CanJam New York 2025 Impressions Thread (February 22-23, 2025)

[domq422]

Cross Posted...

Well another CJ has come and gone and I'm sitting here once again nursing a post CanJam hangover-- or what might more aptly be termed post partum CanJam depression. With the exception of running the polls and tours I'd somewhat retreated from the hobby for much of 2024. I'm quite content (still) with my current setup and have grown weary of the constant chase for new and different gear and the need to hear everything under the sun that pops up and gets a bit of hype behind it. Consquently heading into the show my list of stuff I wanted to demo was not that extensive, with nothing I really urgently wanted to hear (with the possible exception of the Fugaku-- more on that later). What ultimately motivated me to make the trip to NYC was all the people I have come to love and look forward to seeing at these events-- a list which expands with each passing year-- and the strong vibe of connection and fellowship that exists between us. On the surface, this is a gear driven hobby, but below that surface is a love and passion for something-- listening to music-- that in its own way touches each one of us at the very core of our being. The music we listen to and enjoy may be different for each person-- but it is one love and passion we all share. This is what CanJam is really all about imho.

Near the end of the show I was in one of the elevators with the glass panels that allows you to look at the various floors as you pass by them. With me in the elevator was was a beautiful young woman and a rep from one of the tables-- Linsoul I think. The girl (who turned out to be a singer) saw the guy's nametag and asked what was going on on that floor". "It's an audio show he said", after a pause adding, "we're nerds!". This is also, truth be told, what CanJam is all about

Despite not having a huge list of stuff I wanted to hear I did manage to have my mind blown a few times on this trip and heard a good many great IEMs (and a few great DAPs). Following is what will pass as my show report for the year...

The weather in NYC was fantastic this weekend-- I've never landed in Times Square with a pure blue sky before and it added a nice boost to the already electric bustle and vibe the city centre offers.



On Friday evening before the show I spent some time with the illustrious @RTodd and @Frankie D. At this time I was finally able to hear the fabled "Fugaku" and sonically it did not disappoint, sounding absolutely divine through my WM1Z. Everything about it is so far beyond everything else it's almost silly and tying the whole sonic package together is a rich and heavy note weight and impressive ballsiness to the sound. On the negative side (for me) it's not a very practical device. The portable amp is larger than I was imaginging (I was picturing something along the lines of the Shure KSE set) and not really set up to practically use on the go. On account of this it is fundamtentally a desktop setup. That said it's a testament to how great it sounds that many folks listened to it this weekend and felt tempted to rearrange their lives and use cases to make listening to a Fugaku a more practical option. Another issue I had with it was that everything else I listened to sounded like sh1t for about an hour after I took Fugaku out of my ears.

Then came Saturday and the main event...for which I was nicely swagged up...thank-you to @HiFiHawaii808 for replacing my nametag and to @warrenpchi for the thoughtful gesture of the offical CanJam tag.




Immediately at the start of the show I beelined it for the Campfire table to make sure Ken knew about the awards ceremony we were hosting that night, of which the CFA Clara was a recipient. I also asked him qute hopefully if a Trifecta MKii with their new driver was in the works and the response I got was quite encouraging ...though I don't think it's necessarily happening right away.

Following that I made my way to the Musicteck booth, which has become the de-facto hangout for the Watercooler crew at CanJam...so much so that we even got our own banner this year:



Credit to @goldwerger, @warrenpchi, @HiFiHawaii808 and Andrew from @MusicTeck for making all of this happen.

I didn't take detailed impressions this time but following are some of my show highlights.

The first thing I checked out was the Forte Ears Faust prototype. I don't have a picture of it but knocked my socks off right away. Bass response is fantastic and overall a warmer, richer, more analogue sound than the Macbeth and personally more up my alley.

Following that the Quill Acoustics Satin was a other early highlight-- and one I didn't see coming at all.



Not the most robust build quality, but the sound is superb. Smooth as silk, decently technical and overall a very enjoyable listen.

Thanks to @JordonEA I got to hear the much vaunted Elysian Dio and it did not disappoint:



Think Annihilator with actual bass and better mids. I also heard it through the grapevine that Annhilator 2025 is in the works. Exciting!

The Moses was another solid IEM:



For me this one does everything at a very high level, and nothing really wrong, but for some reason it never really gripped me on an emotional level or particularly stood out with its own identity. I understand why it was so well loved though, especially by fans of the Elysian stuff. I think in terms of that really high end bracket my own tastes veer more towards the APX SE that, thanks to @wazzupi I was finally able to hear this weekend:



Probably the closest thing to a perfectly tuned "all in one" IEM I've ever heard. (Not counting Fugaku.)

Out-of-nowhere surprise of the show for me was the Flipears stuff, especially the Legion (below, right).



Lots of air, large holographic stage, wonderful mids timbre and powerful bass. A no-brainer for the price. I was fortunate to receive the above two tour units at the show.

Another massive show highlight for me was the Duality, which heard in its final form for the first time this weekend. I was fortunate to receive this tour kit from @Chang :



Bass is epic and everything else is very well done and tastefully tuned. Not as technical as the high end stuff but man it's fun to listen to and as anyone who knows me knows how much I love top to bottom DD timbre. Props to Nightjar-- everything they do oozes refinement, professionalism and class.

As far as sources go my #1 wish this weekend was to hear the LP P6 Pro 10AE. Thanks to @timeslip and one other munificent soul I was able to hear both the gold and silver variants (which sounded the same to me).



I did a track to track AB with my 1Z and the LP players there was a noticable step up in refinement, seperation and clarity. The first players I've heard (including the LP6 Gold and OG P6P) that I would personally rank above the WM1Z in terms of sound (for my ears). If you love analogue musicality, this is your jam.

I was also priveleged to hear the storied LP6 7AE finally.



To my ears this is very close to the sound of the P6P 10AE players. I would personally rank them all about at par with each other in terms of sound.

I was also able to revisit my first love for the first time in 6 years...



Also the first time I heard the OG Solaris through the WM1Z and man oh man it did not disappoint. Solaris still holds up after all this time and at the price it goes for used these days it might be the best cost value proposition available anywhere on the market right now...imho.

I was quite looking forward to hearing the EXT MKii:



It's been so long since I heard the OG EXT that I couldn't meaningfully compare them. Bass is excellent, mids still to die for. More natural highs perhaps? And the fit is better.

It's always a pleasure to hear STORM, even if it's not really my thing at the end of the day:



In terms of raw reference transparency it arguably can't be topped.

NYC would not be NYC without a trip to Joe's with some friends:





Another exceptional highlight of the weekend was the awards ceremony we hosted in the seminar room on Saturday evening to formally acknowledge the winners of the 2024 year-end awards from the Watercooler and Watercooler HE. It was all rather touching and rewarding-- and very well attended. Despite our attempts to hype throughout the day we weren't sure if anyone was going to show up but we had a packed and attentive house. Thank-you to Warren, Jim and Eyal for really making that happen-- I hope we can do it again. This year's cooler group shot was taken right after the awards and is a testament to our ever-growing family:



Lastly, CanJam would not be CanJam without warmth and fellowship...


Clockwise from bottom left: @emdeevee, @Zachik, @goldwerger, @HiFiHawaii808, @Frankie D, @bigquery, @bigbeans, @RTodd, @buke9, @wazzupi

Thanks to everyone for another great CanJam experience!

This post made me realize 2 things.

#1 how many IEMs I missed and furthermore, didn’t even know about. The Elysian Dio? Never even heard of it till now.

#2 how out of my element I am when it comes to recapping CanJam, this was an impressive piece, sir, bravo. Thanks for sharing!

 

[JamoBroGuy]

Looks like someone stolen the AFUL Cantor from canjam:

It was me.

 

[aaf evo]

Hey CanJammersNYC. Does anyone recall what tips were being used with the Storm? Both times I demoed it, Sat then Sun) it was the same tip. It’s a matte finish clear tip with a grey inner cylinder (or whatever the hell that’s called).

Thanks to anyone who can answer this!

Very likely Acoustine tips. I believe their stock ones are AET07.

 

[iFi audio]

Hey folks,

Posted a very small batch of pics from CJNY2025 over here in this thread if you want to take a peek.

Thanks again to all the folks who stopped by to say hi, try some gear or just chat, a great time was had by all!

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ifi-audio-canjam-ny-2025-scrapbook.975991/

Cheers!!

 

[Mageborn23]

This post made me realize 2 things.

#1 how many IEMs I missed and furthermore, didn’t even know about. The Elysian Dio? Never even heard of it till now.

#2 how out of my element I am when it comes to recapping CanJam, this was an impressive piece, sir, bravo. Thanks for sharing!

That Dio Price...

 

[Evldice]

Hey everyone,

I'm pleased to share a look at my CanJam time with photos here: https://adobe.ly/3CTvoNj

Please credit if you end up using on social with my instagram @seb_stills.

Additionally, please do not edit the photos in any way (such as recoloring or cropping).

Thanks! Enjoy.

Watercooler and AT Group Photos...

Amazing photos brother! It was so cool to meet you and hang out. Excited to do it again.

 

[domq422]

CanJam NYC 2025

New York has always been my favorite place in the world. The mix of cultures and food, all the different languages being spoken, all of the different shops on every street corner, the insane pace that the city moves, all of the shortcomings of living in the city, and all of the benefits... I don't think there's another city on Earth, certainly not in the US, that fully embraces the definition of a 'melting pot'.

I love it more than I express. Being from a major US city myself, Boston, I can fit right in with the crowd in NY, it's a little more intense than up here in Boston, that's for sure, but it's not some tall feat and I definitely don't feel out of my element. However... **CanJam** always makes me feel out of my element. The overwhelming amount of people, things to try, sights, and sounds is most definitely something every Audiophile should experience at least once in their life! It's an attack on the senses and I got to experience it again just a few days ago, so, here's my experience at CanJam NYC 2025!

Symphonium Giant - Very warm and extremely pleasing to the ear, these were a great listen! If I had to make a comparison to something a bit older, I'd say these are similar to the Meteors but with a bit more resolution and overall space within notes and less spice on the back end of the treble. Speaking of the treble, it's extremely smooth and similar to that of a Thie house sound with a bit more dynamics thrown in the mix.

Symphonium Prototype (all BA) - Slightly bright leaning but extreme techs. The resolution is off the charts but in a much more pleasing way than that of an overly bright set. Felix said they were going for a set similar to the Helios with a bit more bass and upgraded treble smoothness. I think they succeeded. Impressive bass for all BA. Timbre is on point. Smooth as silk.

iBasso DC Elite - @Jaytiss is right, this thing is a bit overrated… I’m glad I got to demo it before dropping $400+ on it. I have to be honest, it’s so similar to the BTR17 in terms of overall tonality and presentation. Details come off maybe a touch more effortless and spaced out on the DCE, but not nowhere near double the price worth. The build quality is very nice and the volume wheel is extremely tactile and is clearly nicer than the FiiO but, outside of that, I can’t see the benefit. Maybe I need more time with it but on the initial listen, my expectations were not met, but that's on me. I think they were too high to begin with...

iBasso Nunchaku - The tube mode is maybe a touch warmer compared to the AB mode, with some extra weight in the mids. The bass extension is very nice and the separation is quite on point. Good stuff

Basso DC07 - extremely solid little dongle with slightly pushed upper mids and good bass extension. The volume wheel feels super cheap, though. On such a small device maybe buttons should have been the way to go. Separation is very good, and so is a mid-bass thump. I’d say this outright beats the BTR17 in terms of pure SQ, but it does lack all of the features for the same price... Trade-off? (I ended up buying one with more listening time lol)

M15i - This is clearly more focused on delivering technicalities rather than a musical signature. The bass thump is a lot less emphasized compared to the DC07 but the upper mids are pushed a little towards the glare-y side. I much prefer the DC07 for the more musical approach but I can appreciate the focus on the technicalities.

Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch - These were kind of a disappointment, I can’t lie. Within 30 seconds, I took them out of my ears. The slightly strange tonality and sub-bass rumble was not up to where I was expecting it to be. I fully expect I need more time with these, at home, properly tip rolling and proper source rolling. Just by looking at the graph and reading reviews online, these should of been a home run for me. Go figure...

Thieaudio Origin - These were more my speed for sure. The talk about the bass being bouncy and elastic is 100% true. It really is bouncy and elastic and natural, that DD+BCD is working. I can definitely feel the vibrations in those sub-bass rumbles. Or maybe that’s just the DD doing its thing… either way, really nice. But the Titans still reign supreme for me. I think it just comes down to the actual bass tactility and speed. The Origin had more of a lingering bass note, whereas the Titans have a faster in-and-out type of approach where the mids and treble are almost not affected at all.

Thieaudio Valhalla - oh my goodness…. Best in show so far for me. Unreal vocal texturing, I mean, genuinely some of the best vocal reproduction I’ve heard to date. Rivaling the Diva, Mona 2s, DMs, and anything in between. Bouncy and tight bass impact with perfectly placed sub-bass rumble for the rest of the mix. Treble detail and timbre are pretty much off the charts. I am smitten… too bad they’re $2k!

These have seen some use... ​

Letshuoer C12 - God damn these are quite good. They weren't the newest version unfortunately, Joesph didn’t have them on hand. It’s a shame they don’t make these anymore because they’re lovely. Warmish without sacrificing on techs. In fact, they’re quite technical, with great staging and super engaging bass. I wouldn’t say these are the last words in mid-range texturing and res, but the overall signature is very pleasing.

Not the final design. ​

Letshuoer S16 - These are a new Prototype Planar from LetShuoer and right off the bat I can say that they’re warm with fast transients and good bass tactility. I’m not sensitive to planar timbre so take this with a grain of salt but the overall timbre and tonality are very pleasing. Good techs, of course. Slight glare in the upper mids on the highest of notes. Really good bass texture and impact, like, impressively good.


Elysian didn't have a Diva on hand... they let me know that they're being phased out...

Elysian Anni 2023 - as good as I remembered it… every bit as incredible. Still one of my top dogs.

Elyisan Apostle - Kind of flat and not as dynamic as I’d like. It’s going for a neutral with a bass boost kind of sound and for $700 less, I’d go for a Thie set around $1k. Layering is impressive, and vocal clarity is good, but the texture is not particularly a stand-out if I’m honest. Hmmm, I'm not so sure, there doesn't seem to be anything special here imo.

(a few minutes later....)

The more I let them settle in, I can understand why these are priced the way they are. They’re a slow burn. Layering and resolution are actually impressive. It’s an effortless approach here and it takes time for your brain to adapt. For my HRTF, stage depth and instrument separation might be some of the best I’ve heard without forcing any part of the FR.

UM Maven II - as soon as I pressed play I thought, “These are fun” - big, dynamic sound on these that sounds incredibly fun. Treble is just the right amount of splashy without sounding brittle or harsh in any way. The bass is sufficiently punchy, it has a great thump behind the initial attack (which is a little blunted). The resolution is fantastic, stage depth and width for my HRTF are pretty great. Love the looks and build quality of these, too.

UM Stardust - The new entry-level set from UM and it’s great. Warm leaning with hefty vocals and well-extended but slightly subdued treble response. I enjoy it. The bass is on the blunted side if I’m completely honest but the upper mids and lower treble are slightly forward in a really wonderful way. These are another sick-looking IEM... I like this design language UM is going for!

UM Prototype QUADbrid - DD/BA/EST/BCD - these are going for a reference style tonality with texture and resolution all over the place. From the bass to the mids to the treble there are tons of details to be had. Enjoyable IEM, but for $3k+, I’d happily skip it. They don’t sound… “special” but I can see where someone would fall in love.

UM Mest Jet Black - The stage depth and width is kind of absurd on these. At least to my HRTF. instrument separation is immediately jumping out at me as impressive and not like anything I’ve listened to today so far. Not to mention, they are like jewelry. Very good-looking IEM. The cable needs a lot of work, though, it felt cheap and thin and very tangly. These scale like crazy, smaller details are cutting through the entire mix with ease and I’m picking up on those smaller details for the first time. Very cool. I dig these. The bass texture is on point. I could use a little more I suppose but the upper mids aren’t boosted and out of line so the bass level is probably perfect for the rest of the FR. I really like these. The Ceramic shell feels uber premium and extremely comfortable for my ears to boot!

Flipears Legion - WOAH. This is the craziest implementation of a BCD I’ve ever experienced and it’s not even close LOL they sound like a big, bold V-shaped tuning with crazy powerful slam in the mid-bass and slightly too-forward vocals but holy bananas is that BCD nuts!!! These are fun as hell. The aesthetics are still polarizing to me, I'm not the biggest fan but I also don't hate it. I can most certainly appreciate the craftsmanship though. Especially for a set under $1000!

Supernova Prototype - These were smooth as silk. Timbre is as good if not better than my Monarch mk2 across the FR. Bass is nicely implemented and well-balanced within the mix. The treble is subtle, I could use a little more splash-up top but the resolution is extremely well done. Overall a balanced sound signature tilting more on the warm side with a mid-bass punch. Overall really nice. Not flat sounding while still being very balanced. There is a small vent facing the ear on these as well, I tried to take a pic to show ya'll. The guys from Bloom couldn't tell me if that was similar to FiR's Kinetic bass tech, and I honestly didn't notice it too much, but I cannot 100% confirm if it's doing anything or not... still, it's interesting that they're trying something new!

Campfire audio Clara - These were dynamic and the resolution is up there with some of the best I've heard. Mid-bass has a very respectable punch to it. I dig it. Slight glare in the upper mids/lower treble. On busy tracks, it can get congested due to that upper mids glare.

CrinEar Project Meta - very much a Meta-tuned IEM, it lives up to its name. I will admit it is very clean, the upper mids are kept in check and the timbre is very natural. No weird peaks or anything of that nature. Not overly warm either, but still nicely clear with very good resolution. The design and stock cable feel top-notch and premium for sure. The chamfered edges on the shell are such a nice touch and when I mentioned that to Crin, he seemed proud of it so, kudos to him on that small touch.

NightJar Duality - holy Jesus Christ. There are 2 bass settings to these and when I first listened to them, I thought it was on the “boosted bass” setting…. That should tell you everything.

In all seriousness, I can say confidently that I prefer the Titan's overall signature. The Duality is extremely, and I mean extremely warm with a massive sub-bass lift that is already almost too much on the lowest setting. On the high setting, the sub-bass is actually an incredible accomplishment in personal audio engineering. Is it too much for me? Yes absolutely. But there is 0 distortion, it is still rumbly and somewhat clean (Titan has a cleaner rumble) and details in the music aren’t completely lost, surprisingly. Overall, they made me chuckle on a few tracks. But you NEED a desktop amp to run these. Even on desktop mode with the BTR7, they weren’t being run to their full potential @ 100/120 volume. Without desktop mode just normal high gain, anything over 100/120 volume, and there was a distinct distortion on every mid-bass kick. No bueno… overall, really fun IEM. But for that money, I’d hard pass.

I ran out of files I could attach :')

OG Helios - These are WAY warmer than I expected and honestly right up my alley when it comes to tuning. The techs are off the charts, the resolution is impressive, and so is sound stage and imaging. These are similar to the Crimson in a lot of ways but they have a better fit (slight pressure on first insertion), but otherwise, no pressure builds up after about 15 minutes of listening. Sub bass is rumbly but mid-bass is slightly blunted and most would probably say they’re lacking. I really enjoy these… to the point where they might be a future purchase if I see a pair in the classifieds. I was fully expecting these to be overly bright and lacking in the bass, but I was so wrong. At least to my ears.

I also had another go at the STORM, Meteor, and Crimson while I was there hanging out with the crew from Symphonium. The STORM is... the STORM. It's incredible. The Crimson is still one of the best bright-leaning sets I've heard to this point and the Meteor... ah the Meteor. Genuinely one of my favorite IEMs I've ever listened to. The fit was better this time with the tips they had on them, but I know after a while they'll start sliding out and irritating my ears. What a shame.

In terms of listening impressions, I didn't get as much as I hoped to but that's okay, there's always next year! There were a few IEMs I really wanted another shot at though, like the stuff from Canpur, QDC, and Alpha/Omega. The Musictek table was always full of folks listening and I figured I'd better keep it moving to an open spot if I want to make good use of my 5 hours there. Still, I had a great time. The highlight of my day and the sticking memories are definitely the ones of the folks I met and took some pics with. Crin, Ted, Mark, Caleb from Bloom and the rest of their crew, Joseph from Letshuoer, and of course, the guys from Symphonium - Felix, Mikol, and Gary, thanks again for your hospitality at your booth. I spent way too much time there...

This was a long one but if you made it this far, thanks so much for reading! I hope to meet some of you guys there next year maybe. Until then, cheers.

 

[Niyologist]

I just got the Fiio Echo Mini. I'll post my initial impressions later on the Echo Mini thread.

 

[nihalsharma]

CanJam NYC 2025

New York has always been my favorite place in the world. The mix of cultures and food, all the different languages being spoken, all of the different shops on every street corner, the insane pace that the city moves, all of the shortcomings of living in the city, and all of the benefits... I don't think there's another city on Earth, certainly not in the US, that fully embraces the definition of a 'melting pot'.

I love it more than I express. Being from a major US city myself, Boston, I can fit right in with the crowd in NY, it's a little more intense than up here in Boston, that's for sure, but it's not some tall feat and I definitely don't feel out of my element. However... **CanJam** always makes me feel out of my element. The overwhelming amount of people, things to try, sights, and sounds is most definitely something every Audiophile should experience at least once in their life! It's an attack on the senses and I got to experience it again just a few days ago, so, here's my experience at CanJam NYC 2025!

​

Symphonium Giant - Very warm and extremely pleasing to the ear, these were a great listen! If I had to make a comparison to something a bit older, I'd say these are similar to the Meteors but with a bit more resolution and overall space within notes and less spice on the back end of the treble. Speaking of the treble, it's extremely smooth and similar to that of a Thie house sound with a bit more dynamics thrown in the mix.

​

Symphonium Prototype (all BA) - Slightly bright leaning but extreme techs. The resolution is off the charts but in a much more pleasing way than that of an overly bright set. Felix said they were going for a set similar to the Helios with a bit more bass and upgraded treble smoothness. I think they succeeded. Impressive bass for all BA. Timbre is on point. Smooth as silk.

​

iBasso DC Elite - @Jaytiss is right, this thing is a bit overrated… I’m glad I got to demo it before dropping $400+ on it. I have to be honest, it’s so similar to the BTR17 in terms of overall tonality and presentation. Details come off maybe a touch more effortless and spaced out on the DCE, but not nowhere near double the price worth. The build quality is very nice and the volume wheel is extremely tactile and is clearly nicer than the FiiO but, outside of that, I can’t see the benefit. Maybe I need more time with it but on the initial listen, my expectations were not met, but that's on me. I think they were too high to begin with...

iBasso Nunchaku - The tube mode is maybe a touch warmer compared to the AB mode, with some extra weight in the mids. The bass extension is very nice and the separation is quite on point. Good stuff

Basso DC07 - extremely solid little dongle with slightly pushed upper mids and good bass extension. The volume wheel feels super cheap, though. On such a small device maybe buttons should have been the way to go. Separation is very good, and so is a mid-bass thump. I’d say this outright beats the BTR17 in terms of pure SQ, but it does lack all of the features for the same price... Trade-off? (I ended up buying one with more listening time lol)

​

M15i - This is clearly more focused on delivering technicalities rather than a musical signature. The bass thump is a lot less emphasized compared to the DC07 but the upper mids are pushed a little towards the glare-y side. I much prefer the DC07 for the more musical approach but I can appreciate the focus on the technicalities.

​

Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch - These were kind of a disappointment, I can’t lie. Within 30 seconds, I took them out of my ears. The slightly strange tonality and sub-bass rumble was not up to where I was expecting it to be. I fully expect I need more time with these, at home, properly tip rolling and proper source rolling. Just by looking at the graph and reading reviews online, these should of been a home run for me. Go figure...

​

Thieaudio Origin - These were more my speed for sure. The talk about the bass being bouncy and elastic is 100% true. It really is bouncy and elastic and natural, that DD+BCD is working. I can definitely feel the vibrations in those sub-bass rumbles. Or maybe that’s just the DD doing its thing… either way, really nice. But the Titans still reign supreme for me. I think it just comes down to the actual bass tactility and speed. The Origin had more of a lingering bass note, whereas the Titans have a faster in-and-out type of approach where the mids and treble are almost not affected at all.

​

Thieaudio Valhalla - oh my goodness…. Best in show so far for me. Unreal vocal texturing, I mean, genuinely some of the best vocal reproduction I’ve heard to date. Rivaling the Diva, Mona 2s, DMs, and anything in between. Bouncy and tight bass impact with perfectly placed sub-bass rumble for the rest of the mix. Treble detail and timbre are pretty much off the charts. I am smitten… too bad they’re $2k!

These have seen some use... ​

Letshuoer C12 - God damn these are quite good. They weren't the newest version unfortunately, Joesph didn’t have them on hand. It’s a shame they don’t make these anymore because they’re lovely. Warmish without sacrificing on techs. In fact, they’re quite technical, with great staging and super engaging bass. I wouldn’t say these are the last words in mid-range texturing and res, but the overall signature is very pleasing.

Not the final design. ​

Letshuoer S16 - These are a new Prototype Planar from LetShuoer and right off the bat I can say that they’re warm with fast transients and good bass tactility. I’m not sensitive to planar timbre so take this with a grain of salt but the overall timbre and tonality are very pleasing. Good techs, of course. Slight glare in the upper mids on the highest of notes. Really good bass texture and impact, like, impressively good.


Elysian didn't have a Diva on hand... they let me know that they're being phased out...

​

Elysian Anni 2023 - as good as I remembered it… every bit as incredible. Still one of my top dogs.

​

Elyisan Apostle - Kind of flat and not as dynamic as I’d like. It’s going for a neutral with a bass boost kind of sound and for $700 less, I’d go for a Thie set around $1k. Layering is impressive, and vocal clarity is good, but the texture is not particularly a stand-out if I’m honest. Hmmm, I'm not so sure, there doesn't seem to be anything special here imo.

(a few minutes later....)

The more I let them settle in, I can understand why these are priced the way they are. They’re a slow burn. Layering and resolution are actually impressive. It’s an effortless approach here and it takes time for your brain to adapt. For my HRTF, stage depth and instrument separation might be some of the best I’ve heard without forcing any part of the FR.

​

UM Maven II - as soon as I pressed play I thought, “These are fun” - big, dynamic sound on these that sounds incredibly fun. Treble is just the right amount of splashy without sounding brittle or harsh in any way. The bass is sufficiently punchy, it has a great thump behind the initial attack (which is a little blunted). The resolution is fantastic, stage depth and width for my HRTF are pretty great. Love the looks and build quality of these, too.

​

UM Stardust - The new entry-level set from UM and it’s great. Warm leaning with hefty vocals and well-extended but slightly subdued treble response. I enjoy it. The bass is on the blunted side if I’m completely honest but the upper mids and lower treble are slightly forward in a really wonderful way. These are another sick-looking IEM... I like this design language UM is going for!

​

UM Prototype QUADbrid - DD/BA/EST/BCD - these are going for a reference style tonality with texture and resolution all over the place. From the bass to the mids to the treble there are tons of details to be had. Enjoyable IEM, but for $3k+, I’d happily skip it. They don’t sound… “special” but I can see where someone would fall in love.



UM Mest Jet Black - The stage depth and width is kind of absurd on these. At least to my HRTF. instrument separation is immediately jumping out at me as impressive and not like anything I’ve listened to today so far. Not to mention, they are like jewelry. Very good-looking IEM. The cable needs a lot of work, though, it felt cheap and thin and very tangly. These scale like crazy, smaller details are cutting through the entire mix with ease and I’m picking up on those smaller details for the first time. Very cool. I dig these. The bass texture is on point. I could use a little more I suppose but the upper mids aren’t boosted and out of line so the bass level is probably perfect for the rest of the FR. I really like these. The Ceramic shell feels uber premium and extremely comfortable for my ears to boot!

​

Flipears Legion - WOAH. This is the craziest implementation of a BCD I’ve ever experienced and it’s not even close LOL they sound like a big, bold V-shaped tuning with crazy powerful slam in the mid-bass and slightly too-forward vocals but holy bananas is that BCD nuts!!! These are fun as hell. The aesthetics are still polarizing to me, I'm not the biggest fan but I also don't hate it. I can most certainly appreciate the craftsmanship though. Especially for a set under $1000!

​

Supernova Prototype - These were smooth as silk. Timbre is as good if not better than my Monarch mk2 across the FR. Bass is nicely implemented and well-balanced within the mix. The treble is subtle, I could use a little more splash-up top but the resolution is extremely well done. Overall a balanced sound signature tilting more on the warm side with a mid-bass punch. Overall really nice. Not flat sounding while still being very balanced. There is a small vent facing the ear on these as well, I tried to take a pic to show ya'll. The guys from Bloom couldn't tell me if that was similar to FiR's Kinetic bass tech, and I honestly didn't notice it too much, but I cannot 100% confirm if it's doing anything or not... still, it's interesting that they're trying something new!

​

Campfire audio Clara - These were dynamic and the resolution is up there with some of the best I've heard. Mid-bass has a very respectable punch to it. I dig it. Slight glare in the upper mids/lower treble. On busy tracks, it can get congested due to that upper mids glare.

​

CrinEar Project Meta - very much a Meta-tuned IEM, it lives up to its name. I will admit it is very clean, the upper mids are kept in check and the timbre is very natural. No weird peaks or anything of that nature. Not overly warm either, but still nicely clear with very good resolution. The design and stock cable feel top-notch and premium for sure. The chamfered edges on the shell are such a nice touch and when I mentioned that to Crin, he seemed proud of it so, kudos to him on that small touch.

​

NightJar Duality - holy Jesus Christ. There are 2 bass settings to these and when I first listened to them, I thought it was on the “boosted bass” setting…. That should tell you everything.

In all seriousness, I can say confidently that I prefer the Titan's overall signature. The Duality is extremely, and I mean extremely warm with a massive sub-bass lift that is already almost too much on the lowest setting. On the high setting, the sub-bass is actually an incredible accomplishment in personal audio engineering. Is it too much for me? Yes absolutely. But there is 0 distortion, it is still rumbly and somewhat clean (Titan has a cleaner rumble) and details in the music aren’t completely lost, surprisingly. Overall, they made me chuckle on a few tracks. But you NEED a desktop amp to run these. Even on desktop mode with the BTR7, they weren’t being run to their full potential @ 100/120 volume. Without desktop mode just normal high gain, anything over 100/120 volume, and there was a distinct distortion on every mid-bass kick. No bueno… overall, really fun IEM. But for that money, I’d hard pass.

I ran out of files I could attach :')

OG Helios - These are WAY warmer than I expected and honestly right up my alley when it comes to tuning. The techs are off the charts, the resolution is impressive, and so is sound stage and imaging. These are similar to the Crimson in a lot of ways but they have a better fit (slight pressure on first insertion), but otherwise, no pressure builds up after about 15 minutes of listening. Sub bass is rumbly but mid-bass is slightly blunted and most would probably say they’re lacking. I really enjoy these… to the point where they might be a future purchase if I see a pair in the classifieds. I was fully expecting these to be overly bright and lacking in the bass, but I was so wrong. At least to my ears.

I also had another go at the STORM, Meteor, and Crimson while I was there hanging out with the crew from Symphonium. The STORM is... the STORM. It's incredible. The Crimson is still one of the best bright-leaning sets I've heard to this point and the Meteor... ah the Meteor. Genuinely one of my favorite IEMs I've ever listened to. The fit was better this time with the tips they had on them, but I know after a while they'll start sliding out and irritating my ears. What a shame.

In terms of listening impressions, I didn't get as much as I hoped to but that's okay, there's always next year! There were a few IEMs I really wanted another shot at though, like the stuff from Canpur, QDC, and Alpha/Omega. The Musictek table was always full of folks listening and I figured I'd better keep it moving to an open spot if I want to make good use of my 5 hours there. Still, I had a great time. The highlight of my day and the sticking memories are definitely the ones of the folks I met and took some pics with. Crin, Ted, Mark, Caleb from Bloom and the rest of their crew, Joseph from Letshuoer, and of course, the guys from Symphonium - Felix, Mikol, and Gary, thanks again for your hospitality at your booth. I spent way too much time there...

This was a long one but if you made it this far, thanks so much for reading! I hope to meet some of you guys there next year maybe. Until then, cheers.

Wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing. Please share the other pictures too.

 

[Leonarfd]

CanJam NYC 2025

New York has always been my favorite place in the world. The mix of cultures and food, all the different languages being spoken, all of the different shops on every street corner, the insane pace that the city moves, all of the shortcomings of living in the city, and all of the benefits... I don't think there's another city on Earth, certainly not in the US, that fully embraces the definition of a 'melting pot'.

I love it more than I express. Being from a major US city myself, Boston, I can fit right in with the crowd in NY, it's a little more intense than up here in Boston, that's for sure, but it's not some tall feat and I definitely don't feel out of my element. However... **CanJam** always makes me feel out of my element. The overwhelming amount of people, things to try, sights, and sounds is most definitely something every Audiophile should experience at least once in their life! It's an attack on the senses and I got to experience it again just a few days ago, so, here's my experience at CanJam NYC 2025!

​

Symphonium Giant - Very warm and extremely pleasing to the ear, these were a great listen! If I had to make a comparison to something a bit older, I'd say these are similar to the Meteors but with a bit more resolution and overall space within notes and less spice on the back end of the treble. Speaking of the treble, it's extremely smooth and similar to that of a Thie house sound with a bit more dynamics thrown in the mix.

​

Symphonium Prototype (all BA) - Slightly bright leaning but extreme techs. The resolution is off the charts but in a much more pleasing way than that of an overly bright set. Felix said they were going for a set similar to the Helios with a bit more bass and upgraded treble smoothness. I think they succeeded. Impressive bass for all BA. Timbre is on point. Smooth as silk.

​

iBasso DC Elite - @Jaytiss is right, this thing is a bit overrated… I’m glad I got to demo it before dropping $400+ on it. I have to be honest, it’s so similar to the BTR17 in terms of overall tonality and presentation. Details come off maybe a touch more effortless and spaced out on the DCE, but not nowhere near double the price worth. The build quality is very nice and the volume wheel is extremely tactile and is clearly nicer than the FiiO but, outside of that, I can’t see the benefit. Maybe I need more time with it but on the initial listen, my expectations were not met, but that's on me. I think they were too high to begin with...

iBasso Nunchaku - The tube mode is maybe a touch warmer compared to the AB mode, with some extra weight in the mids. The bass extension is very nice and the separation is quite on point. Good stuff

Basso DC07 - extremely solid little dongle with slightly pushed upper mids and good bass extension. The volume wheel feels super cheap, though. On such a small device maybe buttons should have been the way to go. Separation is very good, and so is a mid-bass thump. I’d say this outright beats the BTR17 in terms of pure SQ, but it does lack all of the features for the same price... Trade-off? (I ended up buying one with more listening time lol)

​

M15i - This is clearly more focused on delivering technicalities rather than a musical signature. The bass thump is a lot less emphasized compared to the DC07 but the upper mids are pushed a little towards the glare-y side. I much prefer the DC07 for the more musical approach but I can appreciate the focus on the technicalities.

​

Kiwi Ears x HBB Punch - These were kind of a disappointment, I can’t lie. Within 30 seconds, I took them out of my ears. The slightly strange tonality and sub-bass rumble was not up to where I was expecting it to be. I fully expect I need more time with these, at home, properly tip rolling and proper source rolling. Just by looking at the graph and reading reviews online, these should of been a home run for me. Go figure...

​

Thieaudio Origin - These were more my speed for sure. The talk about the bass being bouncy and elastic is 100% true. It really is bouncy and elastic and natural, that DD+BCD is working. I can definitely feel the vibrations in those sub-bass rumbles. Or maybe that’s just the DD doing its thing… either way, really nice. But the Titans still reign supreme for me. I think it just comes down to the actual bass tactility and speed. The Origin had more of a lingering bass note, whereas the Titans have a faster in-and-out type of approach where the mids and treble are almost not affected at all.

​

Thieaudio Valhalla - oh my goodness…. Best in show so far for me. Unreal vocal texturing, I mean, genuinely some of the best vocal reproduction I’ve heard to date. Rivaling the Diva, Mona 2s, DMs, and anything in between. Bouncy and tight bass impact with perfectly placed sub-bass rumble for the rest of the mix. Treble detail and timbre are pretty much off the charts. I am smitten… too bad they’re $2k!

These have seen some use... ​

Letshuoer C12 - God damn these are quite good. They weren't the newest version unfortunately, Joesph didn’t have them on hand. It’s a shame they don’t make these anymore because they’re lovely. Warmish without sacrificing on techs. In fact, they’re quite technical, with great staging and super engaging bass. I wouldn’t say these are the last words in mid-range texturing and res, but the overall signature is very pleasing.

Not the final design. ​

Letshuoer S16 - These are a new Prototype Planar from LetShuoer and right off the bat I can say that they’re warm with fast transients and good bass tactility. I’m not sensitive to planar timbre so take this with a grain of salt but the overall timbre and tonality are very pleasing. Good techs, of course. Slight glare in the upper mids on the highest of notes. Really good bass texture and impact, like, impressively good.


Elysian didn't have a Diva on hand... they let me know that they're being phased out...

​

Elysian Anni 2023 - as good as I remembered it… every bit as incredible. Still one of my top dogs.

​

Elyisan Apostle - Kind of flat and not as dynamic as I’d like. It’s going for a neutral with a bass boost kind of sound and for $700 less, I’d go for a Thie set around $1k. Layering is impressive, and vocal clarity is good, but the texture is not particularly a stand-out if I’m honest. Hmmm, I'm not so sure, there doesn't seem to be anything special here imo.

(a few minutes later....)

The more I let them settle in, I can understand why these are priced the way they are. They’re a slow burn. Layering and resolution are actually impressive. It’s an effortless approach here and it takes time for your brain to adapt. For my HRTF, stage depth and instrument separation might be some of the best I’ve heard without forcing any part of the FR.

​

UM Maven II - as soon as I pressed play I thought, “These are fun” - big, dynamic sound on these that sounds incredibly fun. Treble is just the right amount of splashy without sounding brittle or harsh in any way. The bass is sufficiently punchy, it has a great thump behind the initial attack (which is a little blunted). The resolution is fantastic, stage depth and width for my HRTF are pretty great. Love the looks and build quality of these, too.

​

UM Stardust - The new entry-level set from UM and it’s great. Warm leaning with hefty vocals and well-extended but slightly subdued treble response. I enjoy it. The bass is on the blunted side if I’m completely honest but the upper mids and lower treble are slightly forward in a really wonderful way. These are another sick-looking IEM... I like this design language UM is going for!

​

UM Prototype QUADbrid - DD/BA/EST/BCD - these are going for a reference style tonality with texture and resolution all over the place. From the bass to the mids to the treble there are tons of details to be had. Enjoyable IEM, but for $3k+, I’d happily skip it. They don’t sound… “special” but I can see where someone would fall in love.



UM Mest Jet Black - The stage depth and width is kind of absurd on these. At least to my HRTF. instrument separation is immediately jumping out at me as impressive and not like anything I’ve listened to today so far. Not to mention, they are like jewelry. Very good-looking IEM. The cable needs a lot of work, though, it felt cheap and thin and very tangly. These scale like crazy, smaller details are cutting through the entire mix with ease and I’m picking up on those smaller details for the first time. Very cool. I dig these. The bass texture is on point. I could use a little more I suppose but the upper mids aren’t boosted and out of line so the bass level is probably perfect for the rest of the FR. I really like these. The Ceramic shell feels uber premium and extremely comfortable for my ears to boot!

​

Flipears Legion - WOAH. This is the craziest implementation of a BCD I’ve ever experienced and it’s not even close LOL they sound like a big, bold V-shaped tuning with crazy powerful slam in the mid-bass and slightly too-forward vocals but holy bananas is that BCD nuts!!! These are fun as hell. The aesthetics are still polarizing to me, I'm not the biggest fan but I also don't hate it. I can most certainly appreciate the craftsmanship though. Especially for a set under $1000!

​

Supernova Prototype - These were smooth as silk. Timbre is as good if not better than my Monarch mk2 across the FR. Bass is nicely implemented and well-balanced within the mix. The treble is subtle, I could use a little more splash-up top but the resolution is extremely well done. Overall a balanced sound signature tilting more on the warm side with a mid-bass punch. Overall really nice. Not flat sounding while still being very balanced. There is a small vent facing the ear on these as well, I tried to take a pic to show ya'll. The guys from Bloom couldn't tell me if that was similar to FiR's Kinetic bass tech, and I honestly didn't notice it too much, but I cannot 100% confirm if it's doing anything or not... still, it's interesting that they're trying something new!

​

Campfire audio Clara - These were dynamic and the resolution is up there with some of the best I've heard. Mid-bass has a very respectable punch to it. I dig it. Slight glare in the upper mids/lower treble. On busy tracks, it can get congested due to that upper mids glare.

​

CrinEar Project Meta - very much a Meta-tuned IEM, it lives up to its name. I will admit it is very clean, the upper mids are kept in check and the timbre is very natural. No weird peaks or anything of that nature. Not overly warm either, but still nicely clear with very good resolution. The design and stock cable feel top-notch and premium for sure. The chamfered edges on the shell are such a nice touch and when I mentioned that to Crin, he seemed proud of it so, kudos to him on that small touch.

​

NightJar Duality - holy Jesus Christ. There are 2 bass settings to these and when I first listened to them, I thought it was on the “boosted bass” setting…. That should tell you everything.

In all seriousness, I can say confidently that I prefer the Titan's overall signature. The Duality is extremely, and I mean extremely warm with a massive sub-bass lift that is already almost too much on the lowest setting. On the high setting, the sub-bass is actually an incredible accomplishment in personal audio engineering. Is it too much for me? Yes absolutely. But there is 0 distortion, it is still rumbly and somewhat clean (Titan has a cleaner rumble) and details in the music aren’t completely lost, surprisingly. Overall, they made me chuckle on a few tracks. But you NEED a desktop amp to run these. Even on desktop mode with the BTR7, they weren’t being run to their full potential @ 100/120 volume. Without desktop mode just normal high gain, anything over 100/120 volume, and there was a distinct distortion on every mid-bass kick. No bueno… overall, really fun IEM. But for that money, I’d hard pass.

I ran out of files I could attach :')

OG Helios - These are WAY warmer than I expected and honestly right up my alley when it comes to tuning. The techs are off the charts, the resolution is impressive, and so is sound stage and imaging. These are similar to the Crimson in a lot of ways but they have a better fit (slight pressure on first insertion), but otherwise, no pressure builds up after about 15 minutes of listening. Sub bass is rumbly but mid-bass is slightly blunted and most would probably say they’re lacking. I really enjoy these… to the point where they might be a future purchase if I see a pair in the classifieds. I was fully expecting these to be overly bright and lacking in the bass, but I was so wrong. At least to my ears.

I also had another go at the STORM, Meteor, and Crimson while I was there hanging out with the crew from Symphonium. The STORM is... the STORM. It's incredible. The Crimson is still one of the best bright-leaning sets I've heard to this point and the Meteor... ah the Meteor. Genuinely one of my favorite IEMs I've ever listened to. The fit was better this time with the tips they had on them, but I know after a while they'll start sliding out and irritating my ears. What a shame.

In terms of listening impressions, I didn't get as much as I hoped to but that's okay, there's always next year! There were a few IEMs I really wanted another shot at though, like the stuff from Canpur, QDC, and Alpha/Omega. The Musictek table was always full of folks listening and I figured I'd better keep it moving to an open spot if I want to make good use of my 5 hours there. Still, I had a great time. The highlight of my day and the sticking memories are definitely the ones of the folks I met and took some pics with. Crin, Ted, Mark, Caleb from Bloom and the rest of their crew, Joseph from Letshuoer, and of course, the guys from Symphonium - Felix, Mikol, and Gary, thanks again for your hospitality at your booth. I spent way too much time there...

This was a long one but if you made it this far, thanks so much for reading! I hope to meet some of you guys there next year maybe. Until then, cheers.

Awesome writeup Dom, and nice photos

 

[zlayde]

Wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing. Please share the other pictures too.

Nice roundup! I'm completely smitten with the Valhalla as well. Kind of blazing its own trail.

 

[m8o]

Isn't it great that the way the lights were configured this year, all our [smartphone, at least] pics aren't purple like last year and maybe years prior; not positive on that last part right now. Lightroom white balance adjustment couldn't get a cooked jpg quite right compared to raw either.

 

[Evldice]

This was my first CanJam, and it was one of the best experiences I've ever had. While it was amazing to test out all the great equipment, the true magic was spending time with some of the best human beings I've ever met. Having access to the builders and tuners who were so cool and engaging to speak with; Emil from Lime Ears, Ice Tung from Ice Labs, Aries from FlipEars, and Ricardo from Forte Ears, socializing after the show with vendors and HeadFi peeps. It was simply energizing. I wanted to take a ton of pictures but between socializing and listening, I didn't take many.

My experience with this CanJam was definitively made whole by @EnigmaFotos who showed me the ropes, taught me a ton about IEM audio, introduced me to everyone, and just made the experience fantastic. The vendors that stood out, besides the tuners and owners, Andrew, Leo, Ray, and the MusicTeck crew were so great, very chill and engaging, Caleb and crew at Bloom Audio, and the Subtonic/Nightjar crew. I listened to so many sets, but ultimately fell in love with:

Alpha Omega Omega - ordered
Ice Labs Spectrumica - ordered
FlipEars Legion - pre-ordered.

Others that hit all the right feels (not a complete list):
Alpha Omega Fulgrim
Quill Acoustics Satin
Forte Ears Macbeth
Subtonic Storm
Eminent Ears Ruby
Lime Ears Incognita
EE Raven
Fir RN6
7th Accoustic Rawon prototype
UM JB

Finally, the Watercooler guys, too many to list, are just the most welcoming, friendly, and engaging people. It was truly a pleasure to have had so many great discussions and chill time with everyone. Looking forward to the next time.

 

[domq422]

These are some of the files I couldn't attach to my previous post...

Wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing. Please share the other pictures too.

Thanks so much! I posted the other ones above

Awesome writeup Dom, and nice photos

You're the man, bro. I'm just relieved you can't make it to this event because I know your impressions and photos would blown mine out of the water haha

Nice roundup! I'm completely smitten with the Valhalla as well. Kind of blazing its own trail.

100%. My personal rule of not spending more than $1k on a pair of IEMs is slowly being broken down...

Isn't it great that the way the lights were configured this year, all our [smartphone, at least] pics aren't purple like last year and maybe years prior; not positive on that last part right now. Lightroom white balance adjustment couldn't get a cooked jpg quite right compared to raw either.

Oh man, I'm happy someone else noticed! Last year was horrible with those bright purple lights, idk what they were thinking haha

 

[Audioenophile]

Very likely Acoustine tips. I believe their stock ones are AET07.

Yasss!!! That’s what it was. Now that you wrote the brand I know that’s what I heard him say. Thank you!!!!!