This is my first CanJam, thanks to Kerry and Joe from Eksonic, Bloom Audio did not ask for his name but nice guy, Steve Smith from dCS, Ferrum booth, Jack and Mike from Woo Audio, and Audeze booth for all my audition today.
Most of the tracks that were used for the listening were: Adele - Hello, Adele - When we were young, Eagles - Hotel California/Hell Freezes Over
My first stop Eksonic, Stax SR-007 MK1 --> Eksonic Aeras --> DIY DAC according to Kerry --> Roon, wow the bass is 2nd most impressive in the show tying with the Abyss 1266 phi TC out of Woo Audio 33 standard edition with the Woo WDS-1 DAC. Different types of bass there is resonance in the SR-007 MK1 heard in none of the other headphones except read below.. So effortless in the whole frequency spectrum, while the tonality is very rich. My second favorite pairing in the show.
Stax SR-009s--> Eksonic Aeras (pre-production)--> DIY DAC --> Roon, better separation than the SR-007 MK1 not by much instruments sound amazing. Sounds probably slightly brighter than the SR-007 MK1 guess from the extra separation details.
Jack Woo for Woo Audio walk in took my spot on the DIY T2
Stax SR-007 MK1/Stax SR-009S --> Eskonic Aeras (protype)--> Denafrips 'Ares' I believed that was the model --> Roon, heard this setup twice not the same level as the DIY DAC Kerry made, less slam, less dynamic, less lively still better than most of the other setup I heard. The Denafrips definitely the weakness link here.
Stax SR-007 MK1/Stax SR-009S --> DIY T2 --> DIY DAC --> Roon, my favorite of the show slam, dynamic, clarity, details, soundstage, absolutely top notch it slam harder than the Abyss 1266 phi TC to my ears I am sure someone will disagree. It really sound like live music, vocal is beyond amazing. If I got the money, this setup will be my endgame.
Audeze CRBN -- DIY T2 --> DIY DAC --> Roon, not that the same level as the Stax SR-007/009S much leaner, less dynamic, slam, and etc.. You get the point.
Spent about 2 hours in this booth alone.
Audeze booth, Audeze LCD-5 --> Burson Soloist 3X I believe (saw the Noctua fan) --> Nagra HD DAC X I believe --> The playlist on the tablet was "Hotel California" and "Caribbean Blue" by Enya, vocal is quite forward as expected. Soundstage is average, very good details and clarity similar to the Susvara, bass is got good extension and impact definitely not bass lite as some described it. But, probably too much focus on the mid-range kind of masking other part of the frequency spectrum to my ear.
Ferrum booth, Focal Utopia --> Ferrum OOR/Hypsos --> ??? Dac is not on the table. First time hearing the Focal Utopia, I like the sound signature not as mid-forward as the LCD-5 slightly less details, probably similar soundstage to the LCD-5. Bass impact is quite similar to the LCD-5 probably edge out the Utopia a bit except the LCD-5 extends better.
Ampsandsound booth, Audeze LCD-5 --> Ampsandsound
Red October 16ohms output (I believed that was the one I heard with the 300B and 5U4G tubes) --> ??? I heard it was pair with the Chord TT2 but I could be wrong hiding under the table --> DAP by Roon? Least favorite combo in the whole show for me, when listening to Adele's Hello and When We Were Young the vocal sibilance/chirp. Not sure if that was cable issue? Perhaps the Audeze LCD-5 is picking up something? Didn't hear that in the Audeze booth. No clam on the headband, think they got it fixed, very comfortable.
Hifiman booth didn't get to hear, too many people.
Bloom Audio, Hifiman Susvara --> Hifiman EF1000 --> Chord TT2/MScaler --> DAP no idea what model. Power up the Susvara beautifully opens up the upper range nicely, still lack of bass impact comparing to the Audeze LCD-5/Utopia, good soundstage, very neutral can be listening to this for long session. The overall presentation is probably my third favorite pairing of the show.
dCS booth, Dan Clark Audio Ether 2 --> dCS Uris XLR output --> Roon. Very netural sounds nothing stands out or out of place, also my first time hearing either the dCS and Ether 2 no prior experience.
Woo Audio listen to almost all the setup except the WA8. What surprises me is the Stax SR-X9000 is not that popular, most of the people were lining up for the WA23 new amp and the WA33 pairing with the Abyss 1266 phi TC.
Audeze CRBN/Stax SR-X9000 --> Woo 3ES --> ??? DAC --> Roon, Stax SR-X9000 seems to be more effortless in the overall presentation good soundstage probably similar to the Abyss 1266 phi TC, bass is still lacking of impact, vocal is as good as the Susvara. CRBN everything is well presented, but kind of a bit behind in details and speed next to the SR-X9000. The bass is slightly more impactful on the CRBN not by much.
Abyss Diana V2 --> Woo Audio WA7 3rd generation --> Roon, a bit mid-forward in the vocal, soundstage is more closed in around the LCD-5. Overall, not bad except the comfort is a bit weird hot spot on the top of the head and the earpad clamp isn't as comfortable as the LCD-5. Heard little bit a chrip in the vocal as well not nearly as bad as the Ampsandsound setup.
Abyss Diana V2 --> Woo Audio WA23 --> ?? DAC --> Roon, similar to the WA7 presentation probably slightly better, didn't hear too much different.
Abyss 1266 Phi TC --> Woo Audio WA33 standard edition --> Woo Audio WDS-1 DAC --> Roon, great bass extension and impact, very good details unfortunely that is all the positive I got for this combo. The mid is recessed really weird compared all the headphone in the show, least favorite mid-range out of all the headphone. Nothing special on the higher spectrum.
Hope I didn't miss anything, thanks for setting up the CanJam experience Ethan third_eye and all the volunteers that make this happen.
