Country of Origin
Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Sonoma 14), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Singxer SU-6 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Laiv Audio Harmony and Sonnet Pasithea; Active filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Power amplifiers: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos & Gold Note monoa on subwoofer; Headamp: Kinki Studio THR-1; Phones: HifiMan Susvara, Meze 109 Pro; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan] Cables: Kinki Studio Earth, Furutech; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, LessLoss Firewall for loudspeakers, Furutech NCF Signal Boosters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat
2nd system: Source: FiiO R7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-M7; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox Loudspeakers: MonAcoustic SuperMon Mini + Dynaudio S18 sub; Power delivery: Furutech GTO 2D NCF, Akiko Audio Corelli; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Audioquest Fog Lifters; Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win10/64; USB bridge: Singxer SU-2; DAC: iFi Pro iDSD Signature; Head/speaker amp: Enleum AMP-23R; Speakers: Acelec Model One Headphones: Final D-8000 & Sonorous X, Audeze LCD-XC, Raal-Requisite SR1a on Schiit Jotunheim R
Upstairs headfi system: FiiO R7; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, Fiio FT3
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: Zu Soul VI; Subwoofer: Zu Submission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review music samples: click here
Review component retail: $5'800 ex VAT
June 28th: "Your review sample shipments have now moved back to sync with the reveal of the new line launching July 20th. All our amplifiers will now share the same cosmetics of Armageddon to instantly show they're from the same brand. Hyperion will become a Reference model and be available in black only. We look forward to your reviews because we're expanding to new audiences in China and Indonesia." That was Dragan Domanovic of Serbia's Audio Equipment. Our dialogue had started when I looked for an assignment for new recruit Simone. "Thank you very much for your interest. Your smiley faces with dark sunglasses made me happy because it's raining here and the weather is like London in October. For the same reason, I would be happy to have your reviews of Armageddon and Hyperion. We are a new brand eager for affirmation and publicity. Our models support the so-called 'live' sound. Our benchmark is tonal honesty. Whenever one pursues nice or unobtrusive, one moves away from the authentic natural tone. Our goal is maximum sonic truthfulness. So much for our approach to amplification. To answer your question about our Germanium parts inventory, Hyperion will be in our range for a long time. It offers an incredible sound that closely resembles resolute balanced tube amps. Armageddon and Hyperion both have speaker outputs and I would be pleased if your reviews covered both uses. Armageddon is the ultimate amplifier for headphones and speakers. Believe me, it's not immodest if I say that on high-class speakers it becomes a sound in the range of amplifiers without price limit." I suggested to Dragan and he agreed that once headfi-only Simone had tested Armageddon on his Raal 1995 Immanis, his sample would forward to me to test its speaker drive. Getting Hyperion Ge for my own review, I could even commit fratricide or bromance between the two.
"It would mean a lot if we could postpone these shipments until after the Munich show. It will be altogether more casual and pleasant. Currently we're torn between show prep and production because we didn't anticipate such a positive and large wave of interest in Armageddon. It certainly makes us happy because we see that listeners recognize our authentic sound with plenty of detail. The synergy with Aleksandar's ribbon headphones contributes because with that set you can chase down production and post-production errors. I'm very grateful for your interest. Send more smiley faces with sunglasses. They act therapeutically and lower the blood pressure. I am at your disposal for any questions." On the emoticons I did as Dragan asked because that made me smile. 
Let's rewind even further for the full picture. At this year's Singapore CanJam, Aleksandar Radisavljevic of Raal and Dragan of SAEQ had combined forces. In the bigger photo above they're the goateed chrome dome and silver fox. A short time afterwards, Italian headfi enthusiast Simone Ragionieri flew to Belgrade to audition Raal 1995's new triple-ribbon flagship headphone demo'd by Alex himself. He returned to Florence with a lighter wallet but heavier carry-on. He subsequently joined my small team to broach the topic of his first review assignments. Getting End Times heavy with Dragan's Armageddon felt predestined if its designer was game. Luckily we came up trumps.
Meanwhile I was more curious about Dragan's Hyperion Ge. Its input stage uses Germanium transistors. Their production stopped in the 1990s. As an ex tube fancier I've rolled my fair share of NOS glass. As a transistor fan not so much. The only quasi NOS silicon I did hear were the Nelson Pass static induction transistors from SemiSouth. Booked for this year was a FirstWatt amp with NOS Tokin industrial SIT. Given a chance, I was definitely keen to meet Germanium. The next photos from CanJam Singapore show black Armageddon in the top middle, Hyperion Ge then still in silver right below it. Also, I'd finished my own Magna & Immanis review and subsequently been granted a long-term loan. With Alex having used Hyperion Ge during their R&D aside from his Benchmark and Dragan Solaja's tubed VM-1a above and below right, that too seemed an opportunity. Replicate a hardware match mutually curated by two designers. 'Hear it as the artists intended' needn't just mean musicians. Designers of gain circuits and transducers are artists in their own right.
Raal-Requisite observers know that Dragan designed the 1a-c variations of the HSA amp which can direct-drive ultra-low Ω ribbons. Unlike the discontinued Schiit Jotunheim R, the HSA-1c with provision to also drive standard headphones remains current. From Auris to Dayens and Trafomatic, Beyond Frontiers to Karan and Korato, Solaja to Supreme Analog and Trstenik, NAT to Raal and SAEQ, for a small country Serbia is unusually dense on hifi brands. Being cut off from the free flow of goods within the European Union obviously makes it harder to trade but as Sasa Cokic of Trafomatic once explained, "hardship makes resourceful". Where there's a will there's a way. Based on their domestic hifi scene, Serbian sound enthusiasts certainly have their ways.
