What can I say? I listen to everything
Anyway...
Here are my impressions! And pictures [quality varies. Sorry!]!
I had the pleasure to listen to the Orpheus combo. To me, it was the best sounding electrostat at the show. A bit more musical, a bit smoother. An euphonic tinge in the sound towards musicality, with nice bass, super clear treble and balanced mids. Soundstage a bit smaller than the HD800. Overall the best electrostat IMO, usable for modern genres. It is not a headphone that I would use as my daily driver though, as I feel it a bit too clinical and analytic. Still, I can definitely understand why people rave about it and I did prefer it to the Staxes... I imagine this is what an electrostatic HD800 could sound like. Here's to the Orpheus 2! But I still don't think I'll be privileged enough to own one
I met Moe, Jude, Warren and the rest of the gang! FINALLY! Everybody was super cool and super nice. And we hanged out quite a bit after the show as well. The people at Canjam [vendors included] were definitely one of the highlights of the show and I look forward to seeing them again!
I spent almost two hours with the HEK on my second day, powered by the EF6. This was definitely THE headphone of the show for me. It just sounded amazing with everything I threw at it. The balance was perfect. The bass was just amazing - deep, tactile and big, but it somehow never really intruded into the mids! The treble was super smooth and extended and vocals sounded just flat out amazing. The midrange was excellent two. Soundsdtage was very spacious and separation remained top. The HE1000 ticked all the boxes for me. The conns? It's HUGE and pricey. 3K is a tough pill... Will I end up with one? We'll see
The Audio Technica W3000ANV is a beautiful headphone. Well balanced to my ears. Not quite a bargain at its MSRP, but boy was it a looker!
Moe and Jude had an impressive IEM corner at the show. Me, not being quite the IEM guy, still found it impressive to say the least. Lots of people stopped by to listen to the collection. And a huge collection it was!
The Hifiman table, hosted by Peter, Josselin and Summer. Had all their full-sizes and DAPs on hand. Good stuff! As a proud owner of an HM601LE, [and as someone who has, had or tried almost every HFM full-size headphone and current IEM] I can see myself likewise owning the HM650 when the 601 passes away.
The Viva table. I did not notice the Kennerton Odin so no listening impressions for that one :/ The equipment on the table was pretty expensive and exotic though!
The Fostex table. Listened only to the TH500RP. Not bad, but to my ears it was a bit too dark and mid centric... Only listened briefly though. Nice people though!
I really liked the Questyle DAPs. Beautiful and sounded awesome. I spent some time listening at the table and enjoyed what I heard. Also chatted to the Que people and they were super nice!
I really liked the Pendulumic Stances! Wireless, on the cheap side, but very nice sounding and well built! I didn't find them all that comfy though and I wasn't looking for on the go phones. Worth a listen for sure though! Nice people allround as well.
Brimar table. Some nice looking stuff. Didn't sit by though.
I finally got to try all the Audezes. I'd rank them as follows - LCD-X > LCD2 > EL-8 Open > LCD-XC/LCD3 > EL-8 Closed. The first three sounded very good to my ears, while I wasn't too impressed by the LCD3. I'd still have to rule them out for comfort reasons though... I just couldn't wear them for too long... The X sounded great though, the EL8 open did too for the money I thought. The LCD2 would be my safe pick if I wanted to venture into the Audeze land :] Awesome folks at Audeze too. Very friendly and encouraging!
Beyerdynamic table. Did not stop by to listen unfortunately... Would be curios to try the T1.
The hi-fi magazine. Nice read, grabbed a sample. They handed out some 400S at the end as well as a 400i and a HEK [!].
Chord electronics. I only stopped by briefly as I was really mostly looking out to try the different phones rather than other gear. Their selection of headphones to try with their products was not the best though [T70s and Nighthawks] and I didn't enjoy their gear much through them. So I can't really comment on their stuff as there weren't any headphones I'd like to try their gear on.
The Schiit and Mr. Speakers table. Let's start by saying that Dan is The Man! I chatted with the guy A LOT. I learnt lots of interesting stuff about him and his work. Super modest and nice. Mark from electromod was also super nice and funny. They were both very willing and just a blast to hang out with. Dan actually had an infection problem on the day of the show, but he still was there both days! Classy lad, and dedicated. I listened to the Open Ether and to my ears it was the second best headphone of the show, behind the HEK. Top notch balance, super smooth and extended treble, nice mids and deep bass. And it also wins the most COMFY headphone EVER award! The closed Ether was just as good, but I more preferred the tonality of the open one. The C was comparatively a bit less spacious/airy, a bit smoother and a bit more ballsy in the bass. Technically just as good and just as comfy though!
I also listened to the Raggy and Yggy and the Gungnir MB for a bit. They all sounded very good and technically better than my own Theta... But, I just like my Theta better signature wise even if it is not as technical, detailed or extended. It has an unparalleled smoothness and musicality to my ears that nothing can touch. So I do certainly recommend the Schiit to anyone looking for a super detailed and revealing R2R DAC. I'll be sticking to the likes of Theta and the PCM chips [audio-gd] :} I might also end up with the open Ether later this year, though there is something else I need to confirm.
The Hyper Dynamic Transducer was the overachiever of the show for me. It will retail for under 200$, and utilizes a hybrid driver design - a dynamic + piezo-electric combo. That thing sounded incredible for the price to my ears [someone even called it a poor man's Layla, but I can't confirm nor deny that
]. The treble was super clear, yet never sounded harsh somehow. The bass [depending on tips] sounded super big and deeeeeep! To my ears, it was slightly V-shaped but I really liked the sound A LOT. It has similar FR to the AKG K3003 I believe. Very comfy and lightweight too. I also really liked the Jaben guy. He was super courteous and friendly. I can certainly see myself owning a pair of these when they're released later this year!
The Audioquest table. As for the Nighthawk. I won't say too much about it. Just that I did not like it too much. Very comfy though.
A German company that apparently makes amplifiers tailored to specific headphones! Did not sit by, but the idea sounds intriguing! Except for the price, which I believe to be north of 2K :/
Cables!
I also listened to the HD800 and HD700 for the first time! The HD800 really does sound special. The soundstage sounded super big and spacious, with a bright-ish tonality. Similarly to the Staxes, I can't see myself owning these as the all-rounder headphone that I am currently looking for... But it was a very special experience indeed. Nothing quite like listening to the HD800 for the first time :] Or the ORPHEUS! The HD700 I also liked quite a bit. I would probably be willing to call it an HD800 lite to a point, but the soundstage is smaller [still fairly large though] and it just doesn't really sound like the HD800 because of that. Still, they are fairly close signature wise, so on the bright side. Both very comfy and I'd say the 700 is well priced for what it does. HD630 VB, the new Variable Bass Sennheiser, was also there to try. I thought it good but not great. I believe it is priced in the 4 - 500$ range, which makes it a bit more difficult to recommend. But overall, good, just not as great as I wished it would be :]
The HE90, Orpheus and HDVD800.
Sennheiser Reshaping the Experience!
The Pioneer table with their Limited Edition flagship, MASTER-1. Limited, because it truly will be limited when it launches later this year - only a 1.000 will be made, hand-made and serialized individually. All steel construction, open backed. I found them very comfy to begin with, close to the Ether and HEK level. The sound was okay. The treble was nice and airy but not as smooth as I'd like. The bass was tight and quite punchy actually. The midrange was well represented, especially in the upper range, though I definitely found there to be some recession in the lower mid-upper bass region. For 1699 Pounds, they don't sound bad and if you like the signature, I can see someone owning a pair. But I see them more as a collector's item than a value champ at their MSRP, more akin to the 3000ANV, which also sounds Ok but is more a collection piece IMO.
The Oppo table was bustling all day! I quite enjoyed the all the PM.s. I liked the PM1 best but I also liked the PM2 and 3. The open PM 1 and 2 did sounded like a closed headphone to me though, and since they don't offer much isolation, I'd rather spring for a more open sounding headphone. That said, they did sound well balanced and very good overall, the PM1 being the slightly more extended headphone than the PM2. The PM3 I liked just as much but the earpads are just too small for my ears :/ Other than that, I'd certainly recommend it as a very solid porta choice. I liked the table overall, and certainly think that the PM headphones sounded good enough for their asking price, if lacking a bit up top.
Did not stop by.
Oh god I wish I stopped by the JH table... I really wanted to give the Roxanne and the Layla a long listen... But there was only so much time!
I stopped by Vmoda for a bit, I liked the guy, but the sound signature just wasn't for me.
I really wanted to listen to the new R70X at the Audio Technica table... Which was like the one headphone they didn't bring -_- Oh well! Nice line-up still!
The SMS table. They had a similar signature to the Vmodas. So not my thing.
I listened to the K812 for the first time at the AKG table. I found the treble a bit too much for my taste. A bit too much sibilance. I also listened to the new N90Q, which measures your ears for calibration. I still found the sound a bit too bright for my taste though, similar to the K812 signature wise, and I found them a bit too pricey for that. The noise cancelling was amazing though! Top notch isolation.
Snugs do ear impressions and make CIEM tips. I believe they use medical grade silicon for these. I was impressed but I currently do not own any CIEMs. I did enjoy chatting to the Snug guy. He knew a lot and I enjoyed the convo.
The Soundmagic table. I listened to the new Soundmagic portable model [whose name escapes me]. Unfortunately, I still find my own HP100 superior, for a similar price. The HP100 is my current on the go HP, just FYI :]
Final Audio Design. Did not stop by unfortunately. Looks nice and shiny though!
The Headamp table. I talked to Peter. Great guy! I actually bought the HE6 from HeadAmp, though I think I probably forgot to mention that to him
I did listen to the Stax SR009 and I believe the sr007 MKI on the Blue Hawaii... I did like the sound! But I found the treble a bit too much on the 009. The clarity and extension was awesome, but there was just a bit too much of it for me. The bass definitely turned me off. The quantity was severely lacking to my ears. The SR007 sounded preferable to my ears, but that one I actually found a bit too dark and smooth in the treble. Still, the biggest complain for me would be the comfort - the earpads just aren't deep and firm enough and my ears touched the drivers all the time, which was very unpleasant. Those earpads are very pricey and as such this is unacceptable to me by principle. I'd definitely give the nod to the HE90 [x10 for comfort alone!], followed by either the 009 or 007. Admittedly, I was really looking forward to listening to the Staxes and the electrostats in general, but they left me a bit cold overall... I for one can't see myself owning one in the future and not because of the price
But that's just me -_^
I didn't stop by Aid2hearing but I assume they make hearing aid devices? If yes, then that's commendable! If not, then I dunno what they do :}
The second room
The first room
I was surprised that the venue was overall pretty silent! This allowed me to listen to the open headphones fairly critically as well, which was really nice! Definitely kudos to everyone for being sporty! An awesome venue overall! Rusell hotel was beautiful.
The Creative room, which was separate [because they had speakers as well, so that they wouldn't disturb]. They had the Aurvana headphones, the Sound Blaster X7 digital signal processor, which I own, the EMU speakers and much more! I only stopped there for a bit, but it was a really nice place to be in, if the time allowed.
A selfie with Dan The Man. He was super nice :3
There was one headphone that I really wanted to listen to that wasn't there, which was the ENIGMAcoustics Dharma. I sincerely hope I'll get to listen to that one soon! This is because I am currently looking for a new all-rounder flagship [just sold my brilliant HE560 recently] and am currently looking at these 3 pics - the HE1000, the Ether open and the Dharma. So i really wanted to hear it! Perhaps another time, and hopefully soon!
Overall, this was an amazing experience for me! I got to spend time with amazing people, listening to amazing headphones! This is about as good as it gets
I also want to thank Jude & Co once again for managing the first ever European Canjam and for making it just so bloody epic! You have my huge thanks!
With this, I conclude my impressions. I'll answer any questions [if there are] as best as I can ^_^
Hope everyone had as much of a blast as I did.
Enjoy the read!
Cheers everyone
See ya'll around!