Best sounding headphones you have owned?

Which Hifiman model ?

I try to like the He 400 but never succeed even after modifying them ... 😊 For sure they are not the best Hifiman but not the worst either ... Artificial timbre inside the head ...

Didnwn them, but best i heard was Hifiman connected to 2 unit Woo Audio amp

RAAL SR-1a driven by their VM-1a amp, with a Lumin X1 as the source. This gets me the closest to a 2-channel speaker setup as I've heard, and in some respects, rivals it as well.

I also had VM-1a + RAAL SR1a + Lumin X1 = fantastic.

I sold the VM-1a + Lumin X1 to buy speakers and a 2-channel amp.

Today, to run my RAAL SR1a, I use the following:

RAAL TL-1b amp interface box | Schitt Mjolnir amp | Schitt Aegir amp

This gets me to about 90% of the VM-1a. This weekend someone is going to bring a VM-1a to my place to do a head-to-head with the following (for the SR1a):

• CODA #16 | Holo Serene preamp | Benchmark DAC3B
• Peachtree GAN1 (modded) testing with the RAAL CA-1a phones and not SR1a. Complicated explanation as to why.
• Schitt Mjolnir preamp | Schitt Aegir | Schitt Yggi+ LIM
• Schitt Mjolnir preamp | Benchmark AHB2 | Schitt Yggi+ LIM

vs

the VM-1a.

The VM-1a should win but that CODA setup code steal the win. I have a feeling I will buy the VM-1a the guy brings over. My Schitt YGGI+ LIM DAC has 3 outputs so it will be easy to add the VM-1a to my office setup (which uses 2 outputs already).

BTW - I am going to be selling my RAAL CA-1a soon.

soundqcar   yyzsantabarbara

I just read a review about the Raal: timbre, bass, highs, imaging and soundstage everything as usual...

The reviewer mention anything save the only thing that matter to me...

For classical recording because i listen  them most, Is the soundfield or soundstage of the Raal stay in the head ? Or have you the impression to be projected in the recording acoustic as if you were there... Or have you the impression that the recorded atmosphetre fill your room and do you keep the eyes open to see the instruments?

All headphones soundfield soundstage stay in the head, i want one with a soundstage "out of my head" ? I want to have the impression to listen to speakers with deep bass ?

Is the RAAL able to deliver that?

In my experience, in my system....it will give you what is on the recording. If it's a closely miked recording, it will be upfront and personal...yet still in front and away from the circumference of your physical head. With recordings that show the depth, and breadth of the performance, you get it all.....and with exquisite detail.

Also, I want to add something here....I know some dismiss the bass on these as unsatisfactory. Unless it's ones goal to overemphasize the low end above what's on the recording, and rattle ones fillings, this headphone does bass RIGHT. You can easily....and even eerily, hear the pitch changes on instruments such as an upright bass, a cello....and details of drum kits you'd only hear from properly setup system, in a well-treated dedicated room.

This is what I hear.