[rkw]

Do you have a pair of RCA cables to try that input?

 

[isquirrel]

Yep tried that, no go, now have sound through my MSB Headphone Amp + Abyss so no issues with DAC or cables.

Really appreciate the solid support guys. Thank you

 

[FLTWS]

1 thing I didn't get right out of the box was the seating of the SR1a's connectors. They were a tight fit and I thought they were in all the way when they weren't. The left side was the problematical one, I thought it kept coming lose when it fact I didn't have it seated fully to begin with.

 

[FLTWS]

A new label for the back to put over the "Ribbon Circum-Aural Headphones" would have been a nice touch.

 

[jlbrach]

how does this amp compare to the amp offered by schiit for the raal headphones?

 

[Jon L]

I have tried using another 4 pion cable for the right hand front socket for normal headphones. No sound there either. Must be an issue with the HSA

This must be extremely frustrating. Speak to Raal soon as it's possible..

 

[isquirrel]

Sorted the issue out with excellent support from Danny @ Raal Requiste. I took off the top cover and during shipping a lead running out of the Transformer had dislodged itself. The new amp design does away with a lot of these blocks, so I can't see this as being an issue again.

 

[FLTWS]

Yours was an upgraded box?

 

[isquirrel]

how does this amp compare to the amp offered by schiit for the raal headphones?

I cannot comment on this as I have not heard the Schiit Amp. What is clearly apparent is that the SQ is highly influent by the quality of the Amp connected to the Ribbon Interface box. Over the weekend I will be trying out the Interface box plugged into a Boulder 3060 Stereo amp.

 

[isquirrel]

Yours was an upgraded box?

No, it was just an earlier build. No difference in SQ. Afaik

 

[FLTWS]

No, it was just an earlier build. No difference in SQ. Afaik

Interesting. I hope to land one of these by end of summer to run head to head against my "R".

 

[Thenewguy007]

I cannot comment on this as I have not heard the Schiit Amp. What is clearly apparent is that the SQ is highly influent by the quality of the Amp connected to the Ribbon Interface box. Over the weekend I will be trying out the Interface box plugged into a Boulder 3060 Stereo amp.

From Stereophile

Boulder Amplifiers, Inc., introduced its new Model 3060 Stereo balanced, class-A amplifier ($114,000), a huge, 900Wpc, solid-state amplifier that weighs 450 lbs!

Jeez, I think you'll have the record for testing them out with the most expensive/heaviest/high powered amp available.
I do hope you report back your impressions.

 

[isquirrel]

From Stereophile


Jeez, I think you'll have the record for testing them out with the most expensive/heaviest/high powered amp available.
I do hope you report back your impressions.

Yes it will be fun, unfortunately I don't think I could get away with "borrowing" the Boulder, it also weighs 200KG's.

I have had the SR1-a's and HSA on 24/7 burn in and they have improved an incredible amount. I now understand what reviewers have said by its not easy going back to any other Headphone. They are so clear and transparent, they are indeed magical. My initial mistake was to drive the input on the HSA too hard, since I have backed that off no more distortion and good bass and I am still running on the stock HP cable.

My wife listened to them last night and loved them which is surprising as she is a tough critic.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Yes it will be fun, unfortunately I don't think I could get away with "borrowing" the Boulder, it also weighs 200KG's.

I have had the SR1-a's and HSA on 24/7 burn in and they have improved an incredible amount. I now understand what reviewers have said by its not easy going back to any other Headphone. They are so clear and transparent, they are indeed magical. My initial mistake was to drive the input on the HSA too hard, since I have backed that off no more distortion and good bass and I am still running on the stock HP cable.

My wife listened to them last night and loved them which is surprising as she is a tough critic.

Just curious how loud you were playing them to cause the distortion? 85dB? 90dB? Thanks!

 

[isquirrel]

Just curious how loud you were playing them to cause the distortion? 85dB? 90dB? Thanks!

On the DAC/Pre Amp side anything over 95dB is too hot for the HSA's input. So I typically run them at 90dB on the DAC and at around 70 on the volume control of the HSA.

I would like to play with Roon's EQ to see what happens if I increase the sub 50Hz region by +2dB or so. I will need to cut back the overall level by as much as I boost the EQ levels.

They are very addictive to listen to. I am going back over my collection to listen to old favourites which sound very different. They make the Stax 009S sound a bit congested!!