Thank you for this thorough review. Can you please make a comparison between RR1 and iBasso SR2 ?
Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org
ballard3
voja
@ballard3 Yes!
RR1 is an electrostatic headphone, while the SR2 is a dynamic driver. One is fully open-back (RR1), the other is semi-open (SR2). They are two different headphones.
However. I did find myself liking the RR1 on a similar level as the SR2 — and if you read my SR2 review, then you would know that it is my current favorite dynamic driver. The RR1 is like an open-back SR2, except the comfort isn't as cozy as the SR2, the low-end extension isn't as deep as it is on the SR2, but there is much more depth on the RR1. The SR2 sounds brighter, and this is probably because it is of a semi-open design, while the RR1 is fully open.
RR1 is an electrostatic headphone, while the SR2 is a dynamic driver. One is fully open-back (RR1), the other is semi-open (SR2). They are two different headphones.
However. I did find myself liking the RR1 on a similar level as the SR2 — and if you read my SR2 review, then you would know that it is my current favorite dynamic driver. The RR1 is like an open-back SR2, except the comfort isn't as cozy as the SR2, the low-end extension isn't as deep as it is on the SR2, but there is much more depth on the RR1. The SR2 sounds brighter, and this is probably because it is of a semi-open design, while the RR1 is fully open.
voja
@ballard3
Investment-wise, electrostatic headphones in general require more investment for a serious setup. The SR2 doesn't require much, the #1 thing you need to worry about is sensitivity (make sure that you amps noise floor is low enough, otherwise you'll hear noise). On the other hand, you would need ~$8,500 (RR1 price included) to be listening to the setup that I used. Since I have not used any of the widely used energizers, I do not know how different the RR1 would sound on them. But then, electrostatic headphones will last you a lifetime, the only thing that would need to get replaced is the membrane, and you can buy it from Kaldas Research. In terms of the amp, it is a tube amplifier, and you can replace the tubes "indefinitely", which would also make it a lifetime investment.
It all depends on how you look at it, what you are looking for, and what your budget is.
Hope this helped.
Investment-wise, electrostatic headphones in general require more investment for a serious setup. The SR2 doesn't require much, the #1 thing you need to worry about is sensitivity (make sure that you amps noise floor is low enough, otherwise you'll hear noise). On the other hand, you would need ~$8,500 (RR1 price included) to be listening to the setup that I used. Since I have not used any of the widely used energizers, I do not know how different the RR1 would sound on them. But then, electrostatic headphones will last you a lifetime, the only thing that would need to get replaced is the membrane, and you can buy it from Kaldas Research. In terms of the amp, it is a tube amplifier, and you can replace the tubes "indefinitely", which would also make it a lifetime investment.
It all depends on how you look at it, what you are looking for, and what your budget is.
Hope this helped.
streamenterer
I'm interested to hear how these compare to equivalent or higher priced Stax models.
voja
@streamenterer I have to say that I am personally also curious, but I had no luck finding anywhere to listen to them in Serbia. Luckily for us, in the Kaldas Research RR1 thread on Head-Fi, there are some people who did have a chance to hear higher priced Stax models, so you can definitely ask there. I apologize for the late response, I must've missed the notification of your comment
dankthropod
This is very interesting, but is there a budget energizer to pair this amazing budget electrostat?
