Show Report: CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2013 – Part 2

What follows is a mostly pictorial survey of new headphone, earphone, and related products seen and heard at RMAF—some of which will become review subjects in Hi-Fi+ and/or our US-based sister publication The Absolute Sound in the months to come.

To access Part 1 of this report, click here.

HeadAmp

The Virginia-based firm HeadAmp was showing its newest product, which is the two-chassis, fully balanced, solid-state GS-X Mk2 headphone amplifier ($2780, or $2980 with upgraded DACT volume control), based in large part upon a design created by the acknowledged headphone amplification guru Kevin Gilmore.

Gilmore typically offer his designs as schematics for DIY (do it yourself) projects and HeadAmp founder Justin Wilson told us he once built a sample of the amplifier upon which the GS-X Mk2 is based as a DIY project for his own personal enjoyment a number of years ago. However, the original Gilmore design called for circuit devices that are no longer readily available, so that—in order to bring the GS-X Mk2 to market—Wilson adapted the original design to use more contemporary amplification devices, whilst adding a few additional refinement touches of his own.

Like all HeadAmp products, the GS-X Mk2 offers a very high level of fit and finish, with the sort of attention to small details that would not seem out of place in, say, a Bentley.  Plainly, pride of ownership is spoken here.

Other coverage:

·      For a review of HeadAmp’s Blue Hawaii SE electrostatic headphone amplifier, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/headamp-blue-hawaii-se-electrostatic-headphone-amplifier-playback-56/

HiFiMAN

For CanJam, the HiFiMAN booth mostly showed the firm’s extensive range of previously released headphones and earphones, while focusing on the firm’s flagship HM-901 high-resolution player/DAC/headphone amplifier.

The HM-901 has followed a relatively slow path toward production, perhaps because it is so ambitious in its conception. Basically, the HM-901 is a high-res file player (much like the Astell & Kern AK120), but one based on ESS Sabre DAC devices such as those used in any number of high-end disc players and DACs. What is more, the HM-901 allows user-selectable amplification modules (including an available balanced output module), and will—eventually—be offered with an optional tabletop docking station that allows the HM-901 to serve as the main, high-res DAC in a conventional audio system.

At present, our understanding is that the HM-901 hardware is finalised as are the HM-901’s three optional flavours of available amplifier modules, so that all that remains are a final set of firmware revisions, plus the hoped-for outboard docking station.

Whilst Astell & Kern have clearly stolen a march on HiFiMAN by bringing their gorgeous AK120 high-res player to market ahead of the HM-901, HiFiMAN plainly hopes that discerning audiophiles will find the HM-901 offers offsetting advantages in terms of sound quality and versatility. But will this really be the case? Only time will tell…

Other coverage:

·      See the capsule description of the HiFIMAN HE-6 planar magnetic headphone in the 2014 High-End Audio Buyer’s Guide section of The Absolute Sound issue 237.

·      For a review of the HiFIMAN HE-6 planar magnetic headphone, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/hifiman-he-6-planar-magnetic-headphones-playback-37/

·      For a review of the HiFiMAN HE-500 planar magnetic headphone, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/hifiman-he-500-planar-magnetic-headphones-playback-47/

Hippo

Represented by the headphone specialists Jaben, Hippo was showing pre-production prototypes of its new ProOne balanced armature-driven universal-fit earphones. Pricing and availability for the ProOne are to be determined.

iFi Micro

Last year iFi Micro, which is a spin-off from the highly respected British high-end electronics company Abbingdon Music Research, wowed us all with its award-winning yet affordably priced compact iCan headphone amplifier and iDAC high-resolution DAC.

Now, iFi Micro is pushing the envelope even further by introducing a new series of “Nano” products that are even smaller, less expensive, yet no less appealing than their iCAN and iDAC counterparts.  Specifically, iFi Micro used CanJam to roll out its new nanoCan headphone amplifier (price TBA, but projected to fall under $200) and nanoDSD DAC (price TBA, but projected to fall under $200).

The nanoCAN essentially incorporates all of the control and sound shaping features of the iCAN, but in a smaller, battery-powered format that offers 150mW of output with a battery big enough to provide a whopping 60 hours of non-stop playback.  Most importantly, the nanoCAN ostensibly preserves the iCAN’s terrific sound quality while offering a substantial drop in size and price.

The nanoDSD DAC, in turn, actually adds features vis-à-vis the iDAC, in that it provides what iFi terms “Advanced True Native DSD128/DXD/384 playback using (a) BurrBrown chipset.” What is more, the nanoDAC provides an 80mW headphone output along with conventional analogue outputs and it is said to be “iPhone/iPad/Smartphone” compatible.

Other coverage:

·      To see the Hi-Fi+ review of the iFi Micro iCAN headphone amplifier, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/ifi-micro-ican-headphone-amplifier-hi-fi/

·      To see The Absolute Sound review of the iFi Micro iCAN, iDAC, and iUSB Power, click here: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/ifi-idac-ican-and-iusbpower/

JDS Labs

JDS Labs is a small but growing Collinsville, Illinois-based firm that, as near as we can tell, first made its way in this world by “productising” the semi-famous cMOY BB portable headphone amplifier—an amp launched, as we understand it, as a DIY (do-it-yourself) project and that by tradition typically uses an Altoids mint tin as its “chassis.”

Having built a good number of cMOY BB v2.03 headphone amps, the firm has expanded its range to include “productised” versions of other, more ambitious headphone amplifier and DAC designs.

Among JDS’ current offerings are the Objective2 Headphone Amplifier ($129), which was created by a designer who goes by the pseudonym “NwAvGuy” (http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/08/o2-details.html) and that is said to offer “benchmark performance and low cost.”

Alongside the O2 amp JDS offers the ObjectiveDAC or ODAC for short ($149), which was co-designed by NwAvGuy and the team at Yoyodyne Consulting (www.yoyodyneconsulting.ca). The ODAC claims to provide “reference grade digital-to-analog conversion.” JDS also offers a combo O2 + ODAC unit ($279).

Last but not least, the firm also offers a high-performance portable headphone called the C5 ($189), which we gather is of its own design.

JH Audio

Jerry Harvey, founder of JH Audio, has won widespread acclaim amongst musicians and audiophiles for his ambitious JH-series custom-fit in-ear monitors. For CanJam 2013, however, Mr. Harvey has broken new ground by introducing a new flagship monitor called the Roxanne ($1599), which is the first in what will eventually be a series of so-called Siren models.

The Roxanne takes up where Harvey’s previous flagship, the JH16 PRO leaves off, sporting a triple quad-balanced armature array of drivers that are tuned for optimal frequency and phase response via Harvey’s proprietary freqphase technology.

You read that last sentence correctly, by the way, in that the Roxanne features 12(!) balanced armature drivers per earpiece for virtually unlimited dynamic headroom. But the innovation doesn’t end there, because the Roxanne also features an innovative bass output tuning control mounted within the signal cables, which allows end-user to dial-in flat bass response or to apply up to +15dB of low-end boost, if desired (something that may be very desirable when the monitors are used in very noisy environments). Finally, the signal cable of the Roxanne are not only detachable and user replaceable, but also feature clever twist-to-lock bayonet-style connectors so that the cable cannot inadvertently be pulled loose by accident.

Everything about the Roxanne shouts extreme hipness, from the carrying case, which is made from milled, anodised aluminum and carbon fibre, on through to the earpieces, which—for an upgrade fee—can also be made of carbon fibre.

Hi-Fi+ will be receiving review samples of the Roxanne in-ear monitors in the not too distant future; watch for our upcoming review.

Other coverage:

·      See the capsule description of the JH Audio JH16 PRO in the 2014 High-End Audio Buyer’s Guide section of The Absolute Sound issue 237.

King Sound

Represented at CanJam by reseller Moon Audio, King Sound showed its remarkable new value-priced electrostatic headphones, which typically are bundled either with a solid-state King Sound electrostatic amp ($1,000 for amp + ‘phones) or a valve-powered King Sound electrostatic amp ($2,000 for amp + ‘phones). Either way, the general consensus is that the King Sound electrostats represent one of the greatest values in today’s high-end headphone marketplace.

Micromega

Many audiophiles know of the French firm Micromega through its award-winning MYDAC, which sells for $399 and is thought to be one of the best values around when it comes to cost-effective digital audio products. For CanJam, though, the MYDAC get an identically styled sibling in the form of the MYZIC headphone amplifier ($299). We can’t wait to hear more from the MYZIC, if only to see if it can live up to the almost impossibly lofty performance standards established by the MYDAC.

Other coverage:

·      To see The Absolute Sound review of the Micromega MYDAC, click here: https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/product-preview-micromega-mydac-the-399-miracle/

·      See the review of the Micromega MYDAC in Hi-Fi+ issue 96.

MrSpeaker

At CanJam 2012, one of our most fortuitous discoveries was the Mad Dog headphone from MrSpeaker, which was (and is) a modified Fostex T50RP headphone.

For 2013, however, MrSpeaker founder Dan Clark has gone much further to create the new Alpha Dog headphone ($600), which is arguably the world’s first to use an elaborate ear-cup housing that, by design, is produced on a 3D printer. While the Alpha Dog, like the earlier Mad Dog, is still based on a Fostex planar magnetic headphone platform, it looks and sounds quite different from any current Fostex product. We think the Alpha Dog will be a strong contender at their price point.

According to Clark, the Alpha Dog ear-cup housing features an elaborate set of internal baffles and external vent, which would have been cost-prohibitive to produce using conventional injection moulding techniques. But, thanks to the flexibility afforded by 3D printers, the Alpha Dog can be built and sold at sensible prices.

Pathos

The Italian firm Pathos showed its new valve-equipped Aurium headphone amplifier ($1,495), which is a fully balanced amp that sports a sophisticated, digitally regulated BurrBrown volume control. Like all Pathos equipment, the Aurium is quite beautiful to look at (what else would one expect from the land of Alfa-Romeo, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati?).

Philips

At CanJam Philips signaled that it is very serious about the high-performance headphone market by demonstrating three new models from its Fidelio range. The demonstration set consisted of the flagship Fidelio X1 ($299), which is in production now, and the upcoming L2 ($299) and the Bluetooth-connected M1-BT ($279). The L2 and M1-BT are due to arrive in Q1, 2014.

RHA Audio

Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, RHA demonstrated two very impressive (and astonishingly affordable) earphones: the MA600i ($89.95) and MA750i ($129.95).

Frankly, if you look at the build quality of these ‘phones, and in particular at the fit and finish of the stainless steel-bodied MA750i, and then give them a listen, it’s hard to comprehend how RHA is able to do so much for so little. In short, these RHA ‘phones fairly shout “Value!” with a capital “V.”

Hi-Fi+ has received review samples of the MA750i; watch for further coverage in the months to come.

Other coverage:

·      To see RHA’s initial press release on the MA-600i and MA-750i, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/rha-ma600i-and-ma750i-in-ear-monitors/

Ray Samuels Audio

Ray Samuels is rightly known for his fertile imagination and restless, always-looking-for-sonic-improvements approach to product design. So it is that for CanJam 2013 Mr. Samuels introduced his new F-35 The Lightning * fully balanced portable headphone amplifier ($499).

* In keeping with long-standing company tradition, Samuels names most if not all of his products after famous manned and unmanned military aircraft.

 According to Samuels, the diminutive Lightning is the world’s smallest fully balanced (as in, balanced inputs and balanced outputs) headphone amplifier, but don’t be fooled by the amp’s size. As Samuels demonstrated at CanJam, the tiny Lightning can drive even the most difficult headphone loads with exuberant authority. As Samuels promised with a grin, “it’s a real little butt-kicker,” and so it is.

Other coverage:

·      See the capsule description of Ray Samuels Audio SR-71B The Blackbird and The Intruder in the 2014 High-End Audio Buyer’s Guide section of The Absolute Sound issue 237.

·      The Ray Samuels Audio SR-71B The Blackbird was reviewed in The Absolute Sound issue 219.

·      For a review of the Ray Samuels Audio SR-71B The Blackbird, click here: http://www.avguide.com/review/ray-samuels-audio-sr-71b-fully-balanced-portable-headphone-amp-playback-60

Schiit Audio

Hi-Fi+ issue 104 features a favourable review of the Modi DAC, Magni headphone amp, and PYST (Put-Your-Schiit-Together) cables from the irreverent, US-based firm Schiit Audio.  Whilst the firm’s name may cause more than a few raised eyebrows (audio “potty” humour, anyone?), their equipment represents, as Hi-Fi+ reviewer Nicholas Ripley observed, “good, honest products at a good honest price.”

For CanJam 2013, Schiit continued in this vein, introducing the Vali subminiature tube hybrid headamp ($119), and previewing the upcoming Ragnarok ($1499), which is billed as a “universal amplifier:” that is, an integrated amplifier that puts out 100 Wpc @ 4 Ohm, but that also works beautifully as headphone amplifier.

The Vali, we noted, produced a hearty, ultra-funky sound that should please PRAT (pace, rhythm, and timing) enthusiasts, whilst the Ragnarok should be good fun when it emerges as a fully finished product.
 

Sennheiser

Sennheiser introduced two mid-priced models at CanJam: the updated HD 25 Al (for Aluminium) headphone ($329.95) and the HD 26 Pro ($319.95).

Interestingly, the HD 26 Pro is drawn from the Pro Audio side of Sennheiser—not the consumer headphone group. The pair you see in our photos below actually belong to HeadFi.org founder Jude Mansilla, who graciously loaned them to the Sennheiser team so that they might have a set to display at CanJam.

Other coverage:

·      For a review of the Sennheiser Momentum headphone, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/sennheiser-momentum-headphones-hi-fi/

Sony

High-res, DSD-capable players were the main focal point of Sony’s CanJam display, with several key models on display. Amongst them were the HAP-S1 high res DSD DAC with headphone amplifier and full-colour display screen ($1,000), the somewhat simpler UDA-1 high-res DAC/headphone amp ($799.95), and the very cool DSD-capable portable PHA-2 high-res/headphone amp ($599), which seemed to garner the lion’s share of attention.

Also on demonstration were Sony’s new NDR-1R headphones ($299), which a Sony spokesman said he hopes will become a benchmark at its price point.

TEAC

Hi-Fi+ issue 104 features a review of the TEAC UD-501 DSD-capable DAC, which is a key product within TEAC’s Reference 501-series of components. For CanJam 2013, though, TEAC was showing the entire four-unit stack of Reference 501 components, including the AI-501DA integrated amplifier, the PD-501HR CD & DSD disc player (which is not, however, an “SACD” disc player), the HA-501 headphone amplifier, and the UD-501 digital media and DSD streamer.

Violectric by Lake People

The German firm Violectric showed almost its entire range of headphone amplifiers at CanJam 2013, but when we asked a company spokesman which model he regarded as the flagship his unhesitating response was, “the HPA-V200” ($1,000).

The HPA-V200 is a fully balanced headphone amplifier offered with an optional 96/24 DAC with USB and optical inputs. Violectric says that the HPA-200, much like certain valve-powered amplifiers, offers very low odd-order harmonic distortion so that what little distortion there is mostly even-order (specifically 2^nd-order)—distortion thought to be much less noticeable than odd-order distortion under real-world listening conditions.

V-MODA

In an upcoming issue of Hi-Fi+ readers will see a (print) review of V-MODA’s portable Vamp Versa headphone amp/DAC, which significantly is one of the few devices of its kind that is at once iDevice, Android, Mac, and PC-compatible. At the time the review was written, one small but significant missing element was a suitably short Apple Lightning connector to USB (desirable for linking contemporary iPhones to the Vamp Versa). At CanJam, however, V-MODA showed its new Tuono Lightning-to-USB cable, which addresses the requirement quite nicely.

Other coverage:

·      For the Hi-Fi+ review of the V-MODA Vamp Verza, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/v-moda-vamp-verza-portable-headphone-ampdac/

Westone

In the past few months Westone has been hard at work revising its two ranges of universal-fit earphones: the UM series and the W series.  In the UM range, Westone now offers its new UM10, UM20, and UM30 ‘phones (the UM-30 is priced at $399), whilst in the W range it offers the W10, W20, W30, and flagship W40 ($499).

Why have two ranges of universal-fit earphones? A Westone spokesman said the UM range is targeted toward and voiced for customers who will likely use the ‘phones onstage to monitor live music performances, whereas the W-series models are intended for use in listening to what Westone terms “mastered music.” Interestingly, the W40 will replace the critically acclaimed Westone TrueFit 4R, which is a very tough act to follow.  The W40 incorporates four balanced armature drivers with a “multi-stage” crossover, all fitted within a new housing equipped with detachable, user replaceable signal cables.

If all goes according to plan, Hi-Fi+ should receive a review set of W40s later this year. Stay tuned.

Other coverage:

·      For a review of the original Westone TrueFit 4 earphone, click here: http://www.avguide.com/review/westone-truefit-4-universal-fit-ear-headphones-playback-41

Woo Audio

Woo had two active demo areas at RMAF—one in the CanJam area and the other in an upstairs RMAF room. 

Downstairs in the CanJam room, Woo was showing a prototype valve-type upgraded power supply for its popular WA7 Fireflies valve-powered headphone amplifier/DAC. Specifically, Woo invited A/B comparisons between a WA7 driven by the OEM solid-state supply vs. an identical WA7 fed by the prototype valve-type supply. The sonic difference, we soon discovered, was unexpectedly large and beneficial. At present, price and availability for the valve-type power supply are yet to be determined.

Upstairs, Woo was showing its spectacular 234 Mono monoblock headphone/loudspeaker amplifiers ($15,900/pair). Interestingly, the 234 Monos can be configured to drive headphones or speakers and to operate with the user’s choice of 2A3, 300B, or 45-series valves.  The amps ship with a tray full of beefy, plug-in-type adaptor modules that support the following range of output options: Plate output, LO-z; Plate output, HI-z; Cathode output, LO-z; Cathode output, Hi-z; and speaker output. These visually stunning amplifiers weigh a daunting 60 pounds (27+ kg!), each. In our view, the 234 Mono is one of the best sounding amplifiers that Woo Audio makes, which is saying a mouthful.

Other coverage:

·      For a review of the Woo Audio WES electrostatic headphone amplifier, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/woo-audio-wes-electrostatic-amplifier-playback-54/

·      For a review of the Woo Audio valve-powered WA 220 headphone amplifier, click here: http://www.hifiplus.com/articles/woo-audio-wa-22-headphone-amplifier-playback-43/