RAAL 1995 Immanis

[Aetherhole]

Are you still going to consider the Armageddon now that you have AIC-10?

Even though I have the Armageddon coming (probably arriving this week), I am going to just move it on to a friend who is going to buy it from me. I am really just happy with where I’m at with my system. It might be more dynamic than the AIC-10, but the AIC-10 sounds so good all around, I think I would miss the character it brings.

 

[Exekuhtor]

Even though I have the Armageddon coming (probably arriving this week), I am going to just move it on to a friend who is going to buy it from me. I am really just happy with where I’m at with my system. It might be more dynamic than the AIC-10, but the AIC-10 sounds so good all around, I think I would miss the character it brings.

Well, i am super interested in how you would describe the sound with the Immanis, so at least try it for an evening.

 

[Aetherhole]

Well, i am super interested in how you would describe the sound with the Immanis, so at least try it for an evening.

I’m sending it off sealed. He has an Immanis so he would be able to chime in with how the pairing sounds. Although, another Immanis owner who has the Armageddon said it is is aggressive “AF” so there’s that. They’ve also said that it is wide-sounding, too. Best music genres are EDM, RAP, Hip-Hop with the dynamics of the Armageddon and Immanis.

 

[tdx]

Well, i am super interested in how you would describe the sound with the Immanis, so at least try it for an evening.

As a current owner of this chain i can add some insights:

The Armageddon/Immanis combo is really something special. The Armageddon punches like no other amp with the immanis but it's not in any way overwhelming or fatiguing. I think this is due as much to the way the Armageddon handles low freqs as well as the Immanis. Just pure fun low end done the right way. Everything else, soundstage, timbre etc is great too. The one area that is not completely to my liking are the highs. On well mastered recordings they are awesome, but on poorly mastered ones they sound a tiny bit sibilant. Note that I had the same issue with the Cayin Soul as my amp so I'm thinking it might be due to the extreme resolvability of the immanis more than anything wrong with the Armageddon.To remedy that i ordered a WA23 Luna to use as a as a preamp with the Armageddon. i can report my findings here tomorrow when i get it.

 

[CharlyBrown]

As a current owner of this chain i can add some insights:

The Armageddon/Immanis combo is really something special. The Armageddon punches like no other amp with the immanis but it's not in any way overwhelming or fatiguing. I think this is due as much to the way the Armageddon handles low freqs as well as the Immanis. Just pure fun low end done the right way. Everything else, soundstage, timbre etc is great too. The one area that is not completely to my liking are the highs. On well mastered recordings they are awesome, but on poorly mastered ones they sound a tiny bit sibilant. Note that I had the same issue with the Cayin Soul as my amp so I'm thinking it might be due to the extreme resolvability of the immanis more than anything wrong with the Armageddon.To remedy that i ordered a WA23 Luna to use as a as a preamp with the Armageddon. i can report my findings here tomorrow when i get it.

Interesting. I find the Immanis, fed from the Bliss, to be sibilant in some tracks. I thought it was an SS vs. tube amp thing, because there is no sibilance with the Envy. But when you say you also heard it on the Soul, there are probably other reasons?

I guess the sibilance will vanish, with the WA23 as a pre. I tried the same with Envy -> Bliss and the sibilance was gone.

 

[Doug2507]

Interesting. I find the Immanis, fed from the Bliss, to be sibilant in some tracks. I thought it was an SS vs. tube amp thing, because there is no sibilance with the Envy. But when you say you also heard it on the Soul, there are probably other reasons?

I guess the sibilance will vanish, with the WA23 as a pre. I tried the same with Envy -> Bliss and the sibilance was gone.

Guessing just down to the pairing / setup / gear used Charly. I get no sibilance with Immanis when running Envy or Pass on their own. (tube / SS)

 

[CharlyBrown]

Guessing just down to the pairing / setup / gear used Charly. I get no sibilance with Immanis when running Envy or Pass on their own. (tube / SS)

Sorry, maybe I used the wrong wording. I was trying to say that I don't have any sibilance with Envy on its own, as well as with Envy as pre. I only get sibilance with Bliss on its own. And probably your Pass is a much better match for Immanis than the Bliss as an SS amp!

 

[Doug2507]

Sorry, maybe I used the wrong wording. I was trying to say that I don't have any sibilance with Envy on its own, as well as with Envy as pre. I only get sibilance with Bliss on its own. And probably your Pass is a much better match for Immanis than the Bliss as an SS amp!

Ah, gotcha. Yeah, i think it's entirely probably that there's a chance of sibilance on either topology tbh, really just depends on the unit in question I'd think. Pass mention was just purely an example of SS being fine, not any other implied meaning!

It's a great place to be in for being able to use pre / power to iron out any niggles.

 

[tameral]

It’s more likely that Immanis is the not-so—totally-neutral element in the chain and the need for taming treble peaks depends on hearing acuity and sensitivity and 300B etc helps. Resolving top-to-bottom above all else (pretty much) and energetic I have no doubt but some of that may come with a peak or two. I happen to love HD 800 and how its peak acts like a sharpie marker around images. In any case, looking forward to hearing Immanis soon and how it compares to Unveiled which this release has overshadowed perhaps deservedly.

 

[theveterans]

It’s more likely that Immanis is the not-so—totally-neutral element in the chain and the need for taming treble peaks depends on hearing acuity and sensitivity and 300B etc helps. Resolving top-to-bottom above all else (pretty much) and energetic I have no doubt but some of that may come with a peak or two. I happen to love HD 800 and how its peak acts like a sharpie marker around images. In any case, looking forward to hearing Immanis soon and how it compares to Unveiled which this release has overshadowed perhaps deservedly.

I think you'll find them complementary rather than replacing each other

 

[nfandi]

Interesting. I find the Immanis, fed from the Bliss, to be sibilant in some tracks. I thought it was an SS vs. tube amp thing, because there is no sibilance with the Envy. But when you say you also heard it on the Soul, there are probably other reasons?

I guess the sibilance will vanish, with the WA23 as a pre. I tried the same with Envy -> Bliss and the sibilance was gone.

Can we just make sure there’s a common understanding here when using the word sibilance. Sibilance is normally an over-emphasis of the ‘S’ or ‘Sh’ sounds of vocals on recordings. A headphone doesn’t suddenly become sibilant, it’s not the headphone that is sibilant, the headphone is presenting the sibilance because that is what is on the recording. Studio engineers have the choice to use de-Essers when they record vocals, and most do, but some choose to emphasise the ‘S’s’ if it’s relevant to the artist or genre of music. Treble peaks and sibilance are 2 entirely unrelated and different things.

 

[Newsee]

May I ask whether it only has 32 ohm input or whether it has 16 ohm as well? I feel like the 16 ohm is the sweet spot for headphone amps, where Immanis sounds its best. Powerful bass, very full sounding from top to bottom and sweet sweet treble.

That is a question to Alex.

you just saved my pocket thanks...

You are welcome.

I don't know who needs more treble energy from immanis

nvawesailor needs it

 

[CharlyBrown]

Can we just make sure there’s a common understanding here when using the word sibilance. Sibilance is normally an over-emphasis of the ‘S’ or ‘Sh’ sounds of vocals on recordings. A headphone doesn’t suddenly become sibilant, it’s not the headphone that is sibilant, the headphone is presenting the sibilance because that is what is on the recording. Studio engineers have the choice to use de-Essers when they record vocals, and most do, but some choose to emphasise the ‘S’s’ if it’s relevant to the artist or genre of music. Treble peaks and sibilance are 2 entirely unrelated and different things.

Yes sure, I posted exactly that a few pages ago - here. I hear exactly this over-emphasis of ‚S‘ and ‚Sh‘ in the first example, also the same effect with the second, instrumental, example. I don’t know if sibilance is only created in the recording. Well maybe it is, but some amps seem to emphasize it then more than others. Because I only have this experience with Bliss on both tracks, not with Envy.

 

[nfandi]

Yes sure, I posted exactly that a few pages ago - here. I hear exactly this over-emphasis of ‚S‘ and ‚Sh‘ in the first example, also the same effect with the second, instrumental, example. I don’t know if sibilance is only created in the recording. Well maybe it is, but some amps seem to emphasize it then more than others. Because I only have this experience with Bliss on both tracks, not with Envy.

Yes, sibilance is in the recording, but what you’re hearing on the second example might be the combination of the SS amp and a treble peak on Immanis which is ‘masked’ when you listen on your Envy. I can’t test this right now ‘cos I’m in France, but I’m home Sunday night and so should be back with my Immanis and Envy AE on Monday evening. I’m interested in all aspects of Celtic music so should enjoy hearing these two albums.

 

[MAISONOBE AALAIN]

Anyone want to report on the upgrade Alexander proposed in Heidelberg last Saturday?
I'd like to get some feedback before traveling to Lyon in June for a listening session...