Any fellow high end headphone users here?

[Solartiger]

I also have both. I prefer real loudspeakers. But when it’s only me listening, especially during the day, I most often just use headphones.

I have the Stax SRM-T8000 headphone amplifier driving Stax SR-X9000 and SR-007-Mk2 headphones. I like the openness and clarity of the Stax headphones.

 

[gleeds]

Since receiving our Trafomatic Primavera SE headphone amplifier, I have become a devotee. I have listened with the top Meze, Camerton, and most recently Raal ribbon headphones, and it's been quite an experience. As a devoted two-channel listener and business promoter, I'm glad I dived into the space. More time will tell if it cuts into my regular listening, but I do understand those I have met who own a half-dozen headphones and an equal number of tube and solid-state headphone amplifiers.

 

[joey_v]

I enjoy headphones equally to loudspeakers nowadays

Great stuff

 

[Alrainbow]

Since receiving our Trafomatic Primavera SE headphone amplifier, I have become a devotee. I have listened with the top Meze, Camerton, and most recently Raal ribbon headphones, and it's been quite an experience. As a devoted two-channel listener and business promoter, I'm glad I dived into the space. More time will tell if it cuts into my regular listening, but I do understand those I have met who own a half-dozen headphones and an equal number of tube and solid-state headphone amplifiers.


View attachment 154032

How do use the raal and what model ?

 

[gleeds]

How do use the raal and what model ?

I experienced the Raal at the recent show in Irvine, CA, where Danny McKinney was demoing the Raal with several top-end amplifiers, including one from Allnic. The Allnic was specially modified to energize the Raal with a separate transformer; however, when connected to the Primavera, he used one. Danny will be sending me a pair of Immanus to audition more extensively, since I thought the pairing was divine!

 

[Alrainbow]

I’ve Listened to the raal phones many times at shows
Was going to buy a pair , what stopped me is the amps or transformer or resistor block to use them
Justin of HEADAMP makes an amp it was to me the best match heard.
what I would like to try is an amp that’s ss and can drive them directly
I’ve tried at shows the shiit but felt Justin’s was above it
owning panels all of my life makes them a great choice
I presently own a reWorked Infinty IRS V and the raals on Justin’s amp was like I was in my nyc room with them.
Down south I have a set of apogee diva speakers on two Krell amps ksa200b and ksa80b
I’m pretty sure one of these amps would be good.
years ago I bought a pair of Hifi man’s he6 phones there were very difficult to drive well
woo ausio wa5 did well on them had some tube magic too.
some headphones need a certain amp type to make them sound good
Sennhiser hd800 needs a high outPut imp
the amp transformac above sounds like they made sure to give the output taps needed for a wide range of phones
Smart move on there part

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

I have the TOTL HifiMan EF1000 Amp with Susvara Headphones....awesome system !

 

[Alrainbow]

Anyone use earbuds be it Bluetooth or wired ?

 

[fbhifi]

Over the summer, when I’m away from my speaker based system, I listen to headphones. I’ve been doing this for around ten years and my headphone systems have evolved nicely over the years.

Last summer I purchased a Grimm MU2 and an LTA z10e tube amp. The Grimm is a superb one box digital solution and the z10e is a real Swiss Army knife with the capability to drive dynamic, planar AND electrostatic headphones. It also has speaker outputs. I Ran Meze Elite, HifiMan Susvara and HE1000 SE cans. Great system, but this summer I moved into Headfi Uber land!

Just a week or so ago I received a new amp- ampsandsound Red October XL - SE. This is Justin Weber’s no holds barred full frontal assault on what’s possible with a 300B SET headphone amp. The beast weighs over 100lbs due to the insane transformer complement housed within the 11 gauge steel plate casing. The amp is an homage to old school amp builds with absolutely no integrated circuits, silicon chips or voltage regulators- only point to point wiring, and turret board construction.

A pair of Raal Immanis headphones arrived at the same time. Both pieces are hooked up to the MU2 and now have around 40 hours of break in time on them. The Susvaras sound simply fantastic, the Immanis are on an entirely different level.

I am utterly dumbstruck by what I’m hearing with this combo! The head stage is vast, deep and layered front to back. The tubes have all been upgraded, thanks to Brent Jesse Recording and Tubes USA and are dead quiet. I have simply never heard anything even close to this in my headphone journey, it challenges many playback performance elements of my big system and likely surpasses it in vocal intimacy due, I’m sure, to the 300Bs.

Can’t wait to listen this afternoon and enjoy the sonic improvements as the system continues to break in.

 

[Alrainbow]

I have an older woo audio wa5 amp
300b
Upgraded caps and chokes
im not a fan at fan 300 tubes on amps for speakers but headphones yes
have you tried Justin’s at headamp on raals phones tube magic.
I have an old set of Hifi man planers he6 a beast to drive
but since I like planer or panels in speakers they fit nicely

 

[fbhifi]

I am not aware of the HeadAmp brand presently offering any tube amps, except for electrostats.

The upcoming HeadAmp CFA3-T will have a tube input stage and SS output. It, however, has not seen the light of day yet. I put in a pre-order for the above before I decided to get the RO XL - SE. I will likely cancel that pre-order now that I’ve heard the RO XL - SE.

 

[Alrainbow]

Your correct in a way

RAAL-requisite VM-1a | Variable Mode Vacuum Tube Ribbon Headphone Amplifier

Featuring user selectable Triode, Pentode and Ultra-Linear operating modes. This top of the line amp delivers uncompromising performance RAAL’s SR-1a headphones. Truly a joy to experience.

bloomaudio.com

While at a show at the raal booth I seem two amps made by HEADAMP I think

Above is one
I could have sworn Justin was showing them but I might me wrong too

 

[Alrainbow]

Analog on headphones really is good shows the virtues of the format

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

Analog on headphones really is good shows the virtues of the format

On one side of the coin I agree.

However, on the other side of the coin it can also show the disadvantages and pitfalls as there as so many variables to take care of when playing vinyl and critically listening through a TOTL headphone system !

It is critical that the TT system has been set up correctly and accurately as you can hear everything on a TOTL headphone system !

As well as this, cleaning your records and aiming to make them as clean as physically possible is also another variable that needs to be taken care of !

As the old saying goes 'The Devil is in the Detail' This couldn't be more true than listening to a viny set-up through a TOTL headphone system for every part of the system you are using !

 

[Alrainbow]

Exactly my thoughts, using test lp,s .
I use to setup carts and tables I use them on speakers and headphones.
speakers give a little of a different perspective in some ways. Headphones are like a closeup version of they are here

 

[tom539]

Hello headphone-lovers,

My current headphone-setup is since yesterday evening my „old“ one:



Over the last decade, upgraded amp and headphone step by step.
Startet with Sennheiser HD800 + Lehmann Audio BCL SE, over AKG-812 and Audio Technica ADH-5000 (on the BCL), switched to AudioValve „Luminare“ and Stax „SR-009“.

Upgraded the Luminare to Solaris - and this setup stays for over 5 years of Great joy.
Had the chance to compare my SR-009 with X-9000 and Hifiman Shangri La Jr. on my Solaris and Paltauf ESD and switched to the Hifiman.

Then, sold Solaris + Shangri La…

But without headphone, life is not „complete“.
So Ferrum ERCO/Hypsos + Hifiman HE1000 V2 came in, paired with Fiio M23.

Again after 1 year: sold M23 und HE1000 V2.

Now: back to the roots with a realy dream-setup AudioValve „Solaris“ and Hifiman „Shangri La Jr“…

atb, Tom

 

[Rexp]

Hello headphone-lovers,

My current headphone-setup is since yesterday evening my „old“ one:

View attachment 156651

Over the last decade, upgraded amp and headphone step by step.
Startet with Sennheiser HD800 + Lehmann Audio BCL SE, over AKG-812 and Audio Technica ADH-5000 (on the BCL), switched to AudioValve „Luminare“ and Stax „SR-009“.

Upgraded the Luminare to Solaris - and this setup Stars for over 5 years of Great joy.
Had the chance to compare my SR-009 with. X-9000 and Hifiman Shangri La Jr. on my Solaris and Paltauf ESD and switched to the Hifiman.

Then, sold Solaris + Shangri La…

But without headphone, life is not „complete“.
So Ferrum ERCO/Hypsos + Hifiman HE1000 V2 came in, paired with Fiio M23.

Again after 1 year: sold M23 und HE1000 V2.

Now: back to the roots with a realy dream-setup AudioValve „Solaris“ and Hifiman „Shangri La Jr“…

atb, Tom

Nice simple set-up, what source and media are you using?

 

[tom539]

Nice simple set-up, what source and media are you using?

see signature...

atb, Tom

 

[treitz3]

BTW and FWIW, if you are on a mobile device...turn your device sideways. The signatures should be visible.

Tom

 

[Rexp]

BTW and FWIW, if you are on a mobile device...turn your device sideways. The signatures should be visible.

Tom

Ha, good tip!