RAAL 1995 Immanis

Nov 4, 2024 at 11:41 AM Post #3,271 of 5,621
It’s post like these & @Kiats private conversation feedback that’s making me decide secretly what I wanna offload to fund an Immanis!! Prob is I’m so Staxed that’ll be a massive cutover.

I agree with @paradoxper that I wouldn’t blindly buy it.

I don’t remember if you where you are located, but if happen to be in Southern California, specifically in the Orange County area, you’re more than welcome to give it a try here!
 
Nov 4, 2024 at 2:53 PM Post #3,272 of 5,621
For those running Immanis from speaker taps, do you find it makes a notable difference vs regular HP out (from a dedicated HP amp)?

Does pre amp attenuation become more tricky to get right?

Does amplifier output into xOhm matter?

Anyone gone from tube HP amp to tube pre / SS power?

I think I've read before that a different interface also required?

@Aleksandar R.
 
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Nov 4, 2024 at 3:09 PM Post #3,273 of 5,621
For those running Immanis from speaker taps, do you find it makes a notable difference vs regular HP out (from a dedicated HP amp)?

Does pre amp attenuation become more tricky to get right?

Does amplifier output into xOhm matter?

Anyone gone from tube HP amp to tube pre / SS power?

I think I've read before that a different interface also required?

@Aleksandar R.
In my case it's a big difference in flavor, since my speakeramp is solid state and by headphone amp is tube.
Personally I prefer tubes with everything but the SS option is also great and my main option during summer.

Power output requirements are essentially the same. You only need a different interface if the amplifier has an issue with the unusually high load of 32 Ohm. (Most speakeramps don't have an issue with that)

In my case attenuation is no issue at all. If your speakeramp has much more gain than my T+A PA2000R then it might become an issue.
For the vast majority it should be fine
 
Nov 4, 2024 at 3:23 PM Post #3,274 of 5,621
Power output requirements are essentially the same. You only need a different interface if the amplifier has an issue with the unusually high load of 32 Ohm. (Most speakeramps don't have an issue with that)

In my case attenuation is no issue at all. If your speakeramp has much more gain than my T+A PA2000R then it might become an issue.
For the vast majority it should be fine

Ok. What are we looking for on these two points?

And is a generic XLR to spade / banana splitter fine for the task?
 
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Nov 4, 2024 at 3:57 PM Post #3,275 of 5,621
I am mainly a speaker guy but having one or two excellent headphones is also important for me.
Today the Immanis arrived... what a beautiful day! I am overhelmed by its sound qualities.
While I keep using the Focal Utopia 2022 for my desktop rig, the Immanis is now perfectly integrated into my main rig. It replaces a Stax X9000 (+BHSE) and Susvara (+XA25).
For me (my ears, my taste, my rig) the Immanis is a significant improvement to all headphones I had before. A fascinating new experience!
That's the chain:
Local FLAC files on Fanless Roon Server (self-build) > LAN (Ethernet > Fiber Optic) > Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe (Streamer, Roon End point) > EMM Labs DA2 V2 (DAC) > Pass XP32 (Pre amp) > Pass XA25 (Power amp) > RAAL RCD interface 8 Ohm > Immanis
The Pass XA25 is dedicated to the Immanis (Banana plugs > 3m cable to the RCD interface)
For my speakers I use a Pass X250.8 power amp. Both amps are connected to the pre amp XP32.
 

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Nov 4, 2024 at 5:42 PM Post #3,276 of 5,621
I am mainly a speaker guy but having one or two excellent headphones is also important for me.
Today the Immanis arrived... what a beautiful day! I am overhelmed by its sound qualities.
While I keep using the Focal Utopia 2022 for my desktop rig, the Immanis is now perfectly integrated into my main rig. It replaces a Stax X9000 (+BHSE) and Susvara (+XA25).
For me (my ears, my taste, my rig) the Immanis is a significant improvement to all headphones I had before. A fascinating new experience!
That's the chain:
Local FLAC files on Fanless Roon Server (self-build) > LAN (Ethernet > Fiber Optic) > Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe (Streamer, Roon End point) > EMM Labs DA2 V2 (DAC) > Pass XP32 (Pre amp) > Pass XA25 (Power amp) > RAAL RCD interface 8 Ohm > Immanis
The Pass XA25 is dedicated to the Immanis (Banana plugs > 3m cable to the RCD interface)
For my speakers I use a Pass X250.8 power amp. Both amps are connected to the pre amp XP32.
What a lovely system! Congrats and enjoy!
 
Nov 4, 2024 at 6:18 PM Post #3,277 of 5,621
Another excellent album with Immanis. The tracks were recorded by David Manley using his tube based equipment in his own studio and he’s the same guy who designed my 300B preamp. This album comes alive with Immanis and it’s not an easy feat to achieve. Almost all of my current and previous headphones (except Valkyria and to a certain extent CA-1a) couldn’t really inject that emotion and the album feels flat and lifeless. With Immanis, the kick drums and double bass are very impactful but with excellent articulation. The sense of space and instrument separation are so real and precise. Incredible.


IMG_0191.png
 
Nov 4, 2024 at 6:23 PM Post #3,278 of 5,621
Please don't blindly make the decision. You've spent many years investing in stats and they still do things better than Immanis.
Wouldn’t be blind. I heard it at CanJam SG back in April.

P4070050.jpeg
P4070048.jpeg
 
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Nov 4, 2024 at 9:43 PM Post #3,279 of 5,621
I am mainly a speaker guy but having one or two excellent headphones is also important for me.
Today the Immanis arrived... what a beautiful day! I am overhelmed by its sound qualities.
While I keep using the Focal Utopia 2022 for my desktop rig, the Immanis is now perfectly integrated into my main rig. It replaces a Stax X9000 (+BHSE) and Susvara (+XA25).
For me (my ears, my taste, my rig) the Immanis is a significant improvement to all headphones I had before. A fascinating new experience!
That's the chain:
Local FLAC files on Fanless Roon Server (self-build) > LAN (Ethernet > Fiber Optic) > Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe (Streamer, Roon End point) > EMM Labs DA2 V2 (DAC) > Pass XP32 (Pre amp) > Pass XA25 (Power amp) > RAAL RCD interface 8 Ohm > Immanis
The Pass XA25 is dedicated to the Immanis (Banana plugs > 3m cable to the RCD interface)
For my speakers I use a Pass X250.8 power amp. Both amps are connected to the pre amp XP32.
Wow, what a beautiful setup. And room. I'm jealous!
 
Nov 4, 2024 at 9:46 PM Post #3,280 of 5,621
Wouldn’t be blind. I heard it at CanJam SG back in April.

P4070050.jpegP4070048.jpeg

Then what are you waiting for!? lol

(This forum is full of enablers…me included)
 
Nov 4, 2024 at 10:18 PM Post #3,281 of 5,621
Then what are you waiting for!? lol

(This forum is full of enablers…me included)
Troller :P.

I'll see what I can do to fund it. I'm not made of money :p. But I think I'll find it hard to give up the Stax for this...I actually have almost all the components (esp the hard-to-find sand, Alps RK50, boards, chassis, etc.) for a DIY T2. So it'll be scrounging around other things (from other hobbies too) to get rid of to fund the Immanis.
 
Nov 4, 2024 at 11:12 PM Post #3,282 of 5,621
Nov 5, 2024 at 12:01 AM Post #3,283 of 5,621
Yes, the baffle compensation should be off. I was just wondering if the direct out of Hsa-1b differs in sound quality (slightly) compared to Raal transformer taken out from XLR out for other headphones.
I found the Immanis off the direct out (set to HP and not SR1) sounded much better than off the regular XLR female out through the interface. I can't now recall in exactly what way (and have since sold my HSA-1b), but I do remember it sounded much better.
 
Nov 5, 2024 at 10:21 AM Post #3,284 of 5,621
The Immanis arrived yesterday and I sat and listened for three hours. The first song I played, Echoes by Rodrigo y Gabriela, is a close up recording and was very clean and percussive. Then I began to listen to all genres and the adjustment from the ZMF Calderas continued. I am not really able to describe what I hear in general but can roughly say that the Immanis stage was fairly set back and wide and this was the biggest adjustment. At the same time, the clarity, separation, tonality, dynamics, and bass were substantially improved over the Calderas (btw, I previously had Utopia OG). And that bass texture, quantity, and realism! I am very pleased with the musicality and any doubt about ordering these phones without an audition is gone. The Immanis have great synergy with my chain and I will tweak with the upcoming LessLoss footers and headphone filter for additional refinement. Finally, my wife, who is truly tone deaf, came in the room and listened to Micheal Kiwanuka and said she could hear each player individually and focus on any voice or instrument she wanted to hear. She said she never had heard anything like that before and said it was like listening to speakers in a room. Bravo, RAAL.
 

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Nov 5, 2024 at 10:37 AM Post #3,285 of 5,621
The Immanis arrived yesterday and I sat and listened for three hours. The first song I played, Echoes by Rodrigo y Gabriela, is a close up recording and was very clean and percussive. Then I began to listen to all genres and the adjustment from the ZMF Calderas continued. I am not really able to describe what I hear in general but can roughly say that the Immanis stage was fairly set back and wide and this was the biggest adjustment. At the same time, the clarity, separation, tonality, dynamics, and bass were substantially improved over the Calderas (btw, I previously had Utopia OG). And that bass texture, quantity, and realism! I am very pleased with the musicality and any doubt about ordering these phones without an audition is gone. The Immanis have great synergy with my chain and I will tweak with the upcoming LessLoss footers and headphone filter for additional refinement. Finally, my wife, who is truly tone deaf, came in the room and listened to Micheal Kiwanuka and said she could hear each player individually and focus on any voice or instrument she wanted to hear. She said she never had heard anything like that before and said it was like listening to speakers in a room. Bravo, RAAL.

Thanks for sharing your initial thoughts.

LOVE all the beautiful wood finishes in that picture, too!
 

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