CanJam Singapore 2024 Impressions Thread (April 6-7, 2024)
Apr 7, 2024 at 2:12 PM Post #91 of 206
The Cayin N3 Ultra has a tube option for 4.4 mm and it really sounds very analoguish and pleasant. I really loved my time auditioning it (I understand the predecessor Cayin N3 Pro didn't have a tube sound for the 4.4 mm).



The resolution is still very decent for a tube signature, I appreciated the expansive soundstage and immersive sonics.

I think their rep was saying on tube mode, 4.4 mm, the battery life is about 5 - 6 hours so that may be a potential area for some consumers (remember repeated charges may also decrease battery life in the future), though during my time using it, it didn't get overly warm. I guess if you are not looking for something that lasts for days of music and like a warm laid back and smooth sound, this DAP can be in the conversation.







Indeed, the Soranik Mems-3 was an eye-opener. The xMEMS technology is very interesting, providing huge soundstage akin to an open backed headphone in this IEM! Very unique and special sound.



The xMEMS driver does mids and treble very well, but needs a DD still for the bass, which is what the xMEMS driver in the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 TWS also does. Seems this driver still needs some bass reinforcement and can't be full range for now?

This Mems-3 is also downright the hardest IEM to drive I've encountered. It was hitting near 90% volume knob headroom on the provided Topping amp there LOL. So this Soranik IEM needs its own energizer amp, which does affect portability (and portability is actually the Raison d'être for an IEM?). Definitely you can drive it off a weaker source, but driving to adequate volume is not the same as driving well, and the sound is anemic and undynamic if this IEM is underpowered.

Anyways, I think the xMEMS tech, like all new pioneer technology, does have some small teething issues, so it would take a few cycles of products (and a few months probably) to fine-tune these areas. But I am very excited to see how this tech develops and evolves in the coming months! We will get there someday!





This is a warm bassy dual DD set that is very musical. 10 mm ceramic diaphragm with 8 mm PU+ LCP config.



The big bass is surprisingly quite textured and rumbly, with thick note weight. Thankfully, despite being bassy, the bass doesn't encroach so much and eat into the midrange and treble, and still gives some space for the upper frequencies to breath, so it sounds quite balanced for a bassy set.

Technicalities are average, but the timbre is very natural. Sounds like a set for chilling and relaxing.

Their rep was saying it retails at $79 USD at launch (with around 9 - 10 bucks off for early birds), so I think for that pricing it can be a good daily beater budget IEM.
Thanks for the feedback! Did you experience any noise/inteferences with the n3?
 
Apr 7, 2024 at 3:57 PM Post #93 of 206
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Roasty Goes to CanJam Singapore 2024

I almost didn't make it this year! had a busy Saturday doing family things. but a last minute change of plans meant I had a couple of hours free on Sunday to attend. got there just after 2pm! this time round, I barely spent any time on the 1st floor of the show; 99.9 percent of my time was spent upstairs in the Ocean rooms. I did one brief walk around the 1st floor and ventured upstairs.

I was extremely focused this time round and I knew exactly what it was that I wanted to hear first. so to the Ocean 11 room and Raal it was...

20240407_153407-01.jpeg

extremely happy to have finally met @Aleksandar R. he is without a doubt one of the nicest guys in the business! friendly and easy to talk to and absolutely zero airs about him. he is just as nice in real life as he is on the forums. this dude is the real deal!

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Raal 1995 Immanis
cool steampunk-esque appearance. extremely comfortable. not heavy on the head. nice soft supple pads. slightly annoyed that the hinge mechanism allows the cups to rotate a bit too much, such that the earpads can get stuck on the yokes.

i tried a few sets of the Immanis and the first one was hooked up to the Raal HSA1b amp. the source was Tidal off an Eversolo; looking for songs was a bit fiddly and cumbersome, having to tap on a tiny keyboard on the screen, but nonetheless managed to play a few of my favourite songs.

My first thoughts were wow... the immanis sounded so, so good! bass was strong, punchy, detailed, textured. mids were full, and top end was smooth but not overly so and definitely not blunted. mids we're detailed and crisp as well, and I didn't feel any bleed from the mid bass. low end seemed even better than ca1a, and top end was more agreeable than the sr1b. it's not abyss 1266 bass but I'd say it comes pretty close. I'd put the low end even above Solitaire-P.

20240407_144210-01.jpeg

after a few songs on the hsa1b/immanis combo, I moved one seat to the Raal vm1a/immanis setup. I was very interested to hear what the vm1a would bring to the table, especially as I already have the vm1a.

The vm1a and immanis are such an amazing pairing. it takes everything I heard from the first pairing and just bests it completely. my jaw dropped and I can't remember how many times I mouthed out "wow!". I had some friends telling me to expect something special, but I had no idea it would be this good. I literally had goosebumps when the bass dropped or when the chorus kicked in. and add that to the massive staging... u gotta hear this for yourselves.

this pairing.. the immanis is very full and rich sounding. not something I'd expect from ribbons. staging and out of head sensation is one of the best I've heard so far. for an over ear hp, I'd say it equals and quite possibly beats the sr1b (wings at 30deg or so). it is also a very well controlled presentation with zero etch/edginess.

I'm going to quote @Sajid Amit from his watercooler post as he describes the immanis much better.



I echo his sentiments and I totally agree.. the Immanis is one of the best headphones I have ever had the pleasure of trying. I have not had such a wow moment as this, the most notable one previously being hearing the abyss out of a speaker amp, and that was some time ago. I previously lusted for an X9K setup but I think after hearing the Immanis, e-stats are probably no longer in the running.

20240407_142158-01.jpeg

I also managed to try the Magna. physically slightly smaller in size than the immanis. sound wise, I have to agree with what some other folks have said about it. it does seem the more dynamic headphone than the immanis; bass is slightly punchier and upper mids and mids are a bit more forward. however, on the Immanis, the low end is more detailed and u can extract out more info. the Magna top end was a bit aggressive at times and I definitely preferred the smoother, lusher presentation of the Immanis. the Magna does have a smaller stage and layering and front/back depth are not as good as on the immanis. occasionally felt a bit too intimate/slightly closed in.

20240407_144348-01.jpeg

halfway through my session, @jude popped in and I asked for a wefie to which he kindly obliged! I am glad to have finally met the man himself!

he sat down next to me and we both listened to the Immanis through this very special amp...

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The SAEQ Armageddon.
this is a really cool amplifier. it drives normal headphones, and can also drive the immanis thought the ribbon interface; it drove 3x immanis simultaneously without breaking a sweat. I was surprised to find out that it is also a speaker amp and can output up to 20w.

The immanis out of the armageddon is a dream.. very luscious and meaty sound off this amp. tbh I don't know which I prefer more ie the armageddon or the vm1a. I'd probably be happy with either. everything good I heard on the vm1a I heard on the armageddon and vice versa.

If you're not a fan of the aesthetic (I was somewhat turned off by the shiny gold accents), don't fret; the amp is built to order and is fully customisable. the local dealer told me you could order this in any colour you want. hot pink anyone?

The price of the amp is actually quite agreeable. it was less than i was expecting, given the quality of the amp and functionality. I won't disclose the price here, but inquire with your dealer for yourself and be pleasantly surprised. i can tell you this; it is far far less than a MK465, WA33 EE, Feliks AE Envy, Riviera, Viva Egoista etc. and for the sound it outputs, that's just makes it an all the more sensible buy.

by the way, we listened out of Judes DAP hooked up to the Armageddon and I must say, Jude's playlist of favourite songs/test tracks is extremely good! gotta remember to ask him to share it one of these days!

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I moved on to the next room and had the pleasure of meeting Matsuda-san and his wife (?). they're such nice people. so accommodating and friendly and patient, despite the challenges in communication; Google translate to the rescue!

20240407_153731-01.jpeg

last year's canjam I saw this amp and completely gave it a miss. I didn't know what it was and I didn't know what mass kobo was or who the old guy at the table was. what a dumb mistake that turned out to be. well, this year, I know better.

hooked up the susvara to the 465. played my favourite songs. well yes, I'll have to agree, this is the best I've ever heard the susvara! if susvara is your primary headphone, please give the 465 a go. it's an expensive box but it makes the susvara sing. I am relying on past memory of my time previously owning the susvara, but it's the most bass I have ever heard out of it. top end is generally smooth without sounding dulled out. it is also the tonally densest and thickest I've heard the susvara. if I had to make an amp comparison, I'd say it feels like a much better Enleum.

having said that, I do not regret selling my susvara. yes the bass is nice with the 465 but it's not the best bass out there. and the susvara to me remains an upper mids forward sounding hp and I still heard the occasional harshness and etchiness. compared to the Immanis, the susvara sounds leaner and thinner as well.

I did manage to try the Final Audio D8000 with the 465 but I didn't think too much of it. stronger bass for sure than the susvara, but staging is a fair bit smaller and I just find overall the technical abilities of the Susvara best the D8000.

20240407_160452-01.jpeg

popped over to the next room and tried the X9K + t8000 combo again. at last year's canjam, this was the combo on which I first heard the X9K and one which i was rather impressed with. my opinions haven't changed ie I still think this is a good pairing. the X9K has a nice balanced sound and top end is super airy and spacious. it wasn't as much of a wow moment as it was last year but still good nonetheless. I still haven't managed to try the X9K on a T2...

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managed to try the Grimm MU1/Weiss Dac502-4ch/HP4 and D8k Pro LE combo and this was very good indeed. superb detail retrieval (but I don't know which component of the chain is contributing to this; I'm guessing the MU1 or Weiss). the only downsides were I was hoping for a bit wider staging, and it occasionally sounded a bit harsh/bright/sibilant on certain songs.

I'd love to try the MU1/Weiss in my own setup one day. the guy at the booth (project perfection) was very helpful and forthcoming with info on the Grimm and Weiss. both units have superb build quality.

20240407_165142-01.jpeg

headed over to one of the Zepellin rooms and sat down in front of the Zähl HM1. I tried the new Caldera Closed first, and Jeremy from Zepellin was astute enough to quickly pass me the Caldera Open as a baseline so I could do a quick comparison.

well, long story short I prefer the open to the closed. low end extension and detail/texture are better on the open. it. sounds airier and cleaner and clearer up top too. on the closed Caldera, the mids feel a bit more forward, and the staging is narrower and from upper mids upwards feels more congested. there was also a bit of harshness and roughness to the top registry on the closed.

I tried the Atrium closed as well and imo this is the closed hp to get. I think the Atrium closed is the best closed hp I've tried and I would definitely want to have this in my stable eventually. I've said it before and I'll say it again; this is the most open sounding closed headphone I've heard. its a very dynamic headphone with what I feel is a more W shaped sounding than the Caldera. it is a bit more forward and has very punchy low end, with the ear drum pressure hit being quite intense sometimes. however, I feel the Caldera open has the overall finesse and control, and the better balanced sound.

My ranking for these three cans would be Caldera Open, Atrium Closed, Caldera Closed. tl:dr just get the first two and be done with it.

not long after, we were just hanging around chatting when one of my friends came up with the idea of trying out the Immanis with the MK465. he was really interested in the 465 and wanted to see if it was any good at driving the Immanis.

I went to Matsuda-san with Google Translate asking if we could try our own hp with his amp, to which he graciously agreed. I went back to Ocean 11 to ask Aleksandr for permission to take his Immanis and interface 3 rooms down, to which he also said "oh yes, of course!"

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and here we have possibly the world's first pairing of the Mass Kobo 465 and Raal Immanis!

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the look on my friend's face says it all! I tried it for myself and it was impressive. the 465 needs high gain to run the Immanis; mid gain won't cut it.

IMHO, the 465/Immanis trumps 465/Susvara easily. but though we didn't manage to compare amps side by side, from short term memory alone, I'd still give the nod to the armageddon/vm1a + immanis pairing. not sure if that comes as a surprise, given the Immanis was tuned/voiced to the Raal/saeq amps. it was a more effortless and spacious/wider presentation with the raal/saeq amps, but at the same time having dynamism and density/richness.

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and that was how I ended my CanJam. that's Aleksandr (4th from the right) and Dragan of SAEQ (2nd from the right). they're both great friendly guys. I hope all of u who attended managed to meet these two!

i really wish I had more time to try more stuff. totally missed out on that crazy Audio Technica amp, passed Warwick and Woo, and once again didn't even manage to try the Feliks Envy. oh well, there is always Canjam 2025!

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finished the evening with dinner with Sajid, Shaun, Bart, Ganesan, Hong Shin and Jeffery at Golden Spoon for some beer, chili and pepper crabs, and a few other nice dishes! always nice meet up with friends and chat over a common interest.

congratulations to the Headfi team, canjam organisers, and vendors/booth operators for a very well run event!! it was a better floor layout this year than the last, better spaced out and hence feeling less cramped or crowded.

and in case anyone is wondering; yes, I did put in an order for the Immanis:stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: and one of my friends did too. so afaik, two out of the three sets allocated to the local dealer for this round of production have been taken.. one set left guys!
Thank you for your impressions of the Immanis! It's clear that took no small amount of work to provide all the careful comparisons, and I can't tell you how helpful they are. Thanks, @Roasty !
 
Apr 7, 2024 at 4:09 PM Post #94 of 206
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Roasty Goes to CanJam Singapore 2024

I almost didn't make it this year! had a busy Saturday doing family things. but a last minute change of plans meant I had a couple of hours free on Sunday to attend. got there just after 2pm! this time round, I barely spent any time on the 1st floor of the show; 99.9 percent of my time was spent upstairs in the Ocean rooms. I did one brief walk around the 1st floor and ventured upstairs.

I was extremely focused this time round and I knew exactly what it was that I wanted to hear first. so to the Ocean 11 room and Raal it was...

20240407_153407-01.jpeg

extremely happy to have finally met @Aleksandar R. he is without a doubt one of the nicest guys in the business! friendly and easy to talk to and absolutely zero airs about him. he is just as nice in real life as he is on the forums. this dude is the real deal!

20240407_142205-01.jpeg

Raal 1995 Immanis
cool steampunk-esque appearance. extremely comfortable. not heavy on the head. nice soft supple pads. slightly annoyed that the hinge mechanism allows the cups to rotate a bit too much, such that the earpads can get stuck on the yokes.

i tried a few sets of the Immanis and the first one was hooked up to the Raal HSA1b amp. the source was Tidal off an Eversolo; looking for songs was a bit fiddly and cumbersome, having to tap on a tiny keyboard on the screen, but nonetheless managed to play a few of my favourite songs.

My first thoughts were wow... the immanis sounded so, so good! bass was strong, punchy, detailed, textured. mids were full, and top end was smooth but not overly so and definitely not blunted. mids we're detailed and crisp as well, and I didn't feel any bleed from the mid bass. low end seemed even better than ca1a, and top end was more agreeable than the sr1b. it's not abyss 1266 bass but I'd say it comes pretty close. I'd put the low end even above Solitaire-P.

20240407_144210-01.jpeg

after a few songs on the hsa1b/immanis combo, I moved one seat to the Raal vm1a/immanis setup. I was very interested to hear what the vm1a would bring to the table, especially as I already have the vm1a.

The vm1a and immanis are such an amazing pairing. it takes everything I heard from the first pairing and just bests it completely. my jaw dropped and I can't remember how many times I mouthed out "wow!". I had some friends telling me to expect something special, but I had no idea it would be this good. I literally had goosebumps when the bass dropped or when the chorus kicked in. and add that to the massive staging... u gotta hear this for yourselves.

this pairing.. the immanis is very full and rich sounding. not something I'd expect from ribbons. staging and out of head sensation is one of the best I've heard so far. for an over ear hp, I'd say it equals and quite possibly beats the sr1b (wings at 30deg or so). it is also a very well controlled presentation with zero etch/edginess.

I'm going to quote @Sajid Amit from his watercooler post as he describes the immanis much better.



I echo his sentiments and I totally agree.. the Immanis is one of the best headphones I have ever had the pleasure of trying. I have not had such a wow moment as this, the most notable one previously being hearing the abyss out of a speaker amp, and that was some time ago. I previously lusted for an X9K setup but I think after hearing the Immanis, e-stats are probably no longer in the running.

20240407_142158-01.jpeg

I also managed to try the Magna. physically slightly smaller in size than the immanis. sound wise, I have to agree with what some other folks have said about it. it does seem the more dynamic headphone than the immanis; bass is slightly punchier and upper mids and mids are a bit more forward. however, on the Immanis, the low end is more detailed and u can extract out more info. the Magna top end was a bit aggressive at times and I definitely preferred the smoother, lusher presentation of the Immanis. the Magna does have a smaller stage and layering and front/back depth are not as good as on the immanis. occasionally felt a bit too intimate/slightly closed in.

20240407_144348-01.jpeg

halfway through my session, @jude popped in and I asked for a wefie to which he kindly obliged! I am glad to have finally met the man himself!

he sat down next to me and we both listened to the Immanis through this very special amp...

20240407_170016-01.jpeg

The SAEQ Armageddon.
this is a really cool amplifier. it drives normal headphones, and can also drive the immanis thought the ribbon interface; it drove 3x immanis simultaneously without breaking a sweat. I was surprised to find out that it is also a speaker amp and can output up to 20w.

The immanis out of the armageddon is a dream.. very luscious and meaty sound off this amp. tbh I don't know which I prefer more ie the armageddon or the vm1a. I'd probably be happy with either. everything good I heard on the vm1a I heard on the armageddon and vice versa.

If you're not a fan of the aesthetic (I was somewhat turned off by the shiny gold accents), don't fret; the amp is built to order and is fully customisable. the local dealer told me you could order this in any colour you want. hot pink anyone?

The price of the amp is actually quite agreeable. it was less than i was expecting, given the quality of the amp and functionality. I won't disclose the price here, but inquire with your dealer for yourself and be pleasantly surprised. i can tell you this; it is far far less than a MK465, WA33 EE, Feliks AE Envy, Riviera, Viva Egoista etc. and for the sound it outputs, that's just makes it an all the more sensible buy.

by the way, we listened out of Judes DAP hooked up to the Armageddon and I must say, Jude's playlist of favourite songs/test tracks is extremely good! gotta remember to ask him to share it one of these days!

20240407_155737-01.jpeg

I moved on to the next room and had the pleasure of meeting Matsuda-san and his wife (?). they're such nice people. so accommodating and friendly and patient, despite the challenges in communication; Google translate to the rescue!

20240407_153731-01.jpeg

last year's canjam I saw this amp and completely gave it a miss. I didn't know what it was and I didn't know what mass kobo was or who the old guy at the table was. what a dumb mistake that turned out to be. well, this year, I know better.

hooked up the susvara to the 465. played my favourite songs. well yes, I'll have to agree, this is the best I've ever heard the susvara! if susvara is your primary headphone, please give the 465 a go. it's an expensive box but it makes the susvara sing. I am relying on past memory of my time previously owning the susvara, but it's the most bass I have ever heard out of it. top end is generally smooth without sounding dulled out. it is also the tonally densest and thickest I've heard the susvara. if I had to make an amp comparison, I'd say it feels like a much better Enleum.

having said that, I do not regret selling my susvara. yes the bass is nice with the 465 but it's not the best bass out there. and the susvara to me remains an upper mids forward sounding hp and I still heard the occasional harshness and etchiness. compared to the Immanis, the susvara sounds leaner and thinner as well.

I did manage to try the Final Audio D8000 with the 465 but I didn't think too much of it. stronger bass for sure than the susvara, but staging is a fair bit smaller and I just find overall the technical abilities of the Susvara best the D8000.

20240407_160452-01.jpeg

popped over to the next room and tried the X9K + t8000 combo again. at last year's canjam, this was the combo on which I first heard the X9K and one which i was rather impressed with. my opinions haven't changed ie I still think this is a good pairing. the X9K has a nice balanced sound and top end is super airy and spacious. it wasn't as much of a wow moment as it was last year but still good nonetheless. I still haven't managed to try the X9K on a T2...

20240407_155949-01.jpeg
20240407_161246-01.jpeg

managed to try the Grimm MU1/Weiss Dac502-4ch/HP4 and D8k Pro LE combo and this was very good indeed. superb detail retrieval (but I don't know which component of the chain is contributing to this; I'm guessing the MU1 or Weiss). the only downsides were I was hoping for a bit wider staging, and it occasionally sounded a bit harsh/bright/sibilant on certain songs.

I'd love to try the MU1/Weiss in my own setup one day. the guy at the booth (project perfection) was very helpful and forthcoming with info on the Grimm and Weiss. both units have superb build quality.

20240407_165142-01.jpeg

headed over to one of the Zepellin rooms and sat down in front of the Zähl HM1. I tried the new Caldera Closed first, and Jeremy from Zepellin was astute enough to quickly pass me the Caldera Open as a baseline so I could do a quick comparison.

well, long story short I prefer the open to the closed. low end extension and detail/texture are better on the open. it. sounds airier and cleaner and clearer up top too. on the closed Caldera, the mids feel a bit more forward, and the staging is narrower and from upper mids upwards feels more congested. there was also a bit of harshness and roughness to the top registry on the closed.

I tried the Atrium closed as well and imo this is the closed hp to get. I think the Atrium closed is the best closed hp I've tried and I would definitely want to have this in my stable eventually. I've said it before and I'll say it again; this is the most open sounding closed headphone I've heard. its a very dynamic headphone with what I feel is a more W shaped sounding than the Caldera. it is a bit more forward and has very punchy low end, with the ear drum pressure hit being quite intense sometimes. however, I feel the Caldera open has the overall finesse and control, and the better balanced sound.

My ranking for these three cans would be Caldera Open, Atrium Closed, Caldera Closed. tl:dr just get the first two and be done with it.

not long after, we were just hanging around chatting when one of my friends came up with the idea of trying out the Immanis with the MK465. he was really interested in the 465 and wanted to see if it was any good at driving the Immanis.

I went to Matsuda-san with Google Translate asking if we could try our own hp with his amp, to which he graciously agreed. I went back to Ocean 11 to ask Aleksandr for permission to take his Immanis and interface 3 rooms down, to which he also said "oh yes, of course!"

20240407_163102-01.jpeg

and here we have possibly the world's first pairing of the Mass Kobo 465 and Raal Immanis!

20240407_163234-01.jpeg

the look on my friend's face says it all! I tried it for myself and it was impressive. the 465 needs high gain to run the Immanis; mid gain won't cut it.

IMHO, the 465/Immanis trumps 465/Susvara easily. but though we didn't manage to compare amps side by side, from short term memory alone, I'd still give the nod to the armageddon/vm1a + immanis pairing. not sure if that comes as a surprise, given the Immanis was tuned/voiced to the Raal/saeq amps. it was a more effortless and spacious/wider presentation with the raal/saeq amps, but at the same time having dynamism and density/richness.

20240407_171044-01.jpeg

and that was how I ended my CanJam. that's Aleksandr (4th from the right) and Dragan of SAEQ (2nd from the right). they're both great friendly guys. I hope all of u who attended managed to meet these two!

i really wish I had more time to try more stuff. totally missed out on that crazy Audio Technica amp, passed Warwick and Woo, and once again didn't even manage to try the Feliks Envy. oh well, there is always Canjam 2025!

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20240407_182259-01.jpeg

finished the evening with dinner with Sajid, Shaun, Bart, Ganesan, Hong Shin and Jeffery at Golden Spoon for some beer, chili and pepper crabs, and a few other nice dishes! always nice meet up with friends and chat over a common interest.

congratulations to the Headfi team, canjam organisers, and vendors/booth operators for a very well run event!! it was a better floor layout this year than the last, better spaced out and hence feeling less cramped or crowded.

and in case anyone is wondering; yes, I did put in an order for the Immanis:stuck_out_tongue_closed_eyes: and one of my friends did too. so afaik, two out of the three sets allocated to the local dealer for this round of production have been taken.. one set left guys!

An awesome read!!! Thank you for posting. :)
 
Apr 7, 2024 at 6:25 PM Post #95 of 206
@ejong7, are you still rocking your Ronin, or has something different caught your ear recently?
Over the past year, most of my ear time was taken up by the Noble Ronin and Fitear 334 TG. I will say that Empire Ears Triton has the strongest case to take some of their market share.
 
Apr 7, 2024 at 7:16 PM Post #96 of 206
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To sum up in one sentence: Insane sound quality!

Could be the most clean and transparent sounding headphone I ever heard (and I heard basically all TOTL out there). Even better thing, Immanis provide the fullest body notes compared to other Raal products (with smoother treble as well).
:thumbsup: We managed to pair it with Mass-Kobo 465 for a listening session as well. Believed maybe some of the brothers will post pictures later :).
 
Apr 7, 2024 at 7:33 PM Post #97 of 206
CanJam findings for me, Here I will just share the findings that I did and ended up having after the CanJam SG 2024. I will post brief impressions for all the products once I am back home, but I really need to get some things out to just fill my excitement haha.

First and foremost the Watercooler gang is very friendly and good company to have, each one of the guys who met me had that enthusiasm that just made it all even more exciting and enjoyable.

Raal Immanis and SAEQ Amp:
With this combo, I can say I have never heard such a realistic sound before. It felt like I am sitting in a grande orchestra and everything felt so lively and natural. Summit-Fi is surreal!!

Soranik xMems IEMS:
This IEM kind of attracted me and then it sounded so open and vivid that I instantly fell in love with this one, super cool set, I wish I could get more time with this Beauty.

Eminent Ears Ruby:
Okay, So probably my best find here. I just lost myself listening to this set, excellent bass reach, precisely defined instruments, and what not. Instant Love affair here.

Softears Turii Ti:
I always wanted to try this one out, like always. For me, Single DD Ends here period. What an amazing level of technicality and detail, it is a bit bright yeah, but man I got goosebumps listening to this one.

7th Acoustics Asteria:
Get the rich tonality of Supernova with more details, more bass, and more resolution. Sounded so good, i just can't wait to hear the final impressions here.

Cayin N3 Ultra:
Such a beautifully built device, i loved listening to this and that Tube Glow is beautiful. Oh god so beautiful, But I find the bass to be a bit soft, but tonally and timbre wise i find this to be better than the N3 pro. It is not too warm and has a cleaner background as well(compared to the previous N3 pro one).

Alter Ego:
What an excellent bass this pair has. And that crazy look that feels almost mechanical attracts the nerd in me.

Aful Cantor 14:
I personally liked the prototype tuning, sounded quite open and exciting. Bass has a good mid-bass presence, vocals sounded surreal, and then exciting, lively treble. Also I heard they might do some changes to the tuning, and this is not the final one. Planning on refining the treble more.

Binary Dyna Quattro:
I am gonna take a set as soon as it launches man. It sounded so damn good to me, like a complete package. Slightly warm tone, excellent bass slam and speed, and lovely vocals. The amount of time I spent here, I feel these were just crazy good.

Dunu x Giz DaVinci:
Okay, DUNU DaVinci sounded so good to me that i was just asking the hifigo guys when will this be released haha. Balanced sound, Good punch in the lower-end(I feel timmy's first collab with a warm profile). Followed by a crystal clear midrange and lovely treble extensions. Liked this one a lot!!

Alpha Omega:
Man such abeautiful IEM, and such a beautiful Sound as well. I loved this one, like absolutely loved it with all my heart and core. Clean, powerful, punchy bass, very very good tonality for vocals, and then crisp, well-defined treble. No harshness, and kind of effortless sound.

Well That's about it so far, I will add more pictures and info later currently too much issues in internet hehe.
Loved reading your impressions!! I felt your enthusiasm!
 
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Apr 7, 2024 at 10:18 PM Post #98 of 206
Thanks for the feedback! Did you experience any noise/inteferences with the n3?

I spent around 15 min with it and didn't get interference. But I couldn't walk around and be shaking it about haha, so was seated at the booth with it.
 
Apr 7, 2024 at 11:28 PM Post #99 of 206
CAN JAM SINGAPORE 2024 IMPRESSIONS



At the Fiio booth, I tested 2 upcoming IEMs.

First up, we have the Fiio FD15, a single DD that should retail for around $150 - 200 USD.

This sounds very safe, U-shaped with safe upper frequencies. Timbre is organic and very natural. Technicalities are quite good for a single DD with nice sub-bass rumble.

Fiio FD15.jpg




In the second photo, we have the Fiio FA19. This is a 10 Knowles BA set, I think it should retail at sub $2K USD and is one of their higher end offerings.

The FA19 has 2 tuning switches, and is neutral bright, very technical beast. Transparent and clean sonics. Their previous FX15 was a bit hot in the upper mids, but this one is safer in that region, but more technical to boot.

Fiio FA19.jpg
 
Apr 7, 2024 at 11:49 PM Post #100 of 206
Thanks for the feedback! Did you experience any noise/inteferences with the n3?
Nopes no interferences for me either. I actually like the tone and find the background to be quite clear as well.
 
Apr 8, 2024 at 5:36 AM Post #102 of 206
Set aside being extremely Wow-ed by Immanis, there are several items that really attract me as well:

1.Melodic Artification Alter Ego
Highly engaging and musical pair of iem, combine with great treble detail, full body and sweet vocal, with punchy deep bass character. The soundstage width is satisfying but what amaze me is the 3D Depth presentation. There's a switch to change the sound character (a bit complicated switch that change the internal circuit). The results is more lively presentation, more energetic treble bite, bigger bass punch, and even wider soundstage.

For me the first switch suit Vocal, Jazz, and Audiophile stuff. The second switch is for rock n roll.

*Tried Alter Ego together with Jude, both of us shared similar impression and definitely impressed!

2. Meze Alba
Started as one of the most "unrecognized" item in the show? Perhaps because they just released Meze Liric II. Alba definitely punch way above its price, fluid and airy presentation, very smooth and natural vocal, wide soundstage. It's only USD 149 and already include the USB Dongle DAC!

P.s: No, it doesn't sound sibilant like Advar

3. ATH Narukami Set (Headphone and Amplifier)
I like Narukami Headphone more than W2022. Narukami set sound more fluid, sweet, relax but with good clarity and detail without ever create fatigue to my ears. Definitely suit songs with female vocal.

4. Softears Enigma
Really different sound sig than Turii Ti. Enigma is more to safe tuning and being Allround. Full Body tonality, wide soundstage, silky smooth treble, bass punch is good. Not as bright or as airy as Turii Ti, but Enigma has fuller and smoother notes.

5. ZMF Caldera Closed
Basically ZMF Caldera but with s little darker treble, more pronounce midrange anda bit warmer on low frequency. I like how some wood resonance involve in Vocal area create a sweeter experience than Caldera Open.

6. Soranic MEMS IEM
With their Topping Amp it sounds Very Airy, netral-bright character with fast lighting notes, clean vocal, and tight punchy bass. Then I tried with Cayin N7, and suddenly my impression changed. Now Soranic sound much sweeter and fuller, and most of peaky treble gone as well. Soundstage a little bit narrower, but more balance in tonality for me.

7. Lotoo Mjolnir
Gosh, sound so immersive. Close to neutral character, with good weight in each tones, very detail and clean, with big soundstage.

*For some reason I can't post a photo now through my smartphone, will post photos later.
 
Apr 8, 2024 at 9:21 AM Post #103 of 206
Binary Dyna Quattro:
I am gonna take a set as soon as it launches man. It sounded so damn good to me, like a complete package. Slightly warm tone, excellent bass slam and speed, and lovely vocals. The amount of time I spent here, I feel these were just crazy good.
Hi, what is configuration? Does 'Quattro'
stand for 4DD or 4BA or 4EST or 4MST?)
 
Apr 8, 2024 at 10:23 AM Post #104 of 206
Hi, what is configuration? Does 'Quattro'
stand for 4DD or 4BA or 4EST or 4MST?)
It's 4dd bro

I
gadgetgod
did you got a chance to try the Softears Enigma?
I did not man, actually.it was at jaben booth only.but I was so busy experiencing the vibe and enthusiasm that missed it. I actually missed a lot of products so 😅😅

Loved reading your impressions!! I felt your enthusiasm!
Thanks alot man!! Singapore has treated us well. I just reached back home from dinner with @baskingshark such a sweet fellow.
Tomorrow early morning going to fly back home with a lot of memories that I will share with you guys once I am back.
 
Apr 8, 2024 at 10:30 AM Post #105 of 206
Greetings, fellow audio enthusiasts. I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2024 CanJam in Singapore, and it was an incredible experience I'd like to share with you. Below are some of my impressions and highlights from the event.

Arriving in Singapore a day before the show, I was immediately struck by the city's beauty, especially at night. Everyone there speaks English which made me feel right at home.

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Diva and Annihilator:

On the first day of the show, I was greeted by the booths of Effect Audio, Elysian Acoustics, and Lime Ears. I had the opportunity to listen to the Diva and Annihilator from Elysian Acoustics and was truly impressed by their sound quality. In my opinion, the Annihilator stands out as one of the best IEMs I've ever heard, with the Diva easily ranking in my top 10. Speaking with the engineer/designer provided valuable insights into their unique design choices, such as the use of a different connector, which they explained in detail.


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At the HiFiGo booth, the staff was friendly, welcoming and even gave me some free ear tips and a neck strap. I had the chance to listen to several IEMs, including the AFUL P3, which offers impressive bass and overall sound quality for its $110 price tag.

AFUL Cantor:

The AFUL Cantor, a 14 BA driver IEM, was not to my taste, as it lacked the bass I prefer. However, its detail retrieval was exceptional. They said that it is a prototype and not the final tuning.

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DUNU x Gizaudio DUNU DaVinci:

One of the highlights for me was the DUNU x Gizaudio collaboration, the DUNU DaVinci, featuring 2 dynamic drivers and 4 BAs. This IEM impressed me with its wide soundstage, excellent bass, forward vocals, and detailed yet non-fatiguing treble. Priced around $300, it's my top pick in its price range.

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I also had the chance to try the Tanchjim 4U, which sounded pleasant but was limited by the inability to adjust the tuning switches without a tool. Another noteworthy mention is the Binary DynaQuattro, a four dynamic driver IEM with great bass but requiring more power to drive effectively. Elysian Acoustic Labs Pilgrim was another masterpiece at this price range although I felt I preferred the bass and vocals of the DUNU DaVinci.

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Warwick Acoustics Aperio Headphone System:

Venturing further, I explored the Warwick Acoustics Aperio Headphone System, which offered impressive sound quality.

Audio-Technica:

I then visited Audio-Technica, where I tried some closed-back headphones and learned about a tube amp priced over $100,000 USD, showcasing hand-made tubes.

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Flip Ear showcased silver-shelled Artha IEMs, which I found intriguing. The explanation given about how the shell material affects sound was enlightening.

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Focal:

At the Focal booth, I tried the Clear, Clear Pro, Stellia, and Utopia headphones. The Utopia, in particular, paired with a Naim amp, delivered an unparalleled listening experience that left me in awe.

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I also had the opportunity to try the Raal headphones connected to a Schiit amp designed for them.

7Hz:

7Hz impressed me with their portable DAC/Amps, particularly the red one featuring dual CS43131 chips, which offered a clinical yet detailed sound signature. Their new Bluetooth/portable DAC/Amp, the Artemis39, utilizing a Sabre ESS ES9039Q2M chip, also caught my attention with its versatility and reasonable price of $149.

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Linsoul's booth offered a diverse collection, and while the Singolo IEMs sounded decent for their price, I encountered fit issues that affected my listening experience.

Thieaudio:

Thieaudio's IEMs left a strong impression, with the Hype 4 standing out for its clean, detailed sound signature. I found the Hype 10 to be more engaging with its emphasis on bass, while the Monarch MKIII offered a more reference tuning that I appreciated.

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Visiting the Sennheiser booth, I tried my luck at a fun game they had but unfortunately didn't win a prize.

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Noble:

Noble's hybrid dynamic/planar headphone with wireless and noise cancellation caught my attention, offering impressive sound quality at $649.

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Dan Clark:

Dan Clark's closed-back headphones, particularly the Stealth, stood out to me for their open-like sound signature, even in a closed-back design.

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At the HiFiMan and Audeze booths, I had the chance to try a variety of headphones, but due to time constraints, I'll keep this brief.

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Symphonium Audio Titan:

The Symphonium Audio Titan impressed me with its well-tuned bass, vocals, and treble. The bass is the stand out feature here. I highly recommend trying this IEM as it is truly impressive.

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Subtonic Storm:

The Subtonic Storm offered a natural, neutral, and detailed sound signature, though it required more power to drive effectively.

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I also had the pleasure of chatting with the designer of a thick XLR cable for IEMs, who explained the rationale behind its design and its benefits, including the concept of diminishing returns.

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Of course, I couldn't leave without experiencing STAX headphones, which truly redefine audio excellence.

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In conclusion, the 2024 CanJam in Singapore was a remarkable event, not just for the impressive audio gear on display but for the opportunity to meet fellow enthusiasts and industry professionals. I hope you find my impressions informative, and I may share videos from the event in the future. Safe travels to all, and happy listening!
 

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