Really enjoyed Can Jam. I met with a friend who's a great product photographer, Lee Shelly, who took me around and hooked me up with some of the best gear at the show. Here are my highlights:
MrSpeakers Ether was perhaps the biggest surprise of the show. Every bit the LCD 2 but super lightweight and comfortable. My 2nd favorite full size of the show.
Chord has been getting rave reviews of their products, I got to find out why. My only complaint-- price. Whoa hella expensive.
This Oppo portable HA-2 DAC/Amp would have been my one show purchase, but they're out of stock. I will be purchasing this to replace my Fiio Alpen. Great size, the amp is on-par with my Pico Slim. Sold! Oh, and it will charge your iPhone. Can you stand it?
Best in-ear I heard at the show-- by far-- the Astell & Kern / JH Audio Layla. This is on the buy list, though it may be a while. These in ears give the same musical experience as over the hear phones. Quite an accomplishment. Crazy soundstage for an in-ear. The only knock is that they're a bit large. I'd opt for the customs. They'll set you back $2500, but no one will steal them.
The line for the HE-1000 wasn't as bad as predicted. I got 2 sit downs with these headphones, and they will replace my HD-800 when they come to market. Simply stunning sound in every way. The balanced version brought slightly better imaging and treble response, to my ears anyway. Bass response is off the charts. Super fast. Too bad the room was so noisy! Yeah they're expensive, but I liked them as much as the Stax 009 and they don't need a $5000 dollar amp to work well. This will be the king of the hill headphone, I predict for the next year or two.
Simply a show stopper. Want.
ALO brought their brand new Continental 2. It's a DAC/ Tube amp portable, on the high side of the spectrum for a portable at $1500 ish, but still less than the Chord. Not an overwhelming amount of power, but what's there is gorgeous.
The Chord Hugo TT is the best DAC I've heard yet, period. But I don't see this purchase happening. It's going to cost more than my WA-5LE with upgraded tubes. Man, the form factor on this is sweet. A knockout. Not sure if giving up my Wyred4Sound DAC 2 is worth the extra thousands.
See y'all next year.
MrSpeakers Ether was perhaps the biggest surprise of the show. Every bit the LCD 2 but super lightweight and comfortable. My 2nd favorite full size of the show.
Chord has been getting rave reviews of their products, I got to find out why. My only complaint-- price. Whoa hella expensive.
This Oppo portable HA-2 DAC/Amp would have been my one show purchase, but they're out of stock. I will be purchasing this to replace my Fiio Alpen. Great size, the amp is on-par with my Pico Slim. Sold! Oh, and it will charge your iPhone. Can you stand it?
Best in-ear I heard at the show-- by far-- the Astell & Kern / JH Audio Layla. This is on the buy list, though it may be a while. These in ears give the same musical experience as over the hear phones. Quite an accomplishment. Crazy soundstage for an in-ear. The only knock is that they're a bit large. I'd opt for the customs. They'll set you back $2500, but no one will steal them.
The line for the HE-1000 wasn't as bad as predicted. I got 2 sit downs with these headphones, and they will replace my HD-800 when they come to market. Simply stunning sound in every way. The balanced version brought slightly better imaging and treble response, to my ears anyway. Bass response is off the charts. Super fast. Too bad the room was so noisy! Yeah they're expensive, but I liked them as much as the Stax 009 and they don't need a $5000 dollar amp to work well. This will be the king of the hill headphone, I predict for the next year or two.
Simply a show stopper. Want.
ALO brought their brand new Continental 2. It's a DAC/ Tube amp portable, on the high side of the spectrum for a portable at $1500 ish, but still less than the Chord. Not an overwhelming amount of power, but what's there is gorgeous.
The Chord Hugo TT is the best DAC I've heard yet, period. But I don't see this purchase happening. It's going to cost more than my WA-5LE with upgraded tubes. Man, the form factor on this is sweet. A knockout. Not sure if giving up my Wyred4Sound DAC 2 is worth the extra thousands.
See y'all next year.
