CanJam Newbie Notes

[wavoman]

Jude made me promise I'd post [never done that on any forum anywhere], so here goes.

I'm new to high-end, and first time at CanJam, obviously! Organizers did a terrific job, and all the oldtimers made me feel most welcome. EZ to start a conversation and learn things. And Ft. Lauderdale is wonderful.

Did u notice a few blocks from the hotel was James Randi Institute -- he is the one offering a million bucks to anyone who can tell the difference between ultra-expensive Pear speaker cables and Radio Shack off-the-rack in a double-blind test ... no takers (loser pays expenses, including the Pears). I knocked on the door but it was closed for the weekend. I'm going back to Ft. Lauderdale for sure, loved it, and maybe I can get in.

Soul of the Machine -- to actually see and feel the passion of the designers/engineers themselves -- Ray Samuels, Eddie from Eddie Current, the Smyth Brothers (amazing, the future, you overlook this technology at your peril), the fellow at Singlepower, Justin from Headamp, was that really a person named Rudi Stor?, etc. etc. was beyond wonderful. It will influence my buying decisions almost as much as the listening tests.

I had to open my ears to open my eyes -- no where else in the world could I audition over two intense days every headphone and every piece of gear my internet searching turned up over the last 6 months (except for one: the Benchmark DAC with headphone amp, strangely missing -- r u listening, Benchmark? u missed a trick). And I was amazed: I like the Senn 600's better than the 650's; the new Stax solid state AMP better than the tube one; crossed the 701's off my short list as too uncomfortable, and so on.

So many dealers spent so much time with me, even though I was surely annoying with my stupid question and little notepad. Special thanks to Stax, Todd TVJ, Eddie Curent, Ray Samuels, Smyth, Ozzie at LTBS, Headroom, Shure, Kimber, Singlepower, Headamp, Moon Audio, Rudistor.

Final thought -- I am a statistician by trade, and I can tell you the raffle shoe box needed more shaking! On Sunday I won 4 times in a stretch of 8 pulls, not bloody likely. But thanks to Crossroads for the neat stuff, although airport security was not amused with all the cables and boxes in my carry-on.

Conclusion: if you care about audio, and you don't go to CanJam, then you're, well, not using your head.

Head-Fi.Org ... you're the best. Thanks again. And count me in. For life.

[donunus]

I would definitely go to all meets that I Know of if it werent $1000 round trip from where I am

[riceboy]

Great first post. Glad you had a good time at CanJam. It's good that you got to listen to many different types of gear and cans. That way you could get an idea of what type of cans you may like. Welcome to Head-fi and sorry about your wallet.

[bperboy]

Originally Posted by wavoman

Final thought -- I am a statistician by trade, and I can tell you the raffle shoe box needed more shaking! On Sunday I won 4 times in a stretch of 8 pulls, not bloody likely. But thanks to Crossroads for the neat stuff, although airport security was not amused with all the cables and boxes in my carry-on.

I'm not complaining about the raffle! Sunday was excellent to me! Very nice stuff!

[krmathis]

Originally Posted by wavoman

Conclusion: if you care about audio, and you don't go to CanJam, then you're, well, not using your head.

...or maybe we are using out head.
In my case it would let me down $1500-2000 to go there. Flying across the Atlantic Ocean, a couple of nights at a hotel, ...

I vote for the next International Head-Fi meeting to be held in Europe. Its our turn now after three (3) times in a row in the US.

[agile_one]

Originally Posted by krmathis

...or maybe we are using out head.
In my case it would let me down $1500-2000 to go there. Flying across the Atlantic Ocean, a couple of nights at a hotel, ...

I vote for the next International Head-Fi meeting to be held in Europe. Its our turn now after three (3) times in a row in the US.

If you build it, they will come ... (from Field of Dreams)

[Ttvetjanu]

I concur with krmathis. May I propose the lovely nordic countries such as, well... say Finland?

[jp11801]

Europe will be a tough draw for both vendors and members. Most European meets seem like small cozy events with few vendors in attendance. Tough nut to crack as the event hinges on vendor support to cover meet expenses. Maybe test the waters with a large regional to guage potential support from the European headfi community and vendors. I for one would most likely attend and make a holiday out of it but I think I am in the minority of the US headfiers. Amsterdam 2009!!!!!

Another option would be simultaneous multi continent events.

[krmathis]

Originally Posted by agile_one

If you build it, they will come ... (from Field of Dreams)

Sure!
But I don't see Norway as a possible host for such an event. It would need to be held in a place with a large international airport with direct flights "anywhere".

...and to organize a meeting in a different country than where I am located will be hard (to say the least). Berlin, Paris, London, Amsterdam seems like possible locations. Mainly organized by someone in the respective country.

I am all for Amsterdam 2009 as well! ! !

[Tyll Hertsens]

Originally Posted by krmathis

I am all for Amsterdam 2009 as well! ! !

Now THAT would be fun!

[tyrion]

I was at first against this for the reasons jp mentioned in addition to the cost involved with the dollar being so weak. However, I hope to be in Croatia next year. I say CanJam Dubrovnik '09!

[crappyjones123]

or hungary? i have a few contacts at the hungarian academy of science that i may be able to call upon. nothing serious but perhaps just space to hold the meet which by itself is maybe 5% of planning the whole thing. not saying id be able to be the forerunner but just throwing out suggestions like everyone else

being in the heart of budapest, it may not be as conducive to partying as amsterdam perhaps but its an amazing place nonetheless.

[wavoman]

After a night out in Amsterdam, you hear music in your head without any phones, for sure. See lights, too.

Apologies to krmathis, I was indeed insensitive to travel costs for many people not on the East Coast. Point well taken!

Amsterdam is THE convention spot for the whole of the EU, so if there is to be a Can Jam Europe, why not? Cheap flights from Newark, so I'm there!

[bozebuttons]

wavoman,

Did you decide to go dynamic or electrostatic?
If so who are the front runners.

[wavoman]

Hi bozeb., thanks 4 asking, makes me feel welcome, just like u did at the hotel. And as riceboy says, this is going to hurt the wallet.

Electrostatic for classical: Stax solid state amp 727II with 007 MK2 open backs (and maybe a 4070 closed back too, since the amp supports two phones, me and a bud, tho' worried about sensitivity difference, but 2 open backs might not make sense).

Dynamic for rock: Senn 600 (not 650) with balanced cable (Equinox or Cardas or Silver Dragon v2 -- any advice?, I couldn't hear any difference) with a balanced headphone amp - here's the problem, choosing between Headroom Max Balanced and Ray Samuels Apache. I think the nod goes to Ray Samuels, not sure how to refine this decision. Singlepower had a solid state balanced amp in the room, but it is not on their web site which scares me -- a custom one-off, etc. As a second dynamic phone, Grado GS 1000 ? Dunno ... Ultrasone and AKG hurt my head, Beyer 880 felt and sounded great, but have been warned against long-term listening with them, still might be OK for the occasional visitor (who cannot touch my Senns). 2nd phone would have to be modded for balanced op, since cable can't be switched like on the Senns. That tilts to Grado, since the factory does the mod (with Equinox I believe, thru TTVJ ??).

This still leaves me with the USB DAC problem, and if I go Benchmark I get yet another headphone AMP, especially when modded by Steve Nugent at Empirical Audio. Too many decisions to make! I am paralyzed. And I need the PC-based music server, looking at Hush from Germany, dead silent, no fans. [Jude said he hadn't heard of these; I would have thought audiophiles would have flocked to them].

Worse still -- do you think Smyth will force you to buy Stax phones and amp as part of the package later this year? And the low-end ones to boot? They've got to let you upgrade to the better Stax? But I wanted to give the Stax order to TTVJ for being so nice!

[My ground rules are all digital source, all solid state electronics ... I know you disagree with both of these!]. TTFN, when is the next NY meet?