Delacaff
Member of the Trade: Headonist
As of the Yamaha, I confirm that the RME is the worst possible choice. It makes these headphones sounds thin, icy and bass anemic.
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CanJam NYC 2023 Impressions Thread (February 25-26, 2023)
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Axel
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I wasn’t at CanJam but I did visit a few high end shows (mostly Munich High End) and had experienced listening to headphones (and speakers) setups at show conditions.
At shows your most likely listening at a much higher volume than you would at home. Due to all sorts of reasons, one of them is background noises.
As a rule of thumb, I wouldn’t drop from my list any bad experiences.
I think it usually goes one way, meaning if you had a good experience with some setup, do try it later after the show. But not the other way around.
I can say from my own personal experience, that I really did not like the Valkyria when I heard it at a show, and today the Pulsar is the favorite headphones in my inventory.
Also, I wasn’t impressed at all with the Warwick Bravura, but I had another listen to it at home, and really appreciated its quality.
Usually at shows we are impressed by setups that have some kind of a wow/impressive presentation, some of those can later turn out to be a colored flavor or over fatiguing.
Just my 2 cents.
At shows your most likely listening at a much higher volume than you would at home. Due to all sorts of reasons, one of them is background noises.
As a rule of thumb, I wouldn’t drop from my list any bad experiences.
I think it usually goes one way, meaning if you had a good experience with some setup, do try it later after the show. But not the other way around.
I can say from my own personal experience, that I really did not like the Valkyria when I heard it at a show, and today the Pulsar is the favorite headphones in my inventory.
Also, I wasn’t impressed at all with the Warwick Bravura, but I had another listen to it at home, and really appreciated its quality.
Usually at shows we are impressed by setups that have some kind of a wow/impressive presentation, some of those can later turn out to be a colored flavor or over fatiguing.
Just my 2 cents.
While not same, with the newest releases you can get a packaging box that lets you use it as a stand
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Decware Taboo was my first "real" tube Amp experience I had years and years ago at a head fi meet. It changed everything for me in many ways and is still one of my favorite amps ever. What Steve has done with Decware is really inspiring to me and he continues to make incredible amps, speakers, and other useful gears and gadgets.
What a spectacular show! I'm sitting here in my room at the Marriot completely exhausted but simultaneously overwhelmed with the excitement and emotion of the previous two days trying to gather my thoughts into words. This was only my second CanJam but I can already see how each succesive experience becomes richer due to all the connections made and fellowship with all involved. I'm exceedingly grateful for everyone who made the last two days happen.
Compared to SoCal CanJam NYC was a vastly different experience in many ways due to the sheer excitement of the venue. Anaheim has its charm but what can compare with the bustle and energy of Times Square New York-- it's positively exhilarating to be here and this just added to the excitement and atmosphere of the show.
A couple caveats before getting going:
1) My interest is primarily IEMs so that is where I spent pretty much all of my time. I did get to hear a couple very hice headphones though-- more on that later.
2) When I talk about "in show highlights" and rankings I will confine myself to IEMs/sources that I heard for the first time this weekend, so stuff like the Trifecta, Annihilator and FatFreq Maestro SE won't factor into my rankings here.
3) As people who know me from the Watercooler thread probably already know my preference leans strongly towards musicality and DD driven sets. YMMV and all that.
4) As epic and wonderful as CanJam is the underlying excitement of the show and rapid fire pace of the demos make the conditions less than ideal to get comprehensive fully rounded impressions. Take everything with an appropriate grain of salt.
Top 3 IEMs of the Show
In no particular order:
1) Fir Audio Radon 6
This was one of the show stoppers for me. Radon 6 is the new IEM from Fir Audio which will be a limited batch of 300 released sometime within the next couple weeks. It's got the same driver config as the Xe6 and to me it's best understood as almost an evolute of the best of the Fronier Series. When I talked to Bogdan about it I told him that I really liked the vocal forwardness and clarity of the Kr5 but preferred the top end clarity and detail of the Xe6 and found that the Radon was something of a best of both worlds between the two and he said this is exactly what they were going for. it's got the vocal forwardness and clarity of the Kr5 and the lush & detailed top end of the Xe6-- with a more balanced bass response (quantity wise, it's still the same great quality) than both. With the (stock) silver module it was a bit light on bass for me but with the red module (pictured above) it was "chef's kiss". I listened to this multiple times over the two days and was more taken with it each time. Also they're going to release a video explaining how to remove and insert the modules because apparently most people couldn't figure it out.
It was really nice to meet Vlad and Bogdan-- two visionaries in this hobby who are always pushing boundaries and trying new things. I really enjoyed talking to Vlad, who gave me a history lesson. I grew up in Vancouver BC and always assumed that we were the OG Vancouver and that Vancouver, Washington (where Fir is based) came later. Vlad explained to me that Vancouver Washington came first and it not ideally situated as a political centre caused the British to move on and later establish the Vancouver I know and love.
2) Subtonic Storm
This artisan IEM from boutique Singaporean IEM company Subtonic caught me by surprise in a very good way. The Storm has been much discussed in my audio circles lately and given that it's marketed as the "ultimate reference IEM" I went in expecting that I would appreciate it but that it wouldn't really be my thing since I don't really go for purely reference sets and I love my DDs. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. Superb technicalities, coherence and balance. I didn't want to take it out of my ears and kept looking for more songs to try...which is possibly the highest complement I can pay an IEM. A little plain at first but it is beguiling over time with the depth of sonic tapestry that it reveals. The passion of its makers comes out in the listening experience. Great BA bass but it's definitely BA bass. The quality of the bass is something that sets it above the similarly configured Traillii to my ears. People who took issue with the Bird's bass response will find a lot to love here.
3) Vision Ears' "pink" prototype
VE had two prototypes with undisclosed driver configurations, one being pink and the other blue. Both had their charms but the pink model-- which clearly had a DD in it-- positively took my breath away. Similar gestalt as the VE8-- rich seductive mids-- but with some of the most epic DD bass I've ever heard. Incredible bass response that manifested with a thunderous gutteral rumble. Perfect balance between mid-bass and sub-bass. This IEM leaned a touch dark but highs were refined, luscious and sweet, and the imaging superb. Many of us have been craving an IEM with VE's peerless mids and a bit of an indulgant not-qute-basshead-but-leaning-there bass response. This ticked that box and some. I really hope this one goes into production as I will be all over it.
Some other highlights and notables...
Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon
Massive and holographic with superb imaging-- very clean and precise. Bass is not dominant but it never has been in any Solaris. I don't get any of the "metallic timbre" suggested by the Audio 46 review. This has a bit of an aggressive "in your face presentation" that is characteristic of CFA IEMs. A great IEM and definitely a step up from the 2020. Better mids than the OG and better treble than the SE...tempted to consider this a "best of all worlds" Solaris. If nothing else the Stellar Horizon preserves much of the spirit of earlier models and addresses most if not all of the criticisms-- fans of previous Solari will find lots to love here. To me this new model is exactly what you'd expect if you took two of Trifecta's DDs and swapped in (4?) BAs-- you lose the full bodied analogue coherence, keep the 3d holographic stage and add a hefty dose of top end sparkle, resolution and clarity. I went back and heard the Solaris a few times and it really is fantastic. I prefer this Solaris to both Ragnar (too much top end energy for me) and Blanc.
Vision Ears Phonix LE
The Phonix LE is a knockout. I got to hear the storied Erlkonig finally this weekend and preferred its more transparent sound to that of the OG Phonix. The Phonix LE closer in sound to the Erlky to my ears. This is possibly my favorite BA set of all time. Classic VE midrange romance and excellence.
Noble Ronin
The Noble Ronin was also excellent, though for me as a BA set it falls in the towering shadow of the Phonix LE...mostly because I just jive with VE's tuning compared to Nobles which tends to lean a little brighter as a rule.
All of that said...
Noble Viking Damascus
I managed a demo of @wazzupi's Viking Damascus and it was simply excellent. Greater perceived bass impact and presence than the Ragnar, which comes off a little bright and fatiguing to me.
@Chang, a rep from Subtonic, had a few prototype projects of his own that he is working on and this single DD, soon to be released as the "Singularity" is positively excellent. Great bass reponse and full spectrum detail and clarity. I'll definitely be buying one of these and will certainly be keeping up with (and hopefully putting on tour) some of his IEMs.
L -R: LP6, P6 Pro, Cayin N7
Old news in many respects but I finally got to hear the Luxury & Precision LP6 and P6 Pro and both are hands down two of the nicest sources I've ever heard. LP6 in particular is so much better sounding than anything-- so full bodied and muscular yet transparent, detailed and technical at the same time. The LP6 just puts out a sound that flows over you like a blissful analogue river. I quite like the new Cayin. It's a bit of a chunk but it's got a nice R2R character and isn't as bright (or, conversely, as revealing) as the n8ii...which works very well for my tastes. On that note all 3 DAPs above have a similar character to my ears. The P6 Pro is more transparent and not as full bodied as the other 2. The N7 is something of a baby LP6 with a better UI. LP6 still wins for sound but N7 is damn good for like 1/3 the price and more functionality.
On that note...
Trifecta + LP6 is currently my personal high bar benchmark for IEM excellence right now-- full bodied analogue perfection.
The one and only Oenaryo Traillii
I finally got to hear the legendary black and red bird. Same Traillii greatness but I think the Bird may have been finally been eclipsed by the Storm for me. Great involving tuning in both cases but the Storm's bass response pulls it ahead imho.
UM MEST Mkiii
The MEST III may be my favorite MEST-- I think UM finally nailed natural sounding mids in their MEST line here.
FatFreq Grand Maestro
I was pleased to check out the Fatfreq Grand Maestro at the Musicteck table. A more refined-in-the-mids and less bass dominant presentation than the the Maestro Mini or the SE. Possibly the best "all rounder" of the Fafreq lineup.
A couple disappointments...
Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea
Surprisingly the new Andromeda was a ilttle "meh" for me. I think they're trying to make it sound a little like the analogue Trifecta-- which imho just doesn't work with BAs. I think it's even darker than the 2020 and lacks a bit of the transparency and clarity I love from that model and the top end sparkle of (what is still) my favorite incarnation of the Andromeda-- the OG. Also for only a bit more you can get the Elysian Diva which absolutely blows this Andro out of the water.
64 Audio Fourte Blanc
This one didn't do much for me-- feels kind of 2-d, a little veiled and with blunted treble coming from the Solaris, which I much preferred and which is $1000 cheaper.
Off the beaten path...
I got to hear this magnificent setup. Unfortunately the open design combined with the very busy loud and crowded room in which I was listening made the demo less than ideal. Also I think fundamentally am not really a headphone guy-- I'm to used to the "nudged right up to your brain" intimacy that IEMs give.
The new Jomo prototype. Nice in-offensive tuning. Great bass. Mids were a touch recessed and vocals sounded a little glossy or something to me.
Other highlights...
Connecting with Lee Quan Min from Elysian via. Zoom and getting to "meet" him. @Natesdailies is picking his brain for info on upcoming Elysian flagships. I put in a word for our tour program and we will be connecting via email set to that up with upcoming releases. Exciting!
Was nice to finally meet the one and only @twister6.
Love these group photos with Watercooler legends. Much gratitude to @HiFiHawaii808 for the nametags.
Pictured (L-R): @goldwerger @Zachik @HiFiHawaii808 @Frankie D @RTodd @Sifo @Rockwell75 @twister6 @wazzupi @Natesdailies @Skyediver
Post-show IEM sesh.
Enjoying the local culture.
Forming friendships and sharing fellowship-- the true value of CanJam.
Was an epic show. I'll be experiencing some post-partum CanJam depression for the next few days I'm sure.
Compared to SoCal CanJam NYC was a vastly different experience in many ways due to the sheer excitement of the venue. Anaheim has its charm but what can compare with the bustle and energy of Times Square New York-- it's positively exhilarating to be here and this just added to the excitement and atmosphere of the show.
A couple caveats before getting going:
1) My interest is primarily IEMs so that is where I spent pretty much all of my time. I did get to hear a couple very hice headphones though-- more on that later.
2) When I talk about "in show highlights" and rankings I will confine myself to IEMs/sources that I heard for the first time this weekend, so stuff like the Trifecta, Annihilator and FatFreq Maestro SE won't factor into my rankings here.
3) As people who know me from the Watercooler thread probably already know my preference leans strongly towards musicality and DD driven sets. YMMV and all that.
4) As epic and wonderful as CanJam is the underlying excitement of the show and rapid fire pace of the demos make the conditions less than ideal to get comprehensive fully rounded impressions. Take everything with an appropriate grain of salt.
Top 3 IEMs of the Show
In no particular order:
1) Fir Audio Radon 6
This was one of the show stoppers for me. Radon 6 is the new IEM from Fir Audio which will be a limited batch of 300 released sometime within the next couple weeks. It's got the same driver config as the Xe6 and to me it's best understood as almost an evolute of the best of the Fronier Series. When I talked to Bogdan about it I told him that I really liked the vocal forwardness and clarity of the Kr5 but preferred the top end clarity and detail of the Xe6 and found that the Radon was something of a best of both worlds between the two and he said this is exactly what they were going for. it's got the vocal forwardness and clarity of the Kr5 and the lush & detailed top end of the Xe6-- with a more balanced bass response (quantity wise, it's still the same great quality) than both. With the (stock) silver module it was a bit light on bass for me but with the red module (pictured above) it was "chef's kiss". I listened to this multiple times over the two days and was more taken with it each time. Also they're going to release a video explaining how to remove and insert the modules because apparently most people couldn't figure it out.
It was really nice to meet Vlad and Bogdan-- two visionaries in this hobby who are always pushing boundaries and trying new things. I really enjoyed talking to Vlad, who gave me a history lesson. I grew up in Vancouver BC and always assumed that we were the OG Vancouver and that Vancouver, Washington (where Fir is based) came later. Vlad explained to me that Vancouver Washington came first and it not ideally situated as a political centre caused the British to move on and later establish the Vancouver I know and love.
2) Subtonic Storm
This artisan IEM from boutique Singaporean IEM company Subtonic caught me by surprise in a very good way. The Storm has been much discussed in my audio circles lately and given that it's marketed as the "ultimate reference IEM" I went in expecting that I would appreciate it but that it wouldn't really be my thing since I don't really go for purely reference sets and I love my DDs. I wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did. Superb technicalities, coherence and balance. I didn't want to take it out of my ears and kept looking for more songs to try...which is possibly the highest complement I can pay an IEM. A little plain at first but it is beguiling over time with the depth of sonic tapestry that it reveals. The passion of its makers comes out in the listening experience. Great BA bass but it's definitely BA bass. The quality of the bass is something that sets it above the similarly configured Traillii to my ears. People who took issue with the Bird's bass response will find a lot to love here.
3) Vision Ears' "pink" prototype
VE had two prototypes with undisclosed driver configurations, one being pink and the other blue. Both had their charms but the pink model-- which clearly had a DD in it-- positively took my breath away. Similar gestalt as the VE8-- rich seductive mids-- but with some of the most epic DD bass I've ever heard. Incredible bass response that manifested with a thunderous gutteral rumble. Perfect balance between mid-bass and sub-bass. This IEM leaned a touch dark but highs were refined, luscious and sweet, and the imaging superb. Many of us have been craving an IEM with VE's peerless mids and a bit of an indulgant not-qute-basshead-but-leaning-there bass response. This ticked that box and some. I really hope this one goes into production as I will be all over it.
Some other highlights and notables...
Campfire Audio Solaris Stellar Horizon
Massive and holographic with superb imaging-- very clean and precise. Bass is not dominant but it never has been in any Solaris. I don't get any of the "metallic timbre" suggested by the Audio 46 review. This has a bit of an aggressive "in your face presentation" that is characteristic of CFA IEMs. A great IEM and definitely a step up from the 2020. Better mids than the OG and better treble than the SE...tempted to consider this a "best of all worlds" Solaris. If nothing else the Stellar Horizon preserves much of the spirit of earlier models and addresses most if not all of the criticisms-- fans of previous Solari will find lots to love here. To me this new model is exactly what you'd expect if you took two of Trifecta's DDs and swapped in (4?) BAs-- you lose the full bodied analogue coherence, keep the 3d holographic stage and add a hefty dose of top end sparkle, resolution and clarity. I went back and heard the Solaris a few times and it really is fantastic. I prefer this Solaris to both Ragnar (too much top end energy for me) and Blanc.
Vision Ears Phonix LE
The Phonix LE is a knockout. I got to hear the storied Erlkonig finally this weekend and preferred its more transparent sound to that of the OG Phonix. The Phonix LE closer in sound to the Erlky to my ears. This is possibly my favorite BA set of all time. Classic VE midrange romance and excellence.
Noble Ronin
The Noble Ronin was also excellent, though for me as a BA set it falls in the towering shadow of the Phonix LE...mostly because I just jive with VE's tuning compared to Nobles which tends to lean a little brighter as a rule.
All of that said...
Noble Viking Damascus
I managed a demo of @wazzupi's Viking Damascus and it was simply excellent. Greater perceived bass impact and presence than the Ragnar, which comes off a little bright and fatiguing to me.
@Chang, a rep from Subtonic, had a few prototype projects of his own that he is working on and this single DD, soon to be released as the "Singularity" is positively excellent. Great bass reponse and full spectrum detail and clarity. I'll definitely be buying one of these and will certainly be keeping up with (and hopefully putting on tour) some of his IEMs.
L -R: LP6, P6 Pro, Cayin N7
Old news in many respects but I finally got to hear the Luxury & Precision LP6 and P6 Pro and both are hands down two of the nicest sources I've ever heard. LP6 in particular is so much better sounding than anything-- so full bodied and muscular yet transparent, detailed and technical at the same time. The LP6 just puts out a sound that flows over you like a blissful analogue river. I quite like the new Cayin. It's a bit of a chunk but it's got a nice R2R character and isn't as bright (or, conversely, as revealing) as the n8ii...which works very well for my tastes. On that note all 3 DAPs above have a similar character to my ears. The P6 Pro is more transparent and not as full bodied as the other 2. The N7 is something of a baby LP6 with a better UI. LP6 still wins for sound but N7 is damn good for like 1/3 the price and more functionality.
On that note...
Trifecta + LP6 is currently my personal high bar benchmark for IEM excellence right now-- full bodied analogue perfection.
The one and only Oenaryo Traillii
I finally got to hear the legendary black and red bird. Same Traillii greatness but I think the Bird may have been finally been eclipsed by the Storm for me. Great involving tuning in both cases but the Storm's bass response pulls it ahead imho.
UM MEST Mkiii
The MEST III may be my favorite MEST-- I think UM finally nailed natural sounding mids in their MEST line here.
FatFreq Grand Maestro
I was pleased to check out the Fatfreq Grand Maestro at the Musicteck table. A more refined-in-the-mids and less bass dominant presentation than the the Maestro Mini or the SE. Possibly the best "all rounder" of the Fafreq lineup.
A couple disappointments...
Campfire Andromeda Emerald Sea
Surprisingly the new Andromeda was a ilttle "meh" for me. I think they're trying to make it sound a little like the analogue Trifecta-- which imho just doesn't work with BAs. I think it's even darker than the 2020 and lacks a bit of the transparency and clarity I love from that model and the top end sparkle of (what is still) my favorite incarnation of the Andromeda-- the OG. Also for only a bit more you can get the Elysian Diva which absolutely blows this Andro out of the water.
64 Audio Fourte Blanc
This one didn't do much for me-- feels kind of 2-d, a little veiled and with blunted treble coming from the Solaris, which I much preferred and which is $1000 cheaper.
Off the beaten path...
I got to hear this magnificent setup. Unfortunately the open design combined with the very busy loud and crowded room in which I was listening made the demo less than ideal. Also I think fundamentally am not really a headphone guy-- I'm to used to the "nudged right up to your brain" intimacy that IEMs give.
The new Jomo prototype. Nice in-offensive tuning. Great bass. Mids were a touch recessed and vocals sounded a little glossy or something to me.
Other highlights...
Connecting with Lee Quan Min from Elysian via. Zoom and getting to "meet" him. @Natesdailies is picking his brain for info on upcoming Elysian flagships. I put in a word for our tour program and we will be connecting via email set to that up with upcoming releases. Exciting!
Was nice to finally meet the one and only @twister6.
Love these group photos with Watercooler legends. Much gratitude to @HiFiHawaii808 for the nametags.
Pictured (L-R): @goldwerger @Zachik @HiFiHawaii808 @Frankie D @RTodd @Sifo @Rockwell75 @twister6 @wazzupi @Natesdailies @Skyediver
Post-show IEM sesh.
Enjoying the local culture.
Forming friendships and sharing fellowship-- the true value of CanJam.
Was an epic show. I'll be experiencing some post-partum CanJam depression for the next few days I'm sure.
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chesebert
18 Years An Extra-Hardcore Head-Fi'er
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Lol..that's almost like cheating. Are you saying people who compared Sus on Zahl (with Weiss) and Bliss (with May) were using different dacs?
Thanks for the impressions @Rockwell75. I thought so that the changes to the Andromeda are not going to be in favor of ones that loved the 2020 or the OG one. Even purely from the bars the company provided it seemed like they're going for slightly more bass but trading that for mids. Which I think a lot of people, myself included really value in the older models.
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I know CFA loves their bass but to me the Andromeda is not and never has been an IEM about bass and in taking it in that direction they're veering away from what makes Andro great imho.
I would love to finally hear a Fir product soon enough but this is interesting to me. Being from Portland, Oregon myself, it is funny to see Vancouver referenced as a Oregon city when it is located in Washington. Maybe to compete with CA?1) Fir Audio Radon 6
This was one of the show stoppers for me. Radon 6 new IEM from Fir Audio which will be a limited batch of 300 released sometime within the next couple weeks. It's got the same driver config as the Xe6 and to me it's best understood as almost an evolute of the best of the Fronier Series-- it's got the vocal forwardness and clarity of the Kr5 and the lush & detailed top end of the Xe6-- with a more balanced bass response (quantity wise, it's still the same great quality) than both. With the (stock) silver module it was a bit light on bass for me but with the red module (pictured above) it was "chef's kiss". I listened to this multiple times over the two days and was more taken with it each time.
It was really nice to meet Vlad and Bogdan-- two visionaries in this hobby who are always pushing boundaries and trying new things. I really enjoyed talking to Vlad, who gave me a history lesson. I grew up in Vancouver BC and always assumed that we were the OG Vancouver and that Vancouver, Oregon (where Fir is based) came later. Vlad explained to me that Vancouver Oregon came first and it not ideally situated as a political centre caused the British to move on and later establish the Vancouver I know and love.
No worries! A lot of good stuff up here in the NW
looking fw to more Rn6 impressions.Shoot... I was hoping for my wallet to escape CanJam mostly unscathed. Would you happen to know if the tubes were stock?
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth this weekend! We saw a lot of familiar faces and it was great chatting with those we met on Head-fi, the forum, discord and our live chat!
We also brought a lot of new faces to the show who have never been to a CanJam before and the feedback from them was how awesome it was to meet everyone in the community and see the enthusiasm coming through.
From the Headphones.com crew and myself and Andrew, thank you everyone for the amazing show! Looking forward to seeing you all at the next one!
We also brought a lot of new faces to the show who have never been to a CanJam before and the feedback from them was how awesome it was to meet everyone in the community and see the enthusiasm coming through.
From the Headphones.com crew and myself and Andrew, thank you everyone for the amazing show! Looking forward to seeing you all at the next one!
Day 2 Impressions:
Much more quiet today. Focused on over ears.
Stars of the Show:
HE-1: Not much to say. Who the heck is gonna buy this? Might just be worth the price, though.
Hifiman Audivina: Hifiman's really nailed making spacious closed backs ever since the R7DX. Audivina takes the same sound stage, bumps it up a notch, and brings in great mid vocals and bass. It was a bit brighter than I'm used to, but everything else was so well implemented, I really didn't mind. Comfort and looks were also top of the line, even though I usually don't like the Arya-style shape and headband. Once the Diana Closed is finished, it'll really be a tough choice between the two.
Hifiman R10P: The R10P is fairly neutral and smooth, with HD600 like intimatacy. However, overall, I found it a bit boring in comparison to the Audivina. Great technicalities, but soundwise, these were just ok. If I had to pick between these and the Audivina, I'd go Audivina no question.
ATH-2022WB: Audio technica's anniversary wireless headphones. A total knockout in the looks department, and super comfortable to boot. However, actually listening to these was a small tragedy. Imo, they're just way to bright. Like even more than the TH900s, but with less low end. Why was it a star of the show you ask? If I ignore the tuning, having DACs for each driver really seemed to pay of in terms of sound quality and detail, two areas which I think are the weakest for wireless vs wired. Compared to both the Bathys and Solitaire t, these are in a league of their own. So, while I'm not a fan of the ATH-2022WB's, I'm really looking forward on how they move forward from here. All the pieces are there to make the one bluetooth headphone to rule them all.
DCA Corina: I'm pretty new to electrostats, so I can't really say where this falls in the grand scheme of things. I was, however, able to A/B with the Voce. The Corina was a bit darker, but with a much fuller sound, and impactful base, which is a definite win in my book. In the general field of headphones, I probably wouldn't invest in an amp just for these.
UM Mentor: Really solid set of IEMs falling somewhere between the Aroma Jewel and UM Mason FS. Has some good bass rumble and excellent sound stage. However, I feel like this falls in the "jack of all trades, master of none" category when it comes to this caliber of IEM. I'd probably just go with the Jewel or Mason at this point unless you're really looking for soundstage and don't like the 64 Audio Tia Fourte
Vision Ears Phonix LE: Unfortunately, I haven't heard the original Phonix, but the LE's hit me with a very fun and bassy tuning. On the downside, it's a bit to dark for my liking, and not quite as versatile as it's competitors above.
IE200: These were the one thing I actually bought. At $150 it punches well above it's weight. Nothing crazy, just a solid little V-shaped IEM, and sometimes that's all you need. I do miss some of the detail and low end you get on the IE600 and IE900, not to mention the aluminum shells, but cost/performance these are hard to beat, no doubt.
Conclusion
Of the newcomers, the YH-5000 was still my favorite. I do wish the perforated pads held their own a bit better against the suede, but that aside, these were my favorite of the TOTLs. In terms of what I'd actually buy, it'd still probably be the Meze Elites, especially if they come out with color variants like Chameleon again. They just continue to impress me, especially on amps like the Viva Egoista 845. Sound wise, I think I prefer the T+A Solitaire P, but probably not worth almost double the cost. Audivina might also be quite the contender, depending on pricing (hoping for Arya level, expecting Susvara). The Spirit Torino Centauri were also surprisingly impressive, though price wise, I don't think it's as competitive to it's peers. Biggest disappointments were probably the Utopia 2022, Susvara, and Valkyria. Don't get me wrong, they're great headphones, but just didn't wow me. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to try them again under more favorable conditions. Now, if money were no object, I think I'd jump on the electrostatic train. Aside from the HE-1, Headamp was also really impressive.
On the IEM side, my first choice is easily the Rn6. Looking at other TOTL's, I always find myself missing the Atom modules and Kinetic Bass. My favorite sound signature is still the Xe6's, but the Rn6 brings that down just enough where I can see myself listening to it more regularly. The Mason FS were a close second, but considering the price tag, aren't something I can see myself owning. Competition in the IEM market is fierce, with everyone seeming to put out bangers.
For the future, I'm most looking forward most to seeing how Audio-technica, as well as others, innovate in the wireless headphone market. The ATH-2022WB proved to me quality and comfort are really starting to get up there. Maybe when we get true lossless bluetooth.
Much more quiet today. Focused on over ears.
Stars of the Show:
- HE-1 (Lol)
- ATH-2022WB
- Hifiman Audivina
- Sennheiser IE200
HE-1: Not much to say. Who the heck is gonna buy this? Might just be worth the price, though.
Hifiman Audivina: Hifiman's really nailed making spacious closed backs ever since the R7DX. Audivina takes the same sound stage, bumps it up a notch, and brings in great mid vocals and bass. It was a bit brighter than I'm used to, but everything else was so well implemented, I really didn't mind. Comfort and looks were also top of the line, even though I usually don't like the Arya-style shape and headband. Once the Diana Closed is finished, it'll really be a tough choice between the two.
Hifiman R10P: The R10P is fairly neutral and smooth, with HD600 like intimatacy. However, overall, I found it a bit boring in comparison to the Audivina. Great technicalities, but soundwise, these were just ok. If I had to pick between these and the Audivina, I'd go Audivina no question.
ATH-2022WB: Audio technica's anniversary wireless headphones. A total knockout in the looks department, and super comfortable to boot. However, actually listening to these was a small tragedy. Imo, they're just way to bright. Like even more than the TH900s, but with less low end. Why was it a star of the show you ask? If I ignore the tuning, having DACs for each driver really seemed to pay of in terms of sound quality and detail, two areas which I think are the weakest for wireless vs wired. Compared to both the Bathys and Solitaire t, these are in a league of their own. So, while I'm not a fan of the ATH-2022WB's, I'm really looking forward on how they move forward from here. All the pieces are there to make the one bluetooth headphone to rule them all.
DCA Corina: I'm pretty new to electrostats, so I can't really say where this falls in the grand scheme of things. I was, however, able to A/B with the Voce. The Corina was a bit darker, but with a much fuller sound, and impactful base, which is a definite win in my book. In the general field of headphones, I probably wouldn't invest in an amp just for these.
UM Mentor: Really solid set of IEMs falling somewhere between the Aroma Jewel and UM Mason FS. Has some good bass rumble and excellent sound stage. However, I feel like this falls in the "jack of all trades, master of none" category when it comes to this caliber of IEM. I'd probably just go with the Jewel or Mason at this point unless you're really looking for soundstage and don't like the 64 Audio Tia Fourte
Vision Ears Phonix LE: Unfortunately, I haven't heard the original Phonix, but the LE's hit me with a very fun and bassy tuning. On the downside, it's a bit to dark for my liking, and not quite as versatile as it's competitors above.
IE200: These were the one thing I actually bought. At $150 it punches well above it's weight. Nothing crazy, just a solid little V-shaped IEM, and sometimes that's all you need. I do miss some of the detail and low end you get on the IE600 and IE900, not to mention the aluminum shells, but cost/performance these are hard to beat, no doubt.
Conclusion
Of the newcomers, the YH-5000 was still my favorite. I do wish the perforated pads held their own a bit better against the suede, but that aside, these were my favorite of the TOTLs. In terms of what I'd actually buy, it'd still probably be the Meze Elites, especially if they come out with color variants like Chameleon again. They just continue to impress me, especially on amps like the Viva Egoista 845. Sound wise, I think I prefer the T+A Solitaire P, but probably not worth almost double the cost. Audivina might also be quite the contender, depending on pricing (hoping for Arya level, expecting Susvara). The Spirit Torino Centauri were also surprisingly impressive, though price wise, I don't think it's as competitive to it's peers. Biggest disappointments were probably the Utopia 2022, Susvara, and Valkyria. Don't get me wrong, they're great headphones, but just didn't wow me. Hopefully, I'll have a chance to try them again under more favorable conditions. Now, if money were no object, I think I'd jump on the electrostatic train. Aside from the HE-1, Headamp was also really impressive.
On the IEM side, my first choice is easily the Rn6. Looking at other TOTL's, I always find myself missing the Atom modules and Kinetic Bass. My favorite sound signature is still the Xe6's, but the Rn6 brings that down just enough where I can see myself listening to it more regularly. The Mason FS were a close second, but considering the price tag, aren't something I can see myself owning. Competition in the IEM market is fierce, with everyone seeming to put out bangers.
For the future, I'm most looking forward most to seeing how Audio-technica, as well as others, innovate in the wireless headphone market. The ATH-2022WB proved to me quality and comfort are really starting to get up there. Maybe when we get true lossless bluetooth.
I remember another new brand from vinnie
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