RAAL 1995 Immanis

[jonchard]

I am - for my part - quite happy with the pairing of Immanis an Lotoo Mjölnir. I find the combo sounds fabulous.

These two albums sound really great and they demonstrate at least for me what Immanis is capable of:

https://www.psaudio.com/products/the-art-of-hifi-percussion and https://www.psaudio.com/products/the-art-of-hifi-bass

Lotoo Mjölnir Looks gorgeous!!!

 

[AxelCloris]

Quick mod note: We've removed a number of off-topic posts from the thread since discussion had shifted away from the Immanis. We ask that any discussion of chain-related products like DACs and amps be related directly to personal experiences pairing them with the Immanis. To have a more general discussion on DACs, we invite you to join one of the myriad threads already happening across the site, or to start a new thread in the appropriate forum if you can't find the topic you're looking for. Thanks everyone.

 

[AlfredE]

When I listen to my Immanis for several days in a row I - at this point - take its qualities almost for granted. I almost got used to how good the Immanis sounds, But when I return from a business trip and have a fresh "beginning" the sheer musicality of the headphone stuns me again. Yesterday when I listened to Attacca World Music ("My world") I got this WOW-effect again. The speed is amazing then the bass hits and the combination of all its parts makes for something extraordinary!

But to come to this point it is going to cost you - in my opinion - quite a bit of money. And I do not talk about the price of the Immanis! Some might correct me - but "if" the Immanis would be your first ever true HiFi headphone I am almost certain that you could not appreciate it! There's is too much detail to be heart with the Immanis - you would be overwhelmed.

So you will have to embark on a journey, get a decent headphone - maybe a Sennheiser or something like that. And you will become interested in HiFi and audiophile music so you will maybe go to a shop and listen to different headphones and you will experience the limitations of your actual one - so you might sell it and make a step up, listend to open and closed headphones - get maybe a ZMF or a Final Audio or an Abyss or Meze. It is a start of a wonderful and interesting journey - albeit one that will seriously strain your pocket expenses.

 

[nfandi]

When I listen to my Immanis for several days in a row I - at this point - take its qualities almost for granted. I almost got used to how good the Immanis sounds, But when I return from a business trip and have a fresh "beginning" the sheer musicality of the headphone stuns me again. Yesterday when I listened to Attacca World Music ("My world") I got this WOW-effect again. The speed is amazing then the bass hits and the combination of all its parts makes for something extraordinary!

But to come to this point it is going to cost you - in my opinion - quite a bit of money. And I do not talk about the price of the Immanis! Some might correct me - but "if" the Immanis would be your first ever true HiFi headphone I am almost certain that you could not appreciate it! There's is too much detail to be heart with the Immanis - you would be overwhelmed.

So you will have to embark on a journey, get a decent headphone - maybe a Sennheiser or something like that. And you will become interested in HiFi and audiophile music so you will maybe go to a shop and listen to different headphones and you will experience the limitations of your actual one - so you might sell it and make a step up, listend to open and closed headphones - get maybe a ZMF or a Final Audio or an Abyss or Meze. It is a start of a wonderful and interesting journey - albeit one that will seriously strain your pocket expenses.

I think there is a very strong use case for a first time headphone user and Immanis when a long-term high-end speaker system user needs to or decides to ‘downsize’. This could be associated with something like approaching retirement and the sale of a property for something ‘more cosy’ for example. For me Immanis is about as close as you can get to listening to a good speaker system but in the guise of a headphone, albeit without the ‘moving air’ sensation. For a high-end speaker system user there’s also the benefit that the sale of the system will more than pay for Immanis and its associated chain.

 

[jonchard]

When I listen to my Immanis for several days in a row I - at this point - take its qualities almost for granted. I almost got used to how good the Immanis sounds, But when I return from a business trip and have a fresh "beginning" the sheer musicality of the headphone stuns me again. Yesterday when I listened to Attacca World Music ("My world") I got this WOW-effect again. The speed is amazing then the bass hits and the combination of all its parts makes for something extraordinary!

But to come to this point it is going to cost you - in my opinion - quite a bit of money. And I do not talk about the price of the Immanis! Some might correct me - but "if" the Immanis would be your first ever true HiFi headphone I am almost certain that you could not appreciate it! There's is too much detail to be heart with the Immanis - you would be overwhelmed.

So you will have to embark on a journey, get a decent headphone - maybe a Sennheiser or something like that. And you will become interested in HiFi and audiophile music so you will maybe go to a shop and listen to different headphones and you will experience the limitations of your actual one - so you might sell it and make a step up, listend to open and closed headphones - get maybe a ZMF or a Final Audio or an Abyss or Meze. It is a start of a wonderful and interesting journey - albeit one that will seriously strain your pocket expenses.

That's very well put and I couldn't agree more. It constantly wows me. I wish it was more affordable and available as it would redefine headphones on mass.

 

[nfandi]

That's very well put and I couldn't agree more. It constantly wows me. I wish it was more affordable and available as it would redefine headphones on mass.

It’s been said before but the CA-1a when partnered with ‘appropriate’ amplification is the headphone you are alluding to. It’s much more affordable, especially as a used purchase, and when partnered with the VM-1a has been described by its owners as at, or close to, the level of Susvara. No, it’s not at the same level as Immanis but you can certainly hear where Immanis has come from. Unfortunately it hasn’t redefined headphones en masse (it’s a French term) for whatever reasons of market perception e.g. exposed foam, looks like a prototype, ugly (not to me) etc. But for anyone wishing they could own Immanis, but just can’t afford it, it and/or the SR-1a/b make great stepping stones, and make great sounding music.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Unfortunately it hasn’t redefined headphones en masse (it’s a French term) for whatever reasons

For me it was the treble presentation.
Granted it was at a show where I had to listen way too loud, but the treble didn't do it for me on the CA-1A.

The design is quite cool, with lots of character.
I wonder how many could be convinced by giving them real pads

 

[nfandi]

For me it was the treble presentation.
Granted it was at a show where I had to listen way too loud, but the treble didn't do it for me on the CA-1A.

The design is quite cool, with lots of character.
I wonder how many could be convinced by giving them real pads

Alex tried them with real pads and the sound was wrong. The treble is easily contained either by the convolution filters from Mitch or by a simple EQ adjustment. Alex said he could have reduced the treble energy but it would have destroyed the dynamics. EQ is free so he chose to go with the better dynamics. I do agree that the treble is ‘uncomfortable’ if you play at high volume or don’t use EQ or the filters. The VM-1a provides its own natural EQ and you might find the Envy provides enough tube warmth to help with the treble.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Alex tried them with real pads and the sound was wrong. The treble is easily contained either by the convolution filters from Mitch or by a simple EQ adjustment. Alex said he could have reduced the treble energy but it would have destroyed the dynamics. EQ is free so he chose to go with the better dynamics. I do agree that the treble is ‘uncomfortable’ if you play at high volume or don’t use EQ or the filters. The VM-1a provides its own natural EQ and you might find the Envy provides enough tube warmth to help with the treble.

Well I own the Immanis, so that ship has sailed in my case. It was just an idea to get more mainstream customers into Raal products.

 

[nfandi]

Well I own the Immanis, so that ship has sailed in my case. It was just an idea to get more mainstream customers into Raal products.

Was just thinking if you’re a ‘completist collector’ you might want to add Alex’s earlier babies to your family, and even if you already have Immanis there always a case to be made for owning the SR-1b, especially if you have room in your life for small ensemble acoustic jazz, or solo piano, or string quartets, or acoustic guitars, or anything that doesn’t need deep bass.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Was just thinking if you’re a ‘completist collector’

Unfortunately I have those tendencies.
Last year I owned every Meze headphone except for the 99 classics. Luckily I managed to part with most of them after long internal struggle.
Collecting the whole Sortiment isn't feasible at my income level.

Now I started with two Atriums and ZMF are predestined to be collectibles. I'd be lying if I'd say that I didn't think about adding a Caldera in fitting wood to my Atriums.

Last year I auditioned the Magna, and the case of owning both can very well be made.

This is the part where the addiction shines through the most for me... Gotta stay level headed here ...

 

[ARCXENOS]

Now I started with two Atriums and ZMF are predestined to be collectibles. I'd be lying if I'd say that I didn't think about adding a Caldera in fitting wood to my Atriums.

I know that feel, went from just 1 VO to suddenly 4 ZMFs just because they look great + great warranty terms after selling my Hifiman stuff.

I am still on the fence on getting a side headphone to occasionally detox from the Immanis (to enjoy even more later), I just funnel any hobby money into tubes for the dac instead...something that may give me more fun because of the Immanis

 

[AlfredE]

I know that feel, went from just 1 VO to suddenly 4 ZMFs just because they look great + great warranty terms after selling my Hifiman stuff.

I am still on the fence on getting a side headphone to occasionally detox from the Immanis (to enjoy even more later), I just funnel any hobby money into tubes for the dac instead...something that may give me more fun because of the Immanis

I owned the Caldera Open and Closed. I just loved the look and feel of the wooden Cups. But with the arrival of my Immanis I sold both of them. They sound too good just to be kept as collectibles and I knew I would just rarely use them in the Future. I also own the Final Audio D8000 Pro Ltd. which I now decided to keep because I can use it easily in the bed when I am reading or on my travels.

 

[CharlyBrown]

When I listen to my Immanis for several days in a row I - at this point - take its qualities almost for granted. I almost got used to how good the Immanis sounds, But when I return from a business trip and have a fresh "beginning" the sheer musicality of the headphone stuns me again. Yesterday when I listened to Attacca World Music ("My world") I got this WOW-effect again. The speed is amazing then the bass hits and the combination of all its parts makes for something extraordinary!

But to come to this point it is going to cost you - in my opinion - quite a bit of money. And I do not talk about the price of the Immanis! Some might correct me - but "if" the Immanis would be your first ever true HiFi headphone I am almost certain that you could not appreciate it! There's is too much detail to be heart with the Immanis - you would be overwhelmed.

So you will have to embark on a journey, get a decent headphone - maybe a Sennheiser or something like that. And you will become interested in HiFi and audiophile music so you will maybe go to a shop and listen to different headphones and you will experience the limitations of your actual one - so you might sell it and make a step up, listend to open and closed headphones - get maybe a ZMF or a Final Audio or an Abyss or Meze. It is a start of a wonderful and interesting journey - albeit one that will seriously strain your pocket expenses.

That's also my experience but I have it even while listening when I got used to the sound and then the track changes and something jumps at me and I realize that I never was aware of some details in the song with another headphone before. Someone mentioned that micro details become macro details with Immanis and this is 100% the case.

 

[nfandi]

Unfortunately I have those tendencies.
Last year I owned every Meze headphone except for the 99 classics. Luckily I managed to part with most of them after long internal struggle.
Collecting the whole Sortiment isn't feasible at my income level.

Now I started with two Atriums and ZMF are predestined to be collectibles. I'd be lying if I'd say that I didn't think about adding a Caldera in fitting wood to my Atriums.

Last year I auditioned the Magna, and the case of owning both can very well be made.

This is the part where the addiction shines through the most for me... Gotta stay level headed here ...

You need to save some Euros/Dollars for when Zach opens his custom shop.