Rosson Audio Design RAD-0 Review

Rosson RAD-0

Build Quality

 

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Looking at the quality of the build there isn’t really anything that isn’t up to the level of a high end headphone. The headband works perfectly and the leather is stitched on professionally. The ear cups are hand made as you know by now and the driver grill fits in nicely. The pads which are glued on are very nice and symmetrical as well. Too bad there is no vegan option yet, I hope to see that soon in Rosson Audio’s shop.

Note that the 3.5mm connectors in the resin are recessed and small. That means you won’t be able to use any other cable, it will have to be one with small designed 3.5mm plugs. There’s also no protection around the edges of the resin, so be careful when inserting your connectors, as they might damage/scratch the cups.

 

Comfort

The first thing you’ll notice when picking up the carrying case or when taking out the RAD-0 headphone, is the fact that this is a heavy headphone. On my headphone scale an impressive 677 grams pops up on the screen, making it the heaviest headphone in my collection. And that’s without cable.

While heavy, the headband system does a really good job at distributing the weight but you don’t just make almost 700g disappear. The (sideways) clamping force is quite high (I like that) but the ear pads are really comfy and soft. After long listening sessions however, the top of my head starts feeling a bit sore because of the weight. This isn’t the most comfortable headphone on the market but still I end up using it for hours without interruption.

Cable

The cable that came with the RAD-0 is nice but it at the same time it’s not as fancy as a special aftermarket cable. The most important thing to know here is that the wiring is quite unique. As a result not just any headphone cable will work. As a balanced cable I am using the one that came with the Hifiman HE6SE, my other 3.5mm finished balanced cables from PlusSound and C3Audio simply don’t work.

Alex Rosson at the show suggested and insisted to use the RAD-0 in a balanced configuration, so do make sure you have a balanced cable which works. If you don’t have one available you can buy the ones from Rosson Audio which are terminated with either the XLR or the 4.4mm connector. The good thing is they’re very affordable as well, costing only $70 and $60 USD. When ordering the RAD-0 from Rosson Directly, I fully advise to get a balanced cable with it from the start.

Balanced vs Single ended

Unless you skipped directly to this part you already know that to get the best result, Alex Rosson hinted to listen to the RAD-0 in a balanced configuration. Our main setup for this review is the Niimbus Audio US4+, but we will discuss several other amps later in this article.

In balanced mode everything just sounds so much better: you get a very full bodied presentation and the RAD-0 sounds more effortless. That combined with the higher dynamics, spaciousness and air, really lift up the sound quality even more. In balanced mode the sound stage increases in both width and depth and the layering improves. Vocals are also presented in a smoother way.

In single ended mode you also get very good, but different sound. Here the presentation is more intimate and you get a less dynamic, spacious, more concentrated presentation which sound more “between your ears”, where the balanced setup goes outside. Bass is also good here, just not as full in body and depth. Bass in single ended mode is tighter and faster. The layering in bass and mids is also less obvious in SE mode, and the vocals (and mids) aren’t as smooth.

I am convinced quite some headphone users will prefer the SE presentation over the balanced one as the latter one might be “too much” for some listeners, especially those who want to be as close to neutral/reference as possible.

From now on we in this review will describe the sound in balanced config, unless noted differently in the amp section below.

Sound

When we previewed the RAD-0 we had the following to say about its sound:

“Great dynamics and fullness are things we already know from Rosson’s time at Audeze, but the natural presentation, air and spaciousness of the RAD-0 is something else. The sound stage is wider and deeper as well and as a result you get everything you expected and a lot more.

You het a full sounding bass with great impact, with the typical planar characteristics. The mids are rich and layered with a natural presentation and especially the treble is lively, energetic, precise and for a planar, quite extended. It’s not a typically neutral and analytic presentation, but a musical and dynamic one. The engagement factor is high, and you’ll be head shaking, singing and foot-tapping in no time.”

The part on sound continues on the third page which you can find by clicking HERE.

4.4/5 - (102 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

2 Comments

  • Reply October 7, 2020

    Offramp

    Why am I not surprised to learn you used the V850 or the 339 in this review. I’m also very unsurprised you used the Niimbus while reviewing either.
    It seems like you guys drop bread crumbs that I find every time.
    These are the headphones I’m waiting for Rad-0 [out of stock].
    Nimbus is the solid state I’m considering.
    Electrostatic is the last frontier and I haven’t made a decision on the amp or the DAC to drive that amp. I’m considering everybody for the amp but no real direction yet for the DAC but it has to equal the V850.
    You know I’ve been thinking when you get to a certain level of equipment what is it going to take to achieve the next level…
    Thanks

    Always in the background
    Always reading around

  • Reply October 9, 2020

    Darkstar

    Offramp,

    I was on the V850 drop as well. I am super happy with mine. The Schiit Gungnir Multibit will be hitting the used market great dac in its own right I just prefer the v850.

    Yeah once you hit a certain level its your tastes because everything is good in its own way. I suggest you listen to electrostatic setup before you leap. I have v850/v281 Utopia and LCD X. I have no desire going after an electrostatic setup after hearing a few. Not that they are not amazing just not really my sonic flavor. I would much rather stick with what I have especially amp/dac wise.

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