Which location are you in, we would love to help you organize a demo.
CanJam Singapore 2025 Impressions Thread (April 5-6, 2025)
- Thread starter AxelCloris
- Start date
Which location are you in, we would love to help you organize a demo.
Our next visit to USA will be in November at CanJam Socal and Dallas, see if you may visit us or we might organize tour in US after CanJam Dallas.
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AzAnime
New Head-Fier
I am not going to go to CanJam Dallas. I hope that you can organize the US tour. Thank you anyway.
Dallas is my favorite chill CanJam. Can’t wait to see you there.
Stu Paddasso
Headphoneus Supremus
@Rockwell75 organizes USA and Canada tours; you could contact him.
Is a European tour possible?
It's actually harder to do IEM demos on the Old Continent, and that would be very welcome
Thank you!
a lot of things are impossible in the old continent...verdad?Is a European tour possible?
It's actually harder to do IEM demos on the Old Continent, and that would be very welcome
Thank you!
Is a European tour possible?
It's actually harder to do IEM demos on the Old Continent, and that would be very welcome
Thank you!
EU region:
Elise Audio @SoundJedi is our Authorized dealer for EU region. You man contact them to organize a demo at your location.
We went live and talked about Canjam SG (first 30 mins or so).
I apologise about the camera having a mind of its own mid-way through the stream!
I apologise about the camera having a mind of its own mid-way through the stream!
Canjam SG 2025 PART 1
This post would've been an unscrollable massive photo spam so I've tucked them away in chapters using the spoiler function. The IEMs that I would've like to have tried but didn't get the chance to were the Mysticraft Hex and tribrid, and the 7th Acoustics Rawon prototype.
Photos and impressions have been arranged in chronological order of which IEMs I spent my Sunday with. It is neither ideal to demo so many IEMs at a time, nor to do so on a noisy show floor so take these impressions as you will. This also means that my ears may have started getting tired towards the end although I did my best to do all testing at the lowest minimum volume to still get a satisfying sound to evaluate.
Highlights of the show this year were (1) Dita Ventura prototype, (2) Volk Audio Etoile, (3) Crinear Daybreak and the (4) Symphonium prototype.
1 star
= Liked it
2 stars = Loved it
Oops, can't attach anymore pictures. More in Part 2 here
This post would've been an unscrollable massive photo spam so I've tucked them away in chapters using the spoiler function. The IEMs that I would've like to have tried but didn't get the chance to were the Mysticraft Hex and tribrid, and the 7th Acoustics Rawon prototype.
Photos and impressions have been arranged in chronological order of which IEMs I spent my Sunday with. It is neither ideal to demo so many IEMs at a time, nor to do so on a noisy show floor so take these impressions as you will. This also means that my ears may have started getting tired towards the end although I did my best to do all testing at the lowest minimum volume to still get a satisfying sound to evaluate.
Highlights of the show this year were (1) Dita Ventura prototype, (2) Volk Audio Etoile, (3) Crinear Daybreak and the (4) Symphonium prototype.
1 star
= Liked it2 stars
= Loved itVision Ears ONE
Adequately resolving U-shape. From memory, it already performs better than their previous lineup up to VE5 on a technical level.
Adequately resolving U-shape. From memory, it already performs better than their previous lineup up to VE5 on a technical level.
Vision Ears PRO
Prefer this one to the ONE, vocals are more prominent and get better clarity. Drums not as pronounced as compared to ONE. Overall a decent set though I would prefer a bit more treble clarity. There's just a nice sweet quality to the mids that I liked, would love to get in more eartime with this one in a quiet environment.
Prefer this one to the ONE, vocals are more prominent and get better clarity. Drums not as pronounced as compared to ONE. Overall a decent set though I would prefer a bit more treble clarity. There's just a nice sweet quality to the mids that I liked, would love to get in more eartime with this one in a quiet environment.
Vision Ears PURE
More warmth and less energy in the mids compared to the PRO. Resolving ability is quite similarly to the PRO, I'd personally pick the PRO over the PURE because the PRO sounded much cleaner and transparent.
More warmth and less energy in the mids compared to the PRO. Resolving ability is quite similarly to the PRO, I'd personally pick the PRO over the PURE because the PRO sounded much cleaner and transparent.
Campfire Alien Brain
One of the safer Campfires that I've heard in recent memory, along with the Clara. Warm V-shape with adequate sparkle up top. Doesn't have any glaring flaws but also doesn't really stand out much, I'd prefer more energy in vocals and technical ability could be better. I really like the eccentric looks though.
One of the safer Campfires that I've heard in recent memory, along with the Clara. Warm V-shape with adequate sparkle up top. Doesn't have any glaring flaws but also doesn't really stand out much, I'd prefer more energy in vocals and technical ability could be better. I really like the eccentric looks though.
Campfire Clara
Felt just marginally more resolving compared to the Alien Brain. Pronounced bass presence yet well balanced with sufficient treble clarity. Bass were notably thick and wide to give that impression of a big sound when the volume is turned up.
Felt just marginally more resolving compared to the Alien Brain. Pronounced bass presence yet well balanced with sufficient treble clarity. Bass were notably thick and wide to give that impression of a big sound when the volume is turned up.
Crinear Reference
Super resolving and largely "correct" sounding to my ears albeit a touch laidback. I agree with Crin's take on flat - not boring or lacking bass like what we've been conditioned to perceive from the likes of products like the Etymotic ER2SE. The shells are just prototype acrylic shells, far from what the final product will look like.
Super resolving and largely "correct" sounding to my ears albeit a touch laidback. I agree with Crin's take on flat - not boring or lacking bass like what we've been conditioned to perceive from the likes of products like the Etymotic ER2SE. The shells are just prototype acrylic shells, far from what the final product will look like.
Crinear Daybreak
Love the energetic mids, the bass is north of neutral (from that of the Crinear Reference) for that extra bit of fun. These somehow hit the sweet spot for me in both mids and treble ratio as details seem to flow so effortlessly even at low volumes. Crin shared that the bass is similar to that of the Meta but increased quantity of upper-mids reduces the perception of bass.
From my audition at the Hangout prior to Canjam, the Meta was notably warm and bassy. It was really satisfying when paired with inoffensive yet clear mids. The Daybreak way more up my alley than the Meta with its louder upper-mid presence. Thankfully, it will be more readily available and even more affordable than the Meta upon release.
Love the energetic mids, the bass is north of neutral (from that of the Crinear Reference) for that extra bit of fun. These somehow hit the sweet spot for me in both mids and treble ratio as details seem to flow so effortlessly even at low volumes. Crin shared that the bass is similar to that of the Meta but increased quantity of upper-mids reduces the perception of bass.
From my audition at the Hangout prior to Canjam, the Meta was notably warm and bassy. It was really satisfying when paired with inoffensive yet clear mids. The Daybreak way more up my alley than the Meta with its louder upper-mid presence. Thankfully, it will be more readily available and even more affordable than the Meta upon release.
Softears Volume S
Bass presence is satisfying with super safe mids. However not as refined as the Daybreak. While the upper mids had sufficient energy, there seemed to be a subjective perception of unevenness compared to the Daybreak which I had tried just before this.
Bass presence is satisfying with super safe mids. However not as refined as the Daybreak. While the upper mids had sufficient energy, there seemed to be a subjective perception of unevenness compared to the Daybreak which I had tried just before this.
Softears Studio2
Targeted to be less than 200USD. There's only so much you can do with 2 BAs. To me, 2BA setups tend to sound similar with variations of a warm-ish V-shaped signature; but this was done fairly well. Nicely balanced with ample warmth and adequate treble clarity to bring forth cymbals and hats. However, the Studio2 did lack treble extension where complicated metal tracks can sound congested. Unless the budget truly warrants the Studio2, the Studio4 is a way better performer in every aspect.
Targeted to be less than 200USD. There's only so much you can do with 2 BAs. To me, 2BA setups tend to sound similar with variations of a warm-ish V-shaped signature; but this was done fairly well. Nicely balanced with ample warmth and adequate treble clarity to bring forth cymbals and hats. However, the Studio2 did lack treble extension where complicated metal tracks can sound congested. Unless the budget truly warrants the Studio2, the Studio4 is a way better performer in every aspect.
Craft Ears Craft6 MK2 prototype
Shoutout to Jed for being super outgoing and personable. He made my time at the CE booth a wholly pleasant one. There were 2 prototypes of the MK2 which Jed was enthusiastically collecting feedback for. Both demos were housed in similar all-black shells. For context, I found the OG Craft6 to be extremely lean with a sharp presence in the mid-upper treble. The first prototype had more body than OG Craft6 and retains a similar highly energetic treble. I preferred the 2nd iteration, where the bass had more body to the original but with a tamer mid-upper treble. Felt more balanced while retaining Jed's characteristic Craft Ears vibrant treble. The final product is aimed for release later this year with a full aluminium shell which should look beautiful under Jed's artistic direction.
Shoutout to Jed for being super outgoing and personable. He made my time at the CE booth a wholly pleasant one. There were 2 prototypes of the MK2 which Jed was enthusiastically collecting feedback for. Both demos were housed in similar all-black shells. For context, I found the OG Craft6 to be extremely lean with a sharp presence in the mid-upper treble. The first prototype had more body than OG Craft6 and retains a similar highly energetic treble. I preferred the 2nd iteration, where the bass had more body to the original but with a tamer mid-upper treble. Felt more balanced while retaining Jed's characteristic Craft Ears vibrant treble. The final product is aimed for release later this year with a full aluminium shell which should look beautiful under Jed's artistic direction.
Craft Ears Omnium
Embodiment of Jed's house sound, super energetic upper-mids and treble with sparkle for days. This one might be too aggressive for myself for long periods.
Embodiment of Jed's house sound, super energetic upper-mids and treble with sparkle for days. This one might be too aggressive for myself for long periods.
Craft Ears Omnium Ti
Going from the Omnium to the Ti version felt like going from the 1st to 2nd iteration of their new C6 MK2 prototype. Treble was tamed to a large extent while remaining vibrant. The Ti was more balanced than the OG and the increased bass presence had a nice sense of a spacious enveloping stage.
Going from the Omnium to the Ti version felt like going from the 1st to 2nd iteration of their new C6 MK2 prototype. Treble was tamed to a large extent while remaining vibrant. The Ti was more balanced than the OG and the increased bass presence had a nice sense of a spacious enveloping stage.
Flipears Aegis
The kind of tuning that jumps out at you when you first press play. What a physical bass presence. Thick intimate mids topped off with smooth but decently present treble. Could've been more resolving for that final bit of refinement.
The kind of tuning that jumps out at you when you first press play. What a physical bass presence. Thick intimate mids topped off with smooth but decently present treble. Could've been more resolving for that final bit of refinement.
Flipears Legion
More treble than the Aegis. The thought of that initially sounded like a "fix" to the smooth Aegis. But the treble presence came across as sharp rather than extended, reducing the perception of the inviting bass and mids of the Aegis; the aspects that drew me to it in the first place. Between the two, I preferred the Aegis by a large margin.
More treble than the Aegis. The thought of that initially sounded like a "fix" to the smooth Aegis. But the treble presence came across as sharp rather than extended, reducing the perception of the inviting bass and mids of the Aegis; the aspects that drew me to it in the first place. Between the two, I preferred the Aegis by a large margin.
Dita Prelude
Being an owner of the Project M and the more recent Mecha (my daily driver), was pretty excited for this one: Neutral bright-ish under 200USD. If that's your thing, this does that tuning well. But sonic expectations should be kept in check for the price, it didn't have any standout qualities like its two older siblings. Looking forward to seeing the final look.
Being an owner of the Project M and the more recent Mecha (my daily driver), was pretty excited for this one: Neutral bright-ish under 200USD. If that's your thing, this does that tuning well. But sonic expectations should be kept in check for the price, it didn't have any standout qualities like its two older siblings. Looking forward to seeing the final look.
Dita Ventura
Now this was really special. They showcased a silver and a black pair, I found the silver one brighter and the black one's bass a touch more prominent. Ash and Ted shared that the feedback they had received was split 50/50. I preferred the silver but honestly both still played very similarly and I think either way, the Ventura will end up being a stellar product. For a single DD, these were highly resolving with outstanding midrange texture which is characteristic of Dita's single DD designs. Yet, the mids flowed cohesively with deep, well-defined bass and articulate treble; nothing was compromised despite being a single driver design. Dita has a way of evoking emotion and atmosphere no matter from a studio or live recording. From memory, this is how it compared to my daily driver, the Mecha:
- Mecha's mids are more playful with a distinct forward presence while the Ventura takes on a more mature approach. It retains that spacious atmospheric vibe perceived in the Mecha but sounds more accurate.
- Ventura's treble was slightly more articulate than that of the Mecha with better separation in the upper registers. This might be because the Mecha's sweet intimate mids takes up a large portion of the headstage, reducing the perception of space between cymbals and hats.
- Ventura's bass sounds more sub focused? Not entirely sure without an A/B
I believe the estimated price will be somewhere under 5k USD.
Now this was really special. They showcased a silver and a black pair, I found the silver one brighter and the black one's bass a touch more prominent. Ash and Ted shared that the feedback they had received was split 50/50. I preferred the silver but honestly both still played very similarly and I think either way, the Ventura will end up being a stellar product. For a single DD, these were highly resolving with outstanding midrange texture which is characteristic of Dita's single DD designs. Yet, the mids flowed cohesively with deep, well-defined bass and articulate treble; nothing was compromised despite being a single driver design. Dita has a way of evoking emotion and atmosphere no matter from a studio or live recording. From memory, this is how it compared to my daily driver, the Mecha:
- Mecha's mids are more playful with a distinct forward presence while the Ventura takes on a more mature approach. It retains that spacious atmospheric vibe perceived in the Mecha but sounds more accurate.
- Ventura's treble was slightly more articulate than that of the Mecha with better separation in the upper registers. This might be because the Mecha's sweet intimate mids takes up a large portion of the headstage, reducing the perception of space between cymbals and hats.
- Ventura's bass sounds more sub focused? Not entirely sure without an A/B
I believe the estimated price will be somewhere under 5k USD.
Volk Etoile
The biggest surprise of the show for me. EE IEMs have hardly been to my taste but I'm glad that I gave these a shot. Extremely resolving and well balanced with really nice clarity across the board. These take on a different approach to the bass from EE's bassy IEMs with bass that is still adequately present and highly detailed. Basslines come through well-defined and the treble is prominent. Their description of these being like nearfield monitors stuck with me. It redefines the idea of a "big sound". The Etoile eschews from thick mid-bass colouration to artificially widen the soundfield. Instead, it separated components of the mix to such a high degree that it stood out with a perceptibly vast black background upon which very precise imaging was projected upon. The only downside to the experience is the significant driver flex upon insertion which audibly dampens the bass. After the initial insertion, I almost always had to release the pressure manually like popping my ears on an airplane for the bass to return, and that was with the stock tips too.
The biggest surprise of the show for me. EE IEMs have hardly been to my taste but I'm glad that I gave these a shot. Extremely resolving and well balanced with really nice clarity across the board. These take on a different approach to the bass from EE's bassy IEMs with bass that is still adequately present and highly detailed. Basslines come through well-defined and the treble is prominent. Their description of these being like nearfield monitors stuck with me. It redefines the idea of a "big sound". The Etoile eschews from thick mid-bass colouration to artificially widen the soundfield. Instead, it separated components of the mix to such a high degree that it stood out with a perceptibly vast black background upon which very precise imaging was projected upon. The only downside to the experience is the significant driver flex upon insertion which audibly dampens the bass. After the initial insertion, I almost always had to release the pressure manually like popping my ears on an airplane for the bass to return, and that was with the stock tips too.
AAW Mokara (flagship)
Stood out as fairly detailed with articulate bass and treble. Mids were distinctly laidback to give space for the top and low end. But this made it a little slow sounding.
Stood out as fairly detailed with articulate bass and treble. Mids were distinctly laidback to give space for the top and low end. But this made it a little slow sounding.
AAW Black Malus
Corrected the Mokara's sound for me with more mids. But overall the Mokara and Black Malus weren't particularly competitive for their asking price of approximately 2500SGD and 1500SGD respectively for a UIEM.
Corrected the Mokara's sound for me with more mids. But overall the Mokara and Black Malus weren't particularly competitive for their asking price of approximately 2500SGD and 1500SGD respectively for a UIEM.
Lime ears Terra
Sounded pretty good but just a generic mild V-shape, not much standout features sonically. However the build quality was top notch; they looked and felt really good in the hands and also fit nicely in the ears. Same goes for its two siblings, the Incognitia and Maris.
Sounded pretty good but just a generic mild V-shape, not much standout features sonically. However the build quality was top notch; they looked and felt really good in the hands and also fit nicely in the ears. Same goes for its two siblings, the Incognitia and Maris.
Lime Ears Incognitia
Deeper and more prominent sub and mid bass than the Terra. This was the special sauce the Terra needed to make it a bit more special. Liked it for the satisfying bass and the deep black shells.
Deeper and more prominent sub and mid bass than the Terra. This was the special sauce the Terra needed to make it a bit more special. Liked it for the satisfying bass and the deep black shells.
Lime Ears Maris
Unfortunately this too, sounded pretty generic. Seemed like a warmer version of the Terra. I preferred the Incognitia.
Unfortunately this too, sounded pretty generic. Seemed like a warmer version of the Terra. I preferred the Incognitia.
Oops, can't attach anymore pictures. More in Part 2 here
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AzAnime
New Head-Fier
Thank you for your summary of iems in CanJam SG 2025.Canjam SG 2025 PART 1
This post would've been an unscrollable massive photo spam so I've tucked them away in chapters using the spoiler function. The IEMs that I would've like to have tried but didn't get the chance to were the Mysticraft Hex and tribrid, and the 7th Acoustics Rawon prototype.
Photos and impressions have been arranged in chronological order of which IEMs I spent my Sunday with. It is neither ideal to demo so many IEMs at a time and have accurate impression, nor to do so on a noisy show floor so take these impressions as you will. This also means that my ears may have started getting tired towards the end although I did my best to do all testing at the lowest minimum volume to still get a satisfying sound to evaluate.
Highlights of the show this year were (1) Dita Ventura prototype, (2) Volk Audio Etoile, (3) Crinear Daybreak and the (4) Symphonium prototype.
1 star
2 stars
Vision Ears ONE
Adequately resolving U-shape. From memory, it already performs better than their previous lineup up to VE5 on a technical level.
Vision Ears PRO
Prefer this one to the ONE, vocals are more prominent and get better clarity. Drums not as pronounced as compared to ONE. Overall a decent set though I would prefer a bit more treble clarity. There's just a nice sweet quality to the mids that I liked, would love to get in more eartime with this one in a quiet environment.
Vision Ears PURE
More warmth and less energy in the mids compared to the PRO. Resolving ability is quite similarly to the PRO, I'd personally pick the PRO over the PURE because the PRO sounded much cleaner and transparent.
Campfire Alien Brain
One of the safer Campfires that I've heard in recent memory, along with the Clara. Warm V-shape with adequate sparkle up top. Doesn't have any glaring flaws but also doesn't really stand out much, I'd prefer more energy in vocals and technical ability could be better. I really like the eccentric looks though.
Campfire Clara
Felt just marginally more resolving compared to the Alien Brain. Pronounced bass presence yet well balanced with sufficient treble clarity. Bass were notably thick and wide to give that impression of a big sound when the volume is turned up.
Crinear Reference
Super resolving and largely "correct" sounding to my ears albeit a touch laidback. I agree with Crin's take on flat - not boring or lacking bass like what we've been conditioned to perceive from the likes of products like the Etymotic ER2SE. The shells are just prototype acrylic shells, far from what the final product will look like.
Crinear Daybreak
Love the energetic mids, the bass is north of neutral (from that of the Crinear Reference) for that extra bit of fun. These somehow hit the sweet spot for me in both mids and treble ratio as details seem to flow so effortlessly even at low volumes. Crin shared that the bass is similar to that of the Meta but increased quantity of upper-mids reduces the perception of bass.
From my audition at the Hangout prior to Canjam, the Meta was notably warm and bassy. It was really satisfying when paired with inoffensive yet clear mids. The Daybreak way more up my alley than the Meta with its louder upper-mid presence. Thankfully, it will be more readily available and even more affordable than the Meta upon release.
Softears Volume S
Bass presence is satisfying with super safe mids. However not as refined as the Daybreak. While the upper mids had sufficient energy, there seemed to be a subjective perception of unevenness compared to the Daybreak which I had tried just before this.
Softears Studio2
Targeted to be less than 200USD. There's only so much you can do with 2 BAs. To me, 2BA setups tend to sound similar with variations of a warm-ish V-shaped signature; but this was done fairly well. Nicely balanced with ample warmth and adequate treble clarity to bring forth cymbals and hats. However, the Studio2 did lack treble extension where complicated metal tracks can sound congested. Unless the budget truly warrants the Studio2, the Studio4 is a way better performer in every aspect.
Craft Ears Craft6 MK2 prototype
Shoutout to Jed for being super outgoing and personable. He made my time at the CE booth a wholly pleasant one. There were 2 prototypes of the MK2 which Jed was enthusiastically collecting feedback for. Both demos were housed in similar all-black shells. For context, I found the OG Craft6 to be extremely lean with a sharp presence in the mid-upper treble. The first prototype had more body than OG Craft6 and retains a similar highly energetic treble. I preferred the 2nd iteration, where the bass had more body to the original but with a tamer mid-upper treble. Felt more balanced while retaining Jed's characteristic Craft Ears vibrant treble. The final product is aimed for release later this year with a full aluminium shell which should look beautiful under Jed's artistic direction.
Craft Ears Omnium
Embodiment of Jed's house sound, super energetic upper-mids and treble with sparkle for days. This one might be too aggressive for myself for long periods.
Craft Ears Omnium Ti
Going from the Omnium to the Ti version felt like going from the 1st to 2nd iteration of their new C6 MK2 prototype. Treble was tamed to a large extent while remaining vibrant. The Ti was more balanced than the OG and the increased bass presence had a nice sense of a spacious enveloping stage.
Flipears Aegis
The kind of tuning that jumps out at you when you first press play. What a physical bass presence. Thick intimate mids topped off with smooth but decently present treble. Could've been more resolving for that final bit of refinement.
Flipears Legion
More treble than the Aegis. The thought of that initially sounded like a "fix" to the smooth Aegis. But the treble presence came across as sharp rather than extended, reducing the perception of the inviting bass and mids of the Aegis; the aspects that drew me to it in the first place. Between the two, I preferred the Aegis by a large margin.
Dita Prelude
Being an owner of the Project M and the more recent Mecha (my daily driver), was pretty excited for this one: Neutral bright-ish under 200USD. If that's your thing, this does that tuning well. But sonic expectations should be kept in check for the price, it didn't have any standout qualities like its two older siblings. Looking forward to seeing the final look.
Dita Ventura
Now this was really special. They showcased a silver and a black pair, I found the silver one brighter and the black one's bass a touch more prominent. Ash and Ted shared that the feedback they had received was split 50/50. I preferred the silver but honestly both still played very similarly and I think either way, the Ventura will end up being a stellar product. For a single DD, these were highly resolving with outstanding midrange texture which is characteristic of Dita's single DD designs. Yet, the mids flowed cohesively with deep, well-defined bass and articulate treble; nothing was compromised despite being a single driver design. Dita has a way of evoking emotion and atmosphere no matter from a studio or live recording. From memory, this is how it compared to my daily driver, the Mecha:
- Mecha's mids are more playful with a distinct forward presence while the Ventura takes on a more mature approach. It retains that spacious atmospheric vibe perceived in the Mecha but sounds more accurate.
- Ventura's treble was slightly more articulate than that of the Mecha with better separation in the upper registers. This might be because the Mecha's sweet intimate mids takes up a large portion of the headstage, reducing the perception of space between cymbals and hats.
- Ventura's bass sounds more sub focused? Not entirely sure without an A/B
I believe the estimated price will be somewhere under 5k USD.
Volk Etoile
The biggest surprise of the show for me. EE IEMs have hardly been to my taste but I'm glad that I gave these a shot. Extremely resolving and well balanced with really nice clarity across the board. These take on a different approach to the bass from EE's bassy IEMs with bass that is still adequately present and highly detailed. Basslines come through well-defined and the treble is prominent. Their description of these being like nearfield monitors stuck with me. It redefines the idea of a "big sound". The Etoile eschews from thick mid-bass colouration to artificially widen the soundfield. Instead, it separated components of the mix to such a high degree that it stood out with a perceptibly vast black background upon which very precise imaging was projected upon. The only downside to the experience is the significant driver flex upon insertion which audibly dampens the bass. After the initial insertion, I almost always had to release the pressure manually like popping my ears on an airplane for the bass to return, and that was with the stock tips too.
AAW Mokara (flagship)
Stood out as fairly detailed with articulate bass and treble. Mids were distinctly laidback to give space for the top and low end. But this made it a little slow sounding.
AAW Black Malus
Corrected the Mokara's sound for me with more mids. But overall the Mokara and Black Malus weren't particularly competitive for their asking price of approximately 2500SGD and 1500SGD respectively for a UIEM.
Lime ears Terra
Sounded pretty good but just a generic mild V-shape, not much standout features sonically. However the build quality was top notch; they looked and felt really good in the hands and also fit nicely in the ears. Same goes for its two siblings, the Incognitia and Maris.
Lime Ears Incognitia
Deeper and more prominent sub and mid bass than the Terra. This was the special sauce the Terra needed to make it a bit more special. Liked it for the satisfying bass and the deep black shells.
Lime Ears Maris
Unfortunately this too, sounded pretty generic. Seemed like a warmer version of the Terra. I preferred the Incognitia.
Oops, can't attach anymore pictures. Part 2 coming in a bit
Alien Brain... What a sense of naming!
Mageborn23
100+ Head-Fier
Great write up thanks for this. Also love to see a fellow K-pop aficionado. Really interested in the Mysticraft prototypeCanjam Singapore 2025 Impression
Hey guys,
It’s me again! I just got back from my amazing second Singapore CanJam experience. For me, the best part of this hobby isn’t the gear—it’s connecting with all the wonderful people around the world. The past few days in Singapore were filled with joy, laughter, and great conversations with so many awesome people who share a passion for this hobby. It was fantastic to reconnect with old friends and finally meet new ones in person, as always!
So let’s get into the serious stuff:
Mysticraft Hex
Just before the show, I heard that the legendary Lee himself had unveiled his new venture, Mysticraft, along with two intriguing releases. One of them is the Hex-brid flagship, which boasts a staggering configuration: 1 dynamic driver (DD), 2 bone conduction drivers (BCD), 5 balanced armatures (BA), 2 planar magnetic drivers, 1 piezoelectric driver, 2 electrostatic drivers (EST), and 10 crossovers. When I first saw the specs, my initial reaction was, *How can something with so many driver types possibly sound coherent?* But as soon as I tried it, I quickly realized that Lee has done it again—just like he did with the Dio.
The Hex is, without a doubt, one of the best (hm.. probably the best) IEMs I’ve ever tried. It delivers every detail with an insane level of resolution and offers the widest soundstage I’ve experienced in any IEM setup. What truly sets the Hex apart, though, is its masterfully articulated tuning—it’s smooth, natural, and effortlessly engaging. From my past experiences, I’ve found that higher resolution often comes at the cost of listening fatigue, but the Hex is an exception. Its tonality is spot-on, presenting music with a velvety smoothness and no hint of harshness or sibilance. The coherence across such a diverse driver setup is remarkable; it sounds seamlessly connected from sub-bass to treble.
As a Fugaku owner, I must say the Hex outshines it in several areas: higher resolution, a bigger soundstage, and a more natural, pleasant tonality that’s versatile across multiple genres—from pop to classical. That said, I still prefer the Fugaku’s bass texture and its energetic, engaging sound, making it my go-to for EDM, trance, and J-pop. Compared to the Dio, which I’ve demoed before, the Hex is a clear step up in resolution while maintaining excellent timbre.
So, the big question: will I spend $9,000 on it? Well, I already pre-ordered it.
Melodic Artification Infinitum
Another one of my favourites from the show was the Infinitum, the first headphone release by Melodic Artification (MA). It features a proprietary planar driver that stands out from anything else on the market today.
Before listening to the Infinitum, my go-to setup was the AB1266 TC, driven by a Viva 845 (tube-rolled to Elrog 845) and paired with the Holo May DAC. But when I tried the Infinitum, simply driven by the portable pairing of the LP EA4 10AE and P6P 10AE, I was blown away. The Infinitum delivered an incredible density of sound, with thick note weight, exceptional detail, and dynamic range. The bass texture is astonishingly layered, and the bass energy surpasses that of my desktop AB1266 TC setup. This made it phenomenal for genres like EDM and pop music.
However, when it comes to classical music, I feel the Infinitum’s performance could benefit from further testing on a proper desktop chain. On the current portable setup, the soundstage extension isn’t the widest or the most expansive as what I’ve experienced with the HE-1. I’m genuinely curious to see how the Infinitum performs when paired with a high-end, full-sized desktop chain. I think MA can consider to bring the full sized gears with proper setup next time in the future shows.
From the time I spent with it, I can confidently say I’d personally prefer the Infinitum over both the Immanis, Susvara 2 and AB1266 TC—not just for its sound quality but also for its insane portability, which fits perfectly into my use case. Another one for the pre-order list as soon as the price is announced.
Forte Ears Mefisto
The Forte Ears Mefisto stands out with its stunning design, especially the beautifully crafted faceplate. I demoed several prototypes since last year’s CanJam SoCal, but I must say the final tuning—different from what I heard at CanJam NY or earlier shows in China—is absolutely spot-on. Riccardo has nailed the balance between technical detail and lush midrange.
Compared to the Macbeth, I prefer the Mefisto. Its full-bodied midrange and satisfying bass make it exceptional, especially for Asian vocals and pop music. This has become one of my favorite sets, particularly in the highly competitive $3k range.
PMG APX v3
Having experience with the previous APX OG and SE, I can see that the APX v3 builds upon its predecessors. The bass remains as excellent as ever, but the treble has been noticeably refined. While it sacrifices some extension and airiness, the trade-off results in a lusher, more engaging vocal presentation.
I can see this version becoming the favorite among Chinese audiophiles, given its tuning approach.
Effect Audio Centurion v2
I heard this new Centurion v2 tuning was based on feedback from past shows. Compared to the OG Centurion, the v2 offers well-textured bass and lush mids. However, the airiness and treble extension still fall slightly behind the OG Centurion and Valhalla, which I used for A/B comparisons.
This cable feels more like a sidegrade than an upgrade for fans of the original Centurion. It shares some similarities with Yan Huang, but I’d personally favor Yan Huang for its “lush mids magic.” That said, the Centurion v2 is still a solid choice for those seeking a mid/bass-focused cable.
Mysticraft Tri-Brid Prototype
This tri-brid prototype (composed of DD/BA/Planar drivers) is simply the best sub-$1k set I’ve ever tried. Its dynamics, tuning, and resolution punch far above its price range, reminding me of sets in the $3k–$6k category.
I demoed it on the EA4 10AE, and honestly, I would have guessed it was a $3k+ flagship. Lee mentioned that the final version will feature metal shells. At $999, this is an absolute no-brainer. What more could I ask for…
Yu9 Audio Que
Photo credit to @needtosleep thanks bro!
The Yu9 Que is another hidden gem I discovered at the show. With its BA/DD configuration, it delivers incredibly smooth, coherent tuning that feels almost too good to be true at this price point ($400).
From a summit-fi perspective, it may lack some dynamics and bass energy, but for $400? It’s hands down one of the best entry-level sets I’d recommend to anyone new to the hobby. It’s right up there with the Nicehck NX8 or Fitear QDC Superior EX.
Volk Audio Étoile
The Étoile is probably my favorite release from Jack since the Odin. Odin was my first summit-fi IEM, so it holds a special place in my heart. The Étoile delivers a fantastic W-shaped tuning, balancing treble, mids, and bass beautifully.
I especially enjoyed it with K-pop tracks. While some might find its sound slightly aggressive, pairing it with the LP6 7AE elevates the experience to another level.
7th Acoustic Asteria
The 7th Acoustic Asteria is a 1DD + 12BA set from an Indonesian brand I hadn’t encountered before. It features a well-tuned bass and coherent overall presentation, which I thoroughly enjoyed on classical and EDM tracks.
However, I did notice a slight nasality in the vocals, particularly with female vocal tracks. Aside from that, it’s a solid performer.
Nostalgia Pendragon
The Nostalgia Pendragon excels in treble and mids, delivering a technical presentation that shines on genres like violin-heavy music or rock. It’s great for extracting fine details in instrumental tracks.
That said, the bass is a bit lacking for my personal taste. Overall, it’s a great niche set for those seeking technical prowess and instrument-focused listening.
Final Thoughts
There were still so many other pieces of gear I tried at the show, but unfortunately, I didn’t have time to cover them all. Look forward to seeing these exciting releases to come into the market and see you all my friends in the next CJ!
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