Raidho D1's and recommendations for amplifiers

Raidho will be at Axpona this year to show off their new Aavik integrated with the Scansonic MB 2.5's Raidho X3 and D3.

04-11-15: Mordante
If it was my money money I would have a look at a Pass Labs XA amps, Octave, or Aavik U-300.

Today I heard the Aavik U-300 with all Ansuz cabling and Raidho X-3 it sounded great. But I might prefer a tadd more warmth, Class A amps Pass or Symphonic Line. Or maybe a little bit of tube warmth, Octave.

What a small world. Yesterday I heard the Aavik U300 with the X3's too. Ansuz Ceramic cabling with the Mainz D8 streamed from a Naim NDS. My dealer used the Aavik's built in dac. I thought it sounded fantastic. What's a little funny I had the Raidho D1's driven by an Octave V110 and have upgraded to the D2's. I really liked that combo up until yesterday when I heard the Aavik. I'm seriously considering trading in the Octave.

04-10-15: Tyrreld
Akg_ca - Thanks - Not familiar with Audio Flight but have heard Raidho D1's match well with Rowland, Devialet, BALabo, Hegel, Robert Koda, Ypsilon, Soulution; Raidho often use Rowlands at shows. Only Hegel and Deviate are in my price range. Any comments on these two?

First try the amps you have. You may be surprised. I haven't heard the Hegal or Devialet but you may want to put the Naim Supernait 2 on your list. Sounds great with the D2's so the D1's wouldn't be a problem and in your budget.

That said I would highly recommend the D1's be broken in first. The Raidho's sound great out of the box but after having 2 different pair I will say the tweeters will need about 350 hrs to really smooth out. Then another 200 hrs for the bass to settle down and fully tighten up. It's a very gradual improvement. Something a first time Raidho owner wouldn't really notice but I did after getting the D2's. Honestly I had approx 2200hrs on the D1's when I traded them in. When the D2's arrived I was disappointed in the SQ. The highs were ever so slightly edgy and the lows were kind of thin sounding. After 650 hrs I stopped hearing any differences with either the D1's or D2's.

Aavik U300 is designed by Mike B from Raidho. But at 30K retail WOW.

@kin You have D1.1's? Did you compare them them to the D1's? If so what differences in SQ are there?

@qbndds - What amp do you have now? BTW the D1.1's sound a lot better than the original D1's so I would say it was a good thing you couldn't pull the trigger last year. Otherwise you would be looking at getting them upgraded.

Anyhow back to the amp. When I had D1's I had an Octave V110 tube integrated w/black box and it sounded great. Then I upgraded to the D2's. Only at very high listening levels did the Octave fall apart (mids and highs would increase in volume but the lows stayed the same). I think that was more of a tube characteristic so after the Axpona 2015 show I bought the Aavik U300. I think you should listen to the D1.1's with your current amp first  Then audition different amps to get the sound you're looking for. If you like the Aavik check out Jeff Rowland and Soulution. Burmester is also very good and a little warmer sounding.

Good Luck 

@qbndds                                                                                                                        Congrats on the JR. Even though I haven't heard the JR with Raidho's I've read they are a great match. After all Raidho used the JR's at a lot of demos before the Aavik was released.