The Auris Audio Nirvana puts out 6.5W in pure CLASS A, but it isn’t as technically refined as the Headonia and that’s immediately audible. The extra power here does translate in a fuller body, better speed, tightness, energy and excitement. Unfortunately here’s we’re missing a bit of the technical performance. Think sound stage, layering, resolution, decay, note extension. It’s a fun, powerful and musical sound that is quite exciting, but the SR-1b can perform at a higher technical level. I do prefer the Nirvana over the Headonia in this case however. Fun fact, it’s the first time I ever see the VU meters on the Nirvana being this active.
The Cayin Audio HA-3A is a really nice amplifier for its price but it’s putting out under 1W. As such I didn’t expect too much from this combo, but I was actually positively surprised. Sure the volume goes up very far, but you get a nice level of energy, with good speed and enjoyable liveliness. The amount of body is a bit lighter and the vocals are more forward presented. The vocals really draw all the attention to them in the mids. In general you get a natural, spacious presentation with a good sound stage. Bass isn’t the biggest but the amp is in control making it tight and fast. Bass reaches down low nicely with good sub rumble. The top end here is lively but it isn’t the most precise or extended. Overall the technical level is good, but it’s not like the Headonia or Envy. It however has a better resolution and precision than the Nirvana.
You will like this combo if you like a vocally strong (forward) tuning with a good level of energy and excitement. The combo is fun to listen to and it mixes a good technical level with good musicality. IT will never win the top prize for refinement and technical excellence, but it’s pleasant to listen to>
Switching to higher end solid state amplifiers, the Niimbus US4+ is the first one up. The US4+ puts out around 7W per channel at 50 ohms. I was expecting this combo to sound excellent and it does. You get a full, powerful sound, with good body and impact. The resolution and precision with this combo are at a very high level. Basically this combo is really technically strong, with a good sound stage, spaciousness, air, depth, layering, note extension and decay. You get a high level, but natural sound that is engaging, very musical and very addictive. The US4+ and SR-1b combo is softer, easy on the ears but extremely musical.
Bass is tight, fast and reaches down really low. Perfect control with excellent layering and detail retrieval is what you get here. The mids are energetic, spacious and refined, and they have a smoother, softer presentation with one the best vocal presentations for the SR-1b. The top end is softer but it nicely extends. With the lower top-end excitement, it’s more about quality here then excitement. An absolutely recommended combo if you like a softer, musical presentation with an easy top-end.
One of the most popular solid state amplifiers of the moment is the award winning Ferrum OOR, with the Hypsos power supply. On paper this amplifier puts out around 1.6W into 300Ohm and an impressive 8W into 60Ohm. I have to admit that the synergy with the SR-1b (high gain) is extremely good and even better than with the US4+. You do get a more neutral signature with a lighter amount of overall body and lighter bass impact but the technical performance is even stronger.
The sound stage here is impressive in the width and there’s good depth with excellent layering. You also get a natural, spacious and airy presentation from top to bottom with a good level of energy. The OOR and SR-1b combo is at all times exciting, engaging, technically strong and musical. Bass has a neutral amount of body but it’s tight, controlled, fast and it reaches down very low when needed. The mids are incredible in this combo. A good, normal amount of body is what you get here, with an excellent technical level and sublime energetic presentation. Vocals are exemplary, but a bit more to the front. The top end here extends well with great resolution, note decay and energy. This combo is magical and fully recommended.
Conclusion
If you have made it to the end of this article, it won’t come as a surprise that I am a big fan of the Raal Requisite SR-1b. It has been a while that I was so excited to write a review.
It’s true that you need to have the interface or a specific type of amplifier (so a higher budget) to use the SR-1b, but it’s just something to take into account upfront if you’re interested in this headphone. As synergy is very important here, I recommend trying it out on as much as amplifiers as possible before ordering just anything to drive the SR-1b.
The experience and typical sound the SR-1b produces is unique, it’s not just another type of headphone sound. Raal and Requisite have really managed to produce a type of headphone sound that wasn’t available before. Not only is it unique. The technical performance is out of this world and the musical character is always present. The Raal SR-1b with the right amp (I recommend the Envy and OOR), delivers your favorite music in an effortless way. It’s so pleasing to the ear and easy to listen to that it’s hard going back to a regular type of headphone.
As such this is a very easy recommendation for me, and the Raal Requisite SR-1b gets our Recommended Buy Award. It is now featured on our Best Headphone list which you can find here.
As most of you know, Raal now also offers a circumoral version of the SR-1b with a different headband style, named the CA-1a / CS-1a. I have listened to it on multiple occasion at different shows, and it like the SR-1b is something really special. I hope to be able to review the CA-1 soon, and if not, I already know what I’ll be getting myself for Christmas.
PROs
– Unique design
– Superb sound quality
– New headphone technology
– Refreshing headphone sound
CONs
– Driveability & Amplifier pairing
– Design (love or hate)
– Fragile drivers (but replaceable)
– Isolation
On the last page of this article I am putting the full specs of the SR-1b headphone and the TI-1b Interface. Click here.
Page 2: Sound Intro, Sound Setup, Sound General, Sound Classics, Sound Synergy Pt. 1
Page 3: Sound Synergy Pt. 2, Conclusion, Summary
Page 4: Technical specifications
Mr Craig Pollock
Great Review! I came down to CanJam london 2023 specifically fo hear these headphones and i was very impressed ( listened on the RME ADI-2 DAC fs too, which i have) but it was just too noisy in the Hall to really appreciate them.
The CA-1a offered more protection from ambient sound and sounded excellent even with the general CanJam hubbub enveloping me . Danny McKinney was really helpful and we talked music and recording music (Danny used to build mixing desks) and for the type of music i liked (live Jazz, small Jazz combo’s) he suggested the SR-1b would be the best fit. So I’m going to book an appointment with Hifonix to listen to them in a much quieter environment and hopefully hear them on the Cayin HA300 which is on my List and it may have to wait another year if i go for the Raals first.
I am hoping for good things with the Cayin HA 300 especially when you give the HA 3 the thumbs up even if its a bit underpowered with the Raal’s.
Lieven
Thank you! Insider info, I recommend to hold off that purchase for a few weeks
SR-1b and CA-1 are both awesome though
OffRamp
Another fine review.
Here’s where I am, second headphone rig setup.
I like flexibility and the first rig has three amps connected to it.
The second rig has N8II, Denafrips Venus II, for the I2S input. [ I know you feel me ].
Because of money Woo Audio WES amp, cause I purchased the Stax limited editions on impulse. (I really wanted a Blue Hawaii) after research. Too late tho. I can still run another amp into this setup like the first. No more solid state amps it will be tube. That I haven’t decide yet. The third amp setup for this headphone? You make a convincing argument for the topic headphone.
339 on first rig still too good once those tubes get hot… you make reading around expensive.
Still in the background
Still reading around