I thought I would take this time to share a little end of year wrapup. I'm back to work tomorrow (F.F.S) and once that happens I'll be back to only being able to engage with the community on select evenings or on weekends...so apologies in advance if it feels like I'm spamming the thread today, as after today I'll have much less time for posts like this.
First off, thank-you everyone for the shoutouts this last few days. The primary aim of this thread, in so much as my own intentions are concerned, is to facilitate community, fellowship and connection among like minded individuals who share often little in common except for their love of this hobby. Sharing and gathering information about the gear we purchase is of course important-- but to me it's always been of secondary in importance to the community aspect. A lot of this, admittedly, has to do with everything this world has gone through-- and continues to go through-- this past 3-4 years where isolation, uncertainty and fear has been thrust in large measure onto the world as a whole. It's great to have a place, as many acknowledge, whose members span the globe and where folks of all races, ages and backgrounds can come together in a spirit that defies the disuniting trends of our times. Further, as someone pointed out, it's great to have an "old school" hangout that flies in the of the zombie-inducing social media platforms that make up the bulk of people's online time it seems these days. So, from the bottom of my heart I want to thank each and everyone who posts, contributes, lurks or otherwise is a part of the fabric of this place. It's become a large and irreplacable piece of my life-- and I many others likely feel the same way. Here's to you all, and to the future.
As part of my year end wrapup I would like to share some of the experiences that helped define 2023 for me.
Community Experiences.
One of my realizations about this hobby can be expressed in the statement "we come for the gear, but stay for the fellowship". It was seeking information about gear that got me onto Head Fi once upon a time but it's the community here that keeps me coming back. I'm fortunate to have gotten to a point where I've experienced pretty much the length and breadth of the portable landscape, where I know exactly what I like and that there isn't much new coming out that really excites me all that much. FOMO is very much a thing early on but I've found that if you pursue this hobby systematically and honestly the FOMO factor tends to diminish considerably as time goes on.
On the other hand the community experiences are a bottomless resevoir of joy and never diminish and nowhere is this better tyified than at CanJams. I only made it to two this year-- NYC and SoCal but they are incredibly rich with memories that will not fade any time soon. Some highlights (in rough order of the time they occurred):
1) Meeting @Natesdailies at the airport on the way to NYC and sharing a train to the venue and experiencing together the dawning excitement of being in Times Square, Manhattan.
2) Connecting with @RTodd and @Frankie D for what turned out to be Todd's birthday dinner in Manhattan.
3) Gathering in Todd's room late the first night with @wazzupi , Frankie, @HiFiHawaii808 , Todd and others to demo gear-- and finally getting to hear the Erlkonig.
4) Pizza in Times Square with @HiFiHawaii808
5) Meeting Vlad from fir and the legend @twister6 in person
6) Meeting up at random times throughout the day to communicate our excitement about whatever had captured our mind and heart that day.
7) Being picked up at the airport by @emdeevee and driving to the CanJam venue-- it was a great way to start the show.
8) Spending time with @jude and @warrenpchi on the show floor that first night and hearing him praise the Cooler community to its embodying old school hobby and community values.
9) An unforgettable conversation with @bigbeans and his dad that got quite deep.
10) Sports bar hell followed by some epic Korean BBQ. Good things came to those of us who waited.
11) Always a highlight is spending time with GOATS @Andrew DiMarcangelo and the Bloom crew, @Eric Chong from eletech, @Chang from NIghtJar/Subtonic and Andrew from @MusicTeck
12) Meeting Caleb Roseneau in person and finally being able to express my affection for Campfire to one of the main guys in person.
13) And of course the excitement of oganizing the group photos and wearing the cooler name tags with pride.
The list goes on and on but you get the idea. I'm so stoked for CanJam NYC!
2023 Gear Highlights
Caveat-- What follows is based on my personal tastes. It's not meant as an ordered ranking in an objective sense. The stuff I own is on top as I'm more familar with it.
1) Campfire Trifecta + Sony DMP Z1, Sony WM1Z
The Trifecta has been my favorite IEM all year, and that doesn't show any signs of changing soon (though the Perpetua is currently standing alongside it, which I'll cover in a bit). I don't want to get to much into this as I've already said everything I want to say about this IEM. That said 1) It's been a pleasure to watch the regard and appreciation for this IEM grow within the community. There is been no shortage of derision and scorn from elitists and chin stroking pundits who would rather leave CFA out of the TOTL conversation altogether, however despite all this people have been judging with their own ears and, while certainly not for everyone, there are a good number of folks for whom the Trifecta hits all the right buttons and it's been nice to see that recognition. Secondly, 2) I've had the pleasure of hearing the Trifecta with both the DMP-Z1 and the WM1Z and quite honestly it's like hearing a whole new IEM. @named name told me once that he didn't really understand the Trifecta until he heard it through the 1Z and I have to say it's really something else.
2) Dita Perpetua
Here's an IEM that came out sometime in 2022 but that I didn't pay much mind to until @Sajid Amit and a few others started singing it's praises. Eventually an opportunity arose late in the year and I picked up a set for myself...and quite honestly I couldn't be happer. The Perpetua doesn't reveal itself right off the bat but the more I listened the more I fell in love. The tuning is well balanced, the stage decently large, coherence and timbre are stunning and the bass is deeply satisfying. It may sound cliche but the Perpetua is one of the most perfect "total package" IEMs I've heard for my tastes. Some may question the idea of a $3k single DD-- but please hear it before you write it off. It's build quality (titanium + glass shell) is off the charts good and the sound, if appreciate DD sound, holds court with any of the more expensive hybrid setups that I've heard. Perpetua is a work of class and refinement and is the best IEM I heard for the first time in 2023. PS - it helps that is also has mind bogglingly good synergy with the WM1Z as well as with the Hiby RS8.
3) Campfire Audio Bonneville
Along with the Perpetua this was the other major surprise for me in 2023. I went to SoCal knowing about it but not having any real interest in demoing it however by the end of the show it emerged as one of my favorites-- and was my listening choice du jour for a good two months following the SoCal show. To my ears the Bonneville is a near-perfect representation of everything I love about the CFA house sound-- decently technical, great bass, well balanced but fun, excellent timbre and soundstage. It's been great to see the popularity of this IEM take off an I imagine it's going to have a great year in 2024.
4) Sources: Luxury & Precision LP6, Hiby RS8, Sony WM1Z, AK SR35
As far as sources go 2023 for me was the year of R2R daps. I know the WM1Z is not R2R but whatever Sony's secret sauce is manifests similarly to my ears. All 3 of these devices have a sound characterized by effortless, refined, flowing analogue goodness. The Sony is my favorite (I'm a Sony person) because the sound of that player has an extra level of je ne said quoi refinement across he board to my ears...and it happens to synergize especially well with my IEMs. As someone who doesn't need Android the user experience of the 1Z utterly annihilates the LP6 IMHO. Lastly there is the AK SR35, my little pocket rocket. Deceptively great sounding, eminently portable, warmish but technical and full sounding a la CS DACs. My ultra portable budget friendly source of choice.
5) Noble Viking Damascus
I only managed a few brief demos of this once in NYC when it belonged to @wazzupi and a couple times again when the same unit belonged to @HiFiHawaii808. This is one of those IEMs that burned a deep impression in my consiousness that has not faded after all this time. One of the most impressively technical and engaging sets I've heard. To my ears the Damascus is just slightly more balanced and impactful in the bass than the Ragnar. YMMV.
6) CanPur CP622B
I had this unit on tour and it left a striking impression me for an IEM without a DD that I heard very briefly. Addictive romance and secred sauce in the mids even if the bass wasn't quite there. I'll be getting this unit back for a few days so I'll abe able to reassess. I predict this one getting even more popular in 2024.
7) Unique Melody Amber Pearl
I don't generally jive with UM's sound (the Mentor didn't really cut it for me) but I'll be damned if the Amber Pearl doesn't have the most addictive and seductive midrange presentations-- especially in the vocals-- that I've ever heard. Breathy, seductive, beautiful. IMHO this fixes everything that I didn't like about the Mentor-- less energy in the upper mids and better bass. That price though...
8) Fir Rn6
The Rn6 is my favorite of the Frontiers. The Xe6 never quite did it for me but I can understand why fans of that IEM won't typically prefer this one. The Rn6 has that sort of innoffensive "does everything pretty well" even keeled character that characerizes many of 64 Audio's IEMs. It's got just a bit of everything and doesn't do anything really wrong-- good bass, technical, no FR weirdness, e-stat goodness up top, BCD down low. I could see this struggling in a collection however if I had to pick one IEM for someone I did not know and wanted to choose one that excelled at a bit of everything I would probably choose this. A triumph from Fir Audio IMHO.
9) Subtonic STORM
This IEM has been quite a sensation this year-- all the more remarkable given how rare it is. It's something of the Philosopher's Stone of the IEM world. Delightfully transparent, top tier BA bass, impecably balanced. Midrange is a little dry for my tastes but that's par for the course with reference IEMs. I get why this IEM has captured the u12t gang's heart even if it's outside the range of my personal prefernces.
10) Oriolus Monachaa
Another lovely bird. Typical Oriolus tuning magic expressed through 4 DDs (though they're not all DDs in the typical sense). Definite midrange magic here, especially in the upper mids. Difficult to drive, but rewarding if you mange to drive it well. Reminiscent of a DD Traillii in some ways.
11) Aroma Fei Wan
Lots to love about this IEM. Some of the most impressive 3d holographic imaging I've heard-- and possibly the best I've heard from an IEM without BCD. A little too energetic up top for me and as such was hard for me to listen to for extended sessions. This is just a personal beef-- many I respect love this IEM to death and don't have the issues I do. Definitely one worth checking out if for no other reason than to experience it to see where it lands for you. Build quality is qute meh, however...especially for a $5k product.
12) Campfire Audio Cascara
Last but not least the CFA Cascara-- one of the most desceptively great IEMs I've heard recently and one which imho defies it's price. This is my "budget pick" of 2023. The Cascara does a lot well for a bombastic bass heavy set-- mid range enthusiasts will find a lot to love here.
All of this to say-- Happy New Year Watercooler. I love each and everyone here. All the best in 2024!
First off, thank-you everyone for the shoutouts this last few days. The primary aim of this thread, in so much as my own intentions are concerned, is to facilitate community, fellowship and connection among like minded individuals who share often little in common except for their love of this hobby. Sharing and gathering information about the gear we purchase is of course important-- but to me it's always been of secondary in importance to the community aspect. A lot of this, admittedly, has to do with everything this world has gone through-- and continues to go through-- this past 3-4 years where isolation, uncertainty and fear has been thrust in large measure onto the world as a whole. It's great to have a place, as many acknowledge, whose members span the globe and where folks of all races, ages and backgrounds can come together in a spirit that defies the disuniting trends of our times. Further, as someone pointed out, it's great to have an "old school" hangout that flies in the of the zombie-inducing social media platforms that make up the bulk of people's online time it seems these days. So, from the bottom of my heart I want to thank each and everyone who posts, contributes, lurks or otherwise is a part of the fabric of this place. It's become a large and irreplacable piece of my life-- and I many others likely feel the same way. Here's to you all, and to the future.
As part of my year end wrapup I would like to share some of the experiences that helped define 2023 for me.
Community Experiences.
One of my realizations about this hobby can be expressed in the statement "we come for the gear, but stay for the fellowship". It was seeking information about gear that got me onto Head Fi once upon a time but it's the community here that keeps me coming back. I'm fortunate to have gotten to a point where I've experienced pretty much the length and breadth of the portable landscape, where I know exactly what I like and that there isn't much new coming out that really excites me all that much. FOMO is very much a thing early on but I've found that if you pursue this hobby systematically and honestly the FOMO factor tends to diminish considerably as time goes on.
On the other hand the community experiences are a bottomless resevoir of joy and never diminish and nowhere is this better tyified than at CanJams. I only made it to two this year-- NYC and SoCal but they are incredibly rich with memories that will not fade any time soon. Some highlights (in rough order of the time they occurred):
1) Meeting @Natesdailies at the airport on the way to NYC and sharing a train to the venue and experiencing together the dawning excitement of being in Times Square, Manhattan.
2) Connecting with @RTodd and @Frankie D for what turned out to be Todd's birthday dinner in Manhattan.
3) Gathering in Todd's room late the first night with @wazzupi , Frankie, @HiFiHawaii808 , Todd and others to demo gear-- and finally getting to hear the Erlkonig.
4) Pizza in Times Square with @HiFiHawaii808
5) Meeting Vlad from fir and the legend @twister6 in person
6) Meeting up at random times throughout the day to communicate our excitement about whatever had captured our mind and heart that day.
7) Being picked up at the airport by @emdeevee and driving to the CanJam venue-- it was a great way to start the show.
8) Spending time with @jude and @warrenpchi on the show floor that first night and hearing him praise the Cooler community to its embodying old school hobby and community values.
9) An unforgettable conversation with @bigbeans and his dad that got quite deep.
10) Sports bar hell followed by some epic Korean BBQ. Good things came to those of us who waited.
11) Always a highlight is spending time with GOATS @Andrew DiMarcangelo and the Bloom crew, @Eric Chong from eletech, @Chang from NIghtJar/Subtonic and Andrew from @MusicTeck
12) Meeting Caleb Roseneau in person and finally being able to express my affection for Campfire to one of the main guys in person.
13) And of course the excitement of oganizing the group photos and wearing the cooler name tags with pride.
The list goes on and on but you get the idea. I'm so stoked for CanJam NYC!
2023 Gear Highlights
Caveat-- What follows is based on my personal tastes. It's not meant as an ordered ranking in an objective sense. The stuff I own is on top as I'm more familar with it.
1) Campfire Trifecta + Sony DMP Z1, Sony WM1Z
The Trifecta has been my favorite IEM all year, and that doesn't show any signs of changing soon (though the Perpetua is currently standing alongside it, which I'll cover in a bit). I don't want to get to much into this as I've already said everything I want to say about this IEM. That said 1) It's been a pleasure to watch the regard and appreciation for this IEM grow within the community. There is been no shortage of derision and scorn from elitists and chin stroking pundits who would rather leave CFA out of the TOTL conversation altogether, however despite all this people have been judging with their own ears and, while certainly not for everyone, there are a good number of folks for whom the Trifecta hits all the right buttons and it's been nice to see that recognition. Secondly, 2) I've had the pleasure of hearing the Trifecta with both the DMP-Z1 and the WM1Z and quite honestly it's like hearing a whole new IEM. @named name told me once that he didn't really understand the Trifecta until he heard it through the 1Z and I have to say it's really something else.
2) Dita Perpetua
Here's an IEM that came out sometime in 2022 but that I didn't pay much mind to until @Sajid Amit and a few others started singing it's praises. Eventually an opportunity arose late in the year and I picked up a set for myself...and quite honestly I couldn't be happer. The Perpetua doesn't reveal itself right off the bat but the more I listened the more I fell in love. The tuning is well balanced, the stage decently large, coherence and timbre are stunning and the bass is deeply satisfying. It may sound cliche but the Perpetua is one of the most perfect "total package" IEMs I've heard for my tastes. Some may question the idea of a $3k single DD-- but please hear it before you write it off. It's build quality (titanium + glass shell) is off the charts good and the sound, if appreciate DD sound, holds court with any of the more expensive hybrid setups that I've heard. Perpetua is a work of class and refinement and is the best IEM I heard for the first time in 2023. PS - it helps that is also has mind bogglingly good synergy with the WM1Z as well as with the Hiby RS8.
3) Campfire Audio Bonneville
Along with the Perpetua this was the other major surprise for me in 2023. I went to SoCal knowing about it but not having any real interest in demoing it however by the end of the show it emerged as one of my favorites-- and was my listening choice du jour for a good two months following the SoCal show. To my ears the Bonneville is a near-perfect representation of everything I love about the CFA house sound-- decently technical, great bass, well balanced but fun, excellent timbre and soundstage. It's been great to see the popularity of this IEM take off an I imagine it's going to have a great year in 2024.
4) Sources: Luxury & Precision LP6, Hiby RS8, Sony WM1Z, AK SR35
As far as sources go 2023 for me was the year of R2R daps. I know the WM1Z is not R2R but whatever Sony's secret sauce is manifests similarly to my ears. All 3 of these devices have a sound characterized by effortless, refined, flowing analogue goodness. The Sony is my favorite (I'm a Sony person) because the sound of that player has an extra level of je ne said quoi refinement across he board to my ears...and it happens to synergize especially well with my IEMs. As someone who doesn't need Android the user experience of the 1Z utterly annihilates the LP6 IMHO. Lastly there is the AK SR35, my little pocket rocket. Deceptively great sounding, eminently portable, warmish but technical and full sounding a la CS DACs. My ultra portable budget friendly source of choice.
5) Noble Viking Damascus
I only managed a few brief demos of this once in NYC when it belonged to @wazzupi and a couple times again when the same unit belonged to @HiFiHawaii808. This is one of those IEMs that burned a deep impression in my consiousness that has not faded after all this time. One of the most impressively technical and engaging sets I've heard. To my ears the Damascus is just slightly more balanced and impactful in the bass than the Ragnar. YMMV.
6) CanPur CP622B
I had this unit on tour and it left a striking impression me for an IEM without a DD that I heard very briefly. Addictive romance and secred sauce in the mids even if the bass wasn't quite there. I'll be getting this unit back for a few days so I'll abe able to reassess. I predict this one getting even more popular in 2024.
7) Unique Melody Amber Pearl
I don't generally jive with UM's sound (the Mentor didn't really cut it for me) but I'll be damned if the Amber Pearl doesn't have the most addictive and seductive midrange presentations-- especially in the vocals-- that I've ever heard. Breathy, seductive, beautiful. IMHO this fixes everything that I didn't like about the Mentor-- less energy in the upper mids and better bass. That price though...
8) Fir Rn6
The Rn6 is my favorite of the Frontiers. The Xe6 never quite did it for me but I can understand why fans of that IEM won't typically prefer this one. The Rn6 has that sort of innoffensive "does everything pretty well" even keeled character that characerizes many of 64 Audio's IEMs. It's got just a bit of everything and doesn't do anything really wrong-- good bass, technical, no FR weirdness, e-stat goodness up top, BCD down low. I could see this struggling in a collection however if I had to pick one IEM for someone I did not know and wanted to choose one that excelled at a bit of everything I would probably choose this. A triumph from Fir Audio IMHO.
9) Subtonic STORM
This IEM has been quite a sensation this year-- all the more remarkable given how rare it is. It's something of the Philosopher's Stone of the IEM world. Delightfully transparent, top tier BA bass, impecably balanced. Midrange is a little dry for my tastes but that's par for the course with reference IEMs. I get why this IEM has captured the u12t gang's heart even if it's outside the range of my personal prefernces.
10) Oriolus Monachaa
Another lovely bird. Typical Oriolus tuning magic expressed through 4 DDs (though they're not all DDs in the typical sense). Definite midrange magic here, especially in the upper mids. Difficult to drive, but rewarding if you mange to drive it well. Reminiscent of a DD Traillii in some ways.
11) Aroma Fei Wan
Lots to love about this IEM. Some of the most impressive 3d holographic imaging I've heard-- and possibly the best I've heard from an IEM without BCD. A little too energetic up top for me and as such was hard for me to listen to for extended sessions. This is just a personal beef-- many I respect love this IEM to death and don't have the issues I do. Definitely one worth checking out if for no other reason than to experience it to see where it lands for you. Build quality is qute meh, however...especially for a $5k product.
12) Campfire Audio Cascara
Last but not least the CFA Cascara-- one of the most desceptively great IEMs I've heard recently and one which imho defies it's price. This is my "budget pick" of 2023. The Cascara does a lot well for a bombastic bass heavy set-- mid range enthusiasts will find a lot to love here.
All of this to say-- Happy New Year Watercooler. I love each and everyone here. All the best in 2024!
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Weird hobby is weird, hahaha.
State of the Collection
