[TylersEclectic]

Linking to my other post, seemed relevant here =)

So got the opportunity to demo these... I'll copy-paste my initial impression from another forum below...I basically listen to Qobuz on random and as I'm listening I'll write out my thoughts in a post usually a couple of hours worth of thoughts as I'm listening...





For those wanting to see the original post and thread... https://forum.headphones.com/t/hedd-audio-heddphone-official-thread/3179/252?u=darthpool

…Stream of conscious post incoming!

The HEDDphone is…unique… It is very power-hungry! it sounds good off the Cayin DAP, but, it really sounds much better with the Phonitor XE…but I had to mess with the line out dBu on the ADI-2DAC, I currently have it at +13…with the Phonitor volume at about 11am on the knob. I will need to mess with the ADI-2DAC settings to get it dialed in more…not EQ but line out settings =)

Ok, sound…at first I was just like…hmm…reminds me of a much better version of the HD800…I am going to stick with that for now…but, after listening for a bit longer, I am surprised at the stage and imaging… speed…it’s impressive. To me it has something in the highs that isn’t sitting with me on certain tracks, it comes off shouty… but that could be due to mastering of the track… these are some pretty impressive headphones…

They kind of have a bass lite feel to them…but it is odd, as it also seems to me like it has good “impact” lol… I like these the most so far with live music, or orchestra/jazz/classical/band…etc…

Comfort is not bad actually…I think @Resolve nailed the description here… they are pretty dang comfortable, but, very big… and they leak sound, but no worse than other open backs.

I find myself having to volume control a lot between random tracks on Qobuz…nothing to bad, but, on occasion can be painful beginning to a new track…

Man…Live music/acoustic music is bomb.com 1 on these!!! OOHHH…and well-mastered tracks! I’m brain-burning on these… getting it, getting it… I’ve been searching for a Planar to add to my collection that isn’t a gaming headphone, and these just might be that ticket! Wow! Detail, imaging, stage… these are what I wanted my HD800 to sound like.

hmm…bass is still an interesting bit… it isn’t quite lite, but, is missing something, not in a bad way mind you… it just feels like it should have more Impact? I think this is contradicting myself from earlier lol but, I can’t quite put my finger on the bass aspect…it sounds good, I think it is the impact that is missing…as the sound is there but the impact seems to be missing? (Impact to me: is the visceral thud feeling of bass). So, hmm… I think that is it, ok, now that I think I’ve figured that out I can move on

These have a great presentation, but, can be shouty at higher volumes. *Edit: removed a user that is specific to that forum*
Crisp, clean, accurate, comes to mind… oh…Wandering by Yosi Horikawa just came on…that is intense… one of the best presentations of this track I’ve heard! Oh man, drums sound epic on these!

https://open.qobuz.com/track/24807623 2

This was a great listen… damn… I think I’ve been listening to the SR1A too much as it colored my initial impression of these… not gonna lie…was not that impressed initially…but now… brain feels burnt in a bit… I’m picking up the details and nuance, these are good.

I think the only cons I can think of so far to my ears:

Can get shouty at higher volumes (80-95db) depending on the track
bass has at least to my ears a lack of Impact that defies the bass sound/quality (I’m struggling to find the right word here…)

ok back to conscious streaming

vocals are also pretty damn good… I think this reminds me more of the Utopia than the HD800, I would say it is more of a Utopia contender than an SR1a contender at this point…

https://open.qobuz.com/track/61348118 3
man this track is another great track to test female vocals…intense

Ha, this next track is one of my favorites, and it sounds excellent with the HEDDphone
https://open.qobuz.com/track/80159884 4

Ok, I need to revisit the bass dealio… just to be clear it is good! But, it is missing that visceral feel at times…

These are exceptional…there I said it… at this point, they are the best sounding Planar(ish) I’ve personally heard. These are monsters… please don’t feed them poor quality food

they will force-feed it back to you lol…

oh damn, this triggered an emotional reaction… damn

https://open.qobuz.com/track/2837987 2

…damn… might have to end on that note… I’ll have to touch back with a comparison between these and the SR1A next…

*edit adding another post from the thread where I do a brief a/b with the SR1A*

Ok, just a real quick back to back with the SR1a…

SR1a still wins…hands down… sorry, to anyone that was hoping otherwise… at least this is my opinion…

Ok, that being said… THESE ARE OUTSTANDING!!! especially for the price… damn…I would say these have in their sights the Utopia and higher-end planars like Hifimans…

The HEDDphone is here, and I think it will disrupt some folks… It isn’t perfect…but the price to performance is a major factor here!

 

[Satcher]

Recently purchased the SR1A which will arrive Tuesday. Does anyone know how it will sound off of a Parasound amplifier? I have the Halo Integrated and I will have the ADI-2 DAC as the source.

 

[Andrew DiMarcangelo]

Recently purchased the SR1A which will arrive Tuesday. Does anyone know how it will sound off of a Parasound amplifier? I have the Halo Integrated and I will have the ADI-2 DAC as the source.

Is that like 160 watts? Sure, that would work great. 100 is the minimum so that should give you some nice room.

 

[Torq]

Recently purchased the SR1A which will arrive Tuesday. Does anyone know how it will sound off of a Parasound amplifier? I have the Halo Integrated and I will have the ADI-2 DAC as the source.

While I was waiting for other amplifier options to ship, I had the SR1a paired with a Parasound 2125 v.2, and that sounded fantastic. I was surprised, since I don't normally find THX HT amps to be particularly interesting. But it lit the SR1a up nicely, with power to spare, and I was quite happy with it until the amplifiers I really wanted to run them with became available:

 

[thomaskong78]

I am listening to
Glazunov - Violin Concerto in A Minor
played by Jasha Heifetz through Sr1a.

Violin tone is sweet with marvelous details and wide soundstage.


I had lived with Sr1a for two weeks now.

This is a really amazing piece of musical instrument.

If you like ribbon speaker or headphone lover, you shall audition this.

They have unconditional 15 day’s return polity.


You need speaker amplifier over 100 watts at 6 ohm ( I feel that 150 watts is better).

I noticed occasional clipping with Rogue Cronus Magnum II (80 watts for 6 ohm) although it sounds sweet with tube amp at moderate level.

Crown XLS 2502 (600$, 775 watts for 4ohm) work well with Sr1a.

 

[dolstein]

So is RAAL going to exhibit at CanJam NYC? I was hoping to demo it with the new Schiit amp.

 

[thomaskong78]

So is RAAL going to exhibit at CanJam NYC? I was hoping to demo it with the new Schiit amp.

Raal is not on the exhibitor's list.

You may audition it at Bloom Audio in New Jersey.

It is better to audition it at quiet environment since it an open speaker design.

 

[Andrew DiMarcangelo]

Yeah, if you're driving distance from our office, definitely schedule an audition with us! Like 90% of our appointments these days are for the SR1a.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

Well, Schiit will be at Canjam. I can’t see how they won’t bring one with the RAAL. This is in my top 5 most anticipated listens.

 

[thomaskong78]

Well, Schiit will be at Canjam. I can’t see how they won’t bring one with the RAAL. This is in my top 5 most anticipated listens.

Schitt may bring Sr1a to New York.

But it is still better to listen to it at quiet place.

With courtesy of Torq, I could audition Sr1a and 1266 Phi CC side by side at his home (very quiet) last November by bringing CDs that I am familiar with.

After that, I pulled the trigger for Sr1a.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

Schitt may bring Sr1a to New York.

But it is still better to listen to it at quiet place.

With courtesy of Torq, I could audition Sr1a and 1266 Phi CC side by side at his home (very quiet) last November by bringing CDs that I am familiar with.

After that, I pulled the trigger for Sr1a.

That’s definitely true. But I’ll get a sense of what that system is about.

 

[Venture Guy]

Jot R now available! https://www.schiit.com/products/jotunheim-r

@Aleksandar R. will you be selling the SR1a without the interface box?

 

[thomaskong78]

I pulled the trigger for Jot R 10 minutes ago.

I will report comparison between Jot R and Crown XLS 2502 which I had been happy with fast transients and neutral presentation.

 

[FLTWS]

At long last, just ordered. 2 day wait

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

Does anyone have a picture of the Jot R unit that will come with the RAAL as a package and not through Schiit? I heard it’s a different color too.