Raal 1995 Immanis Review

If Google is showing you this page directly, click here to go to the start of the article.

Sound – Synergy

While amplification now is less critical compared to with the SR-1a/b, you will still easily notice how well your amplifier is performing, or what your amp is bringing to the party. To get the most out of these headphones I do recommend using a higher end / better amplifier that unlocks the full potential of the ribbon drivers. Think precision, PRaT, layering, extension, decay, etc. Most of you who will be buying this level of headphone probably already have good amplification at home, so it shouldn’t be an issue. If you don’t yet, then be prepared to set aside an extra amplification budget.

The amplifiers I selected for this section of the review are the Auris Audio Headonia 300b, the Feliks Audio Envy, the ZMF Aegis, the SAEQ Armageddon and the Niimbus Audio US4+.

First up is the Auris Headonia 300b, which is one of my favorite all-round amplifiers from a sound point of view. With this amplifier the Immanis gets loud quickly and my listening volume – depending on the recording – is between 0 and 2. The ALPS on the Headonia is so precise that you can have sound between 0 and 1, so don’t worry about it being too loud. This also allows you to use high gain at a very low volume and this is where the combo shines. On high gain and a low volume level, you get sublime precision, dynamics, speed, control and sub bass depth/rumble that still impresses me after over a decade of reviewing. The Immanis on the Headonia 300b sounds refined, extended and in general the technical level is super high. At the same time you get the light tube smoothness and a very high level of musicality. This simply is a superb high-end combo. If you want the best of the best in all possible ways, you better set aside €22.000 Euro and order the combo.

Depending on how much body and bass slam you like, you can also tune the Magna/Immanis by using a different amplifier. The Feliks Audio ENVY amp is a good example in that case. I myself always liked the SR-1b on the ENVY, but not everyone feels the same about that. I find both of the RAAL headphones to sound excellent on the ENVY, though you in exchange for the fulness and weigh have to turn in some of the technical excellence you get with the Headonia 300b. For a lot of people this combo will be the most easy to listen to as it offers a good mix of musical enjoyment, weight and precision. It also is more budget friendly, and as a lot of you already have the Envy, the investment isn’t as high as with the Auris combo,

If you prefer an even fuller sound with bigger bass presence, impressive dynamics and a smooth delivery, the new ZMF Aegis amplifier is an interesting amp to hook up the Immanis to. The precision, extension and refinement are less apparent here – though it will depend on the tubes you’re running it with -, but you get a fuller, smoother and easy likable sound, with a very musical delivery. The mid timbre and vocals are like candy to your ears. What the US4+ and Immanis combo is for solid state (see later), this combo is for tubes. It’s not a setup I like with all types of music, but if you listen to something like Eminem’s latest album where precision, technicalities and refinement don’t really matter, this combo really delivers in pure enjoyment and engagement. If you want to get the most of the Immanis’ technical excellence, this amplifier probably is one to scratch of your list.

With the SAEQ Armageddon, we have a real powerhouse in the office. I prefer connecting the Immanis to the direct output of the Armageddon. You here are greeted again with a high-end sound and it is clear that the Immanis gets all the power it needs from the Armageddon, even at low gain. Sure the volume dial goes up more, but there are no driving issues at all. In fact you can drive both the Magna and Immanis at the same time if you would want to. The synergy here is good and the performance is great. The stereo imaging, layering, spaciousness, energy and precision are a treat to the ear, but at the same time there still is room for improvement when it comes to airiness, note extension, decay and sound stage in this case. Don’t get me wrong, this combo does sound really good with excellent bass presentation, top level layering as well as depth and engaging vocals but the Immanis can sound even better. The Magna matches the Armageddon’s characteristics a little more in my opinion.

With the Niimbus Audio US4+ you get a full and powerful sounding Immanis with good body, an excellent stereo image and a softer/darker presentation as well as a top end that’s easy on the ear. I really like the vocals in this setup (Try Roger Waters – The Dark Side of the Moon Redux). If you find the Immanis to hot or energetic on top – which I do not find at all myself – then this combo could be a really good one for you. You still get a good technical level – after all it is a high-end amp -, but it is easier on the top end and less refined overall. This for sure isn’t the absolute technically strongest combo in this article (think airiness, timbre, layering, extension, precision, decay and extension), but I really can enjoy the musicality, easygoingness and non-fatiguing signature. I have to admit that the US4+ isn’t an amplifier I often listen to, but after having found this relaxing synergy, I will from now on be using it regularly with the Immanis when I’m in the mood for softness and don’t need the best technical performance (which actually is a shame as the Immanis really shines there).

Comparison – SR-1b and Magna

There aren’t a lot of people who have both the Magna and Immanis at their disposal for comparison, but the ones who do pretty much figured out the differences correctly. In general the reviews and show feedback has been very good, except for some comments by people that actually don’t have the headphones. Even after having these headphones with me for all these months, I do not feel they are overhyped in any way.

In fact, it’s very easy to say that both headphones are very good but they are also very different tunning wise. Is the Immanis necessarily better than the Magna? Some might not agree but in my opinion, if you purely look at it from a technical performance kind of view, then yes it absolutely is. Is the Immanis the perfect headphones? No, of course not. There never will be a perfect headphone that suites everyone’s preferences and not even RAAL will make such a statement. 

Are the Magna and Immanis close to the SR-1a/b headphone? That is more tricky and the answer here is yes and no. Yes, as you still get the typical ribbon sound and performance. No, as the experience is different. The SR-1 series sort of give you a different take of listening to speakers, and the music is presented in a very spacious and open – outside your body/head – way (which is logic). With the Magna and Immanis, you still get the good things of the ribbons, but you get them in a typical headphone style. While still good in the terms of openness, spaciousness and sound stage, the RAAL 1995 creations don’t reproduce that typical SR-1 experience. As such these headphones to me have a different flavor and they are more complementary than they are substitutes. I for one will not be selling the SR-1b I bought as it still has a very unique way of displaying music. The SR-1b isn’t light bodied or thin in any way, though that also strongly depends on the amplification used. Both the Magna and Immanis are fuller and heavier sounding, and they have a very dynamic way of presenting bass which I never got from the Sr-1b. At the same time I must admit that the SR-1b has only gotten very little play time since the Magna and Immanis arrived. Between the Immanis and Magna, I to be honest hardly ever choose the latter.

I mentioned earlier that the Immanis was the best technical performer of both headphones and I stick to that point. If you’re looking for the highest resolution, spaciousness, layering, extension and decay, the Immanis is the headphone for you. It is a little lighter in body from top to bottom and it doesn’t have the same level of punchy, impactful bass as the Magna has, but it makes up for that in pure quality. Immanis also is the one with the best sound stage depth and width, and it combines that with excellent layering.

Both headphones are good when it comes to resolution and precision but they’re performing at different levels. Same goes for speed and timbre: both great but the Immanis takes it a step further. The Immanis is smoother in the delivery and I find it to be the easier one to listen to, it’s a more relaxed experience as the Immanis has this effortless in everything it does. With the Magna I don’t have that perception but it doesn’t mean it isn’t a good headphone. In fact I am sure that some will actually prefer the Magna over the Immanis as it will work better for their preferred musical choice. Magna has a narrower stage and a more intimate presentation. It’s the more typical in your face presentation where the Immanis balances things out more over a wider field. With Magna you get great dynamics, more weight from top to bottom and a punchier, more impactful, heavier bass line. I wouldn’t say bass is too much here, neither of these headphones are bass monsters.

Conclusion

The RAAL 1995 Immanis, with its Ribbon technology, is a unique headphone with a sound signature that is just as special. Listening to a RAAL Ribbon driver for the first time will seriously impress you. If you never got to like the SR-1b or found it too weird for your taste, I strongly advise you to give the Immanis (or Magna for that matter) a new chance.

If you like a high-end sound where you get a superbly strong technical performance but with a musical and energetic delivery, the Immanis is the perfect headphone for you. I place it very high in my personal list of favorite headphones.

If you plan on adding the Immanis to your collection, I would certainly advise to check the synergy with your collection of amplifiers. At the same time, there are multiple amplifiers that make the Immanis sound great. It’s clear that the Immanis scales up together with your amplifier, my favorite being the Auris Headonia 300b. For you it might be a different combo of course.

Anyway, if you are looking for a TOTL reference headphone and have the budget for the headphone and the amplification, then this is a headphone to shortlist. Fully recommended from my end, and the Immanis is our Newest Recommended Buy Award winner. It is now added to our list of award winning headphones, where it is in good company.

Summary

PROs

• Ribbon experience (tuning)
• Sublime technical performance
• Musical delivery

CONs

Hardly anything but if I have to say something it would be

• Amplification synergy
• Weight/Comfort

Page 1: Intro, RAAL 1995, Ribbon technology, Immanis, Interface & Cables

Page 2: Price & Accessories & Delivery, Build quality & Design & Comfort & Isolation, Specifications, Sound Intro, Sound general

Page 3: Sound Synergy, Comparisons, Conclusion, Summary