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CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

What follows is a survey of new headphone, earphone, and related products seen and heard at RMAF.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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, while 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 automobile.  Plainly, pride of ownership is spoken here.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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 finalized, as are the HM-901’s three optional flavors of available amplifier modules, so that all that remains are a final set of firmware revisions, plus the hoped-for outboard docking station.

While 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…

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

iFi Micro

Last year iFi Micro, which is a spin-off from the highly respected British high-end electronics company Abingdon 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 TBD, but projected to fall under $200) and nanoDSD DAC (price TBD, 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.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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, anodized aluminum and carbon fibre, on through to the earpieces, which—for an upgrade fee—can also be made of carbon fibre.

 

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.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

Micromega

Many audiophiles know of the French firm Micromega through its award-winning MYDAC, which sells for $299 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 gets 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.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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 molding techniques. But, thanks to the flexibility afforded by 3D printers, the Alpha Dog can be built and sold at sensible prices.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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 Can Jam 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.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

Schiit Audio
 

While Schiit Audio’s name may cause more than a few raised eyebrows (audio “potty” humor, anyone?), their equipment represents, as Hi-Fi+ review 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, while the Ragnarok should be good fun when it emerges as a fully finished product.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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-color 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.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

TEAC
 

For CanJam 2013, though, TEAC was showing its 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. In terms of look and feel, these are roughly ¾-size components that, by reputation, are chockfull of performance and features for their relatively modest size and price.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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), while 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.

CanJam at RMAF 2013 – Part 2

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, each. In our view, the 234 Mono is one of the best sounding amplifiers that Woo Audio makes, which is saying a mouthful.

Tags: ROCKY MOUNTAIN AUDIO FEST

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