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CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

What follows is a Part 3 in a four=part series of snapshot-style reports on new (or at least new-ish) personal audio products seen at CanJam RMAF 2017.

For the sake of clarity, we have broken out coverage into four segments:

·      Part 1 – Full-size Headphones

·      Part 2 – Earphones & CIEMs

·      Part 3 – Personal Audio

·      Part 4 – Personal Audio Cables & Accessories, Best of Show

o   Best Cost-no-object System

o   Value-minded Systems

o   Coolest New Innovation

Personal Audio Electronics

Acoustic Research (AR) M200 portable digital audio player

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

AR’s newest portable hi-res music player and Bluetooth streamer is the M200, priced at $399. The M200 features an AKM AK4490 DAC device, a built-in Class A headphone amplifier, and an aptX HD Bluetooth streaming interface. The M200 provides a Pentaconn balanced headphone output as well as a conventional 3.5mm single-ended output, plus a USB type-C port for charging. The player supports PCM files up to 192kHz and DSD files up to DSD128 (although DSD digital audio data is converted to PCM format before playback). The M200 offers 32GB of on-board storage with a slot for a single Micro SD card with capacity up to 256 GB. The M200 appears to offer an awful lot of functionality for the money. To help hold pricing down, the M200 is deliberately not an Android device, but rather is controlled by a proprietary RTOS (real-time operating system).

Astell&Kern AK70 MkII personal digital audio player

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Showing a renewed emphasis on the more affordable entries in its product range Astell&Kern demonstrated its new AK70 MkII personal digital audio player, priced at $699. Compared to the original AK70, the new AK70 MkII features a dual DAC architecture (with separate left and right channel Cirrus Logic DACs) and a single-ended/balanced output amplifier where maximum balanced output is increased from 2.3V to 4V. The AK70 MkII supports PCM files at up to 24/192 and DSD files at up to DSD 128 (though DSD files are converted to PCM format prior to playback). Astell&Kern points out that the AK70 Mk II is its first model to offer dual-DAC architecture with a selling price below $1000.

Astell&Kern Acro 4000 desktop headphone amplifier/DAC

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Astell&Kern previewed its visually stunning (and very angular-looking) Acro 4000 desktop headphone amp/DAC, which is expected to sell for just under $1000. The Acro 4000 uses an AKM K4490 DAC device and provides both single-ended and balanced amplifier outputs (the amp/DAC sports 3.5mm and 6.35mm single-ended outputs and a 2.5mm balanced output jack). Maximum power output is said to be 20 watts/channel at 4 ohms. The amplifier provides three switch selectable modes labelled ‘AK’, ‘Hi Gain’, and ‘Bass Boost’.

Audeze Cipher cable for the LCD-i4 planar magnet earphones

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Many listeners are familiar with Audeze’s iSINE-series planar magnetic earphones, which can be driven as passive earphones, but which sound better using iSINE-specific active CIPHER cables that incorporate a compact in-line DAC/Amp/DSP module, with the latter providing a measure of iSINE-specific voicing correction.

By comparison, Audeze’s flagship LCD-i4 planar magnetic earphone offer much more linear frequency response than the iSINE models do, so that it is typically run as a passive device that can be powered from DAPs, small portable amp/DACs, or even directly from smartphones and tablets. Still, Audeze was aware that many LCD-i4 owners and prospective customers were interested in driving their earphones from Apple iDevices equipped with Lightning connectors. With this thought in mind, Audeze has created an LCD-i4-specific, Lightning Cipher cable that will be offered upon request at no charge for current or future LCD-i4 owners. Cool, no?

Beyerdynamic Impacto Essential & Impacto Universal portable headphone amp/DACs

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Beyerdynamics’ Impacto Essential and Impacto Universal portable headphone amp/DACs are essentially two almost identical variations on a common theme, the only difference being that the Impacto Universal ($379) comes with cables allowing connectivity both for Apple and Android devices, while Impacto Essential ($329) is geared for use with Android devices only.

Either way, the Impacto models represent what the German firm term “high-res cable DACs” that serve as effective portable amp/DACs for popular Beyerdynamics headphones such as the second-generation T1 Tesla or T5p, or the new Amiron Home headphone.

The Impacto amp/DACs are based on ESS Sabre9018Q2 Sabre32 Reference DAC and offer decoding for PCM files up to 32/384 or for DSD64 files. Power output is 50mW at 32 ohms or 7mW at 600 ohms. 

CEntrance Blue DAC portable headphone amp/DAC

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

The Illinois-based firm CEntrance showed its promising new Blue DAC, which can be used as a wired or wireless Bluetooth compact, portable, USB headphone amp/DAC that provides both single-ended and balanced outputs and that offers both hi and low gain settings. Playing time for the Blue DAC is about 12 hours in Bluetooth mode or 8 hours in USB mode. The price: $399.

Chord Electronics Poly streaming module for use with the Mojo portable headphone amp/DAC

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

By the time you read this Chord’s brilliant clip-on streaming module for the Mojo portable amplifier will have, at long last, been released, with a price of £499. The Poly adds extensive Bluetooth and Wi-Fi streaming capabilities for the Mojo and is, by design pretty playback app ‘agnostic’—meaning users are emphatically not locked in to any one specific music playback app. Hi-Fi+ Editor Alan Sircom is already in possession of a product sample of the Poly, so readers can expect a review of the so-called ‘Mojopoly’ combo in the near future.

 

Echobox Audio Explorer streaming personal digital audio player

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

We are pleased to tell you that after a very long gestation period the long-awaited Echobox Explorer streaming personal digital audio player is finally here and priced at an eminently affordable $599 (an option dock/stand is available for an extra $75).  The distinctive hip flask-shaped, wood-bodied streaming DAP features a Texas Instruments/Burr Brown PCM 1792 DAC device that supports PCM files to 12/192 rates and DSD64 (via conversion to PCM format). The player also uses Texas Instruments TPA6120A2 op amp that delivers 300mW/channel at 32 Ohms.

The player is Android-based (using Android 6.0 Marshmallow) and runs under a Rockchip RK3128 quad core processor backed by 1GB of DDR3 memory.  For music storage, the player provides 64GB of internal memory plus a single Micro SD cardslot for cards with up to 256GB capacity. Connectivity includes 2.4GHx Wi-Fit and aptX Bluetooth 4.0. Happily, the player comes pre-loaded with both the USB Audio PR and Tidal apps and comes with a complimentary starter Tidal membership.

Watch for a Hi-Fi+ review of the Explorer in the coming year.

FiiO X7 MkII portable digital audio player

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

The personal audio specialists at FiiO were proudly showing the firm’s newest and most accomplished high-res digital audio player, the Android-based X7 MkII, priced at $649.99. Technical highlights of the X7 Mk II include 2.45GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, an aptX Bluetooth 4.1 interface, an ESS9028 PRO DAC that provides native support for both PCM up to 32/384 and DSD up to DSD256, built-in single-ended and balanced output headphone amplifiers, 64 GB of internal storage, and slots for two Micro SD cards at up to 256GB/each. The X7 Mk II may well be the leading contender in the maximum-bang-for-the-bucks sweepstakes amongst high-res portable DAPs.

iFi Audio Nano iDSD Black Label portable headphone amp/DAC

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

iFi Audio’s Nano iDSD Black Label portable headphone amp/DAC can be viewed as an attempt, many of the features and much of the sonic goodness of the firm’s superb though considerably larger Micro iDSD Black Label headphone amp/preamp/DAC, but in a much smaller and less costly package. The Nano iDSD Black Label sells for an extremely reasonable $199.  The Nano iDSD Black Label can handle PCM files at resolutions up to 32/384, DSD files up to DSD256, and DXD files (384kHz)—all in native formats. The Nano iDSD is also MQA compatible.

Naturally, the Nano iDSD foregoes a few features the larger Micro IDSD provides such as variable level pre-amp outs and a power charging mode for smartphones and the like, and the Nano also provides simplified iEMatch and filter options vis-à-vis its bigger brother, and output is of course lower as well. But in light of its small size and very modest price, the Nano iDSD Black Label looks to be every inch the class leader that the Micro iDSD Black Label has proven to be. 

 

McIntosh MHA150 headphone amp/integrated amp/DAC

Though not, strictly speaking, a brand new model, McIntosh’s MHA150 is a product whose many virtues we are only just now beginning to fully appreciate. Specifically, the MHA150 provides a transformer coupled headphone amplifier that can deliver a minimum of 1 watt/channel at any impedance, meaning the MHA150 can easily be optimized for virtually any headphone load. Next, the MHA150 provides a highly capable, PCM 32/384 and DSD256 compatible DAC, complete with an MCT specific interface that enables the MHA150 to receive and play PCM or DSD digital audio files directly from any of several available McIntosh MCT-series disk transports. (There is a new McIntosh MCT 80 SACD/CD transport that sells for $3500 and that exactly matches the size and industrial styling of the MHA150.) Finally, as something of a piece de resistance, the MHA150 can serve as a direct coupled 50 watt/channel integrated amplifier more than capable of powering any number of full-size loudspeakers. The price: $4,500.

Modwright HA300 desktop valve-powered headphone amp

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Modwright showed its most ambitious headphone amplifier to date in the form of its valve-powered, two-chassis HA300 amp, which sells for $8000. The HA300 is driven by 300B valves and comes complete with a beefy, outboard PS300 power supply module. The amp provides one balanced and two single-ended inputs and is also able to serve as an integrated amplifier capable of driving relatively high-sensitivity loudspeakers. It’s quite beautiful to look at as well.

Periodic Nickel headphone amp prototype

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Periodic showed a rough prototype and also the raw circuit board for its upcoming, matchbox-sized Nickel portable headphone amp. The Nickel is still under development, but its projected price will be $299.

Pro-Ject DAC Box DS2 UltraDAC and Head Box DS2 headphone amplifier

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Pro-Ject showed two closely related ‘Box-series’ personal audio components in the form of its DAC Box DS2 Ultra DAC ($699 in plain black or $799 with wood chassis case) and the Head Box DS2 balanced headphone amplifier ($599 in plain black or $699 with wood chassis case). The DAC Box DSD Ultra is a PCM 24/392-capable and DSD 256-capable DAC with easy-to-master user controls, while the Head Box DS2 is a balanced output amp with moderate (550mW @30 ohms) output capabilities. There is a lot of value and subtle sophistication in this two-chassis component stack, and the wood encased version look terrific.

Schiit Magni 3 headphone amp/Loki Mini EQ system, and Modi 2 DAC entry-level mini-stack

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

The value-minded folks at Schiit Audio proudly showed a new three-component mini-stack of personal audio components that collectively sell for less than most enthusiasts would expect to pay for a single component. The mini-stack consists of the surprisingly powerful (3000mW at 16 ohms) solid-state Magni 3 headphone amp/preamp ($99), the 24/192-capable Modi 2 DAC ($99), and the remarkably versatile Loki Mini 4-band EQ module ($149), which provides EQ for very low bass (in the 20Hz region), mid-bass (400Hz region), midrange (2kHz region), and treble (8kHz region). The bottom line: $347 dollars buys users an awful lot of personal audio performance potential for not a lot of money.

 

Schiit Vali 2 valve-powered headphone am/preamp and Modi 2 Multibit (Closed-Form filter) DAC

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

For those with just a little more money to spend (but still not an awful lot in the grand scheme of things), Schiit offers a sub-$400 two-component personal audio stack that ups the performance ante by a substantial margin. The stack consist of the moderately powerful (1300mW @ 16 ohms), valve-driven Vali 2 headphone amp/preamp ($149) and the 24/192-capable Modi 2 Multibit DAC ($249), which features a version of the distinctive multibit, closed-form digital filter that Schiit Audio first pioneered in its critically-acclaimed, top-tier Yggdrasil DAC. Even though the stack serves up a seriously sophisticated and refined sound that belies its modest $398 price.

Sennheiser HDV820 desktop headphone amp/DAC

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

The Sennheiser HDV820 is the German firm’s next-generation, reference quality fully balanced headphone amp/DAC that improves upon its predecessors in several ways.  Specifically, the DAC section of the HDV820 now uses an ESS Sabre DAC that is said to sound considerably better than the DAC used in previous Sennheiser amp/DACs. Moreover, the new model now features variable-level pre-amp outputs, meaning the HDV820 can be used as a digital preamp to drive full-size hi-fi systems, if desired. Finally, the balanced output headphone amplifier now offer the option of Sony-developed Pentaconn connectors, which will soon begin to appear on balanced cables that will ship with certain higher-end Sennheiser headphone models. The price: $2,400.

SPL Phonitor SE and Phonitor E desktop headphone amplifiers

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

The world-famous German pro audio company SPL showed two desktop headphone amplifiers that are, in a sense, variations on a common theme. The flagship of the pair is the Phonitor SE headphone amplifier/preamp, which uses proprietary VOLTAIR technology to provide both balanced and single-ended drive capabilities for headphone or for driving power amplifiers in full-size audio systems. The Phonitor SE provides high power output (2 x 3.7 watts at 120 ohms), wide bandwidth (frequency response of 4HZ – 300kHz), low distortion  (0.00085% in preamp mode), and high dynamic range (136.3 dB in preamp mode). Moreover, the Phonitor SE incorporates SPL’s Phonitor Matrix system, which promises “speaker equivalent playback” from headphones complete with elaborate controls crossfeed settings and perceived speaker angle adjustments. The SE also provides a so-called Laterality control, which is in essence a “super-fine balance control”. Finally, the SE is offered either with or without an optional 24/192 capable DAC with USB, coaxial, and optical digital inputs. Pricing for the SE ranges from $2499 to $2799.

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

The significantly smaller and less expensive Phonitor E is a minimalist version of the SE, but that is set up purely as a headphone amp (meaning there are no preamp functions). But in most crucial respects the E offers essentially the same core performance capabilities as the SE, but with stripped-down Phonitor Matrix setting and no dedicated Laterality controls. Like the SE, the Phonitor E can be ordered with or without SPL’s 24/192 DAC module. Pricing for the Phonitor E ranges from $1499 to $1799, making it a bit of a bargain in light of the performance on offer.

Stax SRM-T8000 electrostatic headphone amplifier

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Stax has finally taken the welcome step of releasing a new electrostatic headphone amplifier (or ‘Energizer’ in Stax-speak) that is said to offer performance on a par with that of the Stax flagship SR-009 electrostatic headphone. The SRM-T8000 uses dual 6922 valves in its input stage, which in turn drive a pure Class-A solid-state output stage. Stax has worked extensively on internal vibration isolation and damping to eliminate vibration-borne sources of distortion in the SRM-T8000. The amp also features a power supply based on large toroidal transformers and uses extremely high-quality parts throughout. The price: $6,000.

 

Swan Song Audio desktop headphone amp/DAC prototype

Swan Song is a boutique manufacturer of two ranges of very high quality audio electronics products—White Swan products, which are mid-to-high priced, and Black Swan products, with use ultra premium parts throughout and are accordingly premium priced.

For RMAF the firm was showing a work-in-progress prototype of an upcoming White Swan-series (we think) headphone amp/preamp/DAC that will sell for about $3,750.

What caught our eye was that the firm had sets of demo stations that invited listeners to compare and then offer comments on three different output device configurations that are being contemplated for the final design. This is a great example of seeking out the ‘wisdom of the crowd’ in a distinctly audiophile context. 

Westone BT cable

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Westone’s new Bluetooth 4.0/aptX cable sports MMCX-type connectors and will fit any of the firm’s MMCX-compatible earphones or CIEM’s, in essence giving users BT connectivity on demand. The BT cable comes with a USB charging cable and affords about 8 hours of playing time per charge. The price: $99.99. (But note: Westone offers its very desirable and specially-priced WX1 product bundle for $149.99, which gets you the BT cable plus a high quality single balanced armature earphone thrown into the bargain.

Woo Audio WA33 standard & elite headphone amplifiers

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Woo Audio’s flagship headphone amplifier for use with dynamic and planar magnetic-type headphones is its two-chassis WA33 model, which is offered in two basic forms: the WA33 Standard model (priced at $7,999) and the WA33 Elite edition (priced at $15,000). Like most Woo amplifiers, the WA33 is valve powered so that you might infer that the differences between the WA33 Standard and Elite would involve valve upgrades, but that isn’t the case.  Instead, all of the Elite upgrades involve very significant steps up in quality for absolutely all internal parts used in the amplifier (this represents a step up from the already good parts used in the Standard to what might be termed boutique, ‘unobtanium-class’ parts as used in the Elite version).

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

Interestingly, both the Standard and Elite models can be further improved by going ‘full fat’ on the ordering list and thus specifying all of Woo’s available exotic valve options for the amplifiers—a step that, says company founder Jack Wu, could add another $5,000+ to the amplifier’s price. The end result, though, is one of the best-sound headphone amplifiers on the market today.

XI Audio Formula S headphone amp

CanJam at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest 2017 – Part 3 Personal Audio Electronics

XI Audio (Eleven Audio) showed its Formula S high output, dual mono, solid-state, balanced output headphone amp, which sells for $3500. The Formula S is capable of 2.1 watts of output at 46 ohms and claims extremely low distortion: <0.006% THD @ 300mW of output, with distortion said to be “character compensated for high-end music playback.”

Tags: FEATURED ROCKY MOUNTAIN AUDIO FEST

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