2. headphones
  3. 191302-73359

Raal Immanis top of the line headphones

Not sure how many here are using really high end headphone systems. But has anyone tried, or is planning to try, the new Raal Immanis? I am a huge fan of their CA-1a headphones and find them to be an amazing value for the price compared to things like the top Hifiman headphones which don't do much for me. 

That said the Immanis is almost $10K which feels pretty crazy for a headphone. I love headphones because they take away the room acoustics with all the flaws involved, but also because they allow people to get a killer full range system for a much lower price than going with speakers. But when a headphone costs $10K that benefit is no longer in play. I certainly can afford an Immanis but not sure it makes sense to do so. Just curious if anyone else has tried them or has any thoughts.

v-fi
jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,214 posts
 

I too am an audio junkie! I only stopped when I ran out of money. The first step is admitting you have a problem.

jasonbourne71's avatar
jasonbourne71
1,214 posts
 

The earlier RAAL phones were like $5K. Quite expensive IMO! I fail to see how doubling the price is justified? This is an example of why the general population thinks audiophiles are crazy!

yyzsantabarbara
4,917 posts
 

@jasonbourne71 I am sure you have never heard any of the gear I mentioned but yet you have an expert opinion on this gear.

For some people, especially the SR1a., the savings were massive buying a $5k earphone. One guy who contacted me about the RAAL ended up selling their Magico based system and went with only the SR1a. The SR1a is very much like 2-channel. The Immanis and Magna are not like that.

There are different levels of gear for different budgets and tastes. The RAAL gear is at the uber level of headphones. Maybe the best, but I am biased.

 

 

yyzsantabarbara
4,917 posts
 

My last post turned out to be rather prophetic. I just spoke with my wife and we need to turn my current office into a bedroom for my kid. That means my lovely office system is going to be sold off. My new office space is not good for 2-channel

Here comes the Immanis to the rescue.

 

v-fi OP
110 posts
 

I never quite connected with the SR-1a. Not sure why, maybe I didn't get the adjustments right or something. The CA-1a blows me away though. After owning so many headphones from Hifiman, Audeze, Focal, and Sennheiser, some of which I liked and some not so much, the CA-1a just scratches the itch like no other. Which is why I'm intrigued by the Immanis.

Very curious why there seems to be much less interest in the Magna. Maybe people just figure if they are going high end anyway, they should just go all the way? I just wonder if Magnus is similar but lesser than the Immanis, or if it has a distinct signature that sets it apart. @yyzsantabarbara were you able to try both or just the Immanis?

More to discover