Best sounding headphones you have owned?

I also had VM-1a + RAAL SR1a + Lumin X1 = fantastic.

I sold the VM-1a + Lumin X1 to buy speakers and a 2-channel amp.

Today, to run my RAAL SR1a, I use the following:

RAAL TL-1b amp interface box | Schitt Mjolnir amp | Schitt Aegir amp

This gets me to about 90% of the VM-1a. This weekend someone is going to bring a VM-1a to my place to do a head-to-head with the following (for the SR1a):

• CODA #16 | Holo Serene preamp | Benchmark DAC3B
• Peachtree GAN1 (modded) testing with the RAAL CA-1a phones and not SR1a. Complicated explanation as to why.
• Schitt Mjolnir preamp | Schitt Aegir | Schitt Yggi+ LIM
• Schitt Mjolnir preamp | Benchmark AHB2 | Schitt Yggi+ LIM

vs

the VM-1a.

The VM-1a should win but that CODA setup code steal the win. I have a feeling I will buy the VM-1a the guy brings over. My Schitt YGGI+ LIM DAC has 3 outputs so it will be easy to add the VM-1a to my office setup (which uses 2 outputs already).

BTW - I am going to be selling my RAAL CA-1a soon.

@rlawry You are correct! Listen to the SR1b with the new RAAL Star8 cable (I also have SR728) and the VM-1a tube amp. A Lumin X1 is great as a DAC to this but I still like the Benchmark DAC3B into the VM-1a. That Star8 cable is some genius work. All silver and works so well with what I consider bright gear.

Only thing is, make sure you have payment ready to go. No joke.

I was thinking that the Bricasti would be good with the SR1a. In fact, Danny is going to test out the lower cost Bricasti out. I am going to stick with the DAC3B into the VM-1a. It is actually my worst 2-channel DAC but my fav on the VM-1a.

State of the art sound for a relatively low cost is one of my headphone systems:

• RAAL CA-1a (like regular headphones, unlike the RAAL SR1a) ($2000 naked version)
• RAAL TL-1a speaker adapter box ($800)
• Schtt Mjolnir preamp ($1100)
• Schitt Aegir amp ($800)
• Benchmark DAC3B ($1700) (dual duty with my 2-channel)

This above setup is so good that I threw out all the shipping boxes. I live close by to RAAL and Schitt if service is needed. I cannot easily sell this gear now. I also use the more expensive RAAL SR1a phones with the above setup. 

I posted earlier in this thread about the RAAL SR1a and the VM-1a tube amp as being the very best I have heard. That is still the case, but I was flipping a coin this weekend as to whether to sell the VM-1a tube amp. I am not selling it.

The reason being that I burrowed the RAAL Tl-1b box ($800). I plugged that into my CODA #16 amp and wow, it was ALMOST as good as my $7K VM-1a amp. In the past, nothing came close to the SR1a and VM-1a combo. However, now for 2-channel people with great amps, you have a solution to drive the SR1a.

I am getting a Peachtree GAN400 amp this week on a home trial and I will use it for both 2-channel with my office Magnepan LRS+ and the RAAL SR1a via the Tl-1b interface box. I think it will also be excellent.

Another great thing wit this Tl-1b box is that I am able to use a 25-foot cable from the amp to the TL-1b and then use the expensive RAAL Star 8 headphone cable to the SR1a. I am able to listen in my guest bedroom while connected to the 2-channel system in my office. The long cable does not degrade the sound.

BTW - a few years ago there was a thread on the BACCH system. I posted something about getting that system setup for about $5K if you are able to install the software yourself on a MacMini.

Let me first say I am not a huge fan of headphones because I dislike the in your head soundstage. However, I love the RAAL SR1a because it does not sound like headphones. The only traditional headphone that I liked was the RAAL CA-1a. It is saved by the RAAL ribbon. Otherwise, the sound is pretty much in your head. I am selling the CA-1a to raise some cash not because I do not listen to it.

The SR1a is unlike traditional headphones. That is why they are called earphones. It is like having a 2-channel speaker hanging next to your ear. You end up looking like Princess Leia with the SR1a on your head.

A lot of folks who use the SR1a use it for Classical music because the sound stage is projected out of the headspace, and you can visualize the source of the instruments in a similar way as 2-channel.

I know people who have contacted me saying they sold their Magico speakers and went all in with the SR1a. I can see that. No 2-channel speaker I had owned in the past could beat my SR1a at 2-CHANNEL. That is until I got the Yamaha NS5000 speakers with a CODA #16 amp. That beats the best setup of the SR1a I have had. It is not easy to beat the SR1a even with 2-channel gear. With headphones, for my ears, it is not even a contest.

Best place to learn about the RAAL. Alex and Danny from RAAL and Requiste Audio help out with questions.

Raal Ribbon Headphones - SRH1A | Page 483 | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

@thyname I see you commenting as an expert on phones, and also stating you have Meze Elite. As someone who at one time owned the top end Meze, I find your comments about your expertise interesting.

For the rest of you. Some interesting things are happening in the world of RAAL. To prepare I bought back the RAAL VM-1a amp (getting it again on Saturday) that I sold last year. I also sold my RAAL SR1a earphones yesterday.

This Saturday, I am going to do a comparison of the RAAL VM-1a with the RAAL CA-1a headphone and the following gear:

• RAAL VM-1a amp | Schitt Yggi+ LIM DAC
• modded PeachTree GAN1
• Schit Mjolnir preamp | Schitt Aegir amp | Schitt Yggi+ LIM DAC
• Holo Serene preamp | CODA #16 amp | Schitt Yggi+ LIM DAC

It will be interesting to see if the low-cost solutions can reach near the VM-1a level. When I did a similar test with my old VM-1a the low-cost gear came close. My new low-cost gear is even better.

@soix New ones coming out soon. It is being discussed on Head-fi. The new one is a mix of the CA-1a and SR1a. There are 3 ribbons instead of 1. I will also be selling my CA-1a but that will be after the new one is released. I need a phone until then.