RAAL 1995 Magna Open-Back Dual-Ribbon Headphones

MAGNA is an open-back, circumaural headphone with a vented front chamber and RAAL 1995’s R² true-ribbon dual-driver configuration. It uses 2 ribbon elements rather than the 3 ribbon elements used in IMMANIS.

MAGNA is positioned for listeners who want the speed, low moving mass, and tonal directness of a true-ribbon headphone in a lighter dual-ribbon design. Its presentation is described as especially well suited to mid-size and smaller ensembles, including string quartets, piano trios, singer/songwriter recordings, classic jazz, and blues, where timbre, scale, and spatial clarity are priorities.

The open-back construction and vented front chamber support an open, spacious presentation, while the dual-ribbon motor is intended to provide fast transient response, clarity, and dynamic impact. MAGNA is also designed for long listening sessions, with a lighter and more comfort-focused physical design than the larger IMMANIS.

In the Box

• Headphones: MAGNA dual-ribbon
• Ribbon Current-Drive Interface / Stand: RCD Interface 32 ohm (8 ohm and Viva by request)
• Cable, Amplifier to RCD Interface: RCD-XLR (XLR4 to XLR4), 1.5 m
• Cable, Headphones to RCD Interface: Satis Copper, 1.8 m
• Case: Waterproof hard molded plastic, foam lined

Specifications

Motor

Configuration: Complementary Tuned Dual Ribbon

Ribbon Type: Corrugated pure aluminum true ribbon with Viscodamp™ “Silent Metal” viscosity dampening

Surface Area: 16.8 cm² (2.6 sq. in.)

Excursion: ±4 mm (0.157")

Maximum SPL: 115 dB

Impedance: 0.038 ohm

Impedance with Specialized HP Cable: 0.27 ohm

Ribbon Current-Drive Interface (RCDI-32, RCDI-8)

Purpose: Converts low impedance of headphones + cable (0.27 ohm) to impedance usable to amplifiers (32 ohm and 8 ohm)

Configuration: Toroidal transformer + specialized headphone cable (SC2, S2 Satis, STAR-8, STAR-8 MkII)

Drive Type: Converts voltage drive from amplifier to current drive for ribbon

Supported Amplifier Type: Voltage drive amplifiers with low internal output impedance and DC offset less than 10 mV

Impedance that Loads the Amplifier: 32 ohm nominal (8 ohm and Viva by special order)

Recommended Amp Power, RCDI-32: Headphone amp of 2 W–6 W or loudspeaker amp of 8 W–25 W at 8 ohm

Recommended Amp Power, RCDI-8: Loudspeaker amp of 2 W–6 W at 8 ohm (SET or similar low-power amps for loudspeakers)

Headphone Body

Body Material: Glass fiber composite, aluminum

Finish: Anodizing, hard wax on American walnut veneer

Grille: 3-phase etched stainless steel

Headspring: Brushed stainless steel with TiAlN (titanium aluminum nitride) hard coating; polished stainless steel by special request

Headband: Soft cushion band, underside in suede

Height Adjustment: 5-position click-stop

Earpads: Face: lambskin leather suede; fill: memory foam; inside: textile; outside: perforated sheepskin

Input Connectors: High-current gold-plated 3.5 mm TRRS female connectors

Weight without Cable: 515 g