[Netforce]

Bit of a drive to get home but least it wasn't as bad some peoples drive. Lets get started on impressions...
 
Day 0 or day before the event UE tour! Office tour was pretty cool to see and then seeing the process to make CIEMs was cool as heck. Testing out the whole UE line was fantastic and then the raffle at the end... I didn't win anything but car pooled over there and my ride won the UE PRM which was awesome. Waited a little extra but hey was still able to test out the UE line so not so bad.
 
After we got back to the hotel met up with AxelCloris, Stillhart, and moedawg140. We went and got some food and then proceed to spend a few hours just listening to audio and talking. Fun times!
 
Day 1 of CanJam:
Arrived pretty early, around half an hour before the event started as I volunteered to help out for the morning. Started off with line duty, managing the line to clear the hallway. 2 registration tables in the beginning but one of the tables then had technical difficulties which was extremely unfortunate. Beginning line ended up around 100 people long if I had to guess. But even with one table to register people we ended finishing the initial long line in around an hour which was great. Finally once the line died down I spent quite a bit of time helping people find vendors or at the least telling people about the tent outside, many people when I told them had no idea about it or the speaker room on the third floor.
 
Helped out with questions people had which were pretty much about finding vendors or around lunch time where to find food. At nearly 1pm Ethan ordered quite a number of pizzas (thanks Ethan!) for staff and the like. After eating I was off working and able to explore gear!
 
First things I tested out was the UE line again so to be able to get my ears scanned. Went quick and was really not invasive so it was a whole lot better than going through the usual process to get ear impressions. It was also quite a trip to be able to see real time my ear canal and I thought my ears were a tad icky being able to see the wax and stuff inside but oh well. Combined with the UE tour I had taken the previous day I may just try out CIEMs one day.
 
Went over to the member showcase area afterwards and first thing I tried out were the Fostex TH500RP. No real comment about them as I don't really much about their sound. The Sony Z7 were pretty nice and sounded quite nice. The AKG kxx I tried for the first time and was quite impressed by them and their bass for a open can so think I may keep an eye out in the for sale forums. The Sony R10 were easily my favorite in the member showcase room. The Beyerdynamic T1 with a vintage amp was a close second and it worked quite well just out of my fiio x5. Didn't listen to too much else in the room as I have listen to them in the past so I moved to another room.
 
Auralic booth and got a chance to try out the Ether for the first time, quite nice and very transparent sounding me like! Waited a bit behind other and then finally got a chance to hear the He-1000 at the Hifiman booth. Hype is real, these headphones sounded absolutely fantastic. Moved on to another booth as there were quite a number of people wanting to try the He-1000. Stopped by the Final Audio Design booth and oh boy are their IEMs pretty! Though just a tad pricey on some


 
Right next to FAD was 1964 ears demoing their Adel line. Tried to use the A12 but the tips I tried were just not working well for me but luckily my own tips worked well. Tried the whole line they had but would say I prefer the A12 the most though it is out of my price range. Was hearing a lot about Spinfit tips from a lot of people through out the day so finally went and headed to the Jaben booth. Tried initially the spinfits on my vivo xe800 and sound didn't change for the better but I did not yield and tried the spinfits on my Noble 4 and oh baby did I get a whole lot of bass! Fell in love immediately and well I have 6 pairs of spinfits now....
 
Audeze booth I tried the el8 open back and was well not a big fan unfortunately. The AudioQuest Nighthawk I as well thought they didn't have the best clarity though they were nice and comfy. Also the espresso from Audioquest was quite nice to stay awake after going to bed pretty late the night previous. The Oppo table and the HA2 was an absolutely stunning amp both with features, sound and their look. The oppo pm3 was also a nice an inoffensive sound  headphone me like! Cavalli and their amps always sound amazing but just were really quite pricey but their portable amp is really nice. Sounded great right off the bat but had some small issues with 4 pole plugs which Cavalli was aware of and would be addressed as their model at the show was a prototype.
 
The highlight of the show by far for me was ENIGMAcoustics and their Dharma and I think the amp was called the Athena. Absolutely if I didn't know they were a hybrid I could not tell. It is blended so well with the mids and treble being so airy and transparent sounding but also deep fast punchy bass. Was listening and when I saw a friends nearby I would pull them in so they could give a listen. All of us quite loved their sound though comfort was quite an issue for those wearing glasses but apparently a lot of people were bringing up the same issue so hopefully it gets addressed. For me they were quite comfy quite easily so I was content with them. Stillhart mentioned how they sounded fantastic with fast metal and I easily quite agree! The amp sounded great by itself and the Dharma right out of the fiio x5 got plenty loud though. I quite loved this headphone and wish I could get a pair when they finalize the product.


 
At around 4:30 the lack of sleep was starting to hit me so I went back to the front registration table and ended up inadvertently helping out again with people looking for vendors or other assorted things people keep coming to the front desk for. My shift ended at 1 and I was already working again lol! Got a nice chair to sit and got to talk with others so it wasn't bad and I enjoyed interacting/talking with others.
 
After the event ended a whole group of us went with Tyll to TGI Fridays where we proceeded to wait for hours~ Realistically 1 hour to get a table and another hour or so to receive our food. Didn't start eating till around 9pm that night~ I'll probably never go back to Fridays myself after how long it took and it was a tad overpriced. Though had a long chance to talk to other people about the headphones of that day, video games we been playing and of course anime~
 
Went and got to a friends apartment I was staying for the weekend and crashed, was quite tired like I am now so I will probably write about day 2 later.
 

There's a lot of Ether impressions. Does anyone know if the headphones were burned in? MrSpeakers himself said that there is a measurable difference pre- and post-burn-in.

Never knew that, nearly all the Ethers I heard sounded different every setup I listen to it on. That maybe one of the reason there were variations. Was talking with some others and the Ether may change possibly as it is quite transparent and it takes on different characteristics with different amps.
 

 
All in all, a great day. The only bad thing that happened was that somebody stole Noble K10's and JH Audio IEMs that were being demoed or used for demos of other products there. I really hope they catch the guy who did this.
 

Quite unfortunate that Noble had a K10 lifted, JH I believe had a Layla or a Roxanne taken, Cavalli had apparently an amp taken, and UE had one of their IEMs taken. 
 

Also I would like to thank Ethan, Warren, Jude and JOE whose name i made bigger so no one forgets to thank him as well.

+1! Thanks to you also Andre! Shout out to all the staff, volunteers and everybody else who attended.

 

[mikemercer]

  Best in show for me was n3rdling's Sony MDR-R10... when he finally completed the last tuning at around 4:40PM, which was teardown time, so only 3 people aside from n3rdling himself got to hear it.
 
I thought it sounded fantastic. I never understood the whole cult behind the R10, because I could not believe that there exists a closed headphone that could perform to that extent.
 
But now I am a believer. To me, the Sony MDR-R10 is easily the best headphone I have ever heard. Without a doubt. Soundstage is beyond just "expansive". It sounded realistic. There was not a single headphone that I listened to up to that point that managed to create that illusion for me, which was why I took up modifying headphones in the first place. That Sony MDR-R10 simply makes everything else I have ever heard sound like... headphones, while that R10 in itself sounds like reality, presented without the visual contents. And just in case, all of that was achieved with a portable tube amp and a smartphone as the source. The R10 didn't need a crazy Yggdrasil system to shine.

See... the thing with high-end headphones costing more than $1500, as I look at them now, is that they are just about 5-10% better than the stuffs that can be gotten at around $1000 or lower. Some arguments can be made that maybe 10% is an underestimation, but... honestly, I think the R10 with its presentation is 1000% better than anything that even tries to compete with it. Open-back or not. It simply sounded like... "real life", and not like "headphone listening" or "speaker listening". It was not just an audition for me, it was an experience.
 
Second best in show for me was purrin's system. The Yggdrasil 1.0 > Eddie Current 2A3 > JPS Labs Abyss modified by Purrin himself was among the most tonally correct headphones I have heard. That tonal accuracy makes it sound very speaker-like when the right fit is achieved for the Abyss. Simply amazing. Although the R10 does better than that to me. The Abyss has the bass, and the weight necessary to convey certain types of music, though.
 
Third best in show for me was Frank Cooter's SR-009 setup. Simply amazing. Very musical, very relaxed, very easy to listen to, but without sacrificing the SR-009's technical capabilities. Frank did an amazing job with this setup, I think, and it looks stunning to boot!
 
More impressions on other gears to come...

hey fellas
 
wooh
still consumed w/ the fact that my EL-8 open-back case got jacked....
 
but:
 
for me - BRIEF SHOW THOUGHTS:
 
Loved ETHER:
music had that QUICK initial transient SNAP and air, and vocals were rich and emotive.
however, it was actually a combination of its light-weight and opposing HEAVY dynamic weight!!
GREAT sonic Yin and Yang there - Balance - what Dans achieved.
A sonic accomplishment that stands alone at the moment
 
NEED to try it on my references - but DAAAMMN

 
I couldn't get enough of ALOs Continental  - w/ my EL-8 closed-backs (& my AK240 for source)
music was so natural - Ani DiFranco was THERE, her guitar had this body, and speed, and air and force.
Her voice was so rich, so present...
 
so, I HATE the word "best" - as some of my crew says: there is no "best" 
as its ALL subjective - 
But this was my FAVE musical experience at Canjam

 
Well:
Seeing TRUE friends is my FAVE part of EVEEY show!!
  b  
 
and thats NO BS
 
however -I was MIGHTY surprised with the Music Hall de-be (shoulda just been "dB") but too late!
Its light, comfy, could be more stoutly built, but for $199 - hey, to remind me of my HD 25-1 IIs!!  and, it accepts my 3.5mm DHC
and has play-share - a good feature for the MASSES

 
and THIS was my favorite all-around experience!
from the music engagement, down to playin' with this system!
I had SO much FUN - rockin' Shlohmo to Flako, Aphex Twin, Sam Cooke to The Gaslamp Killer
 
Cavalli portable + my AK240 via Nordost Heimdall iKable
and LCD2s (my dear friends - WORKED) via my Double Helix Comp4 cables!!

 
more comin....
DAMN - I gotta let go...
Yeah, almost lose my LCD-XCs (Gun-Metal) at CES - but got em back, then this,
but I didn't lose these this time
 
and BTW: if ANYBODY FINDS OUT, or knows, or knows peeps that MAY know - who the cats were that ripped off Cavalli, Questyle,
and JH Audio - well - just PM me PLS...

 

[chowmein83]

  Quite unfortunate that Noble had a K10 lifted, JH I believe had a Layla or a Roxanne taken, Cavalli had apparently an amp taken, and UE had one of their IEMs taken.

 

  hey fellas
 
wooh
still consumed w/ the fact that my EL-8 open-back case got jacked....
  and BTW: if ANYBODY FINDS OUT, or knows, or knows peeps that MAY know - who the cats were that ripped off Cavalli, Questyle,
and JH Audio - well - just PM me PLS...

 
Wow, the thieves even took an amp from Cavalli (I'd assume it would be one of their portable IEM amps), cases, and other stuff? Seriously, what the hell...

 

[Klonk]

Thanks for the great pictures

 

[estreeter]

After the Audez'e heist, its become pretty obvious that Head-Fiers arent the only ones who've noticed how quickly many of our toys started to wear $1500+ stickers, including a large number of easily-boosted portable products. Thanks again to all who've posted their impressions - not as good as being there, but i suspect that I would have been with currawong in the 'can't sleep' camp after a long haul flight and the mild culture shock of being in a different country. Sleep deprivation seems to be a common thread at many events - I guess we just get so excited that our brains dont want to shut down at the appropriate time. Now, bring on the Yggy, the Continental 2 and all the other goodies they were saving till after CANJAM

 

[mikemercer]

   
 
Wow, the thieves even took an amp from Cavalli (I'd assume it would be one of their portable IEM amps), cases, and other stuff? Seriously, what the hell...

oh, nah
they got IEMS from Alex (Cavalli) but still - I just jumped into action when he called for me.
We're a community right?
 
My true blue friends go thru walls for me,
so....
 
I don't know another way to be.
 
You all have been gracious with me, and not easy on me either, and I didn't want that.
I've learned MORE from ALL OF YOU as some of you SAY you have from me.
 
so - I'm down - its just not my town anymore here - and my friends that I call - well, I'm too old for that sh__,
but they're not. They LIKE it. So....
 
I just wish me and my boy MJ caught one of em!
THANX to 
for letting me and Michael GO though..
 
and to 
for posting up when I ask!!!
 
 
on the Impressions Tip:

 
BUMPIN Nas Stillmatic
on my new EL-8 closed-backs and one of my nu FAVES - the ALO International+ - 
Glorious!!

 

[mikemercer]

  After the Audez'e heist, its become pretty obvious that Head-Fiers arent the only ones who've noticed how quickly many of our toys started to wear $1500+ stickers, including a large number of easily-boosted portable products. Thanks again to all who've posted their impressions - not as good as being there, but i suspect that I would have been with currawong in the 'can't sleep' camp after a long haul flight and the mild culture shock of being in a different country. Sleep deprivation seems to be a common thread at many events - I guess we just get so excited that our brains dont want to shut down at the appropriate time. Now, bring on the Yggy, the Continental 2 and all the other goodies they were saving till after CANJAM

bro
I'm WITH THAT

 

[joshuachew]

Any more scoop on the Continental 2 or the new RX?

 

[Koolpep]

To all of you guys who posted your experiences:
 
 
THANK YOU!!
 
For sharing your impressions and photos. It's a delightful read (and a sad one to read about thieves)...
 
For us overseas it's so great to hear about this awesome event - one we can only dream of in certain parts of the world. 
 
So again, thanks a million and looking forward to more...
 
Cheers,
K

 

[x RELIC x]

The next trend in headphone cases, thanks to scum............


Sorry to hear about your hit Mike, and sh**** for the vendors as well. This crap really burns me up :angry_face:


Thanks for all the impressions guys! Lots of good reading and pics!

 

[buson160man]

 
Wish you could have heard my Theta DAC. Shoutout to Mike M, the Bifrost Uber makes a nice hat for my Progeny and a good heat dissipater for my Assgard 2

 
Enjoying that burrito DSP soundstage and imaging
 

  The Theta dacs does that bring back memories. The Theta pro basic III was my system dac for many years. It was a awesome sounding unit at the time.

 

[audionewbi]

It is shame to hear that the incident of getting ones good stolen in the hifi community has increased, this must be one bad year as I cannot remember such event taking place so orderly and frequently. 

 

[peareye]

  It is shame to hear that the incident of getting ones good stolen in the hifi community has increased, this must be one bad year as I cannot remember such event taking place so orderly and frequently. 

Stuff like this makes the rest of us feel bad....and helpless 

 

[Q Mass]

Did anyone get a chance to listen to the Echobox DAP at Canjam?
I know it wouldn't be the final retail model, but it would still be cool to read what people think.
It's currently the most interesting 'in development' DAP (to me anyway), but there seems to be few independant opinions to be found.
I'm sure I saw someone mention that Echobox were there?

As others have said, thanks to all those posting, and even though Canjam is too far for me to attend, thanks to those who organised/ran it.

 

[wahsmoh]

  Best in show for me was n3rdling's Sony MDR-R10... when he finally completed the last tuning at around 4:40PM, which was teardown time, so only 3 people aside from n3rdling himself got to hear it.
 
I thought it sounded fantastic. I never understood the whole cult behind the R10, because I could not believe that there exists a closed headphone that could perform to that extent.
 
But now I am a believer. To me, the Sony MDR-R10 is easily the best headphone I have ever heard. Without a doubt. Soundstage is beyond just "expansive". It sounded realistic. There was not a single headphone that I listened to up to that point that managed to create that illusion for me, which was why I took up modifying headphones in the first place. That Sony MDR-R10 simply makes everything else I have ever heard sound like... headphones, while that R10 in itself sounds like reality, presented without the visual contents. And just in case, all of that was achieved with a portable tube amp and a smartphone as the source. The R10 didn't need a crazy Yggdrasil system to shine.

See... the thing with high-end headphones costing more than $1500, as I look at them now, is that they are just about 5-10% better than the stuffs that can be gotten at around $1000 or lower. Some arguments can be made that maybe 10% is an underestimation, but... honestly, I think the R10 with its presentation is 1000% better than anything that even tries to compete with it. Open-back or not. It simply sounded like... "real life", and not like "headphone listening" or "speaker listening". It was not just an audition for me, it was an experience.
 
Second best in show for me was purrin's system. The Yggdrasil 1.0 > Eddie Current 2A3 > JPS Labs Abyss modified by Purrin himself was among the most tonally correct headphones I have heard. That tonal accuracy makes it sound very speaker-like when the right fit is achieved for the Abyss. Simply amazing. Although the R10 does better than that to me. The Abyss has the bass, and the weight necessary to convey certain types of music, though.
 
Third best in show for me was Frank Cooter's SR-009 setup. Simply amazing. Very musical, very relaxed, very easy to listen to, but without sacrificing the SR-009's technical capabilities. Frank did an amazing job with this setup, I think, and it looks stunning to boot!
 
More impressions on other gears to come...

Now you all understand me when I talk about "speaker-like" sound I got out of the Abyss and Ether and LCD-3 each with the right setup
 
Sorry if I didn't mention the SR-009 and the Cooter setup, it's just that it sounds so transparent and holographic and plus it is so unattainable and out of my reach for the cost. Wish I didn't hear it