I had been long awaited this dedicated speaker S-1 for my NuForce Icon.
http://www.nuforce-icon.com/Product-S1.htm

Recently I read a good preview by Srajan and it raise my expectation very high
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/icon2/s1.html
S-1 is only $250 pair and I felt this could not be wrong for the Icon speaker choice. It's dedicated to Icon for the unique network cable. A synergy would be great.

Finally I found the S-1 has released this...

Sasaki

I've mentioned about headphone-musume illustration book before, the headphone-musume means a-cute-girl-wearing-headphones illustrations. (musume means a girl)

The first issue was sold within the private community but this time the new issue will sell on the public. Needless to say this is entirely written in Japanese but you can enjoy illustrations anyway.
It would sell from June 25th at 1890 yen (include tax). That contains headphone-musume illustration with respective headphones...

Sasaki

Today, Panasonic announced RP-HJE900 IEM which employs unusual material "ZIRCONIA" metal for housing.
ZIRCONIA (ZrO2) is ultra hard material and it eliminates unwanted resonance, it recreates a pure sound.

It will sell around 20000 yen and it will be launched around June 15th.

Home page:
http://panasonic.jp/headphone/hje900/index.html

News page (Japanese)
http://www.phileweb.com/news/d-av/200805/26/21106.html

Sasaki

I'm back from the headphones festival Spring at Nakano, Tokyo. This show is only headphones dedicated show in Japan AFAIK, and the show was called as a hi-end headphones show before and the show took place three times in the past. From this fourth time the show has been renamed and gets some renewals.

This is not a forum meet, a trade show rather. The main host is Fujiya-Avic store which is well known among Japanese headphone fanatics.
Some domestic distributors and manufactures...

Sasaki

I bought a new desktop small amplifier NuForce Icon-1.



NuForce is a high-end digital amp manufacture and they are known for its high performance proprietary Class D amp technology. it produce amazing damping factor of 4000. This means the amp has great driveability and control ability for speakers.

Here is their web page, follow the menu products -> Icon.
http://www.nuforce.com/...

Sasaki

Some of you may be interested

This is not a premature Aprilfool joke.
The most popular Japanese traditional doll manufacture YOSHI-TOKU announced their new product.

Darth "Samurai" Vader armor.

Look this link.
http://www.yoshi toku.co.jp/starwars.html

More pics here:
http://www.yoshi toku.co.jp/sw/index.html

Please remove one space between "yoshi" and "toku" to see the link.
As the blog four...

Sasaki

Here comes the season of Sakura. Sakura - cherry blossom is the nation flower of Japan.
Around the end of March to April, everywhere in Japan is covered by Sakura flowers.
This is the best time of Japan. If you are planning to visit Japan, I recommend you to take this season.
However, the period of Sakura is fairly short. The best time spans just one week or two as long. Sakura flower bloom so fast and drop so fast.

I went out and took some picture as always....

Sasaki

Today I went to Fujiya avic store to pick my HFI780 up.
At the store, I found Kenwood KH-K1000 demo cans and I tried a short audition with the demo.



My first impression was this is HUGE. But it fits good and feel comfortable.

As for SQ, simply put I'd say this is for Jazz and Classical type cans.
Not heavy nor overly energetic overall, decent and well resolved. Soundstage...

Sasaki

Today, Kenwood announced a new closed headphone KH-K1000 at 36750 yen(inc. tax).
KH-K1000 employs aluminium alloy as a housing.
Seems like this is based on Audio technica but they made a unique audio tunings.

Here is the press release.

http://www.kenwood.co.jp/newsrelease/2008/20080306.html

Sasaki

The fourth headphones show at Tokyo Nakano is coming !

Here is the announcement of the fourth haeadphones show which is hosted by Fujiya Avic.
You will find a good Headphone girl illustration here as well

http://www.fujiya-avic.co.jp/d-style...headphone.html
(Japanese text)

The fourth would be bigger than before.
No reservation is required this time.

This would be an exciting event!

Sasaki