<Please note that this is a work in progress. I am doing it in several parts. I will remove this note when it is finished>
This was an epic CanJam experience. It was so big, I could have used 2 more days to hear everything I wanted to hear and that includes the fact that I have already heard a lot of products in my last 3 CanJam experiences. This is my first attempt to create an overall impressions thread I hope you like it. It is a summary of the products I really loved at CanJam Socal 2022.
First of all, I came along with what we call the Watercooler Travelling team. We post on this thread:
The Watercooler:
At CanJam Socal, my favorite portable products were these:
Best new DAP: Hiby RS8. Finally, a TOTL R2R DAP with Android for Streaming. I A/B tested this DAP vs. LP6 Gold and I preferred the sound of the RS8. The sound was more powerful and dynamic with that great R2R natural sound and treble response with great bass. It takes the already great RS6 and takes it up a few levels. I already got on the wait list for buying this DAP.
Here is a picture of the
Hiby RS8 paired with the T+A Solitaire P headphone.
Best of Show for new IEMs.
Win: Astell & Kern/Empire Ears Odyssey. To me, this is what I hoped for in an Odin II. It has that glorious bass response you would expect from Empire Ears and their W9+ Dynamic Drivers. But, it also has bone conduction, slightly tamed down upper mids and better treble response. Pair with First Times Cable and my N8ii, I found it to be the best Empire Ears product yet and I am a huge Empire Ears fan. I plan on buying it.
Astell & Kern / Empire Ears Odyssey
Place: Noble Viking Ragnar. This IEM is focused on the mids and I love great mids. From the moment I put these into my ears, I was hooked and totally engaged. It has a big and present sound. The key to a great mids focused IEM is to make sure the bass and treble are sufficient so it doesn't sound bass light and the treble isn't veiled. I think that Noble knocked this one out of the park by finding that balance. I bought this IEM.
Noble Viking Ragnar
Show: Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor. For a 12 BA and bone conduction driver. It has big bass. The tuning is fantastic and borders on bass head levels of bass. I think this is the best BA bass I have ever heard. Leo from UM told me that they custom designed new drivers for the bass which gives it is texture which is uncharacteristic of BA drivers. I honestly did not know the driver configuration when I heard it and I though it had dynamic drivers. If it weren't for the above 2 IEMs, I would have bought this. Maybe in the future.
Unique Melody Multiverse Mentor
New Cable for Traillii and Advar.
I did not have time to listen and compare all of the great new cables. I did have a mission which was to find 2 new cables. One for Traillii and one for Meze Advar.
For Traillii, I heard that several good candidates were Effect Audio Centurion, Eletech Ode to Laura, First Times Shielding or Meet Again. I already own First Times Shielding and Meet Again and I have a lot of PW Audio cables so I wanted to try something else. Centurion is an outstanding cable. I loved it when I first heard it. But, for Traillii, it killed the bass response. It was too bright. I preferred First Times Shielding. Then, when I paired it with Ode to Laura, it has just the right balance I was seeking. Not too bassy, not too bright. Just the right balance of everything I care about. Bass, mids and treble. And, with a very nice look. The Meet Again cable I may have preferred slightly, especially the new Special Edition, but the green color did not work with the Traillii reddish color. It would go with a nice green IEM. What is my new pairing for Traillii?
Eletech Ode to Laura
For Advar, I love the IEM, but I hate the cable. Terrible feel to it. I went to Effect Audio to see if it any of its new Signature Series cables would work. I already heard Ares S and Cadmus in the prototype phase. So, I first tried Eros S. Way too bright and lost the bass response. Same thing with Cadmus. The best pairing was with Ares S. I love the ergonomics of the cable, so I bought it.
Effect Audio Ares S
My favorite desktop products at CanJam Socal were as follows:
Full Sized Headphones:
Win:
ZMF Caldera. This is the new ZMF Planar headphone. Bevin was nice enough to let me take care pair out into the show room and pair it with a lot of different amps. By far my favorite pairing was with the DIY amp ZMF had in its demo room. It is known as the Glenn GL3. If they offered this for sale, I would buy it at any price. Paired with the ZMF Caldera, it was end game sound. It was truly one of the few moments where I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Second favorite was with the Ampsandsound Red October where it took on a very smooth characteristic. Then, the Wells Audio stack which is my dream desktop system where the sound stage expands to sound like a 2 channel system. I will be buying this headphone when it comes out in November.
ZMF Caldera paired with Cayin HA-3A amp
What makes the Caldera special is that it sounds like a combination of a Dynamic Driver and Planar headphone. It is just a planar, but Zach tuned it in a way that it maintains that ZMF mid forward sound with technical attributes of a planar making it a one of a kind sound. Interestingly, when you pair the Caldera with different amps, it takes on different characteristics like a chameleon. Zach was aiming for a different sound instead of just competing with planars. I think he achieved it. It sounds like a ZMF headphone, but with the resolution of a planar. Truly spectacular and different. Couple these sounds attributes with the beautiful artisan woodwork that only ZMF is known for and you have a one of a kind headphone that everyone should take a moment to hear. It's probably why Zach's demo room was the busiest of the entire show.
Glenn GL3 Custom Amp (I want this amp).
Place: Stax SR-X9000. This is my current favorite headphone. I heard it first in Chicago and then at another headfier's home. This time, I got to hear it against other Electrostats including the Shangri-la jr and sr and I loved the X9000 more than any of them. In an A/B test of X9000 vs. my prior number 1, the X9000 edged it out due its slightly larger stage. Both have fantastic tonality especially for female jazz vocals and classical music. What is truly fascinating about the X9000 is it does not have overly ethereal sound typical of other electrostatic headphones.
Stax SR-X9000 paired with
Woo Audio 3ES Electostatic Amp
Show: T+A Solitaire P. This headphone has fantastic bass. It can really dig deep and extends all they down to 10 hz and below. I got to hear this in a quiet environment since the T+A guys were having problems with their demo set up and I provided them with some cables to help them to allow DAPs to connect to their amp. This the third time I have heard them and this time properly amped. I can say it is fantastic and truly worthy of the praise it is getting from those lucky enough to have heard it. In addition, it can be powered by an amp. I did get a unique opportunity to hear it paired with the new RS8 DAP from Hiby courtesy of Musicteck. I thought it was a bit under powered because I had it all the way up to 80 to hear the full frequency response, especially its great subbass, but this could be because of the noisy show room floor.
T+A Solitaire P with HA200 Headphone amp
AMPs.
I did not have enough time to hear all of the amps I had on my demo list. So, unfortunately, this is not a comprehensive list. But, it does reflect the best of what I heard. The way I judge an amp is if it can properly drive my Susvara. That means it has it normally great mids and revealing treble, but also delivers a great bass response. I usually say that if a Susvara sounds bass light, it is because it is not properly amped.
My favorite amp is the Wells Audio
Headtrip II level II monoblocks. I never like the LCD5 until I heard it on this amp. In fact everything sounds good on it It was another mind blowing experience. Stage outside of the head. Great separation and resolution. Sounds more like speakers than headphones. I think this amp can make my AirPods pro sound like Susvara.
Headtrip II level III monoblock amps with Commander Level III tube preamplifier and Cipher Tube DAC (my dream end game system)
Second favorite is the
Woo Audio WA33. This sounds just so good with the 1266TC. The 1266TC really needs a tube amp with great mids to sound right and this amp does it right. It is nearly as good as the Wells Audio system at a fraction of the cost.
Woo Audio WA33
Third favorite was the new
Woo Audio WA23. Besides making my Susvara sing with a great bass response. It is a beautiful work of art.
Woo Audio WA23 LUNA with my personal Susvara
Ampsandsound Red October. I love how smooth this made all of my headphones sound especially Susvara. Great bass and smooth treble and overall sound.
I got to heard the
Benchmark HPA4 headphone amp. I liked it, but I was really looking forward to hearing how the AHB2 speaker amp would sound with my Susvara to see if a speaker amp would level up the sound. Maybe next time.
I also did not have time to listen to the Zahl HM1. Next time.
Thanks so much to the head fi team for putting on a great show. I wish it could be over 4-days
My favorite reviewers
@Resolve
@Precogvision
The one and only @crinacle
You definitely get your $4000 worth!
