2. headphones
  3. 175585-1604

VM-1a: New RAAL SR1a Headphone amp

I heard the new top of the line RAAL SR1a headphone amp, the VM-1a. To say I was impressed is an understatement. This amp was incredible with the SR1a. I have never heard the SR1a sound so good.

I have been championing the 2-channel approach with the SR1a over the dedicated headphone amp since my 2-channel amps sounded better to me. However. the game is over for my 2-channel amps. I used CODA07x preamp with a CODA #8 amp to drive the SR1a. I also had a Schitt Frey+ preamp and Benchmark AHB2 amp to drive the SR1a. Both systems had a Musetec 005 DAC. I had 2 RAAL amp interface boxes to accomplish this.

The new VM-1a amp will cost $6500, which is nosebleed level for me, but I am selling the CODA #8 amp and Schitt Freya+ preamp to buy the VM-1a. I have a NAD M22 V2 as a backup if I have tube issues with the VM-1a. The NAD is pretty good.

Here is a list of all the 2-channel amps tried with the SR1a.

- Schitt Jotunheim R (dedicated SR1a headphone amp, not 2 channel)


- RAAL HSA-1B
- Benchmark AHB2 stereo and mono
- D-Sonic M3a 800s
- LSA Voyager 350 GAN (modded by EVS)
- Parasound A21+
- NAD M22 V2
- KRELL K-300i integrated amp
- KRELL Duo 175XD
- CODA #8

I will have the KRELL 175XD and NAD M22 V2 left after this purge is completed.

 

 

yyzsantabarbara
yyzsantabarbara OP
4,890 posts
 

@willywonka I could not take one home since each one in stock was already sold out. Though Danny does realize that if he did left me take one home to demo I would buy it. He wrapped me up into the RAAL ecosystem by letting me demo the SR1a for months.

I have the money today to buy the VM-1a but I decided to invest that money, At the end of this year is when I will order the VM-1a.

My CODA #8 | CODA 07x | Musetec 005 is like a 9/10 on the SR1a. Really incredible and the best I had heard until the VM-1a which is a 10/10.  Congrats, on your new setup. It is incredible, just look out for the reviews which will be glowing.

willywonka
254 posts
 

The amp was delivered today. I wrote up some initial observations over at Head-Fi forums. I have to get better associated equipment before I make any real statements about sound, and I should have that in place in about a month or so. I was very disappointed that this amp shipped with JJ EL34 tubes instead of the Mullards that were in the amp at CanJam. I would think that for $6500 they wouldn’t have cheaped out on tubes although, I don’t know for sure if the Mullards were put in by Headamp or if they were original.

yyzsantabarbara OP
4,890 posts
 

@willywonka When I spoke with Danny at his office he told me he went through a lot of tube combo's and the tubes he was selling the VM-1a with were the best for his ears. Now I have no clue about tubes and I was conflicted about waiting on buying the VM-1a because of potential tube shortages with the Russian war. I would rather have an expert pick out the tubes for me.

The point is mute now because I spent the VM-1a money ($6.5k) on magic beans this morning. I now have to wait now for a while before I can consider the VM-1a

Which one of the JJ EL34 or Mullards is Russian? Danny liked the Russian one. 

willywonka
254 posts
 

JJ tubes are made in Slovakia. Mullard tubes are made in Russia. BTW Danny said the same thing to me on a previous conversation.

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