Descripción
Description
Path to the SR-1b
In October, 2018 the SR-1a made its public debut at the Rocky Mountain Audio Festival. For the first time in decades, a true, fundamental technology was introduced to the world of headphones. This technology, used in microphone or high-frequency transducer (tweeter) applications, had been around for generations. But this was different. Something very different.
Traditionally, ribbons were found in applications requiring a very small range of movement_micro-movement. Now, we were asking a ribbon to reproduce 20-20kHz at over 110dB and move 7mm. Perhaps, it is not an exaggeration to claim a quantum leap in its physical scale of excursion.
Ribbons for a Reason
But why? Why develop a motor of such extreme departure from its traditional applications? What could possibly be gained? Why had it never been done before?
The more you know ribbons, the more beautiful they become. Perhaps, the most elegant transducer ever developed. Just a single strip of aluminum (of incredibly low mass) which performs as the voice-coil, suspension and diaphragm, attached at only two points (like a violin or guitar string) completely free from drum modes, which are common to all other headphone transducers.
The attendees at RMAF were curious. Each day, we had three rows of people lined up to hear this very odd looking “ear-speaker”. Soon it was know as the “Aquaman” or “Batman” headphone. Or even some sort of device your dentist or orthopedic surgeon would fit you for. Ah…those were the days!
It didn’t take too long before audiophiles began to take this contraption seriously. Highly positive reviews began coming in, awards and accolades were received and in time, the SR-1a became recognized as a significant category defining technology.
Even major manufactures were eager to bask in the radiant glow of the SR-1a storied prowess. There was one company that tried to copy our design and even copied our slogan “Ribbons For A Reason”. Another major headphone company risk their credibility by selling a planar headphone and marketing it as a ribbon!
No truer compliment than your competition fumbling to align themselves with your achievements. Thanks guys. We appreciate all the love.
Introducing: The new SR-1b
After 4-years of production, the SR-1a becomes the SR-1b. Rightfully, you’d expect that’s plenty of time to make some significant improvements and bring the SR-1a to even higher heights!
Well… we don’t have much to offer there. We’ve changed the grille to match the grille on the CA-1a and replaced the internal copper wire with silver wire.
What!? Is that it? In 4-years!?
Yup, that’s it. We looked at everything and that’s all we found to “improve”.
We invite you to enjoy the many written and video reviews. There is quite a story behind “Aquaman”.
Technical data: SR-1b
Studio Reference, Open Baffle, True-Ribbon, Ear-Field Monitor
Motor
Hand Calibrated Triple Measured, Matched Pair
Viscodamp™ “Silent Metal” Viscosity Dampening
Compremag™ Magnet System Compressed Homogeneous Field
Symmlead™ Ultra-Low Inductance Air-Loop Tracing
Ribbon Cartridge Toolless, Field Replacement
Type Corrugated Pure Aluminum
Length 4.0-inches / 100 mm
Width 0.75-inches / 19 mm
Excursion +/- 3.75 mm
Moving Mass 0.06 gram
Nominal Impedance 0.02Ω
Nominal Impedance with SC2 Cable 0.25Ω
Nominal Impedance with Star-8 Cable 0.25Ω
FreeAir Resonance (new) 40Hz
FreeAir Resonance (after break-in) 20Hz ~ 100 hours
Maximum SPL 111dB
Body
Material Carbon Fiber
Finish Epoxy
Grille Etched
Headspring Bead Blasted Stainless Steel
Height Adjustment 5-Position Leather Band
Upper Pads (washable) Lambs Leather Suede, Memory Foam
Input Connectors High-Current 3.5 mm TRRS Female Connectors
Total Weight 426g
Amplifier Interface Set (optional)
TI-1b/OB Transformer Interface Toroidal Transformers 16Ω & 32Ω
SC2 Headphone Cable 1.75M / 5’9” (fixed length) Dedicated Headphone Cable
ITI-XLR Interface Cable (for HP Amp) 35cm / 13” 4-pin XLR / 4-pin XLR
OB Balanced Open-Baffle Compensation Barrel 3-pin fm/XLR to 3-pin m/XLR
OB Single-Ended Open-Baffle Compensation Barrel fm/RCA to m/RCA
Power Requirement (Minimum) 2W@16Ω or 2W@32Ω
Power Requirement (Maximum) 25W@8Ω (6W@32Ω)
High-Power Amps Tested to 350W Permissible with Careful Volume Adjustment
Cable (options)
STAR-8 Pure Silver Ribbon Headphone Cable 4-pin XLR to 4-pin XLR
Available Lengths for TI-1b: 1.83m / 6ft
STAR-8 Pure Copper Ribbon Headphone Cable 4-pin XLR to 4-pin XLR
Available Lengths for TI-1b: 1.83m / 6ft
ITI-XLR Input to Transformer Interface (for HP Amp) 4-pin XLR to 4-pin XLR
Available Lengths: 1.83m / 6ft and 3m / 10ft
ITI-XLR(S) STAR-8 Pure Silver 4-pin XLR to 4-pin XLR
Available Lengths: 35cm / 13” – 1.83m / 6ft – 3m/ 10ft
ITI-XLR(C) STAR-8 Pure Copper 4-pin XLR to 4-pin XLR
Available Lengths: 35cm / 13” – 1.83m / 6ft – 3m/ 10ft
ITI-TRS Input to Transformer Interface (for HP Amp) 4-pin XLR / TRS 6.3m 1/4”
Available Lengths: 35cm / 13” – 1.83m / 6ft – 3m / 10ft
ITI-TRS(S) STAR-8 Pure Silver 4-pin XLR / TRS 6.3m 1/4”
Available Lengths: 35cm / 13” – 1.83m / 6ft – 3m / 10ft
ITI-TRS(C) STAR-8 Pure Copper 4-pin XLR / TRS 6.3m 1/4”
Available Lengths: 35cm / 13” – 1.83m / 6ft. – 3m / 10ft
ITI-BAN Input to Transformer Interface (for HP Amp) 4-pin XLR to BANANA
Available Lengths: 35cm / 13” – 1.83m / 6ft – 3m / 10ft
Service and Warranty
Limited Warranty 5 years to Original Owner, Non-Transferable (See Warranty)
