Majuto
100+ Head-Fier
Yes, with TI-1b. 16 and 32 ohms are about the same levels. I bought also a JotR, which is in service now and haven't had a chance to test the cable with it yet.
Raal Ribbon Headphones - SRH1A
- Thread starter once
- Start date
Hi All!
I'm now convinced that this headphone will be my next purchase after seeing all the reviews and having a chance to listen to them at Canjam. However, I'm somewhat confused as to how the transformer box works so I can use my tube amplifier. I know the headphone comes with a cable that terminated in XLR and another 2 sets of RCA cables?
Do I plug the XLR headphone cable straight into the amplifier and then do RCA from the transformer box to the amplifier?
I'm now convinced that this headphone will be my next purchase after seeing all the reviews and having a chance to listen to them at Canjam. However, I'm somewhat confused as to how the transformer box works so I can use my tube amplifier. I know the headphone comes with a cable that terminated in XLR and another 2 sets of RCA cables?
Do I plug the XLR headphone cable straight into the amplifier and then do RCA from the transformer box to the amplifier?
nfandi
500+ Head-Fier
Headphone connects to transformer box, transformer box connects to headphone output of your tube amp. Transformer box just presents a more acceptable load for your amplifier.
Ah I see so what cables does the transformer come with? For example, if I wanted to use the XLR, 1/4 jack outputs on the amp
ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
Wrong thread, post deleted
Last edited:
Aleksandar R.
Sponsor: RAAL 1995
Well, the headphone cable for the TI-1b should have the resistance of about 0.25 Ohms.
If it's about 15dB quieter, then it's probably triple that.
Majuto
100+ Head-Fier
So if the cable's resistance is so high, it might be a deliberate compensation for Jot R's power reserve's i guess. I'll be propably able to test the cable with Ca-1a and Jot R soon. Thanks!
Aleksandar R.
Sponsor: RAAL 1995
Or it might be nothing at all. Ask the cable designer what was the goal, I really have no idea what are we talking about.
Majuto
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks. We must surely end this ghost discussion. Possibly this remains a mystery for ever, I haven't been able to figure out the designer or contacting the main seller either. I can anyhow return the cable to the private seller during next couple of weeks.
Sorry one last query.
Does it work well with transformer based tube headphone amplifiers such as the Cayin HA-3A?
Does it work well with transformer based tube headphone amplifiers such as the Cayin HA-3A?
Majuto
100+ Head-Fier
Do you mean Raal SR-1a with Cayin HA-3a? CA-1a works just fine with Cayin Ha-3a and TI-1b although it gives only 850mW per channel. SR-1a sounds about 4 db quieter , if I've understood right, but I tend to remember that in a headfonia review the reviewer was astonished how well the "underpowered" Ha-3a worked with Raal SR-1.
With CA-1a the 12 o'clock vol pot position is usually enough. With SR-1a perhaps 14 if you have more gain from DAC's balanced output's.
MokhaMark
100+ Head-Fier
If I may try to contribute based on earlier entries deep in other threads by @Aleksandar R.
Because of the extremely low impedance of the ribbons, all of them, the cable becomes a critical part of the chain. Raal designs the cables specifically for each different headphone to give a full frequency response. Conventional headphones do not have this requirement and so exotic cables and designs can simply have the right terminations applied and they can be marketed as better (and maybe they in fact are).
With the ribbons, simply applying the right pinouts and terminations to what may otherwise be an astonishing cable for conventional headphones may not work well with the very specific demands of the ribbons.
Unless a cable maker has consulted with and/or already knows the targeted impedance for the cable, or knows how to calculate it for the impedance of the ribbons as Aleks does, then everything is just a roll of the dice.
For this reason, the Raal cables are not simply a fancy "upsell" to the headphones, but more or less part of the headphone. Speaking for myself, I'd be fine if they soldered them strait into the headphone as is done with the Valkyria for example.
I may be stating something you already know, but I'd be wary buying a 3rd party cable simply terminated and pinned correctly not to blow up with the ribbons unless it is verified the cable's impedance was well considered for the Raal headphone. In fact, early in my ribbon adventure I spend $$$ on a famous Japanese cable and it was not successful with the SR1a, to my ears.
Just my two cents.
Last edited:
In addition to the great explanation of the headphone cable above that connects the transformer interface to the headphones and has critical specifications, I might add that a little experimentation with the umbilical cable that connects the transformer interface to a headphone amp is also productive. And the good news is that cable impedance is less critical for this cable. I found an inexpensive Pine Tree Audio cable made a worthwhile improvement in sound quality.
I completely understand why you say that, but just to throw out another opinion: I hope RAAL continues to make the cable detachable because I really don't want to have to send the entire headphone in for repair if just the cable gets damaged.
