RAAL 1995 Magna Review

RAAL 1995 Magna

 

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With the Feliks Audio ENVY, the Magna sounds excellent in the bass department and the mid timbre here is a pure pleasure to the ear. Will not as refined, extended and precise as the Auris, the ENVY and Magna combo is more exciting, dynamic and airy (in the mids). Sound stage wise this combo isn’t the best performing, especially in the width, but the depth and layering are quite nice. Differently said, this combo sounds more intimate, but in a dynamic, energetic and musical way. Sub bass here is impressive and has a nice rumble (Try Gregory Isaacs – Night Nurse). Stereo imaging and left-right balance are mega impressive (try Cornelius – Mic Check).

With the extremely powerful SAEQ Armageddon, the RAAL 1195 Magna sounds like it’s being powered by a nuclear power plant. You get a very energetic sound, with good body and bass, but it isn’t the tightest or most precise  in this combo. The refinement here compared to the previous amplifiers is lacking somewhat and you get more focus on weight, body and energy. Combine that with more vocal forwardness and this becomes a rather fatiguing combo (Try Beastie Boys – Intergalactic), at least to my ears. Sure the Armageddon can power two RAAL’s at the same time, but it will not show you the full potential of the headphones.

RAAL 1995 Magna

With the Niimbus US4+ (which I have bene using a lot these past few weeks), the RAAL Magna sounds more relaxed, and it is much easier on the ear. In regards to body and weight, this combo is perhaps a bit lighter but it makes up for that with note extension and spaciousness. Magna here is soft to the ears and somewhat slower (PRaT) but it’s just so easy to listen to. While not the most refined or wide (soundstage) the combo still is addictive because of its dynamics and sheer musical enjoyment.

TL;DR: The choice of amplifier is very important when it comes down to getting the best out of your Magna. Don’t just expect any amp so make it sound as good as it can, then will not happen. Thus, careful amplification matching is important, and extra budget might need to be foreseen to get the most out of your Magna. My personal favorite is the Auris 300B, but that’s a $20K setup (without DAC or anything). Let us know in the comments section what amplification you prefer to listen to the Magna.

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. Even after having these headphones with me for all these months, I do not feel they have been overhyped in any way.

RAAL 1995 Magna Immanis

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. 

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 in the beginning clearly preferred the former, but I nowadays really can appreciate the Magana’s fuller presentation and bass impact. It just works better with some specific styles of music.

RAAL 1995 Magna

Between both headphones, the Immanis is the best technical performer. 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 you get a more relaxed experience as the Immanis has this effortless in everything it does. With the Magna I don’t have that perception but if you like body, impact, weight and a more punch bass the Magna has just that.

Magna has a narrower stage and a more intimate presentation, but as said it does have its advantages depending on what music you are listening to. With the Magna you get 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.

RAAL 1995 Magna

In fact, as both of these headphones have such a different tuning, you could perfectly have both in your collection. Is the Magna the Immanis’ little brother? Yes and no. Yes, as it shows you what the Immanis is capable from a technical pint of view. No, as the Magna is a good headphone on its own. With its specific tuning, it is different enough from the Immanis and it’s a fully delivering high-end headphone itself. IF you have not heard the Immanis yet, the Magna for sure will also seriously impress.  

Conclusion

The RAAL 1995 Magna, 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. If you never got to like the SR-1b or found it too weird for your taste, I strongly advise you to give the Magna (or Immanis for that matter) a new chance.

If you like a high-end sound where you get a good technical performance combined with a musical, powerful and energetic delivery, the Magna will please you. The Magna has good body overall and excellent bass (punchy and impactful). The Magna is a very engaging headphone that will have you tapping your foot in no-tine. It’s easy to listen to and makes you want to listen to more of your music all the time. If you can live with the weight, this is the type of headphone you can listen to all day long.

If you plan on adding the Magna to your collection, I would still advise to check the synergy with your collection of amplifiers (even if easier than the Immanis). If you are looking for a TOTL headphone and have the budget for the headphone (as well as the amplification), then this is a headphone to shortlist.

RAAL 1995 Magna

Summary

PROs

  • Ribbon experience (tuning)
  • Good technical performance
  • Musical delivery
  • Weighty in presentation
  • Punchy, tight bass with excellent impact

CONs

  • Not as refined as Immanis (but that’s normal)
  • Weight/Comfort
  • Price

RAAL 1995 Magna

Specifications

  • Configuration: Complimentary Tuned Dual Ribbon
  • Ribbon Type: Corrugated Pure Aluminum (True-Ribbon) with Viscodamp™ “Silent Metal” Viscosity Dampening
  • Surface Area: 16.8 cm² (2.6 in²)
  • Excursion: +/- 4mm (0.157 in)
  • Maximum SPL: 115dB
  • Impedance: 0.038Ω
  • Impedance with Specialized HP Cable: 0.27Ω
  • Note: Cable Connector
  • Female XLR 4-pin. Gender not compatible with Standard Amplifier Output Connector. Due to pin-out arrangement and 0.3 Ohm load, do not make adapters and plug it directly to Amplifiers, as that will destroy both the Amp and the Headphones. Connect only to RCDI-32, RCDI-8, RCDI-Viva or to specialized Direct-Drive Amplifiers for RAAL Headphones (HSA-1a/b/c, VM-1a, Jotunheim R).
  • Body Material: Glass Fiber Composite, Aluminium
  • Finish: Anodizing, Hard Wax on American Walnut Veneer
  • Grille: 3-phase Etched Stainless Steel
  • Headspring: Brushed Stainless Steel with TIAlN (Titanium Aluminium Nitride) Hard Coating
    Polished Stainless Steel by Special Request
  • Headband: Soft Cushion Band, underside in Suede
  • Height Adjustment: 5-Position Click-Stop
  • Earpads: Face: Lambs Leather Suede, Fill: Memory Foam, Inside: Textile, outside: Perforated Sheepskin
  • Input Connectors: High-Current Gold Plated 3.5 mm TRRS Female Connectors
  • Weight without a Cable: 515g
  • The Ribbon Interface specifications can be found here

RAAL 1995 Magna

4.1/5 - (141 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.

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