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Yes, another audiophile at a crossroads story and request for advice

I find as I’m rapidly approaching retirement that 2 competing thoughts about enjoying music after i retire. First, Im really looking forward to having the time to relax and listen to music any day of the week (not just the weekend now). Second, I don’t expect to be continue any significant investment in equipment upgrades post bringing home a paycheck. 
My current system consists of a 30+ year old Linn LP12 with Linn cartridge and Vincent PHO-701 tube phono pre-amp. I only listen to analog when i want to enjoy an album i bought in the 60’s - 80’s. 
90+% of my listening is streaming Tidal using Roon via Roon Nucleus, Lumin D2 as a streamer only, feeding a RME ADI-2-FS DAC. 
i still enjoy my CD collection (9% of my listening) and still purchase CDs) on a Primaluna tube CD player. 
All these are connected to a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated amp with original primaluna tubes from Upscale Audio.  My speakers are the original Joseph Audio Perspectives (not the graphene version). 
Power and interconnect cables are mid-level grade and power management via Niagara 1200. 
i listen mostly to instrumental jazz. 
This system is enjoyable, but I’m missing the last elements of sound details that reproduce an accurate organic sense of hearing guitar strings being plucked or picked, drum sticks hitting/tapping membranes or brass cymbals, the sound of a string base wood cavity vibrate. Hopefully that describes what im looking for. I do not like hyper/etched detail especially in the upper frequencies. 
I will add that the Primaluna CD player is the most enjoyable source of the 3 I currently.  Oh, and i also want to simplify my system. 
So, if you come with me this far to the intersection, heres what im debating. Should i chunk the integrated and Perspectives and invest in a top notch set of headphones (like the Focal Clear MG) and dedicated headphone amp?  In other words go to a headphone system. Or should i go the route of chucking all but the Perspectives and the Nucleus and invest in a high quality Roon approved integrated amp with built in DAC/Streamer?

ezstreams

Showing 2 responses by yyzsantabarbara

yyzsantabarbara
4,526 posts
 

@ezstreams My RAAL SR1b earphone is essentially 2 speakers hanging from my ears. I hate headphone sound and the SR1b is not like headphones and very similar to 2-channel.

The best headphone amp for the SR1b is the VM-1a and it cost $7k, I sold that amp recently because there is a new 2-channel adapter from RAAL ($800) that allows you to get very close to the $7 k amp with a 2-channel amp. Now your 2-channel just needs to be up to the task.

One of the very best amps I had on the SR1b was the KRELL k-300i integrated amp. The KRELL is likely similar to the Primaluna Dialogue you own.

I do not have too much experience with other headphones so when I say the SR1b is the best phone out there it does not carry much weight. However, there are a lot of folks on Head-fi.com who own the very best and now consider the SR1b either the best or in the small cohort of the best. The negative comment on the SR1a in comparison to other top phones is that it does not have massive bass, for me that is a feature and not a bug. I am comparing against phones that cost any amount of money.

True Ribbon Headphones | RAAL-requisite (raalrequisite.com)

The adapter you want to get to use with the Prima Luna is the RAAL TI-1b.

TI-1b • RAAL-requisite (raalrequisite.com)

If you want more info send me a DM and I will give you more options. Over the past 4 years I must have spent close to $40k getting these to sound the best, with amp rolling, speaker cables, etc... I am now using a Schitt Aegir amp ($800) to drive my SR1b. Not because of the price, but the sound.

BTW - I just saw this last sentence
Or should i go the route of chucking all but the Perspectives and the Nucleus and invest in a high quality Roon approved integrated amp with built in DAC/Streamer?

The KRELL K-300i is one such integrated amp. One of the very best integrated amps around. Buttery smooth Class A sound and so enjoyable.

 

 

yyzsantabarbara
4,526 posts
 

@ezstreams I have been working too full-time jobs in 2023 and I am working very late hours while the family sleeps. The SR1a and CA1a are life savers for me and have made me money. I cannot imagine working so much without the RAALs.

The SR1a can be used for long hours without any discomfort. Only issue with them is that you cannot lay in bed with them on. That is the reason I also got the CA-1a phone.

I have been contacted by people that have sold systems at the level and cost of Magico to go just with the SR1a. The quality of the sound from the RAAL ribbons is incredible and I think hard for other headphones to touch, especially if you come from a 2-channel background. Main complaint I hear from headphone people on the SR1a is that it does not sound like headphones. For 2-channel people that should be a great feature.

The chances of you getting great sound with the SR1a is 100% with a decent amp while with speakers the room and other factors can lead to a higher chance of things being somewhat less than perfect.

BTW - I have an office and Livingroom system that I think are perfect. I threw out all my boxes so this gear is not going anywhere. My RAALs are good as my office system (Magnepan based) and almost as good as my Livingroom, Yamaha NS5000 based. I listen for at least 10 hours M-F (usually 15 hours).

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