Raal Magna EVO 1 Dual-Ribbon Headphones

RAAL's original Magna built a reputation most flagship headphones never reach: longtime ribbon owners kept calling it the most honest transducer they'd heard, full stop. The Magna EVO 1 is RAAL 1995's answer to the one thing people wanted more of, low-end weight, without giving up a shred of that speed. Built around a newly developed dual-ribbon driver called R²e1, the EVO 1 splits the work between two independently tuned ribbon segments so the treble stays completely open while the bass reaches deeper and hits harder. Every unit is still handmade in Serbia around a single strip of corrugated pure aluminum foil doing the work of both conductor and diaphragm, the same True-Ribbon™ approach that's defined RAAL 1995's headphones from the start, just refined.

Type & Technology

Open-back, circumaural, dual true-ribbon driver (R²e1). Instead of one ribbon covering the whole ear, the EVO 1 splits the job in two: a rear segment sits over the concha and antihelix under a layer of progressive open-cell foam damping that tames upper-mid and lower-treble reflections before they turn into sibilance or fatigue, while a front segment stays completely open right over the ear canal for unobstructed, linear treble extension, the effect RAAL fans call "diamond dust" detail. The ribbon itself is corrugated pure aluminum foil with Viscodamp "Silent Metal" damping, acting as both conductor and diaphragm, with no glued-on voice coil or plastic backing to add mass or smear transients.

Because the ribbon runs at a native impedance around 0.27 ohms with the specialized headphone cable, it cannot be driven directly by a normal amplifier. Every package includes RAAL's Ribbon Current Drive (RCD) Interface, a transformer-based stand that converts your amp's voltage output into the current drive the ribbon needs, presenting a standard 32-ohm load (8-ohm and Viva Audio interface options available on request). Never build an adapter or connect the headphone cable straight to an amplifier: it will damage both the amp and the headphones. Only connect through an RCD interface or a RAAL-compatible direct-drive amplifier.

Sound Character

The EVO 1 keeps the original Magna's fast, punchy upper bass but extends noticeably deeper into sub-bass, giving it a fuller, more authoritative low end with real physical weight. Mids are intimate and slightly forward, with more body connecting bass to vocals than the original. The upper-mid and lower-treble region is deliberately smoothed through the rear ribbon's damping, so long sessions stay comfortable even on brighter recordings. Up top, the front ribbon is left completely unobstructed for the effortless, extended treble ribbon headphones are known for: fast, airy, and never harsh.

Cable choice shapes the tuning further. The stock Satis Copper cable leans warm and creamy through the mids. Stepping up to the Star-8 MkII or Star-12 pure silver cables opens up the top end and adds sparkle and resolution for listeners chasing maximum treble extension and air.

Build & Comfort

• Headband: Exposed, brushed stainless-steel spring with a scratch-resistant Titanium Aluminum Nitride (TiAlN) coating. Five-position click-stop height adjustment, self-adjusting yokes, and tool-free detachable ear cups for easy maintenance.
• Headband cushion: Soft suspension cushion with a non-slip suede underside.
• Ear cups: Fiberglass-aluminum composite for rigidity and resonance control. Choose a hand-waxed American Walnut wood veneer or a Black shell, each paired with Silver headband and grille hardware; the Black/Gold finish swaps in Gold-toned hardware for a bolder look.
• Grille: Three-phase etched stainless steel backed by acoustic foam cloth, with "RAAL 1995" and "Magna EVO 1" etched into the metalwork.
• Ear pads: Lamb leather suede over a memory foam core, textile-lined interior wall, perforated sheepskin leather perimeter, and a generous 64mm opening for airflow on long sessions.
• Weight: 515g (headphone only, cable not included).

Best For

Listeners who already know what a ribbon transducer does and want the more forgiving, fuller-bodied take on it: less lean than the original Magna, still faster and more transparent than almost anything else at this level. This is a serious desktop reference setup, not a portable one, so budget for an amplifier that can drive the RCD interface properly (RAAL recommends 2 to 6W into the RCDI-32, or a loudspeaker amp on the RCDI-8 for SET and similar low-power designs). If this is your first RAAL headphone, start with a Standard, Deluxe, or Premium package rather than Headphone Only, which assumes you already own a compatible RCD interface. Mimic Audio can help you match an amplifier to the EVO 1 before you buy, just ask.

What's in the Box

Standard Package: Magna EVO 1 headphones in a hard molded case, Satis Copper headphone cable (1.8m), 32-ohm RCD Interface/Stand, copper RCD-to-amplifier cable with XLR4/XLR4 connectors (1.5m).

Deluxe Package: Same as Standard, upgraded to a Star-8 MkII pure silver headphone cable (1.8m).

Premium Package: Magna EVO 1 headphones in a hard molded case, Star-12 pure silver headphone cable (2.9m), Silver RCD Interface/Stand, Star-8 pure silver RCD-to-amplifier cable (1.5m).

Headphone Only: Magna EVO 1 headphones only, no cable, interface, or case included. For existing RAAL RCD-interface owners.

Alternate RCD interface impedance (8-ohm, Viva Audio) and alternate cable terminations (TRS, spade, banana) are available on request; contact Mimic Audio to configure your order.

Specifications