RAAL 1995 Immanis
Nov 1, 2024 at 5:14 PM Post #3,226 of 3,747
I don't think that the precision of the details is the main quality of the Immanis. The Shangri Senior is also good, sometimes better.
For me, the main quality of the Immanis is to combine perfect neutrality while being very musical, so much so that we often have the impression of being in the middle of a bubble.

I honestly wish I could merge the Senior and the Immanis together lol. The Immanis is a bit more complete because of the bass, but the Senior definitely has a slight improvement in detail and the size of the picture of sound presented. Like you say though, the Immanis is slightly more neutral and I think the bass for me, adds a pretty important element of musicality as well.

It's really a very, very complete headphone.


Yeah, that's one of the things I picked up straight away, layering / separation is superb but not at the expense of coherence. That in itself is quite the party trick to pull off IMO. I'm one of those who doesn't particularly like super wide stage as most times it spreads the picture out too thinly but I don't hear that at all with these, all images (?) are grand enough to fill the room. Most excellent.

One thing I did notice though is that they need volume for fullness. If really low volume then things are a bit disjointed / big separation.

This was one of my only issues with the x9000 and the Sr1a. Both with out of this world spacing, but somewhat of an incoherent feel for me at times (not always). I just didn't know if Raal would be able to top the Sr1a's technical ability in a standard style headphone, but to my ears, they did.
 
Nov 1, 2024 at 6:29 PM Post #3,227 of 3,747
If really low volume then things are a bit disjointed / big separation
I think it depends on the chain. I found that even in low volume, there’s no perceptible difference, it still sounds very coherent to my ears.

Violins I think sound just slightly (emphasis on slightly) lighter
Relative to my other headphones, Immanis perhaps has the most “weight” for string instruments. I guess it could be due to different chain again.

Edit: I just realized that the impedance on the interface box can definitely affect the sound. Do both of you only have the newer 32 ohm version? I found that 16 ohm works better for me, as it gives a denser overall sound.
 
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Nov 1, 2024 at 7:18 PM Post #3,228 of 3,747
I think it depends on the chain. I found that even in low volume, there’s no perceptible difference, it still sounds very coherent to my ears.


Relative to my other headphones, Immanis perhaps has the most “weight” for string instruments. I guess it could be due to different chain again.

Edit: I just realized that the impedance on the interface box can definitely affect the sound. Do both of you only have the newer 32 ohm version? I found that 16 ohm works better for me, as it gives a denser overall sound.

I would agree that it can be chain-dependent for low volume listening. I’ve certainly listened at lower volumes later at night or early in the morning and was still quite satisfied.

It’s true, I think relative to other headphones it has more weight. I think there’s a tangibility that is almost there, but just barely shy of my perfection for violins. It’s close.

I have the 32 ohm RCD Interface, but I’d be curious to try a TI-1b at 16 ohms to see what difference it makes, though I am not sure how much more density I really need at this point.
 
Nov 1, 2024 at 7:51 PM Post #3,229 of 3,747
Any suggestions on the ideal solid state amp for the Immanis? So far, I don't think my TA HA200 or Ican Phantom are ideal for this headphone. I think it must be capable of more based on what I have read in this forum. I have only had the Immanis for a few hours but right now I don't hear an advantage over the Aperio. It is still early.
 
Nov 1, 2024 at 9:22 PM Post #3,230 of 3,747
Any suggestions on the ideal solid state amp for the Immanis? So far, I don't think my TA HA200 or Ican Phantom are ideal for this headphone. I think it must be capable of more based on what I have read in this forum. I have only had the Immanis for a few hours but right now I don't hear an advantage over the Aperio. It is still early.

Love to help, as I’m sure others would, too. That’s a broad statement— “…don’t hear advantage over Aperio.” Could you clarify what exactly do you mean and in what aspect? Detail separation? Treble? Midrange? Bass? Soundstage?
 
Nov 1, 2024 at 9:23 PM Post #3,231 of 3,747
Go to the SAEQ thread. Immanis + Armageddon looks like a winning combination.
 
Nov 1, 2024 at 9:31 PM Post #3,232 of 3,747
The Eagle has landed! Happy to be in the club.
2024-11-01.jpg
 
Nov 1, 2024 at 9:38 PM Post #3,233 of 3,747
Nov 1, 2024 at 10:33 PM Post #3,235 of 3,747
Nov 1, 2024 at 11:28 PM Post #3,236 of 3,747
Will do! I still want to put a few hours on it! I can tell already that with the Tambaqui, it plays really well with the treble, as it has with all my headphones.
I love my AIC-10 using the Playback Designs MOD-8. Magical combination. I’m awaiting a Immanis home demo.
 
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Nov 2, 2024 at 12:08 AM Post #3,237 of 3,747
I think it depends on the chain. I found that even in low volume, there’s no perceptible difference, it still sounds very coherent to my ears
Ditto. I always listen at really low volume (around 67 db) and find the Immanis superb.
Awesome! Love to hear your thoughts with it on the Riviera!
Yes! Tell us more!
 
Nov 2, 2024 at 12:23 AM Post #3,238 of 3,747
it's sound "weirdly interesting" with direct output. Dark, a bit congested, but still fast and very punchy. Sound much more balance through normal headphone out + Interface.
I’m not getting “congested” on my HSA-1b with the Immanis but admittedly I very consciously paired the HSA with a Lampizator Big7 Mk3 to add even more sense of space to the sonic equation.
 
Nov 2, 2024 at 4:33 AM Post #3,239 of 3,747
I’m not getting “congested” on my HSA-1b with the Immanis but admittedly I very consciously paired the HSA with a Lampizator Big7 Mk3 to add even more sense of space to the sonic equation.
It's "congested" compared to using Immanis with Interface, connect to headphone out HSA-1B. Not congested in term of really collapse of soundstage.
 

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