simply the clearest and the cleanest.
Timbre: EJ > < V > RA
- Sometimes the longer decay on V makes constant hi-hats/cymbals to linger longer than it should. RA consistently has the more natural decay with EJ being 2nd. E-guitar replay on V is the most satisfying here with its wider attack and energy it carries. The EJ’s E-guitar is abit muffle by comparison due to softer attack and less weighty. The RA does abit better due to its heftier E-guitar tone. The EJ doesn’t like rock/metal music. But with Saxophones as well as synthetic noise such as electronics zing, shimmer, twinkling, distortion etc, the EJ takes it.


< TECHNICALITIES >

STAGE-DIMENSIONS
Width: V > EJ > RA
Height: RA > V > > EJ
Depth: V > RA > EJ
Background Darkness: EJ > RA > V
Imaging (Accuracy + Sharpness): EJ > V > RA
Separation & Layering (Effortlessness & Consistency): EJ > V > RA
Detail & Resolve: V > EJ > RA
Instrument Replay/Timbre: V = RA > EJ
Dynamic-Range/Transient: V > RA > EJ
Ambience Level: V > EJ > RA
Clarity: EJ > V > RA
Build/Comfort: V > EJ > RA
Value (As Tested): V > RA > EJ
Personal Enjoyment: > EJ > V > RA


"If you're after for smooth bassy sound, the RA is the best choice here. Despite it's short-coming in technicalities, it is such a pleasant set to listen to. The VOLARE is the most well-balanced here, the better all-rounder and probably the safest pick of the 3, but it is kind of boring, The EJ07 on the other hand sounds the most special here. It has that X-factor that makes audiophiles long after this set. That immersive staging and high level of clarity is truly something else. though, It is not going to be for everybody. But it will my personal pick which is why I owned one."

CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW ON
(
1) IO VOLARE : SOON
(2) LETSHUOER EJ07 :
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/letshuoer-ej07.26368/review/34530/

FINAL THOUGHTS
My feelings on most Alpha Omega products have been rather lackluster. But with the RA, I quite like it. I don’t mind recommending the RA, if you’re searching for a smooth bassy set. Yes, for around 570$ USD, it does not represent a great value. First off, the tuning is not going to work for everybody. Secondly, from a technical stand-point, it falls short ever so slightly behind its competitors but that is not the reason you buy it. You buy the RA because you love the tuning. To me it is a guilty pleasure set. If you love it, you’ll order one.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit my ears well. I guess it is not meant for me. So, be sure to try it out beforehand. Do not blind buy the RA.

[IEM-SCORING-BOARD]
RATING
1: Trash (F)
2: Horrible (E)
3: Bad (D)
4: Subpar (C)
5: Decent/Average (B)
6: Good (A-)
7: Great (A)
8: Superb. (A+)
9: Masterclass/Top-Drawer (S)
10: Perfection (P)

ALPHA OMEGA RA [1DD-4BA-2EST] [3-WC]

MSRP : 563$ USD
Tuning : Mild V-shaped (Sub-bass boost)
= Quality =
Bass: 7.0/10 Mids: 6.0/10 Treble: 6.5/10
Male/Female: 7.0/6.0
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 6.0/6.0
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 6.5/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 6.5/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 5.5-7-6
Layering & Separation: 6.5/10
Stereo Imaging 6/10
Ambience : 6/10
Clarity : 6.5/10
Build/Comfort: 8/3
Value: 3/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 6/10
SETUP (As tested)

KBEAR Wide 8C Graphene 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (S)
Tanchjim SPACE



IO VOLARE [1DD-4BA-4EST] [3-WC]

MSRP : 599$ USD
Tuning : Balanced Mild V-shaped.
= Quality =
Bass: 6.5/10 Mids: 7.0/10 Treble: 7.5/10
Male/Female: 6.0/6.5
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 7.5/7.5
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 7/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 7/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 6.5-6.5-7
Layering & Separation: 7.0/10
Stereo Imaging 6.5/10
Ambience : 7/10
Clarity : 7.5/10
Build/Comfort: 7/9
Value: 3/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 6.5/10
SETUP (As tested)

Stock 6N SPC 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (M)
Tanchjim SPACE


LETSHUOER EJ07 [1DD-2BA-4EST] [3-WC]

MSRP : 699$ USD
Tuning : Diffused-Field Like.
= Quality =
Bass: 7.0/10 Mids: 7.5/10 Treble: 7.0/10
Male/Female: 6.5/7.5
= Technicalities =
Detail & Resolve: 7.0/7.0
Instrument Replay/Timbre : 6/10
Dynamic-Range/Transient : 6/10
Head-stage [W-H-D]: 6-5.5-5.5
Layering & Separation: 8.0/10
Stereo Imaging 7.0/10
Ambience : 6.5/10
Clarity : 9.0/10
Build/Comfort: 7/5
Value: 4/10 [AS TESTED]
Personal Enjoyment: 7.0/10
SETUP (As tested)

Hakugei Skyrim 4.4 PLUG
Tangzu Sancai Balanced (M)
Tanchjim SPACE


========================================================================

SOURCE & GEARS

Native FLAC Files [44.1Khz 16bits-96Khz 24bits]

Foobar2000 [ROG Laptop] [Ugreen USB C Adapter]
Huawei P20 PRO [Phone][ App- Foobar2000]

========================================================================

PLAYLIST/TEST-TRACKS

1977 Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
1982 Chicago – Hard to say I'm sorry.
2003 NARUTO Original Soundtrack I – Wakiagaru Toushi
2008 K.will (케이윌) – 소원 (Great King Sejong OST Part.1)
2009 Maksim – Exodus
2010 Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou (OST) – Kokoro no Oku De Ha
2014 Grabbitz – Here with you now.
2014 BoA – MASAYUME CHASING
2014 Hyolyn – 안녕 Good bye
2015 KOKIAI Found You
2015 K MISSING KINGS (OST) - New Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - Return of Kings
2016 K RETURN OF KINGS (OST) - If you die.
2017 Berry Goodman – Zutto (ずっと)
2017 SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:mizuki – ViEW

2017 Namie Amuro – Hope
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - In Pursuit Of
2019 K SEVEN STORIES (OST) - Lost Small World
2019 Blade & Soul (OST) – Half-Moon Lake
2019 CAROLE & TUESDAY VOCAL COLLECTION Vol.1 – Light a Fire
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – BAE – BaNG!!!
2020 Paradox Live Opening Show (1st E.P) – cozmez – Where They At
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – GET NAKED (Kiyoshi Sugo Remix)
2020 倖田來未 (Kumi Koda) – again (MATZ Remix)
2020 premiere fleurs – プリンシパル
2020 Love Live! Nijigasaki – 朝香果林 (Karin Asaka) – VIVID WORLD
2020 Fujii Kaze – へでもねーよ”/Hedemo Ne-YoSeishun Sick
2020 King Gnu – 三文小説 /Sanmon Shosetsu
2021 OWV – Fifth Season
2021 加藤 ミリヤ (Miliyah) feat. Yoshida Brothers – この夢が醒めるまで
2021 Aoi Teshima ただいま
2021 Official髭男dism – Cry Baby
2021 Chanmin BIJIN 美人 – Morning Mood
2021 門脇更紗 (Sarasa Kadowaki) – きれいだ
2021 Mirei Touyama – 美忘録
2021 SELECTION PROJECT Vol.1 – Only one yell -天沢灯ソロver.-
2022 Belle (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – Million Miles Away (ENG vers.)
2022 rei (E-girls) – Dark Hero.
2022 rei (E-girls) – IDNY
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – Bleecker Chrome - You will shine
2022 I can fly (Special Edition) – YOSHIKI EZAKI x Bleecker Chrome - UP
2022 BEAST TAMER (OST) – じんわり感じている幸せ
2022 Ado – 会いたくて
2022 Ado – 踊
2023 La prière Sweet Dreams
2023 Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season ED – Luck Life – しるし
2023 UMAMUSUME PRETTY DERBY - Hat on your Head!
2023 Anna – 花のように (Hana no You ni)
2023 riria. – 貴方の側に (Anata no Soba ni)
2024 Dungeon Meshi OP – BUMP OF CHICKEN – Sleep Walking Orchestra
2024 Ernie Zakri, Ade Govinda - Masing Masing
2024 Paradox Live THE ANIMATION OST25 幻影武雷管 - Trauma
2024 Bartender Kami no Glass OP – Takaya Kawasaki – Stardust Memory

2024 Maou no Ore ga Dorei Elf ED – Sayaka Yamamoto – Blue Star
2024 Spice and Wolf Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf OP – Hana Hope – Tabi no Yukue/ Destination of the journey
2024 Tonari no Youkai-san ED – Aoi Kubo – Iro no Naka (風媒花)


★ Main-Test-Tracks/ A glimpse of what listen to 90% of the of time.


Do take my words for what it’s worth. Afterall, I am just one man. ╮(╯▽╰)╭

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! HAVE A GOOD DAY WHEREVER YOU ARE! TAKE CARE!

Disclaimer:
- This is a loaner unit. Big thanks to the @Andy Audio Vault and @ Edmund King (Facebook) for making this possible!

EXTRA PHOTOS
IMG_20240702_174318.jpg
IMG_20240702_174535.jpg
IMG_20240702_174454.jpg
Last edited:

n0varay

New Head-Fier
Pros: -
> Decently accessorized
> Gorgeous aesthetics with premium resin shells
> Price to performance ratio
> Warm tonality with excellent presence and clarity in the midrange
> +13dB sub-bass elevation for bass aficionados
> Thick, airy bass with excellent depth
> Above average detail retrieval
Cons: -
< Average soundstage
< Average resolution
< Lacking treble extension
< Large shell may not fit those with smaller ears
< Requires substantial amplification for optimal performance

Alpha Omega Ra – Ra-markably Exhilarating​

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Disclaimers​

  • The reviewed IEM is a borrowed personal unit. Regardless, all the opinions are original ideas, there is zero influence from any 3rd party or external opinions.
  • No EQ or filter presets were used during the entire review period.
  • Sound evaluation are kept neutral and does not include 3rd party accessories (ie; eartips, cable, reversible mods)



Introduction​

Alpha Omega Custom In-Ear or better known as AO for short has enjoyed excellent spell during recent times, seeing brand new handcrafted models of custom in-ears rolling out of their production line. Entering midway during 2023 last year, AO has released four new models such as the Voyager, a collaboration project with Hillaudio Malaysia which I have covered last time. Next, was the Indomitus, followed by the continuation of their flagship sequel, Omegon MKII and lastly the latest one which I will be reviewing this time, is the Alpha Omega Ra. Every time AO released a brand new model, I cannot help myself being excited and eagerly anticipated to try out the models for myself.

Luckily, with the help of my audio buddies that I have met online, I was kindly offered to test and review the Alpha Omega Ra at my own comfort. Huge shout-out and appreciation for the kind offer. At the heart of this earpiece, AO has presented to us 7-drivers total of tribrid design for the Ra. Combining one beryllium plated dynamic-driver, 4 Sonion balanced armatures for its low-mid and midrange frequencies and lastly 2 Sonion electrostatic drivers for the treble feeded through an in-house developed 4-way passive crossover. While that may seem mouthful enough to say, this whole package comes with a price tag of only RM2668 or equivalent to US$563 (rounded-off). Hence, with that let’s get on with the review.



Unboxing Experience​

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Packaging of the Ra was minimal and straightforward, similar to most of AO offering in their catalog albeit midrange or flagship models. Presentation was overall basic whereby there is no such premium feature when compared to other brands. Nonetheless, what is more important is certainly what’s inside the package and the monitors itself. On the sleeve cover there is a branding logo on the front, a specification list and a diagram of the frequency response at the back. By sliding the sleeve either top or bottom unveils the main box.

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Flipping the main box cover, unveils the monitor itself placed snug inside a thick foam cut out. As we explore further AO have included in the package, one custom made premium casing made from faux leather complemented with a well-padded velvet upholstery in the inside to store your monitors. Stored in the casing as well is the stock cable and 3 pairs of silicone eartips that what seems to be similar of AT07 eartips which comes in various sizes (S,M,L).



Cable​

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AO has certainly hit the nail on the head with the cable aesthetics, which further compliments the overall aesthetics of the Ra. In terms of the build and material, AO went to choose a 4 core, gold plated silver cable which, I reckon are SPC cables. Hands on experience using the cable was overall great, similarly to other AO monitors which I have tried in the past, such as the Lambda, Iota and Omegon MKI. The cable is insulated with a soft pliable yellowish PVC material which further radiates its golden charm. Braiding quality on this are neat and fairly secure, the connectors are made out of lightweight stainless steel. At the end of each 2-pin connectors, there are no such indication of “L” or “R” other than the plastic bit which holds the two tiny pins in red and clear.



Specifications​

  • Driver(s): 1 Beryllium Plated Dynamic-driver, 2 Sonion Low-mid BA, 2 Sonion Mid BA, 2 Sonion EST Drivers with 4-way Passive Crossover
  • Impedance: 28 Ohms
  • Sensitivity: 105dB/SPL
  • Frequency Response: 10Hz-40kHz
  • Cable: 4 core, gold plated silver cable, 2-pin (0.78mm) to 3.5mm connectors



Build and Comfort​

With there are being so much drivers cramped inside the Ra, it is no surprise to see this monitor to have such large shell which are made with premium resin using a custom made universal mold. The motive chosen by AO to decorate this earpiece is inspired by galaxies or milky way given that the overall colour language were predominantly white with a touch of pinkish hue and golden glitters. Of course, customers can opt to add their own touch of creativity to design their own customized earpiece via personal consultation. But even for the universal variant, the artwork quality for Ra looks absolutely stunning and gorgeous.

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One notable feature aspect that strikes me the most when inspecting the design for the Ra was the existence of large vent port on each side of the monitor, positioned next to the 2-pin connectors. Curious with my finding, I brought the matter into a discussion among audiophile buddies including Clement, the man behind Alpha Omega inside a small WhatsApp group chat. Little did I knew, my wild guess of the “secret sauce” was true, a similar feature of FIR Audio’s ATOM Venting technology. Which AO call it as Alpha Omega Proprietary Venting System that reduces pressure build up in a sealed ear canal, hence provides greater comfort, less ear fatigue and indirectly affects the overall bass delivery which I will further explain in sound evaluation.

The overall texture of the shell is smooth to the hand and polished. At the nozzle end however it was not quite refined as there are some unevenness when compared to other IEMs I tried recent times that shares similar build material. Even though comfort varies across users, I personally consider the design was very comfortable and ergonomic with an out sticking design on that acts like a supporting feature that naturally slides into my concha ensuring a snug and secure seal when using the IEM. The feather light build allows me to use the Ra comfortably, even for long hours. Analyzing inside of the earpieces, seeing all of the wiring are neat and professionally made albeit the inside cavity is apparently empty. Hence, it is best to not drop these gorgeous earpieces from tall height or onto hard surface since to avoid serious damage to the internal components.



Test Equipment​

  • Local Hi-Res files > Astell&Kern SE100 M.Chat (Linear Phase Fast Roll-off Filter)
  • Tidal (Master) + Local Hi-Res files via Sony Music Centre > Sony Xperia 1 V (DSEE Ultimate + Dolby Atmos - OFF)
Readers may be advised that other than preference and hearing capabilities, equipment variations could also result to different opinions. Thus, those with premium and much refined equipment may yield greater results.



Power Requirements​

When looking through the specification numbers, the Ra seems to be a friendly monitor to be driven directly through a smartphone. Although the case is true, this IEM does benefit from higher output number as greater dynamics can be achieved when properly amped.

Driving it straight from my Sony Xperia 1 V, I had to turn up the volume between 10-13/30 to achieve a comfortable listening experience. Plugging the Ra into my Astell&Kern SE100 on both balanced and unbalanced output requires me to turn the volume wheel up to 60-70/150 on unbalanced, meanwhile on balanced requires me to dial downwards to 50/150 at most.



Initial Impression​

Since this IEM is a borrowed personal unit, I need not worry regarding burn-in phase for the IEM itself prior to sound evaluation. Throughout the analysis, I paired up the Ra with a neutral A&K SE100 source with Linear Phase Fast Roll-off Filter chosen given that it’s the most natural sounding filter compared to default. Test tracks used can be found down below.

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Frequency response for Ra, taken from Alpha Omega Official Instagram page.
Alpha Omega Ra is a mildly V-shaped pair of monitors that exudes warm, musical sound signature with prominent emphasis mainly in the sub-bass region. Approximately, the graph starts at least from +13dB in the 20Hz frequency which then gradually drops before 500Hz frequency. This results to a warm tonal balance, rich and coloured sound, however Ra does not sound weak at all in the higher frequencies. Upper-mids and top end of the frequencies are elevated a couple decibels shy below the bass shelf.

Moreover, pinna region on Ra is scooped out by a few decibels to keep preserve vocal naturalness which I appreciate the most. Past the 10kHz frequencies however, I could notice Ra fell short to present better than average treble extension even when compared to my dual-BA reference Audio Technica ATH-IM02. Regardless, the usage of EST in this earpiece, added with the vent ports fortunately, kept the Ra in the game because this IEM has tons of detail retrieval, good resolving treble and excellent airiness.

Low Frequency (Bass)
Being its most valuable asset and strongest attribute, Ra has an absurdly deep low rumbling bass and wide extension in the upper-bass to lower-mids. The elevated sub-bass produced by the single beryllium plated DD gives the Ra a powerful subwoofer effect, capable of rendering detailed textured low-bass without any sort of muddiness. While mid-bass and upper-bass delivery has moderate speed, bass slam resembles a thick yet airy “thud” sound rather than boomy, which was a false assessment. Each bass slam has an emphasized note weight and impact due to the boosted sub-bass, additionally bass decay and transients are slow and extended providing slightly above average depth reach from the loudest to the quietest of bass

Coming back to my earlier comment regarding the functionality of the large vent port on Ra, this similar feature to FIR Audio’s ATOM Venting system allows the Ra to produce not only the deep rumble sub-bass and keeping internal air pressure at bay, but it is also responsible for the natural dispersion for each bass slam. It can be quite difficult to explain it in words but a simple test you can do is by covering the vent ports with blu tacks or tape. From my own analysis, I could hear there was a noticeable amount of resonance within the chamber with the mid-bass hits with a slight more aggressive.

Middle Frequency (Mid)
Despite the Ra could be considered as a bass heavy and many might associate it to an overly warm, dark sound. It was not entirely the case with Ra, the lower-mids blends superbly with the excess upper-bass. That being said, the midrange handled by four Sonion balanced armature units are tuned slightly north to neutral in terms of tonal balance.

Moving into the 1kHz frequency and above, AO did a fairly stunning job to keep the midrange fairly forward, natural with excellent presence for such tuning without being overwhelmed by the heavy bass. In the upper-mids, Ra in my opinion has a proper pinna gain, which I reckon AO did manage to scoop a couple decibels from frequencies around 2k-3.5kHz without sacrificing detail within the midrange considering this is a smoother tuned monitor.

High Frequency (Treble)
Treble tuning of Ra has a decent amount of sparkle and energy which honestly I was expecting a bit more considering AO has opt for dual Sonion EST drivers. But either way, the treble was still crisp, very capable gushing out low and high level of detail. To add onto that as well, I also did test Ra with some of my sibilant test tracks and it performed wonderfully well to keep sibilant under radar.

However, treble extension was where I personally felt Ra was lacking, due to that instruments that is played at high frequencies does not feel quite realistic. Comparatively speaking, while I was swapping back and forth with my reference monitors, Audio Technica ATH-IM02. In summary, if you prioritize treble satisfaction then these may not suit you, but if you’re in the market for something with strong bass, high musicality and without losing detail, Ra does it exceptionally well.



Technicality​

From a technical perspective, soundstage on Ra was average at best. There was decent amount of width but in terms of height, it was surprisingly tall. Interesting enough, due to the exceptional level of airiness coming from the vent ports, I initially thought Ra has a wide soundstage until I went on and play a couple more tracks to confirm my evaluations. Spatial imaging was sligthy above average, it was quite accurate but not quite as good when compared to the likes of Etymotic Evo which unfortunately I could not compare thoroughly in this review. Regardless, Ra separates handles various elements playing simultaneously well even with busier tracks, it does not sound congested nor resulting to melding. Layering was average at best, due to the lack of depth some of the instruments and other elements included are pushed into the same row.

Although the tuning on Ra prioritizes smoothness and musicality, these does not felt lacking in detail. Macrodetails and small nuances are present yet not overdone, however the overall resolution was only as far as average. Lastly, wraping it off with the dynamic range test for Ra is rated at average. Utilizing the Ultimate Headphone Test - ABYSS Headphone dynamic range test as a reference. In which explained in short, a sample sound of a drum and a bell are played simultaneously as much as 7 counts, but only the sound of the bells will become quieter. Hence, from a scale of 7 counts, Ra was able to produce an audible 5 out of 7 counts.



Comparison(s)​

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  • Audio Technica ATH-IM02
Even from the graph one could tell that Ra is much bassier than the IM02 by a long shot, pretty much beats it easily in the bass department with ease. That being said, IM02 provides better resolution and overall cleaner bass response compared to Ra which has a slight bass bleed into the lower-mids. In the midrange and treble, is where the IM02 shines due to the differences in its tuning.
Upper-mids are much more forward, natural and analog sounding, however Ra handles midrange detail a tad better with blacker background. Treble on both monitors are similarly relaxing and very smooth. Unfortunately, as I mentioned about the lack of extension on Ra was also where the IM02 simply outshines it including other technical aspects such as detail resolution, dynamic range and soundstaging.
  • Etymotic Evo
For this one, I have to do it by memory since I only manage to compare both of these side by side for less than 10 minutes. Hence, I will not go into detail regarding these two and only compare the attributes that I could recall. Most obviously when comparing both, soundstaging, detail retrieval and resolution on Evo was night and day clearly blows Ra out of the park.
Both monitors does go deep into the sub-bass, however Ra does a better job at definition and packs more weight but Evo handled texture a tad better and detailed. Midrange was obviously leaner with colder tonal balance on the Evo. Treble was much more exciting and crisper on Evo, while Ra had a fuller treble note. Both monitors have similar problems when it comes to treble extension, but Evo has a slight advantage over Ra.



Eartip Combination(s)​

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AO Ra with the provided stock pair of eartips which were used throughout the sound evaluation.

  • E Pro EP00
One of my favourite pairing combination with the Ra, great increase in the midrange quality, vocals are much more forward with better clarity. Bass slam were tighter and controlled. Treble is a tad subdued but in return, it yields greater treble extension and much natural soundstage, airiness were not affected in any negative manner.
  • Azla Xelastec
Also my favourites, sounds similar to the EP00 for most parts, although treble is much crisper, more sparkle and detail retrieval with these. Airiness stays similar but with soundstaging sounded a tad boxy. Provides much secure seal and requires less adjustment into the ear canal compared to EP00.
  • Tangzu Tang Sancai (Balanced)
Sounds most balance with the Ra, bass slam feels woolly, rounded and immersive. Midrange is still recessed but brought slightly forward than stock.
  • Triple Flange
Similar to Tang Sancai, kept most of the bass quantity. The difference between both is that triple flange sounds a tad tighter. Soundstaging however, was the narrowest out of the bunch, but instead you will get the best detail retrieval due to its being closer to eardrum.
  • Dunu S&S
Decent combination, sounds similar to stock but with slightly much forward midrange. Treble were splashy unfortunately.



Purchasing Links and Where to Get​

Alpha Omega Official Website
https://www.alphaomegaciem.com/ra



Conclusion​

While I was sitting down and just take a moment to appreciate a sound signature that is north by miles away from my flat neutral preference. I could see how Ra would slot itself quite easily to those who would want an upgrade from for example, Thieaudio Hype 2 or such monitors that is similar to that and definitely for bassheads as well. Ra was definitely also sound way different to the last couple of models from AO I have tested from the past. It felt much more safer, friendly and forgiving compared to the Lambda, Zeta, Iota or even their first flagship Omegon MKI. Considering the amount of premium components you would get, such as dual Sonion EST units (per side) below $600 price tag, comparatively less than how much other premium brands would offer does make it a good deal.

Despite some setbacks, Ra is still in my opinion a very good pair of in-ear monitors goes absolutely perfect for relaxing, casual listening when you’re commuting and need something in your ears that sounds good. The Ra has a mildly V-shape curve, while some might assume its U-shape by referring from the official graph. Regardless, main point here it that Ra could provides listener a full blanket of warm bass due to the elevated +13dB sub-bass region. Bass slams are also powerful with great depth yet still nicely articulated. AO’s clever tuning allows the midrange and upper-mids on Ra to maintain good forwardness and naturalness, thanks to the scoop within pinna gain area. Last but not least, the implemented in-house developed pressure venting system allows the Ra to sound airy and overall absolutely pleasant to hear.

As a final thought, I’m thoroughly glad that AO has come out with new releases, expanding their catalogue and improving their portfolio gathering fans from inside and outside of the country. Thus, wrapping up my review for this time and hopefully we will see more interesting releases from Alpha Omega in the future!



Test Tracks

Untuk Perempuan Yang Sedang Di Pelukan - Payung Teduh 44.1kHz

A Poem Titled You – Taeyeon 44.1kHz

Anesthetize (Live) – Porcupine Tree DSD256

The Devil in I - Slipknot44.1kHz

Hunter – Björk 44.1kHz

Hollow (16-Bit Remix) – Björk 44.1kHz

La vaguelette (Original Game Soundtrack) - HOYO-MiX 44.1kHz

Rythm - Jamey Haddad; Lenny White; Mark Sherman 44.1kHz

Kimigatame - SuaraDSD11.2MHz

Furiko – Uru 44.1kHz

Automatic - Hikaru Utada 44.1kHz

In My Room - Hikaru Utada 44.1kHz

Colors (Live in Studio) - Black Pumas 192kHz

Timbres – Yosi Horikawa 44.1kHz

Aquatic Mouth Dance – Red Hot Chilli Peppers 192kHz
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