ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
I'm sure that it would be warmer and less neutral if it follows the ZMF house sound
Summit-Fi Random Thoughts
- Thread starter Ciggavelli
- Start date
For close the Valkyria cost, the new Raal better be amazing.
I want to purchase it, but I think I'm going to hold off until I read some impressions. I got burnt with the Meze Elite (I just didn't like it at all). The 3 ribbon design is very interesting. I hope it has Shang Sr levels of resolution, but I'm very skeptical, as I don't think ribbons can go that high, but maybe. However, if it has SR1b resolution and CA bass, it might be the perfect par of headphones for me. It's either that or the Valkryia, which several members have warned me against. I thought it sounded great when I heard it at Can Jam, but several of my head-fi friends think otherwise, so it has me skeptical. I gotta sell of this A16 first anyway.
$9500
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in this grand scheme merry go round... resolution of sr1b and bass of ca1a, well, that's almost like describing the abyss TC. if the new Raal can pull it off, added to the more conventional form factor and comfort, it will definitely be tempting to replace the TC.
The price is a bit of a downer though.. I guess the upside is we already have the appropriate amp to use it with. potential Raal Trifecta of headphones. but if it delivers what they promise then it'll make the 1b and ca1a redundant..
I love my RAAL-requisite HPs so much (I mean so so so much), I couldn't resist the siren song and put down a deposit on the new 3-ribbon. But for the naked headphone without the cable, interface, and other goodies, so it's materially less than the price you put in the spoiler. I also picked up the Valkyria recently, and Zahl HM1 not long before that, so I've been very very financially reckless lately. I'll have to offload a lot of other gear soon to address the smoldering crater that used to be my bank account.
I'm listening to the Valkyria right now. I'm still fiddling with the fit, and it sometimes seems to give me headaches I think because I don't have the fit quite dialed-in yet. And I'm getting occasional little shocks from it, but that seems to be improving for some reason, and was never that bothersome to begin with (though none of my other HPs do that). However . . . the sound. It's got plenty of detail, but absolutely incredible meat on the bones, and impressive timbre. Acoustic guitar and drums are ridiculous. (I hear piano is, too, but I don't listen to that as much). Very forward--it's in your face in a way that I love. Dynamics are great. It's sort of like Mike Tyson in that you can see the punch is coming, but it's still too fast to get out of the way and is incredibly powerful. In contrast to the RAAL HPs, which are more like Bruce Lee--you've already been smacked in the face before you even realize he's winding up for a punch. The Valkyria is great for anything with acoustic guitar, like Rodrigo y Gabriela, Polyphia, and Syncatto. It's also great with technical metal that doesn't rely too much on distortion (Animals as Leaders, DT, Night Verses, etc.) Wouldn't be my choice for thrash or electronica. I don't listen to rap or R&B, so I'm not sure how it would handle those genres. I also don't listen to much jazz, but I bet it'd be incredible.
I'm listening to the Valkyria right now. I'm still fiddling with the fit, and it sometimes seems to give me headaches I think because I don't have the fit quite dialed-in yet. And I'm getting occasional little shocks from it, but that seems to be improving for some reason, and was never that bothersome to begin with (though none of my other HPs do that). However . . . the sound. It's got plenty of detail, but absolutely incredible meat on the bones, and impressive timbre. Acoustic guitar and drums are ridiculous. (I hear piano is, too, but I don't listen to that as much). Very forward--it's in your face in a way that I love. Dynamics are great. It's sort of like Mike Tyson in that you can see the punch is coming, but it's still too fast to get out of the way and is incredibly powerful. In contrast to the RAAL HPs, which are more like Bruce Lee--you've already been smacked in the face before you even realize he's winding up for a punch. The Valkyria is great for anything with acoustic guitar, like Rodrigo y Gabriela, Polyphia, and Syncatto. It's also great with technical metal that doesn't rely too much on distortion (Animals as Leaders, DT, Night Verses, etc.) Wouldn't be my choice for thrash or electronica. I don't listen to rap or R&B, so I'm not sure how it would handle those genres. I also don't listen to much jazz, but I bet it'd be incredible.
bagwell359
Headphoneus Supremus
go as high? resolution? Have not heard the Shang Sr - but Raal ribbon tweeters beat every estat and planar speaker I ever heard/owned over 4k - with ease. Only ribbons mids I know are the Apogee and some estats are equal or better than the OG's were. Not a guarantee, but I'm holding out hope.
Yeah, that would do it for me, 'cept the cost.
The Shang Sr has slightly higher resolution than the SR, which I know sounds unbelievable, but it’s true. It’s just that the Shang, and the SR1a, have bass problems. If the new Raal can fix that, while maintaining or exceeding current SR1a levels of resolution, it might be perfect for me.
number1sixerfan
Headphoneus Supremus
This is exactly what it is, a merry go round lol. At some point, we simply have to acknowledge that there will never be one sole headphone that has all of the magic qualities wrapped up in one. Otherwise, you just keep going round and around in circles lol
I think it's way too tall of an expectation for any headphone and wouldn't place it on Raal. We'll still, but I'll still expect them to be very good resolution wise, and with hopefully some small improvements of bass along the way, but in reality, probably not.. or at least not in major spades. Ribbons are ribbons and stats are stats. And the oddball versions of each that tend to have stronger bass (mainly talking stats here), won't be at the head of the pack resolution wise as a simple tradeoff.
It sucks lol, but there is no unicorn. Just the headphones that tick our own preference boxes the most. For Cig I know it's the TC, for me the SGL Sr., others, the x9000, etc. etc.
Whazzzup
Headphoneus Supremus
Well one can hope a product fails or becomes problematic in some way, to purchase a replacement without guilt. Like myself in ditching gsx mk2 and replacing with wa33 elite edition. Concerning headphones I’m stuck on hd800S for timber and la900 for bass canon and the V. Tried susvara but wasn’t exciting for me. A harmonious warm hp, but that’s not the box I need checked.
anywho from pg 1 yes sell it all and get he 1
anywho from pg 1 yes sell it all and get he 1
Since I wasn't told to not post this, I'm gonna post it. Drunk ramblings me doesn't care
Here's a pic of the new Raal 3 ribbon, $9500 headphones
Here's a pic of the new Raal 3 ribbon, $9500 headphones
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ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
What are we looking at?Since I wasn't told to not post this, I'm gonna post it. Drunk ramblings me doesn't care
New Raal $9500 3 ribbon headphones. I edited the original post to make it more clear
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number1sixerfan
Headphoneus Supremus
That actually looks really, really cool.
S looks like a combo of older Audeze headphones with Focal headphone pads. I don't really know what that means in terms of sound, but they painted it gold, so I guess that means "expensive." I'm curious how it sounds though. I'm very, very curious.
Yea my first thoughts were Meze 109 x Audeze LCD. looks quite comfy and I really like their pads material choice ie perf leather surrounds but suede where it contacts the side of your head.
The metal handband material is the same as their CA I think. I wish they used something different, but I guess don't fix something that isn't broken. They might get accused of Hifiman stuff though, with the Shang Sr using the same headband as their very cheap headphones.
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