CanJam SoCal 2024 Impressions Thread (September 28-29, 2024)
- Thread starter AxelCloris
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Dude kudos to you, you made out like a bandit if you're rocking DC ELITE + Moon Rover - that's a sublime synergy that I've been very much enjoying myself.
You're not leaving much on the table compared to even some Summit-Fi sets and say this from first-hand experience.
If I can recommend anything, MoonRover takes PEQ better than a majority of IEM's due to the nature of it being a single driver (with great technical ability). Don't shy away from exploring some fine-grain adjustments with EQ to really dial-in if need be!
Abyss Headphones
Sponsor: Abyss Headphones
A quick recap of the Abyss room at CanJam SoCal 2024...
But they did offer variety this CanJam with Hershey's chocolate bars, Snickers, and Twix. 
I forgot who, but someone mentioned they fueled up a few times on the "Bloom" candy bars.
A few lucky swag bags were stuffed with those massive Kit Kat XL bars. You could feed a village with those things.
Save a couple for Dallas. Knowing I'm going to 2 shows back-to-back, I've put a split game plan.. you guys are my first stop in 3 week
Always great to see you, Eyal! I'll have 2 Kit Kat XLs with your name on them! 
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See you there!!Save a couple for Dallas. Knowing I'm going to 2 shows back-to-back, I've put a split game plan.. you guys are my first stop in 3 week
It was great to see so many audio enthusiasts and fellow Head-Fiers in person and put a few usernames to faces. I had the opportunity to meet the awesome YouTubers @Jaytiss and Superchonk himself, @captainmuffins, and some Discord pals @StarBuccaneers and @apagumila. Mr. @emdeevee was in attendance with his fantastic ALT-R custom-made cases in tow. I got to say a quick introduction to @aaf evo. It's always a pleasure seeing some familiar San Diego locals @DenverW and @XERO1. I'm sure there are many more that I missed, so I do apologize if I didn't tag you here. I was so distracted by all the gear that I only remembered to take one picture with the Lord of the Memes himself, @MakeItWain.
So, here I am, back at work bright and early on Sunday morning, writing and reorganizing my post-CanJam thoughts. I envy all the two-day attendees...
Unfortunately, I didn't get to hit all my gear goals in just one day, so before I get into my impressions, let's pour one out for the overlooked, forgotten, missed opportunities, and big names that I just couldn't get to, including the Fei Wan, Traillii, Multiverse Mentor, Singularity, Mega5EST, Alter Ego, Nautilus, Annihilator, and the list goes on. But enough about the things I missed. Let's move on to the impressions of the things I actually got to demo. I've formatted my impressions into alphabetical order by maker for ease of perusal. Please keep in mind that my thoughts and opinions were formed over short sessions in a less-than-ideal listening environment, using exclusively my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra connected to the Letshuoer DT03 and Penon Liqueur tips. My brief notes are not meant to be read as reviews but are simply my first impressions of the gear. In other words, take the following with a grain or two of salt.
64 Audio
●Solo - Their first-ever planar IEM. U-shaped, clear, and cohesive tuning with a good amount of sub-bass extension and rumble. The bass is quick, but there's a little bleed. Vocals are well-balanced—not too forward or recessed. The upper mids and treble have that distinct planar energy without the zing or timbre issues. The note weight leans a hair thin, though. There's no sibilance or harshness, but that extra treble emphasis may be slightly annoying to treble-sensitive listeners. It sort of reminds me of a bassier/less engaging S12 2024 or a slightly brighter S08. For 64 Audio's first attempt at utilizing this driver, it's impressive that they avoided many of the shortcomings of other planar sets.
●Trio - V-shaped, punchy bass with more emphasis on the mid-bass. Not warm but also not bright. Less bright and better for my tastes than the Solo. Vocals are a bit recessed but still present. Crisp treble without sibilance. Maybe just a hair too much top-end energy for me personally. Wide and deep soundstage. It's not bad, and I'd choose it over the Solo, but it still doesn't quite align with my tuning preferences.
Alpha Omega
●Omega - Neutral/warm tonality that is quite well-balanced, perhaps neutral with a bass boost. To my ears, they are just the right amount of exciting and fun without being fatiguing or shouty. Vocals are neither recessed nor forward but right in the middle. The treble is polite and might be lacking a bit of air and sparkle, but it's right up my alley. Some might find them a bit too warm/boring. They lean toward a more laid-back tuning but do so without losing detail and engagement. There is a bit more sub-bass over mid-bass. A great all-rounder for my library. If someone asked me what I would pick if I could choose one and only one IEM to have, it would be the Omega.
AME
●Mousa - Initial thoughts: big, heavy shell, the design is a little ostentatious, and I WANT IT! Its bassy and warm with a rolled off treble and quite a dark tonality. Might be too dark and bassy for some but it's right up my alley. Super easy to listen to and very non-fatiguing. The Bass texture might be a tiny bit on the wet side? Wide and deep soundstage. Vocals are still forward and have good presence. Bass is also very well done, full bodied but not over exaggerated or bloomy/bloated. Treble is polite yet resolving but It's definitely lacking some upper end air and extension, which suits me just fine. I did briefly switch over to the Tri Clarion tips which helps to add a bit of air back over the Liqueurs. For warmth lovers (which I am) it might not get any better than this. The Mousa is probably the best thing I heard all day for my preferences. It's just absolutely warm, dark yet still resolving and completely non fatiguing in any way. This has to be my unicorn IEM so far, too bad it's $4,500.
Campfire Audio
●Clara - The driver configuration is single dual-magnet DD for bass, 1 BA for mids, and 2 BAs for highs (driver config clarified by @CFA Chris). No price as of yet. It has more of a mainstream tuning than I would think coming from CFA. There's good mid-bass punch and sub-bass rumble. Definitely bassy and more L-shaped, but upper mids and treble still come through well without sibilance or harshness. It will be overly bassy for some. It reminds me a bit of the Maestro Mini with slightly less upper-end presence. It's the best CFA I've tried so far, but the only other one is the Bonneville, which I really don't like, so the bar wasn't high to begin with. But I do quite like this one with its darker, warmer tuning, and there's just enough treble provided by the ESTs to keep it interesting.
Dita
●Mecha - This one has not yet been released, but it features a single dynamic driver in a solid titanium shell. Its tuning is essentially the opposite of the Project M. It is warm and intimate, well-balanced from the bass to the upper mids, and has a non-fatiguing treble. The bass has good rumble and extension and is quick and capable with an average decay. The mid-bass impact is decent, if not a little on the softer side. Vocals are perfectly positioned to be well heard and are free of any bass bleed. It is very cohesive and definitely a more musical set, but the technicalities do not suffer too much. This is a fantastic set for everyday use for warmth and bass lovers. The price is not final but is rumored to be between $500-700, which I think is priced very well. I am going to wager that there's a good chance this one will be a favorite/benchmark in that bracket. As much as the Project M is a treblehead's dream, the Mecha might be their nightmare.
●Project M - I was always a little interested in this one, but as I feared, these are too spicy for me with a lot of emphasis on the treble. Not really sibilant, but it is fatiguing. I think the treble is actually very well implemented, and this one is a treblehead's dream, but I'll leave it to those folks. Actually, it reminds me of the Oriveti Lowmaster but still a bit brighter. So for those that may want to try the Project M, maybe consider the Lowmaster instead for less money.
Dunu
●DK3001BD - A bit L-shaped naybe? Warm tonality, but the emphasized upper mids and the tiny bit of treble sparkle help to balance that out a little. The bass is boosted with good rumble and excellent midbass thump and impact. Vocals are forward but not shouty, and the treble is rolled off. The soundstage is fairly wide with good depth, but vocals have an intimate presentation and are a bit too in the head. I think this one is more of a niche tuning.
●Kima 2 - I've never heard the original Kima or the Kima Classic, but the Dunu rep said the Kima 2 utilizes the same shell with an updated driver. This one has a well-balanced V-shaped tuning with a decent bass boost. Bass texture and resolution are excellent for the price bracket. Vocals are forward but not shouty. There's good energy in the upper mids and treble without sibilance or harshness. It has a wide soundstage and accurate imaging. Maybe just a tinge too much treble for my tastes, but overall well done and could probably smooth it out with tip/cable/source rolling. Excellent price-to-performance ratio and a fantastic surprise of the show for me. There will also be a special green-shelled version, but I was told it will be limited to only 100 units. I will hopefully follow up with a full review in the near future.
●SA6EST - I had the SA6 Ultra last year for a while. It is a really solid set but ended up being a bit bright-leaning and thin to my ears. As I assumed, the addition of EST drivers bumped this already slightly spicy treble up to the next level, and it's very fatiguing for me. It's been hard for me to find EST drivers that don't irritate my ears, but of course, YMMV.
Empire Ears
●Triton - This is an energetic V-shaped tuning done right, with good extension on both ends. The soundstage is large, with good width and depth. The sub-bass is boosted but could use a little more mid-bass warmth for my taste. The bass quality is very good and it's not bloomy or pillowy. Vocals are forward but not shouty, and there's no real sibilance to speak of. There's just a tiny bit of extra energy in the treble than I prefer, but overall it's a very solid tuning.
Elysian Acoustic Labs
●Pilgrim Noir - The tuning is more engaging and fun than the original Pilgrim. It's less warm than I expected and needs a substantial sub-bass boost for me. Vocals are forward and engaging, but the treble is still too bright for my taste. I do like the tuning better than the original Pilgrim, but it's still not really my style.
●Apostle - This is a new 5-driver tribrid featuring 1DD, 2 BAs, and 2 ESTs. The tuning is mildly V-shaped but very well balanced. This one is definitely much more engaging than the Pilgrim. The bass has a satisfying rumble with a bit more mid-bass focus, but it's not a super bassy IEM in general. The midrange and vocals are warm, well separated, and engaging. The treble is sparkly and airy with good extension and is mostly non-fatiguing. It has just a touch more energy than I prefer, but it will definitely be great for a lot of people, barring some extremely treble-sensitive individuals. Very impressive overall, and I could see it holding a firm spot in the market between the Pilgrim and the Annihilator, depending on the final price.
FATfrequency
●Deuce - Not as bassy as I would have imagined coming from FATfreq. Vocals are forward, and I'd say they have a bit more energy in the upper mids/treble than the Maestro Mini. The tuning to my ear actually lies somewhere between that of the Maestro SE and the Mini. The treble is well-extended and a good balance to the bass. The tuning is more versatile than you might think, and it could be an excellent bassy all-rounder. I'll hopefully get to do a full review of this one in the future, but initial impressions were very favorable.
●Scarlet Mini - The bassist boi! Only serious bass lovers need apply. They are quite warm but still have just enough upper mids and treble to shine through all that bass. It might be the most niche tuning I've ever heard. Definitely a small market for this one so I'd highly recommend to try before you buy.
Forte Ears
●Macbeth (paired with Eletech Ambition cable) - Driver configuration is 5BA (with 1 specially made BA dedicated for sub-bass), 4 EST, and 2 BCD. Bass is quite full with good reverberation. Probably the lowest reaching bass of any IEM I've tried, which is especially surprising as there is no DD. Warm overall tonality, but the treble is still energetic, airy, sparkly, and mostly non-fatiguing for me. Another great implementation of EST drivers for treble-sensitive folk like myself. Midrange and vocals are somewhat forward-presenting and have a decent amount of warmth with a natural timbre. A solid set for sure, but with the extra bass and warm tonality, it's a bit of a niche tuning more focused on bass enthusiasts who like warmth. Also, this setup with the special Ambition cable made specifically for the Macbeth comes in at a whopping $8,000($4,000 for the Macbeth and another $4,000 for the Ambition).
Letshuoer
●Cadenza 12 (updated tuning) - Very, very solid tuning. I can see why @Leonarfd likes this one. The sub-bass has good reverberation. The treble is polite but still sparkly. It might be missing just a tiny bit of air, maybe? It definitely leans a little warm. Maybe just a hair thin on the treble note weight and there's just a little too much energy in the top end for me personally, but not by much. Impressive overall.
●Serenade - I was told by the Letshuoer representative that this is a replacement for the EJ07 line. It's a tribrid featuring 1 DD, 2 BAs, and 2 ESTs. It has a beautiful solid resin shell. The colors, I'm told, are not final, and when they asked my opinion, I said that the green and red together are too Christmasy. I love the red, so change the green to black or dark brown. My initial sound impressions? Smoooooooth. I have never heard any IEM with EST drivers this tame or non-fatiguing before. It's a pretty balanced presentation with maybe a bit more emphasis on the midrange. The bass is somewhat polite but still present and has good sub-bass extension and rumble. Vocals are forward, clear, and take center stage but are not shouty or overly represented. Treble is definitely there with good sparkle but not harsh or sibilant. It's possibly the best tribrid I've ever heard because I can actually keep it in my ear without fatigue. I'm not sure about the price, but if I had to guess, I'd say around $500–$750. One to watch.
●Untitled prototype - This is an unnamed 8 BA per side IEM. The shell is metal, and its design is basically complete but could still undergo some tweaks. We're back to a bit of that BA bass here, but I'm not really complaining since I do like all BA sets (I love the Orchestra Lite). It is very reminiscent of the OL with a mid-centric tuning. It could be a bit warmer/smoother but would need some A/B testing. Depending on the price, this could be an impressive all-BA offering.
Moondrop
●Concerto - This is a combination XMEMs and planar hybrid. It utilizes a nonremoveable USB-C terminated cable made by ddHiFi. Unique shape and fit. Build quality feels a bit cheap. U/V-shaped with recessed lower mids. There's deep subbass extension. Treble is not sibilant but a little fatuguing and the extension rolled off a bit. Almost full volume on my phone so not easy to drive. Good technicalities with the soundstage outside the head. Very spacious with good separation and room between notes. This one feels more like a tech demo than a fully developed product.
Plussound
●Sonora - V-shaped with a good amount of sub-bass extension. Lots of treble and can be quite fatiguing for me. Forward vocals. Wide and deep soundstage. Technically very good but just too bright for me. I didn't really care much for it so I didn't listen long, but Iron Man fans might like the colorway.
Questyle
●M18i - It's difficult to test sources in this environment and without A/B testing against others, so these very brief impressions could change with further testing. The M18i is a little larger than the 15i. It has three modes that make it very versatile: Bluetooth, battery-operated, and dongle. It can be charged or its battery bypassed while in use with the USB-C connection on the side. Soundwise, it seemed to emphasize the lower region a bit and smooth out the whole frequency response. It made the soundstage a bit wider and deeper. Further testing is obviously required, but depending on the price, it could be a very competitive all-in-one portable DAC/AMP.
Sennheiser
●HE1 - The soundstage is out of this world. It sounded like I was surrounded by speakers, and it's probably the closest you can get to that feeling without having a large speaker setup in an acoustically treated room. The crossover function is pretty neat and makes everything sound a little more intimate. Like most open-back headphones, I was looking for more bass quantity. The vocal timbre is excellent, and detail retrieval is top-notch. The treble is a bit spicy but not in a way I've ever heard before; it's hard to explain. It is mostly non-fatiguing, even with so much coming at you. Even though it's an all-around cool experience, it's a bit impractical, and I didn't really enjoy my music through that setup. I think it would be best served for watching movies to get that big cinema-style sound.
Subtonic
●Storm - What can be said about the Storm that hasn't been said already? It might be one of the best all-rounder options out there, but man, that price! It's well-balanced overall—not boring but also not overly exciting. The vocals have an extremely natural and organic timbre. Unfortunately, I did not get much time with it, as it was my last demo of the day at around 5:55 p.m., so I will have to wait until next time to give it a proper listen.
Symphonium
●Titan - This would be another great choice for those who love both bass and warmth. Overall, it has just a really full-bodied sound. The bass is punchy but with a softer impact. Vocals have great presence and a touch of warmth that's really nice. The treble is polite and tame, which I prefer. Maybe not quite an all-rounder due to the sheer amount of bass, but I could easily see myself using these as a daily carry. I think overall the tuning fills more of a niche, and although I wouldn't want it to be my only IEM, I would love to have one in my collection.
Thieaudio
●Origin - Sub-bass is boosted but could use a bit more mid-bass bump too, as I feel like the lower midrange is a little too recessed. Bass speed might be a touch slow, as double bass kicks didn't quite sound quick enough. The vocals are forward and clear but could use a little warmth. The treble is not super airy or sparkly, but it should be enough to please most. I would like just a little bit more note weight and Maybe the treble needs more extension. There's no real sibilance, but where the treble energy hits, it adds a touch too much to things like claps and "s" and "sh" sounds. Overall, I wasn't very impressed with the Origin.
●Monarch MKIII - This one is definitely better than the Origin for my tastes. It's more engaging and cohesive with a bit more warmth and thicker note weight. The bass is nice and thumpy with good rumble and reverberation but it's not overly bass-oriented. Vocals present a little more forward. There's a bit too much treble energy for me, which might lead to some fatigue over time, but overall it's not harsh or sibilant. I wouldn't fault anyone for picking this as their endgame, to be honest. It's a very good all-rounder.
Unique Melody
●Maven II - This was the first thing I tried on Saturday morning, and it did not disappoint. The tuning is mostly neutral with a bass boost, and it has an intimate, warm signature. There's a good balance of sub and mid-bass, and vocals have a nice warmth and are just forward enough. The treble is polite but still airy and sparkly with great extension, and cymbals sound perfect. The soundstage width isn't anything crazy, but the depth is great. Timbre is spot-on, natural, and organic. Notes have a nice, crisp edge without being overly clinical or fatiguing. It leans more musical than technical, but as expected at this price point, the technicalities are also top-notch. I actually didn't know this one has ESTs until I looked up the driver configuration later on, and I must admit they are implemented very well for my tastes. I'd love to give this one more time next go around. It could very well be a great endgame option for $1800.
●MEST MKII - Slightly V/U-shaped, leaning more toward the treble, with an overall energetic sound. It's more sub-bass focused, but the entire bass takes a bit of a backseat to the treble and upper mids. The lower midrange is also a bit more recessed than I prefer, and the vocal presentation is somewhat intimate. The treble is still polite with a little crispness but no sibilance. There's just a hair too much top end for my taste. The soundstage has good width and depth, but it can sound intimate/congested with a lack of space between notes. Coming directly from the Maven II, I wasn't too impressed with the MEST II.
And that concludes my CanJam SoCal 2024 impressions. I had a very long list of things I wanted to try this year, but since I was only able to go one day, I missed quite a lot. Oh well, that just means I'll have to come back again next year. Now, for a few personal show awards:
️Biggest surprise: Dita Mecha
In closing, I want to extend a big thank you from the bottom of my heart to all those who helped put this show together. These CanJams would not be possible without a ton of hard work and long hours from some very dedicated people. For those who might be on the fence about attending a CanJam in the future, I will say that it was an absolute pleasure and a must for audio enthusiasts. Coming from someone with a bit of social anxiety, I never felt rushed or like I didn’t belong or wasn't welcome. From the Head-Fi employees and volunteers to the exhibitors and fellow audiophiles, everyone was incredibly friendly and open to chatting about this wonderful hobby. As a first-time attendee, this CanJam really blew past all of my lofty expectations, and it most certainly will not be my last!
Excellent impressions. Really enjoyed your take on this. Sounds like you had a blast!
I certainly had a most valuable and positive experience. Being mostly a 2+ channel guy and new to the head - fi arena, SoCal was my first CanJam. Staying at the hotel was a good & convenient move and helped with pacing through the landscape. I was solo and fellow attendees, vendors and volunteers were quite friendly. One experienced attendee in particular was most helpful with guiding perspectives. So much sonic candy overload but I stayed on track and did priority stuff on Sunday. The product mentions on the pre show head-fi vid were also a good resource. A few headphones I really liked were just not a good ergo fit and some that I thought I might not align with, I actually enjoyed. In the end though and despite digging the Empyrean, I kept coming back to the Abyss DTC’s.
Whether I was listening to Caterina Barbiere, High on Fire, Maurice Ravel, TheThe’s latest release or Max Cooper’s 3d reworks 001, I was smitten to the core.
Got em now and loving the groove. As for picks on a tube and non tube path, my ceiling is 3K and would so appreciate any suggestions.
View attachment IMG_9286.jpeg
Whether I was listening to Caterina Barbiere, High on Fire, Maurice Ravel, TheThe’s latest release or Max Cooper’s 3d reworks 001, I was smitten to the core.
Got em now and loving the groove. As for picks on a tube and non tube path, my ceiling is 3K and would so appreciate any suggestions.
View attachment IMG_9286.jpeg
Congrats, and welcome on board!
Endless amp options, but will give you couple popular ones to start, one each tube and ss:
- If you can stretch a tiny bit, the ZMF Aegis at $3.5k is a great tube amp that punches way above its price point
- Holo Bliss is a very popular SS amp at around $3k (depending on configuration)
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Congrasts, and welcome on board!
Endless amp options, but will give you couple popular ones to start, one each tube and ss:
best, go to the Diana thread and ask there which amps those users like with it..
- If you can stretch a tiny bit, the ZMF Aegis at $3.5k is a great tube amp that punches weigh above its price point
- Holo Bliss is a very popular SS amp at around $3k (depending on configuration)
Thanks goldwerger
️
Hi all!
Day 2 impressions posting - been a bit behind! Link to my Day 1 here: Day 1 Impressions
So, Day 2 was still relatively busy (likely just due to the sheer growth of the event - also the giveaways) but felt less crowded/more open than Day 1. I was still able to meet some new people (including people that come up regularly to my neck of CA and others that live more local to me!) and had great conversations with others. I don't want to butcher names and/or forget to name them so - super safe blanket statement - just want to reemphasize that the social aspect of CanJam was the best part of the weekend. And, it's carried over after the event.
(Maybe the real CanJams were the friends we made along the way)
And that's a wrap! I don't want to repeat myself too much but SoCal CanJam 2024 has been a highlight of the year so far. I've met a lot of great people, talked to a lot of people in the industry (including meeting some YTers - Super*Review, Chonk, Zeos, Jaytiss, etc.) and other people from Head-Fi. But, I think my enthusiasm for the experience can be seen in this video that I think I already posted but figured I'd share again.
Was awesome geeking out in the hallway outside of CanJam with you, sir! And thank you to everyone who walked by and said "Hi!" including the FatFreq team, @jude and etc.
Until the next CanJam!
Day 2 impressions posting - been a bit behind! Link to my Day 1 here: Day 1 Impressions
So, Day 2 was still relatively busy (likely just due to the sheer growth of the event - also the giveaways) but felt less crowded/more open than Day 1. I was still able to meet some new people (including people that come up regularly to my neck of CA and others that live more local to me!) and had great conversations with others. I don't want to butcher names and/or forget to name them so - super safe blanket statement - just want to reemphasize that the social aspect of CanJam was the best part of the weekend. And, it's carried over after the event.
(Maybe the real CanJams were the friends we made along the way)
Cayin N3Ultra:
This was actually something I was looking to try out. Shout out again to @EnigmaFotos - I got to borrow his Saturday Night and used it to listen to some IEMs while winding down that night. What a great DAP. The ability to toggle solid state vs tubes, the entire experience - Wow. It added that tube sweetness to music that I knew I would love. This is definitely on my list going forward.
Alright, onto the gear. I actually spent the initial part talking/hanging out/walking around before deciding that this was the time to listen to the Storm. So, I went to the Subtonic/Symphonium booth first. I grabbed a picture and then...
Well, Enigma (I'm going to end up tagging him way too many times, I need to stop lmao) told me he was going to skip his HE-1 experience. I took a great photo with @ericpalonen the night before but didn't end up listening as I wanted to go back downstairs and sneak my way into the Water-Cooler group photo.
So, when Enigma said he was going to skip his HE-1 experience... Well, sorry whoever was on the wait list.
Sennheiser HE-1:
The Sennheiser HE-1 is great. The experience of talking to Eric/hanging out, talking to everyone else in the group about their musical taste and experience, and just the general vibe is great. And then sitting in the chair to watch the HE-1's tubes rise out and picking -the- songs is quite fun. So, what songs did I go with? What better song to listen to on the HE-1 than something that celebrates hell freezing over.
The HE-1 is a warm, musical, emotional yet technically excellent experience. The bass is great (not as boosted as I'd generally want but there's a texture and smooth aspect that I can take away from it), the vocals are sweet and full, and the treble is just pleasant. It's as special as I remember it. It could very well be a lot of people's full "Money is no Object" end game. Or some people are like "Meh". But, in my subjective opinion, I'm in that former category. Also, taking quotes on a set of kidneys. Asking for a friend.
After the HE-1 experience, I went straight to the Bloom Audio exhibit. They still had some items to give away (but I didn't want to take any more since I had grabbed some Saturday morning). I will say, though, that Bloom came in clutch for me Sunday night. I only ended up eating breakfast with @Jaytiss in the morning but needed to drive back Sunday night to the Central Valley area (Fresno area specifically, hit me up if you're ever near!). I had to pull over to charge and most food options were closed. But, thankfully, I remembered that there was still a KitKat in my trunk and that was basically was sufficient enough to provide the sustenance I needed for the last leg of the drive. (Paid for by big Chocolate). @Andrew DiMarcangelo and @DiFazio - the entire team are awesome.
DC-Elite:
So, I've read a lot of hype around the iBasso DC-Elite and saw that Bloom had it in. So, of course, I wanted to test it out. I only listened to it for a few tracks but, I will say that I'm very impressed with the DC-Elite. There is definitely an elevation to the punch, dynamics and technicalities vs other portable DAC/AMPs that I've tried. I don't think it would fully replace a dedicated desktop solution (as I use the JDS Element 3 MK2) but it provides desktop worthy performance in a very compact form factor. The primary portable dac/amp that I brought with me was the Shanling Onyx XI1 - the Onyx is probably a bit more rounded and more tonally pleasant but, otherwise, DC-Elite does run laps on other parts around it.
I also should have tried the Cayin RU7 to compare against the Shanling Onyx but didn't want to press my time too much.
FiR RN6:
So, along with having it plugged into my Onyx, I did plug the RN6 into the DC-Elite. The FiR Radon 6 (which I believe is sold out except for CIEM) is still one of my favorite all-rounders I've ever heard. There's just pleasant, impactful, warm bass with great mids/treble. Yeah, there's just something about it that's special to me. But, I didn't spend as much time with it as I wanted to fully write down notes.
Going back into the main room, a lot of the booths were a bit busy but something caught my eye that I was super curious about. @Apos Audio booth had the Little Gremlin DIY Tube Amp that I was super curious about.
ATH-R70X Refine + Little Gremlin Tube AMP:
So, I'll mention that it could just be placebo but my original memory of the R70x is that it was very clean and analytical'esque with it's sound performance. The R70x Refine is way my cup of tea. It's warm, it's got good bass, the mids/treble were very pleasant. It could just also be an extension of the Little Gremlin tube amp, but I was super pleasantly surprised by the combination and how musical it sounded. At the price ($129? for the Little Gremlin? and $299 for the Refine), this is an absolutely awesome pairing. I'm definitely very curious about both. Also, the marketing campaign is gonna be fire.
@FiiO 's booth was busy and I originally wanted to try the K11 R2R in person but settled with their budget headphone.
Fiio FT1:
This set is ridiculously good at $150. The bass is full, deep - way more competent then I'd ever really anticipate at that price point - while the rest of the performance is stupid good. I think this is an easy recommendation for anyone looking under $200 and it's comfortable as hell. They're not fully neutral (way more U or light V-shaped) but very musical. Not the most technical set but this could be an easy pick up as a beater set to travel with and really hit a lot of marks.
From here, there was some more socializing/talking but I eventually found my way over to the @DUNU-Topsound booth where there was a few things I was definitely curious about! Special shout out to Kevin Sun who was extremely pleasant to talk to (even while DUNU's booth was extremely busy) and made it a point to actively engage everyone that came by while asking for feedback/thoughts. He came off super genuinely interested in everyone that was there. Thank you, sir!
DUNU DK-3001BD:
Wow. Okay, this 'Cyber' design or CyberPunk 2077 type of design is very, very cool. The configuration is 1DD+4BA+4Planar - I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting but this was a very, very fun V-shaped IEM. I was getting a lot of deep bass (good mid-bass with fuller/warmer mids) but a lot of controlled energy on the treble end. Very pleasant and fun type of tuning. Treble was getting close to being a bit too much for my tastes but, at the same time, it's very well balanced by the good bass. I'm looking forward to this release!
DUNU Kima 2:
Where the DK-3001BD came across as V-shaped, I was getting a more subtle U or L shape here. For around $100, the Kima 2 looks like it's a hit. I'll admit I have not heard the original Kima so I don't have a frame of reference but the Kima 2 was comfortable, had very good bass energy and musicality to it while being very pleasant with the mids and smoothed on the treble side. It more than competes with it's peers in the same price bracket.
DUNU Arashi:
If I was a neutral'head, the Arashi is probably it. I'm, unfortuantely, not so these felt very nice and detailed but too analytical for my tastes. I loved the look of them and liked how comfortable they were but these were not my cup of tea. It was almost too flat. But, I liked them more than a few other headphones on this list...
So, after some time at the DUNU booth, I wandered around to the Fostex booth. I actually tried the open back flagship on Saturday but wanted to add impressions to my Sunday write up.
Fostex TH1000RP/Fostex TH1100RP:
Okay. So, without a doubt, the closed back TH1000RP were probably my biggest disappointment for CanJam. I really, really like Fostex and I've heard their other lineup before which are usually well loved by bass-heads. So, to my dismay, these felt so lifeless. The open back version, actually, had more character to them with the sound stage and it felt like I could hear more bass.
But, I did -not- like the closed back version. It felt like it was missing everything. Soundstage was OK'ish for a closed back. The bass, though, was non-existent and the mids felt very thin. This seemed so uncharacteristic to what Fostex usually is about. I hope I'm not coming off as too harsh but I just wasn't a fan.
Fostex T50RP mk4:
After being disappointed by the closed back, I was guided to try the new mk4 of the T50RP. There we go. I'd rather take multiple versions of this one than the TH1000RP or TH1100RP. The mk4 felt more W-shaped with some bite on the mid-range/vocals with good bass/treble extension. I was getting some bright'ness on these from my brief listening so I don't know if I would pick these up but I would definitely pick them up over the TH1000RP.
Afterwards, I went to the Moondrop Booth because I was curious about the Kadenz as the new Kato successor. I only listened to the Kadenz for a few tracks, I asked about the Concerto but the person at the booth I don't think was able to find it (it may have been in use? Not sure) so I just said "Thank you" and left. Didn't have the best experience or vibe at the Moondrop booth this year.
Moondrop Kadenz:
I don't think I like the Kadenz. I loved the Kato as a smooth, musical, chill set but I felt like the Kadenz lost that edge in favor of sounding more V-shaped. But, I also didn't check what nozzles were attached so this could be different on release. I just didn't get the best vibe so maybe the Kadenz may be better than I'm giving it credit for. (I used my own tips and not the spring tips).
Back to the @MusicTeck booth! I think I spent basically the rest of Day 2 here and the Symphonium/Subtonic booth.
Tansio Mirai Shock:
So, even though I sat at the MusicTeck booth again, I actually got to try out @TimmyT916 's personal Tansio Mirai Shock. I have to admit that these are actually very, very good. The immersion from the BCD really helped add to the mid-range which was very full/lush sounding. The bass was satisfying and the treble response was very smooth. It was very competent from sound stage and imaging point of view; I think I would have appreciated it more in a quieter setting but, as is, it was a very good IEM. The special sauce would probably lie more in the fact that you can further tune it/dial in the sound you want but I was going off of someone else's preset and would never screw with another person's hard work like that.
Penon Rival:
So, I also got to try out @emdeevee 's Penon Rival with his own dialed in settings as well. To get this out of the way, the amount of customization is ridiculous. It's impressive but I don't know if I would ever want to own one and spend so much time playing around. I think that's why I would gravitate towards like the NOAH modules from FatFreq vs playing around with dampeners. With that being said, take everything I said about the Mirai Shock and the Penon Rival sounds better and does it better. It's even more impactful, detailed, textured, perfect decay on bass while having very good full/satisfying mids. I think it's very competitive against the competition in it's price bracket with some nods towards the Rival due to being able to EQ it via hardware. It's not for me but I -get- it.
A&K (w/ Empire Ears) Novus:
Having heard the Raven previously before, I was super excited to try out the Novus. I think, at the end of the day, the Novus is probably 'technically' (pun intended) better than the Raven in that it's very controlled, detailed, performance is great but I also don't think it has that 'fun' factor that the Raven has. That's not trying to say the Novus is safe sounding but it almost feels polite where a lot of other IEMs come across as very large sounding or with a different flavor/spin. I would say the Novus sounds better (tighter bass and wider sound stage/smoother treble at the end of the day) but the Raven is probably a bit more engaging.
Softears Enigma:
The Softears Enigma felt like a very good balanced/neutral IEM with a solid sub-bass raise. The mids were very well done with good warmth to male vocals and good air to female vocals. Instruments were very detailed and the treble extension was elevated without sounding harsh or sibilant. This wasn't entirely my jam as I felt there could be some more bass but this was going for a more standard balanced approach and it was done very well.
Canpur CP622B:
Wow. There have been some sets that are very, very hyped (including a few of the remaining ones on my breakdown) and I can confidently say that each of them performed to the hype. For the Canpur, the things that stuck out to me the most were the extremely lush and full mids that were musical and technical at the same time. The bass was great (maybe didn't hit as hard as others like the FatFreq GM but very good/close), and there was extremely good elevation on treble. They did not seem to sound the most technical of some of the high end sets but they are no slouch.
PMG Apx SE:
How. How in the world? The only thing I wrote, because I was very lost in the music, was plainly: "Subwoofer in the ear, mids perfect, What" - the bass is some of the best, cleanest, fullest bass I've heard. There is definitely an expertly done shelf that actually was as close to hearing a subwoofer in an IEM as I've ever gotten. Mids were absolutely amazing, treble was elevated and sparkly yet controlled. I don't even know how. The craziest thing was as good as this sounds, it's small! Very comfortable! The nozzle is long (like the Cantor albeit not -as- long) but extremely comfortable in ear. Probably the second most comfortable IEM I wore all weekend. Just... how? I'm running out of internal organs to afford things.
Also, I took a terrible photo of them. My bad.
After sitting at the MusicTeck booth, I felt like I needed to walk around and was reminded of something. One last swing through to the FatFreq booth.
FatFreq Planar:
I think a few people may have been around me (and eventually Enigma) when we were listening to this.
I first asked Yeo about it and he responded with a "Ohhh, you heard about it??" and proceeded to go to locked up luggage to dig around for it. What I ended up holding in my hand was something extremely small and comfortable (probably the most comfortable IEM I wore that weekend). I did not take any photos (as this was still a prototype) but I felt like it was just so unfinished feeling so this was likely a secondary prototype and they're nowhere close to being done. It felt so lightweight that I was ready to be content but figured the S12 2024/S08 would probably be the planar go to now and days.
I was extremely wrong. Holy crap. I visibly mouthed out "What" to Yeo who responded, knowingly, with "I know, right?!" This planar set was extremely technical and detailed sounding but with the perfect amount of decay/attack that sounded like a DD especially with the bass. The bass was so satisfying as a basshead. That was on the stock module. When Ivan switched it to the SuperStage module, everything went up to 11. The bass felt and sounded as good as some of the higher end sets while the technical aspect really expanded. I don't even know how much more I can hype it up. There's a story about it in the video (posted at the end here) where I told Enigma to come over and listen to this dinky looking set. And he had the same reaction as I did.
We don't know when this set is coming out but Ivan/FatFreq has graciously allowed Enigma and I to hype it up a bit with things they're comfortable sharing which is that the tuning is basically done, the module implementation is done and now they're getting closer to the final stages. This could really drop the market hard like the Deuce.
*Because of phrasing - I'm mature*
After watching the spectacle that was the Diva giveaway (I had ticket #69 - again, I'm very mature), the last stop was Symphonium/Subtonic/Nightjar Booth! Finally. These gentlemen are very friendly and kind for allowing us to listen to a few things near the end of the show when they were probably tired. Thanks guys!
Subtonic Storm:
Wow. Where the Canpur and PMG are more colored/funner, the Subtonic Storm is leaning towards that extremely clean, balanced with top tier technical performance and detail to make up for the colored fun. These are extremely well tuned. They're great. They may be one of the best IEMs I've ever heard. I do think I'd prefer either the PMG or the Canpur instead if only due to the fact that they're more bass oriented in tuning. But, I think the Storm outperforms both of them from a treble/detail/technical performance and the Storm is just freaking special. There's a "Je ne sais quoi" quality from them.
NightJar Duality:
As someone who makes memes about how much he loves bass, I couldn't skip the Duality. Quality -freaking- bass - it's warm, bassy with the switch off. When the switch is on? Bass is not at 11, it's at 22. Double that 11. It's just that freaking amazing. Quality and quantity of bass is just another level. While still clean on the mids/treble and not taking away from it. The ability to switch on the fly really is fun and I'm looking forward to seeing this release. This was one of the main sets that made me smile (I mean I smiled at a lot but this was definitely one of them).
Honorable mentions - custom headphones from Philphone/XERO1:
Finally, the end. The Philphone. shoutout to @Zerousen for bringing both of his open/closed back Philphones. I didn't take a photo of the closed one but I want to shout out that I -love- the open back version. Probably a bit more than the closed back. There is a certain fun factor with them. Modded drivers into a comfortable open-back shell? Yes freaking please.
I also tried out @XERO1 's closed back and if you ever see him, ask to try them out. They're an absolutely great fun headphone. I'm, ultimately, going to eventually grab that open-back Philphone and XERO1's (if still available) but also have to do everything in moderation. Soon, though... Soon...
This was actually something I was looking to try out. Shout out again to @EnigmaFotos - I got to borrow his Saturday Night and used it to listen to some IEMs while winding down that night. What a great DAP. The ability to toggle solid state vs tubes, the entire experience - Wow. It added that tube sweetness to music that I knew I would love. This is definitely on my list going forward.
Alright, onto the gear. I actually spent the initial part talking/hanging out/walking around before deciding that this was the time to listen to the Storm. So, I went to the Subtonic/Symphonium booth first. I grabbed a picture and then...
Well, Enigma (I'm going to end up tagging him way too many times, I need to stop lmao) told me he was going to skip his HE-1 experience. I took a great photo with @ericpalonen the night before but didn't end up listening as I wanted to go back downstairs and sneak my way into the Water-Cooler group photo.
So, when Enigma said he was going to skip his HE-1 experience... Well, sorry whoever was on the wait list.
Sennheiser HE-1:
The Sennheiser HE-1 is great. The experience of talking to Eric/hanging out, talking to everyone else in the group about their musical taste and experience, and just the general vibe is great. And then sitting in the chair to watch the HE-1's tubes rise out and picking -the- songs is quite fun. So, what songs did I go with? What better song to listen to on the HE-1 than something that celebrates hell freezing over.
The HE-1 is a warm, musical, emotional yet technically excellent experience. The bass is great (not as boosted as I'd generally want but there's a texture and smooth aspect that I can take away from it), the vocals are sweet and full, and the treble is just pleasant. It's as special as I remember it. It could very well be a lot of people's full "Money is no Object" end game. Or some people are like "Meh". But, in my subjective opinion, I'm in that former category. Also, taking quotes on a set of kidneys. Asking for a friend.
After the HE-1 experience, I went straight to the Bloom Audio exhibit. They still had some items to give away (but I didn't want to take any more since I had grabbed some Saturday morning). I will say, though, that Bloom came in clutch for me Sunday night. I only ended up eating breakfast with @Jaytiss in the morning but needed to drive back Sunday night to the Central Valley area (Fresno area specifically, hit me up if you're ever near!). I had to pull over to charge and most food options were closed. But, thankfully, I remembered that there was still a KitKat in my trunk and that was basically was sufficient enough to provide the sustenance I needed for the last leg of the drive. (Paid for by big Chocolate). @Andrew DiMarcangelo and @DiFazio - the entire team are awesome.
DC-Elite:
So, I've read a lot of hype around the iBasso DC-Elite and saw that Bloom had it in. So, of course, I wanted to test it out. I only listened to it for a few tracks but, I will say that I'm very impressed with the DC-Elite. There is definitely an elevation to the punch, dynamics and technicalities vs other portable DAC/AMPs that I've tried. I don't think it would fully replace a dedicated desktop solution (as I use the JDS Element 3 MK2) but it provides desktop worthy performance in a very compact form factor. The primary portable dac/amp that I brought with me was the Shanling Onyx XI1 - the Onyx is probably a bit more rounded and more tonally pleasant but, otherwise, DC-Elite does run laps on other parts around it.
I also should have tried the Cayin RU7 to compare against the Shanling Onyx but didn't want to press my time too much.
FiR RN6:
So, along with having it plugged into my Onyx, I did plug the RN6 into the DC-Elite. The FiR Radon 6 (which I believe is sold out except for CIEM) is still one of my favorite all-rounders I've ever heard. There's just pleasant, impactful, warm bass with great mids/treble. Yeah, there's just something about it that's special to me. But, I didn't spend as much time with it as I wanted to fully write down notes.
Going back into the main room, a lot of the booths were a bit busy but something caught my eye that I was super curious about. @Apos Audio booth had the Little Gremlin DIY Tube Amp that I was super curious about.
ATH-R70X Refine + Little Gremlin Tube AMP:
So, I'll mention that it could just be placebo but my original memory of the R70x is that it was very clean and analytical'esque with it's sound performance. The R70x Refine is way my cup of tea. It's warm, it's got good bass, the mids/treble were very pleasant. It could just also be an extension of the Little Gremlin tube amp, but I was super pleasantly surprised by the combination and how musical it sounded. At the price ($129? for the Little Gremlin? and $299 for the Refine), this is an absolutely awesome pairing. I'm definitely very curious about both. Also, the marketing campaign is gonna be fire.
@FiiO 's booth was busy and I originally wanted to try the K11 R2R in person but settled with their budget headphone.
Fiio FT1:
This set is ridiculously good at $150. The bass is full, deep - way more competent then I'd ever really anticipate at that price point - while the rest of the performance is stupid good. I think this is an easy recommendation for anyone looking under $200 and it's comfortable as hell. They're not fully neutral (way more U or light V-shaped) but very musical. Not the most technical set but this could be an easy pick up as a beater set to travel with and really hit a lot of marks.
From here, there was some more socializing/talking but I eventually found my way over to the @DUNU-Topsound booth where there was a few things I was definitely curious about! Special shout out to Kevin Sun who was extremely pleasant to talk to (even while DUNU's booth was extremely busy) and made it a point to actively engage everyone that came by while asking for feedback/thoughts. He came off super genuinely interested in everyone that was there. Thank you, sir!
DUNU DK-3001BD:
Wow. Okay, this 'Cyber' design or CyberPunk 2077 type of design is very, very cool. The configuration is 1DD+4BA+4Planar - I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting but this was a very, very fun V-shaped IEM. I was getting a lot of deep bass (good mid-bass with fuller/warmer mids) but a lot of controlled energy on the treble end. Very pleasant and fun type of tuning. Treble was getting close to being a bit too much for my tastes but, at the same time, it's very well balanced by the good bass. I'm looking forward to this release!
DUNU Kima 2:
Where the DK-3001BD came across as V-shaped, I was getting a more subtle U or L shape here. For around $100, the Kima 2 looks like it's a hit. I'll admit I have not heard the original Kima so I don't have a frame of reference but the Kima 2 was comfortable, had very good bass energy and musicality to it while being very pleasant with the mids and smoothed on the treble side. It more than competes with it's peers in the same price bracket.
DUNU Arashi:
If I was a neutral'head, the Arashi is probably it. I'm, unfortuantely, not so these felt very nice and detailed but too analytical for my tastes. I loved the look of them and liked how comfortable they were but these were not my cup of tea. It was almost too flat. But, I liked them more than a few other headphones on this list...
So, after some time at the DUNU booth, I wandered around to the Fostex booth. I actually tried the open back flagship on Saturday but wanted to add impressions to my Sunday write up.
Fostex TH1000RP/Fostex TH1100RP:
Okay. So, without a doubt, the closed back TH1000RP were probably my biggest disappointment for CanJam. I really, really like Fostex and I've heard their other lineup before which are usually well loved by bass-heads. So, to my dismay, these felt so lifeless. The open back version, actually, had more character to them with the sound stage and it felt like I could hear more bass.
But, I did -not- like the closed back version. It felt like it was missing everything. Soundstage was OK'ish for a closed back. The bass, though, was non-existent and the mids felt very thin. This seemed so uncharacteristic to what Fostex usually is about. I hope I'm not coming off as too harsh but I just wasn't a fan.
Fostex T50RP mk4:
After being disappointed by the closed back, I was guided to try the new mk4 of the T50RP. There we go. I'd rather take multiple versions of this one than the TH1000RP or TH1100RP. The mk4 felt more W-shaped with some bite on the mid-range/vocals with good bass/treble extension. I was getting some bright'ness on these from my brief listening so I don't know if I would pick these up but I would definitely pick them up over the TH1000RP.
Afterwards, I went to the Moondrop Booth because I was curious about the Kadenz as the new Kato successor. I only listened to the Kadenz for a few tracks, I asked about the Concerto but the person at the booth I don't think was able to find it (it may have been in use? Not sure) so I just said "Thank you" and left. Didn't have the best experience or vibe at the Moondrop booth this year.
Moondrop Kadenz:
I don't think I like the Kadenz. I loved the Kato as a smooth, musical, chill set but I felt like the Kadenz lost that edge in favor of sounding more V-shaped. But, I also didn't check what nozzles were attached so this could be different on release. I just didn't get the best vibe so maybe the Kadenz may be better than I'm giving it credit for. (I used my own tips and not the spring tips).
Back to the @MusicTeck booth! I think I spent basically the rest of Day 2 here and the Symphonium/Subtonic booth.
Tansio Mirai Shock:
So, even though I sat at the MusicTeck booth again, I actually got to try out @TimmyT916 's personal Tansio Mirai Shock. I have to admit that these are actually very, very good. The immersion from the BCD really helped add to the mid-range which was very full/lush sounding. The bass was satisfying and the treble response was very smooth. It was very competent from sound stage and imaging point of view; I think I would have appreciated it more in a quieter setting but, as is, it was a very good IEM. The special sauce would probably lie more in the fact that you can further tune it/dial in the sound you want but I was going off of someone else's preset and would never screw with another person's hard work like that.
Penon Rival:
So, I also got to try out @emdeevee 's Penon Rival with his own dialed in settings as well. To get this out of the way, the amount of customization is ridiculous. It's impressive but I don't know if I would ever want to own one and spend so much time playing around. I think that's why I would gravitate towards like the NOAH modules from FatFreq vs playing around with dampeners. With that being said, take everything I said about the Mirai Shock and the Penon Rival sounds better and does it better. It's even more impactful, detailed, textured, perfect decay on bass while having very good full/satisfying mids. I think it's very competitive against the competition in it's price bracket with some nods towards the Rival due to being able to EQ it via hardware. It's not for me but I -get- it.
A&K (w/ Empire Ears) Novus:
Having heard the Raven previously before, I was super excited to try out the Novus. I think, at the end of the day, the Novus is probably 'technically' (pun intended) better than the Raven in that it's very controlled, detailed, performance is great but I also don't think it has that 'fun' factor that the Raven has. That's not trying to say the Novus is safe sounding but it almost feels polite where a lot of other IEMs come across as very large sounding or with a different flavor/spin. I would say the Novus sounds better (tighter bass and wider sound stage/smoother treble at the end of the day) but the Raven is probably a bit more engaging.
Softears Enigma:
The Softears Enigma felt like a very good balanced/neutral IEM with a solid sub-bass raise. The mids were very well done with good warmth to male vocals and good air to female vocals. Instruments were very detailed and the treble extension was elevated without sounding harsh or sibilant. This wasn't entirely my jam as I felt there could be some more bass but this was going for a more standard balanced approach and it was done very well.
Canpur CP622B:
Wow. There have been some sets that are very, very hyped (including a few of the remaining ones on my breakdown) and I can confidently say that each of them performed to the hype. For the Canpur, the things that stuck out to me the most were the extremely lush and full mids that were musical and technical at the same time. The bass was great (maybe didn't hit as hard as others like the FatFreq GM but very good/close), and there was extremely good elevation on treble. They did not seem to sound the most technical of some of the high end sets but they are no slouch.
PMG Apx SE:
How. How in the world? The only thing I wrote, because I was very lost in the music, was plainly: "Subwoofer in the ear, mids perfect, What" - the bass is some of the best, cleanest, fullest bass I've heard. There is definitely an expertly done shelf that actually was as close to hearing a subwoofer in an IEM as I've ever gotten. Mids were absolutely amazing, treble was elevated and sparkly yet controlled. I don't even know how. The craziest thing was as good as this sounds, it's small! Very comfortable! The nozzle is long (like the Cantor albeit not -as- long) but extremely comfortable in ear. Probably the second most comfortable IEM I wore all weekend. Just... how? I'm running out of internal organs to afford things.
Also, I took a terrible photo of them. My bad.
After sitting at the MusicTeck booth, I felt like I needed to walk around and was reminded of something. One last swing through to the FatFreq booth.
FatFreq Planar:
I think a few people may have been around me (and eventually Enigma) when we were listening to this.
I first asked Yeo about it and he responded with a "Ohhh, you heard about it??" and proceeded to go to locked up luggage to dig around for it. What I ended up holding in my hand was something extremely small and comfortable (probably the most comfortable IEM I wore that weekend). I did not take any photos (as this was still a prototype) but I felt like it was just so unfinished feeling so this was likely a secondary prototype and they're nowhere close to being done. It felt so lightweight that I was ready to be content but figured the S12 2024/S08 would probably be the planar go to now and days.
I was extremely wrong. Holy crap. I visibly mouthed out "What" to Yeo who responded, knowingly, with "I know, right?!" This planar set was extremely technical and detailed sounding but with the perfect amount of decay/attack that sounded like a DD especially with the bass. The bass was so satisfying as a basshead. That was on the stock module. When Ivan switched it to the SuperStage module, everything went up to 11. The bass felt and sounded as good as some of the higher end sets while the technical aspect really expanded. I don't even know how much more I can hype it up. There's a story about it in the video (posted at the end here) where I told Enigma to come over and listen to this dinky looking set. And he had the same reaction as I did.
We don't know when this set is coming out but Ivan/FatFreq has graciously allowed Enigma and I to hype it up a bit with things they're comfortable sharing which is that the tuning is basically done, the module implementation is done and now they're getting closer to the final stages. This could really drop the market hard like the Deuce.
*Because of phrasing - I'm mature*
After watching the spectacle that was the Diva giveaway (I had ticket #69 - again, I'm very mature), the last stop was Symphonium/Subtonic/Nightjar Booth! Finally. These gentlemen are very friendly and kind for allowing us to listen to a few things near the end of the show when they were probably tired. Thanks guys!
Subtonic Storm:
Wow. Where the Canpur and PMG are more colored/funner, the Subtonic Storm is leaning towards that extremely clean, balanced with top tier technical performance and detail to make up for the colored fun. These are extremely well tuned. They're great. They may be one of the best IEMs I've ever heard. I do think I'd prefer either the PMG or the Canpur instead if only due to the fact that they're more bass oriented in tuning. But, I think the Storm outperforms both of them from a treble/detail/technical performance and the Storm is just freaking special. There's a "Je ne sais quoi" quality from them.
NightJar Duality:
As someone who makes memes about how much he loves bass, I couldn't skip the Duality. Quality -freaking- bass - it's warm, bassy with the switch off. When the switch is on? Bass is not at 11, it's at 22. Double that 11. It's just that freaking amazing. Quality and quantity of bass is just another level. While still clean on the mids/treble and not taking away from it. The ability to switch on the fly really is fun and I'm looking forward to seeing this release. This was one of the main sets that made me smile (I mean I smiled at a lot but this was definitely one of them).
Honorable mentions - custom headphones from Philphone/XERO1:
Finally, the end. The Philphone. shoutout to @Zerousen for bringing both of his open/closed back Philphones. I didn't take a photo of the closed one but I want to shout out that I -love- the open back version. Probably a bit more than the closed back. There is a certain fun factor with them. Modded drivers into a comfortable open-back shell? Yes freaking please.
I also tried out @XERO1 's closed back and if you ever see him, ask to try them out. They're an absolutely great fun headphone. I'm, ultimately, going to eventually grab that open-back Philphone and XERO1's (if still available) but also have to do everything in moderation. Soon, though... Soon...
And that's a wrap! I don't want to repeat myself too much but SoCal CanJam 2024 has been a highlight of the year so far. I've met a lot of great people, talked to a lot of people in the industry (including meeting some YTers - Super*Review, Chonk, Zeos, Jaytiss, etc.) and other people from Head-Fi. But, I think my enthusiasm for the experience can be seen in this video that I think I already posted but figured I'd share again.
Was awesome geeking out in the hallway outside of CanJam with you, sir! And thank you to everyone who walked by and said "Hi!" including the FatFreq team, @jude and etc.
Until the next CanJam!
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Hi all!
Day 2 impressions posting - been a bit behind! Link to my Day 1 here: Day 1 Impressions
So, Day 2 was still relatively busy (likely just due to the sheer growth of the event - also the giveaways) but felt less crowded/more open than Day 1. I was still able to meet some new people (including people that come up regularly to my neck of CA and others that live more local to me!) and had great conversations with others. I don't want to butcher names and/or forget to name them so - super safe blanket statement - just want to reemphasize that the social aspect of CanJam was the best part of the weekend. And, it's carried over after the event.
(Maybe the real CanJams were the friends we made along the way)
Cayin N3Ultra:
This was actually something I was looking to try out. Shout out again to @EnigmaFotos - I got to borrow his Saturday Night and used it to listen to some IEMs while winding down that night. What a great DAP. The ability to toggle solid state vs tubes, the entire experience - Wow. It added that tube sweetness to music that I knew I would love. This is definitely on my list going forward.
Alright, onto the gear. I actually spent the initial part talking/hanging out/walking around before deciding that this was the time to listen to the Storm. So, I went to the Subtonic/Symphonium booth first. I grabbed a picture and then...
Well, Enigma (I'm going to end up tagging him way too many times, I need to stop lmao) told me he was going to skip his HE-1 experience. I took a great photo with @ericpalonen the night before but didn't end up listening as I wanted to go back downstairs and sneak my way into the Water-Cooler group photo.
So, when Enigma said he was going to skip his HE-1 experience... Well, sorry whoever was on the wait list.
Sennheiser HE-1:
The Sennheiser HE-1 is great. The experience of talking to Eric/hanging out, talking to everyone else in the group about their musical taste and experience, and just the general vibe is great. And then sitting in the chair to watch the HE-1's tubes rise out and picking -the- songs is quite fun. So, what songs did I go with? What better song to listen to on the HE-1 than something that celebrates hell freezing over.
The HE-1 is a warm, musical, emotional yet technically excellent experience. The bass is great (not as boosted as I'd generally want but there's a texture and smooth aspect that I can take away from it), the vocals are sweet and full, and the treble is just pleasant. It's as special as I remember it. It could very well be a lot of people's full "Money is no Object" end game. Or some people are like "Meh". But, in my subjective opinion, I'm in that former category. Also, taking quotes on a set of kidneys. Asking for a friend.
After the HE-1 experience, I went straight to the Bloom Audio exhibit. They still had some items to give away (but I didn't want to take any more since I had grabbed some Saturday morning). I will say, though, that Bloom came in clutch for me Sunday night. I only ended up eating breakfast with @Jaytiss in the morning but needed to drive back Sunday night to the Central Valley area (Fresno area specifically, hit me up if you're ever near!). I had to pull over to charge and most food options were closed. But, thankfully, I remembered that there was still a KitKat in my trunk and that was basically was sufficient enough to provide the sustenance I needed for the last leg of the drive. (Paid for by big Chocolate). @Andrew DiMarcangelo and @DiFazio - the entire team are awesome.
DC-Elite:
So, I've read a lot of hype around the iBasso DC-Elite and saw that Bloom had it in. So, of course, I wanted to test it out. I only listened to it for a few tracks but, I will say that I'm very impressed with the DC-Elite. There is definitely an elevation to the punch, dynamics and technicalities vs other portable DAC/AMPs that I've tried. I don't think it would fully replace a dedicated desktop solution (as I use the JDS Element 3 MK2) but it provides desktop worthy performance in a very compact form factor. The primary portable dac/amp that I brought with me was the Shanling Onyx XI1 - the Onyx is probably a bit more rounded and more tonally pleasant but, otherwise, DC-Elite does run laps on other parts around it.
I also should have tried the Cayin RU7 to compare against the Shanling Onyx but didn't want to press my time too much.
FiR RN6:
So, along with having it plugged into my Onyx, I did plug the RN6 into the DC-Elite. The FiR Radon 6 (which I believe is sold out except for CIEM) is still one of my favorite all-rounders I've ever heard. There's just pleasant, impactful, warm bass with great mids/treble. Yeah, there's just something about it that's special to me. But, I didn't spend as much time with it as I wanted to fully write down notes.
Going back into the main room, a lot of the booths were a bit busy but something caught my eye that I was super curious about. @Apos Audio booth had the Little Gremlin DIY Tube Amp that I was super curious about.
ATH-R70X Refine + Little Gremlin Tube AMP:
So, I'll mention that it could just be placebo but my original memory of the R70x is that it was very clean and analytical'esque with it's sound performance. The R70x Refine is way my cup of tea. It's warm, it's got good bass, the mids/treble were very pleasant. It could just also be an extension of the Little Gremlin tube amp, but I was super pleasantly surprised by the combination and how musical it sounded. At the price ($129? for the Little Gremlin? and $299 for the Refine), this is an absolutely awesome pairing. I'm definitely very curious about both. Also, the marketing campaign is gonna be fire.
@FiiO 's booth was busy and I originally wanted to try the K11 R2R in person but settled with their budget headphone.
Fiio FT1:
This set is ridiculously good at $150. The bass is full, deep - way more competent then I'd ever really anticipate at that price point - while the rest of the performance is stupid good. I think this is an easy recommendation for anyone looking under $200 and it's comfortable as hell. They're not fully neutral (way more U or light V-shaped) but very musical. Not the most technical set but this could be an easy pick up as a beater set to travel with and really hit a lot of marks.
From here, there was some more socializing/talking but I eventually found my way over to the @DUNU-Topsound booth where there was a few things I was definitely curious about! Special shout out to Kevin Sun who was extremely pleasant to talk to (even while DUNU's booth was extremely busy) and made it a point to actively engage everyone that came by while asking for feedback/thoughts. He came off super genuinely interested in everyone that was there. Thank you, sir!
DUNU DK-3001BD:
Wow. Okay, this 'Cyber' design or CyberPunk 2077 type of design is very, very cool. The configuration is 1DD+4BA+4Planar - I wasn't entirely sure what I was expecting but this was a very, very fun V-shaped IEM. I was getting a lot of deep bass (good mid-bass with fuller/warmer mids) but a lot of controlled energy on the treble end. Very pleasant and fun type of tuning. Treble was getting close to being a bit too much for my tastes but, at the same time, it's very well balanced by the good bass. I'm looking forward to this release!
DUNU Kima 2:
Where the DK-3001BD came across as V-shaped, I was getting a more subtle U or L shape here. For around $100, the Kima 2 looks like it's a hit. I'll admit I have not heard the original Kima so I don't have a frame of reference but the Kima 2 was comfortable, had very good bass energy and musicality to it while being very pleasant with the mids and smoothed on the treble side. It more than competes with it's peers in the same price bracket.
DUNU Arashi:
If I was a neutral'head, the Arashi is probably it. I'm, unfortuantely, not so these felt very nice and detailed but too analytical for my tastes. I loved the look of them and liked how comfortable they were but these were not my cup of tea. It was almost too flat. But, I liked them more than a few other headphones on this list...
So, after some time at the DUNU booth, I wandered around to the Fostex booth. I actually tried the open back flagship on Saturday but wanted to add impressions to my Sunday write up.
Fostex TH1000RP/Fostex TH1100RP:
Okay. So, without a doubt, the closed back TH1000RP were probably my biggest disappointment for CanJam. I really, really like Fostex and I've heard their other lineup before which are usually well loved by bass-heads. So, to my dismay, these felt so lifeless. The open back version, actually, had more character to them with the sound stage and it felt like I could hear more bass.
But, I did -not- like the closed back version. It felt like it was missing everything. Soundstage was OK'ish for a closed back. The bass, though, was non-existent and the mids felt very thin. This seemed so uncharacteristic to what Fostex usually is about. I hope I'm not coming off as too harsh but I just wasn't a fan.
Fostex T50RP mk4:
After being disappointed by the closed back, I was guided to try the new mk4 of the T50RP. There we go. I'd rather take multiple versions of this one than the TH1000RP or TH1100RP. The mk4 felt more W-shaped with some bite on the mid-range/vocals with good bass/treble extension. I was getting some bright'ness on these from my brief listening so I don't know if I would pick these up but I would definitely pick them up over the TH1000RP.
Afterwards, I went to the Moondrop Booth because I was curious about the Kadenz as the new Kato successor. I only listened to the Kadenz for a few tracks, I asked about the Concerto but the person at the booth I don't think was able to find it (it may have been in use? Not sure) so I just said "Thank you" and left. Didn't have the best experience or vibe at the Moondrop booth this year.
Moondrop Kadenz:
I don't think I like the Kadenz. I loved the Kato as a smooth, musical, chill set but I felt like the Kadenz lost that edge in favor of sounding more V-shaped. But, I also didn't check what nozzles were attached so this could be different on release. I just didn't get the best vibe so maybe the Kadenz may be better than I'm giving it credit for. (I used my own tips and not the spring tips).
Back to the @MusicTeck booth! I think I spent basically the rest of Day 2 here and the Symphonium/Subtonic booth.
Tansio Mirai Shock:
So, even though I sat at the MusicTeck booth again, I actually got to try out @TimmyT916 's personal Tansio Mirai Shock. I have to admit that these are actually very, very good. The immersion from the BCD really helped add to the mid-range which was very full/lush sounding. The bass was satisfying and the treble response was very smooth. It was very competent from sound stage and imaging point of view; I think I would have appreciated it more in a quieter setting but, as is, it was a very good IEM. The special sauce would probably lie more in the fact that you can further tune it/dial in the sound you want but I was going off of someone else's preset and would never screw with another person's hard work like that.
Penon Rival:
So, I also got to try out @emdeevee 's Penon Rival with his own dialed in settings as well. To get this out of the way, the amount of customization is ridiculous. It's impressive but I don't know if I would ever want to own one and spend so much time playing around. I think that's why I would gravitate towards like the NOAH modules from FatFreq vs playing around with dampeners. With that being said, take everything I said about the Mirai Shock and the Penon Rival sounds better and does it better. It's even more impactful, detailed, textured, perfect decay on bass while having very good full/satisfying mids. I think it's very competitive against the competition in it's price bracket with some nods towards the Rival due to being able to EQ it via hardware. It's not for me but I -get- it.
A&K (w/ Empire Ears) Novus:
Having heard the Raven previously before, I was super excited to try out the Novus. I think, at the end of the day, the Novus is probably 'technically' (pun intended) better than the Raven in that it's very controlled, detailed, performance is great but I also don't think it has that 'fun' factor that the Raven has. That's not trying to say the Novus is safe sounding but it almost feels polite where a lot of other IEMs come across as very large sounding or with a different flavor/spin. I would say the Novus sounds better (tighter bass and wider sound stage/smoother treble at the end of the day) but the Raven is probably a bit more engaging.
Softears Enigma:
The Softears Enigma felt like a very good balanced/neutral IEM with a solid sub-bass raise. The mids were very well done with good warmth to male vocals and good air to female vocals. Instruments were very detailed and the treble extension was elevated without sounding harsh or sibilant. This wasn't entirely my jam as I felt there could be some more bass but this was going for a more standard balanced approach and it was done very well.
Canpur CP622B:
Wow. There have been some sets that are very, very hyped (including a few of the remaining ones on my breakdown) and I can confidently say that each of them performed to the hype. For the Canpur, the things that stuck out to me the most were the extremely lush and full mids that were musical and technical at the same time. The bass was great (maybe didn't hit as hard as others like the FatFreq GM but very good/close), and there was extremely good elevation on treble. They did not seem to sound the most technical of some of the high end sets but they are no slouch.
PMG Apx SE:
How. How in the world? The only thing I wrote, because I was very lost in the music, was plainly: "Subwoofer in the ear, mids perfect, What" - the bass is some of the best, cleanest, fullest bass I've heard. There is definitely an expertly done shelf that actually was as close to hearing a subwoofer in an IEM as I've ever gotten. Mids were absolutely amazing, treble was elevated and sparkly yet controlled. I don't even know how. The craziest thing was as good as this sounds, it's small! Very comfortable! The nozzle is long (like the Cantor albeit not -as- long) but extremely comfortable in ear. Probably the second most comfortable IEM I wore all weekend. Just... how? I'm running out of internal organs to afford things.
Also, I took a terrible photo of them. My bad.
After sitting at the MusicTeck booth, I felt like I needed to walk around and was reminded of something. One last swing through to the FatFreq booth.
FatFreq Planar:
I think a few people may have been around me (and eventually Enigma) when we were listening to this.
I first asked Yeo about it and he responded with a "Ohhh, you heard about it??" and proceeded to go to locked up luggage to dig around for it. What I ended up holding in my hand was something extremely small and comfortable (probably the most comfortable IEM I wore that weekend). I did not take any photos (as this was still a prototype) but I felt like it was just so unfinished feeling so this was likely a secondary prototype and they're nowhere close to being done. It felt so lightweight that I was ready to be content but figured the S12 2024/S08 would probably be the planar go to now and days.
I was extremely wrong. Holy crap. I visibly mouthed out "What" to Yeo who responded, knowingly, with "I know, right?!" This planar set was extremely technical and detailed sounding but with the perfect amount of decay/attack that sounded like a DD especially with the bass. The bass was so satisfying as a basshead. That was on the stock module. When Ivan switched it to the SuperStage module, everything went up to 11. The bass felt and sounded as good as some of the higher end sets while the technical aspect really expanded. I don't even know how much more I can hype it up. There's a story about it in the video (posted at the end here) where I told Enigma to come over and listen to this dinky looking set. And he had the same reaction as I did.
We don't know when this set is coming out but Ivan/FatFreq has graciously allowed Enigma and I to hype it up a bit with things they're comfortable sharing which is that the tuning is basically done, the module implementation is done and now they're getting closer to the final stages. This could really drop the market hard like the Deuce.
*Because of phrasing - I'm mature*
After watching the spectacle that was the Diva giveaway (I had ticket #69 - again, I'm very mature), the last stop was Symphonium/Subtonic/Nightjar Booth! Finally. These gentlemen are very friendly and kind for allowing us to listen to a few things near the end of the show when they were probably tired. Thanks guys!
Subtonic Storm:
Wow. Where the Canpur and PMG are more colored/funner, the Subtonic Storm is leaning towards that extremely clean, balanced with top tier technical performance and detail to make up for the colored fun. These are extremely well tuned. They're great. They may be one of the best IEMs I've ever heard. I do think I'd prefer either the PMG or the Canpur instead if only due to the fact that they're more bass oriented in tuning. But, I think the Storm outperforms both of them from a treble/detail/technical performance and the Storm is just freaking special. There's a "Je ne sais quoi" quality from them.
NightJar Duality:
As someone who makes memes about how much he loves bass, I couldn't skip the Duality. Quality -freaking- bass - it's warm, bassy with the switch off. When the switch is on? Bass is not at 11, it's at 22. Double that 11. It's just that freaking amazing. Quality and quantity of bass is just another level. While still clean on the mids/treble and not taking away from it. The ability to switch on the fly really is fun and I'm looking forward to seeing this release. This was one of the main sets that made me smile (I mean I smiled at a lot but this was definitely one of them).
Honorable mentions - custom headphones from Philphone/XERO1:
Finally, the end. The Philphone. shoutout to @Zerousen for bringing both of his open/closed back Philphones. I didn't take a photo of the closed one but I want to shout out that I -love- the open back version. Probably a bit more than the closed back. There is a certain fun factor with them. Modded drivers into a comfortable open-back shell? Yes freaking please.
I also tried out @XERO1 's closed back and if you ever see him, ask to try them out. They're an absolutely great fun headphone. I'm, ultimately, going to eventually grab that open-back Philphone and XERO1's (if still available) but also have to do everything in moderation. Soon, though... Soon...
And that's a wrap! I don't want to repeat myself too much but SoCal CanJam 2024 has been a highlight of the year so far. I've met a lot of great people, talked to a lot of people in the industry (including meeting some YTers - Super*Review, Chonk, Zeos, Jaytiss, etc.) and other people from Head-Fi. But, I think my enthusiasm for the experience can be seen in this video that I think I already posted but figured I'd share again.
Was awesome geeking out in the hallway outside of CanJam with you, sir! And thank you to everyone who walked by and said "Hi!" including the FatFreq team, @jude and etc.
Until the next CanJam!
Awesome write up and thoughts! That FatFreq planar really has my interest piqued! I also agree with the APX being one of the most comfortable IEMs I tried that weekend, too. How did they make it so small…
If ever I’m near Fresno, I’ll try to hit you up, too. If ever back in Orange County, please feel free to do the same, sir!
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