Country of Origin
Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (4GHz quad-core with Turbo, 32GB RAM, 3TB FusionDrive, OSX Yosemite. iTunes 14.4), PureMusic 3.02, Audirvana 3, Qobuz, Tidal, Denafrips Terminator+ clock-synced to Soundaware D300Ref SD transport/USB reclocker; Preamp/headamp: Vinnie Rossi L2 Signature w. WE VT52/300B, Elrog 50/300B or Linlai E-2A3; Headphone mono amps: Questyle CMA-800R; Cables: Complete loom of Allnic Audio ZL; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra on all source components, Vibex One 11R on amps, LessLoss C-MARC Entropic cords between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc Krion and glass amp stands; 2nd system: Source: Soundaware D100Pro SD transport; DAC/pre: Denafrips Terminator or COS Engineering D1; Headphone amplifier: Bakoon AMP-13R; Power delivery: Furutech GTO 2D NCF; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Desktop system: Source: HP Z230 work station Win7/64; USB bridge: Audiobyte Hydra X+; DAC/Headamp: COS Engineering H1; Upstairs headfi rig: Source: Soundaware A280 SD transport; Integrated amplifiers: Schiit Jotunheim R; Headphones: Raal-Requisite SR1a, Audeze LCD-2, Final Sonorous X & D8000, HifiMan HE-1000 & Susvara; Power delivery: Furutech GTO 2D NCF
Review component retail: €379/1.2m for the Forza | $445/10' for the Moon
The sound in the left channel faded in and out. Coitus interruptus? Jiggling its cable momentarily remade the connection, then failed again like a sordid affair gone off/on. Unscrewing the plug cover revealed the indecisive culprit. The hot conductor had broken off its center pin. My Raal-Requisite SR1a was down to mono. Coitus finitus. I could easily resolder the cable but saw its failing as a sign. I'd finally replace it. I never liked its stiff wiriness which is so prone to kinking or twisting upon itself. Be thy gone, errant knave!
A Google search found Moon Audio with a custom cable. I ordered their Black Dragon. Then I emailed Mateusz Przychodzien of Warsaw's Forza AudioWorks. He had built all my prior aftermarket headfi looms. He was game to make me one now for the Raal. Apparently he receives ever more requests already. I picked Furutech plugs again—dual 3.5mm, female XLR4—and his braided slinky Noir Hybrid conductor. With the American and Polish cables, suddenly I had a proper review project on hand; one I'd paid for but who's counting?
Our archives contain plenty of information on these unique Serbian not-quite-on-ear ribbons, even on the Schiit Jotunheim R integrated I use. That replaces Raal's Ω adapter box shown below plus whatever standard speaker amp of at least 100wpc that plays to. Today can and will be purely about swapping cables—a quickie if you will—so I can get back to schmoozing with the SR1a all private like. Doing it in public isn't really my style.
The Black Dragon Moon cable shipped very quickly after placing my online order. As indicated by its stock photos, the glossy hard plastic sleeving looks and feels much like a thin version of a generic firm power cord. Small channel identifiers appear on the 3.5mm plug silk screens. Absence of color coding keeps this black dragon properly noir.
The Moon cable proved to be utterly non-microphonic. Movements of your head followed by the cable moving across your shirt or pullover won't create any audible feedback. The cable's firm construction drapes relaxed so very different from Requisite's springy version. That alone ticked off personal mission accomplished. What about sonics?