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CanJam SoCal 2026 Preview | The Big Launches & Gear Sneak Peek — Transcript

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0:13Hey, [music]
0:15[cheering]
0:24[music]
0:31hey, [music]
0:33hey.
0:41>> [music]
0:48>> We [cheering] all
0:52[music]
0:58Amen. [music]
1:09>> [music]
1:18>> Hey, hey, [music] hey,
1:20hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
1:36Can Jam SoCal 2026,
1:39>> it's upon us. It is. And I [laughter] I
1:41can't wait. I love Can Jam SoCal. Yeah.
1:42And And KJ SoCal, Can Jam New York, they
1:44always compete with each other for like
1:46which one's going to be the biggest show
1:47ever.
1:48>> And one of them is every year. Yep.
1:50>> Um it tops all previous years every
1:52year. And the indications are
1:54>> Can Jam SoCal could be the biggest one
1:56ever. Uh this year uh uh the number of
1:59exhibitors,
2:00>> the products we know are going to be
2:01there, it's going to be insane.
2:03>> Yes.
2:03>> Yeah. So anyway, I am very much looking
2:06forward to it. We have so many friends
2:07in that community.
2:08>> Yep.
2:09>> And then so many friends from even
2:10outside the community that come to KJM
2:12SoCal to hang out and for some reason
2:14it's like one of the most hangout
2:16oriented shows.
2:16>> Well, it's a chill laid-back hotel in
2:18the environment and everybody's just
2:19kind of having fun weekend.
2:20>> Yeah. And it's like party like before
2:23the show. Yep.
2:24>> Party during the show, party after the
2:27show.
2:27>> Yep.
2:28>> I love KJM.
2:29>> I mean, people rent beach houses for
2:30Kjam SoCal, so come on. [laughter]
2:32>> Yeah. I haven't I haven't been invited
2:34at any any of the the beach parties.
2:37Hey, but [laughter]
2:39anyways, I love Can Jam SoCal. Why don't
2:41we talk about when it is?
2:42>> Yeah. So, KJM SoCal is happening August
2:4429th and 30th, 2026. We're once again
2:46back at the Irvine Marriott in Irvine,
2:48California. Now, this year, KJM SoCal is
2:50sponsored by Hi-Fi Man Music Tech and
2:52Technics. So, thank you so much to our
2:54Can Jam sponsors for helping make the
2:55show possible.
2:56>> Yeah. Now, okay, it's going to be a huge
2:58show. You got to get right to it. Tons
3:00of gear. Tons of gear. Uh, tons of
3:02exhibitors. Let's go.
3:09>> KJAM wouldn't be complete without
3:10questionans answering and
3:11thoughtprovoking technical talks,
3:13presentations, and panels. And at KJAM
3:15SoCal this year, we have nine incredible
3:17seminars that you won't want to miss.
3:20Each of these seminars will be taking
3:21place in Harbor Room 206 on the hotel's
3:24second level. 2026 is shaping up to be
3:26the largest Canjam SoCal ever, so make
3:29sure you get to these seminars a little
3:30early to secure the perfect spot. Again,
3:33each seminar is taking place in Harbor
3:34Room 206 on the hotel's second level.
3:38Our Saturday seminars kick off at noon
3:40when Zach Marbach, founder of ZMF
3:42headphones, takes to the stage for a
3:44presentation titled ZMF Tessadera: How
3:47Trickleown Experimentation Built Five
3:49New Technologies.
3:51Many flagship headphones become flavors
3:53of the month by showcasing novel
3:54advancements. Few are built upon a
3:57combination of solid acoustic principles
3:59combined with a decade's worth of
4:00continual experimentation and their
4:02resulting patented technologies. Come
4:04discover how Tessadera benefits from a
4:06long acoustic lineage featuring ZMF's
4:08Caldera asymmetrical magnet structure,
4:11Atrium damping system, ZMF acoustic
4:13matrix, soundboard resonator system, and
4:16Calera pad system integrated seamlessly
4:19with a new one micron planer diaphragm
4:21to evolve into a listening experience
4:23that is more than the sum of its parts.
4:26Next up, come join Can Jam Seminar
4:28veteran Rob Watts, digital design
4:30consultant for Cord Electronics, for the
4:32Quartet has arrived at 1 p.m. Cord
4:35Electronics much anticipated Quartet
4:37Mscaler has proven to be Rob's most
4:39complex R&D project to date. After an
4:42astounding eight years of development,
4:44the long- aaited Quartet MCCaler is
4:46finally here. Rob will talk about
4:48quartet's features and performance, but
4:50more importantly discuss the latest
4:52advanced research into interpolation
4:53filters and how to reconstruct the
4:55sample data into a continuous waveform
4:57without any audible losses. Obtaining
5:00lifelike musical perfection from sample
5:01data has turned out to be incredibly
5:03difficult and some of the numbers needed
5:05will astound you. Continuing our
5:08Saturday seminars, Morgan Andchuk,
5:10founder of Hetamame, asks, "Want audio
5:12done right? Do-it-yourself at 2 p.m.
5:15Come find out how 3D printing continues
5:17to bring immense value to the headphone
5:19hobby. Hetamame is exploring
5:21customization, repairability, and design
5:23within the 3D printing space, how to
5:25choose and configure files, how to get
5:27perfect prints, and learn tips and
5:29tricks for getting feedback on your own
5:31designs. Whether you're a seasoned maker
5:33or new to 3D printing, you'll learn
5:35something new from an expert designer
5:37with over 10 years experience in 3D
5:39printing. Already a Hetam builder and
5:41user? Come share your experience.
5:44Our 3pm seminar features two community
5:47icons with Dan Clark, founder of Dan
5:49Clark Audio, and Dr. Shaun Olive,
5:51legendary audio researcher and founder
5:53of Shaun Olive Consulting, coming
5:55together to present a preferred
5:56headphone target curve defined for the
5:58Bruincare 5128 and Gross 45 CA10 test
6:02fixtures. The Harmon around ear and
6:04onear headphone target defined using the
6:06GRS 45 CA test fixture with an RA45 ear
6:09simulator and custom PA is often misused
6:12with other fixtures leading to
6:14measurement and interpretation errors
6:15due to differing acoustic transfer
6:16impedances. Shawn and Dan compared
6:19several headphones on the original
6:20fixture and two newer models specifying
6:22calibration and target curves for each
6:24to improve accuracy. Listening tests
6:27assessed how similarly headphones
6:28sounded when measured and equalized on
6:30all three test fixtures using these
6:32revised targets.
6:34Closing out our Saturday seminars. Come
6:36join Constantine Davyy, acoustic
6:38engineer at Luitt, and hear his answer
6:40to the question, frequency response is
6:42everything, or is it at 4 p.m. You've
6:45heard it both ways. Some say frequency
6:47response is the only thing that matters.
6:49Others say that two headphones with the
6:50same frequency response still sound
6:52enormously different. Are both wrong?
6:55Are they both right? In this talk,
6:57Constantine will dive into MI
6:58measurement data, showing how the same
7:00headphone performs differently on
7:01different people and what this means for
7:03interpreting general measurement
7:04results.
7:06On Sunday, August 30th, we are kicking
7:08things off with two back-to-back and
7:10fully stacked panels. The first audio
7:12Arcanum, a headphone panel begins at
7:14noon. Panelists include Audi's Peter
7:17James, Dan Clark Audios Dan Clark, and
7:20ZMF headphones is Zach Marbach. This
7:22panel will be moderated by the water
7:23cooler headphone edition founder Aall
7:25Goldberger. As acoustic technology and
7:28tuning techniques advance, headphone
7:30audio reproduction continues to reach
7:31new heights. More than ever, we benefit
7:34from lower distortion, better extension,
7:36true retinality, greater detail, and
7:38thus higher fidelity. But how? Bring all
7:41of your questions to our panel of top
7:42headphone designers representing some of
7:44the finest headphone manufacturers in
7:46the world, and learn all of their
7:48secrets.
7:49Hot on their heels is our second panel
7:51of the day, the 1pm audio arcanum and
7:53inear monitor panel. Panelists include
7:56campfire audios Ken Ball, Crreners's
7:58Critical, Flippers's Aries Sales, and
8:00Mr. Acoustic Researchers Lee Quan Min.
8:03This panel will be moderated by the
8:04water cooler founder Jeff Rockwell.
8:07Advancements in microtransers and tuning
8:09techniques have shepherded in a new
8:11golden age of IM in terms of innovation,
8:13performance, and fidelity. Join us for
8:16an exclusive Q&A session and have all of
8:18your questions answered by our panel of
8:19IM designers and engineers who encompass
8:22a wide range of design philosophies to
8:24learn all about how far IM have come and
8:26more importantly where IM are going in
8:29the future. Then at 2 p.m. Dr. Shaun
8:32Olive returns for his second
8:33presentation of the weekend. How much
8:35personalization do headphones need?
8:37Listener preference distributions for
8:38bass and treble levels. Previous
8:41research has shown that preferred bass
8:42and treble levels in headphones vary
8:44substantially across listeners,
8:46suggesting that a single target response
8:48may not provide the optimal listening
8:50experience for everyone. In this
8:52presentation, Shawn will examine the
8:54distribution of preferred bass and
8:55triple levels measured in a study of 249
8:58listeners. These distributions are used
9:00to quantify the range of preference
9:02variation within the population and to
9:04define preference tolerance ranges
9:06corresponding to different levels of
9:07listener satisfaction. Shawn will
9:09discuss how the tolerance ranges can be
9:11used to estimate the percentage of
9:12listeners likely to be satisfied by a
9:14given headphones tuning and explore the
9:16implications for headphone design,
9:18target response development and
9:20personalized sound reproduction.
9:23And finally, bringing our Can Jam SoCal
9:25seminar schedule to a close, come join
9:26Rob Watts at 3 p.m. for closing the
9:29circle of conversion. If a signal chain
9:31is only as good as its weakest link,
9:33then surely the finest playback
9:34experience must begin in the studio at
9:36the moment of capture and conversion.
9:39Rob has been shouting from proverbial
9:40rooftops about Pulsarray ADCs for many
9:42years now. But finally, this new
9:44technology has been perfected. It
9:46promises the same kind of improvements
9:48that Pulsarray DAXs are known for, but
9:49on the recording side. Rob will cover
9:51the benefits of this fully discrete
9:53Pulsarray ADC, its technical details,
9:56and describe the listening tests that
9:57validate its incredible performance. And
10:00finally, the discussion will close with
10:01a survey of future proauudio ADCs
10:03currently under development.
10:06Again, each of these seminars will be
10:07taking place in Harbor Room 206 located
10:10on the hotel's second level. Keep an eye
10:12out for Can Jam signage pointing the
10:13way, and be sure to get there early to
10:15grab a seat because these seminars will
10:17fill quickly.
10:23This is the Aelen Kern Ultima SP4000T. T
10:27stands for tube or tubes. Uh there are
10:29several of them in there, so we'll go
10:30with tubes. Um uh I have been looking
10:32forward to this. So when they did the
10:34SP2000 some years back, they eventually
10:36then did an an SP2000T. They did the
10:39SP3000, then they did an SP3000T. So
10:42then the SP4000 came out. I was hoping
10:44they'd eventually come out with this and
10:45they did. And what I was hoping is that
10:46it would incorporate some of the key
10:48things that they had in the SP4000, like
10:50for example, the high driving mode. They
10:51did. We'll get to that. Anyways, let's
10:53talk about what's inside the SP 4000T.
10:56So, inside there's the hexa audio
10:57circuit structure with complete
10:59separation of digital and analog
11:00signals. We've seen that before in their
11:01high-end players. Uh, two AKM on the DAX
11:04side, two AKM 4191 EQ and two AKM 4499
11:07EX. There are three amp modes,
11:10>> op amp, tube, and hybrid amp modes. So,
11:13I've been spending most of my time in
11:15tube mode. Yeah. Uh, big surprise there.
11:17Now, as for that tube mode, there are
11:19four Rathon J 6418 tubes. And of that
11:23aelin kern says industry first DAP with
11:26milspec vintage vacuum tube Rathon Jan
11:296418 in quad configuration.
11:32>> Um the tubes work in a differential
11:33configuration with each pair facing the
11:35other in mirror symmetry. So I have it
11:37in tube mode now. I'm going to flip it
11:39over. You can see that window with the
11:41glowing tubes. When you put it in tube
11:43mode it's a little brighter. In hybrid
11:44mode it's it's still lit but not as
11:46bright. Um and then when it's in solid
11:48state mode it's not lit at all.
11:50>> Right. But the funny thing about this is
11:51the window shows two of them.
11:53>> Yeah,
11:53>> but there are four of them in there. So,
11:55>> yeah. So many tubes they can't fit in
11:56the window.
11:57>> Yeah, exactly. I think the two more are
11:58up here somewhere or something like
11:59that. All right. Now, in tube mode,
12:02there are three tube modes. Triode,
12:04ultralinear, and pentode. Tube
12:06enthusiasts know what that means and um
12:09and tube enthusiasts will be very
12:11excited about this. I am one of them.
12:13All right. Industry first app with
12:15triple tube mode. Not surprised.
12:17Adjustable tube current, three levels.
12:19Again, tube enthusiasts will understand
12:23that's a cool thing to have.
12:24>> Yep.
12:26>> Second generation antimicrophonic noise
12:28architecture.
12:30>> It works.
12:31>> Yeah. Impressively.
12:32>> Impressively. So, um, we plug our im
12:35into it.
12:36>> Mhm.
12:36>> And both of us were doing this directly
12:38flicking the back of the chassis to see
12:40if we can hear tube microphonic noise.
12:42>> Right.
12:43>> None. I wasn't hearing any. You weren't
12:45hearing any. And that's that's kind of a
12:47first actually where you're directly
12:49flicking over the tubes and not hearing
12:51it. So whatever that second generation
12:53antimicrophonic noise architecture is,
12:55it works. Great job Aelen Kern.
12:57>> Seven selectable DAC filters. We've seen
12:59that before. Aston's high driving mode.
13:02This is something I I was hoping that it
13:04would have
13:04>> from the original SP 4000
13:06>> was that high driving mode for more
13:08current, for more oomph. It has it. Uh
13:11it also has ESA and advanced D. These
13:13are things again we've seen in other
13:15players. All right. Octaore processor
13:17with full open Android. Uh 6 in 2160 x
13:201080 display. Lovely display. Bluetooth
13:225.2 with AEX HD and LDAC. 2.4 and 5 gig
13:26uh Wi-Fi. Uh 256 gigs of built-in
13:29storage. You can add to that with an SD
13:31card up to one and a half terabytes.
13:32>> Yep.
13:33>> Yeah. Micro SD card.
13:34>> Micro SD.
13:35>> Up to 10 hours listening time in terms
13:37of battery life. 5 hours charging time
13:39with USB uh PD power delivery 3.0. Fast
13:42charge. Stainless steel or copper. This
13:44is the stainless steel version. Mhm.
13:45>> Uh, premium Manurva leather case from
13:47Battle Acasse Carlo. So, Manurva, I
13:50believe that's the name of one of the
13:51tannages of of Battle Acasse Carlo,
13:54which is a it's an Italian tannery.
13:57>> Yeah,
13:57>> they've used them before.
13:58>> Yeah. For a couple of their cases.
13:59>> Yeah. I have some leather goods made of
14:01Battle Ac Carlo leather. It's a really
14:03high-end leather. Uh, leather
14:04enthusiasts know what I'm talking about.
14:06It'll be in the cognac colorway. We
14:08don't have that case yet because this is
14:09a pre-production unit,
14:11>> but I can't wait to see that because I
14:13love battle Carlo leather. price for the
14:15SP4000T,
14:16um, $3,300.
14:19So, I am so excited about the SP4000D
14:24because of what I'm hearing. And what
14:26I'm hearing, and I'm pretty much running
14:28it mostly in tube mode, is what is
14:31everything you'd expect from
14:34great tube amplification,
14:36>> right?
14:36>> And one of the things I love about this,
14:38I also loved it about the SP300T, but
14:40this it sounds better and it has more
14:42drive. Um, and it has well more tubes
14:45and it has more drive because of the the
14:47high driving mode and so more
14:50flexibility with what you can use with
14:51it. I never imagined, you know, that I
14:54would one day be able to use like IM
14:56>> Mhm.
14:57>> with tube sound, like actual tubes, and
15:00now we can. There are there are many
15:03nice options to drive with tubes these
15:05days, but I love having a DAP, an
15:07all-in-one, right? Not like a separate
15:09amp, just to have it all in one,
15:11>> right? And right now, maybe nobody's
15:13doing it better than Ael and Curran here
15:14with the SP4000T. It's it's that
15:16fantastic. So, what am I talking about
15:19for those of you who aren't tube
15:20enthusiasts? Rich harmonics, just rich
15:23in tone, holographic,
15:26uh, sound stage, just things floating,
15:29but yet solid. That's what I'm talking
15:32about. And again, I love that you can
15:34adjust it in tube mode. Any number of
15:36ways to tweak it to your taste. And so
15:39even if you're not a tube audio
15:40enthusiast, you've never used tubes
15:42before at Can Jam make sure because
15:44that's the beautiful thing about it when
15:46you change the settings it's all it
15:48happens pretty instantly. Yeah.
15:49>> Right. So you can change it in real time
15:51to hear the effects.
15:52>> I mean that's just a fantastic thing. So
15:54at Canjam do that bring your headphones
15:57your IM and try it. It's it's a
15:59fantastic thing. So at CanJam the
16:01SP4000T has one of my highest
16:03recommendations for auditioning. You
16:05have to hear it. Like I said, I'm over
16:07the moon about the SP4000T.
16:10And in that previous segment, we did
16:11show the stainless steel one. That's all
16:12we had at the time. We mentioned the SP
16:154000T copper. That's what this is. This
16:17is the Aelen Kern A and An Ultima SP
16:204000T copper. And this will be at Can
16:22Jam. Um, now we we only had the
16:24stainless steel one then. Now we don't
16:26have that one. We only have this one.
16:28This arrived. We don't have the whole
16:29kitten kaboodleoodle though because this
16:30is a pre-production unit. Yep.
16:31>> But I am still over the moon about this.
16:34I love this copper version. This is
16:35crafted from a solid block of 99.98%
16:38pure copper. Not all copper is the same
16:41color
16:42>> because this is one of the most gorgeous
16:44colors of copper I think I've ever seen.
16:46It's kind of like a darker or medium
16:48dark tone copper and it's beautiful. It
16:49almost looks aged beautifully. Uh it is
16:52heavier because it's copper versus
16:54stainless steel. Uh pricing and
16:56availability, we don't know yet. Um but
16:58we should find all that out soon. I do
17:00know it'll be at Can Jam and since we
17:02don't have a stainless steel one here,
17:04I'll be able to compare them at Can Jam,
17:06which you should too. Um, and this does
17:08have that beautiful tube glow back
17:09there. So, um, yeah, I'm very excited
17:11about this one obviously and I can't
17:12wait to listen to both at Can Jam. Now,
17:15while the SP 4000T, which we just talked
17:18about, might be the newer one, this
17:20remains the flagship. And this is the
17:22Aelin Current A& Ultima SP4000. No T
17:26because there are no tubes in this one.
17:28Um, I'm going to say it. I love tubes.
17:31This is no secret. Um, but this has an
17:34advantage when it comes to just sheer
17:36resolution to me. And it still has like
17:40musicality
17:41and that resolution. I think a lot of
17:43the advantage comes from the DAC
17:45section. So, this does have a different
17:46DAC section than the SP4000T.
17:48>> Um, it has what Aelen Kern calls the
17:51real quad DAC. I believe it's the only
17:53DAP that has that, which is specifically
17:56four AKM AK-4191s plus four AKM AK-4499
18:01EXS. I don't think there's any other DAP
18:03that has that to the best of my
18:04recollection. I think that gives us an
18:06advantage in terms of resolution and
18:08just reference class sound. It's still
18:09my high standard for digital audio
18:11players. I've heard a lot of them, not
18:12all of them, but of all the ones I've
18:14heard, this is still to me the best I've
18:15heard. Now, it is a little more
18:17expensive than the SP 4000T. And then if
18:20you favor tube sound, you might still,
18:22you know, and I love tube sound, you
18:24might still favor the SP4000T, but to
18:26me, this is the more reference class
18:28player and remains the flagship. So it
18:31can jam, listen to the SP4000T. And I
18:34think a lot of people will gravitate
18:35toward it because it's newer. But if you
18:36haven't heard the SP 4000, this is still
18:40a can'tmiss and remains my high standard
18:42for portable digital audio players,
18:43period. This is the Aelen Kern PD20 and
18:47it will be at Can Jam. How much time we
18:48have, Brian? Lot to go over. Yeah, so
18:50much to go over. So many things about
18:52this to talk about. Let's start with
18:54this. Aelen Curran says that the PD20 is
18:56the first digital audio player to
18:58support personalized sound through a
19:00hearing test.
19:01>> We'll get back to that. Now, getting to
19:03the basics, let's talk about the DAC
19:04section, which is very impressive. It
19:05reads more like a desktop DAC. Um, it's
19:08a quad DAC configuration that uses four
19:10ESS ES927 Pro DAXs. So, very nice. And
19:15then there's a triple amp architecture.
19:17again kind of reads more like a desktop
19:19amp in terms of uh uh the specs because
19:22you can select class A, class A, or
19:25hybrid mode which combines the refined
19:27texture of class A. They say with the
19:28efficiency and power of class AB.
19:31>> Um and it's a physical switch.
19:33>> Yeah, I love they did that with
19:34hardware.
19:35>> Yes, you can switch those three amp
19:37modes in in real time whilst you're
19:39listening. Yep. With a physical switch.
19:41And then there's adjustable class A
19:43current. So, in class A and hybrid
19:44modes, the amplifier current can be
19:46adjusted in three levels, high, mid, and
19:48low. And they say it precisely
19:50fine-tunes the energy density and
19:52driving behavior of the amplifier,
19:53allowing you to further refine sound
19:54quality according to the characteristics
19:56of your earphones or headphones. And
19:58again, that's another switch, another
20:00physical switch. And again, when I'm
20:02listening to various IM and headphones,
20:04I love being able to customize with
20:05those switches in real time whilst I
20:07listen. I have generally gravitated more
20:10like most commonly I'm on class A and
20:12then even with IM I find myself with
20:15current on high a lot of the time it's
20:18just with Ael and current digital audio
20:20players as one might expect now um with
20:22in terms of self noise they tend to be
20:24pretty much dead quiet right so I love
20:26that all right now let's get to that
20:28personal sound that they talked about it
20:30was developed in collaboration with
20:31audio do and they say by precisely
20:33analyzing your hearing characteristics
20:34and independently compensating for left
20:36and right ears It dramatically enhances
20:38clarity and balance. And it even comes
20:40with earphones that they recommend using
20:42for the hearing test. And essentially
20:44the hearing test is a simple one and
20:46it's quick. It's like a couple minutes,
20:48few minutes, right?
20:48>> It just says, "Can you hear it?" And it
20:50plays tones at various frequencies and
20:52then you tell it when you can hear it
20:54and then it builds a profile. I've done
20:55it a couple times and my results were
20:57pretty consistent, almost identical.
21:00Now, here's what I'll say about it. If
21:02you have gross deficiencies in your
21:04hearing or imbalances between your left
21:06and right ear,
21:08>> I can see this being a huge benefit.
21:10>> Oh, yeah.
21:10>> And and and and you can switch it in and
21:12out in real time. So, you can hear the
21:14effect of that profile that it creates
21:17from your hearing test.
21:19>> For me, my ears are close enough. my my
21:21left ear isn't as good as my right in
21:23some frequency ranges, but but they're
21:26close enough that for me the benefit
21:29>> I don't think is as much there than than
21:31as if I if I had gross deficiencies,
21:34>> right?
21:34>> But it's interesting still nevertheless
21:36to hear what it does based on my hearing
21:39test that I do on it. Um and it's cool
21:42that it comes with the earphones to do
21:43the test so you have a you know because
21:44it's probably calibrated for those.
21:45>> It's a reference. Yeah.
21:46>> Yeah. I'll say this. [laughter] I tried
21:48listening to music with those hearing,
21:50you know, the hearing test earphones. I
21:52probably wouldn't use them listening to
21:53me [laughter] listening to music, but I
21:55love that they include them as a
21:56standard.
21:57>> Yes.
21:57>> All right. It also has something called
21:59audio do audio sphere. Immersive spatial
22:02sound from stereo sources. Four presets,
22:04subtle, balanced, immersive, and ecoic.
22:06And you can hear it especially with when
22:08you're listening to stuff with vocal
22:10like human vocals.
22:11>> Um subtle
22:13>> I can see using that sometimes. The
22:16others can be, you know, very
22:18noticeable.
22:19>> Yeah.
22:19>> So, I think some people might enjoy them
22:21depending on the music or content you're
22:22listening to. So, they're there when you
22:24want them.
22:26>> There's a sound master wheel, which is
22:27this wheel here.
22:28>> Yep. More hardware.
22:29>> Yeah. I love that hardware control.
22:31>> Yeah.
22:32>> And this wheel to me is a very big deal,
22:34which I'll explain you. With it, you can
22:37independently adjust bass, mid, and
22:38treble in 160 adjustment steps from
22:41minus 8 dB to plus 8 dB. To the best of
22:44my knowledge, I I don't think it's a
22:45full parametric EQ because I don't think
22:47you can adjust Q.
22:49>> But it's not just basement and treble
22:51in, you know, like uh that you can't uh
22:53adjust. You can actually in the graphic
22:55interface choose your center frequency,
22:57right? And then adjust from there with
22:59the buttons. Then you can save profiles
23:01because with some IM for example or
23:03headphones, there might be specific
23:04ranges that I want to specifically
23:06adjust. And I do use EQ uh both desktop
23:09and portably. And so I love having the
23:11ability to switch through those and have
23:13profiles, right? Um physically.
23:16>> Yes.
23:17>> So that is a big huge deal for me. All
23:20right. Um this also incorporates uh the
23:23ESA technology that I think first
23:25appeared in the SP 4000 to to address
23:29group delay. Um I don't know
23:31specifically how much that contributes
23:33to why I love the SP4000 so much. And I
23:36love the way this sounds too. Um, I'm
23:38going to just say how I feel about both
23:39of these shortly. Um, but it's there.
23:42This ESA technology is now also in the
23:44PD20. It also has Aston's Teraton Alpha
23:46Sound Solution, Aelen Kurarn's Advanced
23:49Digital Audio Remaster, D, which I use
23:52on the SP4000, and there are other
23:54players, and I use on the PD20. I pretty
23:56much usually have it set to do remaster
23:58to DSD.
24:00Um, let's see. Open Android powered by
24:03an octaore processor. I'm not sure
24:04specifically the processor, but it's
24:06snappy. Yeah,
24:07>> this is very responsive. Um, 6 in FH FHD
24:10plus display. Lovely display. Um, 3 and
24:14a half and 4.4 millimeter headphone
24:15outputs. Bluetooth 5.3 with AEX HD and
24:17LDAC. With my DAPs, I don't often use
24:20Bluetooth, but I love when I do knowing
24:22that the good stuff is in it.
24:24>> Mhm.
24:24>> 256 gigs of storage, micro SD expansion
24:28up to two terabytes. I love that it has
24:29256 gigs. With memory prices as they are
24:32today, that's a big deal. up to 14 hours
24:35of run time and it supports power
24:37delivery 3.0 fast charging which is
24:38nice. Price $1,800
24:41>> or $1,965
24:43if you opt for the PD20's goat skin
24:45leather case.
24:46>> Yeah, I'm going to say go ahead and just
24:47get the case right now
24:48>> cuz Yeah, it does kind of have sharper
24:50edges and corners.
24:50>> The corners are kind of pointy. Yeah,
24:51>> it is pretty though.
24:52>> Oh yeah,
24:53>> it is pretty though. All right, so
24:54here's how I feel about this. The SP
24:574000, their flagship player, is still
25:00maybe the best player I've ever heard.
25:01Mhm.
25:02>> Probably is this though. And by the way,
25:05the output on this has a lot of output,
25:07at least in terms of voltage. I believe
25:08it has an even higher maximum voltage
25:10output than the SP4000. I don't know
25:12about current, but for voltage, it does.
25:14Um, I love the way this sounds and the
25:17big deal to me is being able to have an
25:19aelin a current flagship sound and then
25:23the adjustability with the physical the
25:25physical controls,
25:26>> right? having those profiles that I said
25:28I can save for various IM various
25:30headphones and then being able to adjust
25:31them with the physical control is a huge
25:34deal. And so for that reason, I could
25:37actually see myself using this even in
25:40place sometimes of the SP4000 for that
25:42level of flexibility depending on what
25:44I'm carrying with me. Like if I want to
25:45bring a few different IMs with me, I
25:46could see carrying this instead
25:49>> because it performs beautifully and it's
25:51just so incredibly customizable. So,
25:53this the PD20 at Can Jam. You're going
25:56to need some time. Ask for a tour of it,
25:58but what a wonderful fullfeatured, crazy
26:01featured uh digital audio player. So,
26:04this is a bit of an unusual offering
26:05from Ael and Kern because it's bringing
26:07some new things to the table that we
26:09haven't really seen before. It's the
26:10Aelen Kern PD5. Now, for those that are
26:13interested, the PD5 is the successor to
26:15Ael and Karns and Norma SR35. So, that
26:18kind of gives you a feel for where it's
26:19falling in their line. And inside you're
26:21going to find eight Cirrus Logix CS43198
26:24DAXs. It supports PCM up to 32 384 and
26:27DSD 256. But one of the standout
26:30features there is that they allow
26:31switching between a quadac architecture
26:33and an octadac architecture. So they say
26:36that quadac mode prioritizes longer
26:38battery life and that octad mode
26:40prioritizes sound quality. Honestly, I
26:42spent most of my time in the octadac
26:44mode because, you know, I'm here in the
26:45office or at home. I can plug in if I
26:47need to, right? So,
26:48>> it's worth it. It has full Android OS
26:51with an octaore processor, uh, 64 GB of
26:54built-in storage, and it's expandable v
26:56via micro SD. It comes with a 28 hour
26:59playback time, which is huge. Now, keep
27:01in mind that's when you're in the quad
27:03format, not the octa format. And it has
27:05power delivery 3.0 with a 2 and a half
27:08hour full charge time. It has dualband
27:10Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.3. Comes with
27:13support for Appdex, LDAC, and LHDC. So,
27:15nice to see those. It has an Aluno
27:17chassis and I want to talk about this
27:19for a second because thank you Aelen
27:21Kern. It has rounded corners and soft
27:24edges. Please continue this tradition
27:26because I love this. It's so much easier
27:28in the hand. Uh speaking of easy in the
27:30hand, it has I don't have the exact
27:32measurement specs, but with a ruler it
27:34came out to about 4.25 in for the
27:36display. I love this size. This is
27:38travel friendly, pocket friendly. You
27:40can just grab it and go. I really
27:41appreciate the size for this. It also
27:43features Ael and Karn's Digital Audio
27:46Remaster technology, but then it
27:47features a brand new feature that
27:49they're calling Envirro. Now, to quote
27:51Ael and Kern, they say, "Invotune
27:53analyzes ambient noise and automatically
27:55optimizes the sound for the current
27:57environment. It's designed to help
27:58listeners get the best possible sound
28:00experience, whether they are commuting,
28:02working, or listening in a quieter
28:03space." Now, I have to be clear here. I
28:05had to ask Aston Cern a couple of
28:06clarifying questions because to me, it's
28:08it sounded more like kind of like an A
28:10and C kind of thing. It's not. So, what
28:14they said to me was that the Envirrotune
28:16feature works based on noise masking,
28:18which is a bit different from noise
28:19cancellation. It detects surrounding
28:20noise and tweaks the audio so you can
28:22hear the full frequency spectrum without
28:24losing any detail. It's not trying to
28:26cancel any phases out here. It's
28:28basically just trying to make sure that
28:30whatever you're listening to is not
28:32getting lost in the mix. And it does
28:33that with a little microphone that's
28:35right up here on top. I think this is a
28:36really neat idea. They also go on to say
28:38that the main goal of this feature is to
28:40keep the music clear and detailed
28:42without getting drowned out even in
28:43noisy environments. So, the first time I
28:46tried the feature, I turned it on, I was
28:48at home. So, you know, between turning
28:50it on and off, I'm in a quiet house. I'm
28:52not really noticing much of a
28:53difference. But if you take it out and
28:56you're say in a windy environment or a
28:58noisy environment, that's really where
28:59it's going to come into effect. you
29:01notice it more when there are dynamic
29:03shifts between, you know, a quiet
29:05environment and a noisier or even just a
29:07little bit more of a crowded space. So,
29:10what do I think about it as a player? I
29:11think it's fantastic. It's open Android,
29:13so I have access to everything like
29:14Apple Music and Title and Kobuzz, all
29:16the services that I use on a regular
29:17basis. I can pop in my own SD card,
29:20listen to my favorite tracks straight
29:21from it. It has, you know, the ability
29:24to obviously update over the year like a
29:26lot of Aston current players do and
29:27hopefully, you know, we're going to see
29:29more firmware improvements even farther
29:30down the line just to make that more and
29:32more polished. It's an SR35 replacement
29:35and I think it's fantastic.
29:36>> Yes, I think that is a wonderful the
29:39design, by the way, that you're talking
29:40about, especially if you're going to
29:41carry it without a case. Yes. For a
29:43small DAP like that, if you want to go,
29:44you know, minimalist, it's nice to have
29:46the rounded edges. I will say, you know,
29:48as a replacement for the SR35, you know,
29:50that's one of the simplest designs I've
29:52ever seen, maybe the simplest I've ever
29:55seen from Atolen Kern. It's downright
29:57bahausian compared to anything else I
29:59think they've ever done. I actually
30:01think it's a very elegant player, and I
30:02love the size.
30:03>> Yeah, I do too. So, when you're at KJIM,
30:05try it out for yourself.
30:07>> This is the FO DM15 AKM. And as the name
30:10suggests, there's an AKM deck inside of
30:12this thing. So, there's a sister model
30:13called the FIO DM15 RTOR, but not
30:15everybody wants an RTR deck,
30:17>> right?
30:17>> Um, I'm guessing maybe DM is an homage
30:19to Discman, the brand Discman,
30:22>> maybe.
30:22>> That's my guess anyway. So, if you don't
30:24want an R deck, right, like in the DM15
30:27ROR, then you have this. So, they
30:30describe it as an advanced CD player
30:31with built-in DAC and headphone
30:32amplifier. I love that it has DAC
30:34functionality, not just the CD player.
30:36>> And that headphone amplifier has some
30:38juice. We'll get back to that. So again,
30:40this is an AKM, so dual AKM AK-4493S DAX
30:43inside instead of R to R with velvet
30:45sound. PCM 32384 DSD 256. So again, I
30:49love that DAC functionality. Something
30:50they call five core architecture design.
30:534.4 millimeter and 3 and 12 millimeter
30:54outputs. None of my discs of the old
30:57days had balanced output. So that's nice
30:58to have.
30:59>> They also didn't have up to 1.1 watt per
31:01channel output. No,
31:02>> I'm almost certain none of mine had
31:04anything close to that. So I love having
31:05that. I also love when it's FIO, you
31:07know, it's going to have essentially no
31:09self noise. So whether you want to drive
31:10sensitive IM um or up to 1.1 watts per
31:13channel, that'll cover most headphones
31:15you'd want to listen to on the go. I
31:16love that.
31:17>> I also love the all aluminum alloy
31:19chassis with transparent tempered glass
31:21top because it reminds me of the
31:22earliest discs which were metal and
31:25higher quality and then over the years
31:27they got plasticky and kind of chintzy.
31:29This is a return to that original sort
31:32of Disc Man thing where it was metal,
31:34where opening the lid felt good,
31:36latching it felt good. Yeah,
31:38>> this has that feel.
31:39>> The screen, yes, there's a little
31:41screen. It's a high definitionition 0.96
31:43in LCD screen. It's a little tiny screen
31:45and it has way more information on it
31:47than you'd think a screen that tiny
31:48would have.
31:50>> Bluetooth with AEX lossless. Also, of
31:52course, a modern thing. Nice to have
31:54that on a disc on a disc player like
31:55this. Lag and stutterfree playback. It
31:57has ESP electronic anti-shock system. I
31:59like this feature. CD ripping to USB
32:01drive.
32:02>> That's a cool feature to have. I have a
32:04I have a pretty large CD collection and
32:06I've only ripped a small percentage of
32:07it. So, it'd be nice to get through more
32:09of them. Maybe I'll use this to help do
32:11that. 24 rich sound effects with three
32:13bass levels and ADQs. I mostly listen to
32:15it without any EQ or customization that
32:17way. Just listen to the CDs as they are.
32:19But I do have, for example, 1980s
32:21newwave recordings. Some of them are
32:22just so harsh and lean. So, it's nice to
32:25have the option to kind of make them a
32:26little richer. to give them some lift.
32:28Up to six hours of CD playback. That's
32:30about what I'd expect, you know, for
32:32something like this, which is actually
32:34pretty good considering it's physically
32:35spinning a CD.
32:37>> Um, includes a remote control. It's a
32:39very nice remote control, by the way.
32:40>> And it comes in white, red, silver, and
32:42black. And the price is $259.99 or 260
32:45bucks. And I love that we're getting
32:47back. There's this kind of resurgence of
32:49CDs, vinyl, and I love that we're
32:52getting back to spinning physical media
32:54>> to listen to music again. And the reason
32:55is not just nostalgia, it's also just a
32:57different way of listening. It's a
32:58little bit more dedicated uh listening
33:00sessions and that you're listening to
33:02albums for example all the way through
33:03and I think a lot of albums are made to
33:05be listened to that way. I love having
33:07this again. So again for those of you
33:08who don't want an ROR deck if you do
33:10there's the FMDM15 ROR for those of you
33:13who don't the FODM15 AKM. So make sure
33:15to listen to both if you can jam because
33:18it's it's it's a lovely way to get back
33:20to the old way of listening. This little
33:23guy is the FIO and Jade Audio Gigas 1
33:25and it is an impressive amplifier. So,
33:28it is a discrete classab architecture
33:30and it has transistor current
33:32amplification. Now, get this, it
33:34delivers up to 4.6 watts per channel,
33:37which out of something this small is a
33:38lot of drive and it has 4.4 millimeter
33:41and 3.5 millimeter outputs. Obviously, a
33:43lot of that power is coming out of the
33:45balance side. You have 3.5 millimeter
33:47and RCA inputs. It has two gain
33:50settings. It comes in silver, green, and
33:52black. And also, get this. It's $49.99.
33:55>> That's insane.
33:56>> It is. It's 50 bucks. It's a highdriving
33:58amplifier, and I think it sounds
34:00fantastic.
34:00>> And it's discreet.
34:01>> It is discreet,
34:02>> but it is just an amplifier, so you need
34:04a DACK to go with it. Well, this is a
34:06cool little thing. It also comes from
34:07FIO, and it's under 20 bucks. This is
34:09the FIO LT 3.5S.
34:12It is a USB type-C to 3.5 millimeter
34:15deck. It has PCM up to 32 384 support
34:19and it has silverplated OFC conductors
34:21with graphine and pure copper shielding.
34:23It has an 80 millimeter length and again
34:25it comes in under 20 bucks. When you put
34:28these two together, you're looking at a
34:30$70, in my opinion complete system
34:32because it can drive a lot of headphones
34:34and it drives a lot of them well. For
34:35example, I've been listening to these
34:37three these two together with Fio and
34:39Jade Audio's JT9, which is their
34:41flagship planer magnetic headphone, and
34:44I got to say, you know, they are
34:47unassumingly great. Like, they sound
34:50incredible. They don't necessarily catch
34:53your eye as far as like striking design,
34:55but it's good, simple engineering that
34:58delivers incredible sound. So, at KJAM,
35:00you have to check them out.
35:02>> The FO K7 has been a huge success. It's
35:05immensely popular in our community and
35:06and rightfully so. It's such a
35:08fantastically capable piece of kit.
35:10>> Yeah.
35:11>> Um this is another variant of the FIO
35:15K17 and it will be at CAN Jam. This is
35:17the FIO K17 R. The original K17 was not
35:22an R deck. It was built around AKM's
35:25fantastic flagship deck.
35:27>> But this is R to R and it's a really
35:29cool R implementation. I'm going to try
35:30my best to explain it a little bit more
35:32later. Um, but yeah, fantastic. So, what
35:35is the FIO K17 or now the K17 RTR? It's
35:38a fully balanced desktop deck and
35:40headphone amplifier. I think so many
35:42people know what it is already, but yep,
35:44>> designed for both headphones and two
35:45channel systems. Supports Qplay NAS rune
35:47ready AirPlay.
35:49The DAC, this RO deck, they describe it
35:52as well, it's called the proprietary 24
35:54+ 5bit segmented RTOR Pro resistor
35:57array. I'll explain it more a little
35:58later or at least try. The amplifier,
36:01discrete classab current amplification
36:03headphone amplifier up to four watts per
36:04channel at 32 ohms. So it has pretty
36:06strong output.
36:07>> Yep.
36:08>> I love the engineering of FIO
36:10electronics. Um, and this one is just
36:13another example. Uh, this one uses, by
36:15the way, a 35 watt low frequency
36:17low-noise linear power supply. I love
36:19that has a linear power supply. And I
36:21love, like most FIO gear, low to no self
36:24noise. You can use it. It's so versatile
36:26that way. The chassis is precision
36:28machined aluminum chassis. obviously has
36:30kind of a retro look to it and the sides
36:32are North American hardwood side panels.
36:34Specifically, I think they're it's
36:36premium imported white ash and black
36:37walnut wood face plates.
36:40Um I I I have this in the notes for you.
36:42Uh it uses Xmos XU316. You always seem
36:45to get excited when you know that I like
36:47that
36:47>> the touchcreen is a 3.93 in LCD
36:50touchcreen. It almost doesn't look like
36:51a touchcreen,
36:52>> but it is. and it opens up so many
36:55options and so it can look retro but you
36:58swipe in either direction and it just
36:59you see this plethora of options that
37:01you have in settings. So it's very cool
37:03and useful display inputs again so
37:06versatile inputs USB type-C optical coax
37:09Bluetooth 5.1 Ethernet Wi-Fi stereo RCA
37:12and 4.4 millimeter and with Bluetooth uh
37:14AEX adaptive and LDAC outputs four pin
37:17XLR 4.4 4 millime 6.35 millimeter stereo
37:20RCA balanced 3 pin XLR optical and coax.
37:23I just want to get through these quickly
37:24because again so versatile so many
37:26things.
37:26>> Yep.
37:27>> Advanced DSP with 31 band PEQ. It's a 31
37:30band high precision lossless PEQ with
37:32support for auto EQ. And it's available
37:34in black or silver. And again, it has
37:36those lovely wood side panels. And
37:38again, I think the wood side panels
37:40actually make it look more retro. Uh it
37:42includes it includes an an aluminum
37:44alloy infrared remote control. It's
37:45actually a very nice remote control. And
37:47it also supports FIO's control app price
37:499990 bucks $989.99.
37:51So 990 bucks. All right. That the R deck
37:56again they call it a proprietary 24 plus
37:585 bit segmented RTR pro resistor array.
38:01Uh they describe it this way. Built on a
38:03segmented architecture. The upper five
38:04bits are decoding are decoded using 31
38:07thermometer coded resistors addressing
38:09the error accumulation inherent in
38:11traditional ROR designs and reducing
38:13distortion. The result is a sound that
38:15embodies what is so loved about R to R.
38:18Clear yet smooth, natural, warm, and
38:20endlessly listenable. These are
38:22qualities that ROR DACK enthusiasts are
38:25looking for.
38:25>> Mhm.
38:26>> Now, when when when you read that, it
38:28almost makes it sound like, are they
38:29trying to get it closer to a Delta Sigma
38:31DACK? And I I would say the answer is
38:32emphatically no. That's actually not at
38:34all what they're doing. So, if if I
38:36understand it correctly, and FIO
38:38engineers, correct me if I'm wrong, and
38:40then maybe we'll shoot another segment,
38:41but I don't think I'm wrong. the
38:42segmentation is strictly an amplitude
38:44domain fix.
38:45>> Okay.
38:46>> And so with R to Ardax, you know, we're
38:48looking for time domain accuracy. That's
38:50kind of the focus there for imaging that
38:52holographic imaging. Um that's one of
38:56the key things we're looking for, not
38:57just the warmth that we get with like
38:58non-oversampling for example, which you
38:59can do non-oversampling or oversampling
39:01with this by the way, but the time
39:03domain. So it has absolutely zero
39:05negative impact on the time domain
39:06accuracy as I understand it. So that's a
39:08big deal. And by the way, it'll decode
39:10PCM 32768 DSD 256.
39:14For me, you know, the funny thing is you
39:15hear the term all the time, all things
39:17being equal when you're comparing two
39:18things. All all other things being
39:20equal.
39:20>> I can hardly think of a better example
39:22than the K17 and the K17 R to R, right?
39:25>> So, all other things being equal
39:27essentially applies here. You've got the
39:29AKM flagship DAC, you've got R. Which
39:33one will you prefer? I think some will
39:35prefer the AKM setup. I'm I I am
39:39definitely favoring this. I love that
39:41holographic imaging that you get with
39:42it. I use it in nonover oversampling
39:44mode. It has a nice warmth to it. This
39:46is an R2R deck. That implementation is
39:48very special. If you're if if you're
39:50familiar with how ROR DAXs work,
39:52hopefully what I read their description
39:54um sounds as cool to you as it does to
39:56me. At Can Jam, make sure to check out
40:00the Fio K17 RTR. If they have the K17
40:03there to compare it with, yeah, do the
40:05comparison. And I want to see which one
40:07you guys prefer. This is the FO M25R
40:12launched at the same time as the
40:14sibling, the M25. Yep. Now, the M25, the
40:17nonRT version is an AKM version
40:20available with dual AK-4499 EX DAXs.
40:23>> This is the R version. I'm very excited
40:26about it. Actually,
40:27>> this is built on FIO's RTR Pro DAC
40:29technology, which is their latest R deck
40:32technology. Now, of the M25 RTR, they
40:35say it's a sub flagship Androidbased DAP
40:37built on FIO's own R2R Pro matrix that
40:40according to FIO will provide a
40:41significantly better sound quality
40:43compared to standard ROR matrix DAXs. I
40:45will say it sounds fantastic. It has
40:47what I'm looking for as an ROR DACA
40:49enthusiast, and we'll get to that.
40:51Output up to 1,700 mills per channel.
40:54So, that's some nice drive.
40:55>> Qualcomm QCS 6490 processor. Very, very
40:58snappy performance.
40:59>> Yeah.
41:00>> Uh, that's very important to me. I love
41:01that from shutdown it starts up within
41:03seconds. Uh 8 gig plus 128 gig storage
41:07and RAM. XMOS XU316 chip. Uh I point
41:10that out just because you always like
41:11when ADAP has that. I do.
41:13>> Brand new high-capacity FPGA. FIO custom
41:15FTOC crystal oscillators. Um like FO's
41:20electronics and their high-end
41:21electronics especially, you can always
41:23expect just meticulous part selection
41:25and engineering.
41:26>> Mh.
41:27>> And it's no different with this. Uh, in
41:29terms of design, new diamond cut design
41:31language. We have the case on it here,
41:33but we'll show you pictures of it
41:34without the case. The screen's a 5.5
41:36inch 1080 by 2160 HD display. It's
41:39actually a very nice display.
41:40>> Yeah, it's a great size, too.
41:41>> True. I've been carrying huge DAPs in
41:44the last couple years. It's nice to have
41:45a more reasonably sized DAP to carry
41:47around. Um, the battery 6500 mAh high
41:50temperature safe battery.
41:52>> Uh, also has a 31b PEQ plus auto EQ. I
41:55always appreciate uh detailed EQ options
41:58because I'm an EQ kind of guy.
42:00>> Uh the price around $1,100 US. Now, that
42:04description is a sub flagship or near
42:06flagship player. I think this is a
42:08flagship class player, especially if
42:09you're looking for an R deck. What what
42:12we're looking for with RD DAXs, like the
42:14deck, the ROR DACA enthusiast, is the
42:16time domain thing. Yeah. Is how I kind
42:18of see it or hear it. where we're
42:20looking for that imaging holographic
42:22imaging uh image solidity image object
42:25solidity and a holographic imaging and
42:27this has it beautifully executed um so I
42:31I so far my experience with their art
42:33pro uh DAC technology has been awesome
42:36and this is no different uh like other R
42:39decks it has oversampling or
42:41non-oversampling that you can choose I
42:42usually choose not oversampling and when
42:44I choose that it's like a natural like a
42:47natural smoothness or warmth without
42:48being in any way smoothed over, if you
42:51know what I mean, or syrupy or anything
42:53like that.
42:54>> These are kind of the things that we're
42:55looking for as art deck enthusiasts. And
42:57as as far as the landscape out there for
42:59R digital audio players go, I consider
43:01this a flagship class player.
43:03>> Yeah.
43:03>> Um, at Kan Jam, if you're curious about
43:06ROR DAXs, this is a beautiful thing to
43:09audition. If you're not curious about
43:11them, then do the non RO M25. But to me,
43:15if you're shopping for flagship class
43:18digital audio players and especially if
43:20you're curious about or you already know
43:21you like art DAX,
43:23>> M25 RS should be at the top of your list
43:25of things to audition.
43:27>> Going to Can Jam SoCal used to mean kind
43:30of going to audios neighborhood
43:32because they were in California,
43:33>> but they moved to Texas. So now if you
43:35want to go to a Can Jam closest to them,
43:37that would have to be Can Jam Dallas,
43:38right?
43:38>> Anyway, we're talking about KJ Jam. So,
43:40[laughter]
43:40and they will be there, of course. and
43:42they're going to have some stuff, some
43:43new stuff that I'm dying to check out
43:45that unfortunately we don't have here.
43:47So, I'm going to check this out at Can
43:48Jam SoCal and you can come with me. So,
43:51let's start with the audio buff.
43:54They call it a coherence tube buffer and
43:56of coherence audio says our unique
43:58fully discrete topology for melding tube
44:01and transistor without any input caps,
44:03interstage caps or output capacitors.
44:05It's found coherence is found in
44:07audios valley 3 and le 5. And they say
44:11Buff makes it easy to add tube sound to
44:13virtually any system. And you know what
44:16a tube buff I am? Tube buff. [laughter]
44:19So you know a tube buff I am. Pun
44:21intended, I guess. Um anyways, so I'm
44:23dying to hear this. And it's only $99.
44:26Um so if you have a solid state amp and
44:27you want to add tube to it, boom, it's
44:2999 bucks. audio buff. It comes with
44:32a new old stock 6N1P tube. So at Can Jam
44:35SoCal, this is going to be one of the
44:37first things I check out. Now,
44:39Audio has something else at their Canam
44:40SoCal exhibit that I want to check out.
44:42It's also $99 and it's called the
44:44Audio Vestri. Now, I wouldn't say that
44:47audio are strangers to portable DAC
44:49amp combos because they have the
44:50original FA and some other products. The
44:52Vestri though is something very unique
44:54in the space. So, they say that it's the
44:56only portable DAC amp with audios
44:58mesh. And in their words, mesh is a
45:01unique combination of our time and
45:02frequency domain optimized digital
45:04filter and a standard delta sigma
45:06modulator. in this case an ES9018 and
45:09that supports PCM up to 321 192.
45:11>> Given my experience so far with Shit's
45:13mesh deck, I am super duper interested
45:15in this one.
45:16>> Yeah, me too. It has 3.5 mm and 4.4
45:19millimeter output. And we're talking
45:21power specs here. So, up to 400 mill RMS
45:24at 32 ohms. That's out of the balance
45:25connection. And up to 200 mill RMS at 32
45:28ohms out of single-ended. Now, again, I
45:31haven't tried this in person yet, but I
45:32have to imagine based on those specs, a
45:34lot of headphones you're likely to take
45:36on the road with you seem like they'd
45:37likely be compatible. And talking about
45:39going on the road, it has USBC input.
45:41And to me, these days, USBC is a must.
45:44Pretty much everything I travel with
45:46uses USBC. Anything I connect to my
45:48computer has to be USBC. So, I'm really
45:50excited to try this out. For only $99,
45:52the Audio Vestri. Now, apparently
45:55sticking to this $99 theme, Audio
45:58has another product that was kind of a
46:00close call with the Buff. Yeah. For me,
46:02of what I wanted to most check out at
46:03Audios exhibit, and it's called the
46:04Audio Imp, also $99. Um, they're
46:08calling the IMP an impedance multiplier
46:11and balanced output converter. And they
46:13say, "Have a tube amp that can't drive
46:15your difficult headphones? Want to use
46:17your tube amp with your balanced cans?
46:19Add IMP and you're ready to rock." I
46:21love their marketing. They they like
46:23simple lines that make you understand
46:24the product right away. All right,
46:26here's also what they say about it.
46:27Improduces the load of hardto- drive
46:29headphones by 8x, making that crazy 20
46:32ohm planer look like a comfortable 160
46:34ohm load to your OTL 2 amp. That's
46:37output transformerless 2 amp. And when
46:39you switch to 300 ohm headphones, you
46:40can easily bypass impressing a button.
46:42So things like OTL 2 amps, they don't
46:44typically like low impedance loads. No.
46:46And we have here dynamic headphones that
46:48are low impedance and even planers of
46:50course that are low impedance that I
46:51would love to be able to use with OTL2
46:53amps. We just took delivery of a new
46:55OTL2 amp here at Headvi HQ.
46:57>> And so the imp is also something again
46:5999 bucks. The audio imp is another
47:01thing at Kanjam SoCal that I have to
47:03check out.
47:04>> That amp on the table is a magnificent
47:08thing. I love it because I'm a tube
47:10audio enthusiast and that's a pretty
47:12pure tube circuit because it's output
47:14transformerless. It's OTL. It's called
47:17the ZMF headphones AirMid OTL. And I
47:19love it. It will be at Can Jam. Don't
47:21miss it. Here's what they say about it.
47:23A refined output transformerless
47:24amplifier built around ZMF's AirMid
47:26circuit topology featuring an Aegis tube
47:28rectified power supply, gyator loaded
47:30input stage, and actively loaded power
47:32pento output. A clean directly coupled
47:34signal path with a sig with a single
47:36film output capacitor. Again, that's
47:38that's pretty pure tube circuit right
47:41there from tube to headphone. It's
47:43designed by Lord Gwyn, obviously not his
47:46birth name. Uh his real name is Kenan
47:47Mcnite. Manufactured by Cayen. And
47:50again, it's it's a beautifully made
47:51thing. Beautifully designed thing.
47:53Congratulations, Kenan. It's a lovely
47:55thing. Uh the tubes. Okay. For the
47:57rectifier, you can use GZ34 5R4 5U 4 GZ
48:0132 GZ37274B.
48:03I think on that one, it's a GZ34. Uh for
48:06input, you can use 6 SN7 12 AU76J5 and
48:09it has 6 SN7 on it. uh for output EL34,
48:13EL37, KT66, KT77, KT88, 65,56L6,
48:18and that has EL34s.
48:20Three-position feedback switch on the
48:22front. Um, off, medium, and high. In
48:26off, 73 ohms, they say maximum dynamics
48:29and punch. Moderate or medium, I'm
48:32sorry, 38 ohms, balanced, dynamics, and
48:34refinement. For high, smoothest, lowest
48:37distortion, that's 21 ohms. I was
48:39running it mostly with off. We'll get
48:41back to that. Uh, the Airid Otl was
48:44named after the Gaelic goddess of
48:46healing. The original Airid was a
48:48handbuilt OTL of which only five were
48:50ever made. Praised for its outstanding
48:52detail retrieval, clarity, and spacious
48:54presentation. Uh, they continue, "The
48:56ZMF Airid is a collaboration between
48:57Lord Gwyn and ZMF headphones to bring a
48:59refined production version of this
49:01celebrated circuit to a wider audience
49:03for the first time. The production
49:05design adapts the original topology with
49:07a simplified input stage, power penote
49:09outputs, and a three-position feedback
49:11switch, making Lord Gwin's acclaimed OTL
49:13sound accessible beyond the five
49:14originals. That's actually a neat story.
49:16Yeah, actually didn't know that until I
49:18just read it. Thanks for those show
49:19notes, Brian. Uh, I didn't know that. So
49:21cool. All right, the price $2,999.99.
49:26>> Let's call it 3,000 bucks. Uh, worth
49:30every penny. Worth every penny. They
49:33describe it thusly. Spacious, dynamic,
49:36detailed. Yes. Uh, spacious and diffuse
49:40sense of space. Um, impact and
49:42definition, low distortion with active
49:44loading, highly detailed and resolving.
49:46All right.
49:47>> With the headphones I've tried with it,
49:49>> it has been magnificent. Again, this is
49:52an output transformerless amp, tube amp.
49:54So, you're going to be using higher
49:56impedance headphones with it. For
49:57current, more current demanding lower
49:59impedance headphones. That's not the
50:01kind of amp you'd use with it.
50:02using the kind of headphones you should
50:04use with it. Say, for example, on the
50:05dynamic side, something like, of course,
50:07a ZMF Atrium, a Sennheiser HD800S. Um,
50:12it's going to be magnificent. Um, I
50:18pretty much used it with those kinds of
50:19headphones. You You might get like Well,
50:22I do get like a bloom in the feedback
50:24off
50:25>> mode.
50:26>> That's where I want it. I want that
50:29bloom. with OTL amps. They a a great OTL
50:33amp with proper, you know, like a good
50:36pair of headphones, a good match for it.
50:38They're actually fast and detailed, not
50:42something you necessarily associate with
50:44tube amps, but then you can get that
50:45bloom, harmonic richness, and incredible
50:48soundstaging and imaging. They describe
50:51it as like a spacious and diffuse sense
50:53of space. Yes, spacious, but uh I guess
50:57diffuse if that's what they're referring
50:58to, but like the image objects are so
50:59meaty, too. Uh with a good pairing. Um
51:04with now I tried the Meza Arta, which is
51:06a planer magnetic high impedance
51:07headphone.
51:08>> What's interesting there is I wasn't
51:10getting as much of the bloom with
51:12feedback off, but I guess maybe then
51:16since it's a plan, maybe it has a
51:17flatter impedance curve. That might be
51:18why.
51:20But still I was getting better imaging
51:22with feedback off. Uh I know they say
51:25let's say for example in the highest uh
51:28feedback mode, smoothest lowest
51:29distortion.
51:31I I'm not trying to get the lowest
51:33distortion with it. I want whatever
51:35those tubes are doing. And by the way,
51:36because it's OTL and it's pretty much
51:38tube to headphone or as close to that as
51:40you're going to reasonably get the tube
51:42rolling is going to matter.
51:43>> Yeah.
51:44>> So tube rollers are going to have a
51:46field day with this. I am no longer as
51:48much a tube roller. Um, and thankfully
51:52whatever tubes they included with it as
51:54shipped to us, I thought sounded
51:57magnificent.
51:59So admittedly, I mostly ran it in
52:02feedback off mode because I want to
52:04maximize the imaging especially and the
52:07bloom with the dynamic headphones
52:10and I love it. So anyway, at Can Jam do
52:13not miss the ZMF headphones air midotl.
52:16Congratulations Kenan. Just a beautiful,
52:18beautiful amp. And uh yeah, don't miss
52:21this. And even if you're not a tube
52:22enthusiast yet, listen to that and you
52:25probably will end up one. All right, I
52:27wanted to add this specifically for
52:28those who will be attending KJam SoCal.
52:31Or even if you're not, you want to know
52:32about this. There's going to be a
52:34special introductory discount. So when
52:36this launches, it'll be $2,699.99.
52:39So nice savings. That's 2,700 bucks for
52:41the first two weeks after launch.
52:43>> Now, it's estimated to be released in
52:45late September, early October. So, make
52:47sure to keep an eye on ZMF socials and
52:49the HeadFi homepage for the launch date.
52:51If you can get in on that window, you
52:53save some bucks. All right, this one
52:55goes out to all the gamers out there
52:56because this is a compact little gaming
52:59DAC amp combo. It's the topping DX1 Mark
53:01II. Inside, you're going to find an ESS
53:04ES939 Q2M DAC and that's where one of
53:06the party tricks is for this little unit
53:08because it has a switch on the back
53:09that'll switch between UAC 1.0 and UAC
53:132.0. basically a more simplified version
53:15of the USB standard and a more advanced
53:18version for things like PCs. So, if
53:20you're using this with a console for
53:21gaming, you want to be in UAC 1.0 mode.
53:24And that's going to be able to do PCM up
53:26to 24 192 and DSD 64. You can also use
53:29that then with things like CD players.
53:32And you can also use it with things like
53:33TVs, things that have USB audio output
53:35but don't necessarily support really
53:37high resolution files. Then in UAC 2.0
53:41do mode you're going to get PCM up to 32
53:44384 and DSD 256. So let's say you're
53:47connecting to something like a DAP or
53:48your your phone or even a computer
53:51that's going to give you more advanced
53:53audio output. Uh it has a 4 channel
53:55fully balanced architecture and it will
53:57deliver up to one watt per channel into
53:5832 ohms. So this is not going to drive
54:00something like ASUS VA, but it's going
54:02to drive most things gamers want to game
54:04with. Uh it has an XMOS XU316 inside
54:07which I appreciate because low latency
54:09is always great. And then for the
54:11headphone output, you've got a 3.5
54:12millimeter and 4.4 millimeter output as
54:15well. Now, anybody that's using a gaming
54:17headset specifically designed for gaming
54:19uses, it usually has a 3.5 millimeter
54:22TRRS that has a microphone line on
54:24there, this supports that. So, you can
54:27plug in, get your microphone through
54:28that as well. And if you have an
54:29external microphone that uses a 3.5
54:32millimeter connection, you can pick up
54:33an adapter and still use it, which is
54:35really nice to have. Uh, it has a 10B
54:37band high precision PEQ option as well
54:39that has to be connected to a computer
54:40because you control that with Toppings
54:42tune software and it has three custom
54:45EQs that can be saved inside of it at
54:47any one time. Now, here's another thing.
54:48It has optical input and output. And one
54:51of the cool things about that is the
54:52optical output will send an EQed signal.
54:55So, if you wanted to send that to
54:56another device, you can EQ it ahead of
54:58time and send that signal out.
54:59>> Really?
55:00>> Yeah. So, let's say you're doing like
55:01some really cool, you know, spatial
55:03audio processing and you wanted to send
55:06that out over optical, you can do that
55:08and then you can apply an EQ as well and
55:10have that take effect. It's really,
55:11really cool. That is cool. I like that
55:13functionality. It also comes with a
55:14remote control builtin and it's only
55:16$120. So, when I took it home, I was
55:19gaming with the Mezz Audio 109 Pro,
55:22which is a fantastic gaming headset if
55:24you want to game wired because they have
55:26this uh boom microphone cable that you
55:28can get with it optionally. and I was
55:30just really getting into it. So, I was
55:31playing God of War and I was just having
55:32a blast sitting down playing and then my
55:35wife and I, we decided to go ahead and
55:36play some games together and, you know,
55:37I was using the audio output. It's quite
55:40clear. So, all in all, it's 120 bucks.
55:43It's not going to break the bank and for
55:45anybody on a budget, it's a great option
55:46to check out.
55:47>> I love that Topping is bringing their
55:49engineering chops to bear. Yeah. On a
55:51gaming dedicated device, but it's for
55:53anybody really um that likes to game,
55:56but that's also an audio file. your like
55:57super target audience for this product
56:00because uh you can use it like if you're
56:02budget limited, you can use it for
56:03gaming like you mentioned, but in UAC2,
56:06>> take it over to your computer. Yeah. You
56:08know, your main desktop, it can it can
56:09serve as your main desktop DACA amp.
56:11>> Yep. Exactly. With your favorite
56:12balanced headphones,
56:13>> this is the Ibaso DX 340 Max Tai.
56:17>> So, I think the name is almost as big as
56:19the DAP is. [laughter]
56:21>> Almost. It's a pretty big DAP, but but
56:24it's for a reason. Yeah. I I love this
56:25thing. I'm going to say this. Of all the
56:27DAPs that we don't currently have here
56:29at HeadFi HQ, this is at the very top of
56:31my list. Yeah, love this thing. All
56:32right, let's talk about it. Features a
56:34one-bit architecture with 160 PWM DAX.
56:37Really? 160 PWM DAX. I want to see the
56:39inside of this thing. Uh, it'll decode
56:41PCM up to 32768. It also uses something
56:43called FPGA Master 3.0,
56:45>> which they say drastically minimizes
56:47jitter and delivers a pure digital
56:48system for note by note accuracy,
56:50clarity, and detail. outputs up to 2250
56:53matts per channel at 32 ohms with
56:55external power and up to 1300 mills per
56:57channel at 32 ohms on battery. Yeah.
56:59>> So fantastic drive. Yes. For a digital
57:01audio player, portable digital audio
57:03player. Um uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
57:06with 8 gigs of memory.
57:07>> It has a very responsive user interface,
57:09which is a big priority for me these
57:11days, especially with flagship players.
57:13>> Dedicated audio DSP with 192 dB of
57:15dynamic range and minus 174 dB of THD
57:18plusN. I Those are fantastic numbers. I
57:20haven't bench tested it myself, but it's
57:22ibasso. I expect fantastic measured
57:24performance from an ibasso flagship, so
57:27apparently this thing delivers. Sounds
57:28like it, too. All right. Dual operating
57:30systems, nonSrc, Android 13 and Mango
57:33OS. So, if you want a more purist OS,
57:35yeah, without all without all the
57:37Android things, uh, you can go with the
57:39Mango OS, which is nice that they offer
57:41that option.
57:42>> Aerospace grade titanium alloy body,
57:44hence the name.
57:44>> Yep.
57:45>> The X340 Max Tai. It's a lovely body, by
57:47the way. Love the design. It looks like
57:49it could survive a war.
57:51>> Yeah.
57:51>> Yeah. Um 6 inch 1080 by 2160 AMOLED
57:55touchscreen.
57:55>> And I love that touch screen.
57:56>> I love this screen. And you're probably
57:58wondering why I don't just keep it on
57:59there. It flickers on camera. It does
58:01not flicker in person. It's a gorgeous
58:03screen. So anyways, that's why I'm
58:04flipping it over because it has a
58:05gorgeous rear end as well. All right.
58:07Analog and digital volume control. I
58:09definitely want to point this out. Yes.
58:11So, there's a digital volume control and
58:14then the analog volume control is an
58:17analog stepped attenuator. For those of
58:19you who don't know, that's about as
58:20purest a volume control as you can ask
58:22for. So, what I do is I turn up the
58:24digital volume all the way and then I
58:26use the stepped attenuator, the analog
58:28stepped attenuator to control volume.
58:31And maybe that stepped attenuator is one
58:33of the reasons for its resolution, which
58:34I'll get to in just a minute. I don't
58:35know. But I love that that it has that.
58:38Um, 256 gigs of internal storage up to
58:40an additional two terabytes via micro
58:42SD. I'd expect that from a flagship
58:43player, so it's good to have it.
58:44>> Headphone outputs 4.4 millimeter and 3
58:46and a half millimeter. It also has 4.4
58:48millimeter balanced line out, 3.5 millm
58:50SPF coaxial out, USBC input and output,
58:52Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.
58:54>> Okay, if you're not getting the picture,
58:56this is an inordinately versatile
58:58player. In fact, there are so many like
59:02options and settings in here and
59:03customizations that are so cool to have
59:05that we can't go over cuz we just don't
59:07have the time to go over it in a preview
59:08video,
59:08>> right?
59:09>> Um, ask to look at some of those options
59:11cuz it's so cool. I I I love this DAP.
59:13Anyway,
59:14>> quad battery design. I need to point
59:16this one out though.
59:16>> Yes.
59:17>> Four lithium polymer batteries
59:18controlled by two battery management
59:20systems. And that allows for two banks
59:23of two batteries each. allows for both
59:26the digital and analog sections of the
59:27DAP to be independently powered by two
59:29battery packs each. And that again from
59:31a purist like audio file purist design
59:33standpoint. That's about as purist as
59:36you get. Separating
59:37>> the analog and digital sections power
59:39supplies completely even to the point
59:42>> of having to charge them separately. One
59:44from the top, one from the bottom.
59:46>> Uh so up to 17 up to 17 and 12 hours of
59:48run time.
59:49>> And that's huge.
59:50>> Huge. That's a huge bonus. I love that.
59:53And you only need three hours of charge
59:54time to charge it.
59:55>> So 17 and a half hours of run time is a
59:57big big deal to me. All right. Limited
59:59limited to only 688 units globally. Yep.
1:00:02>> I just noticed that in the notes that I
1:00:03did not know.
1:00:04>> Uh-oh. They're going to go quick, I bet.
1:00:06Uh price $3,699.
1:00:09Uh I think it's worth it. Again, of any
1:00:11DAP we don't have, this is top of my
1:00:13list. So right now, my the reference DAP
1:00:15I carry probably most often in terms of
1:00:18top reference DAP is the Aelen Current
1:00:19and Ultima SP4000.
1:00:21I feel like the DX340 Max Tai is a
1:00:25head-to-head competitor. In terms of
1:00:27resolution, I find it to be as
1:00:28resolving, but they offer like different
1:00:30sound signatures. The SP 4000 to me is a
1:00:34little smoother, a little richer, but
1:00:36yet still incredibly resolving. This has
1:00:38that incredible resolution, but to me,
1:00:40and I don't mean this in a bad way, is a
1:00:41little more a little bit more clinical.
1:00:43Yeah.
1:00:43>> A little bit more precise sounding in a
1:00:45like a more traditional referencey way.
1:00:47Do you know what I mean?
1:00:48>> Yeah. So, at Can Jam, if you're shopping
1:00:50for a topflight digital audio player,
1:00:52you must put the DX340 Max Tai from my
1:00:55Basso on your list. Make sure not to
1:00:56miss this. Music Tech will be joining us
1:00:59at Can Jam SoCal this year, and they're
1:01:01also one of our Can Jam SoCal event
1:01:02sponsors. So, thank you Music Tech for
1:01:04helping make the show possible. Many
1:01:06headfires immediately think of Music
1:01:08Tech's incredible selection of IM and
1:01:09headphones when the name is mentioned,
1:01:11but they have some outstanding portable
1:01:13electronics as well. Here's one of them,
1:01:15the Nepo A200 Pro. Now, this segment is
1:01:18not about my very large iPhone. It's
1:01:20about what's stuck to it, which is a
1:01:23beautiful thing. It's not a cassette
1:01:24tape. It kind of looks like one, though.
1:01:26>> This is the Nepo A200 Pro. It's Mag Safe
1:01:29compatible. That's why it was stuck to
1:01:30my phone. Uh, and it they describe it as
1:01:32a magnetic DAC amplifier. I mean, it is
1:01:35magnetic. It sticks to my phone.
1:01:36>> And it's DACA.
1:01:37>> And it's a DACA app.
1:01:38>> So, the DAC side, it's an AKM AK-4497
1:01:42SBQ DACK. Um, I don't know a whole lot
1:01:45about that deck, that AKM deck.
1:01:47>> I will say it sounds outstanding in this
1:01:49application.
1:01:50>> Yeah.
1:01:51>> So, good on that AKM. All right. On the
1:01:53amp side, upgraded version of Nepo's
1:01:56self-developed, fully discrete current
1:01:57mirror amplifier. It outputs up to 1620
1:02:00mills per channel. Yeah.
1:02:02>> Into 4.4 millimeter um out of its 4.4
1:02:05millimeter output and up to 405 mills
1:02:08per channel via the 3 and a half
1:02:09millimeter one. Um, so I mean if you
1:02:12want that juice, definitely use 4.4.
1:02:15>> Self-developed power supply purification
1:02:17technology. They they describe it as
1:02:19zero background noise output. I'm going
1:02:21to say I have not heard any background
1:02:22noise out of this.
1:02:23>> It's quiet
1:02:23>> with my phone. That's that's saying
1:02:25something. It is quiet. U circuit and
1:02:28magnetic circuit isolation design.
1:02:31>> So um they say it minimizes internal
1:02:33interference. I don't know specifically
1:02:34what they mean there. I get the
1:02:35impression that they're separating
1:02:36different parts of the system
1:02:38>> maybe, but they say it minimizes
1:02:39internal interference. And again, when
1:02:41you're next to a phone, when you're
1:02:42stuck directly to a phone, which is a
1:02:45radio frequency nightmare.
1:02:47>> Oh, yeah. EMI can be terrible.
1:02:48>> Yes. It it uh
1:02:50>> not in this.
1:02:50>> I'm not hearing anything. Yeah.
1:02:52>> 12 hours of listening on a 2 and a half
1:02:54hour charge. So, that's a big deal
1:02:56because that's a lot of listening time.
1:02:57>> Yeah.
1:02:58>> The cassette aesthetic, which they
1:03:00mention, I totally dig. Maybe I'm old
1:03:03and I have used cassettes in my
1:03:04lifetime.
1:03:05>> Yeah, I
1:03:06>> guess I guess you're old enough to
1:03:08available in black or gold finish. This
1:03:09is black, of course. Front tempered
1:03:11glass and a 0.87 in OLED display, which
1:03:14I love
1:03:15>> because it goes between the the graphic
1:03:16reels there.
1:03:17>> Yeah, like the old labels.
1:03:18>> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. Very nice. Um, dual
1:03:21protocol switching, UAC 1.0 and UAC 2.0.
1:03:24>> Yeah. So, basically, uh, you it can be
1:03:25toggled between UAC 1.0 and 2.0. So, if
1:03:28you have a less smart device like a
1:03:30PlayStation or a Switch, this is still
1:03:31compatible and then you can get the
1:03:33higher resolution out of your 2.0
1:03:34compatible devices.
1:03:35>> So, your phone or your computer.
1:03:36>> Exactly.
1:03:37>> All right. Weighs 112 gram, only 11 mm
1:03:39thick. So, it's it's very compact.
1:03:41>> Yes.
1:03:42>> Mag Safe compatible. Like I said, it was
1:03:43stuck to my phone. N52 grade magnet, but
1:03:45it also comes with adhesive magnetic
1:03:47plates if you don't have, you know,
1:03:48something like Mags Safe,
1:03:49>> right?
1:03:50>> Um, includes a dual elbow type-C cable,
1:03:52which is very nice because it keeps it.
1:03:55It's actually one of the more compact
1:03:56ones I've seen.
1:03:57>> It's low profile yet it fits both of our
1:03:59phone cases.
1:03:59>> Yes. Yeah. And it goes through my phone
1:04:01case which has a stupid deep hole in it.
1:04:03>> Yep.
1:04:04>> Um $599.
1:04:06>> Yeah.
1:04:07>> So I have the Nepo A100
1:04:09>> and this is significantly more
1:04:10expensive.
1:04:10>> Yeah. I think it's a $200 difference.
1:04:12>> I think it's completely worth it.
1:04:14>> Oh yeah.
1:04:15>> This is a this is a better piece than
1:04:16the A100. And I I like the A100 but this
1:04:18is much better.
1:04:19>> I think it's better in pretty much every
1:04:20way.
1:04:21>> I agree. And you know who else agrees
1:04:22is? So, one of our colleagues, Warren,
1:04:24goes by Warren Peachy on the forums.
1:04:26Yeah.
1:04:26>> He's been telling me about this since
1:04:29actually well before I had one here.
1:04:31>> Um because he bought one and loves it.
1:04:33So, he said, "Can I offer a quote for
1:04:34the segment?" And here's what he said.
1:04:36Most revisions and successors offer only
1:04:38marginal or incremental improvements and
1:04:40aren't worth the upgrade. But the A200
1:04:42Pro is clearly leaps and bounds better
1:04:44than the A100 in every conceivable way,
1:04:46especially sound quality. Whereas the
1:04:47A100 was dry and somewhat unrefined, the
1:04:50new A200 Pro is far more tonally
1:04:52balanced with excellent detail and
1:04:53resolution all wrapped up in a
1:04:54wonderfully natural presentation. It's
1:04:56easily one of the best gear purchases
1:04:58I've made in quite some time. Yeah, he's
1:05:00a huge fan of this thing. Yeah, I
1:05:02understand why completely. I agree with
1:05:04him. This is, like we said, better in
1:05:05every way than the A100. Um I didn't
1:05:07find the A100 um unrefined, but compared
1:05:10to this, this is definitely
1:05:12>> No, I'd say one's like a gem in the
1:05:13rough and one's a polished gem. They're
1:05:15both great.
1:05:15>> I'll give you that. So, so big fan. Nepo
1:05:18A200 Pro at Can Jam is going to be I
1:05:22think this is going to be a hit. The
1:05:23A100 was a hit when it first came out.
1:05:24>> Yeah, it was.
1:05:25>> This will be a hit. Do not miss this
1:05:26one.
1:05:27>> This is the Earman Lamp M2. This is a
1:05:31fully balanced portable DAC amp. Now, I
1:05:33need to point something out very
1:05:34quickly. This is the limited edition,
1:05:37the gold signature edition. So, most
1:05:39Lamp Mark is you see aren't going to
1:05:40look like this, but it's the only Lamp
1:05:42Mark 2 I've got. So, I'm going to be
1:05:44holding this one through this segment.
1:05:46So, again, it's a fully bounced portable
1:05:48DAC amp. It uses the ESS Saber DAC.
1:05:51Decodes PCM up to 32384 and DSD128. The
1:05:55amplifier is a no negative feedback
1:05:57design amplifier that uses the Burr
1:05:59Brown INA 1620 sound plus opamps. I'm
1:06:01not super familiar with that particular
1:06:03part, but that's interesting. So, Burb
1:06:04Brown INA 1620 sound plus op amps and
1:06:07then two new old stock J or Jan 6418
1:06:12vacuum tubes that I'm familiar with.
1:06:14Yep. And you can see them right up front
1:06:15there. Um they say warm, rich, and
1:06:18natural sonic character. It also has a
1:06:20four-point silicone suspension system to
1:06:22minimize microphonics when you're
1:06:24listening through something maybe more
1:06:25sensitive.
1:06:26>> And it works, by the way. It works well.
1:06:28Uh analog logarithmic potentiometer.
1:06:29It's a nice volume control. And then if
1:06:31you can push to activate BASX mode. Uh
1:06:34refined power supply, separate USBC
1:06:36input for power. It outputs up to one
1:06:38watt at 8 ohms.
1:06:39>> Yep.
1:06:40>> Thing has drive. It has drive uh via the
1:06:42balanced 4.4 millm output. Now the price
1:06:45is $550. So it's very reasonably priced,
1:06:48but not this version. Yeah.
1:06:49>> So the non gold signature version is 550
1:06:52bucks. The gold signature version is
1:06:54$1,299 bucks. Now let's talk about the
1:06:56gold signature edition just for a
1:06:57minute. Uh, limited edition, custom made
1:07:00to order and personalized. It has my
1:07:01name on it, which is neat. Brass
1:07:02chassis, hand polished, 18 karat
1:07:04goldplated exterior. It's lovely. I
1:07:06mean, it's showy.
1:07:07>> It's quite showy, but it's lovely.
1:07:09Specially selected components. So, I
1:07:10think there's some minor component
1:07:11differences inside. Uh, they say this
1:07:13edition is created for collectors and
1:07:14music lovers who value individuality,
1:07:16individuality, rarity, and emotional
1:07:18connection. Okay. And again, 1,299
1:07:21bucks. They say about the Lamp Mark 2,
1:07:23this applies to any version of it. The
1:07:25Lamp Mark II isn't just an upgrade. It's
1:07:27a rebirth of pure analog sound for the
1:07:29modern era, a tribute to timeless
1:07:31engineering and musical emotion. All
1:07:32right, here's what I'm gonna say about
1:07:34the sound. So Mickey Trosek, who is
1:07:37maybe more well known for Orus Audio,
1:07:39Earmen is also his company, right? Orus
1:07:42Audio is known for its usually big
1:07:46>> tube amps that are magnificent, by the
1:07:48way. Every time I've heard them at
1:07:49shows, I've been super impressed. And I
1:07:52feel like what he's trying to do is get
1:07:54that magic of his Orus amps into a
1:07:57portable form factor. Right.
1:07:58>> Honestly, I think he's done a beautiful
1:08:00job. This is beautiful sounding portable
1:08:02DAC amp. Like they say, warm, rich, and
1:08:05natural sonic character. Check. I agree.
1:08:08Pure analog sound for the modern era.
1:08:10Check. I agree with that statement, too.
1:08:12So, what do we look for as tube
1:08:14enthusiasts? We're looking for, you
1:08:16know, beautiful imaging, holographic
1:08:18imaging, um, airy imaging. We're looking
1:08:21for, you know, beautiful harmonics and
1:08:24tone and this has that in spades. Again,
1:08:27I feel like I have a mini Orus amplifier
1:08:29with this Earman Lamp M2 and it can jam.
1:08:33Whether or not you're a tube enthusiast,
1:08:35you really need to hear this, especially
1:08:37if you're looking for a portable DAC
1:08:38amp, this is an option you have to
1:08:40consider. It's a lovely thing. The Lamp
1:08:41Mark II from Earmen at Canam. So, in
1:08:44this audio hobby of ours, you hear the
1:08:46term Swiss Army amplifier kind of thrown
1:08:48around here and there, and I know you in
1:08:50the past have described a few different
1:08:52amps as reviewer amps. Yeah.
1:08:54>> And I think I Audio actually had one of
1:08:56their amps in the past described that
1:08:58same way.
1:08:58>> Yeah. I'm talking about amps that can
1:09:00drive just about anything anybody would
1:09:02want to drive with it.
1:09:03>> Exactly. So, what if you take one of
1:09:05those kinds of amplifiers and put an
1:09:07incredible DACK inside of it? And that's
1:09:08what I Audio has done here with the III
1:09:11Audio IDSD Phantom. I really enjoy this
1:09:14thing.
1:09:14>> Yeah, I think I want one. It does. It
1:09:16does an awful lot and there's so much
1:09:18going on with it. Yeah. And I think I
1:09:19want one.
1:09:19>> Yeah, it does an awful lot because they
1:09:20describe it as a flagship reference
1:09:22class streaming DAC amp system. So,
1:09:24that's a lot of duties right there. And
1:09:25they say, "Uniting a reference class
1:09:27DAC, ultra resolution streamer, and
1:09:29powerful headphone amp into one, the
1:09:31Phantom is a trinity of innovation
1:09:33engineered for complete musical
1:09:35immersion. This thing does so many
1:09:36things, and it does them well. I really,
1:09:38really enjoy it."
1:09:39>> So do I.
1:09:40>> Yeah. So, inside there are four Burr
1:09:42Brown DSD 1793 DAXs in a hybrid
1:09:44multi-bit configuration. Supports PCM up
1:09:47to 768 and DSD 512. But get this, they
1:09:50say it features studiograde up
1:09:52conversion, so you can do DSD
1:09:53remastering up to DSD 2048, which to my
1:09:56mind is insane. Admittedly, I haven't
1:09:58spent a lot of time with that
1:09:59functionality, but all the listening
1:10:01that I've done through this has sounded
1:10:03wonderful.
1:10:03>> Same here.
1:10:04>> Uh, part of that, I think, is due to the
1:10:05amplifier because it is a pure class A
1:10:07discrete amplifier. And I love these
1:10:09specs because it does around 4.7 watts
1:10:11RMS, but over 7.7 watts max into 64 ohms
1:10:15via the balanced output.
1:10:16>> I also want to mention for those who use
1:10:18high impedance headphones, it'll output
1:10:20564 mill into a 600 ohm load
1:10:24>> and that's with 18.4 volts. So if you're
1:10:26running something like a Sennheiser
1:10:27HD800S or HD800 or anything with higher
1:10:30impedance, it should be zero issue.
1:10:33>> Yeah, absolutely. Uh, it also has
1:10:35real-time tube and solid state mode
1:10:37switching, which I know I've seen you
1:10:38sitting at your desk flipping the switch
1:10:39back and forth. So, I I've seen you
1:10:41playing around with it. So, there are
1:10:42three different modes. You have solid
1:10:44state, tube, or tube plus. They describe
1:10:46solid state as a discrete JFET design
1:10:49for lightning fast distortion-free
1:10:51precision, which is primarily where I've
1:10:52spent most of my listening. Then you
1:10:54have tube mode, which are NOS
1:10:56handmatched GE 5670 valves for warmth
1:10:59and liquid smoothness. And then there's
1:11:01tube plus. They say lowered loop gain
1:11:04for an enhanced second harmonic, adding
1:11:06body and presence. So again, I've seen
1:11:08you bouncing back and forth. So
1:11:10>> yeah, mostly between the two modes, but
1:11:11I I do love the solid state mode as
1:11:13well. Yeah,
1:11:13>> but yeah, I've been bouncing between
1:11:15tube and two plus. I tend to find myself
1:11:17a lot of time on two plus. No big
1:11:18surprise. I'm a two band fan. So yeah,
1:11:21I'm enjoying the heck out of this thing.
1:11:23>> Yep. Now inputs, you get quite a few. So
1:11:25you have four USB inputs. You have
1:11:27coaxial, optical, AES, Ethernet, and
1:11:29BNC. For headphone outputs, again,
1:11:31there's a plethora of options. 3.5
1:11:33millimeter, two 6.35 millimeters, a 4.4
1:11:36millimeter, and a 4 pin XLR. Now, one of
1:11:39those 6.35 millimeters is positive
1:11:41phase. One is inverted phase. So, again,
1:11:43plenty of options. Line outs, you have
1:11:45balanced XLR and single-ended RCA. So,
1:11:48pretty standard there. And then it
1:11:50supports, like I said earlier, it's a
1:11:51streamer, so it supports a lot of
1:11:53different streaming platforms. Out of
1:11:54the box, you have support for Title,
1:11:56Spotify, Kobuzz, Rune, AirPlay, DNA, and
1:11:59universal plug-andplay. It also features
1:12:02K2 HD, and I've been doing a little bit
1:12:04of reading on this because I've been
1:12:05playing around with it. It's actually
1:12:07quite fun. So, it's a JVC Kinwood
1:12:09feature. Uh, it's the K2 HD technology
1:12:12restores the depth, nuance, and
1:12:14musicality of the original performance
1:12:16by reintroducing harmonic content lost
1:12:18during the production process. Now, I I
1:12:21won't pretend that I understand
1:12:22everything that's going on inside of
1:12:23that when that's turned on,
1:12:24>> but it sounds nice. Like that a lot.
1:12:27>> Uh, it also features several of III
1:12:29Audio's iconic features, like their XA
1:12:31Pro, which lifts low frequencies without
1:12:33clouding the mid-range. Their X Space
1:12:35Pro, which goes far beyond crossfeed,
1:12:37pushing the music outside your head
1:12:39without sacrificing sound stage. And
1:12:41something else that I appreciate, which
1:12:42is the built-in IE match. So, it reduces
1:12:45the hiss, pops, and background noise
1:12:46experienced when listening with more
1:12:48sensitive IM, which means I can forget
1:12:50that what I'm listening to is a
1:12:52sensitive IM, still pop it in, and have
1:12:54a nice quiet background, right? That is
1:12:56definitely appreciated. Uh, it also
1:12:58features Galvanic, the isolated inputs.
1:13:00It's compatible with the II audio
1:13:02control app, and it's only going to run
1:13:04you $44.99, which when you think about
1:13:06everything this does, I think that's a
1:13:09great price.
1:13:10>> Yes. I enjoy this deck amp, I guess
1:13:14you'd call it a great deal. Um, it has a
1:13:16unique aesthetic, first of all.
1:13:18>> It definitely does.
1:13:18>> Yeah. And it's compact, and I I I
1:13:21actually enjoy its aesthetic. It all I
1:13:22At first, I I tried to lift the the top
1:13:24off the bottom. I thought it was two
1:13:26things.
1:13:26>> It does kind of look like it.
1:13:27>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But soundwise, it's so
1:13:29versatile. Just before we were shooting,
1:13:31I was listening to it with the ZMF
1:13:32Tessadera.
1:13:33>> Yeah.
1:13:34>> Um, fantastic. Then I wanted to try it
1:13:36right before we shot because I hadn't
1:13:38used it until just now with the um
1:13:41Suzvara unveiled.
1:13:42>> Yes.
1:13:43>> In its high gain mode. I don't even
1:13:44think I needed to go to its highest gain
1:13:45mode and it was driving it beautifully.
1:13:47Um so and again like you said with IM
1:13:50issue
1:13:51>> I'm enjoying the sound of this one. I
1:13:53was using it mostly in tube and tube
1:13:54plus and tube plus mode. No big
1:13:56surprise. But the versatility of this
1:13:58thing and just the plethora of things
1:14:00that we here at HeadFi HQ want to drive
1:14:03things with, it's it's a phenomenal
1:14:05thing to have around.
1:14:06>> Yeah. So,
1:14:07>> yeah, like I said, I think I want one
1:14:08and it'll be at Can Jam.
1:14:09>> Yeah. So, I I I imagine there's probably
1:14:11going to be a line for this at the show.
1:14:12>> Yeah. I don't care what you want to
1:14:13audition with it in terms of headphones
1:14:15or Yeah. bring them and and check this
1:14:18out at Can Jam. Now, since that last
1:14:20segment about the IFI Audio IDs Phantom,
1:14:24we've gotten one
1:14:25>> and um we have one at HeadFi HQ.
1:14:27Actually, it's at my house.
1:14:28>> Yeah, I haven't seen it since it came
1:14:30>> because it's been at my house since
1:14:31since it arrived. I love it. It has
1:14:34quickly become one of my key reference
1:14:36DACA amps. We said it's a reviewer DACA
1:14:38amp um because it is so incredibly
1:14:40versatile.
1:14:41>> It'll drive the most sensitive IM to
1:14:44most of the hardest to drive headphones.
1:14:46And then it's a tube amp hybrid. It's
1:14:49fantastic. Um, so anyway, I miss it when
1:14:53I'm on the go. And this, the III Audio
1:14:58IDs GR2 is probably the closest thing
1:15:00I'm going to get to an IDSD Phantom when
1:15:03I'm not home.
1:15:04>> Oh, yeah.
1:15:05>> I love this thing.
1:15:06>> Yeah.
1:15:06>> So, let's talk about what it is. The II
1:15:08Audio IDSD GR2 is the successor to the
1:15:10legendary XDSD Griffin. Very popular
1:15:13device they made. We've never actually
1:15:15had one here.
1:15:15>> No, but I've heard about KJ. Yeah,
1:15:17they're immensely popular.
1:15:19>> So, this is the successor. The DAC is
1:15:21built around the Burr Brown PCM 1795
1:15:23multi-bit DAC. It's a current output
1:15:25DACK that uh decodes PCM up to 768 and
1:15:27DSD 512. Here's what they say about it.
1:15:30As a current output deck, it gives us
1:15:32complete freedom to engineer a bespoke
1:15:33analog output stage so we can extract
1:15:35the very best from the chipset.
1:15:36>> And I think they did.
1:15:37>> I'm going to say this sounds fantastic.
1:15:39>> Yeah.
1:15:40>> Fully balanced class A amplifier up to
1:15:431513 matts RMS output. Um, that's 50%
1:15:46more headphone drive than the XDSD
1:15:48Griffin. So, if you love the XDS XDSD
1:15:51Griffin, even more versatility with
1:15:53this. Uh, again, I have no experience
1:15:55with that one, but I love this one.
1:15:57Headphone headphone outputs 4.4
1:15:59millimeter and 3 and a half millimeter.
1:16:01>> Uh, digital inputs, USB, coax, optical,
1:16:03and Bluetooth with Bluetooth 5.4 with
1:16:05support for FEX, lossless, and LDAC.
1:16:07>> Again, silly versatile.
1:16:09>> Yep.
1:16:09>> Analog inputs 4.4 millimeter and 3 and a
1:16:12half millimeter, which is very nice to
1:16:13have. OLED capacitive touchscreen.
1:16:15>> Yeah, that one kind of threw me at
1:16:16first, but I adapted to it.
1:16:17>> Yeah, I wasn't sure how I would feel
1:16:18about it when I read about it and saw
1:16:20pictures. I love it because I can access
1:16:22all the settings super easy. Y
1:16:24>> if I want to put in Xbase or X base,
1:16:27it's just a touch away.
1:16:28>> All right. I love that OLED capacitive
1:16:30touchcreen. Integrated III audio match
1:16:33or IE match, right?
1:16:34>> Um, so for example, you can just touch
1:16:36it, make it minus 12 dB. If you have a
1:16:38super sensitive M, you can change the
1:16:40gain on the screen as well.
1:16:42Hybrid power mode. Here's what they say
1:16:44about that. When connected to an
1:16:45external supply, it prioritizes main's
1:16:48power first. If extra power is needed,
1:16:50GR2 then draws from the battery and
1:16:51automatically returns to external power
1:16:53once demand drops.
1:16:54>> I think that's a smart feature to get
1:16:55more power out of it.
1:16:56>> Yeah, that's that's rather
1:16:58sophisticated. Yeah,
1:16:59>> very cool that it has that leads to
1:17:00longer listening sessions and less
1:17:01battery cycling.
1:17:03>> So, that's nice. It's battery sparing.
1:17:06Uh, it has JBC Kenwood's K2HD
1:17:08technology. Yeah,
1:17:09>> reminds me of again the IDSD Phantom.
1:17:11Uh, I leave it switched in most of the
1:17:12time. Restores depth, tone, and
1:17:14musicality, reintroducing subtle
1:17:16harmonic detail to bring recordings
1:17:17closer to their original intent. So,
1:17:19that was a technology was developed in
1:17:20Japan. Um, II Nexus app compatible. All
1:17:23USB- based Nexus functionalities are
1:17:26additional features exclusive to Android
1:17:27devices.
1:17:28>> Um, so it's very nice that it works with
1:17:31the app. $529.
1:17:33>> Yeah,
1:17:33>> I'm going to say it for the price. I
1:17:35think it's an incredibly strong value. I
1:17:37love the way it sounds. I love the
1:17:39versatility and again it's the closest
1:17:42thing that I think I'm gonna get to
1:17:45having the IDSD Phantom with me on the
1:17:47go.
1:17:48>> Okay, to be clear I want to make I don't
1:17:49want to cause any confusion. This is not
1:17:50a tube amp. No.
1:17:51>> So it doesn't have a tube option like
1:17:53the IDSD Phantom, but all the options
1:17:55that you have with it, all the settings,
1:17:57the versatility with the gain, the I the
1:18:00IE match uh Xbase XPace.
1:18:04It's it's the IDSD Phantom on the go.
1:18:06Love this thing. Do not miss it.
1:18:09>> I am excited to say that after years and
1:18:11years of holding out, I have finally
1:18:13ditched Lightning and upgraded to an
1:18:15iPhone that has USBC. Now, when I got
1:18:17the USBC iPhone, I knew right away there
1:18:19were two things that I immediately
1:18:21wanted. The first is a case because I
1:18:22want better grip on my phones. But the
1:18:24second thing was something that I've
1:18:26never had access to with any Apple
1:18:27device, which is LDAC. And I did that
1:18:29with this. This is the Noble Audio
1:18:31Scepter. Now, the Noble Audio Scepter is
1:18:33a compact USBC Bluetooth transmitter.
1:18:35And what they say is that the Scepter
1:18:37bypasses the limitations of built-in
1:18:39Bluetooth hardware found in smartphones,
1:18:41tablets, and laptops. And let me tell
1:18:42you, there are a number of limitations
1:18:44in the iPhone's stock Bluetooth
1:18:46configuration options. This has
1:18:48Bluetooth 5.4 with Qualcomm's QCC 5181
1:18:51chipset, and it delivers transmission
1:18:53range up to 20 meters or around 66ish
1:18:56feet. Uh, it has LDAC, AEX adaptive, and
1:18:59SBC and AAC, which I did have before,
1:19:01but LDAC and AEX, hello. Uh, it also
1:19:04features a dedicated game mode. So, if
1:19:06you're watching something or playing a
1:19:08video game and you want that have that
1:19:09tighter sync between the two, you can
1:19:11turn on dedicated game mode and get low
1:19:13latency sync for games or movies. It has
1:19:15pass through USBC charging, which I
1:19:17haven't seen on any other Bluetooth
1:19:19dongles. And I'm so happy that that's
1:19:21here because I can plug this in, still
1:19:23have my wireless headphones in, and it's
1:19:25not draining my phone of juice. It's
1:19:27just running right through and charging
1:19:28it up. And it has power delivery 3.0 0
1:19:30and up to 45 watts of charging speed,
1:19:33which I think is actually faster than my
1:19:35phone's maximum input. Anyways, so
1:19:37that's fantastic as well. It supports
1:19:39iOS, Android, Mac OS, Windows, Nintendo
1:19:42Switch, and Steam Deck. And then it even
1:19:45comes with a USBC to USBA adapter for
1:19:47broader accessibility across all your
1:19:49devices. It's uh compatible with many
1:19:51phone cases. As you can see here, it's
1:19:52working just fine with my phone case, no
1:19:54problem. and it runs $69.99
1:19:57$69.99 I should say in the US. Uh now I
1:20:01have it paired currently on my phone
1:20:03with the Noble Audio Focus Amadeus
1:20:05because I only have a couple of devices
1:20:07that have LDAC and that's one of the
1:20:08ones that I had right at hand and it's
1:20:11so nice to be able to live toggle
1:20:13between the two. Go back to here my old
1:20:15limitations maximum maxing out at AAC
1:20:18switch over to LDAC and just hear it and
1:20:20you can also select the different LDAC
1:20:22levels as well as aptex. can choose
1:20:23different app tech uh codecs and I love
1:20:25that option. Um it also allowed me to
1:20:29unlock LDAC for my MacBook Pro which
1:20:31again Apple doesn't include. Now I do
1:20:33want to mention something for anybody
1:20:35who's considering one of these. This is
1:20:36a little bit of a longer device. So
1:20:39potentially you could end up blocking a
1:20:40port on your device. Well, if you're
1:20:42like me and you have the MacBook Pro,
1:20:43just put it on the right side where
1:20:44there's only one USBC port. Then all
1:20:46you're blocking is the HDMI port. No one
1:20:48cares. So basically for $70, I've opened
1:20:52up a whole new world of wireless access
1:20:54across all of the IM that I have and
1:20:56full-size headphones with LDAC. It's so
1:20:59nice to have it here because before I
1:21:00only had it in a DAP. Now I have it in
1:21:02my phone. So on the table right now is
1:21:05the Golden Wave Hi-Fi Man G10. It is a
1:21:08desktop tube amplifier. And the fact
1:21:10that tubes are involved explains why I
1:21:12really haven't seen this around the
1:21:13office because you stole this pretty
1:21:15much the second it came in.
1:21:16>> Yeah. Yeah. Like I said a zillion times
1:21:18in other videos, I am a big tube amp
1:21:21enthusiast. I have been since I was well
1:21:23since a kid. I mean like uh since as
1:21:25long as I've been an audio file now,
1:21:27unlike some of the members of our
1:21:28community who seem to have limitless
1:21:30budgets, right,
1:21:31>> for like the highest end tube amps. And
1:21:32I'm sure those guys are shopping very
1:21:34carefully for the best value for their
1:21:36high high-end buck.
1:21:37>> I don't tend to shop in that range. It's
1:21:39not usually my budget range. So I'm
1:21:41looking for more affordable stuff, more
1:21:43reasonably priced stuff that performs at
1:21:45a really high level.
1:21:47The Golden Wave Hi-Fi Man G810
1:21:50absolutely fits the bill. We'll get to
1:21:51the sound signature in a second. Let's
1:21:52talk about what it is. Like you said,
1:21:54it's a desktop tube amp obviously. Um
1:21:56inside four ECC83 or 12 AX7 tubes and
1:22:00four 6P14 or EL84 tubes.
1:22:03>> Mhm.
1:22:04>> Um they they call it a SE architecture,
1:22:06SEP architecture, which I believe stands
1:22:08for single-ended pushpull architecture,
1:22:10>> I believe. So
1:22:11>> inputs XLR and stereo RCA, headphone
1:22:13outputs, four pin XLR and 4.4 4
1:22:15millimeter, which is nice. And also, of
1:22:17course, 6.35 millimeter or quarter inch
1:22:20>> uh power.
1:22:21>> Yeah,
1:22:22>> it's a two amp, so high impedance
1:22:24headphone enthusiasts are going to be
1:22:25pretty happy because it outputs 3,000
1:22:28matts into 300 ohms.
1:22:29>> Yep.
1:22:30>> So, rejoice high impedance headphone
1:22:32fans. Um, but still, even if you have a
1:22:34reason, you know, like a lower impedance
1:22:36headphone, 600 millatts into 32 ohms.
1:22:39>> So, it has juice. I've been able to
1:22:41drive every one of the current Hi-Fi Man
1:22:43headphones with it without any issue at
1:22:45all. Beautifully driven. Like the Arya
1:22:47Unveiled is gorgeous through it. The
1:22:49Suzvara unveiled is gorgeous through it.
1:22:50>> I guess if you're going to use like a
1:22:52Suzvara first generation, which is
1:22:54pretty power hungry,
1:22:55>> right?
1:22:56>> You know, you're you're going to get
1:22:57good sound out of it, but it it's
1:22:59probably not going to be the beast you
1:23:01might be looking for. So, just keep that
1:23:02in mind. But for all other I also used
1:23:04it with the Mezz Elite a lot.
1:23:06>> Yeah.
1:23:07>> Another beautiful pairing. Anyway, the
1:23:09headphone outputs impedance switch.
1:23:11There's an impedance switch on the
1:23:12front. It lets the user select the best
1:23:14impedance match. So, uh 32 ohms or under
1:23:17or under 32 ohms, you'd use low. Um 32
1:23:20ohms or over 32 ohms, you'd use high.
1:23:23That's what they're recommending, I
1:23:24believe. Shielded 120 watt transformer.
1:23:27Audio file grade components given it's
1:23:29Hi-Fi Man and Golden Wave. No big
1:23:30shocker there. I'm not going to break
1:23:31those parts down right now.
1:23:33>> Yeah,
1:23:33>> it's larger than we expected it, by the
1:23:35way.
1:23:35>> Oh, a lot larger. So, so, uh, in the
1:23:37pictures, which is what we'd seen first.
1:23:39>> Yep.
1:23:40>> I think because the volume knob is so
1:23:41huge.
1:23:42>> Yeah.
1:23:42>> Um, we didn't realize that. So, it makes
1:23:44the amp looks smaller in photos. No, the
1:23:46volume knob is pretty huge.
1:23:47>> It is.
1:23:47>> Uh, and the amp is pretty largestish. 16
1:23:50pounds. Keep that in mind if you're
1:23:51shopping for your desk.
1:23:53>> Mhm.
1:23:53>> Um, now let's talk about the sound
1:23:54signature. Here's in my notes. It says
1:23:57warm and transparent. It's still
1:24:00neutral.
1:24:01>> Harmonically rich with crisp detail,
1:24:03solid bass extension.
1:24:05I love the sound of this amp. It is
1:24:07pretty much everything I want. Now, I'm
1:24:09not a tube roller,
1:24:10>> right?
1:24:11>> So, whatever the stock tubes are work
1:24:13beautiful for me because I'm not really
1:24:15a tube roller anymore. I used to be
1:24:17whatever the stock tubes are going to be
1:24:18are probably what I'm going to be
1:24:20listening to and I love the way it
1:24:21sounds with those tubes. I've already
1:24:23said what headphones I've used it with
1:24:24so far. Beautifully done. So, if you're
1:24:27a tube audio enthusiast especially, make
1:24:29sure to audition the G810 at Can Jam.
1:24:32And if you're just curious about what a
1:24:34great tube amp sounds like for a
1:24:35reasonable price, make sure to audition
1:24:37the G810.
1:24:39>> That there is the Soros Audio Systems
1:24:41Europa. And it is as big as it looks.
1:24:44>> Yeah, it is.
1:24:44>> That is a big piece of kit. And what it
1:24:46is, the Europa is a balanced tube
1:24:48headphone amplifier in pre-amplifier
1:24:50designed for headphones from 16 to 600
1:24:52ohms. It uses fully differential tube
1:24:55topology. And they say, "Unlike typical
1:24:57balanced amplifiers that convert to
1:24:59single-ended internally, the Europa
1:25:01maintains perfect signal balance from
1:25:02input to headphone drivers, eliminating
1:25:04noise while revealing spatial
1:25:06information that single-ended designs
1:25:07cannot deliver. It uses five premium
1:25:10vacuum tubes. I want to be clear that is
1:25:12a tube amp through and through,
1:25:14>> right?
1:25:14>> You can't see the tubes, you know, given
1:25:16the design. It's they're totally
1:25:17enclosed, but it's a 2 amp through and
1:25:19through. So inside you'll find two 6H30P
1:25:21driver tubes, two 6922 preamp tubes, and
1:25:25one 6BW4 rectifier tube. So it's a tube
1:25:27rectified design. Again, tubes through
1:25:28and through. It has five Londall
1:25:31transformers, which um a word comes to
1:25:35mind when I see that. Expensive. Yeah,
1:25:37>> really expensive. Um five Lundal
1:25:40transformers. Uh they specify 1676
1:25:42input, 1689 AMP output. But I believe
1:25:46AMP stands for amorphous core pushpull
1:25:49and 1683 1683 power plus choke. It uses
1:25:54a Swiss Elma 24 position stepped
1:25:56attenuator. I love a good stepped
1:25:58attenuator. And VPG Zfoil and Vshape
1:26:01wire wound resistors, Mundorf capacitors
1:26:04and Moon Audio bronze dragon signal
1:26:06wire.
1:26:08Everything on that list for anybody that
1:26:11knows about that stuff knows this is
1:26:12very high-end, very expensive stuff.
1:26:17>> The chassis is a black anodized aluminum
1:26:18chassis with a CNC finished front panel.
1:26:21Kind of an unassuming design, right?
1:26:22>> But well built.
1:26:24>> Headphone outputs, four pin XLR and 4.4
1:26:27millm balanced and a 6.35 mm for
1:26:29single-ended. And it has 16 ohms um
1:26:33headphone output impedance. inputs, one
1:26:35pair balanced XLR, two pair single-ended
1:26:37RCA. Preamp outputs, one pair B balanced
1:26:39XLR, one pair single-ended RCA. It's
1:26:42handcrafted in North Carolina. And the
1:26:45price $8,995.
1:26:47This is not an inexpensive amp. No. But
1:26:49if you know again about that list, that
1:26:52laundry list of super high-end
1:26:54components I I I I called out there,
1:26:57that shouldn't surprise you.
1:26:59>> So, now let's talk about it. First of
1:27:01all, you will not be using this with IM,
1:27:04>> right?
1:27:05>> What you will be using it with is
1:27:07overear headphones
1:27:10and and I've used it with several and
1:27:12it's a glorious thing. Now, I am a tube
1:27:14audio enthusiast unquestionably.
1:27:17>> Yep.
1:27:18>> That that tickles all my tube audio
1:27:20enthusiast nerve endings a lot. So, I
1:27:24used it with several headphones. I'm
1:27:26going to focus on two uh uh just in the
1:27:28interest of time. Um, uh, the Hi-Fi Man
1:27:32Suzvara Unveiled.
1:27:34And I love the Unveiled. I I I'll use it
1:27:37with just about anything, solid state or
1:27:39tube. But with a beautiful tube amp,
1:27:41>> and this is one,
1:27:43>> right? You get a little more lushness
1:27:46along with that resolution.
1:27:48>> And I'll take that. I'll take that. And
1:27:50I love the Suzara unveiled through the
1:27:54Europa. And then one of my favorite
1:27:56headphones when driven when driven well
1:27:59is an old, you know, kind of an old
1:28:02classic, the Sennheiser HD800S.
1:28:05>> When driven well, and usually when I say
1:28:07that it means tube amps
1:28:10with the Europa, it is so beautifully
1:28:12driven. Everything I love about the 800s
1:28:18is conveyed with this amp. again that
1:28:21holographic imaging, the sort of that
1:28:23fleshy, the meaty image objects and the,
1:28:26you know,
1:28:27just the beautiful harmonic richness
1:28:30that has it. And I've used it with
1:28:32several headphones. So, if you are at
1:28:35Can Jam looking for just the high-end
1:28:38stuff,
1:28:40the top grade tube amps and amplifiers,
1:28:43tube borate, you have to audition the
1:28:46Europa. It's an absolute can't miss at
1:28:49Canjam. Do not miss the Europa. That's
1:28:51the SMSL PL150. It's a CD player and I'm
1:28:55so excited that we're seeing so many new
1:28:57CD players. I'm so happy that the age of
1:28:59CDs seems to be coming back,
1:29:00>> right?
1:29:01>> Um because I have a pretty sizable CD
1:29:03collection still at home.
1:29:04>> You do?
1:29:05>> But one thing in common with most of the
1:29:06new CD players we've been seeing is a
1:29:09top loading type mechanism of some sort
1:29:11or another.
1:29:11>> That's true. And uh that's fine, but
1:29:14then you have to keep that area free and
1:29:16it has to be on top of everything so
1:29:18that you can access the loading
1:29:19mechanism.
1:29:20>> The SMSL PL150 is a front loading and
1:29:24specifically a slot loading CD player,
1:29:26right?
1:29:26>> Which I love because then you can put it
1:29:27anywhere in the system. All right, let's
1:29:29talk about it again. It's a hi-fi CD
1:29:31player. It has a built-in headphone amp,
1:29:33which is very nice. I'll get to that in
1:29:34a second. Again, it uses original
1:29:36Philips slotted mechanical components.
1:29:37Very cool. Has a built-in CS43198 DAC.
1:29:41The headphone amp will output up to 120
1:29:43ms in a 32 ohms. It has 3 and a half
1:29:45millimeter and 4.4 millimeter outputs,
1:29:47which is very cool. Y that's something
1:29:48that new CD players have that old ones
1:29:50didn't. Yeah,
1:29:51>> some of them have 4.4 millm outputs that
1:29:53didn't exist back then. Uh 75step volume
1:29:55attenuator,
1:29:56>> which is very nice. I used it with
1:29:58various IM. In fact, right before we
1:30:00were shooting this, I plugged in the
1:30:02Limeir's
1:30:03>> Maris,
1:30:04>> sounded lovely, by the way. And that
1:30:0575step volume, lovely control. It
1:30:08supports full size and mini CDs.
1:30:11>> Yeah.
1:30:11>> Do you have any mini CDs?
1:30:12>> No, I sold off mine years ago.
1:30:14>> Oh, you sold off all them? I only have
1:30:15like a few.
1:30:15>> Yeah, I've got my fulls size CDs, but
1:30:16the minis are longer.
1:30:17>> Yeah. Have a lot of fulls size CDs. Now,
1:30:19on the front of the PL150 are the
1:30:21physical controls, which I like the
1:30:22physical controls.
1:30:23>> Mh.
1:30:23>> And and a small IPS display. On the
1:30:26rear, optical and coax digital outputs
1:30:28and stereo RCA analog output. The PL150
1:30:32is available in silver or black
1:30:33finishes. It comes with a wireless
1:30:35remote and it's only $149.
1:30:38>> Yeah. That's the biggest shock for me
1:30:39because that's a complete package
1:30:41basically for the price of a single
1:30:42component.
1:30:43>> Yes. Because you can use it alone. Like
1:30:44if you're a CD enthusiast, you can just
1:30:47have that on your desk.
1:30:48>> Yeah. Put it on your desk. You have a
1:30:49headphone system right there.
1:30:50>> Right. Which is lovely. But 149 bucks.
1:30:53So I am so happy to see a slot loading
1:30:55CD player with a built-in headphone amp
1:30:58>> that you can use standalone. I've also
1:31:00used it with its digital outs into other
1:31:01DAXs and DAC amps which is actually very
1:31:04cool as well. So you can just use it as
1:31:05essentially a transport
1:31:06>> right.
1:31:06>> Um so I love that flexibility for $149 a
1:31:09can jam if you're a CD person or even if
1:31:12you're not check out the SMSLP PL150
1:31:15>> now as you know that on the table is one
1:31:17of my favorite audio anythings period
1:31:20and that's the ODMA Maestro HPA1. The
1:31:22HPA1 is a desktop headphone DACA amp
1:31:25with ODMA's Eliza technology. And that
1:31:27stands for electronic loudspeaker
1:31:28imaging simulating amplifier. And what
1:31:31Eliza is doing is it's trying to solve
1:31:34the imaging problem with headphones. So
1:31:36if you've ever heard a great loudspeaker
1:31:38system or a good loudspeaker system,
1:31:40it's always going to image better than
1:31:41just about any headphone system. And
1:31:44part of the reason for that is with
1:31:45headphones, your right ear only hears
1:31:47the right channel. Your left ear only
1:31:48hears the the left channel. But with
1:31:49loudspeakers, obviously your left ear is
1:31:51still going to hear the right speaker
1:31:52and your right ear is still going to
1:31:53hear the left speaker. But there's a lot
1:31:54more to it than that.
1:31:55>> Yeah.
1:31:56>> And recreating that is very difficult.
1:31:58I've heard countless crossfeed circuits.
1:32:01U this is far more advanced than just
1:32:03simple crossfeed and it's brilliant. The
1:32:05guy who designed it uh uh Chzar Mati is
1:32:08a genius and this is an Italian
1:32:10masterpiece as far as I'm concerned. Um
1:32:13now you can adjust it. Oh, here's what
1:32:15they say about it by the way. recreates
1:32:16the sound message of a stereo system
1:32:18starting from the analysis of the
1:32:19physical values recognized when
1:32:20listening to music inside of a room. And
1:32:22again, there's a lot more to it than
1:32:24what I just described. And this tries to
1:32:27account for all of that or as much of it
1:32:29as it can. And you can adjust it. You
1:32:31can adjust the stage. You can even
1:32:33adjust your speaker angle like the
1:32:34virtualized speaker angle. And again,
1:32:36nothing does it better than this that
1:32:39I've heard. And so even when I'm
1:32:41listening not just to exaggerated stereo
1:32:43recordings, but even normal stereo
1:32:44recordings, when I'm listening to the
1:32:45HPA1, it's almost always on the Ala
1:32:48circuit. All right. Uh you can adjust it
1:32:50again, stage and angle. There's also
1:32:52phase and balance uh uh adjustment,
1:32:54stereo or mono mode. These are nice
1:32:55things to have.
1:32:57>> The DAC is built around AKM's AK-4490
1:32:59req DACK with AKM's Velvet Sound. It's
1:33:02nice to have a built-in DACK if you want
1:33:04a truly one box solution. I think a lot
1:33:05of people buying this are going to have
1:33:06their own DACK, but it has the inputs
1:33:07for that as well. uh automatic voltage
1:33:09changing designed for dynamic headphones
1:33:11with 6 ohms or greater impedance. That's
1:33:13pretty much all headphones. Yep.
1:33:15>> Um and also IM. I use it with both
1:33:18because I love the Alisa circuit so
1:33:19much. Uh it's also built to absolutely
1:33:22worldass standards. So even without Ela,
1:33:24this is a worldclass solid state desktop
1:33:26headphone amp like a reference class
1:33:28amp. Um, inside you'll find audio file
1:33:30grade components like Nichcon
1:33:32electrolytic capacitors, Weimo Red
1:33:33series audio capacitors, Alps Alpine
1:33:35motorized potentiometers like when you
1:33:37use the remote the controls, all the
1:33:39adjustment controls move and change. Uh,
1:33:41has a dual mono power supply which is
1:33:42cool with customuilt audio transformers.
1:33:44Now the price is $11,300.
1:33:47>> Uh, so it is very expensive but it is
1:33:50built beautifully. And if you want it
1:33:53built even more beautifully, I guess
1:33:55there is a luxury edition for $14,500. I
1:33:57believe the circuit and everything else
1:33:58is exactly the same, but the chassis is
1:34:00more robust and fancier. As far as I'm
1:34:02concerned at Can Jam, this is a must
1:34:06audition. Take your favorite headphones.
1:34:08I don't care how expensive, how
1:34:11inexpensive, [snorts]
1:34:12try the Alisa circuit or your IM because
1:34:14it's absolutely brilliant. And that's a
1:34:16can't miss at Can Jam. What I'm about to
1:34:18talk about I wish was on that table
1:34:21because that means I'd be able to get
1:34:22up, take it with me, and listen to it
1:34:23right now. But I'm going to have to do
1:34:24it at Canjam SoCal. talking about the
1:34:26Cord Electronics Quartet. Had a chance
1:34:28to hear it for the first time at Kangjam
1:34:30Singapore.
1:34:31>> Phenomenal first impressions. So, I'm a
1:34:33I'm a Cordel Electronics user as you
1:34:34know, been for many years. The Cord
1:34:36Electronics Dave Mscaler combo for as
1:34:39long as it's been out. It's been out a
1:34:41long time. Remains my highest reference
1:34:43DACK here at HeadFi HQ. It's that good.
1:34:46This is This is better. This is
1:34:49noticeably better. And I can't wait to
1:34:51hear it again. So, they're going to have
1:34:52two of them, by the way. Yeah. At KJM
1:34:54SoCal. So that gives us a chance to get
1:34:56through those lines to hear it faster.
1:34:58Uh, okay. So what's the quartet? It's a
1:35:00reference class digital audio upscaler
1:35:02powered by five XYlinks FPGAAS. So they
1:35:05say it has five times the processing
1:35:06power of the reference Dave DAC.
1:35:08Features an integrated pulse array ADC.
1:35:10That's analog to digital converter.
1:35:12>> They say this allows analog sources
1:35:14including high-end turntables to benefit
1:35:16directly from the devices upscaling
1:35:18power. That's very, very cool feature to
1:35:19have. two box configuration. So, it
1:35:22separates sensitive audio circuitry from
1:35:23the power supply. It's a two chassis
1:35:25solution. Um, USBB, optical, and dual
1:35:28BNC outputs with maximum resolution up
1:35:30to 768 kHz. And here's what they say
1:35:33about it. At the core of the quartet's
1:35:35performance is the allnew Blackbird WTA.
1:35:38That's Watts transient aligned filter.
1:35:40Representing the culmination of 46 years
1:35:42of specialized research, the Blackbird
1:35:44filter utilizes a staggering four
1:35:46million filter taps, the technical
1:35:48measure of interpolation complexity. The
1:35:51Blackbird WTA represents a 10-fold
1:35:53increase over previous WTA designs,
1:35:55achieving a 10-fold improvement in
1:35:57transient timing accuracy. Plus, it has
1:35:59even more taps at its disposal for even
1:36:01better performance. Again, first
1:36:03impressions for me at Kenjam Singapore
1:36:05were so awesome. Like, I cannot wait to
1:36:08hear it again. And so at Can Jam SoCal,
1:36:11I will make sure and you better make
1:36:13sure to listen to the Cord Electronics
1:36:15Quartet. And again, they'll have two of
1:36:17them.
1:36:17>> Yeah. And that won't be the only thing
1:36:18they'll have there. They're also going
1:36:19to have the Alto, the Cutist, the Hugo
1:36:222, and the new Mojo 2 with the 4.4
1:36:24millimeter. So, there's pretty much
1:36:25something for everybody at the exhibit.
1:36:28This little guy is a magnetic DAC amp
1:36:30that you attach to the back of your
1:36:31phone. It's the FSY Audio MD3. Now, I
1:36:34call it a DAC amp because inside there's
1:36:36an ESS DACK. It has the ESS ES9039 Q2M
1:36:39deck. So, it supports PCM up to 32384
1:36:42and DSD256. And that's paired with a
1:36:45balanced amplifier circuit that's made
1:36:46up of four ESS ES9603 Q amp chips. And
1:36:50they deliver up to 180 matts per channel
1:36:53at 32 ohms. You have 3.5 millimeter and
1:36:564.4 millimeter output. To get that 180,
1:36:58you're going to have to go with the the
1:36:594.4 millimeter. And it has an aluminum
1:37:01alloy chassis. Now, I like this because
1:37:03it has a vinyl inspired look, they say.
1:37:05And one of the things that I really like
1:37:06is this FSY audio logo on the side. It's
1:37:08kind of that old punch out look. I like
1:37:10that quite a bit. It's just kind of a
1:37:12classic look to it. Uh it has a premium
1:37:14leather back and I appreciate this
1:37:16because if you're attaching this to the
1:37:17back of a phone because it has the
1:37:19magnets inside. You don't want to have
1:37:21metal on metal. You don't want to
1:37:22scratch the back of your device. And
1:37:23that gives it like a soft separator
1:37:25between the two. And I like that a lot.
1:37:26>> It also gives it an elegant look.
1:37:28>> It does. And it's kind of like a nice
1:37:29red orange color. And I like that too.
1:37:31Uh it has a magnetic back plate that is
1:37:34made with uh N52 magnets. So it's very
1:37:36very strong. And on the front it has a
1:37:381.28 in 28 in circular LCD display. Now
1:37:42I point that out because you can do a
1:37:44lot of cool stuff. There's like
1:37:45animations on this. You can upload
1:37:47photos. There's games. I'll get to that
1:37:48in a second. And it just has a lot of
1:37:50personality and a nice round display. I
1:37:52like that. Two USBC ports. And the
1:37:54reason for that is because you connect
1:37:55the bottom USBC port out to your device.
1:37:57That's also where your headphone
1:37:58connections are. Then you connect the
1:38:00top USBC port to a charging source and
1:38:03then it can charge your device while
1:38:04you're listening to music. I always like
1:38:06that kind of functionality because it
1:38:08doesn't tie up your USB port in case you
1:38:10need a little bit of juice. It has a 100
1:38:12step volume control and eight sound
1:38:14filters and those built-in games that I
1:38:15was telling you about. It has just a
1:38:17little dice game which is kind of fun.
1:38:18Spin the bottle, rock, paper, scissors.
1:38:21It's just neat that that's in there.
1:38:22It's a little bit of personality and I
1:38:23appreciate it.
1:38:23>> I haven't tried those games yet. I
1:38:24haven't tried them.
1:38:25>> They're kind of fun. And uh it's also
1:38:270.47 47 in thick. So, when it's on the
1:38:30back of your phone, it is going to add a
1:38:31little bit of depth to the device.
1:38:32That's to be expected, but it's not
1:38:34going to add a ton. And I think that's
1:38:35important because when you think about
1:38:37how thick a lot of the 4.4 millimeter
1:38:40connectors can be, this gives it a
1:38:42little bit more of a gap between your
1:38:43device because of that thickness. So,
1:38:45again, you're not worrying about that
1:38:46connector scratching up the back of your
1:38:48phone.
1:38:48>> I agree.
1:38:48>> Yep. Very nice. It comes in anodized
1:38:51silver or anodized black finishes and
1:38:52you can pick it up for $149.
1:38:55Now, FSY Audio says that it delivers a
1:38:57detailed yet musical listening
1:38:58experience, and I can definitely agree
1:39:00with that. Now, I'll be honest, I only
1:39:01listen to this with in ears, but at 180
1:39:04m max power, you're not going to be
1:39:06driving anything demanding. So, I think
1:39:07in ears are a great pairing for this.
1:39:09And I listened to typically a lot more
1:39:11reference or even kind of brightle
1:39:13leaning. And this did deliver a detailed
1:39:16experience, but it did a nice job of
1:39:17being transparent. It kind of got out of
1:39:20the way. It didn't really, you know,
1:39:21hamper the music. It's not going to add
1:39:23a lot of flavor of its own, but a lot of
1:39:26guys that's actually what they want when
1:39:27they're out and about. And for $149,
1:39:29it's delivering a lot of oomph. So, you
1:39:32know, for if you're on the go and you
1:39:33just want something magnetically
1:39:34attached to the back of your phone,
1:39:35definitely check out the MD3. We've
1:39:37reached the end of our electronics
1:39:39segments for this preview video, but
1:39:40there are still more brands we didn't
1:39:42have time to feature. For example,
1:39:44American Music and Sound will have the
1:39:45latest amplifiers from Lake People,
1:39:47Nimbus, and Vielectric. When you stop by
1:39:50Bloom Audio, don't miss the Quest Style
1:39:52M18i Max. While you're there, Head Amp
1:39:55Audio Electronics will have their family
1:39:57of desktop headphone amplifiers,
1:39:59including the headmp CFA3.
1:40:01Henry Audio will have amplifiers from
1:40:03Eternal Arts and Pto. And JPS Labs will
1:40:06have the 11 Audio Broadway and Gold Node
1:40:08HP 5.2 amplifiers driving Abyss
1:40:11headphones headphones, of course, with
1:40:12JPS Labs cables. Lean Audio will be
1:40:15showing the compact SMSLD D100 DAC amp
1:40:18as well as new additions from Digi& and
1:40:21XDO. Moon Audio will be bringing their
1:40:24family of black, blue, bronze, and
1:40:26silver dragon cables, demoing them in
1:40:28combination with DAX from BCasti and
1:40:30digital streamers from Matrix Audio. For
1:40:32DAP lovers, Music Tech will have the
1:40:34flagship high RSA 2 on hand to audition
1:40:37and upscale audio will be showing
1:40:38amplifiers from Felix Audio, Pathos
1:40:41Acoustics, and Prima Luna. You'll also
1:40:44find electronics and accessories from
1:40:45Ampson Sound, Atlas Cables, Estatron,
1:40:48Pham Audio, Gestalt Audio Design, Heidi,
1:40:52and Woo Audio at the show.
1:40:58Hi-Fi Man will be joining us at Canjam
1:41:00SoCal this year, and they're also one of
1:41:02our Can Jam SoCal event sponsors. So,
1:41:04thank you Hi-Fi Man for helping make the
1:41:06show possible. Hi-Fi Man is coming in
1:41:08hot this Can Jam SoCal with a slew of
1:41:09new models, including the return of a
1:41:11classic. Here's our take on the Hi-Fi
1:41:13Man H6 Remastered, Arya Wi-Fi, and H100
1:41:17Wi-Fi. This is the Hi-Fi Man H6
1:41:20Remastered. I'm going to say this is the
1:41:22H6, period. It's back. On one side, it
1:41:26even says Hi-Fi Man. On the other, it
1:41:27says just H6. Um, I'll explain in a
1:41:30minute. All right, so here's what Hi-Fi
1:41:31Man says about the H6 remastered. They
1:41:32say it's a limited edition flagship
1:41:33planer magnetic headphone designed for
1:41:35serious audio files and collectors. Um,
1:41:38very key. They say it faithfully
1:41:40preserves the original technical
1:41:42specifications, including the 50 ohm
1:41:44impedance and the 83 and 1/2 dB
1:41:46sensitivity, which is to say this is not
1:41:48a sensitive headphone at all. It's a
1:41:50hard to drive headphone.
1:41:51>> Yeah, but I would say that was a
1:41:52defining characteristic of the original
1:41:53H6.
1:41:54>> Uh yeah, I would agree. Uh that was
1:41:56actually one of the defining
1:41:56characteristics was that journey um of
1:41:59finding amps.
1:42:00>> Yep.
1:42:00>> That would drive it beautifully. But now
1:42:04what's nice now is we have a lot more
1:42:06amps than we did back then. Anyways,
1:42:07we'll get back to that in a second. They
1:42:09say it features Hi-Fi Man's nanometer
1:42:10diaphragm technology. Now, what's
1:42:12interesting about that is you might
1:42:13think, "Oh, so it's a new driver." No,
1:42:16it's the same driver as I understand it.
1:42:18Uh, someone on Hi-Fi Man's team on our
1:42:21forums uh told us something that you and
1:42:23I didn't know, and that means probably
1:42:25the rest of the community didn't know.
1:42:26The original Hi-Fi Man H6 was actually
1:42:28their first headphone to use their
1:42:30nanometer diaphragm technology.
1:42:31>> Yeah, we thought that was the H1000.
1:42:33That's correct because that was the
1:42:34first one that they marketed it for.
1:42:37They just didn't market that particular
1:42:39technology for the H6 even though it was
1:42:41in it.
1:42:42>> So this is again the H6. It's like a one
1:42:45to one but with some changes. So what
1:42:47are what some of the changes? New
1:42:48composite headband design,
1:42:49>> right?
1:42:50>> It's it's just an infinitely better
1:42:52headband now. It is so much more
1:42:53comfortable. Anybody who knows the
1:42:54original H6 knows the headband was not
1:42:56its strength.
1:42:57>> No.
1:42:57>> The sizing mechanism was not its
1:42:59strength. No. So now you have a
1:43:01modernized comfort strap headband with a
1:43:03beautifully executed modern sizing
1:43:05mechanism.
1:43:06>> Thank you. All right. Also cable
1:43:09connection updated to 3 and a half
1:43:10millimeters. Anybody? So just a plug, a
1:43:133 and a half millimeter plug,
1:43:14>> right?
1:43:14>> Uh original H6 had some weird twisty
1:43:17connector thing.
1:43:18>> Yeah, I think it was called the mini RF
1:43:19connector if I'm not mistaken.
1:43:20>> I have no idea. I just know it was a
1:43:22headache. Any H6 uh user, the original
1:43:25H6 user will remember the need to like
1:43:27pre- untwist it. Yep. before you twisted
1:43:29it on so that it would go on straight
1:43:31and not end up in a tangled mess. I know
1:43:33some of you who have never used it don't
1:43:34know what the heck I'm saying. H6 users
1:43:36know what I'm saying. You remember guys.
1:43:38All right, but this is just a three and
1:43:39a half millimeter plug. Thank goodness.
1:43:41All right, they say because of that lack
1:43:42of sensitivity that we referenced, the
1:43:44the hard to driveeness, if that's a
1:43:46thing. Uh not recommended for portable
1:43:48USB DAC dongles.
1:43:49>> Definitely not.
1:43:50>> Definitely not. Not recommended for
1:43:51entry-le DAC amp combinations.
1:43:53>> Nope.
1:43:53>> Nope. Uh not recommended for low power
1:43:56portable players.
1:43:57>> Right. So, yeah, I agree with all of
1:43:59those things. Um, limited edition,
1:44:02they're saying it is uh initial
1:44:03production run of only 1,999 units
1:44:06worldwide. So, they're saying it's a
1:44:07limited edition priced at $1,899
1:44:10US. So, now here's another thing they
1:44:13say about it. The H6 Remastered retains
1:44:15the distinctive sonic character and
1:44:16extraordinary performance potential that
1:44:18made the original H6 famous while
1:44:20solving one of its most commonly cited
1:44:22drawbacks through an entirely redesigned
1:44:23ergonomic headband. So that drawback
1:44:26they're referencing is that headband we
1:44:27were talking about earlier. The original
1:44:29HG6 headband was to say the least not
1:44:32great. This is much much better. But
1:44:34this is the H6 with these better bits
1:44:37and pieces.
1:44:38>> So recommended pairings. These are Hi-Fi
1:44:41Man's recommended pairings. Yeah. Biased
1:44:43recommendations. Um but I agree with
1:44:45them. Hi-Fi Man's uh EF6 class A
1:44:48amplifier they recommend.
1:44:49>> Yeah. Which is not crazy expensive.
1:44:51>> I'm going to say this right now. We've
1:44:52had one since it came out a zillion
1:44:54years ago. Mhm.
1:44:54>> It's a classic amp as far as I'm
1:44:56concerned. It's a beautifully executed
1:44:57amp and yes, it will drive it
1:44:59beautifully. The Golden Wave G10 tube
1:45:01amplifier,
1:45:02>> also not crazy expensive. And for tube
1:45:03lovers,
1:45:04>> yes, for tube lovers, that is another
1:45:05and those are both reasonably priced
1:45:07choices. I decided because I didn't have
1:45:08those handy at the time that I was
1:45:10auditioning these the first time. Um, so
1:45:12I used it with the Hi-Fi Man EF-1000
1:45:14DAC, which is their flagship DAC amp,
1:45:17inordinately expensive, and as would as
1:45:20one might expect, drove it beautifully.
1:45:21I've also used it with the III Audio
1:45:23IDSD Phantom.
1:45:25>> Yeah,
1:45:25>> another gorgeous pairing. Drove them
1:45:27beautifully. So, here's the thing with
1:45:29the H6 and also the H6 remastered
1:45:31because that they're effectively the
1:45:32same headphone.
1:45:33>> Um uh I found that if you find if you
1:45:37drive them with an amp that is not an
1:45:39ideal pairing, they can tend toward
1:45:41brightness. Yeah.
1:45:42>> But when you find the amps that have
1:45:43just the oomph
1:45:45>> to drive these the way they're supposed
1:45:47to be driven, they are not bright to my
1:45:49ears. They are more neutral, but they
1:45:51also have a richness and a slam that
1:45:55that you need the proper amps, right, to
1:45:58drive it with to to to get to achieve.
1:46:01>> Um, and now we have a lot more choices
1:46:03than we did then. Uh, and it can be
1:46:05done. I did compare it to we have a
1:46:06couple of different H6s here. I did, you
1:46:08know, the originals. I did compare it.
1:46:10Um, uh, but none of them have the pads
1:46:12that this has, the exact same pads.
1:46:14>> Yeah.
1:46:14>> Um, and so I could make a sort of
1:46:17comparison. I will say this sounds like
1:46:18an H6. This is an H6. So, I'm so excited
1:46:22about this, the return of the H6 for
1:46:25real, but now like modernized in the
1:46:29mechanical important ways. But in terms
1:46:31of the motor, the sound, it's an H6.
1:46:34Period. Can Jam, if you haven't heard an
1:46:36H6 proper,
1:46:38>> listen to the H6 remastered at Can Jam.
1:46:41This is the Hi-Fi Man H1000 Wi-Fi.
1:46:43You're holding the Hi-Fi Man Arya Wi-Fi.
1:46:46This is a Hi-Fi Man H1000. That is a
1:46:49Hi-Fi Man Arya, but as the name
1:46:51suggests, they're Wi-Fi enabled. And
1:46:53when Hi-Fi Man came to me and told me
1:46:55they would be doing Wi-Fi enabled
1:46:57flagship class headphones,
1:46:58>> I I I wasn't clear on the value
1:47:00proposition. Yeah,
1:47:01>> having used these now, I am totally
1:47:03clear on the value proposition. I get
1:47:05it. Let's talk about these. So, Hi-Fi
1:47:07Man describes both as Wi-Fi streaming
1:47:09media planer headphones. And they're
1:47:11designed around Hi-Fi Man's three-in-one
1:47:13audio foundation system design, which is
1:47:16essentially like treating the internals
1:47:18as separate. It's a separate DAC
1:47:19section, amp section, and of course, the
1:47:21transducer. For the DAC, it's an
1:47:23in-house developed DAC using the
1:47:25Himalaya mini R deck, which I'm a big
1:47:27fan of.
1:47:28>> Um, I love the whole Himalaya sort of
1:47:31range of goods.
1:47:33Uh the amplification circuit is a
1:47:35dedicated amplifier circuit that's a
1:47:37class AAAB design. So that's cool.
1:47:40That's not something you're going to see
1:47:41typically in a wireless headphone.
1:47:43>> Uh and of course the driver flagship
1:47:45planer magnetic driver design.
1:47:47>> All right. They say about the Wi-Fi,
1:47:48Wi-Fi provides significantly greater
1:47:50bandwidth and stability than Bluetooth.
1:47:52This enables lossless uncompressed
1:47:54transmission of highquality audio files.
1:47:56They say the Wi-Fi streaming technology
1:47:58supports high-speed transmission and
1:47:59high bit rate and multiiformat lossless
1:48:01music. support for most online streaming
1:48:03services like Rune, Title, Spotify,
1:48:05Kobuzz, etc. All right.
1:48:07>> So, with Bluetooth,
1:48:10right, we have LDAC.
1:48:12>> Yeah.
1:48:13>> Aptex, things like that. Those are still
1:48:16lossy compressed protocols.
1:48:19With Wi-Fi, you don't have to worry
1:48:22about lossy anything. You can go full
1:48:25lossless, high- res. Mhm.
1:48:27>> Um uh so that to me I wasn't sure how
1:48:30big a deal that would be right in a
1:48:33headphone that has both it is a huge
1:48:36deal. There's a big difference between
1:48:38the two. Um so there are multiple wired
1:48:41wireless options as I mentioned already.
1:48:43Of course that's what we're talking
1:48:44about here. Wi-Fi for better wireless
1:48:46audio quality and range. Uh Bluetooth
1:48:485.1 for better battery life. And it also
1:48:50supports SBC, AAC, AEX, AEX HD and LDAC.
1:48:53So that's nice that it has all of that.
1:48:55Um, and USBC audio for best audio
1:48:57quality, they say. Uh, I'm going to get
1:48:59back to that, and I think this is
1:49:00important to get back to. Now, some of
1:49:02the returning features that that we're
1:49:04familiar with with Hi-Fi Man headphones.
1:49:05Nanometer thickness diaphragm with the
1:49:07H1000. Uh, super nano diaphragm with the
1:49:09Arya. This is a higherend driver in the
1:49:11H100. No big surprise.
1:49:12>> Yep.
1:49:13>> Um, it is more resolving, but both
1:49:15>> are are very resolving headphones.
1:49:17Incredibly resolving. I think our
1:49:19community is familiar with both the
1:49:20H1000 and the Arya family of headphones.
1:49:24enhanced magnet design um using stealth
1:49:26magnets and then also Hi-Fi Man's Gen 2
1:49:28composite headband. I like this new
1:49:31design headband from Hi-Fi Man.
1:49:32>> It's a nice change. Yeah,
1:49:33>> it is a very nice change and it's very
1:49:35comfortable. It looks nice. By the way,
1:49:37I love the color of the Hi-Fi Man H100
1:49:39Wi-Fi. What is that? Like a champagne?
1:49:41>> Yeah, I call it champagne.
1:49:42>> Oh, so beautiful. Um reminds me of some
1:49:44of the old gear like AcuPhase gear and
1:49:46things like that. I have some old Luxman
1:49:48pieces like that. Anyway, um they say it
1:49:50can be used on the go with a mobile
1:49:52hotspot.
1:49:52>> Yeah. Um, I haven't tried that yet. The
1:49:55weight for both, 452 gram. Battery life
1:49:58on Wi-Fi, 6 and a half to 7 and 1/2
1:50:00hours. Bluetooth 23 hours. 3 to four
1:50:02hour charge time, 30 days standby. So,
1:50:04obviously with Bluetooth, you get a lot
1:50:05more life.
1:50:06>> Mhm.
1:50:06>> Um, but man, when I'm at home or when
1:50:09I'm at the office, I don't worry. 6 and
1:50:121 half to seven and a half gets me
1:50:13there.
1:50:13>> Yep.
1:50:13>> And then you just plug it in when you're
1:50:15not using it to charge it.
1:50:16>> And the sound quality is substantially
1:50:18better. Now, I get it right when you use
1:50:21it. um in true lossless mode via Wi-Fi.
1:50:26Couple of things. Number one, I don't
1:50:28have to worry about where I am. Anywhere
1:50:29in my house, anywhere here at the
1:50:31office, as long as you have a Wi-Fi
1:50:32connection, I'm getting lossless
1:50:35high-res music to these.
1:50:37>> Mhm.
1:50:38>> Or those. Fantastic. Um, compared to
1:50:41USBC audio, they say it's better with
1:50:43USBC audio. I'm going to say I can
1:50:46understand why in theory it would be
1:50:47better between the two though. That is
1:50:49between Wi-Fi and USBC audio. So close.
1:50:52So close. Um, and that is a huge deal to
1:50:56be able to do that wirelessly. But
1:50:58what's also nice is when you don't have
1:51:00Wi-Fi or you don't use Wi-Fi and you
1:51:02want to just use a USBC cable.
1:51:05>> Um, then you know, you get the USBC DACK
1:51:08in here. Um, and that that 3in-1 audio
1:51:11foundation design. I mean, it does sound
1:51:13like a dedicated system when you're
1:51:15using it with USBC audio or Wi-Fi. So,
1:51:18do I get the value proposition? I do.
1:51:20Both headphones are again incredibly
1:51:22resolving. This is a more resolving
1:51:25headphone than that one. You should pay
1:51:27more for it. But wow, I get it. It's a
1:51:30big deal for me to have these three
1:51:32options now.
1:51:33>> It's going to be hard for me, right, to
1:51:35go back to a headphone that's just
1:51:36Bluetooth
1:51:38u when I can have Wi-Fi as well. And at
1:51:40this level of performance with the H100
1:51:43and Arya, that's it's just a really big
1:51:45deal. And it does take, I think, in some
1:51:47ways maybe that level of resolution to
1:51:50be able to fully appreciate the value
1:51:52proposition that having Wi-Fi brings.
1:51:54Anyway, these will be it at Can Jam.
1:51:58Make sure to audition them and you'll
1:52:00understand it, too. I've said previously
1:52:02that the Abyss headphones Diana TC
1:52:04signature is to me the best headphone
1:52:06I've ever heard from Abyss Headphones.
1:52:08And as much a fanboy of Abyss headphones
1:52:10as I am all the way back to the
1:52:11beginning, that's saying something
1:52:12because I love so many of their
1:52:14headphones over the years,
1:52:15>> but the Diana TC signature is my
1:52:17favorite. This this has stolen some of
1:52:20my attention though lately largely
1:52:22because of the value it represents. And
1:52:23this is the Abyss headphones Diana MRX.
1:52:26This comes along and this is a strong
1:52:29value from Abyss headphones.
1:52:31>> Um, this replaces the Diana MR. So they
1:52:34say next generation 63mm Abyss MRX
1:52:36planer magnetic speakers replaces the
1:52:38Abyss Diana MR but it draws from the TC
1:52:42signature with EBR that extended bass
1:52:44response technology that they introduced
1:52:46with the Diana TC signature. This is
1:52:48exceedingly important to me because you
1:52:50know how much I love my bass and that
1:52:51means it has an just crazy flat bass
1:52:54response to very low frequencies. We'll
1:52:56get back to that. Uh so it's a Diana so
1:52:58it has an ultra slim ultras slim
1:53:00aircraft grade aluminum frame. I always
1:53:02marvel at how thin it is when I take the
1:53:03pads off. Like it's so thin. Uh CNC
1:53:06machined high-tech polymer ceramic
1:53:08finish. Um like other Diana's the
1:53:10Fibonacci side hole pattern optimized
1:53:12for these new speakers. Precisely tunes
1:53:14air flow and acoustics. So I love that
1:53:16they do that with the with the hole
1:53:17patterns.
1:53:18>> Available finishes. Sepelli wood. I
1:53:20think I'm pronouncing that correctly.
1:53:21Forged carbon. Vegan forged carbon. This
1:53:24is the forged carbon. I love how matte
1:53:26it is.
1:53:26>> Yeah.
1:53:27>> You know, there's hardly a reflection
1:53:28except for on the logo. Lambkin pillow
1:53:31top ear pads. These are the stock ear
1:53:33pads I'm showing here. Uh leather
1:53:35headband with ultra suede suspension
1:53:36strap with only 360 grams of mass to
1:53:39balance on my head. This is a very light
1:53:41headphone and exceedingly comfortable. I
1:53:43can wear these for hours and do wear
1:53:45these for hours. 30 ohm impedance. I
1:53:47believe that's lower than the Dina TC
1:53:49signature. Uh comes with the Abyss
1:53:51custom hard carry case with velvet line
1:53:52interior. Price, and this is key,
1:53:54$3,295.
1:53:57Still an expensive headphone,
1:53:58>> right? but far less expensive than the
1:54:01Diana TC Signature. To be clear, these
1:54:03are different headphones. Uh we'll get
1:54:05back to the differences in a second that
1:54:07that I hear. So, they say the new Diana
1:54:09MRX is comfortable, lighter in weight,
1:54:10and more powerful in bass, producing a
1:54:12flat bass response below 10 hertz. Um I
1:54:15think that's a comment directly
1:54:16comparing it to the Diana MR that it's
1:54:18replacing.
1:54:18>> Yeah, they say with MRX, you'll hear
1:54:21subtle details deep into the recordings
1:54:22without fatigue, glare, or siblance. The
1:54:24sound is effortless, clear, and
1:54:26coherent. I agree with that statement
1:54:28completely. Um, so you know, I've had
1:54:31interesting conversations with Joe
1:54:33Skinsky from Abyss Headphones about the
1:54:35Diana MRX and the Diana TC Signature. He
1:54:38knows how much I love the TC Signature
1:54:39and I asked him, "What do you think of
1:54:40the two? How do you compare? How do you
1:54:41see the two, you know, in terms of sound
1:54:43signatures?" He says, "Diana TC
1:54:45Signature is audio file high-end
1:54:46twochannel speaker system. Dina MRX is
1:54:49nearfield monitor professional use." I
1:54:51can I I can kind of see where he's
1:54:52coming from based on the difference in
1:54:53the signatures. And that's the thing I
1:54:55want to I want to point out here.
1:54:57The Diana, the Diana TC signature is
1:55:00flagship priced. It's expensive. If you
1:55:03cannot afford it, if you just can't
1:55:05stretch your budget to it, this is the
1:55:06first Diana that I'd recommend as the
1:55:08alternate.
1:55:09>> It doesn't sound exactly like it. I
1:55:11agree with him. It's maybe a bit more
1:55:12intimate, doesn't stage maybe quite as
1:55:14wide, and it doesn't have just that
1:55:16ultimate resolution that the Diana TC
1:55:17signature has, but because it has that
1:55:19EBR, and again, I value my bass so much,
1:55:22it it it gives me a lot of the magic
1:55:25that I love from the Diana TC Signature,
1:55:27even though it's different, if you know
1:55:28what I mean. Now, I also want to mention
1:55:30that um you're going to get the deepest
1:55:33bass extension, again, nearly flat to
1:55:34like 10 hertz, five hertz with these
1:55:36pads, but I swap them out. I use I don't
1:55:39know how Joe feels about this, but I I I
1:55:40use the the baseport pads.
1:55:42>> Yep.
1:55:42>> Uh because I like the little lift that
1:55:44it gives it, especially the suede ones.
1:55:46It gives it or the sueded ones. I think
1:55:47they're vegan. Um gives it a bit of a
1:55:49lift in the bass where it where it hits
1:55:51you. Um and then just kind of smooths it
1:55:53out alto together. And I love that. But
1:55:55because of the bass that's inherent with
1:55:57this platform, it's just such a
1:55:58beautifully impactful sound with these
1:56:00Dina MRX. Even if it's not exactly the
1:56:03Diana TC signature, it's the one I
1:56:05recommend the most if you just can't
1:56:06stretch for that Diana TC signature.
1:56:08Fantastic headphones. Audition these at
1:56:10Can Jam. This is going to be at Can Jam.
1:56:12Thank goodness. These are fantastic. I'm
1:56:15in love with these. This is the Abyss
1:56:16headphones Diana TC Signature. Uh they
1:56:19made their debut at KJam New York 2026.
1:56:21Tried to hear them at KJAM New York.
1:56:23>> Uh every time I went in, they were
1:56:25taken.
1:56:25>> I didn't want to get in a fight, you
1:56:26know, shove somebody out of the way,
1:56:27said, "Let me listen to those." Uh, so I
1:56:30didn't get to hear them at the show, but
1:56:31at the end of the show, they found us
1:56:33and they left us a pair and took them
1:56:36home, put them on some of my top flight
1:56:38reference rigs,
1:56:40>> fell in love. I don't know how Abyss
1:56:42Headphones feels about me saying this,
1:56:43but it's how I feel. These these are the
1:56:46best headphones I think they've made to
1:56:47date. Um, so let's talk about it. So the
1:56:51Abyss Headphones Diana TC Signature is
1:56:53the Diana series flagship. It replaces
1:56:55the Diana TC. And I feel like, by the
1:56:58way, just even with their more
1:57:00affordable stuff,
1:57:01>> they've just been pushing
1:57:03>> Yeah.
1:57:03>> and pushing and pushing and making
1:57:05better and better headphones. But again,
1:57:07these are the best I've heard from them.
1:57:09It uses the next generation Abyss TC
1:57:11Signature 63mm planer magnetic drivers.
1:57:14Uh, next generation CNC machine frame
1:57:16assembly made of aircraft grade
1:57:18aluminum. Um, they've been refining, you
1:57:20know, they look it looks the same if at
1:57:23first blush as a lot of other Diana's.
1:57:24>> Yeah. And it still feels tanky.
1:57:26>> Yeah. And but these are they've just
1:57:27made them increasingly comfortable
1:57:29through just tweaks and refinements. And
1:57:32these now are the most conventionally
1:57:34fitting headphones that they make.
1:57:36>> Y
1:57:37>> um and they're built like you said like
1:57:38tanks. Yeah. Like they're made to
1:57:40withstand a war.
1:57:42>> All right. Uh leather headband with
1:57:44ultra suede sling suspension. Very
1:57:46comfortable. Uh again that fit
1:57:49>> is just improving over time. Mhm.
1:57:52>> Uh Lambkin pillow top bassported ear
1:57:54pads I think come with them. Uh that's
1:57:56like the default ear pad.
1:57:57>> Yep.
1:57:58>> Sounds fantastic with those. I tend to
1:58:00favor smoothness where I can find it.
1:58:03They're already smooth with those ear
1:58:04pads. Um but these ultraas suede ones
1:58:08that are bassported give me the bass
1:58:10response I want and even more
1:58:13smoothness. So I tend to favor these.
1:58:15You probably wouldn't. You'd probably
1:58:16want the standard ones. custom artisan
1:58:19inlay uh with Corning Gorilla Glass.
1:58:22This colorway that we have here is
1:58:23called Black Art.
1:58:25>> They're gorgeous. 72 ohm impedance. Now,
1:58:28I want to talk about the cable very
1:58:29quickly because I think um for those who
1:58:31don't know Abyss headphones and their
1:58:34history, their history goes back to JPS
1:58:36Labs, right?
1:58:37>> Like a high-end cable company. Um so the
1:58:40cables that come with Abyss headphones
1:58:42are always fantastic.
1:58:43>> Yes.
1:58:44>> So what comes with these? Uh JPS Labs
1:58:46high quality headphone cable. Uh there
1:58:48are balance terminations you can choose
1:58:49from 4 pin XLR 4.4 millimeter or 2 and a
1:58:51half millimeter balanced.
1:58:53>> Mhm.
1:58:53>> Or a single-ended 6.35mm or 3 and 1/2
1:58:56millimeter if that's what you prefer.
1:58:58>> I prefer 4.4 and 4 pin XLR typically.
1:59:01Yeah.
1:59:02>> Optional JPS Lab superconductor cable
1:59:04upgrade.
1:59:05>> Yes,
1:59:06>> it's worthwhile. Yeah. Uh uh uh we
1:59:09finally got one of the upgrade cables.
1:59:11Fantastic. Custom hard carry case with a
1:59:13velvet line interior. $4,995.
1:59:16>> Mhm. Now, here's how they describe the
1:59:18sound. Diana TC Signature has the speed
1:59:20of a huge horn speaker system. A deep,
1:59:22airy, and layered sound stage with
1:59:24smooth, clear highs that extend out into
1:59:26space. A distinctive mid-range and
1:59:27vocals layered within the depths of the
1:59:29sound stage with deep and defined
1:59:31subwoofer bass.
1:59:33Okay. Okay. I'm I I mean, that's a lot.
1:59:37>> It is.
1:59:37>> It's a very specific description. I
1:59:39don't know that if I was describing, I'd
1:59:41say it exactly like that. Here's what
1:59:42I'll say. Um, I get where they're coming
1:59:44from. That bass is fantastic. The bass
1:59:46is fantastic
1:59:47>> and it is what Abyss Headphones is known
1:59:48for
1:59:48>> and it's what they're known for and it's
1:59:50just refined.
1:59:53I would say to me this is among their
1:59:55more neutral tunings with a beautiful
1:59:57bassel lift.
1:59:59>> Uh but it's a refined bass lift,
2:00:01beautiful extension, tremendous
2:00:03resolution throughout. Again, I think
2:00:04they're the best headphones that Abyss
2:00:05has done.
2:00:06>> I've tried it with my EF-1000 DAC from
2:00:09Hi-Fi Man. uh the IDSD Phantom.
2:00:13>> Mhm.
2:00:14>> Uh a bunch of different headphone rigs.
2:00:16And even the beautiful thing is even
2:00:18portably.
2:00:18>> Yeah.
2:00:19>> Like with DAPs, they're driven and they
2:00:21scale. So with DAPs, they're fantastic.
2:00:23SP4000,
2:00:25uh the M27 from Theo, but then they'll
2:00:28scale. You know, you put them on those
2:00:30big desktop rigs.
2:00:31>> Yeah.
2:00:32>> And it's just simply world class. So at
2:00:35Can Jam, the Abyss headphones, Diana TC
2:00:37signature, one of my highest
2:00:39recommendations to audition.
2:00:40unquestionably.
2:00:42This is the Mezz Audio Arta. This is
2:00:44Meza Audio's flagship openback headphone
2:00:47and I've been around headphones for
2:00:49decades because I'm old and um uh in all
2:00:52of that time this is I will say it this
2:00:55is the most beautiful headphone I have
2:00:57ever seen.
2:00:58>> Yeah,
2:00:59>> it is gorgeous. All right, let's talk
2:01:01about it again. It's Me Audio's flagship
2:01:02open back headphone. It uses Renaro High
2:01:04impedance isnamic hybrid array MZ5 HM
2:01:08driver. Um, I think we both believe that
2:01:10stands for high ohm,
2:01:11>> right?
2:01:12>> Because the impedance is 225 ohms. And
2:01:14they say about that the single highest
2:01:16impedance planer magnetic headphone
2:01:17transducer to date. Um, delivering
2:01:19exceptional linearity, stability, and
2:01:21signal purity. And I believe that's
2:01:22true. I can't think of another planer
2:01:23magnetic headphone that's come to market
2:01:25with a higher impedance than that. Um,
2:01:27they say the planer magnetic trace is
2:01:292.5 times longer with a cross-sectional
2:01:31surface area that's 2.8 eight times
2:01:32smaller, achieving a higher density
2:01:34trace geometry that spreads
2:01:35electromagnetic drive more evenly across
2:01:37the membrane. Um, and that membrane is a
2:01:40low mass composite material membrane.
2:01:42Um, it uses the dualshaped voice coil
2:01:44array and that switchback coil and
2:01:46spiral coil that we've seen, very unique
2:01:49design that we've seen with the Imperion
2:01:50and Elite. Yeah.
2:01:51>> Um, but with that improved trace that we
2:01:54just talked about. They say, "Arta's
2:01:56high impedance design minimizes
2:01:58sensitivity to amplifier output
2:01:59impedance variations, ensuring the
2:02:00headphone's own acoustic character
2:02:02remains consistent regardless of
2:02:03amplification." I see where they're
2:02:05coming from with that. Even for a planer
2:02:06magnetic headphone, especially if you're
2:02:09using maybe like vintage amplification
2:02:11or or an OTL and output transformerless
2:02:13tube amplifier or something like that, I
2:02:15can see that being even more true.
2:02:17>> Um, angled acoustic blades. The grill,
2:02:20>> yeah,
2:02:21>> so beautiful.
2:02:22>> They are lovely.
2:02:22>> So beautiful. The grill geometry, they
2:02:24say, is carefully designed to work in
2:02:26concert with the Renaro MZ5 HM drivers
2:02:29precision, ensuring that enclosure
2:02:30acoustics do not constrain the
2:02:32transducers performance. And more
2:02:33specifically, they say through their
2:02:34precision engineered angled design, the
2:02:36blades diffuse rear wave energy and
2:02:38minimize internal reflections,
2:02:39supporting cleaner transients and a more
2:02:41natural open presentation. We'll talk
2:02:43about the sound shortly, of course. And
2:02:44then of the chassis, they call it the
2:02:46living metal chassis.
2:02:47>> Mhm. Yeah, it's quite pretty. I think it
2:02:49has kind of like a combination of
2:02:50industrial and organic look to it. And
2:02:53it's a really nice fusion of those two.
2:02:54It
2:02:54>> is so beautiful.
2:02:55>> Yeah.
2:02:56>> Uh living metal chassis, precision
2:02:57metals, carbon fiber, and leather.
2:02:59>> Mhm.
2:03:00>> They say Arda's design transcends
2:03:02conventional headphone aesthetics,
2:03:03blending futuristic bionic fluidity with
2:03:05refined art nevo elegance. Kind of what
2:03:08you just said.
2:03:08>> Yeah.
2:03:09>> And there's there's, you know, sometimes
2:03:11I'll say there's not a bad angle on it.
2:03:13I will say with the Arta, every angle on
2:03:15it is beautiful. There's nowhere you can
2:03:17look at it from, you know, from any
2:03:18angle where it's not just gorgeous.
2:03:20>> Mhm.
2:03:21>> So beautiful. Anyway, improved comfort.
2:03:23We've optimized our flagship planer
2:03:25build to perfectly fit larger and
2:03:26smaller heads alike, while also
2:03:28providing additional padding on the
2:03:29leather headband, making an already
2:03:30extremely comfortable design even more
2:03:32pleasant to wear and for longer periods
2:03:34of time. The Imperion family, including
2:03:36the Elite,
2:03:38>> probably some of the most maybe the most
2:03:42certainly some of the most comfortable
2:03:44fullsize overear headphones I've ever
2:03:46worn. Right. And a big deal is that kind
2:03:48of recurve headband that makes that
2:03:50work. Um, and these are incrementally
2:03:54more comfortable. So, I agree with them
2:03:55there. Two sets of magnetic ear pads.
2:03:57Um, installed with it. Uh, on it were
2:04:00the duo angled ear pads that you see
2:04:02here. Uh, crafted from a complimentary
2:04:04blend of perforated lambkin leather and
2:04:05Alcantara and precisely angled for a
2:04:07richer, more impactful presentation. And
2:04:09then it comes with slim Alcantara ear
2:04:11pads, which is this ear pad here. comes
2:04:13with those um crafted from two types of
2:04:15Alcantara with perforations on the inner
2:04:17chamber designed for more neutrality and
2:04:19a smoother rounder upper region.
2:04:22And again, we'll talk about the sound.
2:04:24Uh two 2meter cables are included. Uh
2:04:26they're both silverplated linear crystal
2:04:28oxygen-free copper conductors, dual
2:04:30strand configuration, dual mini XLR
2:04:32connectors, connectors at the earpiece
2:04:34side, CNC anodized aluminum housings,
2:04:366.3 mm uh 6.35 millimeter and uh four
2:04:39pin XLR terminations. The price for the
2:04:42Arta with all these things and that
2:04:44beautiful case comes with a beautiful
2:04:45case. $6,000.
2:04:47I think it's worth it. This is such an
2:04:49incredibly stunning flagship. All right.
2:04:52And they say about it, the sound simply,
2:04:54Arta delivers a rich speaker-like
2:04:56presentation with lielike detail,
2:04:58offering the most immersive sonic
2:04:59experience we have ever created. Now, as
2:05:02for the sound of the Arta, obviously I
2:05:04love the way it looks. I've made that
2:05:06abundantly clear.
2:05:07>> Yep.
2:05:07>> I am at least as excited about its sonic
2:05:10performance. And that's saying something
2:05:11given how beautiful it is um to look at.
2:05:14Uh the reason I think it's such a strong
2:05:16value even at $6,000 is because you are
2:05:18getting two precisely engineered
2:05:21flagship headphones for that price. And
2:05:24both signatures I love having available
2:05:26to me and because you can change the ear
2:05:28pad so quickly. You can have them
2:05:30seconds apart, right? They're just so
2:05:32easy to do. So let's talk about it. It
2:05:33came installed with the duo angled ear
2:05:35pads.
2:05:36>> These duo angled ear pads to me I know
2:05:38we're running really long here so I'm
2:05:39going to get through this quickly. The
2:05:40Duo Angled ear pants to me are like the
2:05:42next generation evolution of Mezz's like
2:05:46sort of original flagship signature
2:05:48established with the first gen Imperion
2:05:51and then continued with the Elite.
2:05:53>> It's not exactly like those two. Well,
2:05:56those weren't exactly alike either, but
2:05:57I think you get what I mean by rich,
2:05:58lush, detailed,
2:06:00>> right?
2:06:01>> Not to me as much neutral as as it is
2:06:03lush and beautiful and romantic. That's
2:06:06the Duo angled ear pads. This is the
2:06:08next evolution of that. Now, earlier I
2:06:09was kind of reading some of that
2:06:10marketing speak that they had and where
2:06:12they say supporting cleaner transients.
2:06:14I actually agree that that's how it
2:06:17sounds to me. I haven't measured the
2:06:18transient response, but I would not be
2:06:19surprised with either ear pad to find
2:06:22that it had better measured transient
2:06:23response than than say even the Elite or
2:06:26something like that.
2:06:27>> Um because it sounds more refined and at
2:06:29least as resolving, probably a little
2:06:31more. Um imaging with either ear pad,
2:06:34the best imaging I've heard from Meza
2:06:36Audio, period. Now, let's get to the
2:06:38slim Alcantara ear pads because this is
2:06:40the second headphone you get. And it's
2:06:42not like an afterthought ear pad that
2:06:43they threw in there to change it up a
2:06:44little bit, right? It's like an it's I
2:06:46feel like they carefully engineered the
2:06:48headphone to work precisely with both
2:06:50ear pads. And they've been working on it
2:06:52a long time. I heard the first prototype
2:06:53the first prototype I heard anyway was
2:06:55actually years ago. So, they've been
2:06:57working on it a long time. You get
2:06:59another headphone with the with this
2:07:01this ear pad and that and that headphone
2:07:05is like an evolution. the next evolution
2:07:08of Mezz's more neutral signature,
2:07:10flagship signature that they that they
2:07:12introduced with the second generation
2:07:14Imperion.
2:07:14>> Right. And that's the sound signature of
2:07:16theirs that I gravitate towards.
2:07:17>> Correct. And and by by any definition of
2:07:20of headphone neutrality, that's their
2:07:22most neutral flagship headphone to me
2:07:24>> until now. So now you have this and you
2:07:27get the next generation of that
2:07:30>> in the same headphone. Again, swappable
2:07:33in seconds.
2:07:34>> Yep. You get two precisely engineered,
2:07:36beautiful signatures in one flagship.
2:07:40>> That's why I think it's worth it.
2:07:41>> And it's also the most beautiful
2:07:42headphone I've ever seen. So, at Can
2:07:44Jam, you'd be a fool to miss the Meza
2:07:45Audio Arta. Do not miss the Arta. This
2:07:49is the Mezz Audio Strata. These are
2:07:52lovely headphones. Um, as everything
2:07:54from Mez seems to be just gorgeous to
2:07:55look at. But these are closedback
2:07:57headphone as you can tell. But you might
2:07:59think they're planer magnetic when you
2:08:00first see them,
2:08:01>> right? because they look a lot like the
2:08:03Lyric family of headphones from Mezi
2:08:04Audio, but they're not. The the Strata
2:08:07is dynamic. So, let's talk about it. The
2:08:10Messi Audio Strata, again, a closedback
2:08:11dynamic headphone. On each side, there's
2:08:13a 50mm dynamic driver. Now, that driver,
2:08:15and this is interesting, has a
2:08:16biocellulose composite dome and a
2:08:19burillium coated Taurus, which I believe
2:08:21is the surround. So, that's an
2:08:22interesting combo.
2:08:23>> It is. Uh, the chassis of the Strata is
2:08:25magnesium and zinc, and so are the
2:08:27accents. Again, just gorgeous. Macaser
2:08:30ebony wood ear cups and a hand painted
2:08:34finish
2:08:35>> which is stunning.
2:08:37>> Yes.
2:08:38>> So, so I have some color blindness. I've
2:08:40mentioned this before. Um and even with
2:08:42my lack of color acuity, I can tell
2:08:46these are green.
2:08:47>> These are very green. Very green.
2:08:49>> And I mean that in a good way. I love
2:08:51green. I love the shade of green. And
2:08:53the hand painted finish. It reminds me
2:08:56so much of like a super premium luxury
2:08:59car finish.
2:09:00>> Yeah. My mind immediately went to
2:09:01automotive paint.
2:09:02>> Yes. And there's like a depth to it
2:09:04>> and a little bit of a a shimmer. Yeah.
2:09:06>> It's really beautiful. All right.
2:09:08Leather ear pads that use magnetic ear
2:09:10pad mounting system.
2:09:12>> I love a magnetic mounting system.
2:09:13>> We are both big fans of that. I wish
2:09:16everybody used a magnetic ear pad
2:09:18mounting system. 40 ohm impedance. And
2:09:20the Strata comes with two dual twisted
2:09:22Kevlar wrapped OFC cables. Uh, one
2:09:25terminated three and a half millimeter,
2:09:26the other 4.4 millimeter, which is nice.
2:09:29Price $799. So, these are very
2:09:32reasonably priced. And I I really enjoy
2:09:36the way these sound.
2:09:37>> Mhm.
2:09:37>> All right. So, here's how they describe
2:09:39the sound. With its fullbodied sound,
2:09:41excellent noise isolation, and natural
2:09:43sense of space, it delivers a harmonious
2:09:45acoustic experience where detailed
2:09:47texture and dynamics come through with
2:09:48effortless precision. Okay, I think
2:09:51that's a fair description. I agree with
2:09:53it. However, when they say fullbodied
2:09:56sound, I would have expected it like to
2:09:58be from that description maybe to be
2:10:01bassier. Yes.
2:10:02>> Than it is. Um and and the funny thing
2:10:05is I I I heard them before I saw any
2:10:08measurements of them. We haven't
2:10:08measured them uh yet. Uh but I did see
2:10:11Andrew Resolves measurements of them and
2:10:15and even his measurement shows what
2:10:17would what looks bassier than it sounds
2:10:20to my ears. So, the bass is extended.
2:10:22Yeah. And as I'm hearing it, but I find
2:10:25it to be for my tastes, and I do like a
2:10:27richer toned headphone typically,
2:10:29>> but for my tastes more on the neutral
2:10:32side with good extension.
2:10:34>> Yeah. For me, it's a little emphasized
2:10:35on the low end, but it still works.
2:10:37>> Okay. So, when Brian says it's a little
2:10:39emphasized, that's neutral for most
2:10:40people. Yeah.
2:10:41>> So, so yeah. So, the bass to to me is
2:10:43like more neutally tuned with with
2:10:44really nice extension.
2:10:45>> Yeah.
2:10:46>> Um, overall, I would actually say that
2:10:48it's a more neutral headphone. M.
2:10:50>> However, there is a distinct like treble
2:10:54presence and shimmer.
2:10:55>> Yep.
2:10:56>> And I would actually call for my taste
2:10:57the treble actually above my what I
2:11:00would call my range of just like right
2:11:02down the middle neutrality.
2:11:03>> I can see that.
2:11:04>> Yeah. But it's nicely done. So, for
2:11:06example, I'm not getting uh any any sort
2:11:09of uh harshness at all,
2:11:11>> but I'm getting tremendous detail and
2:11:12articulation. I'm getting um no issues
2:11:15with siblance or anything like that.
2:11:17Right. So, it's a neutral closedback
2:11:20headphone to my ears with shimmer. And
2:11:23the image is lovely for a closedback
2:11:24headphone. Yeah. For 799 bucks. Frankly,
2:11:27I'm very excited about these. Like
2:11:29everything Mez Audio makes, they're also
2:11:31gorgeous to look at and feel, but I love
2:11:34the sound as well. So, at CanJam, if
2:11:36you're looking for a closedback
2:11:37headphone that sounds beautiful and
2:11:40looks beautiful, the Mezz Audio Strata
2:11:43is where you should start. This is the
2:11:45FIO FT15. And this is a pretty important
2:11:48headphone for Fio, I think, because it
2:11:50replaces the FIO FT5. Right. Now, if my
2:11:53memory serves me correctly, the FIO FT5
2:11:55was their first planer magnetic
2:11:57headphone. I think it was.
2:11:58>> I think so.
2:11:59>> And if that's the case, again, that
2:12:00makes this a pretty darn important
2:12:01headphone.
2:12:02>> Yeah.
2:12:02>> Now, this is obviously a planer magnetic
2:12:05headphone. On each side, there's one 101
2:12:07millimeter fullsize planer magnetic
2:12:09driver.
2:12:10>> Yeah, that's a big one.
2:12:11>> That's a pretty big driver. You can see
2:12:12through the grill just how big that
2:12:14driver is. Yeah, it's sizable. Uh, it
2:12:16uses Fio's self-developed third
2:12:18generation planer design. I don't have
2:12:19any details on the third generation
2:12:21design differences, but I'd be curious
2:12:22to find out more. It also uses a
2:12:24diamondcoated nano diaphragm.
2:12:26>> So, I can't see that diaphragm through
2:12:29the grills, but I'd be curious to see
2:12:31the film that they use with this diamond
2:12:33coating on it.
2:12:34>> It also uses something that they call
2:12:35uniform magnetic field patented design.
2:12:38Would love to find out more details
2:12:39about that as well. On the design side,
2:12:42lightweight carbon fiber headband.
2:12:43>> Yeah. And it looks like real carbon
2:12:44fiber.
2:12:45>> Uh yeah, I'm pretty sure that's forged
2:12:46carbon fiber. And yeah, we love our
2:12:48carbon fiber around here. And they they
2:12:50did nice contours on it, too.
2:12:51>> Yeah.
2:12:51>> Yeah.
2:12:52>> Walnut solid wood ear cups.
2:12:54>> Yeah. Very nice ear cups.
2:12:55>> Very nice ear cups. They do a lovely job
2:12:56with the wood FO does. And they're using
2:12:58wood more. Like they even have some
2:13:00components now with wood on it, which I
2:13:01dig.
2:13:02>> Liquid nitrogen cryotreated 6N
2:13:05monochrystalline copper headphone cable.
2:13:08And it's a lovely cable. And I just want
2:13:10to show it real quick because I think
2:13:11it's very charming. It reminds me of
2:13:13like retro like a retro power cord
2:13:15>> kind of
2:13:15>> like if you remember the old power
2:13:16cords. Well, of course we don't remember
2:13:18them because I'm talking about like
2:13:19zillions of years ago. Yeah. But it
2:13:21reminds me one of those really old power
2:13:22cords with that line design woven
2:13:24through it.
2:13:25>> Now the price because we got this pretty
2:13:27early.
2:13:28>> We only can say that it's going to be
2:13:30around $450, right?
2:13:32>> So that's as precise as we can be about
2:13:33the price.
2:13:34>> That's a pretty good price.
2:13:35>> That's a solid solid value. Yeah. Now in
2:13:37terms of sound. Okay. The one thing I
2:13:40love about FIO is when they replace
2:13:41something like when they go to their
2:13:43next generations, they are very good
2:13:45about getting significant improvements
2:13:47as they go from one generation to the
2:13:49next. And they've done it here. This is
2:13:51to to to my ears a better headphone for
2:13:53sure than the FIO FT5. And and and the
2:13:56other thing I love that they're doing is
2:13:57at around $450, they're kind of knocking
2:14:00on the door of even their like higherend
2:14:03Yep.
2:14:03>> headphones. So So I think that's very
2:14:06cool and it's something I'd expect Fio
2:14:08to do. Now, in terms of the sound, I
2:14:10would describe it as within my range of
2:14:12neutrality, but favoring, you know, kind
2:14:15of having a little bit of emphasis, if
2:14:18you will, on the things that are airier
2:14:20and sparklier, if you know what I mean.
2:14:23>> Yeah.
2:14:23>> So, they're on the brighter side of my
2:14:26preference, but I don't think most
2:14:28people would call them bright, if you
2:14:29know what I mean,
2:14:30>> right?
2:14:30>> But definitely on the brighter side of
2:14:32my preference. And that applies to both
2:14:33sets of ear pads. I need to talk about
2:14:34that real quick because it comes with
2:14:36two sets of ear pads, leather and like a
2:14:38sueded one or like microfiber or suede.
2:14:41>> And the the sueded ones to my ears kind
2:14:47of smooth out some of the like the
2:14:50details. They kind of burnish
2:14:51>> Yeah.
2:14:52>> edges, if you will.
2:14:54>> Now, usually when I have an option for
2:14:56like two sets of ear pads, one that
2:14:58smooths it out more, as you know, I tend
2:15:00to go for the smoother one. In this
2:15:02case, though, I don't. Okay.
2:15:03>> Uh, yeah, I favor the leather ones. They
2:15:06sound a little bit more articulate, a
2:15:08little bit more referency,
2:15:09>> and for that reason, I've been favoring
2:15:12these for some reason. Yeah, that's just
2:15:14And that again, for me, usually you and
2:15:16I are going the opposite way. Yes.
2:15:18>> I would go with the sueded pads, you'd
2:15:19go with the leather. I think in this
2:15:20case, we'd both go for leather.
2:15:21>> Okay.
2:15:22>> And
2:15:24as far as imaging goes, I do want to
2:15:25talk about that briefly. It images
2:15:27beautifully
2:15:28>> and especially at that price around 450
2:15:30bucks. It's not the widest image. It's
2:15:33not but but I like that in a way that
2:15:35because it's not overly diffuse.
2:15:36>> Yeah.
2:15:37>> And the image objects are solid and
2:15:38they're in they're beautifully placed
2:15:40and good to great recordings and so
2:15:43yeah. Wow. Around 450 bucks. This is an
2:15:46important headphone. Again, this is the
2:15:48Fio FT15. It will be at Can Jam and at
2:15:50around 450 bucks, you should definitely
2:15:54hunt this one down. This is one of those
2:15:56headphones in Fio's lineup that I think
2:15:57offers a stellar value and I kind of
2:15:59feel like it's going to end up flying
2:16:00under the radar. So, I want to talk
2:16:02about it. This is the Fio and Jade Audio
2:16:04JT9. Of course, Jade Audio is Fio's
2:16:06in-house brand. They do focus on more
2:16:08budget friendly options. And man, is
2:16:10this a great budget friendly option. So,
2:16:12it is an open back planer magnetic
2:16:13headphone with a 95x 86mm planer
2:16:16magnetic driver and an ultra thin
2:16:18diaphragm. It features a foldable
2:16:20headband. Comes with 3.5 millimeter and
2:16:224.4 millimeter cables. And of course,
2:16:24you get a 3.5 millm to 6.35 mm adapter.
2:16:27It comes with a portable carrying case.
2:16:29All of that is 160 bucks.
2:16:32>> That's insane.
2:16:33>> Which, yeah, it's insane. Especially
2:16:34when you consider the sound that you get
2:16:35out of this. I think it sounds
2:16:37phenomenal. So, I did not expect the
2:16:39kind of sound that I got out of this. It
2:16:41sounds like a like a referency planer
2:16:45magnetic should sound, but at 160 bucks.
2:16:48So, now I was pairing it with the Jade
2:16:50Audio Gigas1 and Fio's LT 3.5S combo.
2:16:53And I got to tell you, for you know,
2:16:55those two those two together sound like
2:16:57they're a great unit. When you pair them
2:16:59with this headphone, it comes in under
2:17:01250 bucks for the entire system. For the
2:17:03entire system.
2:17:04>> Yeah. All of it. And you have a system
2:17:05that you can listen to at home. And you
2:17:07can even toss in a bag and take with you
2:17:08because it's small enough to be
2:17:09transportable.
2:17:10>> It is open back so you're not going to
2:17:11be using these on the road like, you
2:17:13know, in a plane or anything, but when
2:17:14you get to your destination, this is
2:17:16going to be a heck of a hotel system for
2:17:18a lot of people out there. I love it. I
2:17:20think overall it offers a staggering
2:17:22value. The JT9 has to be heard. This is
2:17:26the ZMF headphones Tessadera. This is an
2:17:28open back planer magnetic headphone. I'm
2:17:30very excited about this one. So, this
2:17:32introduces Now, I have a lot of
2:17:34experience with ZMF headphones
2:17:35headphones. I don't know that I've heard
2:17:36everything they've ever made, but but I
2:17:38think I've heard most of it.
2:17:39>> This the Tessadera introduces like a new
2:17:41flavor that I kind of consider my ZMF
2:17:43neutral. I'll get back to that. All
2:17:44right. Again, it's an open back planer
2:17:46magnetic headphone. It uses a newly
2:17:47developed planar driver with a one
2:17:49micron thick diaphragm, which is quite
2:17:50thin. Um, it's 35 ohm impedance, uses
2:17:54thicker traces, has ZMF's TPE
2:17:56construction with silver plating. So,
2:17:58that's a it's again, it's a new
2:18:00diaphragm, new driver,
2:18:01>> right?
2:18:01>> Uh, it's the first ZMF headphone, the
2:18:04Tadera, to incorporate five patented and
2:18:06new patent pending technologies. Now,
2:18:08the first of the new ones is what they
2:18:10call ZMF acoustic matrix or ZAM. Uh, a
2:18:13precision engineered 3D printed lattice
2:18:15structure within the headphone cup. You
2:18:16can see it in these vents.
2:18:18>> They're gorgeous. They are very pretty
2:18:20to look at, but they're also extremely
2:18:22functional. Of course, that's the main
2:18:23purpose. Um, works behind the driver to
2:18:25break up coherent reflections, eliminate
2:18:27standing waves, and diffuse rear wave
2:18:29energy in a controlled, repeatable
2:18:31manner. And they say the result is a
2:18:33smoother frequency response,
2:18:34particularly in the treble region from 6
2:18:35to 12 kHz while preserving the dynamics
2:18:37and transient response that define the
2:18:39ZMF sound along with more precise
2:18:40spatial cues and natural decay.
2:18:42>> Um, yeah, again, and they're pretty to
2:18:44look at. Um, yes, but so that's nice.
2:18:47Um, also new SRS, soundboard resonator
2:18:50system, a passive wood resonator
2:18:52positioned behind the driver. They say
2:18:54the SRS interacts with rearward rearward
2:18:56sound energy to shape tonal character
2:18:58and transient behavior. The resonator
2:19:00disc enhances punch and dynamic weight
2:19:02while providing assertive control over
2:19:03the mid-range frequencies. You can't see
2:19:05it from the outside. No, but it's in
2:19:07there. Okay. So now along with the SRS
2:19:10and the ZAM which we just talked about,
2:19:13the other patented ZMF tech that's in
2:19:15there, ADS atrium damping system. I I
2:19:19think ZMF fans are probably familiar
2:19:20with that. Cams, CAMS, Caldera
2:19:22asymmetrical magnet structure, and ZMF
2:19:24Calera pad system handcrafted in the
2:19:27USA. The Tessadera, not surprising, ZMF
2:19:29headphones. Uh canary wood with black
2:19:31rods and grills.
2:19:32>> They are very pretty.
2:19:33>> They are very pretty. I I I I don't
2:19:35think I've ever heard of canary wood
2:19:36until now, but it is a pretty wood. Uh
2:19:38aluminum frame,
2:19:40>> which ours has here. Uh that's the stock
2:19:42option. And then there's an optional
2:19:45magnesium frame upgrade available.
2:19:46Right. That's pretty cool. Um again, 35
2:19:49ohm impedance. The price $2,499.
2:19:52Now, of the sound, ZMF says, "Where the
2:19:55Calera is energetic and bombastic, the
2:19:57Tessadera offers a different expression
2:19:58of the ZMF plan our vision, liquid,
2:20:01lush, and euphonic without ever becoming
2:20:03relaxed or boring." "This is not a
2:20:06laid-back headphone," they continue.
2:20:07It's a lush, engaging experience that
2:20:09maintains the impact and dynamics ZMF is
2:20:11known for, wrapped in a smoother, more
2:20:13refined delivery. And now, let's get to
2:20:15the sound, of course, since we're
2:20:16talking about what they're saying about
2:20:17it. And and if I seemed a little bit
2:20:19measured about what about about what
2:20:21they said in that first part, it's
2:20:23because um yes, I agree. Compared to the
2:20:25Calera, um which is more energetic and
2:20:28bombastic in comparison, certainly like
2:20:30for example in the treble,
2:20:32>> when they use words like liquid, lush,
2:20:34and euphonic.
2:20:35>> Yeah,
2:20:35>> I don't disagree with them. I just want
2:20:37to make sure that when you say those
2:20:38words, um we're not talking about like a
2:20:40thick syrupy headphone here. No, this is
2:20:43this is a very resolving headphone. Um,
2:20:45so that's that's all I wanted to qualify
2:20:47that with. Um, lush and engaging. So,
2:20:49they continue with that. Now, here's
2:20:50what I'll say about the tonal balance
2:20:51versus caldera. It is smoother. And in
2:20:53fact, as I said at the beginning of this
2:20:54thing, it's kind of what I consider my
2:20:56ZMF neutral. It's not just like flat
2:20:59neutral boring.
2:21:00>> It has ZMFness about it.
2:21:02>> Yeah.
2:21:02>> But it's neutral enough that I can see
2:21:04of all the ZMF headphones I can think of
2:21:05right now, probably the one most likely
2:21:07to be used in a pro audio setting. Yes.
2:21:09I can see this being used in a studio.
2:21:10It's neutral enough for that. So, for
2:21:12those of you who've desired like maybe
2:21:14more neutrality from a ZF ZMF headphone,
2:21:17this this is what you have to hear. I
2:21:20will also say that it is though smoother
2:21:22in its tonal bounce than the Calera. To
2:21:24my ears, it's more resolving.
2:21:26>> Mhm.
2:21:26>> So, I think this is the most resolving
2:21:28ZMF headphones headphone that I've heard
2:21:31so far. Period. So, I would I would I
2:21:34would venture to bet that if we measured
2:21:36it for that purpose, like transient
2:21:38response, I wouldn't be surprised if
2:21:39this had the fastest. That's how it
2:21:40sounds to me. now versus another open
2:21:42back flagship headphone from uh uh ZMF
2:21:46headphones that's dynamic that's one of
2:21:48my favorite headphones period which is
2:21:50the Atrium. How do they compare? Okay,
2:21:53tonally I still think I prefer the
2:21:55Atrium. I I find it to be a little bit
2:21:58more uh up my alley in terms of tonal
2:22:01balance. It's like my tube amp in a
2:22:04headphone kind of thing. It's it's
2:22:05romantic and beautiful. this I I I I
2:22:09almost enjoy as much. Um, but it's
2:22:12certainly more resolving. So, if
2:22:15>> so, if you're looking for more
2:22:16resolution, right, then you have to hear
2:22:18the Tessadera. Uh, between the two, I
2:22:20probably still go Atrium personally, but
2:22:22I think a lot of people
2:22:23>> might go Tessadera. I think this is
2:22:25going to be kind of split down the
2:22:26middle. It'll be interesting to see what
2:22:28people have to say. I'd be curious to
2:22:29know what you have to say. So, at Can
2:22:30Jam, make sure to audition the ZMF
2:22:32headphones, Tessadera, and also the
2:22:34Atrium. do the comparison and the
2:22:36caldera because that's the other planar.
2:22:39This is the Odyssey MM520.
2:22:42>> This this headphone I'm very excited
2:22:44about. It replaces I believe, right? It
2:22:46replaces the MM500.
2:22:47>> Yeah. 500 is gone.
2:22:48>> So the the 500 This replaces the MM500
2:22:51which the MM series is like a proauudio
2:22:53focused headphone that audio files also
2:22:56love. Yes. Um this is an evolution of
2:22:58the MM500 that it replaces. It uses a
2:23:0090mm planer magnetic driver on each side
2:23:03that incorporates fluxor phasor uniforce
2:23:06and slam technologies. Now I want to
2:23:08mention that slam technologies which
2:23:09stands for symmetric linear acoustic
2:23:11modulator. This is a technology they
2:23:13developed um that they've been
2:23:15incorporating since its development in a
2:23:17lot of their recent headphones. U they
2:23:19say about that slam allows controlled
2:23:21pressure equalization between the
2:23:22diaphragm and the ear area ensuring
2:23:24fully symmetric and uniform forces
2:23:26regardless of diaphragm direction. Uh
2:23:29Jude's translation of that.
2:23:31>> My translation of that. A little more
2:23:33bass.
2:23:34>> Yeah.
2:23:34>> And I dig. All right. Here we go.
2:23:36Machined aluminum chassis.
2:23:38>> Love that business-like chassis of the
2:23:40MM series headphones from Odyssey.
2:23:41>> Me too.
2:23:42>> It is so simple and elegant and looks
2:23:44like something that you'd see in a
2:23:45studio
2:23:46>> because you will find these in studios.
2:23:48>> Yep.
2:23:49>> Um it uses uh Ody's spring steel
2:23:52headband.
2:23:52>> Yeah. Very comfortable headband. very
2:23:54comfortable headband, which is important
2:23:56uh because there's 555 grams of mass.
2:23:59Yeah. To distribute across your head.
2:24:00I've worn these for hours with no
2:24:02issues. So, clearly it's doing a
2:24:04fantastic job. As are the ear pads to
2:24:06help with that.
2:24:07>> Yes.
2:24:08>> They're magnetically attached leather
2:24:09ear pads.
2:24:10>> And that is a big win.
2:24:12>> Huge win.
2:24:13>> Yes.
2:24:13>> Brian and I think there should be a law.
2:24:15Yeah.
2:24:15>> A law in Headfili land that all overear
2:24:18headphones must have magnetically
2:24:20detachable or attachable ear pads. This
2:24:24has them. So, this passes our law. All
2:24:26right. 18 ohm impedance. The accessories
2:24:29that the MM520 comes with, 2 and 12
2:24:31meter headphone cable terminated in 6.35
2:24:34mm um with a 3.5 mm adapter, travel
2:24:37case, soft carry bag. The travel case is
2:24:39very cool, by the way. Very robust.
2:24:41>> Price $1,699.
2:24:44>> So, that's the same price as the MM500.
2:24:46>> Exactly the same.
2:24:47>> Exactly the same. So, that's cool. All
2:24:49right. Now, here's what they say about
2:24:50the sound. The MM520 is designed with
2:24:52our latest acoustic technologies for
2:24:54bass that digs deeper and hits tighter
2:24:56and even more accurate mid-range
2:24:58expression. Now, Manny Maroquin, who is
2:25:00what's his title there?
2:25:01>> Uh, he's the head of professional
2:25:02products.
2:25:03>> Okay. So, he's the head of professional
2:25:04products.
2:25:04>> Yep.
2:25:05>> But he is also kind of a legendary
2:25:07fella.
2:25:07>> Yeah.
2:25:08>> Um, 18 time Grammyinning engineer. Yes.
2:25:11>> And here's what he says about it. The
2:25:12MM520 is more focused overall.
2:25:14Everything translates a little easier,
2:25:16just more dialed in. That's a very
2:25:18interesting comment from him on this
2:25:20because again he's an 18 time
2:25:22Grammy-winning engineer.
2:25:23>> Yeah, I trust his ears.
2:25:24>> Yeah, I do too. I do too. Who are we to
2:25:26question Manny Marquin? However, you
2:25:28prefer probably the tonal balance of the
2:25:30MM500.
2:25:30>> I still prefer the 500.
2:25:32>> Yeah, this is a richer toned headphone
2:25:33than the MM500
2:25:35>> that it replaces. Um, for my tastes, I
2:25:39clearly prefer the MM520. Right. For my
2:25:41tastes.
2:25:42>> I think a lot of people will too.
2:25:43>> Yeah. But I have to give it to you. I
2:25:44tease, we always tease a lot about uh
2:25:45how we perceive neutrality. I have to
2:25:47give it to you though. I would say based
2:25:50on my definition of headphone
2:25:51neutrality, I'm not questioning Manny. I
2:25:53mean, for professional purposes, I'm
2:25:54sure he knows what neutral means, but
2:25:56like the way I think of neutrality, the
2:25:57MM500 is maybe a little more neutral.
2:26:00>> Um, which you probably prefer and I find
2:26:02more boring. This to me is
2:26:05>> my neutral.
2:26:05>> Well, they got feedback requesting those
2:26:07changes. So, it it makes sense that they
2:26:09were getting a lot of the feedback. They
2:26:10kept hearing kept hearing it and they
2:26:12incorporated it into the the 520. Well,
2:26:14I'm probably one of the ones that helped
2:26:16contribute to that big pool of feedback
2:26:18because this is what I wanted to hear. I
2:26:21totally dig the changes from the MM500
2:26:24to the MM520. So, given that we only
2:26:26have one pair, guess this one's going to
2:26:27me and you can keep using those MM500s.
2:26:29>> I'll just do that.
2:26:31>> This is the Odyssey LCD 5S. Now, the
2:26:34flagship planer magnetic headphone from
2:26:36Ody. Now, whenever they release a new
2:26:38planer magnetic headphone, it's a big
2:26:39deal. When it's a flagship class planer
2:26:40magnetic headphone, it's a huge deal.
2:26:42Huge news. These are huge news. So
2:26:44again, the Odyssey LCD 5S is the
2:26:46flagship planer magnetic headphone from
2:26:48Ody. On each side, there's a 90mm planer
2:26:50magnetic driver that uses a new nanocale
2:26:53parallel uniforce diaphragm. Now, they
2:26:55describe it as follows. The LCD 5S uses
2:26:57a new driver design featuring our
2:26:59thinnest, most responsive materials. The
2:27:01nanocale parallel uniforce diaphragm
2:27:02connects to a revised chassis structure,
2:27:05allowing the most precise mid-range
2:27:06tuning possible. and they have retuned
2:27:08the mid-range versus the original LCD 5
2:27:11in a way that's
2:27:12>> that I love. We're going to get to that
2:27:13in a minute. Okay. They also say a new
2:27:15driver design combines with slam
2:27:17technology to produce mastering grade
2:27:19precision even better than the original
2:27:21LCD 5 with a more natural lifelike
2:27:23frequency response. I agree with that
2:27:25description in every way which again
2:27:27I'll get to in a minute. Now slam stands
2:27:29for symmetric linear acoustic modulator.
2:27:32Um, slam is something that I think was
2:27:34first seen on the Ody Carbon 2, then the
2:27:36Odyssey LCD S20, and I think now the
2:27:39Maxwell 2 also uses it.
2:27:41>> Yes.
2:27:41>> All right. Now, they say slam allows
2:27:43controlled pressure equalization between
2:27:45the diaphragm and ear area, ensuring
2:27:47fully symmetric and uniform forces
2:27:49regardless of diaphragm direction. Um,
2:27:51in simpler terms, with their open back
2:27:53planer headphones that incorporate, I
2:27:55would say it also improves the bass. M
2:27:57it gives it better base response
2:28:00and to me that's a great thing. All
2:28:02right. Now, the LCD 5S is constructed
2:28:04using carbon fiber, magnesium, genuine
2:28:06leather, and polymer acetate with copper
2:28:08accents. I mean, at first blush, it
2:28:10looks a lot like the original LCD 5.
2:28:12>> Right. They share a lot of similar
2:28:13materials,
2:28:14>> right? And I do love that high-grade
2:28:15acetate they're using. My eyeglasses use
2:28:17a really high-grade acetate, and I love
2:28:19the way it looks. All right. There's
2:28:20also a new ear pad design with the
2:28:22Odyssey LCD 5S. An ear pad design that
2:28:24both of us find very, very comfortable.
2:28:27All right. So, what are some of the
2:28:28other iconic Odyssey technologies? We
2:28:30talked about parallel uniforce uh
2:28:32diaphragm and slam acoustic management.
2:28:33It also has the fluxor magnetic array
2:28:35and the phaser phase management. All
2:28:37right. 30 ohm impedance, 90dB
2:28:40sensitivity. The weight is 475 gram.
2:28:42About what we expect from Odyssey these
2:28:43days with a headphone like this. But the
2:28:46design makes it very comfortable to wear
2:28:47for hours. Are these comfortable for you
2:28:49as well?
2:28:50>> Yeah, they are.
2:28:50>> Yeah, they're extremely comfortable. The
2:28:52cable is a four pin XLR premium balanced
2:28:53cable that uses directional OCC high
2:28:55purity copper strands. It comes with a 4
2:28:57pin XLR to 6.35mm adapter which I'm glad
2:29:00they include and a 6.35 millimeter to 3
2:29:02and a half millimeter adapter. And all
2:29:04of that in a beautiful aluminum travel
2:29:06case that we've seen from Odyssey and
2:29:07higher grade headphones. It's a
2:29:09beautiful case and all of that is priced
2:29:10at $4,500. Okay, now let's talk about
2:29:13the original LCD5. We did when it was
2:29:16released quite some time ago, we did a
2:29:18video about it, a dedicated review video
2:29:19about it. I believe it was in that video
2:29:21that I said the original LCD5 um the
2:29:24upper mids are a bit too energetic for
2:29:27my tastes and I tend to EQ it down
2:29:29because I love that headphone but I
2:29:31sometimes have to EQ the upper mids
2:29:32down.
2:29:33>> Right.
2:29:33>> With these I never have to EQ them at
2:29:35all. I don't mind EQing a headphone.
2:29:37These I don't EQ because the upper mids
2:29:39on this are to my ears significantly
2:29:42more neutral, smoother
2:29:45>> for my tastes. I'll say it way better.
2:29:47And then with slam giving it more bass
2:29:50on the low end, it gives it just an
2:29:53overall richer signature. I would call
2:29:55it like a rich neutral to my ears. Now,
2:29:57I might be describing to some people
2:29:59something that sounds too smooth,
2:30:01>> but they've somehow also tuned a
2:30:04beautiful treble response into it that
2:30:06is very airy and there's there's quite a
2:30:09bit of treble energy in a good way to my
2:30:11ears. Yeah. Um, and for someone like you
2:30:13who really values treble response and
2:30:16treble detail, is it enough for you?
2:30:18>> It is.
2:30:19>> Okay, good. So, to me, the same. I love
2:30:22the sound signature of these. And
2:30:24somehow they're more detailed and more
2:30:27resolving than even the LCD, the
2:30:29original LCD 5. And that's saying
2:30:30something. Those are very resolving
2:30:32headphones.
2:30:33>> It's entirely a win. If you asked me to
2:30:38modify, to edit, to improve the Odyssey
2:30:40LCD 5,
2:30:42this is it. The Odyssey LCD 5S. So, at
2:30:45Can Jam, anytime you have a chance to
2:30:48hear a flagship planer headphone from
2:30:52Ody, you have to, and these are no
2:30:54exception. The Odyssey LCD 5S is an
2:30:56absolute can't miss a Can Jam. If you
2:30:58would have told me 10 years ago that one
2:31:00of my favorite Odyssey headphones would
2:31:02be a gaming headset, I would not have
2:31:04believed you,
2:31:04>> right?
2:31:05>> But it is. This is the Ody Maxwell 2.
2:31:07And even though it's a gaming headset,
2:31:09you need to audition this at Can Jam.
2:31:11I'm going to explain why in a minute.
2:31:13It's so good. So, the Ody Maxwell 2 is
2:31:16the second generation wireless gaming
2:31:18headset, the successor to the very
2:31:20successful Odyssey Maxwell. Mhm.
2:31:24>> Uh on each side a 90mm planer magnetic
2:31:26driver has the Odyssey technologies
2:31:28flexor and phasor but they added slam.
2:31:31>> Right.
2:31:32>> So slam stands for symmetric linear
2:31:34acoustic modulator. It's also seen in
2:31:36the carbon 2 LCDS20 and the flagship LCD
2:31:395S. Uh they say slam allows controlled
2:31:42pressure equalization between the
2:31:44diaphragm and ear area ensuring fully
2:31:46symmetric and uniform forces regardless
2:31:47of diaphragm direction. Uh, simply put
2:31:50to to my ears, it it pretty much
2:31:52improves bass response, right? I like
2:31:54what they do with the bass with slam.
2:31:56>> Um, the Odyssey Maxwell 2 supports
2:31:58OraCast, LE Audio, LC3, LC3 plus, LDAC,
2:32:02AAC, and SBC.
2:32:04>> Yeah, that's a lot of modern codecs
2:32:05right there.
2:32:06>> That is a lot of modern codecs. And it's
2:32:07Bluetooth 5.3.
2:32:09Ultra low ultra low latency wireless
2:32:12connection. That's lag-free high
2:32:14resolution audio up to 24-bit 96 kHz
2:32:16with the included dongle.
2:32:18>> Mhm. Uh, and then there's a new wider
2:32:20headband.
2:32:21>> Yeah,
2:32:22>> I much prefer this headband. It's much
2:32:24more pliable
2:32:25>> and it's much more comfortable.
2:32:27>> It distributes the weight better.
2:32:28>> Yes. And since the Maxwell 2 is a little
2:32:30bit heavier than the original Maxwell, I
2:32:32think that's important.
2:32:33>> Swappable magnetic side plates.
2:32:35>> That's a fun feature. I like that.
2:32:36>> Can you explain that? So, these come
2:32:38off.
2:32:38>> Yeah. So, they're customizable. Uh, they
2:32:40have a reskin uh customization system
2:32:42and you can personalize the plates. They
2:32:44also have collaborations with uh limited
2:32:46collaborations I think with uh like
2:32:48gamers and maybe some personalities
2:32:50coming down the road as well.
2:32:51>> I'm curious to know about that because
2:32:52I've seen some reviewers on YouTube
2:32:54reviewing the Maxwell 2 and they have
2:32:55cooler face plates.
2:32:56>> I've seen a couple of the the photos of
2:32:58the face plates and they look nice. So
2:33:00I'm I'm curious to see them in person.
2:33:01>> These are the standard face plates.
2:33:02>> Yeah.
2:33:03>> So it comes with a detachable boom mic
2:33:04which I don't have attached of course.
2:33:06Very nice not just for gaming but also
2:33:09for communication.
2:33:10>> Yeah. They're great for conference calls
2:33:11because of that filter AI noise removal.
2:33:13Ah, yes. So, there's filter AI noise
2:33:15removal. It is spectacularly effective
2:33:18at removing noise from your outgoing
2:33:19voice. So, you could be in a factory
2:33:22floor. Yeah.
2:33:23>> Um, don't know why you would do that.
2:33:24Uh, talking to people and they will not
2:33:26hear the factory equipment. They'll just
2:33:28hear your voice. It's actually very
2:33:29effective.
2:33:30>> Compatible with PC and Mac, Xbox,
2:33:32PlayStation. Switch to iOS and Android.
2:33:3580 hours battery life.
2:33:38>> Yep.
2:33:39>> Okay. So, you're an avid gamer. I game,
2:33:41but you're like an avid gamer.
2:33:43>> Yeah. The original Maxwell is used for
2:33:46many hours every single week in my
2:33:47household. And the nice thing is you can
2:33:49just plug it in here and there.
2:33:51>> Yeah.
2:33:51>> And then forget about it. The battery
2:33:53seems like it runs forever cuz those 80
2:33:54hours will take you a long time to get
2:33:56through.
2:33:56>> I know. I charge mine just once every
2:33:58great while. Yeah. It's a fantastic
2:33:59thing. Um, compatible with the Odyssey
2:34:02app and they they've really refined the
2:34:03Odyssey app.
2:34:04>> Yeah, it's been improved quite a bit.
2:34:05>> Yes, it's gotten quite nice. So, you can
2:34:07do things like tune it sound and things
2:34:08like that. Anyway, and more. Um, price
2:34:11$329.99 for the PlayStation version and
2:34:14that uses Sony's Tempest 3D for spatial
2:34:16audio and then $3.49.99 for the Xbox
2:34:20version because that uses Dolby Atmos
2:34:21for spatial audio and so a Dolby Atmos
2:34:25license is included in the purchase
2:34:26price which that price difference. You
2:34:28get the license for Atmos and it's tied
2:34:29to the dongle so you can move it around
2:34:31to different devices and still have
2:34:32Atmos.
2:34:33>> Yes. Very nice. And and here and so
2:34:35essentially this does everything the
2:34:37other one does.
2:34:38>> Yeah.
2:34:38>> Right. So, so I went with the Xbox
2:34:40version because here at Headfi HQ, we
2:34:41have the Xbox, we have the PlayStation
2:34:435. All right.
2:34:44>> Um, so also I want to mention
2:34:46connectivity. So wireless, of course,
2:34:47USBC ultra low latency. Um, then you
2:34:50have wired digital. So USBC with dual
2:34:53audio endpoints and game chat mix.
2:34:55>> Um, and then wired analog 3 and a half
2:34:57millimeter TRRS active. Okay. Do I
2:35:01prefer this to the original Maxwell?
2:35:03Yes. I'm such a Maxwell fanboy, too.
2:35:05Like I think I ordered every special
2:35:06edition of the Maxwell that came out. I
2:35:07think you did.
2:35:08>> Yes, I'm a big Maxwell fanboy, but I do
2:35:10prefer the Maxwell 2. I think it sounds
2:35:13better. I I prefer the bass on it.
2:35:15>> Um and and again, you can tune it in the
2:35:18app, but So, this is not just a gaming
2:35:22headset. I You use it a lot for gaming.
2:35:24I actually use it more for music than
2:35:26gaming. It's a musical wireless
2:35:28headphone. Yeah, it's fantastic,
2:35:30actually. So, at Can Jam, just because
2:35:32it's a gaming headset, do not skip it
2:35:34over. The Maxwell 2 is something you
2:35:36absolutely have to audition.
2:35:38>> So that's the Ody Maxwell 2. But now
2:35:41there's another Odzy Maxwell 2 that will
2:35:43be at Can Jam that we have to tell you
2:35:44about. So this is the Ody Maxwell 2 ANC
2:35:47as the name suggests. ANC is active
2:35:50noise cancellation and it is mostly like
2:35:52the Ody Maxwell 2 but with some very
2:35:56important differences including
2:35:57performance differences which we need to
2:35:59tell you about. So we're going to focus
2:36:00just on the things that are different
2:36:02about it. Starting with, of course, the
2:36:03obvious, ANC, active noise cancellation.
2:36:06They give you an aviation grade active
2:36:08noise cancellation with transparency
2:36:09mode. A lot of you have been asking for
2:36:10ANC after a lot of R&D. We were actually
2:36:13present for some of their bench testing
2:36:15of the ANC. It's extremely effective.
2:36:17Cancels a ton of noise. So, make sure
2:36:19can jam to test that ANC to see how much
2:36:21noise it attenuates for you. It's a lot.
2:36:23>> Yeah, it is. And in addition to that
2:36:24ANC, there's a big change on the
2:36:26amplification side. So, Odyssey says it
2:36:28has dual dedicated balanced amplifiers.
2:36:30So, it delivers up to 1.4 4 watts per
2:36:32channel. So, a total of 2.8 watts
2:36:34overall. Now, the original Maxwell 2
2:36:37features a dual single-ended amplifier
2:36:38setup. So, it does have dual amps, but
2:36:40they're single-ended. So, that maxes out
2:36:42at 1.4 watts. So, you're basically
2:36:44getting double power in the balance
2:36:46setup.
2:36:46>> Yes. And then the memory foam. So, it
2:36:49comes with uh it's optimized memory foam
2:36:51ear pads. So, these are different ear
2:36:53pads than on the normal Maxwell 2. These
2:36:55are memory foam. And part of the reason
2:36:57or maybe the main reason they're doing
2:36:58that is related to A&C. And they're
2:37:00extremely comfortable, by the way.
2:37:01>> Yeah, they definitely are. And then one
2:37:03more big change is for production
2:37:04professionals. So the original Maxwell 2
2:37:07didn't have headtracking, but the
2:37:08Maxwell did. That's back on the Maxwell
2:37:102 ANC. So it's compatible with Dolby
2:37:13Atmos renderer, APL Virtuoso, and audio
2:37:16kinetic wise. So again, professionals,
2:37:18you know, if you need to use
2:37:19headtracking in your setup. And I also
2:37:20want to mention one more thing about the
2:37:22headtracking. This is self-calibrated.
2:37:24That is a big win in my opinion.
2:37:25>> Yeah, internal self-calibration. Very
2:37:27cool.
2:37:27>> Yeah. And I want to mention one more
2:37:28thing. When you're running ANC, do
2:37:30expect a little less battery life
2:37:31because you're using the ANC circuit.
2:37:33So, without that on, you're still going
2:37:34to get that Maxwell 280 hour battery
2:37:36life. With the ANC on, it's going to run
2:37:38about 40 hours max.
2:37:39>> Correct. Yeah. So, that's still a ton.
2:37:41Oh, yeah. With ANC enabled. Uh, and
2:37:43again, it's so effective. All right.
2:37:44Price for the PlayStation version,
2:37:46$429.99.
2:37:48For the Xbox version, $449.99. And that
2:37:51comes with the Dolby Atmos license
2:37:53included in the purchase price. So, do
2:37:55not miss at Can Jam the Odyssey Maxwell
2:37:582. ANC. This is the Yamaha YH4000.
2:38:02This is easily my favorite headphone
2:38:04ever from Yamaha. And that's saying
2:38:06something considering they've been
2:38:06around for a zillion years when you
2:38:08think back to their history and all the
2:38:09headphones they made. This is my
2:38:10favorite of all of Yamaha's headphones.
2:38:12>> Now, the YH4000 was inspired by their
2:38:15flagship YH5000 SE, and it looks a lot
2:38:18like it. Um, I can and I can see how
2:38:20some people might prefer the sound of
2:38:21the YH5000 SE, but not me. I prefer the
2:38:24YH4000. Clearly again the my favorite
2:38:26headphone from Yamaha ever. This one U.
2:38:28The YH4000 features Yamaha's in-house
2:38:31developed orthodnamic driver with ultra
2:38:32lightweight thin film diaphragm. It has
2:38:34an open back magnesium chassis with a
2:38:37newly developed PET mesh filter. Has a
2:38:39two-layer headband. Very comfortable by
2:38:41the way with a stepless slider. The
2:38:43sizer feels super refined when you
2:38:45slide. It's one of those things. Feels
2:38:46damped and smooth. um hybrid leather
2:38:49suede ear pads which are exceedingly
2:38:51comfortable especially combined with the
2:38:53weight of only 320 gram. This is a very
2:38:56comfortable headphone that I absolutely
2:38:58have no problem wearing for hours and I
2:39:01do. It comes with a 2 m silvercoated OFC
2:39:04cable that's oxy oxygen free copper
2:39:06terminated single-ended 3 and a half
2:39:07millimeter and comes with this lovely
2:39:10carrying case by the way. Um there this
2:39:13chassis by the way has to be I think
2:39:15this is one of the most beautiful
2:39:16headphones.
2:39:16>> Oh yeah. out there right now and the
2:39:19build is so it's it's superlative
2:39:22actually.
2:39:23>> Yeah, it definitely is. There's a fact
2:39:24that I love about that headphone. It's
2:39:25hand assembled at their Kakagawa factory
2:39:27which any musicians out there know
2:39:28that's where they assemble their grand
2:39:30pianos. So you have worldclass musical
2:39:33instruments coming out of the same
2:39:34factory as this headphone.
2:39:35>> I love that you know that. Yeah.
2:39:36>> And and that's very cool by the way. I
2:39:38think that's very cool. Um yeah, they
2:39:39say about that each unit is carefully
2:39:41assembled by skilled craftsmen under the
2:39:43highest standards of quality control.
2:39:45>> And it shows
2:39:45>> it shows. Yeah.
2:39:47>> And and you feel it. You feel it and you
2:39:49see it. Just such a beautiful headphone.
2:39:51Price 2500 bucks. $24.99.95. As far as
2:39:53I'm concerned, it's a it's an extremely
2:39:55strong value even at that price.
2:39:57>> Uh here are some of the things Yamaha
2:39:58says about it sound. The YH4000 places
2:40:00you directly in the front row of the
2:40:02performance, delivering a profound
2:40:03musical experience filled with dynamic
2:40:05realism and spatial expressiveness. I
2:40:08mean, that's kind of like a marketing
2:40:09copy thing, but but I agree with it.
2:40:11Yeah.
2:40:11>> Yeah. I understand where they're coming
2:40:12from. And it does image beautifully, by
2:40:14the way. Um, from subtle textures to
2:40:17bold low-end impact, and it does have
2:40:19lovely bass, and you know, I I love my
2:40:22bass, and this has gorgeous bass. The
2:40:24YH4000 delivers fast, precise response
2:40:26with rich detail.
2:40:28Amen. Agree with you 100% Yamaha. Now, I
2:40:32was listening to this recently and I was
2:40:33like, why isn't everybody talking about
2:40:35these headphones?
2:40:36>> Yeah.
2:40:37>> Uh, on Headfi. And so, I started
2:40:38searching HeadFi and I found a review
2:40:40from Kabir, who is a longtime Headfire.
2:40:43He's been around forever. Mhm.
2:40:44>> And you know, I remember he he was
2:40:46participating in the orth the Yamaha
2:40:47orthodnamic thread um that that
2:40:50neverending thread on HeadFi many years
2:40:53ago and uh he did a beautiful review of
2:40:56these and he said like everything I was
2:40:58feeling about these headphones um but
2:41:01much more beautifully said than I than I
2:41:03ever could say it. Anyway, here are some
2:41:05quotes from him. He says, "Kabir says,
2:41:06"The YH4000 isn't a headphone designed
2:41:08to win a 5minute showroom demo. it's
2:41:11designed to be lived with and enjoy the
2:41:12music over extended periods of time. And
2:41:15I 100% agree. He also said the mids
2:41:18recession because there's a a slight
2:41:19recession in the mids or a recession in
2:41:21the mids um because it's not voiced like
2:41:23every other headphone. Uh he says it can
2:41:25sound a little off if you quickly AB
2:41:27with more midsent type headphones like
2:41:29more conventionally voiced headphones.
2:41:30But he said if you listen like a like a
2:41:33normal person, that's funny. If you
2:41:35listen like a normal person with
2:41:36playlists, uninterrupted sessions, it
2:41:38starts to show why Yamaha built it this
2:41:40way. Dense, physical, spacious, when
2:41:42correctly driven and emotionally direct.
2:41:45And for someone with such extensive
2:41:46experience with planer magnetic
2:41:47headphones, he says this is one of his
2:41:49favorite planer magnetic headphones, and
2:41:50it doesn't surprise me. This headphone
2:41:52is just it's just music. It is not
2:41:55voiced like every other headphone. He is
2:41:57correct about that. And it isn't made,
2:41:59like he said, for just a quick AB
2:42:01comparison. This is made to be listened
2:42:02to and it's just music
2:42:05and I that's the best way I can explain
2:42:07it and I listen to it a lot. I enjoy the
2:42:09YH4000 immensely. It's my favorite
2:42:11Yamaha headphone ever at Can Jam. You
2:42:13must hear this. Compare it to the YH5000
2:42:15SE, but you must hear the YH4000.
2:42:18>> Now, this this is the flagship from
2:42:19Yamaha. This is the YH5000 SE. Yeah.
2:42:22>> Again, this is Yamaha's flagship
2:42:24orthodnamic headphone. Um we'll talk
2:42:26about its comparison to the 4000 in a
2:42:28second. Um, it also uses an ultra
2:42:30lightweight thin film diaphragm. Uh,
2:42:32Japanese-made magnesium housing. We
2:42:33talked about that with the YH4000.
2:42:35Gorgeous chassis. Yep.
2:42:36>> One of the nicest. Uh, different filter
2:42:39than the YH4000. Maybe that contributes
2:42:41to its sound difference. Of course, this
2:42:42uses a rolled plain Dutchweave stainless
2:42:44steel filter.
2:42:45>> And like the YH4000, it's also hand
2:42:47assembled in Kakagawa. [laughter]
2:42:49>> And And still, I love that you know
2:42:50that. And it is. Yes, you're correct.
2:42:52Now, this comes with the YH5000 SE comes
2:42:55with two sets of ear pads, leather and
2:42:57suede. This is the leather that's
2:42:58installed and it comes with these suede
2:42:59ones. We're going to talk just a little
2:43:01bit more about that in a second. Uh
2:43:02comes with two different cables, uh 3
2:43:04and 12 mm terminated and 4.4 mm
2:43:06terminated cables. I love that it comes
2:43:08with the 4.4 ones because I borrowed
2:43:10them from time to time to use with
2:43:11YH4000. Um and it also comes with an
2:43:13aluminum headphone stand.
2:43:15>> Yes.
2:43:15>> So, it's it's it's definitely more
2:43:17flagship packaged.
2:43:18>> It is, but it's it's priced like a
2:43:19flagship, too, but you get all the nice
2:43:21toys with it.
2:43:21>> Yeah. And the price is 5,000 bucks.
2:43:23$4,999.95.
2:43:25So, 5,000 bucks. So, I again think more
2:43:28people may prefer the YH5000SE to the
2:43:31YH4000.
2:43:32>> Yeah.
2:43:32>> In comparison, I find the YH5000SE to be
2:43:35more incisive, cleaner sounding.
2:43:38>> It's more resolving to my ears. Um, but
2:43:40I tend to favor that smooth, rich
2:43:43tonality. And with the 4,000, it's still
2:43:45a resolving headphone, but I would have
2:43:46to give the edge to the 5000SE. Again, I
2:43:48think more people will prefer the 5000
2:43:50SE to the 4000, but not me. I like the
2:43:524,000 more. Um, now on the pads, I I did
2:43:55a cursory look and and and it seems I'm
2:43:58very much in the minority. It seems more
2:44:00people prefer the leather ones.
2:44:02>> Maybe it's because of the taste that
2:44:03we're talking about here. I prefer the
2:44:04suede ones. So, at Can Jam, audition
2:44:06both because it does change the sound
2:44:08signature. So, make sure to audition
2:44:09both. And I want to know which ones you
2:44:11prefer, but I more want to know if you
2:44:14find me at Can Jam if you prefer the
2:44:164,000 or the 5000. Like I said, I expect
2:44:18more to prefer the 5000 SE, but yeah,
2:44:20try them both at KJU. This is the Audio
2:44:23Technica ATTH ADX7000.
2:44:26Now, the flagship open back headphone
2:44:28from Audio Technica. I will cut to my
2:44:31conclusion, my sonic conclusion, or at
2:44:32least part of it right from the get-go.
2:44:34I think it's the best sounding Audio
2:44:35Technica headphone I've heard for my
2:44:38tastes and I've heard a zillion
2:44:39different Audio Technica headphones over
2:44:41these decades, and that's saying a lot.
2:44:43So, I love these headphones. So, they
2:44:45describe it as an audio file openair
2:44:47dynamic headphone that uses 58mm dynamic
2:44:50drivers. So, the ATTH ADX 5000, a
2:44:52headphone we both love, which I'll talk
2:44:53about more in a minute, also has 58mm
2:44:56dynamic drivers. Um, but this uses a new
2:44:58driver technology called HXDT. That's
2:45:00high concentricity transfer dynamic
2:45:02transducer. They describe it thusly. The
2:45:05innovative manufacturing process behind
2:45:06the HXDT driver results in a precisely
2:45:08shaped diaphragm. All circular driver
2:45:11components, including the baffle plate,
2:45:12magnet, voice coil, and diaphragm, are
2:45:14concentrically aligned to ensure
2:45:16consistent diaphragm movement, improved
2:45:18transient response, and cleaner, more
2:45:20natural sound reproduction. All of the
2:45:22ways they describe the sound
2:45:23improvements apply to my ears with the
2:45:26ADX7000.
2:45:28>> It has a lightweight magnesium frame.
2:45:30Reminds me a lot of the ADX 5000.
2:45:32>> Oh, yeah.
2:45:32>> So does the aluminum honeycomb punched
2:45:34housing design. So, if you're familiar
2:45:36with the ADX 5000, these look and feel a
2:45:39lot like them, which is a good thing
2:45:40because those were some of the most
2:45:41comfortable headphones I've ever put on
2:45:43my head. Um, and these feel a lot like
2:45:45them. They also look a lot like them,
2:45:47which is also a good thing because it's
2:45:48a beautiful headphone. 490 ohm
2:45:50impedance, so it's a high impedance
2:45:51headphone. If you're an Audio Technica
2:45:53ADX 5000 fan, you're used to this. 270
2:45:57to 275 grams is the weight depending on
2:45:59which ear pads you choose because it
2:46:01comes with two sets of ear pads.
2:46:03highdensity velvet or like a velour
2:46:05>> and Alcantara.
2:46:07It comes with two sets of cables, 6.35
2:46:09millimeter single-ended 3meter cable and
2:46:11a four pin XLR balance 3meter cable and
2:46:14a beautiful protective carrying case. I
2:46:16think it's aluminum. It's an all metal
2:46:17case.
2:46:18>> Looks like something a spy would carry.
2:46:20I think it's a really cool case and it's
2:46:22$3,499.
2:46:24So, it's a flagship price, but I think
2:46:26it's a very, very reasonably priced
2:46:28headphone given the performance. Again,
2:46:31I love these. All right, let's talk
2:46:32about the the previous flagship
2:46:35Openback, the ATTHDX 5000. A headphone
2:46:38we've talked about a zillion times that
2:46:39we both love. I've described that
2:46:41headphone as smooth, bright.
2:46:44>> Not so easy with this. I can't go two
2:46:45words to describe these because uh now
2:46:47the 5000, despite our and we have very
2:46:49different tastes tonally, we love that
2:46:52headphone. This one is everything that I
2:46:55would have wanted if you said, "How
2:46:57would you improve the ADX 5000?" I would
2:46:59say smoother treble. Mhm.
2:47:01>> More bass. Tada. So, uh, I have that.
2:47:05So, like the 5000, these image
2:47:07beautifully because they're so open
2:47:09back,
2:47:09>> right?
2:47:10>> I think that contributes to it. Very
2:47:11airy imaging. Very precise airy imaging.
2:47:14Love that about it.
2:47:16>> Okay. Came installed with the velour ear
2:47:18pads.
2:47:19>> Those have even smoother treble than the
2:47:22Alcantara, which also has smoother
2:47:24treble than the ADX 5000s.
2:47:25>> Right.
2:47:27A little less bass though with the
2:47:28velour ear pads than the Alcantara ones.
2:47:32The Alcantara again, a little more bass,
2:47:34a little more treble energy than the
2:47:36velour. Again, in either instance,
2:47:39smoother and richer sounding to me than
2:47:41the ADX 5000. If I had to choose,
2:47:45because I like both a lot,
2:47:47>> I would probably go with the Alcantara
2:47:48because I find it to be a little more
2:47:49precise sounding.
2:47:50>> I would go that way.
2:47:51>> A little Yeah. A little more reference
2:47:52sounding with again more bass, a little
2:47:54more treble. Um, yeah, I would probably
2:47:56have to choose that if I had to choose
2:47:58one. It is everything again that I would
2:48:00have wanted from the 5000, a headphone
2:48:02we both love. And now I can't just call
2:48:04it smooth bright because it's not bright
2:48:06anymore,
2:48:06>> right?
2:48:06>> I would say these are more neutral.
2:48:08>> Yeah. More natural, more balanced to me.
2:48:10>> And it's and it's more detailed, more
2:48:11revealing. So, uh, yeah. Now, let me
2:48:14ask. I'm going to guess you probably
2:48:15still prefer the 5000.
2:48:17>> I'm still in the 5000 camp.
2:48:18>> Yeah. Brian likes brighter headphones
2:48:19than me. These to me, I think, now tell
2:48:21me if you agree with this. I think more
2:48:23people will prefer the 7000 signature to
2:48:26the 5000s.
2:48:27>> Oh, hands down. I actually wrote that
2:48:28down in my notes.
2:48:28>> Oh, did you? Okay. So, they're more
2:48:30neutral, but boy, for an open back
2:48:32headphone, that bass and the richness,
2:48:34especially with the Alcantara pads,
2:48:35fantastic. So, if you can't tell, guys,
2:48:38I love this headphone. And at Can Jam,
2:48:40you do not want to miss the Audio
2:48:42Technica ATTH ADX7000.
2:48:45The technical capabilities of the Focal
2:48:47Utopia cannot be overstated, especially
2:48:49for a dynamic headphone. And much of
2:48:51that has to do with the solid burillium
2:48:53dome driver that Foccal's using in it.
2:48:55Burillium is a nearly perfect dome
2:48:57material for a dynamic headphone driver
2:48:58with extreme stiffness to weight, so
2:49:00high rigidity and low mass and excellent
2:49:03internal damping. Also high breakup
2:49:05frequency, though it comes from the
2:49:06Earth, burillium seems to me like an
2:49:08advanced alien material in some ways.
2:49:10Now, burillium is also incredibly
2:49:12difficult to work with and just as
2:49:13incredibly expensive to source. The
2:49:15whole motor assembly in the Utopia that
2:49:16drives that brilliant dome is also a
2:49:18feat of engineering with a long maximum
2:49:20excursion, which we've shown in our
2:49:22video review of the Focal Utopia, which
2:49:23you should watch if you haven't already,
2:49:25and a formerless voice coil and a
2:49:27completely custom magnet design, which
2:49:29is also incredibly pricey to develop and
2:49:31manufacture. Now, thankfully, all of
2:49:33that adds up to one of my favorite
2:49:34headphones of all time. If you've never
2:49:37heard the Utopia, or if you've heard the
2:49:38first generation Utopia, but you haven't
2:49:40heard this latest version, make sure to
2:49:42do so at KJAM. Now, while the Foccal
2:49:45Utopia is Foccal's openback flagship,
2:49:47the Foccal Stellia is their closedback
2:49:49one. The Stellia is a legend by now.
2:49:51It's been around for a long time. Like
2:49:53the Utopia, the Stellia uses a solid
2:49:55brilliant dome driver, but engineered
2:49:57specifically for a closedback design. It
2:49:59also has a sound signature that is at
2:50:00once incredibly resolving and rich with
2:50:03super impactful bass that I love. I love
2:50:06my bass. So, don't miss the Foccal
2:50:08Stellia at Canjam either if you're
2:50:09looking for a closedback flagship class
2:50:11headphone. Now, Focal also has several
2:50:13other models in their headphone family
2:50:14that draw heavily from their flagships
2:50:16at much more affordable prices. So, make
2:50:18sure to check those out, too. Sprinkling
2:50:21a lot of their flagship technologies
2:50:22into their wireless headphones has
2:50:24yielded two fantastic wireless ANC
2:50:26models from Foccal with the Foccal Batis
2:50:29and the Batist MG. I'll focus on the
2:50:31Batist MG here because I feel it offers
2:50:33more resolution, which is probably due
2:50:34in part to its use of solid magnesium
2:50:36dome drivers, a better default tuning,
2:50:38and improved active noise cancellation.
2:50:40I think they also made some improvements
2:50:41that result in the Batism MG being more
2:50:43comfortable over my very large skull.
2:50:45Now, both the Batist and Batis MG are
2:50:47able to be tuned via the Focal and Name
2:50:48companion mobile app, including a
2:50:50Harmonike tuning as well as custom EQ
2:50:53and other customization features,
2:50:54including Mimi hearing test
2:50:55customization. Focal Batis and Batis MG
2:50:58should definitely be auditioned at Can
2:51:00Jam if you've been searching for options
2:51:01in the top tier of audio file wireless
2:51:03headphones. This is the final DX10,000
2:51:07CL. We've talked about this headphone
2:51:09before. Yeah,
2:51:10>> we have to talk about it again though
2:51:11because this is a new tuning,
2:51:14>> right?
2:51:14>> So that's important. So if you've heard
2:51:15it before,
2:51:17>> this is a new tuning. All right. And
2:51:18this will be at Canjam obviously. Um it
2:51:20uses a newly developed 40mm dynamic
2:51:23driver and it incorporates that driver
2:51:25incorporates a 26mm truly pure diamond
2:51:28dome. Yeah,
2:51:29>> this is a pure diamond dome. So they say
2:51:32about that diamond has excellent sound
2:51:34speed and hardness making it the most
2:51:35ideal material for diaphragms. Its
2:51:38excellent bending rigidity greatly
2:51:39contributed to the realization of the
2:51:41ultra low distortion driver unit.
2:51:43>> And by excellent bending rigidity, I
2:51:45think they just mean it does not bend,
2:51:47right?
2:51:47>> It's diamond. All right.
2:51:49>> Manufactured this driver, this dome
2:51:51using CBD technology, which is chemical
2:51:53vapor deposition.
2:51:55>> Now, make no mistake about it, though,
2:51:56and I think I'm understanding this
2:51:58correctly. They're depositing vapor uh
2:52:00diamond vape, like using vapor
2:52:02deposition to deposit diamond on a
2:52:04substrate.
2:52:05>> Yep. This takes a very long time. Yeah.
2:52:08And it is incredibly expensive to do
2:52:11this process.
2:52:12>> And then the substrate is removed
2:52:15>> and you're left with a solid diamond
2:52:17dome.
2:52:18>> Yeah,
2:52:18>> that's crazy to me. And again, it's
2:52:20incredibly expensive and very very
2:52:22interesting. Um, and very difficult to
2:52:24do. Um, same diamond technology
2:52:27introduced in the flagship A10,000 M.
2:52:29>> Right.
2:52:29>> All right. an entirely new acoustic
2:52:32chamber architecture. Ultraas suede
2:52:34highdensity memory foam ear pads that
2:52:36are like ginormous foam memory like
2:52:40memory foam pillows.
2:52:41>> Yeah. So comfy.
2:52:41>> They're so comfy. Uh two reference grade
2:52:44cables by Jun Kosha. A 3 m silvercoated
2:52:47XLR cable and a 1.5 m silvercoated 4.4
2:52:50millm cable enhanced with EPTFE
2:52:53insulation. It's either identical to or
2:52:55similar to the current the one currently
2:52:57used on the A10,000 IM.
2:52:59>> Mhm. two 6.35 adap 35 millimeter
2:53:02adapters 1 4.4 one four pin XLR. So I
2:53:04love that they offer that for
2:53:05flexibility. And I also want to point
2:53:07out that their high-end cables, Finals
2:53:08high-end cables are gorgeous. Yeah,
2:53:10>> they're really pretty to look at. They
2:53:12have such a beautiful sheen, like a
2:53:13metallic sheen to them.
2:53:14>> There are two editions of the DX10,000
2:53:17CL. A standard edition, which is what I
2:53:18have here, $8,499.
2:53:21Silver inlines. That's what you see
2:53:23there. The silver spokes um on the outer
2:53:25appearance. So silver inlines on the
2:53:27outer appearance. standard packaging
2:53:29with a protective case. Um, it looks
2:53:31open back. Yeah, like the aesthetic,
2:53:33you'd think it's open back. It's not.
2:53:34This is a closedback headphone. Then
2:53:36there's a limited collector's edition
2:53:38for $8,999
2:53:40with gold inlines on the outer
2:53:42appearance. So, where you see silver
2:53:43here, the limited edition would be gold.
2:53:46Japanese themed premium packaging.
2:53:48Collector's edition only accessories
2:53:50limited to 150 units globally.
2:53:52>> Yeah, I'm sure they're all going to sell
2:53:54out, too. Um, a pre-production voicing
2:53:56was shown at KJAM New York 2026 with a
2:53:59brighter, leaner tuning, and I'm going
2:54:01to get to the sound of these in a
2:54:03minute.
2:54:03>> The DX 10,000 CL has since been
2:54:05revoiced. This is what they're saying
2:54:06about it. Adjusted to create a more
2:54:08balanced signature
2:54:10>> and um, you know, Kio from Final made an
2:54:12interesting post on Headfi kind of about
2:54:14this. Yeah, about this. Now, let's talk
2:54:16about the sound. Yes. The the the
2:54:19previous DX 10000 CL that we had here
2:54:23was definitely on the leaner side.
2:54:24>> Oh yeah.
2:54:25>> Um and like and that made it to me
2:54:28because it's leaner in the bass, it made
2:54:31it brighter.
2:54:32>> Yeah.
2:54:32>> This but but it is a it was a resolving
2:54:36headphone.
2:54:36>> Yes.
2:54:37>> So this adds a little bit of richness
2:54:40richness down low. Like I feel like I'm
2:54:43getting more midbase impact. bass impact
2:54:45in general, but mid-base impact. So,
2:54:47there's a sense of a little bit more
2:54:49physicality, a little more slam. And
2:54:52when you do that,
2:54:53>> it definitely balances the entire tonal
2:54:56balance out better.
2:54:57>> Yeah.
2:54:57>> This is a more conventional signature
2:54:59than the last one for sure.
2:55:01>> Mhm.
2:55:01>> Honestly, I think if you compare this
2:55:03tuning to the last tuning, it would have
2:55:06pretty much I think it would have pretty
2:55:08much 100% approval versus the other one.
2:55:11I think this would win 100% of the time.
2:55:13Oh, I think so, too, because it kind of
2:55:14keeps what made the previous version
2:55:16special. Yes. While making it more
2:55:18accessible and more available to a lot
2:55:20of preferences.
2:55:20>> Yes. Thank you, Brian. That's exactly
2:55:23what I was trying to say, but you said
2:55:24it for me and I and I love that. That's
2:55:26exactly how I would describe it. But
2:55:28this is a very resolving headphone like
2:55:29you're saying, and it maintain that.
2:55:31>> Yes.
2:55:31>> Yeah. So, there and and it's it is a
2:55:33unique headphone all around and its
2:55:36sound is also unique. I would definitely
2:55:38This is another one to hunt down at Can
2:55:40Jam.
2:55:41>> Yeah. This is such a spectacularly
2:55:42interesting headphone, the DX10000 CL. A
2:55:45new tuning for you.
2:55:46>> This is the AR9000.
2:55:48They've been working on this one
2:55:49literally for years.
2:55:51>> They've been showing prototypes of Can
2:55:52Jams for years and now finally the
2:55:54production unit is going to be at Can
2:55:56Jam and it's going to be a huge hit. I'm
2:55:58going to I'm going to start with my
2:55:59conclusion. This is one of the easiest
2:56:02headphones to recommend right now. So
2:56:04easy to recommend. It's so good.
2:56:06>> All right. This is an open back dynamic
2:56:07headphone on each side. Custom 50mm
2:56:10driver. It's a very interesting
2:56:11diaphragm they're using on it. It's an
2:56:13Omnistack carbon diaphragm. Now, here's
2:56:14what they say about that. The Omnistack
2:56:16carbon diaphragm, OCD, features a
2:56:18continuous long fiber structure with no
2:56:20crossweave, which is interesting. No
2:56:22crossweave and no interruptions.
2:56:24Multiple carbon layers are precisely
2:56:25stacked at optimized angles to create a
2:56:27new generation of high performance
2:56:28diaphragms. The result is exceptional
2:56:30clarity, resolution, and transient
2:56:32response. Its outstanding stiffness to
2:56:34density ratio surpasses that of
2:56:35conventional ceramic, metal, and coated
2:56:37polymer diaphragms. Interesting. While
2:56:39zone specific heat treatment further
2:56:41refineses damping performance. It also
2:56:43has patented constant flux magnetic
2:56:45circuit with up to four millimeters of
2:56:46ultralinear excursion, high damping
2:56:48asymmetrical suspension, patented
2:56:50patented multimodal acoustic absorption
2:56:52and diffusion structure behind the
2:56:54driver.
2:56:54>> Mhm.
2:56:55>> Uh there's a lot going on with this
2:56:56headphone. No wonder it took so long to
2:56:58get it right, but boy did they get it
2:56:59right. Um although the prototypes
2:57:01they've shown have been pretty
2:57:02fantastic.
2:57:03>> Yeah.
2:57:03>> This is the best one I've heard yet,
2:57:04though. Tilted acoustic matrix angles
2:57:07drivers toward the ears. These are very
2:57:09slanted drivers, like very uh angled
2:57:11drivers.
2:57:12>> Um, we'll talk about the imaging, we'll
2:57:14talk about comfort because, well, I'll
2:57:15just start with comfort. Makes for a
2:57:17very comfortable headphone because the
2:57:18cavity, because the angle is really big,
2:57:21>> like your ears fit in there easily.
2:57:23Beautifully done. All metal headband
2:57:26assembly. And that is, I will say it
2:57:28now, a gorgeous chassis.
2:57:30>> Yeah, it is
2:57:31>> very comfortable, but it is a gorgeous
2:57:33chassis. Uh, it's it's it's futuristic
2:57:36without looking overly spacey.
2:57:38>> Mhm.
2:57:39>> Um, and frankly, I think this is a
2:57:42classic design. I I think in the future
2:57:45we'll look back at this as like a
2:57:46classic design. Yeah.
2:57:47>> I think this will age extremely well.
2:57:49All metal headband assembly, 43 ohm
2:57:51impedance. The cable it comes with 1.6
2:57:53meter cable, eight strand OC, that's ono
2:57:55continuous cast silverplated copper with
2:57:57swappable terminations. Very nicely done
2:57:59with 3 and a half millimeter, 6.35
2:58:00millimeter, and 4.4 millm and XLR. Mhm.
2:58:03>> So, pretty much everything.
2:58:05>> Um, the headphone case that it comes
2:58:07with, honest headphone case. It's
2:58:08actually a very nice headphone case.
2:58:10Price 13.99. So, 1,400 bucks. I'll say
2:58:13it again. Yeah. Right now, this is
2:58:15probably one of the easiest headphones
2:58:17to recommend. Yeah.
2:58:18>> Because of its performance. This is a
2:58:19reference class headphone for,400 bucks.
2:58:22How does it sound?
2:58:24Outstanding. Um, I would describe its
2:58:27bass as I it so it's it has some bass
2:58:29emphasis, but what's really special
2:58:31about the bass considering this is an
2:58:33open back dynamic headphone. This is an
2:58:35open back headphone.
2:58:37>> The bass I haven't measured so I don't
2:58:38really know how the how it measures but
2:58:40there is when you hit the low low stuff
2:58:42like the subbase stuff.
2:58:44>> Then you get like it's like it has a
2:58:45subwoofer. Yeah.
2:58:46>> Then it hits hard and there's
2:58:48physicality, right? But it but the bass
2:58:50overall to my ears is not I would not
2:58:54call this a bassy headphone per se.
2:58:56>> No.
2:58:56>> Um in terms of the balance, but it has
2:58:58beautiful impact and especially when
2:59:00that low stuff hits. Holy moly. Um the
2:59:03mids are beautiful. Clean bell clear.
2:59:05>> Mhm.
2:59:06>> And the highs are very present. This is
2:59:08it's like,
2:59:10>> how can I describe this? It's kind of
2:59:11like a smooth tonality overall with
2:59:14tremendous articulation.
2:59:16>> Yep. Um uh it's it this is not a very
2:59:18forward sounding headphone. It's just
2:59:20beautifully balanced frankly and it
2:59:23images beautifully probably owing to,
2:59:25you know, maybe in large part to those
2:59:27angle drivers.
2:59:29But yeah, honestly, it's a reference
2:59:31class headphone for $1,400.
2:59:34There will be lines at Can Jam for this
2:59:37for the AR9000 because the prototypes
2:59:39have have gotten a lot of attention as
2:59:41well, but this final production version,
2:59:42there will be lines for it. And I think
2:59:44the demand for it is going to be so
2:59:45long. There'll be lines to buy it.
2:59:48Fantastic headphone. One of the easiest
2:59:49to recommend. It will be at Can Jam. The
2:59:51AR9000 is something else.
2:59:54>> Anybody looking at the screen right now
2:59:55might be thinking, "What the heck is he
2:59:57holding?" Well, this is the A45, and it
2:59:59reminds me of headphones of old.
3:00:01Specifically, two models come to mind.
3:00:03Uh, a lot of headphones that have been
3:00:04around for a while might remember the
3:00:06cost KSC 35 and KSC75.
3:00:09This reminds me a lot of those because
3:00:10they're both clip-on style headphones.
3:00:12Now, Alan calls these reference openback
3:00:14clip-on headphones. It is an on-ear
3:00:16design, which is also something we don't
3:00:18see a lot of anymore. Nope.
3:00:20>> And it does remind me of those cost
3:00:21models. So, inside of this is a 40mm
3:00:24dynamic driver. They say that it has a
3:00:26W-shaped biopiber composite diaphragm.
3:00:28And in their words, the 40mm W-shaped
3:00:31diaphragm increases the vibration area
3:00:33by approximately 70% compared to
3:00:35conventional clip-on headphones. Uh, it
3:00:37has an ultra elastic long excursion
3:00:40surround, which anybody who's thinking
3:00:42about displacement means, yeah, there's
3:00:44bass here. So, we'll get to that.
3:00:45>> Uh, it has a semimemory alloy ear hook
3:00:48system. And they say semime memory
3:00:50because it only really remembers the top
3:00:52kind of right at the top. The bottom
3:00:54portion of the ear hook is rather soft
3:00:56and and pliable. Um, it's a 260 g, so
3:00:59they are a little heavier on the heavier
3:01:01side for clipon on on ears. And they're
3:01:03an 18 ohm impedance. It has swappable
3:01:05terminations, which I definitely
3:01:06appreciate. They are the cable is an
3:01:09oxygen-free copper lits cable, and those
3:01:10terminations are 3.5 millimeter and 4.4
3:01:13millimeter. Now, it's only going to run
3:01:15you 99 bucks, so it's definitely not
3:01:17going to break the bank. And that's not
3:01:19where it's only interesting. So, let's
3:01:20get to sound. So, in their words, they
3:01:22say that it's authentic, natural, and
3:01:24musical. Warm, vibrant sound that
3:01:26preserves the texture and essence of
3:01:28music across vocals, pop, light music,
3:01:31and acoustic performances. So, how does
3:01:33that sound to me? Well, to me, it
3:01:35reminds me of kind of a V-shaped
3:01:38signature. Now, I heard a very energetic
3:01:40top end, which yes, hello. And then I
3:01:43had some moderate emphasis in the low
3:01:45end, but I do want to mention here
3:01:46because it's an on ear and because it's
3:01:48a clip-on, the bass level is going to be
3:01:51very fit dependent. So, you do want to
3:01:52kind of dial in that fit. And it's also
3:01:56very snappy bass. I like that. So, it's
3:01:58it's quick and responsive. And that
3:02:01might be just, you know, when you have
3:02:02that kind of excursion, you need a quick
3:02:04driver. And I think they deliver.
3:02:05>> It has real base energy.
3:02:06>> It definitely does. Now, if you're
3:02:09looking for something maybe a little
3:02:11more energetic in the low end, uh they
3:02:13do have the ANA AC55, which is the
3:02:16upgraded model, that's going to set you
3:02:17back $219. Now, from their description,
3:02:20it's fullbodied mid and bass response,
3:02:23and it has a smooth harmonic treble. I
3:02:26tend to favor more on the aggressive
3:02:28side when it comes to treble. a little
3:02:29more energy, a little more sparkle and
3:02:31detail up top, that's why I went for the
3:02:33AC45. But anybody who's looking for
3:02:35something maybe a little more relaxed
3:02:36with a little more body down low, it
3:02:38sounds like the AC55 might be the way to
3:02:40go.
3:02:40>> Yeah, I heard both of them at I don't
3:02:43remember which Can Jam it was at one of
3:02:45the Can Jams and uh they asked me to
3:02:48listen to them. I wasn't really that
3:02:51interested in them just because, you
3:02:52know, clip-on headphones. I didn't
3:02:53expect much. Totally caught me off
3:02:55guard. They're actually
3:02:57>> quite good.
3:02:58>> Yes, they are. like way better than I
3:03:00expected. Um I don't know which I
3:03:02prefer. I mean when I consider the value
3:03:03thing, I mean in absolute terms, yes,
3:03:05the the on AC-55, but at 99 bucks, the
3:03:0845s are such a great value. Yeah, these
3:03:11are Don't Don't skip them.
3:03:14>> Yes.
3:03:14>> Because I think a lot of headers are
3:03:15going to see these at Can Jam and skip
3:03:17them. Don't be as surprised as we were.
3:03:20>> As high-end IM companies go, Noble Audio
3:03:22has pushed the envelope in some other
3:03:24directions. So, for example, like kind
3:03:27of more technology related areas like
3:03:28wireless stuff. Yeah. Uh, true wireless
3:03:31IM, wireless overear headphones. You
3:03:33might think we're holding it first blush
3:03:35some versions of the Noble Audio Focus
3:03:37Apollo overear headphones. You'd be kind
3:03:39of right. These are actually new. This
3:03:42is the Noble Audio Focus Apollo Pro. It
3:03:44will be at Can Jam. Several significant
3:03:47improvements, tuning being one of them.
3:03:48Let's get to it. So, according to Noble
3:03:50Audio, the Focus Apollo Pro is an
3:03:52upgraded version of the popular Noble
3:03:54Audio Focus Apollo. Um, they say about
3:03:56it, it has a revised tuning that brings
3:03:58improved balance, clarity, and cohesion
3:04:00for a more natural and engaging
3:04:01listening experience. I agree with that.
3:04:04We're going to get back to sound in just
3:04:05a second. Um, like the Focus Apollo,
3:04:07this is a two-driver hybrid headphone.
3:04:09On each side, there's 140mm dynamic
3:04:11driver, one 14.5mm planer magnetic
3:04:13driver in a coaxial arrangement. And
3:04:15it's based on the Focus Apollo's hybrid
3:04:17dual driver architecture. Um, so that is
3:04:19a pretty unique arrangement, this
3:04:20coaxial arrangement and that driver type
3:04:22mix and and they do such a nice job
3:04:25making it come together as one, which I
3:04:27appreciate. All right, there are three
3:04:28listening modes, ANC, transparency, and
3:04:30normal. And the ANC is quite effective,
3:04:32by the way. Transparency works very
3:04:33nice, too.
3:04:34>> Uh, five onboard microphones. And then
3:04:36you can also attach this detachable
3:04:39microphone, this boom microphone.
3:04:40>> Yes.
3:04:41>> So outgoing voice, which is very
3:04:43important to me, by the way, because I'm
3:04:44on the phone a lot and I'm on video
3:04:46conferences a lot. So, the outgoing
3:04:49voice without the boom microphone is
3:04:51good.
3:04:52>> Mhm.
3:04:52>> With the boom microphone, it's
3:04:54outstanding. So, I have the boom
3:04:56microphone. We wanted to show you what
3:04:57it looks like with it on. Um, and then
3:05:00there's hybrid ANC with noise reduction
3:05:02up to uh 35dB noise reduction.
3:05:04>> Yeah, that's outgoing noise ANC. So,
3:05:06it's cancelling the noise that's
3:05:07happening around you through the
3:05:09microphone.
3:05:09>> Right. So, if you're in a place that's
3:05:11loud, it's nice to be able to cancel
3:05:12that so that the person on the other end
3:05:14does not have to hear it.
3:05:15>> Yes. Um, it has updated and improved
3:05:17replaceable ear pads that are more
3:05:19comfortable. Yes,
3:05:20>> I I've always found the Focus Apollo
3:05:22comfortable. I will say the Focus Apollo
3:05:24Pro is more comfortable. So, that is a
3:05:27big win.
3:05:27>> Um, there's a hardware mute switch,
3:05:29which is always nice. Bluetooth 5.3 with
3:05:31the Qualcomm QCC 3084 chipset supports
3:05:34SBC, AAC, Aex, AEX HD, and LDAC. For us,
3:05:37audio file types, having the good stuff
3:05:40like those codecs is a is a big deal.
3:05:42Mhm.
3:05:43>> Multi-point connectivity for me kind of
3:05:44a big deal as well. Uh up to 80 hours of
3:05:47play time, 60 hours with ANC. So from
3:05:50the battery charging standpoint, you
3:05:51don't have to worry about it too often,
3:05:53which is a big win for me as well. Wired
3:05:55functionality has 3 and 12 millimeter
3:05:56and USBC cables. Um the 3 and 12 mm
3:05:59cable is improved with the Focus of
3:06:01Olive Pro. So that's also a nice thing
3:06:03to have.
3:06:05>> Improved, more compact carry case.
3:06:07>> Yeah.
3:06:07>> Okay. To me, that's a bigger deal than
3:06:10maybe it seems like at the outset
3:06:12because I carry so much stuff in my
3:06:13backpack. Too much stuff really. Um, so
3:06:16space is always limited. That is a nice
3:06:20compact carrying case. I am quite happy
3:06:23with it.
3:06:23>> Mhm.
3:06:24>> Um, new colors, red and blue, burgundy
3:06:27and peacock they call it. I like these
3:06:29new colorways.
3:06:30>> I do too.
3:06:31>> $699 is the price. So, the price
3:06:33increase over the Focus Apollo, in my
3:06:36opinion, it's minimal for the gains you
3:06:37get. Yeah.
3:06:38>> All right. So, here's what they say
3:06:39again. Tuning is more natural. Ear pads
3:06:42more comfortable. Carry case more usable
3:06:43and smaller cable is improved. The 3 and
3:06:45a half millimeter cable is improved. And
3:06:47on the tuning being more natural, I
3:06:49agree.
3:06:50>> Yes.
3:06:50>> So, you can tune it. Oh, we should
3:06:52mention it's compatible with the with
3:06:54the Noble Audio app. It is
3:06:55>> the the phone app. So, you can tune it.
3:06:57>> What's nice is with this, I'm happy with
3:07:01its default signature, but I do love
3:07:03that you'll be able to tune it with the
3:07:04app as well.
3:07:05>> Right. the standard Apollo. I felt like
3:07:06I pretty much had to use the EQ for
3:07:09this. I feel like it's optional.
3:07:10>> Okay. See, that's that's a high
3:07:11compliment. Yep. So, you're not
3:07:13necessarily having to take down the bass
3:07:14with these, right?
3:07:15>> All right. Good for you. [laughter] I
3:07:17like the default signature 2 right from
3:07:18the get-go. So, the Noble Audio Focus
3:07:20Apollo Pro will be at Can Jam. Don't
3:07:24mistake it for the Focus Apollo if
3:07:26you've already heard it. This is an
3:07:27improvement and it is definitely worth
3:07:28hearing. I have in my hands right now
3:07:31the Noble Audio Focus Artemis and this
3:07:34is Noble Audio's answer for anybody
3:07:36looking for a wireless audio file
3:07:38focused headphone. Now they call it a
3:07:40flagship wireless overear headphone
3:07:42which I think it is and it has an
3:07:44interesting driver configuration inside.
3:07:46There are three drivers. You have one
3:07:47dynamic driver, one planer driver which
3:07:50they say is a focus on the mid-range and
3:07:51then one BA super tweeter which has a
3:07:53focus on the highs. It comes with
3:07:55Bluetooth 6.0 you know, with Aptex
3:07:57adaptive and LDAC, which is nice. And
3:07:59there's active noise cancellation and
3:08:01transparency modes. And this is
3:08:02interesting. It does have user
3:08:04controllable variable ANC, so you can
3:08:06set different levels of ANC. And that's
3:08:08all managed with six integrated
3:08:10microphones. You get up to 35 hours with
3:08:13ANC on a battery life, and up to 55
3:08:15hours with the A&C turned off. And it's
3:08:17a 1.5 hour full charge. It has a user
3:08:21replaceable battery, which I definitely
3:08:22appreciate. It's going to help prevent
3:08:23these headphones from in winding up in a
3:08:25landfill as e-waste in a couple of
3:08:27years. And it has an IP52 rating. It has
3:08:30multipoint connectivity, USB audio
3:08:32support, so you can use it digitally out
3:08:34of a device like a laptop or a portable
3:08:36phone or something. And has no mobile
3:08:38audio focus app compatibility as well.
3:08:40So that comes with audio do hearing
3:08:42personalization, so you can tune it to
3:08:43your specific hearing. It comes with two
3:08:46USB cables. One is a USBC to USBC cable.
3:08:49The other is a 3.5 millimeter to USBC
3:08:52cable. So, it's like an ADC cable to
3:08:54plug into your analog devices.
3:08:55>> That is pretty cool.
3:08:56>> That is cool. And then the price, it's
3:08:58going to run you $899.
3:09:00Now, uh they describe the sound as a
3:09:02sound signature with strong bass
3:09:04presence, articulate mids, and extended
3:09:06detail across the frequency range. And
3:09:08when I heard that, when they said strong
3:09:09bass presence, I actually expected more
3:09:11bass than I got when I was listening to
3:09:13it. I will admit that I did I did still
3:09:16end up going into the app and bringing
3:09:17down the bass a tiny bit, a few dB here
3:09:19and there. That's great.
3:09:20>> Um, but it sounds phenomenal and the ANC
3:09:23is great on it too. Realistically, you
3:09:25know, they're looking to turn this into
3:09:27the headphone that somebody who just
3:09:28wants audio file wireless convenience.
3:09:32This is their, you know, their answer to
3:09:33that question. You know, what what can
3:09:35that sound like? And I think it's a
3:09:36great answer.
3:09:37>> Yeah. Because there are other uh
3:09:38wireless headphones kind of leading up
3:09:39to this one where maybe more for on
3:09:41the-go use, right? Yeah. uh uh like on
3:09:43the- go with audio file sensibilities.
3:09:45This is like audio file headphone with
3:09:47and you that you can use on the go, but
3:09:49I feel like this is definitely
3:09:51>> uh well, it's their best sounding
3:09:53wireless headphone I've heard so far.
3:09:54>> Yeah, you're right. The Apollo and the
3:09:55Apollo Pro sound great, but I think the
3:09:57Focus Artemis is just the answer to what
3:10:00if we go all out.
3:10:01>> Yeah, I agree with you on the bass. Um I
3:10:03I actually love the bass presentation. I
3:10:05would say it's a little bit emphasized.
3:10:06Sure. Uh like but it's like audio file
3:10:08emphasized if you know what I mean. I
3:10:09love the overall tuning. It's very
3:10:11balanced and I love how they take these
3:10:13three drivers, the dynamic driver,
3:10:14planer driver, and the BA super tweeter
3:10:16and they sound as one. So beautifully
3:10:19executed headphone. This is their most
3:10:21audio file wireless headphone for sure.
3:10:22>> Yeah. And it's a must here at Can Jam.
3:10:25>> This is the RAW 1995.
3:10:27This is easily one of the best
3:10:30headphones I've ever heard for my tastes
3:10:32at any price in my whole life. It is
3:10:35that good. It is that resolving that
3:10:36fast. Um, it is also, and I've been
3:10:39around hi-fi a long time, a long long
3:10:40time. The RAW 1995 Amanus is also among
3:10:44the most resolving transducers of any
3:10:45type I've ever heard in my life.
3:10:47>> Uh, uh, and we're talking headphone,
3:10:50like overear headphone, which this is,
3:10:51IM, uh, loudspeakers. Uh, it it is just
3:10:56so incredibly resolving. What is it? The
3:10:58RAW 1995 Amanus is an open back ribbon
3:11:00driver headphone. It uses RAW 1995's
3:11:03next generation triple true ribbon
3:11:04driver. Uh they call it true ribbon R3
3:11:07driver. So that means on each side there
3:11:09are three ribbons which you can clearly
3:11:11see on the inside of the ear cup.
3:11:12>> Yeah.
3:11:13>> Now their first generation ribbon
3:11:15headphone was from years back. It was
3:11:17the RA requisite
3:11:19um SR1A.
3:11:20>> Mhm.
3:11:20>> We both remember that headphone.
3:11:22>> Yeah.
3:11:22>> Uh I remember hearing it. For me it was
3:11:24like a ribbon proof of concept for me
3:11:27because I was I think that was the first
3:11:28ribbon driver headphone I'd heard.
3:11:30>> It was for me too. Yeah.
3:11:31>> Yeah. Exceedingly fast. I remember that.
3:11:33Um, and I remember that it had a quirky
3:11:36form factor and and somewhat there was
3:11:38some quirkiness in the tonal balance for
3:11:39me that would keep it from being a daily
3:11:41driver for me.
3:11:42>> A couple generations later, they get to
3:11:44this Ammonus. I still can't believe how
3:11:46far they've come and they make what is
3:11:48one of the best sounding headphones I've
3:11:49ever heard. Like such a complete
3:11:51sounding headphone. We'll get to that
3:11:52shortly. All right. It's constructed
3:11:55with glass fiber and aluminum finished
3:11:57with American walnut wood. Um, it's a
3:11:59gorgeous design.
3:12:00>> Yeah,
3:12:00>> it is a gorgeous design. It looks new
3:12:02and old school at the same time. And
3:12:04there's some like European looking
3:12:06craftsmanship like the the detail work
3:12:08around the edging. And this is um a 30th
3:12:11anniversary edition model we have here
3:12:13uh with a gold band and I think and then
3:12:15engraving on the top for 30th
3:12:16anniversary. I think it's mostly an
3:12:18aesthetic thing I believe so. Yeah. The
3:12:21memory foam ear pads are covered with
3:12:23lamb suede on the inside. Exceedingly
3:12:25soft and comfortable. Uh and perforated
3:12:27leather on the outside and the openings,
3:12:28the round openings are very large. So
3:12:30even the larger eared headfires among us
3:12:32should rejoice. The ammanis will
3:12:34probably be comfortable for all of you
3:12:35as well. Uh now the impedance something
3:12:37you're going to see in the specs but
3:12:38that has to be discussed.
3:12:39>> Yeah.
3:12:40>> Is 0.057
3:12:42ohm. So essentially a short circuit
3:12:44>> to most headphone amplifiers. Um there
3:12:47are amplifiers made specifically to
3:12:49drive the IMANS. We don't have any of
3:12:52those. So how did we listen to it? Um
3:12:54with that. So on the table we have
3:12:56something called uh the IMANSUS RCD
3:12:59interface. RCD stands for ribbon current
3:13:01drive and that presents the amplifier
3:13:05with a 32 ohm load that it's comfortable
3:13:06with and then feeds the Amanus with a
3:13:08load that it's comfortable with. So it's
3:13:09an interface between your headphone amp
3:13:11and the Amanus. It comes with a hard
3:13:14shell aluminum case. I only mention it
3:13:15because it's a gorgeous case.
3:13:17>> Um now we have to talk about like there
3:13:18are a couple different packages in
3:13:20general like that you can buy. There's a
3:13:22a standard package. Um, I won't go over
3:13:24that in detail, but it's about $115,000.
3:13:27We're going to talk about the one we
3:13:28have here, which is the more premium
3:13:29package. That's about $15,300,
3:13:32$15,400. So, it's significantly more
3:13:34expensive,
3:13:35>> but it comes with upgraded cables. So,
3:13:37the premium package, the more premium
3:13:38package comes with star12 silver RCD
3:13:41interface to headphone cables, uh,
3:13:43cable, and then a star silver RCD to XLR
3:13:46amp to interface cable. This is all part
3:13:49of the upgrade. And Alexander from Ry
3:13:52tells me this is all part of why it
3:13:54sounds better.
3:13:54>> But
3:13:55>> but maybe most key among the upgrades is
3:13:58the RCD. I think it looks a lot like the
3:14:00standard one,
3:14:01>> I believe. So, yeah.
3:14:02>> Um, but I've seen the inside of it. It
3:14:03is it is different. Um, the upgraded
3:14:06premium RCD
3:14:09has the the ribbon current drive uh has
3:14:12silver multistrand coaxial windings
3:14:14inside. And I've seen the inside of it.
3:14:16It's actually gorgeous. Now, I heard it
3:14:18at Canjam Singapore 2025 with this with
3:14:20the upgraded RCD and cables.
3:14:23>> Um, for the first time, I asked
3:14:25Alexander, "What did you change?" Um,
3:14:27because I figured maybe they upgraded
3:14:29the headphone as well, right? It sounded
3:14:30richer in tone
3:14:32>> and even more resolving. It just sounded
3:14:34better.
3:14:35>> And he said, "No, it's it's the upgraded
3:14:37RCD and cables." I was like, "Get out of
3:14:39here." I mean, you know, and so so we
3:14:41did a little bit back and forth between
3:14:43headphones that were one with the
3:14:45standard RCD, one with the upgraded one.
3:14:48>> But then it was at uh High-End Munich or
3:14:50Munich high-end 2025
3:14:53>> that I spent quite a lot of time at the
3:14:55RAW 1995 exhibit with Alexander. And
3:14:57what we did is we took the same
3:15:00headphones, same amplifier, and just
3:15:02swapped the RCDs between them with with
3:15:03the upgraded cables.
3:15:06And again, richer in tone, more
3:15:08resolving, just better. But now I'm
3:15:11using the same headphones, so I'm
3:15:12hearing the difference between the
3:15:13premium package and the more standard
3:15:15package. Is it worth it? It is
3:15:16significantly more expensive. Even
3:15:18without the premium package, it's one of
3:15:21the most resolving best headphones I've
3:15:22ever heard.
3:15:23>> With the premium package, it's simply
3:15:26it's just better still. What does it
3:15:28sound like to me? Uh
3:15:32it it is a to my taste I would say it's
3:15:35a more neutral
3:15:37sounding exceedingly resolving
3:15:41rich in tone when needed.
3:15:43>> Mhm.
3:15:44>> And when called for tonal balance it is
3:15:47just so thoroughly good and complete.
3:15:49That's just the best way I can explain
3:15:50it.
3:15:52And it is again one of the best sounding
3:15:54headphones I've ever heard in my life.
3:15:56What have I been using it with? I've
3:15:57been using it with thema HPA1. Um, I
3:16:00tried it with the ZMF Aegis, which was
3:16:03beautiful.
3:16:04>> Um, that actually was a nice, lovely,
3:16:06romantic sounding pairing with it, but I
3:16:09love it with the ODMA HPA1. Um, because
3:16:13I love using the Eliza circuit with it.
3:16:15Um, and so to me, yeah, I'm in heaven
3:16:20with these. So, at Can Jam,
3:16:23make sure not to miss the RAM 1995
3:16:25Amanis if you want to hear what I think
3:16:28is one of the best sounding headphones
3:16:29ever made at any price.
3:16:32And if you have a chance, make sure to
3:16:34to try the difference between the
3:16:35standard and the premium edition. If you
3:16:37know you can't make the stretch for the
3:16:38premium edition, maybe don't do that.
3:16:40[laughter] But don't miss the Amanis at
3:16:42Canjam. Now, RAW 1995 will have another
3:16:44headphone at Canjam in the RA 1995 Magna
3:16:48Evo 1. They first revealed that it can
3:16:50jam Singapore 2026 where I heard it and
3:16:53loved it. We'll talk about that in a
3:16:55second. Uh it uses a newly developed
3:16:57R2E1 or R squared E1 dual ribbon driver
3:17:00system. Now we don't have it here
3:17:01unfortunately. I so wish we did because
3:17:03I remember enjoying the heck out of it
3:17:04KJM Singapore. All right, so we have
3:17:06some quotes from Alexander from RAW
3:17:081995. Let's read these. He says, "The
3:17:10original Magna has a very tight and
3:17:12punchy upper base which I kept but added
3:17:14the oomph at the bottom. So, this one
3:17:16has a nice bottom that seamlessly
3:17:17extends into upper bass, lower mid, and
3:17:19onwards. I agree. That's exactly what I
3:17:22heard. It does have some more punch and
3:17:24some more richness down low. That speaks
3:17:27beautifully to me and my tastes. All
3:17:29right. He also says, "The Magna OG, the
3:17:31original, was appreciated for more
3:17:33intimate mid-range than lushier Iman."
3:17:35He is referring to their flagship. So,
3:17:38that was one of its strong points in
3:17:39that comparison. So, I added more of
3:17:41that to the Magna Evo 1, but not in the
3:17:43Magna OG way. I think I know what he's
3:17:46saying. It's a little confusing, but I
3:17:47think I understand what he's saying
3:17:48there. Okay. He also says it is even
3:17:50more intimate but with larger character
3:17:51of vocals that better connect to bass
3:17:53and low mids. Agreed. So, yeah, this is
3:17:56he's describing what I'm remembering.
3:17:58Um, he also said the upper mid low
3:18:01treble range is now subdued a little,
3:18:03just enough, still present and lively,
3:18:05but brought down just enough so it
3:18:07doesn't emphasize sheer speed of
3:18:08ribbons, which helps for overly bright
3:18:10recordings and or deck amps and makes a
3:18:12generally warmer and smoother
3:18:13presentation. Again, I totally agree
3:18:16with it. I loved this headphone. So, I'm
3:18:19an Amus user. We have an Amus here. Love
3:18:21it. It's one of the most resolving
3:18:22headphones of any type at any price I've
3:18:25ever used. Um, it is not a forgiving
3:18:28headphone.
3:18:28>> No,
3:18:29>> this Magna Evo 1, I wouldn't call this
3:18:31like the most forgiving headphone I've
3:18:32heard. Not even close. Uh, because it's
3:18:34still ultra resolving, but it is
3:18:36certainly more forgiving than the
3:18:37Amanis. Frankly, I think Oh, I want to
3:18:39add this note by the way, since we're
3:18:40talking about the Amanus. Alexander also
3:18:42says, "No plans on touching Manus at
3:18:44all. It will remain a flagship as is."
3:18:46>> Oh, yeah. So, anybody that has the
3:18:48Amanus doesn't have to worry about them
3:18:49doing an EVO one version of that.
3:18:51>> The Ammanis stays the Amanis. Yeah.
3:18:53Which mean, you know what that means? It
3:18:54means I think a lot of Emanus users are
3:18:56also going to buy the Magna Evo1 to have
3:18:58like Yeah. to have like another flavor.
3:19:00>> Yeah,
3:19:01>> I would love to have one of those in
3:19:03addition to the Manus. It's just
3:19:04fantastic. I enjoyed the heck out of it
3:19:06at KJM Singapore. I can't wait to hear
3:19:08it again. It will be at Can Jam. Do not
3:19:10miss the Magna Magna Evo 1. Now, while
3:19:14you're waiting to try the new RAW 1995
3:19:15headphones because let's be honest,
3:19:17there's probably going to be a line.
3:19:19Something interesting at KJM SoCal is
3:19:20RAW 1995 is teaming up with Mimic Audio
3:19:23for their room. So while you're in
3:19:25there, you're going to have access to
3:19:26all the stuff Mimic Audio has. For
3:19:27example, they're going to have that new
3:19:29Nurmonia, which is a headphone that I
3:19:31know very little about, but I have seen
3:19:32a lot of people talking about on the
3:19:34forums, so I want to get in there and
3:19:35try it myself.
3:19:36>> So do I. So the Nurmonia Harmonia is
3:19:38something I want to try. But what I also
3:19:40love about Mimic Audio's exhibit
3:19:42>> is it's always for me, Yeah. I mean, I'm
3:19:44obviously involved in this industry and
3:19:47yet somehow going into Mimic Audios
3:19:49exhibit, I'm seeing things I've never
3:19:51even heard of before or ever seen
3:19:53>> and I love that. So, going into Mimic
3:19:54Audios exhibit to me at Can Jam is
3:19:56always exploration and discovery. So, I
3:20:00will definitely make sure to venture in
3:20:01there.
3:20:02>> This is the Dan Clark Audio AON core.
3:20:05This will be at K Jam and I think it's
3:20:07going to be one of the stronger value
3:20:08products at all of Kangjam. Um, we did a
3:20:11video about the Dan Clark Audio Aon
3:20:14Core. Really, what it is is an interview
3:20:15with Dan Clark.
3:20:16>> Yeah.
3:20:16>> Where he talks in quite some detail
3:20:19about this headphone and the research
3:20:20behind it and what goes into this
3:20:22headphone. So, make sure to check that
3:20:23out. It's on our YouTube channel, of
3:20:25course, and and on Headvi on our
3:20:26website. All right, let's talk about
3:20:28what it is. The Aon Core is a closedback
3:20:30planer magnetic headphone. Um, they say
3:20:32it's Dan Clark Audio's first headphone
3:20:33tuned to a revised Harmon overear target
3:20:36developed through research with Dr.
3:20:37Shawn Olive. Now, now Dan goes into
3:20:40quite some detail about that research.
3:20:42For those of you who didn't know, Dan
3:20:43Clark did research that was published
3:20:45with Shawn Olive, and that research has
3:20:48strongly informed the sound, the tuning
3:20:51of the AON core.
3:20:53>> Um, I should also mention that uh it's a
3:20:55direct successor to the AON 2. Anyway,
3:20:57for more on the research, make sure to
3:20:59watch our video about it. Uh, has an
3:21:00allnew driver using materials they've
3:21:02never used before. This is something
3:21:03else Dan talks about in the video.
3:21:05engineered for maximum efficiency and it
3:21:07sounds fantastic, too. So, we'll get to
3:21:09that. An aluminum chassis that's quite
3:21:10simplified. It doesn't have the
3:21:11collapsible gimbal, um, but it's it
3:21:14feels like a Dan Clark headphone. An
3:21:16aluminum chassis with a titanium
3:21:17headband with self- adjusting suspension
3:21:19strap. If you're familiar with Dan
3:21:20Clark's headphones, you know how
3:21:21comfortable they are. This feels like a
3:21:22Dan Clark headphone. They say it's Dan
3:21:24Clark Audio's most easily driven
3:21:26headphone to date. Uh, sensitivity is
3:21:28rated at 97 dibels at a millatt.
3:21:31>> Um, so it's quite sensitive. Um, 17 ohm
3:21:33impedance. Uh, it uses Dan Clark audio
3:21:36aon ear pads. Again, an exceedingly
3:21:37comfortable headphone. I find Dan
3:21:39Clark's headphones exceedingly
3:21:40comfortable. And this is uh 440 grams is
3:21:43the weight. Distributed beautifully over
3:21:44my head. I can wear this for hours and
3:21:46have uh the cable, the stock cable comes
3:21:48with uh Dan Clark Audio's dumber dumber
3:21:51cable. That's what they call it. Du m.
3:21:54And then there is an upgrade capable an
3:21:56upgrade cable available called uh the
3:21:57Dan Clark Audio Vivo cable. That would
3:22:00be an additional cost. Um, the price
3:22:02with the stock cable, $899.99.
3:22:05Um, I Okay, that's not cheap.
3:22:08>> No.
3:22:08>> But as Dan Clark audio headphones go and
3:22:10for the performance you get, I think it
3:22:12is a fantastic bargain. I love the value
3:22:15for the price with the Dan Clark Audio
3:22:17Aon Core.
3:22:18>> So again, make sure to watch the video
3:22:20to learn more about what goes into it,
3:22:23the materials, the research. Okay, now
3:22:25let's talk about the sound. This to me
3:22:27is probably Dan Clark Audios for my to
3:22:31my ears most neutral headphone to date.
3:22:33And that's saying something given that I
3:22:36think a lot of people would describe Dan
3:22:38Clark Audios headphones as among the
3:22:40most neutral line of headphones
3:22:42available period.
3:22:43>> This I think might be they're the most
3:22:45neutral. So for example, the closedback
3:22:47Stealth, that's their closedback
3:22:49flagship. Still one of my favorite
3:22:50closedback headphones. Um, that's a a
3:22:54richer tuning to me than this, but still
3:22:56on the neutral side, the richer side of
3:22:58my neutrality range. This is just on the
3:23:01neutral side of my neutrality range.
3:23:02What do you think?
3:23:03>> I agree.
3:23:04>> Yes. And and so um I find the Stealth to
3:23:07be um more to my tuning, right? Because
3:23:10it has that richer tone.
3:23:11>> You probably find this to be more to
3:23:13your tuning, which I think most people
3:23:14who would prefer like more neutral
3:23:15headphones would.
3:23:16>> Um but I will say the Stealth is more
3:23:20resolving than this. Mhm.
3:23:21>> But this gets way closer than it should.
3:23:23>> Yeah.
3:23:24>> Way closer than it should for the price.
3:23:25Imaging, it also gets closer than it
3:23:27should. I'll give the edge to the
3:23:28Stealth there as well. But the AON core
3:23:31at 900 bucks, I mean, the Stealth is
3:23:34like multiple times the price,
3:23:35>> right?
3:23:36>> Gets way closer than it should. So, I
3:23:39think with those looking for a strong
3:23:41value in the audio file world, they're
3:23:43going to love this headphone. Um, it's
3:23:45just a beautiful headphone to listen to.
3:23:46Very musical as well. So, it's neutral,
3:23:48but very musical. But I also think it's
3:23:50going to find a lot of favor with the
3:23:53professional audio types
3:23:54>> because I think it's on the like the the
3:23:57higher side of the premium priced
3:23:59headphones in the studio market, but
3:24:01it's so neutral and resolving that I
3:24:03think it will find popularity there. Um
3:24:05yeah, so a Can make sure not to miss the
3:24:08Dan Clark Audio Aon and make sure to
3:24:10watch our video about it. Now, a lot of
3:24:12the headfires know the name Doneyi Audio
3:24:14as a company that creates a lot of
3:24:16aftermarket premium accessories for
3:24:18their favorite headphones and IM. And
3:24:20I'm going to start with something near
3:24:21and dear to my heart at Can Jam, which
3:24:23is gaming. This is the Maxwell 2 from
3:24:25Odyssey, and it has the new Dacone Audio
3:24:28Maxwell 2 sheepkin ear pads on this.
3:24:30Now, Done Audio says, "Crafted from
3:24:32premium materials with expert stitching,
3:24:34these ear pads deliver superior comfort
3:24:36during extended gaming sessions while
3:24:38enhancing overall sound quality and
3:24:40durability." Again, this is sheep skin.
3:24:42It's also available in a midnight
3:24:43finish, which is a protein leather. Uh
3:24:45pricing, you're looking at $34.99 for
3:24:47the Midnight and $79.99 for the sheep
3:24:50skin. So, when I pop these on the
3:24:52Maxwell 2, right away, I noticed a huge
3:24:55improvement in comfort. So, the default
3:24:57Maxwell 2 pads are angled and it it
3:25:00doesn't bother me, but it might bother a
3:25:02couple people out there, but my ears do
3:25:03slightly touch the inside mesh of the
3:25:05pad. I don't have that with this. And it
3:25:08also is because it's deeper, it's more
3:25:09plush now because it is also
3:25:13flat pad as opposed to angle, which is
3:25:14going to change the sound stage a little
3:25:16bit. And this brings a good deal more
3:25:18bass in my experience. So, I love the EQ
3:25:21functionality to tune some of that back
3:25:22out. But, if you're a bass lover, you're
3:25:23going to pop these right on and feel
3:25:24right at home. especially with Odyssey's
3:25:26Slam. Um, I also want to mention because
3:25:29when it comes to the Maxwell headphones
3:25:30specifically in my household, we have
3:25:33the Maxwell One and that is a headphone
3:25:35that my wife uses probably 40 hours a
3:25:38week for the past I can't remember how
3:25:40many years ever since the the velour
3:25:42pads for the Maxwell One came out and we
3:25:45can tell you they are durable. So, it's
3:25:47used both in work and for gaming. So,
3:25:50>> say 40 40 hours of gaming. [laughter]
3:25:52>> No, not that much gaming. but she uses
3:25:54them daily for conference calls. So,
3:25:56it's it's a fantastic option for your
3:25:58Odyssey Maxwell and Maxwell 2
3:26:00headphones. So, at Canam, you have to
3:26:02check it out. Now, one more addition
3:26:04that Daconia Audio is adding to their
3:26:06lineup is new connectors for their Don
3:26:08Audio Ensemble cable series. Now, we've
3:26:10talked about Ensemble before. It's a
3:26:12modular swappable cable system that has
3:26:15this Y-split that disconnects and you
3:26:16can swap between different tops and
3:26:18bottoms of the cables, giving you more
3:26:19flexibility with what you connect to it.
3:26:21So the Done Audio modular cable system
3:26:24has again that custom design splitter
3:26:26and it comes in multiple cable options.
3:26:28So you have a entrylevel blue nylon
3:26:31wrapped cable. You have a high purity
3:26:33silverplated copper cable and what I
3:26:35have currently connected to the Dan
3:26:36Clark audio AON core here which is a PCU
3:26:39HD copper cable. So that stands for pure
3:26:42copper ultra high draw ability. So those
3:26:44new connectors, for example, this has
3:26:46the Dan Clark audio high-rise connectors
3:26:48which they didn't have before. And
3:26:49they've also recently added the four pin
3:26:51XLR, which I know is a feature that a
3:26:53lot of people have been asking for. That
3:26:55now comes in this PU PCU HD copper. Uh
3:26:59the cables start at $79.99 for a full
3:27:03pair. And if you only need one portion
3:27:05of the cable, it's even less expensive.
3:27:07So if you already have a copper cable
3:27:08and you just want to get the high-ros
3:27:09connectors for yours, just purchase
3:27:11those, swap them out. I love the
3:27:12modularity.
3:27:13>> I love the Ensemble cables because
3:27:15they've saved my hide here a number of
3:27:16times.
3:27:17>> Yeah, they have. Because we, it's crazy
3:27:19here at HeadFi HQ, we have so many
3:27:20headphones and you think we have tons of
3:27:22headphone cables, but finding them can
3:27:24be a bear. Sometimes we do misplace
3:27:26things and the ensemble cables for some
3:27:28reason can always be found and then we
3:27:30can adapt it to pretty much everything
3:27:32we have here, which is fantastic.
3:27:33>> Yeah, they've come in clutch a number of
3:27:35times and anybody can now check them out
3:27:36at Can Jam. That's still not everything
3:27:38Done Audio is going to be known for at
3:27:40Can Jam SoCal this year because they
3:27:41have a couple of announcements that I
3:27:43want to mention. Some of these are
3:27:44really fantastic deals. So, let's get
3:27:45straight to it. First up, Grell the OEE2
3:27:48that we've talked about. That headphone
3:27:50is going to be on sale for $200 off. So,
3:27:52when you think about it, it's a $599
3:27:54retail headphone, $3.99 at Done Audios
3:27:57exhibit.
3:27:57>> Wow. That's the first I'm hearing of it.
3:27:58That's that's a huge deal.
3:27:59>> Yeah, that's an insane deal. And the
3:28:01deals continue with Western Audio and
3:28:03Atotics EM. They're going to have the
3:28:05entire lineup for both at 40% off every
3:28:08single model in the families. That's
3:28:10insane as well. Uh it's also the return
3:28:12of Done Audio's accessory shop. So, if
3:28:14you have IM and headphones that you want
3:28:16to accessorize, new cases, new tips, new
3:28:18cables, whatever, bring them to their
3:28:20exhibit because they're going to have a
3:28:21full lineup of accessories for people to
3:28:22pair with their favorite headphones.
3:28:24>> I want to be clear about that. Their
3:28:25their exhibit is essentially a store.
3:28:27>> Yeah. They're building a store.
3:28:28>> They like literally build a store at the
3:28:30show. Yeah. And it's actually
3:28:31incredible. It's a really cool
3:28:32experience.
3:28:33>> Yep. And when you stop in to check out
3:28:34their store, they're also going to have
3:28:36the headphone sample sale. So, Done
3:28:38Audio obviously needs headphones to
3:28:39develop pads and accessories for them.
3:28:41Well, they're going to have their
3:28:42samples that they use in development.
3:28:43Those are going to be available for
3:28:44sale. I think they also have some used
3:28:46secondhand headphones available for
3:28:47purchase. Those deals I don't expect are
3:28:49going to last very long because they
3:28:50don't have very many of each if they
3:28:52have multiples and their pricing is
3:28:53usually pretty awesome.
3:28:54>> Yeah, they're going to go fast.
3:28:55>> Yeah, they definitely are. They're also
3:28:57going to have new Alpine pads for Sony's
3:28:59WH100XM6.
3:29:01Now, what's interesting about this is
3:29:03they don't describe it as like a cooling
3:29:05gel type pad. They've actually explained
3:29:07in a couple of places about a
3:29:09multi-layer cooling system that they've
3:29:11developed inside the pad. I want to see
3:29:13how that applies in person because when
3:29:15you think about the XM6, it's a great
3:29:17travel headphone, but when you're
3:29:19wearing it for a while, it can get kind
3:29:20of warm. So, definitely cool.
3:29:22>> I'd like to try that on like a
3:29:23trans-pacific flight. Yeah.
3:29:24>> You know, like a really long flight.
3:29:25>> Yeah, I want to try that, too. And then
3:29:27one last thing I want to mention, I
3:29:29mentioned the Ensemble cable. They're
3:29:30also going to have additional new
3:29:32terminations for the Ensemble family.
3:29:33For example, a lot of guys out there
3:29:35have been asking for the HD800, but
3:29:37terminated on the PCUHD copper cable.
3:29:40that is now available as well as many
3:29:42others. So when you stop by the Coney
3:29:44Audios exhibit, make sure to spend some
3:29:45time there because I think you're going
3:29:47to be spending quite a bit.
3:29:48>> This is the Sennheiser Momentum 5
3:29:50Wireless. This is a beautiful time to be
3:29:53a wireless audio file.
3:29:54>> Yep.
3:29:54>> Uh you know, when I think back like 10
3:29:56plus years ago, you know, we we we we
3:29:58were looking forward to better wireless
3:29:59products for audio files. We're getting
3:30:01them. This is one of them. So love this
3:30:03headphone. Uses highfidelity 42mm
3:30:05dynamic drivers. Sennheiser says it's
3:30:07their best ever. Yeah,
3:30:10>> I will say it. It's their best everc
3:30:12active noise cancelling. All new hybrid
3:30:14adaptive active noise cancellation with
3:30:16eight advanced MEMS microphones, four
3:30:18per side.
3:30:19>> That is a lot of microphones.
3:30:20>> That's a lot of microphones and they're
3:30:21using them to great effect uh for the
3:30:23ANC. Also, beautiful outgoing voice
3:30:25quality. Yeah, which for me is it's
3:30:27immensely important because I'm always
3:30:29on the phone or in meetings um using my
3:30:31headphones. Um
3:30:32>> transparency mode, the best transparency
3:30:34mode I think from Sennheiser so far.
3:30:36automatic wind noise suppression. So,
3:30:38very nice for on the- go and travel.
3:30:40Days of battery life, they say up to 57
3:30:42hours per charge, and that's a lot of
3:30:44battery life. I do sometimes let my
3:30:47batteries run kind of dry. Um, so I love
3:30:50that it has 10-minute quick charge that
3:30:51gives 7 hours of use. Um, I' I've had
3:30:54that happen to me. Not with these yet.
3:30:56I've kept these charged, but when you're
3:30:57on like a Trans-Pacific flight, you run
3:30:59your battery dry. I have used that quick
3:31:01charge feature on other headphones. Nice
3:31:03to have.
3:31:04>> Bluetooth 5.4. Very nice. It gets nicer.
3:31:07I'll get to that in a second. This has
3:31:09AEX adaptive and AEX lossless. Very nice
3:31:11to have that.
3:31:13>> But the part that's better, it's ready
3:31:15for Bluetooth 6.0 via firmware.
3:31:17>> Yeah, I think that's sweet that they're
3:31:18basically futurep proofing it for the
3:31:19next generation of Bluetooth.
3:31:20>> Yes, I love that they're doing that.
3:31:22>> Yep.
3:31:22>> Dolby Atmos spatial audio with head
3:31:24tracking
3:31:25>> with this. That's fantastic. Accessories
3:31:28carrying case that they say is 20%
3:31:30smaller.
3:31:31>> Yep. It's also I'll say it my favorite
3:31:34um like travel wireless headphone case
3:31:36period.
3:31:37>> Yeah.
3:31:37>> Because it's like super slim without
3:31:40being like hard to close like some of
3:31:41them can be like you know like no room
3:31:43for error. It's it's it's not like that.
3:31:45It's it's easy to close and it has like
3:31:47a built-in handle indentation.
3:31:49>> Yeah. Easy to grab.
3:31:50>> Yeah. Which makes it super easy to grab
3:31:51and carry. Um USBC charging cable. Um
3:31:55you can use this in USBC mode like USBC
3:31:57DAC mode as well. Uh 2 and a half
3:31:59millime to 3 and a half millimeter wired
3:32:00cable as well. Compatible with smart
3:32:02control plus app. Um which is nice
3:32:04because you can control it, EQ it. We'll
3:32:06get back to that in a second. Colorways,
3:32:08black, denim, and white. This is denim.
3:32:11This is my favorite of those three
3:32:12colorways. I love this color. So 400
3:32:15bucks. Well, $399.95.
3:32:17400 bucks. Um I think this is a great
3:32:20value. Yeah, in that space. This is
3:32:21super competitive with like the best of
3:32:23the ANC headphones
3:32:25>> and it has Sennheiser sound signature
3:32:27that I love. Uh so this is probably my
3:32:30favorite travel what was certainly
3:32:32probably one of my two favorite travel
3:32:33headphones right now.
3:32:34>> Yeah.
3:32:34>> Um inspired, this is what they say,
3:32:37inspired by the famed HD600 series
3:32:39headphones and tuned for full bodied
3:32:41sound with dynamic bass. I agree
3:32:42especially with that second part because
3:32:44it is a full-bodied sound. Um I would
3:32:46say you know they have another model
3:32:47that's wireless called the HDB630.
3:32:50>> Yep. um that's kind of like their
3:32:52flagship dedicated audio file wireless
3:32:54headphone. Um I prefer this one for
3:32:57daily use and for my lifestyle um
3:32:59because it's more suited for travel,
3:33:00better ANC and things like that. Um but
3:33:03whereas the HDB 630 I'd say is on the
3:33:05more neutral side for a wireless
3:33:07consumer headphone.
3:33:09>> This is a little more rich in tone, but
3:33:12you can EQ it.
3:33:13>> Yeah.
3:33:13>> Okay. Getting back to the Smart Control
3:33:14Plus app. With the HDB 630, you do get a
3:33:17parametric EQ. with this. It's an eightb
3:33:20graphic EQ.
3:33:21>> To be honest with you, I think a lot of
3:33:22people find graphic EQ is just a lot
3:33:24easier to use.
3:33:24>> Yeah.
3:33:25>> And I've been able to use it to tune it
3:33:26into a more neutral sound signature,
3:33:28which is probably what you'd want to do
3:33:29anyway. I do love its default sound
3:33:31signature, which again is richer.
3:33:33>> Listen, this
3:33:34>> this right now is probably one of my two
3:33:36favorite travel headphones, period. The
3:33:38ANC is so effective. The sound signature
3:33:40is fantastic, and the feature set's
3:33:42great, and that carrying case is just
3:33:43killer. And this will be at Can Jam
3:33:46again. a beautiful time to be alive if
3:33:48you're a wireless audio file. With the
3:33:50Momentum True Wireless, the in- ears
3:33:53from Sennheiser, especially version
3:33:54three and four, I feel like Sennheiser
3:33:55was showing they were very serious about
3:33:56Bluetooth.
3:33:57>> Right.
3:33:58>> With this headphone though, this
3:33:59Bluetooth headphone, I feel like they've
3:34:01doubled down. Like they are showing they
3:34:03are dead serious about Bluetooth as an
3:34:06audio file option.
3:34:07>> Oh, yeah.
3:34:07>> So, this is the Sennheiser HDB 630. That
3:34:10name means something because it
3:34:12effectively says they consider this in
3:34:14the HD600 family of headphones. Mhm.
3:34:16>> That's how I'm interpreting it anyway.
3:34:17And I think that's a sacred family of
3:34:18headphones. It means something that they
3:34:20did that. So, the name as I see it is HD
3:34:23Bluetooth 630. HDB 630. Let's talk about
3:34:26what it is. It's a closedback wireless
3:34:28headphone. On each side, there's a 42mm
3:34:30dynamic driver. It has adaptive noise
3:34:33cancellation, which is quite effective.
3:34:34>> Mhm.
3:34:35>> Um, parametric equalizer via the Smart
3:34:37Control Plus app. I don't want to just
3:34:38brush over that. We'll get back to that.
3:34:40Wired or wireless playback. So, there's
3:34:42an analog cable. It's a 1.2 meter cable.
3:34:443 and a half millimeter terminated. Then
3:34:46there's digital cable via 1.2 meter USBC
3:34:49to USBC cable. And then it also includes
3:34:52the Sennheiser BTD700 USBC dongle,
3:34:55right?
3:34:56>> Which I love. So I'm an iPhone user. I
3:34:58don't get a techex natively.
3:35:00>> The BTD700, which is tiny,
3:35:02>> plugs right into that.
3:35:03>> My iPhone has appex.
3:35:05>> All right. Wireless codecs supported
3:35:07SBC, AAC, AEX, AEX HD, AEX adaptive.
3:35:12Love all that. up to 60 hours run time.
3:35:14So, the battery is robust,
3:35:16>> right?
3:35:17>> 24bit 96 kilhertz. Okay. When you use
3:35:21the USBC cable wired, it's essentially a
3:35:25USBC or I mean a USB DAC headphone.
3:35:27>> Yeah. But that also applies to the USB
3:35:29dongle as well.
3:35:30>> Yes. The VTD700 gives you up to 2496.
3:35:33>> Yeah.
3:35:34>> Uh resolution.
3:35:35>> It weighs 311 gram. So, it's quite light
3:35:37and it's very, very comfortable.
3:35:38>> It is
3:35:40>> $499.95.
3:35:42500 bucks. Premium priced.
3:35:43>> It is, but it's worth it.
3:35:44>> I think it's completely worth it. Comes
3:35:46with a nice traveling case, by the way.
3:35:47Yeah. Carrying case. Um, here's what
3:35:49they say about the sound. Sennheiser
3:35:51says this. The HDB 630s tuning is all
3:35:54about balance, fast and extended bass,
3:35:56clear, lifelike mids, and controlled
3:35:58treble. It keeps the music feeling open
3:36:00and natural.
3:36:01>> I think that's very fair marketing copy.
3:36:03>> It is.
3:36:03>> I agree with it is what I'm saying. All
3:36:05right. Now, we have our notes as well
3:36:07that say, "Excellent voice quality."
3:36:08>> Oh, yeah. That phenomenal voice quality.
3:36:11>> Yeah. So, I don't know how many of you
3:36:12guys care about this. I'm on the phone a
3:36:14ton,
3:36:14>> right?
3:36:15>> Uh, we do Zoom calls a lot.
3:36:17>> Um, outgoing voice quality to us is a
3:36:19huge deal. Yes.
3:36:20>> And a lot of Bluetooth headphones have
3:36:21really crappy outgoing voice quality.
3:36:23This has exceptional outgoing voice
3:36:24quality. Actually, one of my high
3:36:26standards for outgoing voice quality is
3:36:27a 15-year-old.
3:36:29>> It's a little US I mean, I'm sorry, a
3:36:31Bluetooth uh earpiece
3:36:33>> um that Sennheiser made like 15 years
3:36:35ago. I have three of them. I still use
3:36:37them all the time. Has fantastic
3:36:39outgoing voice quality. This is pretty
3:36:41close to those.
3:36:41>> Yeah,
3:36:42>> I think that's a big deal.
3:36:43>> All right, let's get back to that
3:36:44parametric equalizer.
3:36:46That is so important.
3:36:48>> It is.
3:36:49>> Uh, you know, back if you remember the
3:36:51Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless, their
3:36:53very first app that they did for that,
3:36:54the control app had a really weird
3:36:57>> It had that strange dot thing.
3:36:58>> Yeah. A weird EQ interface.
3:37:00>> Yeah.
3:37:01>> This one is like
3:37:03>> worlds better. Oh, yeah. It's serious.
3:37:05>> It is. Um, and you have the parametric
3:37:07EQ option, so you can you can tune it so
3:37:09finitely to taste.
3:37:10>> Yeah. I want to mention though, anybody
3:37:12who doesn't want to go into the full
3:37:13parametric EQ mode, there's also a fixed
3:37:15band EQ, so you still have some control
3:37:17over individual bands. And if you want
3:37:18to go even simpler, they have presets,
3:37:20too.
3:37:20>> Okay.
3:37:20>> That's a huge huge benefit to anybody
3:37:22who doesn't really want to go into the
3:37:24like the depths of EQ.
3:37:25>> But in the HeadFi realm, I know a lot of
3:37:27people are going to want to go into that
3:37:28parametric EQ and really tune it up.
3:37:31>> Um, I love the default signature though.
3:37:32>> Yeah, I do. They show a frequency
3:37:34response. Sennheiser does versus the
3:37:37Momentum 4.
3:37:38>> Yep.
3:37:39>> Uh Bluetooth headphone. And it shows
3:37:42more controlled bass. I hear that. It
3:37:44shows more refinement through the upper
3:37:45mids and treble. I also hear that. I
3:37:47love its signature. Yeah.
3:37:48>> It's a beautifully done default
3:37:50signature, but you can use that
3:37:51parametric EQ to tune it.
3:37:52>> Yeah. Like give it a little more treble,
3:37:54>> which [laughter] I which I know you will
3:37:56do.
3:37:56>> Yeah.
3:37:57>> But so to me, this is a very important
3:37:59headphone. I love that Sennheiser is
3:38:00supporting it so thoroughly on HeadFi's
3:38:04thread. There's a forum thread about the
3:38:06HDB 630. Eric Palinin from Sennheiser
3:38:10>> provides so much incredible information
3:38:12and help and support in there. And I
3:38:15love that they're doing that because
3:38:16it's an important headphone for
3:38:17Sennheiser. I think it's going to be a
3:38:18huge start at Can Jam, which we don't
3:38:20say about too many overear Bluetooth
3:38:21headphones, but this one's going to be
3:38:23that.
3:38:24>> So, do not miss the Sennheiser HDB 630
3:38:27at Can Jam. All right. All right, y'all.
3:38:29If I show this to you and say, "Guess
3:38:31who makes these," I can almost guarantee
3:38:33you will not guess correctly.
3:38:35>> I still might not.
3:38:36>> Exactly. This is the Unique Melody
3:38:38Umbrell. Yeah.
3:38:39>> This is a pre-production unit. Uh, this
3:38:41is a Unique Melody headphone. In fact,
3:38:43it's the first ever full-size headphone
3:38:45from Unique Melody,
3:38:46>> right? That's a huge story.
3:38:47>> Huge story because these guys are
3:38:48obviously very well known and very well
3:38:50regarded for their M. Yeah.
3:38:52>> Yep.
3:38:52>> All right. The first ever full-size
3:38:54headphone from Unique Melody. Here's
3:38:56what they say about it. We wanted to
3:38:57create a sound that feels open, natural,
3:38:59and effortless where music has room to
3:39:01breathe and details emerge without being
3:39:03pushed. We're gonna talk about the sound
3:39:05as we hear it later.
3:39:06>> Um, it is an open back hybrid headphone.
3:39:09So on each side there's a 96 millm
3:39:11planer magnetic driver and a unique
3:39:14melody MEMS driver.
3:39:15>> Right.
3:39:15>> So a very unusual, you know, that's
3:39:18certainly a unique configuration.
3:39:19>> Yes. Um they say one delivers scale and
3:39:22authority that would be the planer
3:39:23magnetic driver and the other speed and
3:39:26ultra fine detail. Uh of the planer
3:39:28driver here's what they say about it. It
3:39:29has a gold nanopilm diaphragm high flux
3:39:31magnet circuit and a carbon fiber frame.
3:39:34Um the unique melody MEMS's
3:39:35microelerchanical driver is manufactured
3:39:38using semiconductor grade processes
3:39:40capable of reaching up to 80 kHz.
3:39:42>> Yeah.
3:39:42>> Um the housing is a walnut wood and even
3:39:44though this is a pre-production unit,
3:39:46it's beautiful.
3:39:46>> Yeah. And I like walnut so it's a nice
3:39:48touch for me.
3:39:48>> Yeah, I agree. And the CNC machine parts
3:39:50and accents are nice.
3:39:51>> Yeah.
3:39:52>> Uh, two sets of included ear pads.
3:39:53Sheepkin leather ear pads and something
3:39:55they say or they call ice silk slow
3:39:58rebound ear pads. Now, whatever ear pads
3:40:00are on here are the only ones I've
3:40:01heard.
3:40:01>> Yeah, but we got the pre-production
3:40:02units only came with the one pad.
3:40:03>> Okay, that's why. So, that's why.
3:40:04>> Yeah, that's the only one we've heard.
3:40:06>> That's [laughter] why uh uh the cable
3:40:07dual entry 3 and a half millimeter
3:40:09connectors on the earpiece side.
3:40:11>> Uh 2 m in length and it it'll come in
3:40:13either 6.35 mm, 4.4 millimeter. Oh, or
3:40:16or or also four pin XLR. Now, we only
3:40:18got the 6.35 mm, so the unbalanced
3:40:21cable,
3:40:21>> right?
3:40:21>> So, that's all we used. 520 g is the
3:40:24weight. So, it's on the weightier side.
3:40:25>> It is, but I think the headband does a
3:40:26nice job distributing that weight. It's
3:40:28quite comfortable.
3:40:28>> I agree. I find them comfortable. So, I
3:40:30don't they don't feel heavy in my head.
3:40:32>> Um 65 ohm impedance and 84 dB mill
3:40:36sensitivity.
3:40:37>> Yeah. So, those basically mean that it's
3:40:38going to kind of limit the amp selection
3:40:40people have. You're going to need
3:40:41something beefy.
3:40:42>> You need some power. You need some
3:40:43power. All right. Here's what they say
3:40:44about that. We recommend pairing it with
3:40:46a desktop amplifier capable of
3:40:48delivering 10 watts or more via
3:40:50single-ended output.
3:40:50>> Yeah. And they mentioned single-ended
3:40:52specifically for us because we had the
3:40:53single-ended cable.
3:40:54>> Correct.
3:40:54>> Yeah.
3:40:55>> So, yeah, that it's going to be like you
3:40:57say, you're going to need an amp input
3:40:58juice.
3:40:59>> You need a lot of juice.
3:41:00>> So, we tried it paired with the Hi-Fi
3:41:02Man EF1000 DAC. I think from its
3:41:03single-ended output, that's like seven
3:41:05watts or something like that.
3:41:05>> Seven, seven and a half, somewhere in
3:41:06there. Yeah.
3:41:07>> And then the topping DX9 discreet, which
3:41:08is pretty powerful. Uh maximum output on
3:41:10that's like seven watts. I don't know
3:41:11what it is out of, you know,
3:41:13single-ended, right? Um, and then we
3:41:14also tried it with the FIO M27, which is
3:41:17a really powerful portable digital audio
3:41:18player, but again, still not reaching
3:41:20anywhere near 10 watts, I don't think.
3:41:21Right. Um, but here's how it sounded to
3:41:24me. You tell me what you think. So, to
3:41:26me, I find it sound to be on the leaner
3:41:29side for my tastes. That probably
3:41:31wouldn't surprise you.
3:41:31>> It doesn't.
3:41:32>> Um, but it's the bass, for example, is
3:41:35extended,
3:41:36>> right?
3:41:36>> But I would say on the flatter side,
3:41:38>> the mids to me are more like clean,
3:41:41>> not lush,
3:41:42>> right? um not warm. The mids are clean
3:41:46and detailed. And then the high-end is
3:41:49quite present.
3:41:50>> Yeah.
3:41:50>> And and airy.
3:41:52>> Yeah. They they use the word effortless.
3:41:53And I I can I can see where they're
3:41:54going with that.
3:41:54>> Yeah. As far as the detail goes. Yeah.
3:41:56What did they say? Room to breathe and
3:41:57details emerge without being pushed. And
3:41:59I think that's accurate. As a first
3:42:01headphone goes from Unique Melody, this
3:42:03is quite exciting. The umbrell. And
3:42:04again, this is a pre-production unit. I
3:42:06I would love to try it uh with like a a
3:42:09tube amp that meets that power.
3:42:11>> Yeah. sort of, you know, their
3:42:12recommended power.
3:42:14>> Um, and I think that would be a
3:42:15wonderful pairing. So, this will be
3:42:17limited to 99 units globally.
3:42:20>> Yeah. Very limited.
3:42:21>> Very limited. And again, it's 5,999 US
3:42:24at Can Jam. High-end headphone
3:42:26enthusiasts, make sure to go to Unique
3:42:28Melody because a headphone enthusiast
3:42:30might not typically stop at Unique
3:42:31Melody if they want to hear headphones.
3:42:33Now, you should
3:42:34>> and listen to the Umbrell. What a cool
3:42:37first effort from Unique Melody to make
3:42:38a headphone like this. This is the
3:42:41grill. O ae2.
3:42:43Grill. Axel. Legendary name in our
3:42:45industry. Axel is an engineer that used
3:42:48to be at Sennheiser
3:42:49>> was the man behind pretty much all of
3:42:51their legendary headphones until he left
3:42:53and started his own company. Think of a
3:42:55legendary Sennheiser headphone. Axel was
3:42:57probably the guy behind it. Um, the GRE
3:42:59OE2 represents to to my ears um the best
3:43:05realization the realization of a vision
3:43:08of a design that he's been talking to me
3:43:10about for pretty much as long as I've
3:43:12known him and I've known Axel a long
3:43:14time. Uh, we'll get to that. So, let's
3:43:16talk about just the basic specs. Grow O
3:43:18AE2 the second GL headphone from
3:43:20legendary headphone designer Axel Grail.
3:43:22On each side, one 40mm biocellular
3:43:24dynamic driver mounted very much in
3:43:27front of your ear. Oh yeah,
3:43:28>> we'll get to that because that's key to
3:43:29this whole thing. Um, front-sided
3:43:32soundfield modulation, FSFM. This is
3:43:34what we're talking about. Developed by
3:43:35GR based on decades of experience, this
3:43:37technology makes the finest nuances in
3:43:38the mid and high frequencies audible in
3:43:40a natural and detailed clarity. And I'll
3:43:42say more about that just looking at some
3:43:44of the more detailed specs on the site.
3:43:46Uh, modular design with user replaceable
3:43:48components, which is nice. Largest open
3:43:49baffle design, open stainless steel
3:43:51mesh. It is very open.
3:43:52>> Mhm. uh 38 ohm impedance, 100 dB at 1
3:43:55kHz sensitivity, so it's reasonably
3:43:57sensitive. Uh 378 grams, very
3:44:00comfortable, and they've improved it
3:44:01over the OEE1, so it's much more
3:44:04comfortable on my beach ball sized head.
3:44:06Uh two cables are included, and it's a
3:44:07single side entry now.
3:44:09>> It has entry points on either left or
3:44:10right, you can put them in one or the
3:44:11other. Um with the OE1, it was on both.
3:44:14It was a, you know, a Ysplit. Uh two
3:44:16cables included, 1.8 meter silverplated
3:44:18OFC copper. One terminated three and a
3:44:20half, the other 4.4 for carrying case,
3:44:23which we have on the table here, $590.
3:44:26$599 US, which I think given everything
3:44:29you get with this is a fantastic value.
3:44:31>> Yeah.
3:44:32>> Uh they say about it. Gr says, "The OE2
3:44:35delivers sounds in its purest form. The
3:44:37natural tonal balance across all
3:44:38frequencies results from the deliberate
3:44:39selection and fine-tuning of every
3:44:41acoustic component." Now, you found some
3:44:43quotes from Yar Munka, who works with
3:44:44Axel. He also used to be at Sennheiser.
3:44:46Uh you found some quotes from him
3:44:48online. Says, "The OE2 has been
3:44:49overhauled mechanically. There are new
3:44:51ear pads, a wider and softer velure
3:44:52headband cushion, less clamp, and longer
3:44:55extended sliders. Again, more
3:44:56comfortable on my head for sure than the
3:44:57OE1. He also says, and this is more
3:44:59important, uh, most importantly, the
3:45:01tuning is completely different and much
3:45:03closer to what people expected from the
3:45:04OE1. Now, before I get into the sound, I
3:45:08want to talk about that design again.
3:45:10The design is basically this. He wanted
3:45:13to engage your ears, like your Penna,
3:45:17your ears more like loudspeakers,
3:45:19>> right? and do so within a more normal
3:45:21headphone chassis. So, not like an ear
3:45:22speakeraker type chassis. And when you
3:45:24look at the driver position in here,
3:45:25it's obvious. It's quite radical. Now,
3:45:28they say, "Excellent interaction with
3:45:30the PA through front-sided sound
3:45:31transducers. Uh, this unique orientation
3:45:33leverages your specific ear geometry to
3:45:35ensure the finest nuances in audio are
3:45:37audible and natural and unique, right? I
3:45:40mean, the way it engages your ears is
3:45:41entirely unique."
3:45:42>> Largest open baffle available on the
3:45:44market. Um, let's see. Drivers tuned for
3:45:47exceptional low-end extension. The
3:45:48resonant frequency of these drivers is
3:45:50like 40 Hz. I think more typical with
3:45:51dynamic drivers is like 70 Hz. So,
3:45:53excellent slam, excellent extension and
3:45:56detail, bass detail. Um, natural
3:45:58perception of treble through angled
3:46:00transducers. By mimicking the angle of
3:46:02sound incidents found in real life, the
3:46:04OE2 reproduces high frequencies with
3:46:06lielike accuracy. And it's true. There
3:46:08is something about the tambber, the
3:46:10sound of the treble and the mids
3:46:12>> that's just different, I think, from the
3:46:14way it engages your ears versus any
3:46:16other headphone that I've used. And the
3:46:19imaging is definitely worth mentioning.
3:46:22This is not out of head. Just because
3:46:23you're placing them to engage your ears
3:46:25more like speakers doesn't make it an
3:46:26out ofhead imaging, but it is a
3:46:28beautifully wide and holographic imaging
3:46:30when you lock it in. So, there is some
3:46:32positional sensitivity. So, make sure to
3:46:35try it on your head. I can do it
3:46:36instantly now uh cuz I'm so used to
3:46:38them. But the OA2, if you've heard the
3:46:40OA1, is a substantial improvement. The
3:46:43tonal balance is now dialed in. I feel
3:46:46like this is what he was after all along
3:46:48because we heard so many different
3:46:50versions, you you and me, of the OE1,
3:46:52>> right?
3:46:53>> Because um we've heard it from the very
3:46:56first prototype. Um I'm not even sure
3:46:58what the final total bounce was. I know
3:47:00of all the ones I've heard of the OE1,
3:47:01there were a couple that I loved, but
3:47:04this is better than any of the ones I
3:47:06heard of the OE1, the OE2. Again,
3:47:08they've dialed it in. So, this is one of
3:47:11those ones, given the radical design
3:47:13that is harder to describe,
3:47:16it's more something you have to hear for
3:47:18yourself. And there's no better
3:47:20opportunity to do that, of course, than
3:47:22well, can Jam. So, make sure it can jam.
3:47:25Listen to me on this one because it's
3:47:27such a compelling I think it it's priced
3:47:29$5.99. It's a strong value. There's
3:47:31nothing else like it. Nothing sounds
3:47:32like it. The Grell OE2 at Canam big time
3:47:36can't miss.
3:47:37>> So this planer magnetic headphone which
3:47:39I quite like.
3:47:39>> Yeah.
3:47:40>> Is the Moonrop pair of 2.
3:47:42>> Now there is a Moonrop Parah as its name
3:47:44might suggest.
3:47:45>> Right.
3:47:46>> Um neither of us has heard it.
3:47:48>> Yeah.
3:47:48>> Uh so if you're looking for a comparison
3:47:50between the Par 2 and the Parah, we
3:47:52can't help you because we've never heard
3:47:53it. Uh we'll talk more about it sound
3:47:54shortly, but let's talk about what it
3:47:55is. Again, it's a planer magnetic
3:47:56headphone on each side. 100 millimeter
3:47:58planer diaphragm that's only 1.2 microns
3:48:00thick. So, it's quite thin. Quite thin.
3:48:03>> Uh high elastic pure silver etched
3:48:05circuit N52 magnetic array that's
3:48:08optimized by finite element analysis. Uh
3:48:10I get the distinct impression that
3:48:13Moonrop's labs are exceedingly capable.
3:48:15By the way,
3:48:16>> I get the same.
3:48:17>> All right. Brushed stainless steel
3:48:18housing using a bow house industrial
3:48:21design.
3:48:21>> It is a very cool look. Yeah. I love the
3:48:24way it looks.
3:48:24>> Yeah.
3:48:25>> So, especially the grill.
3:48:27>> So, if you were to take those ear cups
3:48:29off and then you handed them to me. I'd
3:48:31never seen this before. You said, "Look
3:48:32what I found in my dad's or grandpa's
3:48:34like wreck room."
3:48:35>> Oh, yeah.
3:48:36>> And they're from 1978.
3:48:37>> Yep.
3:48:38>> Uh I would totally believe you because
3:48:40of that grill.
3:48:41>> Charming. I I love the way they look.
3:48:43>> Sheepkin ear pads.
3:48:45>> Those sheep have very soft skin.
3:48:46>> Yeah, they do.
3:48:47>> Magnetically attached ear pads, which we
3:48:49both love.
3:48:50>> Yeah. I love any headphone that gives me
3:48:51a magnetic system because they're just
3:48:52so nice.
3:48:53>> Yes. Easy to use. Easy to change. The
3:48:55cable is a 6N purity single crystal
3:48:58copper. So that's 6ix9's purity crystal
3:49:00copper.
3:49:01>> Dual 3 and 12 mm connectors on the ear
3:49:03side. 4.4 mm termination, but they
3:49:05include a 4.4 millm to 3 and 12
3:49:07millimeter adapter. I love those kinds
3:49:08of adapters. Yeah,
3:49:09>> I usually swipe them and then take them
3:49:10with me because I use them in any number
3:49:11of places. And it's only $499.99.
3:49:14So that's 500 bucks,
3:49:16>> right?
3:49:16>> All right, I'll say it. For 500 bucks, I
3:49:18think this headphone is quite fantastic.
3:49:21>> Mhm.
3:49:21>> Uh, this is a wonderful planer magnetic
3:49:23headphone at that price. Now, again, I
3:49:25said we we we hadn't heard the parah, so
3:49:27we didn't have any comparison for that,
3:49:29>> right?
3:49:30>> I can't believe I'm I'm going to do this
3:49:31because it wasn't really an intentional
3:49:32thing. I just happen to be at the time I
3:49:34was using these, I was also using the
3:49:37Hi-Fi Manara Unveiled.
3:49:39>> Oh,
3:49:40>> yeah. [laughter]
3:49:41>> Which is like eight grand.
3:49:42>> Yeah. 16 times the price.
3:49:44>> 16 times the price. Uh, so I'm not
3:49:46saying that's the comparison anybody
3:49:47should do.
3:49:48>> Yeah.
3:49:48>> Uh, because that is the Cesaro unveiled
3:49:51is like one of my high standards for
3:49:53resolution in a non- electrostatic
3:49:55headphone.
3:49:56>> Yeah.
3:49:56>> All right. And like you said, it's like
3:49:5816 times the price, I think.
3:49:59>> Yeah.
3:50:00>> But that's what I had, so we're going
3:50:01with it.
3:50:02>> Sorry, guys. So, how does it compare?
3:50:05All right. Of course, it's not as
3:50:06resolving.
3:50:07>> Mhm. like it doesn't have quite the
3:50:09treble energy and the treble detail,
3:50:12>> right,
3:50:12>> that the Sesara Unveiled has, which is
3:50:15phenomenal, by the way.
3:50:16>> But still, if I wasn't dumb enough to be
3:50:19making this comparison and I was using
3:50:21these like independent of the Sesara
3:50:23Unveiled,
3:50:24>> it's it's still very resolving.
3:50:26>> Yeah.
3:50:26>> Like I find the treble very resolving.
3:50:28Now, there's not as much of it overall
3:50:30as like the Sesara unveiled, but
3:50:32>> I quite love the treble detail and
3:50:34presentation of it. I would almost call
3:50:36the treble smoother. in that regard. All
3:50:38right.
3:50:39>> The mids I would say a touch rich to me
3:50:41like like just a touch like there's a
3:50:43touch of richness to it.
3:50:44>> I like that.
3:50:46>> Right. I think it's just it's overall
3:50:47tonal bounce. Beautiful bass extension.
3:50:49I would call it
3:50:50>> if I had to characterize it in a couple
3:50:52words like smooth neutral.
3:50:54>> Yeah.
3:50:54>> For me, but I love it. So 500 bucks.
3:50:58>> Yeah.
3:50:58>> Uh um yeah. So, I'm not going to be
3:51:01making these my new standard like the
3:51:04Sesara unveiled, but it is going to be
3:51:06one of my standards for its price at 500
3:51:09bucks.
3:51:10>> And I just feel like right now Moonrop
3:51:12is firing on all cylinders.
3:51:14>> Like they are just cranking out stuff
3:51:16that almost everything they make I love
3:51:18>> and I'm just so impressed. And the PAR 2
3:51:20is no exception. Make sure at Can Jam to
3:51:22check out the Moon Drop Par 2.
3:51:24>> This is the Palma DHS10. Super
3:51:26interesting headphone to me. It's their
3:51:28second model, but I've never heard any
3:51:29other model from them. Their first one
3:51:30was called the DHS1.
3:51:32>> So, they call it a convertible overear
3:51:34headphone, and that means you can switch
3:51:36between open and closed back modes,
3:51:38which is super compelling.
3:51:40>> Yeah,
3:51:40>> I've I've seen other tried other
3:51:42headphones where you could do that. Um,
3:51:45with mixed results,
3:51:46>> right?
3:51:46>> Uh, usually you get pretty serious tonal
3:51:48balance changes between the modes. This
3:51:51one is quite different. We'll get to it.
3:51:52We'll get to that when we talk about
3:51:53sound. So, the driver. So, I couldn't
3:51:55find specific driver information on the
3:51:57DHS10, but the DHS1, I believe, uses the
3:51:59same driver. And they say about that
3:52:01driver has a neodymium magnet and a 26mm
3:52:03diameter voice coil. It's moving a 50mm
3:52:05mixed material composite membrane made
3:52:08up of a central dome of pressed rigid
3:52:10cellulose that Palma says has low inner
3:52:12modulation distortion. Then there's an
3:52:13ultra thin polyamide suspension ring. So
3:52:16again, a dynamic driver. Um, the
3:52:19enclosure is a high performance
3:52:20synthetic composite enclosure with what
3:52:22they call convertible acoustic chamber
3:52:23design. The DHS1 I believe is quite
3:52:26similar but it uses a like a Sapelli
3:52:27wood enclosure.
3:52:29>> All right. So this again has a synthetic
3:52:30composite enclosure. Uh it's comprised
3:52:33this open close mechanism of shutter
3:52:36discs they call it that rotate to open
3:52:38or close a series of holes in the
3:52:40enclosures and thus enclose or release
3:52:42the sound waves. They've engineered the
3:52:43enclosure to allow optimal sound in both
3:52:45open and closed modes. Now in closed
3:52:47mode I believe it is they managed to
3:52:49reduce the delay. So you get that back
3:52:51wave from a driver. It's also emitting
3:52:53sound from the back a dynamic driver uh
3:52:54or any driver really and they've been
3:52:56able to reduce the delay to less than
3:52:580.1 milliseconds which they say is well
3:53:00below what the human ear can uh
3:53:01perceive. Then when you open it when you
3:53:04open the shutter discs and you open
3:53:05those chambers they say we lose 80% of
3:53:08the unwanted waves creating the
3:53:09sensation that we are in a large space.
3:53:11Thus as a consequence of this loss we
3:53:13we'll have clean and more defined waves.
3:53:16This is the reason why most people
3:53:17prefer to listen to their favorite music
3:53:19in open mode, but this modality isn't
3:53:21highly recommended when we're around
3:53:22other people because of course it's
3:53:24open.
3:53:25>> Um, there's another reason I want to
3:53:27listen open, which we'll get to in a
3:53:28minute why I prefer open.
3:53:30>> Um, Lambkin memory foam ear pads.
3:53:32They're very squishy, if that's a word.
3:53:34Uh, available in seven colors because
3:53:36it's made of this composite and it's
3:53:37available in seven colors. Two cables.
3:53:39It comes with 1.2 m cable with 3.5 mm
3:53:41termination and a 2.8 m cable with 6.35
3:53:44mm termination. comes with a protective
3:53:46hard case. Price $1,895,
3:53:49which I which I if I understand
3:53:50correctly, the the the DHS1, the wood
3:53:53one, is is a bit more expensive. Now,
3:53:55now about the sound, they say compared
3:53:57with the DHS1, the DHS10 offers a
3:54:00slightly more analy analytical and
3:54:01revealing presentation without the
3:54:03natural warmth associated with the
3:54:04Sepelli wood enclosures on the DHS1.
3:54:06Since I have never heard the DHS1, I
3:54:08can't make that comparison. I will say
3:54:10this is definitely on the more like to
3:54:12my ears on the more analytical side. it.
3:54:14The bass is is nice and extended to my
3:54:17ears, but it's it's not emphasized. So,
3:54:19this to me is a more analytical sounding
3:54:21headphone, but in a very nice way. It's
3:54:23a very referencey sounding headphone.
3:54:24>> Yeah.
3:54:25>> Um, now the on the open and closed modes
3:54:27when I've heard headphones that have
3:54:29that, typically, again, you get big
3:54:31tonal balance shifts. With this one, you
3:54:33simply do not. However, one of the
3:54:35reasons I prefer open mode is because it
3:54:37just seems to be ever so slightly more
3:54:40resolving in open back mode, which I
3:54:42guess shouldn't be shocking.
3:54:45But perhaps just as importantly to me,
3:54:46because I tend to prefer just a little
3:54:48bit of richness, it also adds just a
3:54:51touch of richness. This is a clean
3:54:53sounding headphone all the way through.
3:54:55And I would call this a more neutral
3:54:57sounding headphone. Imaging wise, it
3:54:59images it images
3:55:02wide. It's not the widest imaging
3:55:03headphone I've heard. certainly images
3:55:04better in open mode. Um, but that little
3:55:07bit of richness I get with it in open
3:55:09mode versus closed, you should compare
3:55:10it at Kangjum because it's so easy to
3:55:12do. You literally just rotate the ear
3:55:13cups. Um, it and they rotate nice and
3:55:15easy. Um, to me,
3:55:20whatever they've done to make that work,
3:55:23I'm not really sure. I mean, if I can
3:55:25ever meet one of Palma's engineers, I'd
3:55:26love to talk to them to see how they
3:55:28were able to get the tonal balance to be
3:55:29similar in open mode. To be clear, it's
3:55:31not the most open back headphone I've
3:55:32heard. is more like semi-open. In
3:55:34closedback mode, it's also not the most
3:55:36closed headphone I've heard, but it does
3:55:38isolate a bit more from ambient noise
3:55:40and it does prevent a little bit of
3:55:42leakage, you know, more. It does a
3:55:44better job of preventing leakage than an
3:55:45open mode. Again, not surprising, but
3:55:47what an interesting headphone. Yeah,
3:55:49>> I think it's a successfully executed
3:55:51design given what they're doing. The
3:55:52Palma DHS 10 at Can Jam is a very
3:55:56compelling headphone. You you have to
3:55:58hear and try in both modes. This lovely
3:56:01somewhat shiny headphone is the melodic
3:56:03artification infant item.
3:56:05>> Fascinating headphone and it has been at
3:56:08a few can jams at least in prototype
3:56:11form. I know I heard it for the first
3:56:12time at I think it was a Canam Singapore
3:56:14some years back. So they've been working
3:56:15on this for a while. I love where
3:56:16they've landed with it and I think this
3:56:18is going to also get rave reviews this
3:56:20this production unit. So the funny thing
3:56:22is they sent us the headphone and you
3:56:24know in in full production packaging and
3:56:26but we have so little information about
3:56:28it. So we looked online. This is what we
3:56:30found. So, they describe it as a planer
3:56:31open back headphone and portable
3:56:33amplifier sound system. We're going to
3:56:34get back to that amplifier in a minute.
3:56:37What I find so fascinating about it,
3:56:38it's a planer magnetic driver and they
3:56:39describe it as a 100 millimeter
3:56:41composite pure burillium planer driver.
3:56:44>> I've never I've never heard of a planer
3:56:47driver described that way.
3:56:48>> No, it sounds very unique.
3:56:49>> Very unique. And I'd love to see it. So,
3:56:51melodic artification, please show me
3:56:52this driver because you can't see enough
3:56:53of it through the headphone. So, I'm
3:56:54dying to see it. Uh that driver also
3:56:56uses a special-shaped combination magnet
3:56:58array with N52 magnets. The chassis is a
3:57:01titanium and alloy uh aluminum alloy
3:57:03chassis and it's a beautifully executed
3:57:05chassis. The machining on this unit is
3:57:08meticulous and it's a flagship priced
3:57:10headphone, flagship class headphone, and
3:57:11it looks and feels the part for sure.
3:57:13>> Uh the cable is an OCC. That's on
3:57:15continuous cast plus alloy copper
3:57:17handbraed cable.
3:57:18>> Um lovely cable. The weight's 419 grams.
3:57:21It's distributed beautifully on my head
3:57:23with this I looks like to me like a
3:57:24safiano leather comfort strap.
3:57:26>> Mhm.
3:57:27>> Um the amplifier which we have to get to
3:57:29now is this. It comes with this. It's it
3:57:34outputs up to 630 matts per channel into
3:57:3632 ohms. It has a 3 and a half
3:57:37millimeter single-ended input. 4.4 millm
3:57:39balanced output. 10-hour runtime. Weighs
3:57:41215 grams. And it it feels beautifully
3:57:44made too. Uh it includes some cables for
3:57:47the for the amp USBC to 3 and a half
3:57:49millimeter. So, I'm guessing that's a
3:57:50USBC DAC cable. Uh 3 and 12 mm to 3 and
3:57:5412 mm analog cable so you can drive it
3:57:56analog and then USBC to USBC cable for
3:57:58charging it cuz you have to charge it.
3:58:00>> Uh it doesn't come with a carry case. It
3:58:03comes with a ginormous and I mean a
3:58:05ginormous wood presentation case that's
3:58:08quite beautiful. It even has like a a
3:58:10humidity meter on it which I think is
3:58:11called a hydrometer. Um was expecting to
3:58:13find cigars in there. No cigars. But it
3:58:16it's a lovely case. It's just huge. So I
3:58:18you can't carry it. So, I've been
3:58:19carrying the infant item around and the
3:58:21amp in a Doneyi Savior case. I love
3:58:24those things. Um, so the price, as far
3:58:26as we can ascertain from looking online,
3:58:28is going to be around $54, $5,500. Don't
3:58:31hold us to that because that's just what
3:58:32we found online and that's what we're
3:58:34estimating
3:58:34>> and it will be at Can Jam. Now, I want
3:58:37to address the amp thing. Do you need
3:58:39the amp to drive it? And the answer is
3:58:42no. Like, this is not an a headphone
3:58:44that requires this amp to drive it,
3:58:45right? I think that Melodic Artification
3:58:47included this
3:58:49just so you you you know you have
3:58:51adequate power to drive it like a nice
3:58:53amp to drive it.
3:58:54>> But I've been able to drive it with well
3:58:57just about any system I've plugged it
3:58:58into.
3:58:59>> Um from what I can tell with the amp
3:59:02with the bass boost Oh, there's a bass
3:59:03boost circuit. With the bass boost off,
3:59:06it it sounds like it's just flat to me.
3:59:08Like it's a you know like it I'm
3:59:09guessing it would measure flat,
3:59:11>> right?
3:59:11>> Then you do the bass boost. Big bass
3:59:13boost. So I I wouldn't typically use
3:59:15that level of bass boost unless I had a
3:59:16really bass light recording. But to
3:59:18answer that question, I do not believe
3:59:19you need that amp to drive it at all
3:59:21based on my experience because I've been
3:59:22driving it beautifully with a whole
3:59:23bunch of other stuff
3:59:25>> and it scales by the way.
3:59:26>> Yeah.
3:59:26>> So, I mean I I'll say it. I was getting
3:59:29better sound out of some of the desktop
3:59:31amps I've used it with. So, you don't
3:59:33have to use their amp,
3:59:35>> but it's nice it comes with it. The
3:59:37sound the bass to me, let's start with
3:59:39that. Beautifully executed,
3:59:41>> very well defined.
3:59:43>> Beautiful texture in that bass. I don't
3:59:46find it emphasized. You might find it
3:59:47slightly emphasized,
3:59:48>> but to me it's perceived flat, like
3:59:51perceived neutral to my ears.
3:59:52>> What characterizes, I think, the sound
3:59:54of this headphone more than anything is
3:59:56like the mid treble. Like it's very
3:59:58present. Like I find it the vocal
4:00:00forward.
4:00:00>> Yeah.
4:00:01>> And then the treble has tremendous
4:00:02articulation
4:00:04and presence. It is.
4:00:05>> Yeah.
4:00:05>> And I think what they wanted from this
4:00:07headphone is it to have
4:00:10>> tremendous resolving ability. And it
4:00:12does. Um, and I and I enjoy these
4:00:16immensely. I can see why everybody loved
4:00:17them. Images beautifully, too.
4:00:19>> Yeah.
4:00:19>> Beautifully wide imaging without being
4:00:21overly wide, which I love. And um,
4:00:24because I'm I more important to me is
4:00:26coherence in imaging. And it has it in
4:00:27spades. So, this headphone to me is
4:00:30fascinating. I I don't know. There's
4:00:31something unique about it sound maybe
4:00:32from that burillium planar driver, which
4:00:35I'm so curious about.
4:00:36>> But again, this went over so well in
4:00:38prototype form at various can jams, like
4:00:40people going gaga over it. And I think
4:00:43this one, this final voicing, which I'm
4:00:45guessing is the final in production
4:00:46voicing, is going to go over even bigger
4:00:49so it can jam. Do not miss the melodic
4:00:52artification infinitum. This is the Aoot
4:00:55Audio TH2. I think a lot of you are
4:00:57probably familiar with the Aoot TH1,
4:00:59which is quite popular. Now, the TH1 and
4:01:02the TH2 are both, as they say, the
4:01:05world's only headsets with built-in
4:01:06vacuum tube preamp and dual mono
4:01:09amplification. And the TH2 is an
4:01:11improvement in every way, which we'll
4:01:12get to in a second. Now, one of the
4:01:13things that Aoot Audio did that I think
4:01:15was very important in developing this
4:01:17was they brought in a seasoned hi-fi
4:01:18executive, right? They brought in, a lot
4:01:20of you guys probably know Andy Rean.
4:01:22He's worked with JH Audio, Hi-Fi Man,
4:01:25Dan Clark Audio, and they brought him in
4:01:27as the president of Aude Audio. I think
4:01:29this was a good move, and it reflects in
4:01:30this product. All right, let's talk
4:01:32about it. So they say the signature
4:01:34versus the TH1 now with deeper bass,
4:01:36extended treble and even more articulate
4:01:38across all frequencies. Absolutely true.
4:01:41Improved dual mono full system tube
4:01:42architecture which contributes to that.
4:01:44Redesigned resonance chamber. All new
4:01:46improved tuning profile. Not merely
4:01:48cosmetic changes. The different look
4:01:49comes from redesigning the headband and
4:01:51suspension strap for better comfort and
4:01:52weight relief. I agree that wider
4:01:54distribution of the weight does help a
4:01:57great deal. Redesigned chassis improved
4:01:59durability, fit, comfort and weight
4:02:00distribution. Uh, also modular
4:02:02construction, interchangeable ear pad,
4:02:04suspension pad, and headband wraps for
4:02:05customization and longevity. From the
4:02:07longevity standpoint, it just feels
4:02:08built better,
4:02:09>> right?
4:02:09>> This is I mean, you can see it's an
4:02:10entirely new build, and it just feels
4:02:12built better.
4:02:13>> Um, uh, a new button layout. They've
4:02:16essentially taken the power button and
4:02:17moved it to where it makes more sense.
4:02:18>> But that was a big change.
4:02:19>> That's a big change cuz now you won't
4:02:20confusingly hit the power button.
4:02:22Exactly.
4:02:22>> Uh, it's where, uh, the tube is. So the
4:02:25tube glows when you turn it on
4:02:26>> and now it's easy to tell when it's on.
4:02:28considerable optimization of the DSP
4:02:30across all headphone response and
4:02:32functions, which speaks to the sound,
4:02:34and it also speaks to improved noise
4:02:36control. Uh, even lower noise floor for
4:02:39the ANC in a more natural sounding
4:02:40transparency mode. True on both counts,
4:02:43um, based on my listening experience
4:02:44with it. And again, this is
4:02:45pre-production, so it's doing real well
4:02:47for a pre-production unit. Improved
4:02:48passive isolation, um, innovative
4:02:51shielding, improved RF and microphonic
4:02:53isolation around the tube preamp stage.
4:02:55Absolutely true with the TH1 when you
4:02:58used when you manipulated it whilst it
4:02:59was on your head you can sometimes get
4:03:00the ringing out of the tube. Yeah, this
4:03:02is much less susceptible to that and
4:03:04less susceptible to RF noise. I can
4:03:05confirm both of those things. Right.
4:03:07>> Custom tuning available via improved
4:03:08Aoot app. This doesn't the app that we
4:03:11have isn't updated for this yet.
4:03:12>> Correct.
4:03:13>> But with the TH1, we like that you could
4:03:14adjust the sound. You'll be able to do
4:03:16that with this as well. Bluetooth 5.3
4:03:20with SBC, AAC, and LDAC. Analog and
4:03:22digital input for wired use. uh USBC uh
4:03:26connector. That's when it's at its best.
4:03:29>> Yes.
4:03:29>> Is wired and using its built-in USB
4:03:32deck, which I think supports 24192. I
4:03:35>> think so.
4:03:35>> Um and that's when it's at its best.
4:03:37Now, I mostly use it wireless, but I
4:03:39love having the USBC support, the USB
4:03:42DAC support.
4:03:43>> Um uh now the price, $999,
4:03:48>> right?
4:03:49>> Isn't that only like $100 more than the
4:03:51TH1?
4:03:51>> I think it's exactly $100. I think the
4:03:53MSRP is 100 more which is and you get
4:03:55and it's just a to me it's a
4:03:57significantly better headphone
4:03:59>> um so in terms of sound signature the
4:04:01TH1 was like neutral but on the like
4:04:04flatter neutral to me
4:04:06>> uh side for my tastes uh this has richer
4:04:10neutral and it is more articulate more
4:04:12detailed as well but I love that
4:04:15richness and it's not and again I call
4:04:17it rich neutral not I to me it's not
4:04:19bass heavy um but you'll be able to tune
4:04:21it anyway
4:04:22Um, it images better and I love the
4:04:25improved ANC as well. So, everything
4:04:27about it is better for 100 bucks more
4:04:29and the build is better. The TH2
4:04:32>> at Can Jam. Do not miss it. If you have
4:04:34a chance, try it wirelessly, of course,
4:04:36but also in its wired USB DAC mode. I
4:04:39would recommend.
4:04:40>> This is the Gradol Lab Signature
4:04:42HP100SE.
4:04:43I love this headphone. It's going to be
4:04:45a cam jam. I'm going to get back to this
4:04:47headphone in a second. I first want to
4:04:48talk really quickly about the long
4:04:50history with Grado Labs and Headfi.org,
4:04:53>> right?
4:04:54>> So, if you haven't been around HeadFi
4:04:55for a zillion years, you might not even
4:04:57know about this, but in the earliest
4:04:58years of HeadFi, we started it back in
4:05:012001. I was running it just as a hobby
4:05:02of mine. And there's a whole history
4:05:04there that one day maybe we'll do a
4:05:05video about. I think it's interesting,
4:05:06but I'm biased. But anyway, um in those
4:05:08earliest years, I was running it just as
4:05:09a hobby for me. And um that means I was
4:05:13running it poorly as a business. It was
4:05:15losing money. And I think Todd Green
4:05:17from Todd the Vinyl Junkie must have
4:05:18told John Grado and they came up with
4:05:20this idea
4:05:21>> of coming up with a Grado Labs Headfi
4:05:24commemorative headphone to help support
4:05:25us. It was called the Grado Headfi one
4:05:27or HF1. And through the sales of that,
4:05:30they did help us push through and they
4:05:32subsequently came out with two other
4:05:33models, the HF2 and the HF3.
4:05:35>> And in those earliest years, Grado
4:05:37helped push us through. So that's pretty
4:05:39cool and I'm I'm always grateful for
4:05:40that. Now, as a personal audio file,
4:05:42just an audio file who enjoyed
4:05:43headphones. I also have a history with
4:05:45Gradol Labs just on that front. So, my
4:05:48first audio file headphone was a Sony
4:05:49MDRV6. Um, but then not long after I
4:05:53picked up a Grado SR60, then the SR80,
4:05:55several other Grado models, and then I
4:05:57found a used Grado HP1. Now, if you're
4:06:00if you're if you haven't been around
4:06:02this hobby for a long time, you might
4:06:04not even have heard of the Grado HP1.
4:06:06Look it up. It was a legendary
4:06:07headphone, and it was from the Joseph
4:06:09Grado era. And I enjoyed that headphone
4:06:12thoroughly. I found a mint condition one
4:06:13and like a fool, I sold it. I sold it to
4:06:16Uncle Wilson from JB. I hope you still
4:06:18have that, Uncle Wilson. Um I do regret
4:06:20selling it. But um this headphone, the
4:06:23signature HP100SE,
4:06:25I believe is kind of an ode to that
4:06:28Grado HP1 model.
4:06:29>> It is.
4:06:30>> And and I love it. So let's talk about
4:06:33what it is first, then I'll talk about
4:06:34why I love it. So the signature HP100SE
4:06:37is a Grado flagship headphone. on each
4:06:39side. It uses one 52mm dynamic driver
4:06:42and it's an allnew driver design that
4:06:44uses a new paper composite cone. It also
4:06:47has high flux magnetic circuit using
4:06:48rare earth alloys uh and a lightweight
4:06:51copper plated aluminum coil and the
4:06:52drivers are matched to 0.04 dB. Now they
4:06:55say Grado's goal was to deliver a
4:06:57speaker that produced excellent high
4:06:58frequency resolution, mid-range
4:07:00smoothness and bass energy with low
4:07:01distortion. It uses hand machined
4:07:04aluminum housings which I think are
4:07:05gorgeous. This lowrofile aluminum
4:07:06housing they are. It it does remind me a
4:07:08little bit of the old great HP1. Um, it
4:07:10has a leather headband, a detachable 12
4:07:12conductor cable, six foot cable, four
4:07:14pin mini XLR connection on the ear side,
4:07:17uh, which I love that it's detachable.
4:07:19>> Not something that we typically think of
4:07:20with Gradle Labs headphones.
4:07:21>> No.
4:07:21>> Uh, by default 6.35 millimeter
4:07:24termination, but you can also get four
4:07:25pin XLR and 4.4 millimeter terminations
4:07:28as well. I use the 4.4 millimeter
4:07:29myself. It comes with Grado's G plus F
4:07:32cushions. So that means it comes with
4:07:34the bowl, the big bowl pad, which I
4:07:36think is the G. Yes.
4:07:37>> And then the F, the small flat cushion,
4:07:39and it's hand assembled in Brooklyn, New
4:07:40York. $24.95, $2,495.
4:07:43All right. I need to point something
4:07:45out, though. I heard these at KJM SoCal
4:07:472025 for the first time.
4:07:48>> Mhm.
4:07:49>> Now, despite the history we have with
4:07:51Gradol Labs and headfight.org, I haven't
4:07:53really talked that much about Gradol
4:07:54Labs headphones over the last many
4:07:56years. Um, and part of the reason is I
4:07:58think a lot of the latest generation of
4:08:00Grado headphones from my tastes were on
4:08:02the bright side.
4:08:03>> Sure. Now, I heard these with the pads
4:08:07I'm showing here, which are called the
4:08:08Grado B cushion pads.
4:08:11>> These are pads that they released with
4:08:13the signature S750 model.
4:08:16>> Yes.
4:08:17>> And they are now available as a separate
4:08:20accessory by them. So, with the Bulls,
4:08:25the I guess that would be the G.
4:08:26>> Yeah.
4:08:27>> I find these to be bright.
4:08:29>> They are a bit to me, too.
4:08:30>> Yes. Kind of bright and thinner for my
4:08:32tastes.
4:08:32>> Yeah.
4:08:34with the B cushions. To me, I think
4:08:37they're phenomenal. I heard this at Can
4:08:40Jam Soal 2025 and I was just floored.
4:08:42Yeah.
4:08:43>> And how much I enjoyed them.
4:08:44>> Beautiful bass and richness for an open
4:08:47back headphone. And these are open.
4:08:48Really open.
4:08:50>> And the mids are clean. The highs are
4:08:53not bright. I mean, I've put every
4:08:56sibilent siblance test track through
4:08:58these. Never offends.
4:09:00>> Yeah.
4:09:00>> Love the balance. Love the imaging.
4:09:02These to me, you know, I haven't heard
4:09:05the HP1 in a long time because Uncle
4:09:07Wilson has them. I haven't heard them in
4:09:09a long time, but do do these make me
4:09:11think or do they remind me that HP1?
4:09:12Yeah, I think so. And I love these
4:09:15headphones. So, make sure at Can Jam you
4:09:18check out the flagship Grado Lab
4:09:20signature HP100SE.
4:09:23A beautifully balanced headphone,
4:09:24especially for my tastes with the B
4:09:27cushion.
4:09:27>> Mhm. Um, and I think you will understand
4:09:31why I'm so thrilled to have a Grado
4:09:33flagship that I'm this excited about
4:09:35again for the first time in a very long
4:09:37time. Now, the signature HP100SE
4:09:41is the flagship of Grado Labs, but it's
4:09:43actually one of three models in their
4:09:45Signature series, and you're holding the
4:09:46latest model. Uh, we'll get to that in a
4:09:48second. May I start with this one,
4:09:49please?
4:09:49>> Sure.
4:09:49>> Uh, so this is the Gradle Lab Signature
4:09:52S950. It's $2,195, so it's a little less
4:09:54expensive than the HP100SE. It uses the
4:09:57same drivers actually as the HP100 SC,
4:10:00the 52 millimeter dynamic drivers. Um,
4:10:02and they're matched on this headphone to
4:10:040.4 dB. Um, the cups are a Brazilian
4:10:07walnut wood
4:10:08>> and I think they're lovely.
4:10:09>> It's a very pretty wood.
4:10:10>> It's a very pretty wood. So, versus the
4:10:13aluminum of the HP100 SC. These are
4:10:15Brazilian walnut wood. Now, they have a
4:10:17leather wrapped stainless steel headband
4:10:18that I believe is the same headband as
4:10:20on the HP100 SC. I don't think I
4:10:22specifically mentioned that when I
4:10:23talked about the HP100 SC, but I think
4:10:25the fixtures are essentially the same
4:10:27other than the cups. Aluminum alloy
4:10:29gimbal, stainless steel rod, zinc alloy
4:10:31caps. Grado Gold detachable cable, 4 uh
4:10:35let's see, 6.35 mm termination by
4:10:37default, but optionally you can get 4.
4:10:39XLR and 4.4 millimeter as well, right?
4:10:41>> Separately. It comes with Grado's G plus
4:10:44F cushions included like the HP100S. As
4:10:47I mentioned though already when I talked
4:10:49about that headphone, the B cushions are
4:10:51where it's at. Yep.
4:10:52>> As far as I'm concerned, for my tastes,
4:10:54they're the only cushions to get the B
4:10:56cushions. Um, so those I think you'll
4:10:59have to get separately for now.
4:11:00>> And they say, is this is this their
4:11:02comments about it?
4:11:03>> It is.
4:11:04>> So they say the Signature S950 has a
4:11:06more neutral and balanced sound
4:11:07providing a broad brushstroke to the
4:11:09musical presentation. I don't know if
4:11:10they mean versus the HP100S. If they do,
4:11:12that's not how I hear it. To me, these
4:11:15definitely sound I mean, they're they're
4:11:18unquestionably related when you hear
4:11:20them,
4:11:21>> but what I hear with these is the edges
4:11:24are just a little bit more rounded. Um,
4:11:27those are more incisive. The HP100S is a
4:11:29bit more incisive. Uh, if I had to pick
4:11:31between the two for my tastes, I'm
4:11:34taking that. The HP100 SE. That said, I
4:11:37still love these and I think it's going
4:11:38to come down to taste,
4:11:39>> right? Um, I would say it's a pretty
4:11:42similar sound signature, but again, I'm
4:11:44hearing kind of more rounded edges with
4:11:46these, but it's still very resolving.
4:11:48>> I think some people are going to prefer
4:11:49that. At Can Jam, make sure to compare
4:11:51the HP100S and the S950. And if you're
4:11:55at the show and you see me, I'd like to
4:11:57know which one you prefer. Now, as you
4:11:59said earlier, this is the newest
4:12:01addition to the Signature series
4:12:02headphone family. It is the Grad Lab
4:12:05Signature S750. Now, this has a couple
4:12:07of differences compared to its siblings.
4:12:09So, one of the biggest differences
4:12:10you're going to notice immediately is
4:12:12the new driver. This features Grado
4:12:13Labs' new S2 driver. That's a 50mm
4:12:16driver. It has a carbon fiber and paper
4:12:18composite diaphragm paired with a
4:12:20lightweight copper plated aluminum voice
4:12:21coil. And the drivers on this are
4:12:23matched to 0.5 dB. Uh, it comes with a
4:12:26all aluminum construction chassis. It's
4:12:28actually a beautiful chassis. I love the
4:12:30kind of almost all black colorway with
4:12:32the pop of the Grado logo. It looks
4:12:33quite nice.
4:12:34>> I dig it, too. Uh, it also has a leather
4:12:36wrapped headband, but you'll notice
4:12:37compared to the other two models that
4:12:38the headband on this is a little
4:12:40shorter, a little narrower. So, from
4:12:42from my listening, I found that I didn't
4:12:44have any comfort issues with this, but I
4:12:46did find the the wider headband a little
4:12:48more comfortable on my head.
4:12:50>> I agree. [snorts]
4:12:50>> Um, it also features the aluminum alloy
4:12:52gimbals and stainless steel rods like
4:12:54the other two models. This also comes
4:12:56with Grado's gold detachable cable.
4:12:58Again, standard 6.35mm, 4.4, and 4 pin
4:13:01XLR available optionally. This one comes
4:13:04in at 460 gram. So, compared to that
4:13:06HP100SE, it's about maybe 10% lighter.
4:13:10And then this comes in the box with
4:13:12Grado's B cushions. Now, you don't get
4:13:14the G or the F cushions included, but in
4:13:16our opinion, that's how it should be
4:13:17speced anyway. So, that's the way to get
4:13:18it.
4:13:18>> I agree. Like I've said a few times now,
4:13:20the B cushion is the only way to go with
4:13:22these signature headphones, and that's
4:13:24the first headphone to come with them.
4:13:26>> Yeah, it launched with these.
4:13:27>> It launched with those. Uh, so the B
4:13:28cushion is the way to go. Now, as far as
4:13:30the sound signature goes, it sounds like
4:13:32a signature series headphone from Grado
4:13:34Labs,
4:13:34>> right?
4:13:35>> Um, compared to the HP100 SE, it has
4:13:38like the HP100 SE, uh, fantastic
4:13:42articulation and detail. I feel like
4:13:44it's a bit more organically presented
4:13:45with the HP100 SE, but the most
4:13:47noticeable difference to me is that has
4:13:49a more near field presentation. I feel
4:13:51like things are more intimately
4:13:52presented.
4:13:52>> I get you. Yeah. Whereas with the HP100
4:13:55SE, I'm hearing kind of a bigger sound,
4:13:58like a bigger presentation. So that
4:14:01said, it's also a lot less expensive.
4:14:03>> Oh, yeah, it is.
4:14:04>> It's $1,695.
4:14:06>> Yeah, that's a pretty big savings over
4:14:07the HP100S.
4:14:08>> If you can't make the wallet stretch to
4:14:09the HP100S,
4:14:11that's a beautiful option.
4:14:13>> Um, but for me personally, that flagship
4:14:16is the flagship for a reason. Now at Can
4:14:19Jam, make sure to check out all of the
4:14:21signature series models that we've been
4:14:23talking about here. Uh try the different
4:14:25pads. I think you're all going to arrive
4:14:26at the B cushion as well. But yes, these
4:14:29are all wonderful choices and I'm so
4:14:30excited to be excited again about great
4:14:32oabs. This is an open back dynamic
4:14:35headphone from Austrian Audio called the
4:14:38Arranger.
4:14:39>> And I I quite like this one. Um of their
4:14:41headphones, this might be my favorite.
4:14:43All right, we'll talk about it. So, the
4:14:45Arranger from Austrian Audio is a
4:14:47dynamic headphone. It's an open back
4:14:48headphone. On each side, there's a 44mm
4:14:51high excursion dynamic driver that uses
4:14:52a DLC coated diaphragm and a proprietary
4:14:55ring magnet. And it's actually the same
4:14:56magnetic system as used on the Austrian
4:14:59Audio, the Composer,
4:15:00>> which is nice to see because since the
4:15:01Composer is so much more expensive,
4:15:03we're getting trickle down technology
4:15:04into something more attainable to a lot
4:15:06of headers.
4:15:06>> Yes, I agree. I love that they're using
4:15:07it. The Composer is their flagship.
4:15:09Yeah. Um, they say it has clean bass
4:15:11extension down to five hertz. And while
4:15:12of course neither of us can hear down to
4:15:13five hertz, um it's nice to know that
4:15:15has deep extension.
4:15:17>> Uh suede leatherrett ear pads that I
4:15:19find quite comfortable,
4:15:20>> right?
4:15:21>> Do you as well?
4:15:21>> Yeah.
4:15:22>> Foldable metal frame. I love the
4:15:23foldable design that it's more portable.
4:15:25>> Uh 100% serviceable design. The ear pads
4:15:28and headband can be replaced. I'm going
4:15:30to try to show this. I don't know how
4:15:31well it's going to show up on camera. I
4:15:32love that you can just fold those out
4:15:34and if you fold both sides out, it comes
4:15:36right off, right? Uh it's a magnetic
4:15:37catch. I love that it has a serviceable
4:15:39design. The impedance is 25 ohms. The
4:15:42weight's only 320 gram, so very
4:15:44reasonable. The detachable cable that it
4:15:46comes with is 3 m in length, and it's a
4:15:483 and 12 mm termination with a 6.35 mm
4:15:50adapter. Now, that's a long cable for
4:15:52me, right?
4:15:53>> And thankfully, there are optional
4:15:54accessories. So, you can also get a 1 m,
4:15:573 and 12 mm terminated cable, a 2 m
4:15:59pentagon terminated cable, and a 3 m XLR
4:16:02cable. Uh, and you can also get an
4:16:04optional headphone travel case. Mhm.
4:16:06>> Now, the price for the Austrian Audio,
4:16:08the Arranger, $1,299.
4:16:11>> Yeah. Significantly less expensive than
4:16:12the Composer.
4:16:13>> Yes. Again, the Composer is their
4:16:14flagship. And this is quite a bit less
4:16:16expensive. Now, for my tastes, this is
4:16:20more my taste tonally than the Composer.
4:16:23>> Does not surprise me. [laughter]
4:16:25>> Probably not. All right. So, here's how
4:16:27they describe it. Clean, precise, and
4:16:29deeply immersive. It delivers a natural
4:16:31sound stage where instruments feel
4:16:32placed in space, not trapped inside your
4:16:34head.
4:16:34>> Mhm.
4:16:35>> Okay. Yeah, I'm going to I'm going to
4:16:36address that because that description.
4:16:37So, I agree with what they're saying
4:16:39about the sound stage for sure. Again,
4:16:40this is an open back headphone. It looks
4:16:42kind of like a closedback actually,
4:16:43right?
4:16:44>> Um but it isn't. This is an open back
4:16:45headphone and it sounds like an open
4:16:47back headphone. I I like what they're
4:16:48saying about the sound stage. I agree. I
4:16:50actually don't disagree with the rest of
4:16:51it. It's just that they started off with
4:16:53clean, precise. It might make it sound
4:16:55like a clinical sounding headphone.
4:16:57>> Right.
4:16:57>> Now, if you've heard the Austrian audio,
4:16:59the composer, which we have, that's
4:17:01probably how I would start the
4:17:02description off for that one.
4:17:04>> Yes. um clean and precise kind of it's
4:17:06more on the bright side for my tastes.
4:17:07>> Yeah. But I like it quite a bit.
4:17:08>> Right. Yeah. Right. Right. Right. Where
4:17:10you like headphones to be.
4:17:11>> For me, this is more my speed. So, let's
4:17:14talk about how it sounds. The low end
4:17:15I'd describe as warm and substantial,
4:17:18>> but still detailed.
4:17:19>> Yeah.
4:17:19>> Um the mid-range, rich and relaxed, also
4:17:22still detailed, but it's clearly a
4:17:23warmer sounding headphone than the
4:17:25Composer.
4:17:26>> Uh the treble though is energetic and
4:17:28airy, but still on balance overall,
4:17:31right? Definitely a warmer sounding
4:17:32headphone than the composer, but I love
4:17:35when that treble energy comes in in a
4:17:37song and it just has that sparkle with
4:17:40these.
4:17:41>> So to me, is it as resolving as the
4:17:43composer? This is a resolving headphone,
4:17:44but not as resolving as the composer.
4:17:46But for the price, for the portability,
4:17:49the design, again, this is more my
4:17:51speed. So make sure when you check out
4:17:52the Austrian Audio headphones, if you
4:17:55want to hear the one that is probably my
4:17:57favorite of their models, it's the
4:17:58Arranger. This is the Cindy Audio Apollo
4:18:01Pro and I have a sneaking suspicion this
4:18:03is going to be a sleeper hit at Canjam.
4:18:05>> I I think so too.
4:18:06>> Yeah. So, we'll come back to that in a
4:18:07minute here. But it is a lightweight
4:18:09nano diaphragm planer magnetic driver
4:18:11headphone. Uh inside it has a nanocale
4:18:13composite diaphragm which they say is
4:18:15under 800 nanometer thickness with
4:18:17electron beam evaporation deposition
4:18:19coated aluminum circuits. It has a
4:18:21sunburst metal mesh which they always do
4:18:23nice physical designs and I like the
4:18:25look of this quite a bit. It has a
4:18:27sunray inspired pattern, they say. It
4:18:29has zebra wood earups. I like the the
4:18:31wood. It's very, very pretty and
4:18:33elegant. And it pairs nicely with that
4:18:34mesh. And that's housed within a CNC
4:18:36machined aviation aluminum chassis. And
4:18:39it has some uh CNC machined aluminum
4:18:41components as well. It has a lamb
4:18:44leather headband and velvet ear pads.
4:18:46They are very comfortable. Anybody
4:18:47that's used to Cindy's headphones know
4:18:49they deliver on comfort quite often.
4:18:51>> Yes. It has a triple composite
4:18:54detachable cable with Futurukawa OFC,
4:18:57which is oxygen-free copper,
4:18:58silverplated copper, and enabled
4:19:00goldplated copper. It has a graphine
4:19:02reinforced PVC structure for insulation
4:19:04and shielding, and it has dual 3.5
4:19:07millimeter connectors. It's terminated
4:19:08in a 4.4 millimeter balance connection,
4:19:10and it comes with a 4.4 4 millm to
4:19:12single and 3.5 mm adapter and a 3.5
4:19:16millimeter to a 6.35 mm adapter included
4:19:18as well, which means you're covered for
4:19:20pretty much every device you want to
4:19:21connect this to.
4:19:22>> You know, I love their adapters. I'm
4:19:24always I'm always taking their adapters
4:19:25cuz I like their adapters.
4:19:26>> We steal them quite a bit.
4:19:27>> Uh it has a leather carrying case, a
4:19:29hemp cable bag, and here's a surprise.
4:19:32It's $449. Yes.
4:19:34>> So now, why do we both think this is
4:19:36going to be a sleeper hit? It's the
4:19:37sound. Yeah. So, when I popped this on
4:19:39my head, I was immediately surprised
4:19:41because to me it has what I would
4:19:43consider a warm smooth tuning and it has
4:19:48deep reach. So, like you put on some Han
4:19:50Zimmer, it gets down low.
4:19:52>> Yeah. But I don't find the bass to be
4:19:53particularly emphasized like like
4:19:55boosted per se. No, but the extension I
4:19:57agree with you. Yeah.
4:19:58>> I probably hear it as a little less
4:20:00smooth than you, right? Just because you
4:20:02know because our preferences. Um, so I
4:20:05it's it's kind of like uh I'm going to
4:20:07say this, you know, sometimes they'll
4:20:08release headphones uh that are
4:20:11deliberately uniquely tuned. Yeah.
4:20:14>> These are kind of right down the middle.
4:20:15>> Yeah.
4:20:16>> And I was shocked that they were only
4:20:18400 what 450 bucks. Yeah.
4:20:20>> I actually asked Brian to double check
4:20:22the price. Um so yeah, I agree with you.
4:20:24I think these are going to be a big
4:20:25sleeper at Can Jam. I think these are
4:20:26going to go over extremely well.
4:20:27>> Yeah. So if you're walking the Can Jam
4:20:28floor and you just want to try something
4:20:30amazing, check out these. On the table
4:20:32between us is probably for me personally
4:20:34the most important headphone model ever.
4:20:38Uh maybe not the best sounding headphone
4:20:40ever. Yeah. Uh but the most important
4:20:41for me personally because that's a Sony
4:20:43MDRV6 and it was the first premium
4:20:45headphone I I ever had and I I I picked
4:20:48it up along with a Sony Discman and I
4:20:50was I think I was like 15 years old if I
4:20:52recall correctly and so yeah, that's a
4:20:54very important model for me. keep this
4:20:56one packaged up, but I probably have
4:20:57half a dozen or I know, who knows, six
4:20:59or 10 of them floating around. It's an
4:21:02important headphone model to me. So,
4:21:03whenever Sony's going to be at Canam, I
4:21:05get very excited because they're such an
4:21:06important company for me and my history,
4:21:08my personal history, and they'll be at K
4:21:10Jam. Now, what are they going to be
4:21:12showing in terms of headphones? I
4:21:13imagine they're going to be showing
4:21:14this, which is the Sony MDRM1.
4:21:17>> Um, this is It actually reminds me a lot
4:21:19of the Sony MDRV6 in terms of design.
4:21:20They've been pretty consistent with
4:21:21their studio monitor designs.
4:21:23>> Yep. But this would be a substantially
4:21:25better headphone to my ears. It's
4:21:27generations away from the Sony MDRV6 and
4:21:30the Sony MDR7506, which that was like a
4:21:32the consumer version of.
4:21:34>> Anyway, let's talk about the Sony MDRM1.
4:21:36It's it's a closedback studio monitor
4:21:38headphone. Uses 40mm dynamic drivers, 50
4:21:40ohm impedance, um 1.2 meter and 2.5
4:21:43meter cables. I mean, it's pretty
4:21:45utilitarian. Yep. This is a studio
4:21:46monitor. It's a professional headphone.
4:21:48270 bucks.
4:21:49>> I dig the way it sounds. Has real bass.
4:21:52that has significantly better bass to my
4:21:54ears than the MDRV6. Again, it's just a
4:21:57much better headphone. Now, the
4:21:58headphone that Sony has that I'm
4:22:00probably most excited about right now is
4:22:01the Sony MDR MV1, and I imagine they'll
4:22:05have these as well. This is also a
4:22:06studio monitor headphone. However,
4:22:09>> uh it is an open back studio monitor
4:22:11headphone,
4:22:11>> right?
4:22:12>> I I love how it maintains the aesthetic.
4:22:14>> Yeah.
4:22:14>> Uh the shape of their their history of
4:22:17studio monitor headphones, but it's open
4:22:20back. And man, for an open back
4:22:22headphone, this thing has real bass. It
4:22:25has deep, hard-hitting bass. Between the
4:22:27MDRM1, MDR MV1, I prefer the MV1. Yep.
4:22:31>> This is frankly one of my favorite
4:22:33all-arounders just to listen to cuz it's
4:22:34super lightweight. I think it's like an
4:22:35aluminum alloy chassis. Super
4:22:37lightweight, very comfortable. Open back
4:22:39studio headphones, 40mm dynamic drivers,
4:22:4124 ohm impedance, comes with a 2 and 12
4:22:43m detachable cable. $419.99. So, it's
4:22:46more expensive, significantly more than
4:22:48the MDRM1. But I also think it's a
4:22:50better headphone. So Sony will be there.
4:22:53They're not going to have the MDRV6,
4:22:54let's be clear, but expect to see the
4:22:56MDRM1 and the MDRMV1.
4:22:59This is the Hi-Fi for All HFA Dalia 2. I
4:23:02think this is an exciting headphone.
4:23:03>> Yeah.
4:23:03>> Um, so Nick Hutchkins from Hi-Fi Forall
4:23:06first sent us the original Dalia. I
4:23:07think it was a couple years ago. Uh, and
4:23:09and we both really enjoyed that
4:23:10headphone.
4:23:11>> We don't have it here, so we can't make
4:23:12any direct comparisons like soundwise
4:23:14between the two, but we enjoyed that
4:23:16headphone. I very much enjoy this
4:23:17headphone as well. So, this is an open
4:23:20back dynamic headphone. Uses a premium
4:23:2250 millimeter dynamic driver. A lot of
4:23:24structural improvements with the Dalia 2
4:23:26a lot. Um, so one of the things he did
4:23:29that I think is interesting is he puts a
4:23:3115 g tungsten weight mounted behind the
4:23:33driver to help to help deaden ear cup
4:23:35resonance. Pretty cool. Um, this like
4:23:38the original Dalia is tunable via ear
4:23:40cup resonator rings. It comes with
4:23:42balanced resonators installed. There are
4:23:44dynamic resonators available. The
4:23:45included balanced profile, he says, is a
4:23:47smooth and natural presentation, while
4:23:49the optional dynamic resonators give you
4:23:50a subtle lift in the bass and treble
4:23:52regions. I believe those are the dynamic
4:23:53resonators on the table. Um, I've only
4:23:56listened to it with the balanced tuning
4:23:58because I enjoy it so much.
4:23:59>> Yeah,
4:24:00>> I mean, I really should try the other
4:24:01ones. U, but but I really enjoy this
4:24:03tuning. So do you.
4:24:04>> Um, glass infused nylon chassis. Very
4:24:07well made.
4:24:07>> Yeah, it's actually quite a nice
4:24:08chassis.
4:24:09>> Yeah, it's actually very solid. So it's
4:24:10a nice chassis with deeper ear cups than
4:24:12the original Dalia.
4:24:13>> And that's appreciated. that is
4:24:15appreciated. It also takes the drivers,
4:24:16I believe, a little bit further from the
4:24:18ear. Places them a little further from
4:24:19the ear, so it's more comfortable. I
4:24:20think that's a tuning choice that he
4:24:22made there as well.
4:24:23>> The ear pads are ZMF Lambkin suede
4:24:25hybrid ear pads.
4:24:26>> Yep.
4:24:26>> Our our community knows ZMF's ear pads.
4:24:29I don't think I need to say any more
4:24:30than that to know that they're extremely
4:24:32comfortable. Uh the the comfort strap is
4:24:35actually interesting. It's made by a
4:24:36company called Understated Montreal, and
4:24:37it's a Buffalo Leather comfort strap. Uh
4:24:40we're both leather goods enthusiasts. I
4:24:41have actually several like bags made of
4:24:43buffalo leather and I also have boots
4:24:45made of buffalo leather and it is a very
4:24:47nice leather with a distinct very
4:24:49distinct grain pattern. Yeah.
4:24:50>> So it's a lovely leather and it's also
4:24:52very comfortable.
4:24:53>> The cables that come with it uh OFC
4:24:55headphone cable. It's an oxygen feed
4:24:57copper uh headphone cable. You can
4:24:58choose from three and a half millimeter
4:25:00or four pin XLR terminations. Then
4:25:01there's an optional upgrade cable that
4:25:03uses uh Ono continuous cast four core
4:25:06weave. So that's uh OCC four core weave
4:25:09for the upgrade cable available. Uh the
4:25:11the the soft carry case is nice and it's
4:25:13included and he calls it the sound
4:25:15satchel. It'll carry all the
4:25:16accessories, tools that you'll need if
4:25:18you want to change the pads. Um uh and
4:25:21it's nice. He calls it the sound
4:25:22satchel. It has a name. All right. Uh
4:25:24this is handcrafted in San Francisco.
4:25:27>> Yep.
4:25:27>> Um I'm guessing that's Nick that builds
4:25:29these in San Francisco. I love that
4:25:30they're made in the USA and because
4:25:34these are special headphones.
4:25:35>> Yeah.
4:25:35>> Uh because I want to talk about the
4:25:36sound in just a second. Uh finishes
4:25:39available raw steel, stealth black, and
4:25:41metallic copper. I believe this would
4:25:42have to be stealth black is my guess.
4:25:44And the starting price is 1,100 bucks,
4:25:46$1099.99. 1100 bucks. Um so it's a
4:25:49premium priced headphone. I think it's
4:25:50worth it.
4:25:51>> I think so. I seem to recall us both
4:25:54thinking that the original Dalia had
4:25:56kind of a studio monitor sound,
4:25:57>> right?
4:25:58>> This has a studio monitor studio monitor
4:26:01type reference sound signature to my
4:26:03ears. Very balanced.
4:26:05>> I love this tuning.
4:26:06>> Yeah, I do too. Um, now, okay, I I said
4:26:09that we don't have the original Dalia
4:26:10here, but I'm going to venture a
4:26:12comparison from my memory, so don't
4:26:14trust it. So, so this sounds to me to be
4:26:17a little airier in the treble than the
4:26:19original Dalia in a very good way,
4:26:22>> if I recall correctly, and maybe a
4:26:24little bit more solid bass, but it has a
4:26:27very refined tuning actually. Yeah.
4:26:29>> Uh, in that balanced tuning. So, make
4:26:31sure it can jam. This is an exciting
4:26:33headphone. If you're looking for a nice
4:26:35open back audio file class headphone,
4:26:38here is one. The HFA Dalia 2. Juanova
4:26:42from Orabus Acoustics just contacted me
4:26:44to let me know that Orabus will be
4:26:45showing a new headphone model at Kjam
4:26:46SoCal called the Orabus Laguna
4:26:48Precision. It's an allnew closed back
4:26:50headphone built for home, travel, and
4:26:52studios. It uses an ultra- low mass
4:26:54ULM35 driver. That's a 35mm ULM35 paper
4:26:58cone dynamic driver paired with
4:26:59something Orbus calls the Ori 400
4:27:02controlled response enclosure. It also
4:27:04incorporates something they call a dual
4:27:05S-shaped reflex port architecture that
4:27:07Juan told me provides bass extension
4:27:09down to 10 hertz. Here's a frequency
4:27:11response plot for the Laguna Precision
4:27:13from Orbus Acoustics website. You can
4:27:15see it has outstanding bass extension.
4:27:17Now, Juan said the design went through
4:27:18three years of revision and resets,
4:27:20beginning life as the original Sierra
4:27:22closed concept headphone project in 2023
4:27:24and eventually evolving into its own
4:27:26unique design and engineering identity.
4:27:28This headphone is the first in the Orbus
4:27:30portfolio to truly emphasize portability
4:27:32and isolation. as central to the design
4:27:34process with a whole new driver and
4:27:35enclosure system. You'll be able to hear
4:27:37the Orbus Acoustics Laguna Precision at
4:27:39Canjam SoCal at the following exhibits.
4:27:42The Source AV or TSAV, Apost, Mimic
4:27:45Audio, and Analog Sense. Believe it or
4:27:48not, there are still more headphone and
4:27:50accessory brands that you won't want to
4:27:51miss this Canam SoCal. American Music
4:27:54and Sound will be showing the latest
4:27:55from Fostex, including the TH910 and
4:27:58TH919.
4:28:00APOS Audio will be showing headphones
4:28:01from SJY Audio alongside a number of new
4:28:04exciting and still hush hush
4:28:06collaborations. In addition to the Focal
4:28:08and Yamaha models we mentioned earlier,
4:28:10the Source AV will have many more
4:28:12headphones for you to audition at their
4:28:14exhibit. You'll also find headphones and
4:28:16accessories from Cartis Audio, ETA
4:28:18Audio, Hetamame, Lily Audio, Lunavvel
4:28:22Stacks, and War Acoustics at the show.
4:28:27[music]
4:28:30This is the 64 Audio Ocean.
4:28:33>> I love the 64 Audio Ocean.
4:28:35>> I do too.
4:28:36>> Um I'm a huge fan. I've said it before
4:28:38of the 64 audio velour. I actually use
4:28:40that IM rather a lot,
4:28:42>> right?
4:28:43>> Um and this reminds me it's it's very
4:28:46tunable though. We'll get to that. So
4:28:47you can have any number of different
4:28:48tunings, but it reminds me in my
4:28:50favorite tuning of my velour
4:28:52>> but better. Anyways, let's talk about
4:28:54what it is. The 64 Audio Ocean is a sixd
4:28:56driver trib. On each side there are two
4:28:58dynamic drivers for lows and they I
4:29:01believe it's in a cone to cone isobaric
4:29:03configuration. The velour also uses an
4:29:05isobaric uh dual driver setup for bass.
4:29:09Anyways, I love the bass on this thing.
4:29:11Two balanced armatures for mids, one
4:29:13balanced armature for high mids, one TIA
4:29:16driver for highs, and a four-way
4:29:18crossover design. Uh the design,
4:29:20speaking of which, this face plate,
4:29:22which is gorgeous by the way, it's a
4:29:23gorgeous face plate. They say it's
4:29:24inspired by aolon sand ripples found in
4:29:26the desert. So, you know those ripples
4:29:28you see on sand dunes. I can see where
4:29:30they're coming from with that. It kind
4:29:31of has that look, but it's gorgeous. Uh
4:29:3332 tuning configurations. I a lot
4:29:35>> Yeah, I kid you not. I think I've tried
4:29:37to go through all of them. And here's
4:29:38the funny part. So, it shipped when we
4:29:41got it in what they call the reference
4:29:43tuning.
4:29:44>> So, there are a few different bits that
4:29:46you can change out the Apex module.
4:29:48There's a nozzle. Uh I guess you could
4:29:50call it a filter. And then um uh there's
4:29:54what else is there? Oh, yeah. On the top
4:29:56there's another modular piece that you
4:29:58can change out for bass.
4:29:59>> Yep.
4:30:01>> I ended up on the reference setting. So
4:30:03it's shipped in reference setting. I've
4:30:05tried I think most of the different
4:30:07combinations.
4:30:08>> Yeah.
4:30:08>> And I think there's a reason they call
4:30:10that setting that they shipped it in
4:30:12reference. It's it's my favorite of all
4:30:14the tunings I've tried with it. I can't
4:30:15say I've been through all 32. Sure.
4:30:17>> But anyways, here's what they say about
4:30:18that. The ultimate tinkerer universal
4:30:21IM.
4:30:22>> Yep.
4:30:22>> Yes, it is. Ocean is designed for the
4:30:24curious. [laughter] That's a good one. I
4:30:27didn't read this until now. Designed for
4:30:28the curious and terminally unsatisfied
4:30:31portable high-end audio enthusiast.
4:30:33That's awesome. Y that's the first I
4:30:34read that. That's really funny. So, so
4:30:36um yes, it is. But here's what I love
4:30:39about how it's packaged.
4:30:41>> It comes with a tool.
4:30:42>> Yes.
4:30:43>> That is made. It's a double-sided tool.
4:30:46M
4:30:46>> one to change the nozzle bit, one to
4:30:48change this top base piece. And it's so
4:30:51well executed, right? Like the way it
4:30:53fits is so precise.
4:30:55>> Yep.
4:30:56>> They they gave so much attention to
4:30:58detail in the construction of this thing
4:31:00and changing it is kind of a delight
4:31:03actually because when you change the
4:31:04pieces, the way they sit in, they they
4:31:06all feel sad.
4:31:08>> Yep.
4:31:08>> And then Yeah. Anyway, but I I I always
4:31:11end up I'm actually I'm not in reference
4:31:13mode right now, so I obviously was
4:31:14experimenting before we were shooting,
4:31:16but um but reference is where I end up.
4:31:18>> Mhm.
4:31:19>> Every time because I'll try a different
4:31:20setting, then I go back to reference.
4:31:21Then I'm like, I prefer reference. I go
4:31:22back to another setting, I go back to
4:31:24reference. Okay. So, how does it sound
4:31:25in reference mode? Let's go with that.
4:31:27>> To me, again, it's like the velour but
4:31:29better. And what does that mean? The
4:31:31bass hits hard right when you want it to
4:31:34because it has just outstanding
4:31:36extension and impact. And I know it is
4:31:38that isobaric configuration.
4:31:40>> Yep.
4:31:41>> Um I've I I mentioned it before when I
4:31:43talked about the velour. One of my
4:31:45favorite loudspeakers of all time goes
4:31:46back to like the some 1980s modeler
4:31:49before was the Lin isabaric and it had
4:31:51isobaric based drivers. These KEF I
4:31:53think they were KB139 drivers and
4:31:55isobarically loaded design. And this
4:31:58just kind of brings me back to that this
4:32:01impactful fast defined bass. Very
4:32:05beautiful clear mids and the highs are
4:32:07quite articulate. Yep.
4:32:09>> Very articulate highs. Maybe that's that
4:32:11Tia driver. Anyway, love the signature
4:32:14of these. I feel like it's my velour but
4:32:17better. Um the funny thing is at the
4:32:20time of shooting, we don't know the
4:32:21price. If we find out the price, we'll
4:32:22show it on the screen. Um but if you
4:32:24don't see it on the screen, it's because
4:32:25we because we don't know yet. But I'm
4:32:28assuming those these will be on the
4:32:30premium side of 64 Audio's lineup. Mhm.
4:32:32>> And if they are, deservedly so. Love
4:32:35these IM. I I've been listening to these
4:32:38more than the velours lately. And as
4:32:41much as I love those velours, I haven't
4:32:42missed them, but I always end up back on
4:32:44reference. Make sure you can play with
4:32:46them at Can Jam because you can. It's so
4:32:48easy to do and it's so fun to do.
4:32:51Designed for the curious and terminally
4:32:53unsatisfied. That's great. So anyways,
4:32:55do not miss the 64 audio ocean at Can
4:32:58Jam. This is the Aelen Kern ClariS. This
4:33:01is not a collaboration IM. No,
4:33:03>> this is one of Ael and Curran's own
4:33:04designs. And this is this is an
4:33:06outstanding IM and I think a lot of
4:33:08people are going to want to hear this at
4:33:09Can Jam for sure. Oh yeah.
4:33:10>> It's a nine driver tribard M. On each
4:33:12side, one proprietary 9mm dynamic driver
4:33:14for lows and they say provide subbase
4:33:17depth and natural physical weight. Then
4:33:19on each side there are seven Sony
4:33:20balanced armature drivers. Seven. So two
4:33:23are for lows. They say reinforce speed,
4:33:25definition, and control through the
4:33:26upper bass and lower mid-range. three
4:33:28for mids that they say preserves body
4:33:31tonal density and instrument separation
4:33:33instrumental separation from the lower
4:33:35to upper mids then two are for highs
4:33:37which they say reinforce output air and
4:33:39spatial extension now on top of all
4:33:41those drivers I've already named there
4:33:42is one silicon MEMS tweeter per side for
4:33:45highs of course brings exceptional speed
4:33:48phase stability and consistency to fine
4:33:50treble detail and they're working
4:33:53seamlessly together in a sixway
4:33:55crossover design they've done a lovely
4:33:56job tuning it
4:33:57>> yeah they CNC machine, 6061T6 aluminum
4:34:00housing, anodized silver finish,
4:34:02precision cut face plate, and they do
4:34:05remind me very much of the facets in
4:34:07this face plate that they carve into the
4:34:09sides of their digital audio players.
4:34:11Yeah,
4:34:12>> it's a lovely design.
4:34:13>> The cable is an effect audio Aries S
4:34:16light cable developed specifically for
4:34:18Ael and Kern. It's a 24 gauge four-wire
4:34:20design using OPCC pure copper lits
4:34:23conductors with two pin connectors on
4:34:25the earpiece side and 4.4 4 millm
4:34:27termination. I love that they provide
4:34:30these tips. The ALA SNET earit SCE2000
4:34:32ear tips. Yeah.
4:34:33>> I don't think we had any of those prior
4:34:35to these arriving.
4:34:36>> I don't think that exact model.
4:34:37>> Yeah. And I love I when I go to Japan,
4:34:39I'll do ear tip shopping and I'll buy a
4:34:40lot of Asla stuff, the ear fit stuff. So
4:34:43these are very compelling ear tips to
4:34:44me.
4:34:45>> Um the Aelen Kern ClariS was tuned
4:34:48alongside the flagship SP 4000T digital
4:34:51audio player. I think that's interesting
4:34:52that they single that one out. Yeah,
4:34:54>> because that's that's the tube version
4:34:56of the SP4000.
4:34:58Well, it's the SP4000T. It's it's its
4:35:00own model. Uh they say, "True to its
4:35:02name, ClariS is an answer to clarity.
4:35:04From the deepest bass to the most subtle
4:35:06highs, it reveals the natural detail and
4:35:08sense of space that lives within the
4:35:10music itself." Um they say the two
4:35:12products, I think they're talking about
4:35:13that in the SP4, this and the SP4000T.
4:35:16The two products share the same pursuit
4:35:17of a clear, refined, and emotionally
4:35:19engaging presentation. one that
4:35:20preserves tonal balance while allowing
4:35:22fine detail, texture, and space to
4:35:24emerge naturally.
4:35:25>> I understand the descriptions
4:35:27>> and agree with them. So, $2,900 is the
4:35:29price. So, they're a premium priced. I I
4:35:31think you probably figured that out when
4:35:32I read the driver uh compliment. And as
4:35:35for the sound, I really enjoy these. The
4:35:37bass, as they say, hits and it hits
4:35:39pretty hard, but it seems to be more
4:35:41focused on the low lows, like where the
4:35:43emphasis is. So, the bass stays clean,
4:35:46>> but when you get low lows hitting, it's
4:35:48physical. I dig that. The mids are
4:35:51lovely. They breathe quite freely and
4:35:53are very detailed, but they're like to
4:35:55my ears, the mids are like detailed but
4:35:57on the smoother side. And then the
4:35:59treble adds this sparkle. Right. I love
4:36:01the balance of these.
4:36:02>> Yeah.
4:36:03>> So, this to me is an outstanding Oh, and
4:36:06then as far as soundstaging goes, I do
4:36:07want to point that out. It they they do
4:36:09s they sound stage. They're not like
4:36:10super wide, but they're wide with nice
4:36:14precise imaging and placement. Mhm.
4:36:17>> I always wonder how they, you know, like
4:36:18how they do that. Is it, you know, uh,
4:36:20kind of like just happen stance? I have
4:36:22to imagine there's some serious design
4:36:23behind that or that, you know, that
4:36:24they're that they're tuning it for that,
4:36:26but it works. The imaging is lovely on
4:36:28these. And at the price of $2,900, I I
4:36:31think they're a solid value in that kind
4:36:33of upper tier IM space. And at Kangjam,
4:36:36there are a lot of people that are
4:36:37looking for that kind of M.
4:36:39>> The ClariS from Aelin Current, you
4:36:41definitely don't want to miss these at
4:36:42Kangjen. Now, this is a collaboration IM
4:36:45between Aston Kern and 64 Audio.
4:36:48>> It's called the Zo, and I'm so here for
4:36:51the Zo. I love the Zo. So, another
4:36:53fantastic collaboration I am with Ael
4:36:55and Kern.
4:36:55>> And I love the Zo. So, I need to talk
4:36:57about the Zo on a couple different
4:36:58fronts. Um, the basics, of course, what
4:37:00it is. Um, but also the platform it's
4:37:02built on.
4:37:03>> All right, I'll explain. So, let's talk
4:37:04about the basics. It's a 10 driver
4:37:06hybrid IM and on each side there are two
4:37:08dynamics for lows in an isobaric
4:37:10arrangement specifically a cone to
4:37:12magnet isobaric arrangement. Six
4:37:14balanced armatures for mids, one
4:37:15balanced armature for high mids and one
4:37:17tia balanced armature for highs. All of
4:37:19that in a four-way passive crossover
4:37:20design. Now if that all sounds familiar,
4:37:22that's because the Zo is effectively
4:37:24built on the 64 audio platform,
4:37:27>> right? And for me, that's an entirely
4:37:29positive, beautiful thing because since
4:37:31its release, the Volure has been one of
4:37:33my reference IM.
4:37:35I actually prefer the Zo for sound, but
4:37:37also for the way it looks, which we'll
4:37:39get to in just a second. Um, but for the
4:37:41sound as well. All right, we'll get back
4:37:43to that. So, the looks so beautiful.
4:37:46>> Oh, yeah.
4:37:47>> So, the the body made of 904L stainless
4:37:50steel. This is a very high-grade
4:37:52stainless steel. I believe you if you
4:37:53bought a stainless steel Rolex watch
4:37:55today, it's probably 904L stainless
4:37:56steel.
4:37:57>> Yeah. And it's the same stainless steel
4:37:58found in the A and an Ultima SP4000 as
4:38:00well.
4:38:00>> Ah, yes. Uh, one of our reference
4:38:02players here. Um, and one of the things
4:38:05they do with the 904L though on the Zo
4:38:09is they DLC coat it.
4:38:10>> Yeah,
4:38:11>> I'm a huge DLC fan. DLC stands for
4:38:13diamond light carbon.
4:38:15>> It is an inordinately durable coating,
4:38:18right? There are hobbies that I
4:38:19participate in. Uh like I for example, I
4:38:21like to go to the range sometimes and
4:38:22shoot targets. And some of the pistols
4:38:25that I shoot use DLC coating
4:38:29>> for high wear areas. I've just never
4:38:31seen a coating so durable. I don't even
4:38:33know that there is a more durable
4:38:34coating that you can use in that
4:38:35application than DLC. Right.
4:38:36>> And on the ZO, they use a glossy DLC. I
4:38:39have to imagine it is also incredibly
4:38:41durable. It's also incredibly beautiful.
4:38:43I love that two-layer face plate and the
4:38:45angles and everything. I actually think
4:38:47the Zo is probably one of the most
4:38:49beautiful looking IM out there right
4:38:50now.
4:38:50>> Yeah,
4:38:51>> I love the way it looks. All right, the
4:38:53it also has a 64 Audio Apex system like
4:38:56other 64 audio IM like the velour.
4:38:59>> Um and like the velour comes with an M15
4:39:02installed, but it has the other Apex
4:39:04modules as well.
4:39:05>> Um I happen to think the M15 is the best
4:39:07sounding module on it. I'll get to that
4:39:09in a second. But now Philip from 64
4:39:11Audio at KJM SoCal 2025 told me a little
4:39:14detail I didn't know about. Yeah. which
4:39:15is that the M15 module on the Zo
4:39:18specifically, just the M15 module, um,
4:39:21is also made of 904L stainless steel and
4:39:23is DLC coated.
4:39:24>> I wonder if they needed to use that
4:39:25steel to specifically get that DLC
4:39:27coating.
4:39:28>> Yeah, cuz I don't know that DLC would
4:39:29work with the other alloy they're using
4:39:30on the other I don't either.
4:39:31>> Uh, on the other Apex modules, but but
4:39:34so just that one. The rest of the Apex
4:39:36modules are standard Apex modules,
4:39:38right? But that M15 is special,
4:39:40stainless steel, DLC coated. All right.
4:39:43The cable is a four core crossbraided
4:39:46silverplated UPOCCC copper cable with a
4:39:48two pin connection on the ear side and
4:39:504.4 millimeter termination. I think this
4:39:53cable looks and feels and is constructed
4:39:57like a high-end aftermarket cable.
4:40:00>> Oh, it definitely does.
4:40:01>> I love that about it. I think most Zo
4:40:03owners will probably keep that cable in
4:40:05place. Um, leather carrying case,
4:40:08simple, elegant, and then handcrafted in
4:40:10the USA. $3,000.
4:40:13Um, it's a little more expensive than a
4:40:15velour.
4:40:16>> It is.
4:40:16>> I'm going to say it. Totally worth it.
4:40:18>> It is.
4:40:19>> Uh, there's the build, the appearance. I
4:40:22love the way the velour looks. That
4:40:23striking color of the velour, but these
4:40:25are just like kind of next level
4:40:27elegance. These are pretty bougie.
4:40:28>> They are.
4:40:29>> Yeah, I love them. But the sound more
4:40:31importantly. So, I love the velour
4:40:33sound. Again, one of my references since
4:40:35its release. It's been out for a while.
4:40:37>> This tightens it up.
4:40:39>> Didn't know that I wanted that from the
4:40:40velour. It makes the bass more
4:40:43controlled, more textured, and I didn't
4:40:45know I wanted that. But also, not just
4:40:47the bass, the balance is still all there
4:40:49that I love, but presence region, upper
4:40:52mids, treble, all of it is just more
4:40:54refined,
4:40:54>> right?
4:40:55>> The Zo is now one of my references.
4:40:58It'll probably replace the velour
4:40:59because they're close
4:41:01>> um familial uh in sound. And uh if you
4:41:05want to hear one of my high reference
4:41:06IM's right now at Can Jam, make sure you
4:41:09hear the Aelen Kern 64 Audio Zo.
4:41:11Fantastic IM. What a wonderful
4:41:14collaboration IM this is.
4:41:16>> Oh yeah.
4:41:17>> This is the Vulk Audio and Aelen Kern
4:41:20Stella. Okay, here's what I'm going to
4:41:23say. So Vulk Audio
4:41:24>> released an IM, their first IM called
4:41:27the A12,
4:41:28>> right? And I thought maybe when you know
4:41:30when we first heard they're going to do
4:41:31a collaboration that maybe this would be
4:41:33voiced like the A12 but with some give
4:41:35me some slight changes.
4:41:36>> Yeah. Completely different IM from the
4:41:38A12. Yes.
4:41:38>> Completely. We'll get to the sound
4:41:39shortly. So let's talk about it. The
4:41:41Vulk Audio and Aelon current Stella is a
4:41:4312 driver quadr.
4:41:46And on each side for lows there's one
4:41:48Vulk M9R 9mm dynamic subwoofer, two
4:41:51Sonian balanced armatures. For the mids,
4:41:53three Sonian balanced armatures. And for
4:41:55the highs, two Vulk MP2 planer drivers
4:41:58and four Sonian EST drivers. Um, and
4:42:00that's all in a sixway crossover
4:42:02configuration.
4:42:03>> Mhm.
4:42:03>> The shell is an aeros aerospace grade
4:42:066061T6 aluminum shell, anodized black
4:42:09satin finish. It's uh it's simple and
4:42:11elegant.
4:42:12>> Yeah.
4:42:12>> On that black side.
4:42:13>> Mhm.
4:42:14>> The face plate though,
4:42:15>> that's what I love.
4:42:16>> That Yeah. Yeah. The the face plate uses
4:42:18sapphire crystal glass
4:42:20>> or sapphire crystal which essentially
4:42:23should be scratch proof.
4:42:24>> Yeah.
4:42:24>> Uh and that's surrounded by a polished
4:42:27stainless steel face plate frame.
4:42:29>> Mhm.
4:42:29>> It's beautiful.
4:42:30>> Yeah, it is.
4:42:30>> And I love sapphire crystal. I love that
4:42:32they use that. That's so cool. The cable
4:42:34is a 23.7 gauge four core cable and
4:42:37that's a 5N LCOFC copper, 4N silver and
4:42:4124 karat gold conductor combination and
4:42:44a 12 strand lit type 4S geometry. It
4:42:47uses 6061T6 black anodized aluminum
4:42:49hardware with 316 stainless steel
4:42:51polished accents. Two pin connector on
4:42:53the earpiece side, 4.4 millm balance
4:42:55termination on the plug side.
4:42:57>> Mhm.
4:42:57>> We don't have the leather carrying case
4:42:59here, but I expect it's going to be
4:43:00gorgeous. Well, yeah. It's coming from
4:43:02Ael and Kern and they they select some
4:43:04really nice levels.
4:43:04>> Yes, they do. So, I'm expecting that
4:43:05that to be gorgeous. Price $3,900.
4:43:08>> Yeah,
4:43:09>> I think it's worth it. I think this is a
4:43:10flagship class IM. I I'm really digging
4:43:13this one. Okay, so again, oh, I want to
4:43:15mention so Jack Vang from Vulk Audio
4:43:18>> on his first IM, the A12
4:43:20>> worked with a five-time Grammy
4:43:22award-winning engineer named Michael
4:43:23Graves.
4:43:24>> Yeah, I
4:43:24>> I met Michael in Singapore, KJM
4:43:26Singapore. And um and what a gentleman
4:43:30just this kind kind soul. Yeah. Um and
4:43:33obviously very talented five time five
4:43:35five-time Grammy award-winning engineer.
4:43:37So
4:43:38>> okay the A12 Well, let's talk about what
4:43:40they say about this one first. So So
4:43:41they say new acoustic architectures and
4:43:43driver assemblies were created
4:43:44specifically for Stella to achieve the
4:43:46precision and tonal balance defined in
4:43:48its target response. I don't know what
4:43:50its target response is. I can tell you
4:43:51though it's very different than the
4:43:52A12s.
4:43:52>> Oh yeah.
4:43:53>> So um and I don't know about you. I I
4:43:56prefer the Stella to the A12.
4:43:58>> Hands down.
4:43:59>> I enjoy the Awol. It's a more voc like a
4:44:02vocal forward design, like a a sound, I
4:44:04mean, to to my ears.
4:44:06>> Um, but very enjoyable to me. But this
4:44:10is more neutally tuned.
4:44:11>> Yes.
4:44:12>> Um, and it has beautiful bass.
4:44:15>> It's got some bass impact. Yeah.
4:44:16>> Got some Yeah. So, if there's something
4:44:18low,
4:44:19>> it hits hard.
4:44:20>> It does.
4:44:20>> But I don't find it overblown at all. I
4:44:22know for you, you prefer less bass than
4:44:23I do. I make a small tweak in the EQ,
4:44:25but it's not a lot. And I really, really
4:44:27enjoy the final product.
4:44:28>> I make no tweak. I take that [laughter]
4:44:30impact and enjoy the heck out of it. The
4:44:32mids are super clean and reference like
4:44:34reference class mids. The highs are
4:44:36gorgeous. Soaring. Yeah, I honestly
4:44:39>> I enjoy the heck out of these a lot. The
4:44:41imaging is beautiful.
4:44:43>> Frankly, again, I prefer these to the
4:44:44A12. I do enjoy the A12, but this is
4:44:47more my jam.
4:44:49>> What a wonderful IM. I think it's going
4:44:51to be a huge hit at Can Jam. I think I
4:44:53can see lines forming for this already.
4:44:56So, make sure at Canjam to check out the
4:44:57Vulk Audio and Aelen Current Stella.
4:45:00Great job, guys. What a wonderful IM.
4:45:02Faith Audio Labs E1000. Uh, even if
4:45:06you're not familiar with Faith Audio
4:45:07Labs, uh, I can say this much about
4:45:09them. Uh, this is a team with extensive
4:45:11experience making high-end IM
4:45:13>> that it is.
4:45:14>> All right. So, the E1000 they describe
4:45:16as their founding flagship, which I
4:45:18think is interesting. Uh they say that
4:45:20the E1000 introduces the concept of
4:45:22passive desktop speakers into IM design.
4:45:25Now specifically on each side there's a
4:45:27single 10.2 millimeter fullrange dynamic
4:45:29driver inside an acoustic chamber. And
4:45:32here's what they say about that. They
4:45:33say we treat the acoustic chamber as a
4:45:35room and the driver as a speaker
4:45:37allowing natural air flow and cavity
4:45:39coupling.
4:45:40>> I mean I see where they're coming from
4:45:41here. Uh now there's a double-sided
4:45:44titanium coated diaphragm. So that
4:45:46diaphragm on that 10.2 2 millm driver uh
4:45:49double-sided titanium coated diaphragm.
4:45:51Physical vacuum direct current magnetron
4:45:53sputtering process with more than 80
4:45:55layers of titanium coating.
4:45:57>> Yeah, I really want to see a
4:45:58cross-section of that diaphragm because
4:45:59if I'm not mistaken, I think they're
4:46:00doing the sputtering process on both
4:46:01sides of it. I really want to see how
4:46:03that turns out. That'd be really cool to
4:46:04see it.
4:46:05>> 80 layers of titanium coating. Yeah,
4:46:06it's super interesting. a Tesla magnetic
4:46:09system with a patented design, dual dual
4:46:12neodymium magnets that generate a 9,000
4:46:14g magnetic field
4:46:16>> and a triple layer magnetic guidance
4:46:18system. So, I don't know much about
4:46:21that, but I'm certainly curious. Um, the
4:46:23housing is an aerospace grade titanium
4:46:26alloy that's CNC mil from a solid block
4:46:29of titanium alloy, and it uses a micro
4:46:31matte finish. I I I I really like the
4:46:34way these look.
4:46:34>> I do too. Uh, it has an industrial type
4:46:37appearance with the fittings and
4:46:38everything. And I I I actually dig the
4:46:40way they look a lot.
4:46:42>> 45 ohm impedance. Now, the cable, 1.5
4:46:45meter, four core high purity OFC cable.
4:46:46That's oxygen-free copper. Two pin
4:46:48connectors on the earpiece side, 4.4
4:46:50millm termination on the plug side. The
4:46:52price $3,799.
4:46:54>> So, this is a premium priced. Again,
4:46:56it's their founding flagship. And so,
4:46:59here's the thing at Can Jam. Make sure
4:47:02just because maybe some people aren't
4:47:03going to be familiar with faith audio
4:47:04lens.
4:47:05>> Sure.
4:47:06>> Even if you're not familiar with it,
4:47:07again, this is a team with experience
4:47:09making high-end IM and it shows.
4:47:11>> Right.
4:47:11>> Now, soundwise, we agree. Actually, this
4:47:13is one of the ones where we agree on the
4:47:15sound.
4:47:15>> Yeah. They kind of hit that sweet spot.
4:47:17>> Yes. And and and we even agree on the
4:47:19bass.
4:47:20>> Yeah.
4:47:20>> Brian, we're making progress together.
4:47:22Um because we actually agree on the bass
4:47:24presentation cuz even when I say for
4:47:26this one, it's perceived flat bass to my
4:47:28ears. Like neutral.
4:47:29>> Yeah. It falls in my range of neutral
4:47:30towards the upper end, but it's still in
4:47:31that range.
4:47:32>> Okay. See, because sometimes when I say
4:47:33perceived flat, you still think it's
4:47:35emphasized,
4:47:35>> right?
4:47:36>> But yet, we both enjoy the bass
4:47:37presentation here because it's extended.
4:47:39So, when it hits low, it hits.
4:47:41>> Yes.
4:47:41>> But it's not emphasized. Mids, super
4:47:44clean.
4:47:44>> Oh, yeah.
4:47:45>> Clear resolving mids. And then the
4:47:47highs, which
4:47:48>> That's my favorite.
4:47:48>> Yeah. I say it's probably your favorite
4:47:50part. So, uh, when you say that I love
4:47:53the treble, usually for me it means it's
4:47:55too hot.
4:47:55>> It could. Yeah.
4:47:56>> But it's not in this case, right? So
4:47:58somehow we agree on the treble
4:47:59presentation which has beautiful airy
4:48:01treble and detailed treble.
4:48:03>> We're doing well here, Brian. We're
4:48:05agreeing with each other. Sound stage
4:48:07and I think you agree with me here as
4:48:08well. Images beautifully.
4:48:09>> Yes.
4:48:10>> All right. Which can happen with a
4:48:12wellexecuted single driver design.
4:48:13>> Oh yeah.
4:48:13>> If you can achieve I've said it before.
4:48:15If you can achieve your goals with a
4:48:16single driver per side,
4:48:18>> it can have benefits.
4:48:20>> I'm hearing them with this. All right.
4:48:22This IM again is a flagship class IM
4:48:26from Faith Audio Labs out of the gate
4:48:28for them,
4:48:28>> right?
4:48:29>> And at Can Jam, even if you're not
4:48:31familiar with the company, trust that
4:48:33this is an experienced team making
4:48:35high-end IM and that the E1000
4:48:37absolutely worth a listen. This is the
4:48:40Faith Audio Labs U1000. Now, I want to I
4:48:43want to start off very quickly by
4:48:44saying, you know, we're going to be
4:48:45showing photographs of this as we always
4:48:47do whilst we're talking, right? Um, but
4:48:49the units we have, they're only going to
4:48:51make 99 of these globally.
4:48:52>> Yes.
4:48:52>> Very limited edition. So, the unit we
4:48:54have is a unit that has been at shows.
4:48:58>> Yeah. It's made the rounds.
4:48:59>> It's made the rounds. And so, it might
4:49:01look in the photos like it's made the
4:49:02rounds. It might not look brand spanking
4:49:04new. Right.
4:49:04>> That said, I'm thrilled that we have
4:49:06these here.
4:49:06>> Me, too.
4:49:07>> All right. So, the Faith Audio Labs
4:49:08U100, again, limited to 99 units
4:49:10globally. It's uh I it's an IM that's
4:49:13co-engineered by Vivid Cable and Faith
4:49:15Audio Labs. So, it uses an optimized
4:49:1810.2 millimeter fullrange dynamic driver
4:49:20on each side. Um, versus the E1000.
4:49:23We've talked about the Faith Audio Labs
4:49:24E1000. Um, enhanced matching precision.
4:49:27Right now, given how well matched the
4:49:28E1000s are, they must be talking about
4:49:31even tighter matching on a very like,
4:49:34>> you know, microscopic level.
4:49:36>> Right.
4:49:37>> Um, double-sided titanium coated
4:49:39diaphragms. Um, more than 90 layers of
4:49:42titanium coating. I believe that's on
4:49:44each side.
4:49:45>> Yes. uh versus the E1000's 80 layers.
4:49:48All right. The housing the the chassis
4:49:51mirror polished titanium front chamber
4:49:53and then 24 karat goldplated titanium
4:49:55rear chamber.
4:49:56>> Mhm.
4:49:57>> So yes, that is actual gold plating on
4:49:59them.
4:49:59>> Yeah.
4:50:00>> Luxury grade handapplied enamel. So if
4:50:03you look um anywhere you see that light
4:50:06color is a hand applied enamel.
4:50:08>> Yes.
4:50:09>> And then it has luxury grade um I mean
4:50:11I'm sorry genuine S Swarovski crystals.
4:50:14So the little crystals you see are S
4:50:16Swarovski crystals. The cable is a
4:50:18bespoke cable from vivid cable. They
4:50:22they call it angel alloy conductors. The
4:50:24conductor material that's a gold silver
4:50:26alloy core clad with a highdensity layer
4:50:28of 5N pure silver and paired with a
4:50:30custom PTFE shielding structure designed
4:50:32to maintain signal purity and
4:50:34transmission stability. They say
4:50:35multi-stage cryogenic and magnetization
4:50:37treatment is also applied. and they say
4:50:40the cable underos extended liquid
4:50:41nitrogen cryogenic treatment, conductor
4:50:43magnetization, and natural aging to
4:50:45improve long-term stability and tonal
4:50:47consistency. So, a lot of attention has
4:50:49been given to the cables from Vivid
4:50:52Cable.
4:50:52>> Uh 4.4mm 4N pure silver plug
4:50:55>> and then a proprietary uh proprietary
4:50:58two pin connectors that are 4N pure
4:50:59silver conductors on those pins.
4:51:01>> Again, limited to 99 units globally.
4:51:04Price,
4:51:05>> it's up there.
4:51:06>> Yeah.
4:51:06>> $7,999
4:51:08US. Yeah, when you think about the
4:51:10materials that are used, not surprising.
4:51:12>> I mean, not not shocking, but that still
4:51:14is a very expensive idea.
4:51:16>> Very expensive.
4:51:16>> Uh, okay. So, how do they sound? We've
4:51:18talked about the E1000.
4:51:20>> If you love the E1000, you're going to
4:51:23love the E1000, right?
4:51:25>> It's essentially a refinement of the
4:51:26E1000 signature, but to me, they are
4:51:30clearly of the same sound signature. I
4:51:32mean, yeah,
4:51:33>> I feel like the E1000, which is a nice
4:51:35thing, which is a good thing, was
4:51:37probably
4:51:38>> still the target signature for these,
4:51:40but with a further refinement. Um, I
4:51:42think they tried to improve soundstaging
4:51:44with them, um, and refine the treble
4:51:46response.
4:51:47>> But again, if you love the E1000, you're
4:51:50going to love the U1000 and vice versa.
4:51:53But at Can Jam, if you want to hear and
4:51:55see this very limited edition, very
4:51:59high-end IM from Faith Audio Labs, the
4:52:01U100, make sure to check these out. This
4:52:04is the Symphonium and Elise Audio
4:52:06Zenith. I love this M. I've been to so
4:52:09many KJMs, I don't remember exactly, but
4:52:11I think it was KJM Dubai 2026 that I
4:52:13first heard these, a prototype of these.
4:52:15It was Felix from Symphonium Audio Let
4:52:16me hear them. Told them right away, love
4:52:18these. Have to have them the moment
4:52:20they're out. Um, Can Jam Singapore 2026
4:52:23picked up my pair and I'm so excited.
4:52:25We'll talk about that anyway. All right.
4:52:27Collaboration IM between Symphonium
4:52:29Audio and Elise Audio. Two companies
4:52:32that know their stuff when it comes to
4:52:34high-end IM for sure. All right. And it
4:52:36shows when you listen to these four
4:52:38driver, which was surprising to me when
4:52:40I first heard them. I wouldn't have
4:52:41guessed four driver. I would have
4:52:43guessed more. Um, and it's an all
4:52:44balanced armature design. Um, they don't
4:52:47tell us exactly what that breakdown is
4:52:48of the drivers, but it's a four-bed
4:52:49armature design, customtuned balanced
4:52:51armatures, truex four-way crossover. It
4:52:54incorporates, they say about the driver
4:52:56compliment. Zenith delivers a level of
4:52:59coherence, balance, and resolution that
4:53:00brute force driver counts cannot
4:53:02replicate. A bold statement, but I get
4:53:04why they'd be so bold when they've done
4:53:06it with this with four drivers.
4:53:08>> Yep.
4:53:09Uh, it incorporates Symphonium Audio's
4:53:11proprietary core plus FAT, that's PHAT,
4:53:13and flat technologies, which we've seen
4:53:15before in Symphonium Audio IM.
4:53:17>> The shell is an anodized uh AL 6063
4:53:20aluminum shell uh with forged carbon
4:53:22composite face plates. Uh, it looks like
4:53:24a Symphonium Audio IM, right?
4:53:26>> Um, they have a very they tend toward
4:53:29simple, elegant designs.
4:53:30>> Yeah, it's got the nice teardrop to it.
4:53:32>> Yes, but it's a very simple, elegant
4:53:34design. I love I love that actually
4:53:36about it. The tips that it comes with
4:53:38adla sedna fit origins and divvenis
4:53:41velvet wide ear tips. So these are like
4:53:43aftermarket ear tips that come with it
4:53:45which I love. Two different types. The
4:53:47cable the stock cable alloon audio
4:53:50litmus cable originally commissioned to
4:53:52be the standardized cable paired with
4:53:53the symphony symphonium audio giant.
4:53:55>> Right.
4:53:56>> Uh it's a 24 gauge uh two- wire twisted
4:53:59configuration cable uh with swappable
4:54:01terminations uh terminations 3 and a
4:54:02half millimeter and 4.4 millimeter.
4:54:04Here's the thing. This is not the stock
4:54:06cable you're looking at on mine because
4:54:09you get all that for $1,800. The stock
4:54:12cable with the Zenith. This is the
4:54:15Vortex Cables Iris 8wire upgrade option.
4:54:18That's $2,200. They say of that Vortex
4:54:21Cables Iris 8 wire cable can be
4:54:23purchased at significant savings. Richer
4:54:25lower mids and fuller body than the
4:54:26stock litmus cable and with gracefully
4:54:28delicate, effortless highs. Incredibly
4:54:31natural treble extension. Note that this
4:54:33add-on means you will receive both the
4:54:34Litmus and Iris cable. I love that it
4:54:36comes with both. That's the option I
4:54:38went for. That's what this is. This is
4:54:40the Vortex Cables Iris 8 wire option.
4:54:43All right. They say of the sound of the
4:54:44Zenith, the Zenith delivers a sound that
4:54:46is both powerful and nuanced starting
4:54:47from a foundation of thick grounded bass
4:54:50and lower mid-range. I want to circle
4:54:52back to that because I mostly agree with
4:54:53what they're saying. I somewhat agree
4:54:54with what they're saying there.
4:54:55>> Right.
4:54:56>> In the mid-range, vocals and instruments
4:54:57are not merely separated but given their
4:54:59own distinct three-dimensional space.
4:55:02100% agree with that. Up top, the treble
4:55:04the treble is effortlessly extended
4:55:06without harshness. I also 100% agree
4:55:08with that.
4:55:09>> Imaging is holographic and each element
4:55:10is placed with pinpoint precision yet
4:55:12never oversharpened. 100% agree with
4:55:15that. So now I want to circle back to
4:55:16the thing that I don't 100% agree with,
4:55:18which is the bass description. Thick,
4:55:22grounded bass and lower mid-range. I
4:55:24agree that it is a very present bass,
4:55:27>> but in terms of level, to my ears, it's
4:55:30more neutral than it is thick.
4:55:32>> Yeah. When I heard that, I expected
4:55:33significantly more bass,
4:55:35>> based on that description. Yes.
4:55:36>> Yes. To me, it's more neutral than thick
4:55:38to my ears anyway. And to my tastes. Um,
4:55:40but it is beautifully done, beautifully
4:55:42extended, and impactful.
4:55:44>> Mhm.
4:55:45>> Everything else they said about it, I
4:55:46fully agree with, which makes this a
4:55:49very special IM. I actually compared it
4:55:52well the first time I heard it directly
4:55:53to the subonic storm because it was like
4:55:55right next to it and to me this is kind
4:55:57of like a storm I can afford because the
4:56:00storm is quite expensive. Don't have
4:56:01one. It's one of my high reference IM
4:56:04and I love it but this is like a storm I
4:56:06can afford. And frankly to me if I had
4:56:08to make the direct comparison I'd say
4:56:10these are more neutral right
4:56:12>> than even the Storm. So, if that's what
4:56:14something you're looking for at a more
4:56:15affordable price, goodness gracious, the
4:56:18Symphonium Elise Audio Zenith is just a
4:56:21phenomenal option and you can't miss
4:56:23this at Can Jam.
4:56:24>> No, I think it can be said that
4:56:26Symphonium Audio is essentially part of
4:56:28like a group there. There are a group of
4:56:30friends and colleagues in Singapore,
4:56:32kind of a group of IM master engineers
4:56:36that work together. They they they
4:56:38design and release IM with Symphonium
4:56:40Audio then also Nitar Acoustics and
4:56:43Subtonic and then they own together
4:56:46Nihilo Audio in Singapore which is a
4:56:48really really amazing place. So
4:56:51>> at Kanjam you'll also be able to hear in
4:56:52addition to Symphonium Audio Nar
4:56:54Acoustics and Subtonic. So for Nitar
4:56:57Acoustics I'm going to just focus on one
4:56:58of their models. It's the Nitar
4:56:59Acoustics Singularity. It was the first
4:57:01NAR acoustics piece I've ever heard
4:57:02probably for a lot of you the same. Um
4:57:04it's a single driver per side IM. So the
4:57:07Nar acoustic singularity on each side is
4:57:09single bespoke 10mm tambber plus dynamic
4:57:12driver. Uh anodized 6000 series aluminum
4:57:15shell vanguard two-wire cable with
4:57:16swappable terminations. $1,300. This is
4:57:19a rich like a bassy rich hard-hitting
4:57:23IM. Yeah. That a lot of people love. Has
4:57:25a big fan base. But then I want to talk
4:57:27about the Subtonic Storm. The Subtonic
4:57:30Storm is freaking incredible. It's an
4:57:33incredible IM. It's one of the best I've
4:57:35ever heard. We don't have one here. I'm
4:57:37going to get to why. Well, I'll tell.
4:57:39Let's start it off. It's $7,299. That's
4:57:41one of the reasons we don't have one
4:57:42here. But every time I get a chance to
4:57:44listen to it, like at Can Jam or if a
4:57:46friend has one, I want to hear the
4:57:48Storm. The Subonic Storm is a nine
4:57:50driver tribrid design. It's a flagship
4:57:52class IM all the way. On each side, two
4:57:54slam woofers, five balanced armatures,
4:57:56two electrostatic drivers with a
4:57:58seven-way crossover design. It comes
4:58:00with a Mirror Mark 2 24.6 6 gauge cable
4:58:02and again $7,299.
4:58:05It is simply one of the best anything
4:58:07I've ever heard,
4:58:08>> IM headphone or otherwise. It's that
4:58:11good. So, make sure
4:58:13>> listen to the Symphonium Audio stuff,
4:58:15but also make sure to check out Nitar
4:58:16Acoustics and definitely Subonic Storm.
4:58:19Breeze Audio is best known in our
4:58:21community for their very very very very
4:58:24expensive flagship IM system,
4:58:27>> the Fugaku.
4:58:28>> Yep. which is, by the way, not just
4:58:30expensive. It's incredible. Pretty much
4:58:32everybody who's heard the Fugaku loves
4:58:33it and uh and justifiably so. Fantastic.
4:58:36And you might think I'm holding, that's
4:58:38the point here, the Fugaku's earphones,
4:58:40but I'm not. This is another model
4:58:41called the Breeze Audio Ibuki. And
4:58:43unlike the Fugaku, you do not need a
4:58:45specific amp to drive these. You can
4:58:47drive this with whatever you drive IM
4:58:48with. So, let's talk about the Ibuki
4:58:50because I know there'll be lines to hear
4:58:52this at Can Jam. So, this is a nine
4:58:55driver tribut on each side. two 8
4:58:57millimeter LCP dynamic drivers. They're
4:58:59in a dual opposed configuration. I'm I'm
4:59:01guessing it says cone to cone
4:59:03arrangement. That sounds like an isomeic
4:59:04arrangement to me.
4:59:05>> Does sound that way. Yeah.
4:59:06>> Yeah. Second generation version of the
4:59:07LCP drivers found in the Fugaku. That's
4:59:09kind of cool. I did not know that. All
4:59:11right. There are also on each side five
4:59:13balanced armatures. That's one Sonian BA
4:59:15for low mids, two two Nles BAS for mids,
4:59:18and two NESBAs BAS for highs. And then
4:59:20there are two electrostatic drivers and
4:59:22then a fiveway crossover design. Uh, the
4:59:24shell is a grade five titanium shell
4:59:26with a charcoal black PVD coating on
4:59:28part of it.
4:59:29>> I think the shells are gorgeous just
4:59:32like with the Fugaku's earphones and
4:59:33they feel super duper solid.
4:59:37>> Beautifully built. TP the TPE ear
4:59:40hangers are built in and I love the
4:59:42design. They hold these beautifully to
4:59:44my ears. Do they fit you well too?
4:59:46>> Yeah.
4:59:46>> Okay. Uh, genuine leather carrying case.
4:59:49Uh, Ala Sedna earit max ear tips come
4:59:51with them as well. Um, this cable is the
4:59:54cable called the BSP.
4:59:56>> Yeah, that's their their name for it.
4:59:57>> Okay. So, the cable's called BP and
4:59:59that's the Ibuki cable based on Breeze
5:00:01Audios Akagane 35 wire material.
5:00:04>> Mhm.
5:00:04>> Uh, quad spiral structure, high
5:00:06functionality, high purity copper, grade
5:00:085 titanium hardware, OFC, that's oxygen
5:00:11free copper, oxygen free copper,
5:00:13Pentacon ear connector, 4.4 millimeter
5:00:15termination. I mean, Breeze Audio is
5:00:17also known for the cables. Yes. So,
5:00:18yeah. I mean, you can expect that the
5:00:20cable on these are going to be it's
5:00:22going to be a fantastic cable.
5:00:23>> Now, the price, it is still a very
5:00:27expensive IM, but far less expensive.
5:00:30>> Yep.
5:00:30>> Than the Fugaku. These are priced at
5:00:32$6,499.
5:00:34All right. Here's what they say. What we
5:00:35aim for was a low range with a tangible
5:00:38sense of presence
5:00:40>> as if masses of air were pressing
5:00:42forward. That's a very interesting way
5:00:44to phrase it.
5:00:45>> Was a low range with a t Okay, that's
5:00:46interesting. We envision a vivid sound
5:00:48that allows you to keep listening to
5:00:49your favorite library endlessly,
5:00:51forgetting the passage of time.
5:00:53>> Yep.
5:00:53>> I mean, they're poetic in both
5:00:55instances. Uh, I will say this, I
5:00:59actually really love these.
5:01:00>> Yeah.
5:01:00>> Um, let's talk about what you think
5:01:03about them.
5:01:03>> Okay. So, when I was listening to these,
5:01:04I immediately thought that they have a
5:01:06really fun W-shaped sound signature. One
5:01:09of the things that really stood out to
5:01:10me was that they have a solid, dense
5:01:12bass impact. Really nice and tight down
5:01:13low. Uh, a lot of presence.
5:01:16>> Yes. and it has excellent vocal range
5:01:18and a lovely top end. So for my personal
5:01:20taste, taking the bass down just a
5:01:22little bit with the EQ, I think this is
5:01:24a stellar [snorts] piece.
5:01:25>> Yes, I think the Ibuki is a fantastic IM
5:01:28like flagship class IM.
5:01:30>> Is it okay? We don't have the Fugaku
5:01:32here right now. U but based on my memory
5:01:35of the Fugaku, is it a Fugaku? I can
5:01:37tell you straight away, no. My memory is
5:01:39good enough to tell me that this is not
5:01:41a Fugaku. Um, does it sound like it's
5:01:45related to Fugaku? Yes, it does. So, it
5:01:47sounds related to Fugaku, but the one
5:01:49thing I don't remember saying about the
5:01:50Fugaku is that I I don't remember it
5:01:52feeling bass emphasized, whereas this
5:01:53feels bass emphasized to me.
5:01:55>> Um, so this is a more physical impactful
5:01:58bass to my ears. And maybe that's what
5:01:59they're referring to as if masses of air
5:02:01were pressing forward because it is it's
5:02:03it's it's almost tactile or it is
5:02:05tactile.
5:02:06>> Um, detail-wise, imaging wise,
5:02:09beautiful. The balance is overall
5:02:11beautiful, but with some richness down
5:02:13low that I don't seem to remember with
5:02:15the Fugaku, which by the way had amazing
5:02:17bass.
5:02:18>> Um, and so yes, I want to do the
5:02:21comparison directly between the two when
5:02:22I have a chance at Can Jam, but these
5:02:25strike me as flagship class all the way.
5:02:29Maybe maybe maybe it takes something
5:02:32like a fugaku, right, to to to make
5:02:35these seem more modest because in the
5:02:39presence of everything else, I think
5:02:40these shine. They're fantastic. So,
5:02:42don't miss the Ibuki at KJM.
5:02:43>> This is the Campfire Audio Chimera. This
5:02:46is a very special IM. I I think it's a
5:02:48unique, daring IM. Love the way it
5:02:50sounds. Doesn't sound like anything else
5:02:53>> and and I think that's the point of it.
5:02:54So, this is Campfire Audio's flagship
5:02:57IM, right? Um, it's a nine driver quadra
5:03:00IM. So on each side there's one 10
5:03:02millimeter bone conduction driver.
5:03:03>> Yeah, if I'm not mistaken, that's the
5:03:04first time they've used bone conduction.
5:03:06>> Yeah, that is. I'm almost certain of it.
5:03:07I think you're correct. Then one true
5:03:09glass 10 millimeter dynamic driver.
5:03:11>> Now I know that driver is new.
5:03:12>> You are correct. Also, it uses an ultra
5:03:14thin glass dome and the way they
5:03:16implement that bone conduction driver.
5:03:17By the way, I'll get to that. Unique um
5:03:19that glass driver is also very unique.
5:03:21uh one dual diaphragm nulls balanced
5:03:23armature for mids, one dual balanced
5:03:24armature for highs, and then four son
5:03:26ESTs or electrostatic tweeters for highs
5:03:28and ultra highs. The way they integrate
5:03:30them and voice them,
5:03:32>> I totally dig. We'll get to that. Billet
5:03:34magnesium chassis. The chassis is
5:03:36beautiful.
5:03:36>> Yeah.
5:03:37>> Uh Campfire Audio is known for making
5:03:39beautiful to look at IM as well. And I
5:03:42think this is by far their nicest
5:03:43looking IM. It's gorgeous. Very sculpted
5:03:45and gorgeous. Uh polished,
5:03:47electroplated, and PVD coated. This
5:03:48chassis comes in two colorways, black
5:03:51and gold. This is gold, so you can see
5:03:53half of it's gold. Um, and then it has a
5:03:56CNC billet brass spout. Uh, through the
5:03:59prototypes, they arrived at this spout
5:04:00and the brass material for its acoustic
5:04:02qualities. Um, now no matter which color
5:04:05way you choose, black or gold, uh, you
5:04:07get the same face plate. It's a high
5:04:08performance carbon fiber face plate made
5:04:10of Damascus gold fiber, which is a
5:04:13special blend blend of brass and carbon
5:04:15fiber.
5:04:16>> And again, it's very sculpted.
5:04:18This is just a gorgeous IM. Now, inside
5:04:21there's something they describe as a
5:04:22pressure relief system valve. Not sure
5:04:24exactly what that is and what it
5:04:26entails, but that's in there. Custom PCB
5:04:28dividing circuit inside. They also use
5:04:30vintage film caps or vintage film
5:04:32capacitors, which I think is very cool
5:04:33that they're doing.
5:04:34>> And then there's something they call
5:04:35fine-tuning acoustic filter damping
5:04:37elements inside.
5:04:38>> All right. Now, the cable, I want to
5:04:41focus on this just for a minute because
5:04:43if you know about the history of
5:04:44Campfire Audio, they go all the way back
5:04:46to a company called Alo Audio. And ALO
5:04:49Audio was known mostly for their
5:04:51high-end audio cables,
5:04:53>> right?
5:04:54>> And this cable that comes with the
5:04:56Chimera is essentially a reintroduction
5:04:59of ALO audio, which I think is very
5:05:00cool. So, the cable is called the ALO
5:05:02Audio Veilance 6 cable. It's a six- wire
5:05:05design and they say the Veilance 6 cable
5:05:07features six conductors. Four high
5:05:09purity copper conductors paired with two
5:05:1150/50 pure copper and SPC conductors,
5:05:13which is I believe silverplated copper
5:05:15conductors.
5:05:16>> Um, two pin connectors on the earpiece
5:05:18side, 4.4mm termination with aluminum
5:05:21hardware. It looks like machined
5:05:22aluminum hardware to my eyes. Gorgeous
5:05:25cable. So, this cable looks, sounds, and
5:05:28feels like a high-end aftermarket cable.
5:05:32Now the price $7,500. So it is priced
5:05:35like a flagship IM which is what it is.
5:05:38>> Now the thing is I said earlier that
5:05:40this is a bold unique IM and I meant
5:05:43that not just the way it looks but the
5:05:44way it sounds. Nothing else sounds like
5:05:47it. And that bone conduction driver is a
5:05:50big deal. It's a big reason for what I'm
5:05:52why I'm saying what I'm saying and why
5:05:55I'm hearing what I'm hearing. So, a lot
5:05:58of bone conduction driver equipped IM
5:06:00and there are a lot of them these days.
5:06:02You wouldn't know that they had a bone
5:06:03conduction driver in them just by
5:06:06listening to them.
5:06:06>> Mhm.
5:06:07>> Um, if I didn't tell you ahead of time
5:06:08that they had a bone conduction driver,
5:06:10you might not know. With these, you know
5:06:12it, you hear it and you feel it. Where
5:06:15where do I hear it and feel it the most?
5:06:16Acoustic instruments, for example. Uh,
5:06:19you know, Rick Biato, the YouTube
5:06:20channel, I love his channel. He
5:06:22interviewed a French guitarist, a young
5:06:24fellow named uh Antoine Buo. I hope I'm
5:06:27pronouncing it correctly. Uh I can't
5:06:29stop listening to Buoet ever since I saw
5:06:31the interview. And listening to his
5:06:33acoustic guitar through the Chimera, his
5:06:37guitar is given that the wood is
5:06:39audible. You can feel it. Um it's like
5:06:42live and lively and real. And I love
5:06:45that about it. It's not just guitar,
5:06:46cello, piano, other acoustic
5:06:48instruments. All right. So that much I
5:06:50love about it. So that kind of the
5:06:52presence of the of the bone conduction
5:06:54driver makes it a little hard for me to
5:06:56like so easily describe its tonal
5:06:58balance.
5:06:59>> Um, and if I had to though, I would
5:07:01generalize it as warm neutral. The bass
5:07:04from the 10mm glass driver, which I
5:07:07don't know a whole lot about, is very
5:07:09textured and detailed, which I love. I
5:07:11would say that it's a little bit above
5:07:13what I would say is perceived flat, but
5:07:16this is not a bass heavy m at all. The
5:07:19mids bell clear and the treble is
5:07:21another thing I want to mention because
5:07:22there's a lift to it, a presence to it
5:07:25that's above what I would consider
5:07:27purely flat or neutral, but with the
5:07:31whole balance is exactly where I'd want
5:07:34it to be. So yeah, am I a big fan of the
5:07:37Chimera? Yes. At Can Jam, do you have to
5:07:40hear them? Unquestionably, this is one
5:07:42of my highest recommendations to listen
5:07:43to at Can Jam. Unique Melody has such a
5:07:46strong lineup of IM and now they're
5:07:48adding another one and this will be at
5:07:49Kangja. So don't miss it. This is the
5:07:51unique melody for Fortune. It's a
5:07:53special edition IM commemorating the
5:07:552026 Lunar New Year
5:07:56>> and of that they say Fortune is a
5:07:59celebration of the past refined by time
5:08:01and offered with blessings for the
5:08:03future. That's sweet.
5:08:04>> It is.
5:08:05>> That's a very nice message. All right.
5:08:06So it's a 10 driver IM. On each side,
5:08:08there's one dynamic driver for bass,
5:08:10four balanced armatures, two for mids,
5:08:12two for treble, two EST drivers, of
5:08:14course, for ultra highs, and three bone
5:08:16conductors for low, mid, and high. And
5:08:19that's in a six-way crossover design. Of
5:08:21the shell, they say it's a premium
5:08:22enamel-like shell. It is very elegant
5:08:25looking.
5:08:25>> Yeah, it has to be actually one of my
5:08:26favorite styled unique Melody M pieces
5:08:28in quite a while.
5:08:29>> Yes, it's very elegant. Yeah, actually,
5:08:32it's beautiful. It
5:08:33>> for as simple as it is. So, yeah, I I
5:08:34love the way it looks. Uh the cable they
5:08:37call a Joyfort line custom cable. It's a
5:08:3926 gauge four-wire copper cable with a
5:08:41nylon jacket that matches the IM
5:08:44beautifully. So much so I love the way
5:08:47they look together so much. I'd have a
5:08:48hard time changing cables on these.
5:08:49>> Yeah.
5:08:50>> Um two pin connectors on the earpiece
5:08:52side and then for the plug 2 and 1/2 mm,
5:08:553 and 12 mm or 4.4 millimeter. Now it
5:08:57comes in a red or purple finish. This is
5:08:59red. I haven't seen the purple. You saw
5:09:01the photos. I saw photos online and I'm
5:09:03a big fan of purple, but honestly
5:09:05because I love how much how nice this
5:09:07looks in person. I would have a hard
5:09:08time picking between the two colors.
5:09:10>> Yeah, I love the way this looks. I
5:09:11haven't seen the purple yet. So, it's
5:09:12limited to 200 units globally. So, get
5:09:15them while you can. Price is $2,699.
5:09:18Now, of the sound, Unique Melody says
5:09:21the best fortune. The overall tuning
5:09:22leans toward balance. Bass emphasizes
5:09:25texture and speed. Mids present strong
5:09:28density and separation and treble
5:09:30focuses on smooth extension and fine
5:09:31detail retrieval. That's one of the
5:09:33descriptions from a company that I
5:09:34entirely agree with.
5:09:35>> Yeah.
5:09:36>> So, the way I hear these, I always start
5:09:38with bass because I'm kind of a mild
5:09:40audio file bass head and this satisfies
5:09:42what I want from bass. I wouldn't call
5:09:44it like to me I don't hear its overall
5:09:46signature as a bass emphasized
5:09:47signature.
5:09:48>> Yeah.
5:09:48>> But there is enough emphasis in the low
5:09:50lows that when you get some low bass
5:09:53content it can slam.
5:09:55>> Yeah. But when the song calls for it, it
5:09:56will deliver.
5:09:56>> Yes. But they've tuned the bass to keep
5:09:58it all clean.
5:09:59>> Yes.
5:10:00>> So the bass is clean. I would not I
5:10:01would not describe these as a bass
5:10:03emphasized
5:10:05M. But there is some bass emphasis,
5:10:07especially in the low lows.
5:10:08>> The mids are clean to me. Almost
5:10:10laidback.
5:10:11>> Um but very detailed and and and very I
5:10:15I would almost call it a reference type
5:10:16mid-range.
5:10:17>> Yeah.
5:10:18>> But the treble
5:10:19>> So the treble, which is probably your
5:10:21favorite part.
5:10:21>> Yep.
5:10:22>> It sings. So, there's some lift and
5:10:24sparkle. I wouldn't call it incisive.
5:10:27>> It's not past my preference range in
5:10:29treble.
5:10:30>> Um, but it's probably at or near the top
5:10:32of it.
5:10:33>> Yeah.
5:10:34>> And it's sparkly actually. And then the
5:10:36total balance. I really, really enjoy
5:10:38the Misfortune.
5:10:39>> Yeah. I didn't expect that kind of top
5:10:40end, especially when I heard their
5:10:41description cuz they said that it
5:10:42focuses on smooth extension in the
5:10:44treble range. I was kind of expecting a
5:10:46smoother treble and I'm happy to say
5:10:47that there is some shine up there that I
5:10:49like.
5:10:49>> Okay. So, while I agree with their
5:10:50description, I will say it's sparklier
5:10:52than I would have expected just from the
5:10:54description.
5:10:54>> Yes.
5:10:54>> So, I love the total tuning. So, it can
5:10:57jam another another fantastic unique
5:10:59melody. Make sure to not miss the mess
5:11:01fortune.
5:11:03>> This is Noble Audios Iris. First of all,
5:11:05I love Iris's fantastic flower and it's
5:11:07a fantastic IM. So, it is a single
5:11:10dynamic driver with a 10.2 millimeter
5:11:13custom dynamic driver. Now, they say it
5:11:15was engineered for smooth movement,
5:11:17controlled low-frequency texture, and
5:11:19clear midto high frequency performance.
5:11:21It features a three layer diaphragm
5:11:23design with dual neodymium iron boron
5:11:26magnet system and triple sound chamber
5:11:28acoustic structure. It has a blue CNC
5:11:31machined custom micarta housing inspired
5:11:34by the Iris Flower pairing organic
5:11:36character with Noble's precision
5:11:37craftsmanship. And it does look quite
5:11:40pretty.
5:11:40>> Yeah,
5:11:40>> I I think it's a beautiful M. Love the
5:11:42colors they went with.
5:11:43>> I like my Carta, too. Yeah,
5:11:44>> I have several knives that use micarta
5:11:46scales on them.
5:11:47>> It's pretty neat stuff.
5:11:48>> It is.
5:11:48>> And it has a six core OCC plus SPC cable
5:11:52with swappable 3.5 millimeter and 4.4
5:11:54millimeter plugs. It runs $699. And
5:11:58about the sound, they say Iris is a
5:12:00refined wired IM built for natural tone,
5:12:03focused imaging, and everyday musical
5:12:05engagement. When I was listening to
5:12:06this, I had something at the forefront
5:12:08of my mind, and I wrote that down
5:12:09immediately in my notes. I think that
5:12:12this is like a textbook example of
5:12:15fantastic single dynamic driver
5:12:16execution. The bass is well controlled,
5:12:20but it still has that dynamic emphasis.
5:12:22The treble sounds great. It's resolving,
5:12:24but it's not going to be sharp or
5:12:26strident. Um, I think that it has a
5:12:28wonderful mid-range and that high-end is
5:12:30also forgiving. So, it sounds fantastic.
5:12:33>> I think it sounds fantastic. And I
5:12:35always say if you can achieve with a
5:12:36single driver your sonic goals,
5:12:38>> Yep. All the power to you because then
5:12:41you don't have to worry as much about,
5:12:42you know, melding several different
5:12:44driver types together to sound as one
5:12:46because you have a driver that's as one.
5:12:48It is one, right? And I really enjoy
5:12:50everything you said about the
5:12:52description soundwise. I agree with
5:12:54except a little bit. I I So the high-end
5:12:57is probably a little bit on my, you
5:13:00know, kind of the higher side of my
5:13:01preference, but in a good way. It's in a
5:13:04good way.
5:13:04>> And if and and there are sometimes
5:13:05that's the signature I want.
5:13:07>> Yeah. Uh uh I I don't find the high-end
5:13:10as forgiving as you do, but it is
5:13:12refined. Yep.
5:13:13>> Like it's a nice refined. Honestly, it's
5:13:14a beautifully executed single driver
5:13:16dynamic IM.
5:13:18>> I dig the Iris.
5:13:19>> Yeah, I think it's going to do very well
5:13:21at Can Jam. This is Noble Audios Osprey,
5:13:24and I have a sneaking suspicion it's
5:13:25going to get a lot of talk from
5:13:26Headfires in the impressions thread
5:13:27after Can Jam. So, the Osprey is a two
5:13:30driver hybrid true wireless IM. Inside
5:13:32is one 10mm dynamic driver and one
5:13:35custom balanced armature driver. and
5:13:37those are connected with Bluetooth 6.0
5:13:38connectivity so you get a little bit of
5:13:40future proofing there and that has
5:13:41support for LDAC. It has an active noise
5:13:44cancellation system and it actually does
5:13:45a really nice job for a true wireless
5:13:47and it has pass through transparency
5:13:48mode. And I do want to mention because I
5:13:50thought this stood out to me, the
5:13:51outside sounds very natural when I'm
5:13:54using transparency mode. I definitely
5:13:55appreciate that it has multi-point
5:13:57connectivity. It has dual microphones
5:13:59with CVC noise reduction. So it will
5:14:01reduce outgoing noise when you're having
5:14:03a conversation with somebody. It's, you
5:14:04know, sampling what's going on around
5:14:06you and pulling that sound down. It has,
5:14:08uh, compatibility with Noble's Focus
5:14:10app. It has 7 hours of playback. You get
5:14:125 hours with&c turned on and it has USBC
5:14:15fast charge. If I'm not mistaken, I
5:14:17think you get about 2 hours on like a 10
5:14:18or 15 minute charge. And that's great to
5:14:20have. It has a premium aluminum charging
5:14:22case. And this charging case also has a
5:14:24500 mAh battery built in. And all of
5:14:27this runs $199.
5:14:30Now, that's a lot of feature for the for
5:14:32the dollar there, but it's really the
5:14:33sound that I think is going to connect
5:14:35with a lot of headfires. So, Noble
5:14:37describes it as Osprey combines powerful
5:14:39dynamic bass with the precision and
5:14:41clarity of a custom balanced armature
5:14:42driver for an engaging, detailed
5:14:44listening experience. And I agree with
5:14:46them because I would describe this as
5:14:48like an audio file V signature. So, I've
5:14:51said before and I'll continue to say it.
5:14:52When you're out and about, sometimes you
5:14:54do want some more bass presence because
5:14:56it's nice to help isolate you a bit from
5:14:58what's going on around you. And then
5:15:00it's also nice to have a little more on
5:15:01the high end of that V because it's
5:15:03going to be bringing out detail and
5:15:04clarity, helping you really just get
5:15:06lost in your music when you're out and
5:15:07about. So, at Can Jam, when you think
5:15:09about this, it's $199. There's going to
5:15:12be flagship true wireless systems that
5:15:14sound absolutely incredible, but when it
5:15:16comes to bang for the buck, I kind of
5:15:17feel like this one has to be heard.
5:15:19Yeah, Noble is incredible. I mean,
5:15:21they're known, of course, originally for
5:15:22their high-end wired IM,
5:15:24>> but they have done such amazing things
5:15:26with wireless. They've made such
5:15:28incredible progress and strides in
5:15:31wireless, and that is absolutely no
5:15:32exception. Fantastic.
5:15:34>> This is Noble Audio's Vanguard, and I
5:15:36think that this is going to be a great
5:15:38starting point for somebody at Kang
5:15:40who's not familiar with Noble Audio, but
5:15:41doesn't want to break the bank. So,
5:15:44let's talk about what's inside. Inside
5:15:46you're going to find a three driver
5:15:47hybrid design with one 10mm PEK dynamic
5:15:50driver and two custom balanced
5:15:52armatures. It's housed within a
5:15:54precision machined aluminum shell with
5:15:56an integrated stainless steel wax guard.
5:15:58And these are hand assembled and matched
5:16:00which is surprising at the price point.
5:16:02Now they call specific attention to the
5:16:04fact that it is a very easy to drive IM.
5:16:06They say that it has a 112dB sensitivity
5:16:09per millatt at 23 ohm impedance and it's
5:16:12optimized for smartphones, portable
5:16:13amps, and DAPs. It comes in the box with
5:16:16an 8 core silverplated OFC cable with
5:16:19two pin connectors, a 4.4 millimeter
5:16:21balanced goldplated plug, and you also
5:16:23get a 4.4 millimeter to USBC OCC
5:16:26adapter, basically a dongle deck. So, if
5:16:28you have a digital device like a
5:16:29smartphone, you can use this straight
5:16:31out of the box. You're ready to go. It
5:16:33runs $325, which I think is a great
5:16:35starting price.
5:16:36>> I agree.
5:16:37>> And for sound, they say that designed
5:16:39for uh control, clarity, and balance,
5:16:41the Noble Vanguard delivers a cohesive,
5:16:43precise listening experience engineered
5:16:45to perform beautifully across
5:16:47smartphones, portable amps, and
5:16:48dedicated digital audio players.
5:16:50Basically, I see this as like the
5:16:53starting line to get acquainted with
5:16:55Noble Audio's wired IM, and just, you
5:16:58know, see what Noble Audio sound can
5:17:00offer.
5:17:00>> Yeah. Let me guess. You like the bass?
5:17:02>> I do.
5:17:03>> So, the bass is extended, but I don't
5:17:04find it emphasized. So, I figured you'd
5:17:06like that. Now, the funny thing about
5:17:07these to my like a lot of the IM I
5:17:10listen to have a more intimate
5:17:11presentation. Yeah.
5:17:12>> I guess a little bit more in your face,
5:17:13right? Like where you're kind of there
5:17:15more in the performance. Uh these have a
5:17:17little bit more they put a little more
5:17:18distance between me, almost like an
5:17:20audience kind of uh uh uh feeling. Um
5:17:23which I which I actually find
5:17:24refreshing. Uh and at $325 from Noble, I
5:17:28think it's an outstanding option. It can
5:17:29jam. A lot of people are going to be
5:17:31looking for budget stuff. I find 325
5:17:33bucks to be a beautiful budget offering
5:17:35from Noble.
5:17:36>> Now, Elite has made some incredible
5:17:38premium aftermarket cables for IM and
5:17:41even full-size headphones over the
5:17:42years, but admittedly most of them have
5:17:44been outside of my budget range, but
5:17:46they have something new called the
5:17:47Artistry series that is more attainable
5:17:49for me and I think a lot of headfires
5:17:51out there. So they say that the artistry
5:17:53series marks a new chapter for Elitech,
5:17:55conceived not merely as an entry in
5:17:57accessibility, but as a gateway into the
5:17:59brand's pursuit of refinement and
5:18:01material exploration. They go on to say
5:18:03that each piece carries its own voice
5:18:05and character, balancing clarity,
5:18:07musicality, and technical finesse while
5:18:09retaining the unmistakable signature.
5:18:12And then one more thing they say about
5:18:13the Artistry series is the Artistry
5:18:15series distills geometry, tuning
5:18:17discipline, and build into a new entry
5:18:19range, bringing trickle down engineering
5:18:22at an accessible price. So, you're
5:18:24hearing a number of things here that
5:18:25sound really enticing. And I got to say,
5:18:26these are very affordable. So, I'm going
5:18:29to say that all of these cables in the
5:18:30Artistry series have aluminum alloy
5:18:32hardware. All of them are available with
5:18:34two pin or MMCX connectors, and all of
5:18:37them are terminated in a 4.4 mm. So, I'm
5:18:39going to start with this. This is the
5:18:41Elitec Modello and it's only $99. So,
5:18:44it's their entry level to the
5:18:45entry-level artistry series. It is a 23
5:18:48gauge two- wire design with a dual
5:18:50coaxial structure, 6in OCC copper and
5:18:535in LCOFC copper for the materials. They
5:18:57have a high dispersion geometry with a
5:18:59Kevlar resilient core, custom connectors
5:19:02and Ysplitter and Latech bespoke SP
5:19:05solder. Now about this cable, the way
5:19:06they describe it is they say it's tuned
5:19:08for easy musical enjoyment. Modello
5:19:11offers a natural warmth, smooth treble,
5:19:13and a cohesive, relaxed presentation
5:19:15that flatters the most that flatters
5:19:17most pairings. Modello is for listeners
5:19:19who want to step into the LEC universe
5:19:21with a cable that feels inviting,
5:19:23forgiving, and quietly refined. Now, the
5:19:26second offering in the series is the
5:19:27Cartton, which you are holding. And the
5:19:29Cartton is a $149 cable. It is also a 23
5:19:32gauge two-wire design with a dual
5:19:34coaxial structure. But inside of that
5:19:36one, you're going to find LCOFC
5:19:38silverplated copper and 5N LF LCOFC
5:19:41silverplated copper. So, it's going from
5:19:42a pure copper design to a silverplated
5:19:45copper design. And I know a lot of
5:19:46headers are probably parked up at that.
5:19:48It also features a high dispersion
5:19:49geometry with a Kevlar resistant core.
5:19:51It also features custom elite connectors
5:19:53and Ysplit. And it also has Lotex
5:19:55bespoke solder. Now, they say Cartton
5:19:57delivers a lively silver-plated copper
5:19:59presentation with quick transients,
5:20:01crisp sparkle, and clean detail. Imaging
5:20:04feels more precise with strong spatial
5:20:06definition, making Cartone a versatile
5:20:08daily driver that stays energetic yet
5:20:10balanced. Now, right now, we have that
5:20:12currently paired with the Faith Audio
5:20:13Labs E1000. And I think it's probably
5:20:15safe for me to say that we've both been
5:20:17enjoying that pairing.
5:20:18>> Yes. So, I know it's a more affordable
5:20:21cable,
5:20:21>> but I wanted to see how it would run
5:20:23with a really premium IM. Exactly.
5:20:25>> And the Faith Audio Labs E1000 has kind
5:20:27of been uh one of my test beds for, you
5:20:30know, aftermarket cables lately.
5:20:32>> And I will say that despite the premium
5:20:35IM that they're paired with, this cable
5:20:38did a beautiful job. It's it's a
5:20:40beautiful pairing. And so yeah, I would
5:20:42use them with high like high price
5:20:44premium IM as well.
5:20:45>> Exactly. And there's still one more
5:20:46cable in the series as well called the
5:20:48Fresco. Now, the Fresco we have sitting
5:20:50here on the table, it runs $199, and
5:20:52that is a 23 gauge two- wire design
5:20:54cable with a dual coaxial structure, but
5:20:56inside you're going to find 5N LCOFC
5:20:5910plated copper, LCOFC lits in black,
5:21:02and 1000D carbon fiber. It has a high
5:21:05dispersion geometry with the Kevlar
5:21:07resilient core like the other models in
5:21:08the series. It also features custom LEC
5:21:10connectors and Y-split with Latex
5:21:12bespoke solder. And about the cable,
5:21:14Ellis says, "Fresco punches far above
5:21:16its bracket with spacious staging, vivid
5:21:18mids, and textured bass presence. Notes
5:21:20carry a richness without congestion,
5:21:22offering a true taste of premium cable
5:21:24performance in an accessible form. So,
5:21:26like I said, there are a number of
5:21:28cables that can get quite expensive, but
5:21:31with this series, and I think
5:21:33particularly with the Fresco, they've
5:21:34really been trying to push the envelope
5:21:36and get the most performance, you know,
5:21:38the biggest bang for the buck that they
5:21:39can. And I think they did an excellent
5:21:40job all around.
5:21:41>> An outstanding job. By the way, I love
5:21:42the way the Fresco looks. It's a
5:21:44gorgeous cable. So, it's not just the
5:21:46Fresco that punches far above its
5:21:47bracket, as they're saying. It's all
5:21:49It's all three of them.
5:21:50>> Yes.
5:21:51>> And you know, if you've blown your
5:21:52entire budget on the IM, you don't have
5:21:54much left for aftermarket cables, but
5:21:57you don't want to skimp on cables, I
5:21:58think Artistry series is a beautiful way
5:22:01to go and you you won't be skimping,
5:22:03>> right?
5:22:04>> Um, but it is more affordable. Make sure
5:22:06at Can Jam to check out the Artistry
5:22:08series for sure. I have the distinct
5:22:10impression that the folks in the water
5:22:12cooler thread are going to be lining up
5:22:13to check out this cable.
5:22:15>> Yes, definitely.
5:22:15>> Yeah. So, this is Elegy Tucha. It's a
5:22:18really really nice game.
5:22:19>> I've been mispronouncing it. I've been
5:22:21pronouncing it. Elegia.
5:22:23>> Oh, yeah.
5:22:23>> Yeah. But I [laughter] think you're
5:22:24right.
5:22:24>> I can see that, but I I think it's
5:22:26Lucha.
5:22:26>> Yeah.
5:22:26>> Uh it is part of Elitec's Sacramento
5:22:28series, and it's a 23 gauge eight wire
5:22:31cable. Now, the list of materials here
5:22:33is pretty complicated. So in four of the
5:22:35wires you have gold, silver, platinum
5:22:37palladium alloy, OCC copper A with SPC
5:22:40and copper shielding and in the other
5:22:42four wires you have gold, silver
5:22:44platinum alloy, gold graphine copper and
5:22:46OCC copper B. It also features
5:22:49multi-sized stranding design which is
5:22:51something that Lotch has done in a
5:22:53couple of cables more their high-end
5:22:54stuff. uh it is dualphase purification
5:22:57which is DPP treated and LTE says that
5:23:00each material underos an initial
5:23:02distillation followed by a secondary
5:23:04refinement eliminating residual
5:23:06impurities and retaining only the purest
5:23:08elements. It also has a Duo Strata high
5:23:11dispersion geometry which Ellettech says
5:23:13Duo Strata features an intricate
5:23:15interplay of alternating strand gauges
5:23:17thick thin thick in one wire thin thick
5:23:20thin in the paired wire. Now admittedly
5:23:23some of that goes over my head. This
5:23:25next part doesn't. They say that expands
5:23:27the perceived sound stage, sharpens
5:23:29imaging, and deepens background
5:23:31darkness. That part I definitely
5:23:32understand. Uh it has fleximax
5:23:35insulation and it also features bespoke
5:23:37connectors for and a Ysplit from
5:23:38Ellettech. These connectors are
5:23:40gorgeous. I absolutely love them.
5:23:42>> Yes.
5:23:43>> So the split here and uh it's it's a
5:23:46hand applied Japanese enamel with
5:23:48gemstone detailing. They wanted to pull
5:23:50out all the stops and make something
5:23:52just stunning and they achieved it. The
5:23:54enameling is beautiful.
5:23:55>> Yeah, I love the look so much. Uh, it
5:23:58has two pin connectors and 4.4
5:24:00millimeter termination. Now, it's
5:24:01limited to only 88 pieces. So, again, I
5:24:04think the water cooler thread folks,
5:24:05they're going to want to check this out
5:24:06sooner than later because they're not
5:24:08going to stick around.
5:24:09>> I wouldn't be surprised if all 88 went
5:24:10to water cooler people.
5:24:11>> I wouldn't be surprised either. And the
5:24:13price is going to run $64.99. Now, I
5:24:16want to mention there's an optional uh
5:24:18option on this that we have. So, it can
5:24:20come with Eliteex Versa connectors,
5:24:22which are the swappable terminations on
5:24:24the earphone side, so you can go between
5:24:26a couple of different options. It's also
5:24:27toolless, which I appreciate. And that's
5:24:29made with titanium alloy hardware. I
5:24:32absolutely love the look. So, if you're
5:24:33interested in that, definitely contact
5:24:35directly. And [snorts] we have it paired
5:24:37right here with the Caner CP622B
5:24:40TI. So, when this came in, I thought
5:24:43that looks like a really special cable
5:24:45because we didn't know the details when
5:24:46it first arrived. So, I I would reach
5:24:48for a very special IM and that camper CP
5:24:51622B TI works with this cable so well.
5:24:55>> It is such a beautiful pairing.
5:24:57>> Yeah, I absolutely love these together.
5:24:59So, again, it's limited to only 88,
5:25:01which means anybody who's interested,
5:25:03you're going to want to line up really
5:25:04early because they might be gone by the
5:25:06time you get there. Now, in addition to
5:25:07the LG Delucha, there's another cable
5:25:10that people will want to check out at
5:25:11CanJam. We don't have it here at the
5:25:12moment, but I want to talk about it real
5:25:13quick. It is called the Ballot of
5:25:15Caesar. It's part of Elletch's Parnassa
5:25:17series and it is a 22 gauge four-wire
5:25:19design cable with multi-sized litz
5:25:22geometry. It features quadruple bespoke
5:25:24premium blend which is a high purity
5:25:26solid core OCC ono continuous cast
5:25:29silver refined with dualphase
5:25:31purification and formula Imperium which
5:25:35contains gold silver palladium platinum
5:25:37alloy goldplated gold silver alloy and
5:25:40palladium plated gold silver alloy. It
5:25:42also comes with custom connectors and
5:25:45Y-splits and it looks cool. I can't wait
5:25:47to check it out in person. And then two
5:25:49more Lotch cables you can check out at
5:25:50Can Jam. They're going to have the Lotch
5:25:52Acaron and the Lotch Leafy. Now, these
5:25:55are both sibling cables and they're part
5:25:56of Dante series. They are dual 22 gauge
5:26:00two wire duality core designs which they
5:26:02say is 18 gauge overall. The materials,
5:26:05the Aaron is silverplated copper and the
5:26:07Leafy is tinplated copper. They're both
5:26:10cryogenically treated. They're both dual
5:26:11shielded and both feature Eliteex
5:26:13Fleximax insulation. Now, Elite says,
5:26:16"Continuing the philosophy of ELEX Dante
5:26:18series, this offering brings the essence
5:26:20of our dedicated headphone cable
5:26:22architecture into a more accessible
5:26:24expression." So, for those not already
5:26:26familiar, the Dante series is more of
5:26:28like a full-size headphone cable. They
5:26:30have the Inferno and the Purgatorio, but
5:26:32these are going to be basically more
5:26:33accessible because some of those can get
5:26:35rather expensive. We don't know final
5:26:37pricing, but they will be at KJIM and
5:26:38you can definitely check them out. We
5:26:40just found out literally in the last
5:26:43moments of our video shooting window
5:26:45that at Canjam SoCal 2026, Sennheiser
5:26:48will have their new Sennheiser Momentum
5:26:50True Wireless 5, which I'm very, very
5:26:52excited about. The Momentum True
5:26:54Wireless 5 is the newest flagship in the
5:26:56Momentum True Wireless lineup, and it
5:26:57takes the performance and technology
5:26:59introduced in the recently launched
5:27:00Momentum 5 wireless headphones and
5:27:02brings it into a completely redesigned
5:27:04true wireless form factor. It combines
5:27:06Sennheiser signature sound with a
5:27:08stronger emphasis on longevity,
5:27:10connectivity, and immersive listening.
5:27:12Now, here are some of the highlights. An
5:27:13allnew ergonomic design for improved
5:27:15comfort, and portability. User
5:27:17replaceable batteries in both the
5:27:19earbuds and charging case, which I think
5:27:21is incredibly awesome. It'll also have
5:27:24Dolby Atmos optimized spatial audio with
5:27:26headtracking, enhanced adaptive ANC and
5:27:28AI powered voice calling, Bluetooth 6.0
5:27:30with AEX lossless and Snapdragon sound.
5:27:33It'll work with the Smart Control Plus
5:27:34app with eight band EQ and advanced
5:27:36personalization. And it'll have up to 12
5:27:38hours of playback per charge and 40
5:27:40hours total with the charging case. The
5:27:42price is $299.95
5:27:44US. Our unit is expected to arrive any
5:27:46minute now and I can't wait to hear it
5:27:48and you'll be able to hear the
5:27:49Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 5 at
5:27:51KJM SoCal. We've talked about this M
5:27:54before, but there have been some
5:27:55updates. So, let's revisit it. This is
5:27:57the Dunu Noctua. Now, the Noctua is
5:27:59Dunu's new ultra flagship in-ear
5:28:01monitor. It has an 18 driver tribrid m
5:28:05arrangement. So there are two dynamic
5:28:07drivers, eight sonium balanced
5:28:09armatures, six sonium electrostatic
5:28:11drivers, and two bone conduction
5:28:12drivers.
5:28:13>> Goodness gracious,
5:28:14>> they've squeezed a lot of drivers in
5:28:15here.
5:28:15>> Yes, they have.
5:28:16>> It has a titanium alloy chassis, and
5:28:18they say that it's shaped with bionic
5:28:19ergonomic principles based on the human
5:28:21ear. And it has a dial inspired design
5:28:24commonly seen in luxury watches. I liked
5:28:27the first prototype that we saw. This is
5:28:28much closer to production and I still
5:28:30like that look quite a bit.
5:28:32>> Yeah,
5:28:32>> it has sapphire glass and we're big fans
5:28:34of sapphire glass and that also is a
5:28:36reference to the watch world and it has
5:28:38a new modular connector system. Now a
5:28:40lot of headfires out there already are
5:28:42familiar with Dunu's Q lock system which
5:28:45is their interchangeable connectors.
5:28:47This is a new one and it's the first
5:28:49time we're seeing it here on the Noctua.
5:28:51Um price we don't know yet. This is
5:28:54still in development, but it's basically
5:28:56like, as I understand it, right towards
5:28:57the end. Um, and then they say that the
5:29:00sound is powerful, full-bodied, and
5:29:02energetic with excellent transparency
5:29:04and natural tonality. It delivers a
5:29:06wide, spacious, and open sound stage
5:29:08while maintaining a rich and immersive
5:29:10presentation. I'm going to say they did
5:29:12an excellent job describing this IM. So
5:29:15to me, if I think back now, obviously
5:29:17Sonic Memory being what it is, but
5:29:19thinking back to what we heard ahead of
5:29:21Can Jam New York 2026, I hear this as a
5:29:24more polished, more refined version of
5:29:26that M. And we like that IM already at
5:29:29the start, and we had a sneaking
5:29:31suspicion where they wanted to go. I'm
5:29:33very happy with the direction they went.
5:29:35This is phenomenal. It has an overall
5:29:37balanced tuning, but like they say, you
5:29:39know, very natural tonality. I love the
5:29:41sound overall. It does have a nice wide
5:29:44spacious sound and the detail retrieval.
5:29:47Dunu does some great stuff in the detail
5:29:49and clarity ranges. They're continuing
5:29:51that tradition here with the Noctua and
5:29:54I think at Can Jam people are going to
5:29:56be going gaga over this.
5:29:57>> Yeah, if you've heard the previous
5:29:59version pre-production unit,
5:30:01>> you'll want to hear this because they
5:30:03refined it. And when Dunu is known, I
5:30:06mean that's really what they're known
5:30:07for is providing like tremendous value,
5:30:10right, at reasonable prices. Yep. Now,
5:30:12we don't know the price of this one. We
5:30:13don't know the price
5:30:13>> because they're saying it's their new
5:30:15ultra flagship in-ear monitor, right?
5:30:16But when a company known for such strong
5:30:18value says it's their ultra flagship
5:30:21in-ear monitor, you know it's something
5:30:23you have to check out.
5:30:25>> This is something I don't think we've
5:30:27seen from Dunu before. It's called the
5:30:29Dunu PRS6. And PRS stands for Pro
5:30:32Response Sound. Inside you're going to
5:30:34find a five driver tribrid design with
5:30:37one dynamic driver, four balanced
5:30:39armature drivers, and a MEIMS driver,
5:30:41which is interesting.
5:30:42>> It is.
5:30:43>> It has a 3D printed resin shell paired
5:30:46with an ice crystal titanium face plate.
5:30:48Now, the version that we have here is
5:30:50pre-production, so it's not fully kitted
5:30:52out, but I've seen some kind of, you
5:30:54know, renders and mock-ups. I think it's
5:30:55going to look very nice when it's
5:30:56finished. And it's $249.
5:31:00Now, here's where it kind of diverges a
5:31:02lot from past offerings. This is a
5:31:04gaming focused IM and Dunu says that
5:31:07with PRS6, players can feel more present
5:31:10in the game world while enjoying a more
5:31:13refined highfidelity listening
5:31:14experience. They also say that the PRS6
5:31:17is designed around the concept of hi-fi
5:31:19plus gaming, bringing audio filegrade
5:31:21tuning standards into an earphone
5:31:23optimized for gaming applications. So
5:31:25after reading all that, I thought,
5:31:27"Okay, I have to take this home and pop
5:31:28it into the PlayStation. I have to
5:31:30absolutely have to." I did and I really
5:31:33enjoyed what I experienced. So I want to
5:31:36say that first I found that it has a
5:31:37clear resolving sound. It has some bass
5:31:40emphasis from I think probably that
5:31:41dynamic driver and it that delends
5:31:43itself to really great immersion in a
5:31:46video game. So one of the games that I
5:31:48like to test audio with is a game called
5:31:50Horizon Zero Dawn. And anybody out there
5:31:52that's familiar with it knows that they
5:31:54have some fantastic sound design in that
5:31:56game. Really helps bring the world to
5:31:58life. And this IM does an exceptional
5:32:01job translating the game into your
5:32:03headsp space. So I think that kind of,
5:32:06you know, clear and resolving sound.
5:32:07It's a game where there's a lot of
5:32:08robotics, so a lot of metal and stuff
5:32:09going on and and a lot of combat. And
5:32:11then there the base emphasis really uh
5:32:14comes into, you know, explosions or if
5:32:16you're, you know, riding a mount, you
5:32:18get the impact from the ground. All in
5:32:20all, I thought that it was an
5:32:21exceptional gaming experience. Then I
5:32:24decided to try it for music. And you
5:32:25know what? It's actually fun for that as
5:32:27well.
5:32:27>> Yeah. I love that they say I'm not as
5:32:29much a gamer as you, right? Brian's a
5:32:31much more serious gamer than I am. But
5:32:33yes, for music. And I love that they
5:32:35went with the audio file grade tuning as
5:32:36they call it. Um even though it's
5:32:38designed for gaming because it is very
5:32:40musicfriendly
5:32:42as well. Make no mistake about it.
5:32:44>> Yeah. So at Canjam, if you're a gamer or
5:32:46if you just want to see what something
5:32:47new that Dunu is doing, check out the
5:32:49PRS6.
5:32:50This is an IM that I think is going to
5:32:52take quite a bit of explaining for
5:32:53Headfires to really fully understand. Uh
5:32:56it's quite evolved. So let's go ahead
5:32:57and start getting into the weeds. This
5:32:59is Finals Tenality. It is a true
5:33:01wireless uh IM and they describe it as
5:33:04the first earphone with personalized
5:33:06tambber. We're going to come back to
5:33:07that here in a little bit. Uh they say
5:33:08it's a new ecosystem that integrates
5:33:10hardware, software, a cloud server, and
5:33:12an application. And so it's quite
5:33:14involved. Now if we're talking about
5:33:16traditional IM specs, it is a single
5:33:18dynamic driver system. On each side is a
5:33:2010mm ultra- low distortion F-core
5:33:22driver. FCORE is of course final's
5:33:24patented proprietary driver technology.
5:33:27Uh they say that it takes inspiration
5:33:28from the flagship A10,000's diamond
5:33:30diaphragm in this M specifically. And
5:33:33they also say that every FCORE for
5:33:35tonality uh unit is measured using
5:33:37professional-grade audio precision APX
5:33:39517B in combination with a GS 43 AC
5:33:43system inside a specially designed quiet
5:33:46room. So they're going very serious
5:33:49about development and testing and
5:33:50matching for these.
5:33:52>> I think it requires precision to do what
5:33:53they're doing with this.
5:33:54>> It definitely does.
5:33:55>> Uh it features Bluetooth 6.0. So you get
5:33:57codecs like SBC, AAC, and LDAC. Uh, it
5:34:01has two active noise cancelling modes.
5:34:02So, you get one for sound quality
5:34:04priority and one for noise reduction
5:34:06priority. Depending on what kind of
5:34:08environment you're in, you may want one
5:34:09or the other. It's nice to have options.
5:34:12Uh, it has an ambient sound mode. And I
5:34:13want to mention that since I first took
5:34:15delivery of this, they've already
5:34:16improved the ambient mode, which is
5:34:19great to see because they are continuing
5:34:20to work and refine the firmware. And I
5:34:21love to see that, you know, kind of
5:34:23after sale support. Uh, it has 9 hours
5:34:25of playback up to 9 hours and the
5:34:27charging case holds up to an additional
5:34:2918 hours. So you get a total of up to 27
5:34:31hours of listening time and it does
5:34:33support uh wireless charging on the
5:34:35charging case which is also quite nice.
5:34:37Now I want to talk about the Tenality
5:34:39app because that's where you're going to
5:34:40be doing a lot of the communication
5:34:42between yourself and the IM. So feature-
5:34:45wise you're looking at it has a 10band
5:34:47equalizer in the app which is nice to
5:34:48have a multi-point connectivity setting
5:34:50so if you want to have multiple devices
5:34:52connection you have that as well and a
5:34:53low latency mode as well. Uh, it is also
5:34:56compatible with voice assistants like
5:34:58Siri and Google Assistant and
5:35:00potentially any others you want to
5:35:01program into the connection. And in the
5:35:03US, it runs you $329. Now, I need to
5:35:06come back to that app because they
5:35:08feature in the app settings for what
5:35:10they call DTAS or digital twin audio
5:35:13simulation. So, the way that I can best
5:35:15describe this is think of it, they call
5:35:17it digital twin. It's like a virtual
5:35:19version of yourself rendered in 3D
5:35:20space, primarily focusing on your ears
5:35:22for the most part. Uh it is a physical
5:35:24scan of your ears to create what they
5:35:26call an acoustic avatar. Again, that's
5:35:28basically you in the electronic space.
5:35:31Uh the tenonality companion app
5:35:32communicates with the server sending
5:35:34your scan data to the server to process
5:35:37your personal DTAS configuration. Now
5:35:40there are multiple DTAS settings and
5:35:42options in that app. The first is called
5:35:45DTAS general, which I would describe as
5:35:47basically well, it is a uh a culmination
5:35:51of many different scans over several
5:35:53years of research creating what they
5:35:55consider to be a general average
5:35:57profile. Mine's actually in there as
5:35:58well. I took part in that. And it's not
5:36:01really personalized for you
5:36:03specifically, but it's based on all the
5:36:05data they've gathered over the years.
5:36:06Then they have the DTAS personalized.
5:36:08That's where it's taking your personal
5:36:10acoustic avatar and creating a more
5:36:12natural tambber based on your ear shape
5:36:14and and structure. Uh, and then they
5:36:16also have a guest mode which basically
5:36:18allows anybody that you want to try the
5:36:20IM to do a simple scan for themselves,
5:36:22but it doesn't save it to the IM. Your
5:36:24information is still saved in there
5:36:26because it does delete your data from
5:36:27the server after about a month. Um, now
5:36:29when I'm listening to the DTAS general
5:36:31profile, which is again the one that's
5:36:33just kind of based on an average of a
5:36:35lot of different samples, I find that as
5:36:37kind of like a warm neutralist signature
5:36:40with laid-back vocals, and it sounds
5:36:41nice, but it's not truly the most
5:36:44natural tambber I've ever heard. Now,
5:36:46for a true wireless system, when I
5:36:47switched to the DTAS personalized, this
5:36:50is probably the most natural tambber
5:36:52I've heard yet to date. And to me, the
5:36:55signature overall is more of an airy
5:36:57reference signature. When I turn into
5:36:58that personalized mode, it has more
5:37:00vocal presence, more upper end energy,
5:37:02and a tighter low end. Now, I want to
5:37:04mention specifically because they're
5:37:05talking about personalized tamber. This
5:37:07is not for preference. So, this is
5:37:11mostly just to get the kind of natural
5:37:13tambal presentation to the sound that
5:37:14you're listening to. Then, if you want
5:37:16more bass, if you want more treble, if
5:37:19you want a little more mid-range, you
5:37:20can do that in that 10band equalizer to
5:37:22customize to taste. It's basically
5:37:25setting a solid foundation for you for
5:37:28that natural tambber and then you tweak
5:37:29from there as needed.
5:37:31>> And around the house, I gotta say this
5:37:33has become my single most listened to IM
5:37:36when I'm doing anything. So if I'm,
5:37:39let's say, listening to audiobooks or
5:37:40YouTube, just kind of sitting back and
5:37:42chilling. Let's say I'm walking around
5:37:43the kitchen and cooking or let's say
5:37:45that I'm doing dishes or let's say I'm
5:37:48running up and down the stairs doing
5:37:49laundry. I have a very natural tambal
5:37:52presentation. So, no matter what I'm
5:37:54listening to, it sounds very natural and
5:37:56realistic. I adore audiobooks and
5:37:58YouTube through this because it just
5:37:59sounds so nice compared to all my other
5:38:02true wireless IM. It used to be the
5:38:04AirPods Pro uh 3 was my go-to for pretty
5:38:07much everything around the house. I've
5:38:09switched to this almost exclusively.
5:38:11It's fantastic.
5:38:12>> Final been working on this for a long
5:38:14time.
5:38:15>> They really have.
5:38:15>> They put a lot of work into this
5:38:16tonality, the technology, the the DTAS
5:38:19technology. So I I'm very excited that
5:38:22it is now kind of getting out there more
5:38:24with tonality.
5:38:25>> Yeah. And I think a lot of headfires
5:38:26really need to experience it for
5:38:28themselves. So at CanJam, stop by, ask
5:38:30for a demo, let the people there show
5:38:32you how to use the Tenality, and if you
5:38:34can even do the ear scan, even better.
5:38:36So when you get the chance at CanJam,
5:38:38you have to check out the final
5:38:39Tenality. This one's rather interesting.
5:38:42It's a pre-production version of Finals
5:38:44A8000 DC. Now, that model number may
5:38:47sound vaguely familiar because this is
5:38:48the spiritual successor to finals
5:38:50A8000M, which was a pure burillium
5:38:53driver.
5:38:55And that's an IM that I loved, but I
5:38:57know a lot of guys out there found it
5:38:58maybe a bit too bright, a bit too peaky,
5:39:00a bit too, you know, sibilent here and
5:39:02there. I loved it. I thought it was
5:39:03fantastic.
5:39:04>> But this features a brand new magnesium
5:39:07driver, quite different from the
5:39:08burillium driver that was in the
5:39:09original A8000. This does incorporate
5:39:12the chamber and cable design developed
5:39:14for Final's flagship, which is the
5:39:15A10,000 IM in the A8000. And that's
5:39:20mostly all we know about this.
5:39:22>> That's mostly all we know. We don't know
5:39:23the price.
5:39:24>> Nope.
5:39:24>> Yeah. Uh and we know this is
5:39:25pre-production.
5:39:26>> Yes.
5:39:26>> So, let's talk about the sound.
5:39:27>> It sounds great.
5:39:28>> Yeah. I I thought you'd like it.
5:39:30>> I think this sounds phenomenal.
5:39:31>> Yeah.
5:39:32>> So, there's a lot of detail going on um
5:39:34up top. I don't feel like it's going to
5:39:36be too much for a lot of people. Um, I I
5:39:39think you said you enjoyed the treble as
5:39:40well, for example.
5:39:41>> I do. This is Yeah, this is to my ears a
5:39:43smoother sounding
5:39:45IM than the original A8000. Yep.
5:39:48>> In ways I think are positive.
5:39:49>> Yes.
5:39:50>> The bass for me probably on the lighter
5:39:52side.
5:39:52>> I see it. Yeah.
5:39:53>> For you probably not. For me, the bass
5:39:55is on the lighter side, but it is So,
5:39:57it's a kind of a nimble tuning.
5:39:58>> Yes.
5:39:59>> Right. But I like I like that it's more
5:40:01refined than the original A8000. If I
5:40:03had to choose between this and the
5:40:04original A8000,
5:40:06>> that's actually a tough one for me
5:40:07because of the base difference, but I
5:40:09would I don't know. That's a good But
5:40:11this is definitely smoother.
5:40:12>> Yep. And it's still in pre-production,
5:40:14so it could potentially change between
5:40:16here and the final version. Final
5:40:18version. Haha. But uh when you're at KJ,
5:40:20definitely stop by, give it a listen,
5:40:21let them know what you think because
5:40:22they're definitely looking for feedback.
5:40:25>> This is the Mezz Audio Astro. It's a
5:40:27flagship single dynamic driver from Mezz
5:40:30Audio. I knew it was coming, but until
5:40:33we got this one, this is the first I've
5:40:35heard it,
5:40:35>> right?
5:40:37>> And I was wondering before I heard it,
5:40:38like, how's this how where's this going
5:40:40to come in in terms of value? Cuz they
5:40:41released the Meza Audio Alba.
5:40:43>> Mhm.
5:40:43>> And that's like 160 bucks.
5:40:45>> Yeah.
5:40:45>> And punches way above its price.
5:40:48>> This is $899 or $899.
5:40:52And this also punches above its price.
5:40:55So, I'm happy. I'm happy with these a
5:40:57lot. So, so let's talk about on each
5:40:58side there's a 10mm dynamic driver. It
5:41:01uses a multi-layer composite diaphragm.
5:41:04And they say that the diaphragm dome
5:41:05features over 80 ultra thin layers of
5:41:07gold bonded to a titanium layer that is
5:41:12mounted on a peak base like PEK, which I
5:41:15believe is poly ether ether ketone,
5:41:17>> right?
5:41:19>> It uses a CNC machined titanium housing.
5:41:21It's machined from a single block of
5:41:22titanium and they use a multi-stage
5:41:25electroplating process for a smooth
5:41:26satin finish. The impedance is 32 ohms.
5:41:30The cable, which is gorgeous, is a
5:41:32premium balanced cable. Um, CNC anodized
5:41:35aluminum hardware, gold-plated 4.4
5:41:37millimeter termination, and this
5:41:39wonderfully integrated 4.4 millm to 3
5:41:41and 12 mm adapter. It was attached when
5:41:43we got it, and it's so well integrated
5:41:44that at first I thought it was a cable
5:41:46terminated, right,
5:41:47>> in three and a half. No, it's 4.4 for
5:41:48with the adapter uh to three and a half.
5:41:51And I love the hardware on it. This
5:41:52Y-split that almost looks like a
5:41:54wishbone,
5:41:55>> right,
5:41:55>> is just so beautiful and sculpted. And
5:41:58and by the way, the design of this with
5:42:01the titanium earpieces is one of the
5:42:03most simple, elegant designs Mez has
5:42:06done. You know, here's a company that is
5:42:07known for its aesthetic beauty,
5:42:10>> and this is like so simple and elegant.
5:42:12>> Yeah. Kind of understated.
5:42:13>> Very understated.
5:42:14>> Yeah.
5:42:15>> It comes with two carry cases, a zip-up
5:42:16carry case. for showing them on this
5:42:18little table here. And and then a pouch
5:42:20like a like a like a snap pouch. And
5:42:22again, price is $899 or $899. Okay. So,
5:42:25they say that the Meza Audio Aster was
5:42:27created for listeners who demand true
5:42:28high-end performance without crossing
5:42:30into flagship pricing territory. At $899
5:42:33bucks, they've not crossed into flagship
5:42:35pricing territory. So, that's a good
5:42:36thing.
5:42:37>> Um, the philosophy, they say, one driver
5:42:40delivering a visceral full-bodied sound
5:42:42that rivals the layering, imaging, and
5:42:44resolution typically associated with
5:42:45multi-driver designs. I think they've
5:42:47succeeded beautifully with that
5:42:50>> because as I've said before, if you can
5:42:52do
5:42:54if you can accomplish your sonic goals
5:42:56with one driver,
5:42:58it's a beautiful thing because there are
5:43:00some advantages that with that that come
5:43:02with it like in terms of phase, uh,
5:43:04coherence, things like that.
5:43:05>> And they've done it with this.
5:43:07>> So now let's I want I'm going to compare
5:43:09it to the Alba because the Alba, even
5:43:12though it's so much less expensive,
5:43:13punches above its weight. And that I
5:43:15hear is like a more flat neutral tuning,
5:43:19right? To my ears.
5:43:20>> This has a rich neutral tuning. It is
5:43:23the driver sounds like it's more
5:43:24resolving and faster like significantly.
5:43:27>> And there's a richness to the tuning
5:43:29versus the the Alba. It's frankly the
5:43:33tuning of this is kind of right where my
5:43:35preference is, like centered down my
5:43:37preference.
5:43:39>> The bass, like they said, is rich and
5:43:42impactful. The mids are also rich
5:43:44without being thick.
5:43:46>> Yeah.
5:43:46>> So they're clean, rich mids.
5:43:48>> And then the treble is smoother than the
5:43:51Alba, for example.
5:43:53>> But but still more detailed, honestly.
5:43:57Kind of right down the middle of my
5:43:58preferences again. And the imaging is
5:44:00beautiful, which is something that if
5:44:02you execute a well-designed single
5:44:04driver design, you can take advantage of
5:44:06that for imaging. And it images
5:44:08beautifully.
5:44:09So to me,
5:44:11strong strong value even at the price
5:44:14well well short of flagship pricing
5:44:17>> and uh so I'm excited about these and
5:44:19it'll be at Canam. This is the Mezz
5:44:21Audio Astro as far as I'm concerned if
5:44:23you're listening to IM and checking out
5:44:24IM and KJM. This is an absolute can't
5:44:27miss. This is the Valoria Acoustic
5:44:29Tiana. I'm guessing Valoria acoustic
5:44:31since it's so new to us is going to be
5:44:33new to all of you too. Um, I first heard
5:44:36at Kangjam Singapore 2026 what I believe
5:44:38was a pre-production unit of the Tiana.
5:44:41I was impressed. We'll talk about the
5:44:42sound shortly. Now, I think I can say
5:44:44this about Valoria Acoustic. One of the
5:44:46principles of Valoria Acoustic
5:44:49previously was a highup at one of the
5:44:53very well- reggarded IM companies,
5:44:55premium IM companies in our space. So,
5:44:58uh, he brings a lot of experience to
5:44:59bear to Valoria acoustic. All right,
5:45:01let's talk about what it is. The Voria
5:45:03acoustic Tiana is an 11 driver quadrid
5:45:05IM. On each side, there's a custom
5:45:07dynamic driver, Nullles balanced
5:45:09armatures. Uh, do we have a breakdown of
5:45:10those drivers?
5:45:11>> Nope. [laughter]
5:45:12>> So, we don't know the breakdown of the
5:45:13NES balanced armatures, but they're in
5:45:15there. All right. A combination of
5:45:16Sonian balanced armature electrostatic
5:45:18and bone conduction drivers
5:45:20>> and then a fiveway crossover.
5:45:22>> Um, 13 ohm impedance sensitivity is 105
5:45:24dB, so reasonably sensitive. Uh, it
5:45:27comes with an LEC cable, which is really
5:45:29nice. Uh, with two pin connectors on the
5:45:31earpiece side, 4.4 4mm termination
5:45:34hardware
5:45:35>> and it looks like an ELT aftermarket
5:45:36cable to me. It's very nice. Um ear
5:45:39tips.
5:45:39>> Yep.
5:45:40>> It comes with racco and stage ear tips.
5:45:42The stage I'm familiar with. That's what
5:45:44we have on this.
5:45:44>> Yes.
5:45:45>> Um that's all we got. We didn't get the
5:45:46racco.
5:45:47>> No, those aren't too new, I think.
5:45:48>> So, those are quite new, right? Yeah.
5:45:50So, RCOo, an allnew ear tip, an all new
5:45:52ear tip form meticulously refined to
5:45:54deliver a new dimension of comfort and
5:45:56listening performance.
5:45:58>> Allettech RCOO. I want to know what that
5:46:00is because I use the stage and the
5:46:02regular baroes like all the time.
5:46:04>> So, I want to know what this RCOO is,
5:46:05but we didn't get it yet. So, I'm
5:46:07looking forward to that. Um, here's how
5:46:09they describe it. Exquisitely detailed
5:46:11sound, excellent channel separation,
5:46:13wide and immersive sound stage, soft and
5:46:16sweet vocal performance, plus bright,
5:46:17intricate high frequencies.
5:46:19>> Yep.
5:46:19>> Yep. So, you know, every once in a
5:46:21while, you know, we read the the kind of
5:46:23the company description of their own
5:46:24products, kind of the sound. Sometimes
5:46:26they're like on and sometimes they're
5:46:29like spoton. This is like spoton. Yep.
5:46:31Like I agree with everything that
5:46:33description says.
5:46:34>> All right. Now, one of the key things we
5:46:35do not know because this this segment is
5:46:37marked a little bit by the things we
5:46:39don't know as you know as much as the
5:46:40things we do know. Um and one of the
5:46:42things we don't know is the price.
5:46:44>> Yeah.
5:46:44>> So, no idea the price. I'm going to
5:46:46guess it's a premium priced just based
5:46:47on what I'm hearing.
5:46:48>> I would too based on the driver
5:46:50compliment and the way it's
5:46:50accessorized.
5:46:52>> True on the driver compliment. Yeah,
5:46:53that's that's probably a good point. Um,
5:46:54and also where this person came from,
5:46:58right? So So I'm gonna guess this is a
5:47:00premium IM. It sounds the part, by the
5:47:02way. Yes.
5:47:02>> Okay. I I I It's called the Vori
5:47:04Acoustic Tiana. I think they should have
5:47:05named it the Vori Acoustic Brian. Uh
5:47:08because these are like these are like So
5:47:10you Yeah.
5:47:10>> I like listen to these. I'm like,
5:47:11Brian's going to love these. Uh let's
5:47:13let's let's go through their their
5:47:15description. Exquisitely detailed sound.
5:47:17Yes.
5:47:17>> Uhhuh.
5:47:18>> Excellent channel separation. I mean,
5:47:20yes. Uh wide and immersive sound stage.
5:47:23>> Mhm.
5:47:23>> Yes. So, so the IM that this gentleman
5:47:26was previously involved with are reputed
5:47:28for their excellent sound stage. So,
5:47:31that continues here. Beautiful sound
5:47:32stage, soft and sweet vocal performance,
5:47:34plus bright, intricate high frequencies.
5:47:37The treble is sparkly, detailed, very
5:47:40resolving. So, that's how they've tuned
5:47:42these and they're and they're unabashed
5:47:43about. I mean, they're saying it right
5:47:44here.
5:47:44>> Oh, yeah. This is going to be like a
5:47:46detail chasers dream.
5:47:47>> Absolutely. Um, I will say the treble is
5:47:50definitely at the top of my tolerance
5:47:52band for treble. probably right square
5:47:54in the middle with you. Yes.
5:47:55>> Um but it doesn't cross my tolerance and
5:47:58I enjoy listening to these. Now the bass
5:48:01is probably lighter than my general
5:48:03preference.
5:48:04>> Sure.
5:48:04>> I wouldn't I wouldn't call it great
5:48:06extension.
5:48:07>> Yes.
5:48:07>> Nice impact, but it's not I don't find
5:48:10these to be bass emphasized at all to my
5:48:12ears. I don't know how you feel about
5:48:13it.
5:48:13>> No, they're they're great.
5:48:14>> Yeah. So So [laughter] you're like
5:48:17that's just how I like the bass. So So
5:48:18yeah. Um so these to me are extremely
5:48:21enjoyable. They sound the part of a
5:48:23premium IM,
5:48:24>> I'm guessing that's what they're going
5:48:25to be. So yeah, make sure at Can Jam if
5:48:29you are a detail chaser, if you're
5:48:31looking for beautiful sound stage, great
5:48:33detail on a premium IM, Valor acoustic
5:48:35Tiana, obviously a can't miss. I've been
5:48:38around the world of Head Five for a very
5:48:39long time. Essentially since the
5:48:41beginning.
5:48:41>> Yeah.
5:48:42>> Um I'm an old man, Brian.
5:48:43>> And you said it, not me. [laughter]
5:48:45>> Well, I am. I'm getting older. Uh but
5:48:47you know, I still get excited. I love
5:48:48this though. I still get so incredibly
5:48:51excited when something comes along after
5:48:52all these years that is one of the best
5:48:56or the best of what it is in this space.
5:48:59>> Mhm.
5:49:00>> This is one of those things. This is the
5:49:01Mr. Acoustic Research Hex and it is
5:49:04incredible. These IM are incredible.
5:49:07>> Yeah.
5:49:08>> So, let's talk about what they are. The
5:49:10name Hex comes from the fact that they
5:49:12are a hexrid IM.
5:49:14>> Yep.
5:49:14>> Six different kinds of drivers.
5:49:16>> There are 13 drivers in total. Six
5:49:18different types on each side. One 9.2 mm
5:49:22dynamic driver, two sonian bone
5:49:23conduction drivers, five balanced
5:49:25armatures, two planer magnetic drivers,
5:49:27two EST drivers, electrostatic tweeter
5:49:29drivers, one PZO electric driver in a
5:49:3110-way crossover design.
5:49:32>> Yeah. And that's an insane list.
5:49:34>> That's an insane list. And if you showed
5:49:35me that without telling me anything else
5:49:37and I hadn't heard them, I would say
5:49:39maybe not a great idea. How would you
5:49:41get that configuration, that many
5:49:43different types of drivers, that many
5:49:44drivers in a 10-way crossover to sound
5:49:46cohesive?
5:49:48Let Lie Kuan Min do it. That's how so
5:49:50Lee Kuan Min, you guys probably know the
5:49:52the guy originally behind Allesian,
5:49:54right? Uh designed some of my favorite
5:49:56IM of the last several years. This being
5:49:59absolutely my favorite.
5:50:02It is so cohesive, so beautifully
5:50:05presented. I'll get to the sound in a
5:50:06second. It I I don't even know how he
5:50:09did it. They're incredible. So, they
5:50:11have handcrafted titanium face plates,
5:50:13very ornate, gorgeous face plates with
5:50:15copper and silver inlays.
5:50:17a titanium nozzle.
5:50:18>> Yep.
5:50:19>> Which is quite nice. Um and the thing
5:50:21about the the chassis, the earpiece is
5:50:25they're clear.
5:50:26>> Yeah.
5:50:26>> Uh other than the face plate,
5:50:28>> which is an interesting choice because I
5:50:30think we're used to at flagship class IM
5:50:32like machine like CNC machined uh metal
5:50:36face plate uh I mean uh uh earpieces,
5:50:38>> but these are clear and there's a reason
5:50:40why.
5:50:41>> Well, yeah. I think they clearly wanted
5:50:42to show off what's inside and how it's
5:50:44built.
5:50:44>> Yeah. That's like a like like a like the
5:50:46fancy watches with an exhibition back.
5:50:47>> Oh, yeah. Because you get so much more
5:50:49appreciation for what's going on inside
5:50:51when you can see the workings as opposed
5:50:52to just looking at the face plate.
5:50:54>> Correct. And they only make 10 of these
5:50:57per month.
5:50:58>> Yep.
5:50:58>> When you see how intricate the design is
5:51:03looking through that shell, you can see
5:51:04why they made it clear. Yeah.
5:51:05>> And you can see why they can only make
5:51:0710 per month.
5:51:08>> Mhm.
5:51:09>> And maybe it helps you understand better
5:51:11why they're also $9,000.
5:51:13>> Yeah. These are very expensive.
5:51:15>> They are,
5:51:15>> but they are phenomenal. All right,
5:51:18let's talk about it. The sound
5:51:19signature. So, for me, this thing is
5:51:23essentially perfect.
5:51:25>> Mhm.
5:51:25>> I like a richer tone. I like I like some
5:51:29bass emphasis, which this has. These are
5:51:31not neutral.
5:51:32>> No.
5:51:33But the base hits so hard and is so
5:51:38textured and is so detailed that it is
5:51:41absolutely oh my gosh one of my it maybe
5:51:44my reference my high reference for IM
5:51:46bass incredible. The mids are so
5:51:49beautifully clean yet with a richness
5:51:52and detail and a and and sort of a
5:51:55holographic image and presentation of
5:51:57where the objects are within the space
5:52:01that of the sound stage
5:52:04perhaps unrivaled in that regard. The
5:52:06treble.
5:52:07>> Yeah.
5:52:07>> I'm not sure which drivers are all I'm
5:52:09not sure where the planer magnetic
5:52:10drivers are playing, but we know where
5:52:11the ESTs are, the PZO electric. Whatever
5:52:14he's doing with the treble
5:52:15>> with these
5:52:17sets the highest standard I've heard for
5:52:19treble detail in an IM.
5:52:20>> Yeah,
5:52:21>> these are if you haven't figured it out,
5:52:23absolutely incredible. And the and again
5:52:25the sound is cohesive. 13 drivers, six
5:52:28different types of drivers in a 10-way
5:52:30crossover, yet it all sounds as one.
5:52:34These are one of the best, maybe the
5:52:37best IM I've ever heard.
5:52:39>> The Hex is phenomenal. Uh, I will say
5:52:42also by the way because we're leather
5:52:44goods enthusiasts.
5:52:44>> Yes,
5:52:45>> it comes with a case made of shell
5:52:47cordovan. Would you expect anything
5:52:48less?
5:52:49>> That's amazing, but I love it.
5:52:50>> It has a shell cordovan case. If you
5:52:52guys don't know what it is, look up
5:52:53shell cordovan. It is also one of the
5:52:55most expensive leathers in the world.
5:52:57Um, with and he uses Riri zippers and
5:52:59you know you and I are bag enthusiasts
5:53:01so we know what these things are and we
5:53:03can appreciate how smooth that zipper is
5:53:04and how beautiful that shell cordivan
5:53:06case is. But enough about the case.
5:53:08Check out the hex. Listen to this at Can
5:53:10Jam. It'll be one of the best things
5:53:12you've ever heard. That I can guarantee
5:53:14you. This is the Mysticcraftraft
5:53:16Acoustic Research Myth.
5:53:18>> So, this follows a formula we've seen
5:53:20before now. Yeah.
5:53:21>> Um, which is a company releases a
5:53:23flagship IM that the IM snobs love. In
5:53:28this case, that would be the Hex.
5:53:29>> Yeah. Snob.
5:53:30>> Uh, yeah. I'm turning into one of those.
5:53:32And And then they release a a model
5:53:35clearly inspired by that flagship. very
5:53:38>> for like a tiny fraction of the price.
5:53:39>> Yep.
5:53:40>> It's a great formula. I love that they
5:53:42do that and and I I think we're going to
5:53:44see more and more of that. Um and that's
5:53:46what the myth is. This reminds me of the
5:53:48Hex.
5:53:49>> I'm going to get to the sound shortly.
5:53:51It reminds me of the Hex though a lot. I
5:53:53haven't talked to Lee Kuan Min to ask
5:53:54him like if that was the goal,
5:53:57>> right?
5:53:58>> It has to be though.
5:53:59>> It has to be. The sound signature here
5:54:00is telling a big story.
5:54:01>> Yeah, I agree. All right, so let's talk
5:54:02about what the myth is. It's it's a
5:54:03seven driver trim. So on each side, one
5:54:07Mystic 9.2mm LSR custom dynamic driver
5:54:09for low frequencies, four balanced
5:54:11armatururs configured with two Sonian
5:54:13drivers for mid lows and two NLES
5:54:15drivers for mid highs, two planer
5:54:17magnetic drivers for highs, and a
5:54:19six-way crossover design. Um the the
5:54:22shell face plate and spout TC4 titanium,
5:54:24and the cable, well, there are two
5:54:26options. There's the stock option, the
5:54:28standard option, that's an eight wire
5:54:317Nocc copper cable with an oxygen-free
5:54:34copper 4.4 4 millm plug. That's not the
5:54:36one I have on here right now. Uh we're
5:54:38using the optional upgrade version. Um
5:54:40that is an eight wire copper plus SPC
5:54:43cable. This is the upgrade cable that I
5:54:44have on here. The regular edition is
5:54:46$999. This upgraded cable edition $1399.
5:54:50>> Yeah. And for anybody that's familiar
5:54:51with the hex, that is a big savings.
5:54:53>> Yeah. Yeah. So, so this the so the myth
5:54:55is like one ninth the price of the hex.
5:54:57>> Yeah.
5:54:58>> So, does it sound like the Hex? As I
5:55:02said, it sounds to me clearly inspired
5:55:04by the Hex. Again, don't know if that
5:55:06was the goal. I can't see that it I I
5:55:08can't see how it wasn't based on what
5:55:09I'm hearing. Does it have everything the
5:55:11Hex has? No. The Hex, of course, just
5:55:14has so many things about it that are
5:55:16special,
5:55:16>> a level of resolution that's standard
5:55:18setting to my ears,
5:55:19>> right?
5:55:19>> But this is still a highly resolving IM
5:55:21and it captures tonally the spirit of
5:55:24the hex very well to my ears, right? Um
5:55:27that beautiful impactful bass textured
5:55:30detailed
5:55:32bass,
5:55:33>> beautiful mids, again, not quite as
5:55:35holographic as the hex. Wouldn't expect
5:55:37it to be. And treble that's actually
5:55:39more detailed and resolving and refined
5:55:41than I would expect at this price.
5:55:43>> Yes.
5:55:44>> So, does it remind me of the Hex? Yes.
5:55:46This is something that I mean, most
5:55:49people cannot spring for a $9,000.
5:55:51>> Exactly.
5:55:52>> Which the hex is. And they're only
5:55:55building 10 of the hex's per month.
5:55:56>> Yeah. There's always a limited supply
5:55:58available. I think there's quite often a
5:55:59wait list for them. Yes, I believe you
5:56:01are correct. And these I hope I mean I
5:56:03wouldn't be surprised if these sold out
5:56:04in the first batch.
5:56:05>> Me too.
5:56:06>> But but because I think they're going to
5:56:07be immensely popular,
5:56:08>> but at Can Jam I think for that Hex
5:56:13Spirit at one ninth the price, the myth
5:56:16is going to be probably as popular and
5:56:19in demand at the show
5:56:21>> as the Hex is.
5:56:22>> You know, I think a lot of people are
5:56:23going to want only to hear the Hex
5:56:24whether they can afford it or not just
5:56:25to hear
5:56:26>> Yeah.
5:56:26>> what that class of M is. But then
5:56:28they'll hear the myth and say, you know,
5:56:31for one night the price, uh, I think a
5:56:33lot of people are going to be so
5:56:34thrilled about the myth. I am and it'll
5:56:37be immensely popular at Canam. Do not
5:56:38miss the myth. So I have a prediction
5:56:41that this IM right here is going to
5:56:43cause a lot of headers to start tapping
5:56:44their toes because this is the ZGOT and
5:56:47Veier digital Roomba. Now the Roomba is
5:56:50a collaboration between ZGOT and
5:56:52well-known Mexican reviewer Veier
5:56:54Digital. Uh, has a popular YouTube
5:56:56channel with a number of videos out
5:56:57there as well. Yeah, I'm going to have
5:56:58to check out his channel.
5:56:58>> Yeah, definitely do. So, the Roomba is a
5:57:00single 10mm graphine dynamic driver and
5:57:04that has a dual cavity acoustic design
5:57:06which they say is engineered to provide
5:57:08better control of air flow through the
5:57:10dynamic driver. It has a really nice
5:57:12understated chassis. I really like how
5:57:14simple and elegant it is, but has a cool
5:57:16red and black striped face plate.
5:57:18Really, really neat design. Very simple,
5:57:19but I like it. Uh, and then the cable
5:57:21that it comes with is uh it's a two pin
5:57:23connected cable terminated in 3.5 mm.
5:57:26Now, I have the standard version here,
5:57:28but if you need an inline microphone,
5:57:29you can pick one of those up as well.
5:57:30Uh, it's like a dollar difference. So,
5:57:32if you need the microphone, just get the
5:57:34microphone. Uh, it's $34.99 in the US
5:57:36for the version that we have, and I
5:57:38believe $35.99 for the cable with the
5:57:40microphone.
5:57:41>> We need to make something clear because
5:57:42this is HeadFi.
5:57:43>> Yeah.
5:57:43>> Uh, it's $34.99
5:57:46US. Or that's true.
5:57:47>> Or $35.99
5:57:49because in our world, if you say $34.99,
5:57:52they might think it's 3,49, but we're
5:57:53talking $34.99.
5:57:55>> Yes. This is very affordable.
5:57:57>> Uh, now they say that it has a fun yet
5:57:59balanced tuning. And they go on to say
5:58:01it's tuned for a fun yet balanced sound.
5:58:03The Roomba offers fast transients, wide
5:58:05sound stage, and versatile performance.
5:58:08Perfect for music, gaming, and everyday
5:58:10listening. They recommend it
5:58:11specifically for vocal, pop music, and
5:58:14hip-hop. So, when I was listening to
5:58:16this, immediately popping into my ears,
5:58:18I realized, okay, this is going to be a
5:58:20a bass head on a budget kind of dream I
5:58:23am. So, if you love bass and you really
5:58:25really want to, you know, get a great
5:58:27bassy sound without breaking the bank,
5:58:29this is a fantastic place to start.
5:58:31It's, like I said, you know, right
5:58:32around $35 US. You're not going to be
5:58:34blowing your wallet open with that. For
5:58:36me, I hear it as a warm signature
5:58:38throughout. So, warm lows, warm mids,
5:58:40and even warm highs with bass presence,
5:58:43bass emphasis. So, it's like a bass
5:58:44forward presence. But I don't want to
5:58:46say that it's, you know, too smooth. I
5:58:49still find that there's a nice clear
5:58:51treble, right? Presence without any
5:58:53harshness.
5:58:54>> So, um I know you have a couple of
5:58:56sibilance test tracks. I know I have a
5:58:58couple of sibilance test tracks. This is
5:59:00going to pass those with flying colors.
5:59:01>> It did. I mean, like no siblance
5:59:02whatsoever because it's it's on the
5:59:04smoother side up top.
5:59:05>> Yep.
5:59:05>> And then I want to mention how I found
5:59:06this best. So, if you have a similar
5:59:08preference to my my tastes, I found this
5:59:11best at low listening volumes because I
5:59:13feel like with the the detail that it
5:59:15has and the low-end presence, when you
5:59:17turn it down, you know, we're more
5:59:18sensitive in that mid-range.
5:59:20>> I think it sounds decent to me at a low
5:59:22volume. If I'm just sitting in the
5:59:23office and I want to still be able to
5:59:24hear, you know, necessarily something
5:59:26going on in the in the studio, I can pop
5:59:28it in, pop it at low volumes, and it
5:59:30sounds nice.
5:59:30>> Yeah. I'm looking at my notes. I say
5:59:32warmish V-shaped tuning. Yep. um you
5:59:34know what what what Brian considers uh
5:59:36like bass heavy because you called it a
5:59:38bass head on a budget dream. I would say
5:59:40certainly I agree with you there's bass
5:59:42emphasis to me this is a mild bass
5:59:44headphone. So again it's like a warmish
5:59:45V-shaped tuning. So so I mostly agree
5:59:48with what you're saying it but I think
5:59:49any difference that we have an opinion
5:59:51on this is just based on the difference
5:59:52in taste we have like in our general
5:59:53preferences. Um I said favoring
5:59:56smoothness but still more resolving than
5:59:57I'd expect at its price.
5:59:59>> Yeah, exactly.
6:00:00>> Because it's 35 bucks which Yeah. I
6:00:02think it can jam for that price and the
6:00:04performance. That is one that must be
6:00:06heard.
6:00:07>> I got to say it's kind of funny because
6:00:09this M is going to make me say a word I
6:00:11don't typically say. So this is the
6:00:12Softier's Karma and it is a 10 driver
6:00:15pentabrid.
6:00:16>> I I think that's the first time I've
6:00:17seen that word used. Pentabid.
6:00:19>> I think I've seen it before, but it's
6:00:20not common at all. So inside there is
6:00:23one 10 mm dynamic driver, two bone
6:00:25conduction drivers, four fullrange
6:00:27balanced armatures, two third generation
6:00:30EST drivers, and one PZO electric MEMS
6:00:32driver. And all of this comes together
6:00:34to what uh Softars calls a
6:00:36fivedimensional heterogeneous driver
6:00:39matrix. That's a mouthful. That is a
6:00:40mouthful,
6:00:41>> but oh my gosh, there are so many
6:00:42drivers in this thing.
6:00:43>> Uh it has a titanium housing that's CNC
6:00:46machined with to a mirror-l like
6:00:47polished finish. And you and I are both
6:00:49big fans of titanium.
6:00:50>> Yes, we are. Uh, and it has a CNC
6:00:52engraved face plate with a really cool
6:00:54black pigment inlay. I like the way they
6:00:56managed the the look on the face plate
6:00:58there. It's like a nice contrast.
6:00:59>> It's so minimalist, but yet beautiful.
6:01:01>> Yeah, it definitely is. The cable that's
6:01:03on here is a 7-in high purity rotary
6:01:05forged coaxial silverplated dual layer
6:01:07structure with silverplated single
6:01:10crystal copper alloy, an asymmetrical
6:01:12CNCed titanium splitter, two pin
6:01:14connectors, and 4.4 millimeter
6:01:16termination. And it comes with two sets
6:01:18of ear tips. Uh, in the box they include
6:01:20what's called a UC ear tip. Then they
6:01:21say that delivers treble is clear and
6:01:23moist. Bass is solid. And then it has
6:01:25type B ear tips, balanced ear tips
6:01:27delivering standard sound quality. Now,
6:01:29I do want to mention we do have
6:01:30aftermarket uh tips on here right now,
6:01:32but those are the ones that come in the
6:01:33box. It runs $25.99. That's $2,599.
6:01:38So, not cheap by any stretch.
6:01:40>> No. No.
6:01:41>> But in my opinion, worth it. Uh now when
6:01:43it comes to the sound they des they say
6:01:46while most IM focused on the con focus
6:01:48on the conventional spectrum of bass
6:01:49mids and treble karma reveals an
6:01:52additional layer of micro detail within
6:01:53the music itself. Yes it does. And they
6:01:55also say this resolution remains true to
6:01:57the core philosophy philosophy of the
6:01:59softear's brand soft. It is crystal
6:02:02clear yet never harsh. Rich yet never
6:02:04fatiguing even after extended listening.
6:02:07So, my notes that I wrote down for this,
6:02:09I found this to be like an audio file
6:02:11fun signature by my definition. Oh, it's
6:02:13very fun to listen to. It has punchy
6:02:15bass. It's vocal forward and those
6:02:17vocals have great presence in the
6:02:19overall mix. And the detail on them is
6:02:20wonderful. And then it has a wide sound
6:02:22stage.
6:02:23>> I think it images beautifully.
6:02:25>> Yes, it does.
6:02:26>> This is one of those IM that I could pop
6:02:28into my ears and listen to for a long
6:02:30time.
6:02:30>> Yeah. To my ears, it's kind of like I
6:02:32guess this is consistent with what
6:02:33you're saying. To my ears, it's like a
6:02:35U-shaped reference.
6:02:36>> And it's U-shaped in the fun way you're
6:02:38describing reference in terms of its
6:02:40resolution. Yes.
6:02:41>> Because the treble resolution on this to
6:02:43my ears is outstanding.
6:02:45>> Yes, it is.
6:02:46>> The the like the mid upper mid treble
6:02:48resolution. It's really it really carves
6:02:50out so much detail.
6:02:51>> Yeah.
6:02:52>> I enjoyed these immensely. I consider
6:02:54these a reference class
6:02:55>> IM
6:02:56>> and like you, I think at $25.99, it's
6:02:59worth it. Yeah. And at KJAM, if you're
6:03:00shopping for reference class,
6:03:03this is this is absolutely a can't miss.
6:03:06The soft ears karma technics will be
6:03:09joining us at CanJam SoCal this year,
6:03:10and they're also one of our Can Jam
6:03:12SoCal event sponsors. So, thank you
6:03:13Technics for helping make the show
6:03:15possible. Technics knocked it out of the
6:03:17park with their EAZ 100. And if you've
6:03:20had the chance to demo it, you know
6:03:21exactly what I mean. If you haven't,
6:03:23here come our thoughts on this excellent
6:03:25true wireless IM. This is an IM that
6:03:28I've had a chance to try at a couple of
6:03:29different can jams, but not really spend
6:03:31a whole lot of extended time listening
6:03:33to it. And now that I have, I am very
6:03:36happy with this little piece. So, I want
6:03:37to talk about it. This is the Technics
6:03:38EAH A100. Now, they call the EAH A100 a
6:03:42reference class hi-fi true wireless
6:03:44earbud system, and it definitely is
6:03:47that. So, inside of this is a 10
6:03:49millimeter dynamic driver that they call
6:03:50a magnetic fluid driver. It has an ultra
6:03:53thin ultra thin free edge drive
6:03:55structure with an aluminum diaphragm.
6:03:57And they say that's paired with an
6:03:58acoustic control chamber and a custom
6:04:00harmonizer to achieve their target
6:04:02signature, which in their quote is an
6:04:04expansive sound stage with natural
6:04:06mid-range and powerful bass. And I would
6:04:09say that definitely applies here. I'll
6:04:10get back to sound here in a moment. Uh
6:04:12Bluetooth connectivity. So you get
6:04:13Bluetooth 5.3 with support for SBC, AAC,
6:04:16LC3, and LDAC. You have adaptive noise
6:04:19cancellation built in. And this is an
6:04:21excellent integration of noise
6:04:23cancellation to a product. You can tell
6:04:24it wasn't one that was just like an
6:04:26off-the-shelf solution. They actually
6:04:28spent a lot of time developing it. Uh it
6:04:30has multi-point connectivity for up to
6:04:32three devices, which is nice. And it
6:04:34also has their voice focus AI, which is
6:04:36best described as like an outgoing voice
6:04:38noise reduction system designed to
6:04:40reduce the background noise when you're
6:04:41speaking. Uh it has spatial audio
6:04:43optimization for Dolby Atmos and Dolby
6:04:45Headtracking. I admittedly don't really
6:04:47use the Dolby Head tracking much, but
6:04:49the Dolby Atmos I do use that regularly.
6:04:52And it has an IPX4 water resistance
6:04:54rating. Now, they also have the Technics
6:04:56Control or Technics Audio Cont, which I
6:04:59want to mention because that's going to
6:05:01be kind of the main brains of the system
6:05:03here. And inside of it, you can do
6:05:05things like customize the ANC settings
6:05:08or select from one of their different
6:05:09presets or even custom EQ settings. Um,
6:05:12and again, I'm going to come back to
6:05:14that here in a minute. It has up to 10
6:05:16hours of listening time on a single
6:05:17charge. And then with the charging case,
6:05:18you get up to 28 hours and 90 minutes of
6:05:21play with a 15minute quick charge. And
6:05:23then also this charging case does
6:05:25support Chi wireless charging, which is
6:05:27nice. Uh it comes in silver, black,
6:05:29champagne gold, or midnight blue. So you
6:05:30have four color options. And price
6:05:32you're looking at 20 uh $299.99. So it's
6:05:35pretty much towards the upper end of
6:05:38what I would consider standard market
6:05:40pricing. You're not in the flagship
6:05:42territory, but it's also not entry level
6:05:43as far as price goes, but you do get a
6:05:45lot of features and sound quality for
6:05:46that price.
6:05:46>> Yeah. In the head world, that's like
6:05:48actually super affordable.
6:05:49>> That's pretty reasonable. Yeah.
6:05:50>> Uh, now they describe it as delivering
6:05:53highle clarity for natural and realistic
6:05:55sound, full yet articulate bass that
6:05:57extends to very low frequencies,
6:05:59creating a sense of timing, presence,
6:06:00and dynamics, and true high resolution
6:06:03for detail and clarity. That's a really
6:06:05good description. Out of the box, I
6:06:07think it sounds excellent.
6:06:08>> So do I. You don't need to apply EQ to
6:06:10get great sound out of this. But that's
6:06:12where I want to come back to that EQ
6:06:14because this is one of those situations
6:06:15where every single EQ that's in their
6:06:18app is usable and sounds good. There are
6:06:21times where I'll be playing with
6:06:22different apps and I might think I kind
6:06:24of feel like they just threw that EQ in
6:06:26there just because it doesn't really
6:06:27sound great. I don't know who's going to
6:06:28like that. Every single one of them is
6:06:30usable. And then I tended to favor
6:06:32what's called treble plus. No surprise
6:06:34whatsoever. So it gives a little bit of
6:06:36a bump to the mid-range and a lot of
6:06:37bump to the treble. and I am very happy.
6:06:40So, it's excellent because the default
6:06:41signature to me is I would call it I'd
6:06:44say neutral with a low-end bump and a
6:06:47lot of headfires are looking for that
6:06:48specifically. I tend to like my tilt the
6:06:50opposite direction. Yes, you do. Yeah.
6:06:52Um, I also want to mention there's a
6:06:53couple of underrated features on here
6:06:55that I don't see mentioned a lot and I
6:06:57definitely want to call them out. So,
6:06:58first of all, these have ear detection
6:07:00which is a feature that I love on true
6:07:02wireless IM. anytime it's available as
6:07:05an option, I am going to use it because
6:07:06if I'm talking to somebody, sometimes
6:07:09the fastest way to just communicate is
6:07:10pop one of my earbuds out and I wanted
6:07:12to pause the music. I love that and it's
6:07:14here and I'm so happy about it. Another
6:07:16underrated feature is the overall size
6:07:18of the case. This thing is tiny. So,
6:07:21there are some smaller uh true wireless
6:07:23earphone cases out there. This is
6:07:25definitely on the small side. Love that
6:07:27about it. And then another underrated
6:07:28feature, and this might just be me, but
6:07:31I love that I can customize the app
6:07:33itself. So on their homepage, you can
6:07:35actually change which of the four
6:07:37features you want to be shown on the
6:07:38main page of the app. So I've tweaked
6:07:41mine around to kind of get it exactly
6:07:43where I want it, and just pop the app
6:07:44open up, change the setting I want to
6:07:45change, and I'm done. So nice, so
6:07:48userfriendly. Again, for $300 US, this
6:07:51delivers such a complete package that
6:07:53sounds great, functions great, and I
6:07:56think offers a lot for headfires.
6:07:57>> It's so affordable and sounds so good
6:08:00that I was at one of the recent Can
6:08:02Jams. I think I was sitting at their
6:08:03exhibit when I heard it and literally
6:08:05literally got on my phone and ordered a
6:08:06pair right then and there.
6:08:07>> Yeah, it's phenomenal. I think a lot of
6:08:09headers are going to end up doing that
6:08:10because when you try this at Can Jam,
6:08:12you're going to see why we're so happy
6:08:13about it. This is a rather interesting
6:08:16IM and I'd like to tell you why. It's
6:08:17called the Quill Acoustics Karma and
6:08:19it's a limited collaboration between
6:08:21Quill Acoustics and a band called PHO.
6:08:23Now PHO for those who don't know is a
6:08:25metal band from New York and they have a
6:08:27song in their library called Karma and
6:08:29that's where they pull the inspiration
6:08:30for this model name as well. It is a six
6:08:33driver quadrat. Inside you'll find one
6:08:3610.2mm graphine composite dynamic
6:08:38driver. That's a has a focus on the
6:08:40subbase and bass. It has one quill
6:08:43balanced armature driver that's a custom
6:08:45driver for quill acoustics. uh that's
6:08:46focused on the mid-range. It has two
6:08:48sonium balanced armatures focusing on
6:08:50the treble and then it has one planer
6:08:52driver with for the ultra highs. It also
6:08:55has one full range bone conduction
6:08:56driver. All of this in a fiveway
6:08:58crossover. It has an anti-static resin
6:09:01shell and a really cool aluminum
6:09:02magnesium alloy face plate. I love the
6:09:04look of that face plate. I think the
6:09:05design work is exceptional and just
6:09:07really pops.
6:09:07>> Yes, I love the way it looks.
6:09:09>> Yeah, it's great. They comes with two
6:09:10types of included tips. One set is the
6:09:13Ellettech Baroque stage and they say
6:09:15that that delivers soft airy highs with
6:09:17relaxed natural hi-fi presentation. And
6:09:19then the tips that we've been listening
6:09:20to with this demo unit, these are symbio
6:09:23orange peel tips and they say that has
6:09:25transparent bright highs with rich
6:09:27detail for studio monitoring. It runs
6:09:29$899.
6:09:31And then they say the Karma presents a
6:09:33lively W-shaped signature, impact,
6:09:35excitement, and a sense of live presence
6:09:37that at this price simply shouldn't be
6:09:39possible. They also say that it's ideal
6:09:41for rock, metal, and electronic, yet
6:09:43balanced and resolving enough to follow
6:09:45you across every genre. Now, I want to
6:09:47kind of call back a little bit to the
6:09:48description they use for these tips
6:09:50because when I read that, I thought,
6:09:51"Oo, I'm interested." Because they say
6:09:53that it's, you know, designed for studio
6:09:54monitoring. I think it's specifically
6:09:56possibly like studio monitoring rock or
6:09:58more monitoring kind of live music in
6:10:00the studio.
6:10:01>> Yeah, like maybe more metal focus studio
6:10:03monitoring. Quite possibly. It has a lot
6:10:04of drive. We'll get to the sound in a
6:10:06second.
6:10:06>> It does. So, the way that I wrote it
6:10:08down in my notes, I said it's dynamic,
6:10:09impactful sound with a focus on bass and
6:10:11subbase. And I also wrote down that it
6:10:13has incisive vocals. I got to say, I
6:10:15adore the vocals on this. They really do
6:10:18shine for metal and electronic music.
6:10:19>> Yeah. The subbase hits.
6:10:22>> Yeah.
6:10:22>> But so does like the midbase.
6:10:24>> Yeah.
6:10:24>> I feel like this is a that kind of
6:10:27defines its sound for me.
6:10:28>> Yes.
6:10:29>> Uh like you said, the vocals are
6:10:30forward. Very lovely in its
6:10:32presentation. I don't know if metal
6:10:33dudes want me to say lovely, but anyway.
6:10:35Uh, but it does have lovely uh forward
6:10:37uh vocal presentation, but the subbase
6:10:39and I wonder if it's the full range bone
6:10:41conduction driver that I'm picking up.
6:10:43I'm not sure, but the midbase definitely
6:10:45hits. Yeah. Right. So, again, I can see
6:10:48where this might be studio monitoring
6:10:49for that kind of music. I haven't heard
6:10:51the song Karma. Sorry guys, but I'm
6:10:53guessing that is like a hard driving
6:10:55song is my guess. My guess is with those
6:10:57it's going to just absolutely rock. So,
6:10:59definitely want to listen to the song
6:11:01through these. But these at Can Jam for
6:11:03$8.99.
6:11:04>> Yeah. Super interesting. IM. So, as we
6:11:07were sitting down here, I looked at the
6:11:08show notes. I see the price
6:11:09>> and you've confirmed that price is
6:11:10accurate.
6:11:10>> I did.
6:11:12>> 99 bucks.
6:11:13>> Yeah.
6:11:13>> Wow. So, this is the Crineer Nightfall.
6:11:16And this M is inspired by really it's
6:11:20based on technology they first
6:11:22introduced with the Craneer project
6:11:23monolith, right?
6:11:24>> Which is completely sold out by the way.
6:11:26>> So, let's talk about what's inside of
6:11:28these. On the Craner Nightfall on each
6:11:30side, dual craner dynamic drivers. So,
6:11:33two dynamic drivers, one 10 millimeter
6:11:35full-range driver, one 8 millimeter
6:11:36subwoofer. That probably sounds familiar
6:11:38if you're familiar with the craneer
6:11:40project monolith. Multi-dnamic
6:11:42monolithic architecture eliminates the
6:11:44need for traditional tubes or modular
6:11:45chambers and allows for a more precise
6:11:47and consistent sound first heard in
6:11:49project monolith. So, that driver
6:11:51complement the design obviously sounds a
6:11:54lot like the project monolith, but this
6:11:55is a lot less expensive and a different
6:11:58tuning, which we'll get to. CNC machined
6:12:00aluminum shell with a midnight blue
6:12:02anodized finish. which I love the the
6:12:03shade of blue they chose. Swappable
6:12:04terminations on the cable 3 and a half
6:12:06millimeter and 4.4 millimeter which is
6:12:07nice and again that price 99 bucks.
6:12:10Here's how they describe it. With a
6:12:11balanced warm neutral tuning and an MSRP
6:12:13of just $99 USD, the Nightfall is
6:12:15Crineer's most affordable model yet.
6:12:17Designed to be the ideal entry into high
6:12:19fidelity audio without compromise. They
6:12:21continue, "The bass is controlled and
6:12:23present without overpowering. The mids
6:12:25are accurate and lifelike, and the
6:12:26treble is smooth without any sense of
6:12:27dullness. This makes Nightfall highly
6:12:30versatile and suitable for a wide range
6:12:31of music genres and listening
6:12:33preferences. That's one of those kind of
6:12:36company provided marketing copy bits
6:12:38that I 1,000% agree with. They described
6:12:42it spoton. Um I'm going to address maybe
6:12:45I feel a little bit different about the
6:12:46treble than they exactly describe it,
6:12:48but they say with a balanced warm
6:12:49neutral tuning. That's exactly how I
6:12:51describe it.
6:12:52>> Um they say that it's designed to be an
6:12:53ideal entry into high fidelity without
6:12:55compromise. I agree with that, too. It's
6:12:57way more resolving than I'd expect for
6:12:5899 bucks. Um, the bass is controlled and
6:13:01present without overpowering. So, the
6:13:04Project Monolith, which again is sold
6:13:05out to my ears, and I'm kind of a minor
6:13:08bass head audio file,
6:13:09>> right?
6:13:09>> I love my bass, and the Project Monolith
6:13:12for me was heavy, thick, hard-hitting.
6:13:16Right. These are definitely more
6:13:17balanced to my ears. So, whatever
6:13:19they've done with the bass on these, it
6:13:21cleans it up. sounds a little faster,
6:13:23cleaner, which also seems to free up the
6:13:25mids to my ears to breathe freer. And
6:13:27the treble, which they describe as
6:13:29smooth without any sense of dullness. I
6:13:31agree with it, but when they say smooth,
6:13:33I always want to if I don't hear it as
6:13:34like a smoothed treble because there's
6:13:36some sparkle there. Um, I agree with
6:13:38what they're saying, but I want to make
6:13:39clear there's some sparkle.
6:13:40>> Again, for $99, these are going to be a
6:13:43gigantic hit. At Can Jam, there's going
6:13:45to be, I think, a tremendous demand to
6:13:47hear these. But make sure to get in line
6:13:49to hear the $99 Craneer Nightfall at Can
6:13:52Jam. This is the Crineer Project
6:13:54Monolith. And the funny thing about the
6:13:56Project Monolith is it's sold out.
6:13:58>> Yeah.
6:13:58>> And they're going to have it at Canjam
6:13:59anyway. And I'll explain why in just a
6:14:01minute. So the Craneer project monolith
6:14:02was built on Crerier's multi-dnamic
6:14:04monolithic platform or MDM.
6:14:07>> I didn't know much about MDM, so I asked
6:14:09Critical about it in a chat message and
6:14:10he said basically the entire shell is a
6:14:13single unibody piece with all acoustic
6:14:14pathways CNCed in.
6:14:16>> Okay. Yeah, that sounds very cool. Uh,
6:14:18so cool that I want to take them apart
6:14:20to look inside, but it'll probably be
6:14:21more productive and less destructive for
6:14:23me to find an illustration somewhere
6:14:24>> probably.
6:14:25>> All right, so this is a dual dynamic
6:14:27driver IM. Dual dynamic driver IM on
6:14:29each side. Two drivers, then one 10mm
6:14:32fullrange driver and one 8mm subwoofer.
6:14:36That subwoofer works really well. We'll
6:14:38get to that in a minute. Um, here's what
6:14:39they say about the drivers. Every
6:14:40dynamic driver in Project Monolith is
6:14:42developed from the ground up in direct
6:14:44collaboration with Kingone, the world's
6:14:45leading IM dynamic driver manufacturer,
6:14:48>> which is pretty cool.
6:14:49>> The chassis, the earpieces, 18 karat
6:14:51goldplated brass chassis, CNC machined.
6:14:54Um, they're flashy because they're
6:14:55goldplated. Yep.
6:14:56>> They're weighty at 16 g per side because
6:14:58they're brass.
6:14:58>> Yep.
6:14:59>> I still find them very comfortable in my
6:15:00ears, though. Silverplated copper cable.
6:15:02The cable's nice. It matches the
6:15:04aesthetic of the the earpieces nicely.
6:15:06And they have a swappable three and a
6:15:08half millimeter and 4.4 4mm termination.
6:15:11Four types of tips come with it. I like
6:15:13how Craneer with some of their IM has
6:15:16such a thorough ear tip selection. Yeah.
6:15:18>> So, unless you've got some freaky weird
6:15:20ears, you should be able to find a tip
6:15:22in that case somewhere that'll fit these
6:15:24with you. All right. The gold carry case
6:15:26comes with it
6:15:27>> that matches the earpieces. Also flashy,
6:15:30also weighty.
6:15:31>> Yeah,
6:15:31>> that's what we have on the table there.
6:15:33Limited to 999 units globally and sold
6:15:36out. uh $399.99.
6:15:39So 400 bucks was the price and again
6:15:42sold out. And here's what they say about
6:15:43the sound of the project monolith.
6:15:45Project monolith follows Crrener's
6:15:47science first tuning philosophy anchored
6:15:49by a natural and accurate mid-range.
6:15:51From this foundation, we introduce a
6:15:53more experimental bass forward profile.
6:15:55>> Mhm.
6:15:56>> And this is a bass forward profile. I
6:15:58agree a thousand%. Um but that that
6:16:02natural and accurate mid-range, I agree
6:16:03with that. They didn't mention the
6:16:04treble. That actually has a little
6:16:06sparkle to it, which is nice.
6:16:07>> But what defines the sound is
6:16:08unquestionably the bass, which they
6:16:10again describe as a more experimental
6:16:12bass forward design. And I can see why
6:16:14they say more experimental because this
6:16:15is not like anything I've heard from
6:16:17Criner. And I haven't heard everything
6:16:18he's done that Critical's done. But but
6:16:20this is the most bass forward design
6:16:22I've heard from him. I'm a bass like not
6:16:24a bass head, but an audio file bass
6:16:25head.
6:16:26>> I love my bass and these are bassy for
6:16:29me. And so for anybody that loves boom
6:16:32like impactful bass, make sure to check
6:16:34these out. That subwoofer is doing its
6:16:36thing.
6:16:36>> Yeah,
6:16:37>> it really is. So why show it at Can Jam
6:16:39if it's sold out. So Monolith is sold
6:16:41out. They I don't believe they have any
6:16:42plans to make more. But the Nightfall,
6:16:45another Cranier model, uses the MDM
6:16:47design that they implemented in the
6:16:48Monolith, albeit with a different tuning
6:16:50and different materials to keep it at a
6:16:52at a different price point. It's much
6:16:54it's much less expensive than the
6:16:57Project Monolith. So, I'm guessing they
6:16:59just want to show a couple of different
6:17:01ways MDM has been implemented.
6:17:02>> Yeah. See where it started and see where
6:17:03it is now.
6:17:04>> Yeah. And I think that's why they're
6:17:05going to have the project monolith at
6:17:07Canjam. But if you hear it, you should
6:17:08definitely hear it. And if this is
6:17:09something you really want, you're going
6:17:10to have to find them probably on the
6:17:11used market. But make sure to listen to
6:17:13these at KJAM.
6:17:14>> I am holding in my hand the world's
6:17:16flattest inear monitors.
6:17:17>> That is what they're saying about them.
6:17:19>> Yep. These are the cranier reference.
6:17:20Now they say the reference is designed
6:17:22to be the world's flattest measuring IM
6:17:24available, prioritizing transparency,
6:17:26linearity, and repeatable accuracy. It
6:17:29is a five driver hybrid IM with two 10mm
6:17:32dynamic drivers in what they call a
6:17:34horizontally opposed dual woofer system
6:17:36or HODWS and that's paired with three
6:17:39balanced armatures. Two from Sonian for
6:17:41the mid-range and one from Noles as a
6:17:43super tweeter. It has a CNC machined
6:17:45aluminum shell and that's paired with a
6:17:47silverplated copper modular cable with
6:17:50swappable 3.5 millimeter and 4.4
6:17:52millimeter terminations and those are
6:17:54right angle. So, I appreciate that. It
6:17:56comes with four types of tips which is a
6:17:58lot to include in the box.
6:17:59>> There's a lot of tips in there. So, it's
6:18:00nice because you can get, you know, very
6:18:02careful tuning with fit. Y um Yeah, it's
6:18:04very nice to have that many ear tips.
6:18:06>> Exactly. And it's also nice to get a
6:18:07leatherrett zip case. Now, it only runs
6:18:10$349.99,
6:18:12which I think represents incredible
6:18:13value. I'll get back to that here in
6:18:15just a moment, but I want to give a
6:18:16couple of quotes from Criner. So, they
6:18:18say, "Providing reliable tonal balance,
6:18:20precise mid-range clarity, and
6:18:21controlled low frequency response, the
6:18:23reference aims to be your portable
6:18:25studio monitor, allowing mixes to
6:18:27translate with confidence beyond any
6:18:28room." They also say while the reference
6:18:30is engineered to achieve objectively
6:18:32neutrality on paper, its tuning is
6:18:35further refined to deliver true
6:18:36perceptual flatness. Recognizing the
6:18:39inherent differences between in-ear
6:18:40listening and far-field speaker systems,
6:18:42a subtle 2dB low-frequency lift is
6:18:44applied to restore a sense of
6:18:45physicality often associated with
6:18:47high-end studio monitors in treated
6:18:49rooms. Now, I can summarize this, in my
6:18:51opinion, very easily in four words. I
6:18:54said it's balanced. I said it's
6:18:55transparent. And I said that it's high
6:18:57value. It does a great job changing and
6:19:00and revealing to the system that you put
6:19:02in front of it. So, if you put a tube in
6:19:03front of it, it's going to sound very
6:19:05different than putting in something with
6:19:06a solid state amp, for example. And I
6:19:08think the balance sound signature on
6:19:10this is wonderful. I'm surprised it's
6:19:12only 350 bucks.
6:19:14>> I think the craneer reference is
6:19:16fantastic.
6:19:16>> Yeah.
6:19:17>> And I'm not surprised why the community
6:19:19is going completely nuts over these
6:19:21things.
6:19:22>> Um, I was worried when I first kind of
6:19:24read the descriptions that I would find
6:19:26it lean or something or dry, but it is
6:19:29absolutely not the case. No,
6:19:31>> this this is I think an important IM for
6:19:33me in that in all the IM that we have
6:19:36here, this is definitely going to be one
6:19:38of my sonic pallet cleansers.
6:19:40>> Yes.
6:19:40>> Because I hear it as neutral, which is
6:19:43the intent. Um I hear it as perceived
6:19:46flat,
6:19:47>> but that lift that he talks about um
6:19:49that 2dB lift gives it, as he's
6:19:52mentioning, that impact and it puts the
6:19:54bass within my range, my preference
6:19:56range.
6:19:56>> Yeah, I like it too. Yeah, this to me is
6:19:59a this is a neutral reference IM. I can
6:20:02see why they make uh a couple of
6:20:04mentions of like studio use. Oh, yeah.
6:20:06Studio monitor use. I can see this for
6:20:08its price being used as a studio monitor
6:20:10IM.
6:20:11>> I'm going to say these are fantastic for
6:20:13350 bucks. I mean, Critical [snorts] did
6:20:16homeboy, you did a great job with these
6:20:18things. I mean, these are going to be a
6:20:21huge hit for as long as I think he wants
6:20:23to sell them. So, the Cranier reference
6:20:26is obviously going to be one of the
6:20:28biggest can't misses at Can Jam for 350
6:20:32bucks. This gorgeous cable and then it's
6:20:35literally one of the most beautiful
6:20:36cables I've ever seen is the Nostalgia
6:20:39Audio Lord of Logris.
6:20:41>> I don't know what the name means.
6:20:43>> Oh, I do. It's uh LogrArris is King
6:20:45Arthur's Kingdom in in his [laughter]
6:20:47lore.
6:20:47>> Of course, you'd know that nerd. Uh
6:20:49yeah, I knew it. I could count on you.
6:20:51Uh, they described the Lord of Logus as
6:20:53a next generation Supreme flagship
6:20:55upgrade cable.
6:20:56>> Yeah.
6:20:56>> And when I saw Supreme flagship upgrade
6:20:59cable, I figured it would be expensive.
6:21:01>> Yep.
6:21:02>> Yeah, it is. And then when I saw the
6:21:04materials using, I knew it would be. So,
6:21:06let's talk about that. It's a 19 gauge
6:21:08four-wire design. It uses multi-layer
6:21:09multistrand matrix structure, quadinary
6:21:12gold, silver, platinum palladium alloy.
6:21:14Let me say that again. Quadinary gold,
6:21:16silver, platinum platium alloy, plus
6:21:17goldplated 5NOCC silver. So that's on
6:21:19continuous cast silver plus 5 NOCCC
6:21:21silver.
6:21:22>> The jacket is actually has a beautiful
6:21:24hand to it.
6:21:25>> Yes.
6:21:26>> Uh it's a US-made soft flex PVC outer
6:21:29jacket that has again a beautiful hand.
6:21:30It must be a very premium grade
6:21:33>> uh of that material. Uh it has bespoke
6:21:35metal hardware that they use fiveaxis
6:21:38CNC machining for.
6:21:39>> Yes.
6:21:40>> Um and that hardware is made of
6:21:42high-grade aerospace aluminum. I'm going
6:21:44to say this about the hardware on their
6:21:46high-end cables for Nostalgia Audio.
6:21:47have some of the most beautiful hardware
6:21:50I've ever seen on cables, if not the
6:21:51most beautiful hardware I've ever seen
6:21:52on cables. The finishing is insane.
6:21:54>> Yeah, it is. I thought the Gwyavir was
6:21:55beautiful and they took it up another
6:21:57level with the Lord of Logist.
6:21:58>> Yes, just gorgeous. Uh unique black and
6:22:01gold aesthetic, which I think is
6:22:02gorgeous. Uh they say in both the epic
6:22:04sweep of legends and the intricate
6:22:06geometry of the chessboard, the king
6:22:07symbolizes unshakable dominance,
6:22:09meticulous tactical control, and supreme
6:22:11centrality.
6:22:12>> Mhm.
6:22:12>> They get pretty poetic in these
6:22:13descriptions. that new
6:22:14>> the price $3,320
6:22:18US.
6:22:18>> Yeah.
6:22:18>> So again, this is an expensive cable. I
6:22:20knew it would be when they described it
6:22:22as they did
6:22:23>> and then we saw the materials. So, but
6:22:25it is a lovely cable. They Here are some
6:22:27other things I say about it. At its
6:22:28core, a meticulously tuned multi-layer,
6:22:30multi-strand matrix structure
6:22:31reconstructs massive amounts of acoustic
6:22:33data, rendering a highly focused
6:22:35holographic sound stage with lielike
6:22:36presence. Its large cross-section
6:22:39premium core conductors unlock
6:22:40subterranean base with lightning fast
6:22:42transient response and precise muscular
6:22:44definition. And they finally say,
6:22:46completely erasing harsh digital glare
6:22:48through a flawless blend of multi-layer
6:22:49precious metals, the highs extend into a
6:22:51silky smooth, warm brilliance flowing
6:22:53with an irreplaceable ancient gold medal
6:22:55nobility, offering an unparalleled
6:22:57auditory coronation for discerning audio
6:22:58files. That is a mouthful.
6:23:00>> Yeah.
6:23:00>> Again, they they wax pretty poetic about
6:23:02this cable, but here's what I'm going to
6:23:03say. It's it's it's a stunning cable.
6:23:04It's probably one of the nicest looking
6:23:05cables I've ever seen. But as far as
6:23:07pairing it with something, I chose to
6:23:09pair it with an IM that I think is about
6:23:11the same price. Um, it's the Symphonium
6:23:15Audio Zenith. I think it is one of the
6:23:17best all-around IM you can buy right
6:23:19now. Period. It's that good.
6:23:21>> And I know those familiar with the
6:23:22Zenith are going to think I'm nuts when
6:23:23I say this, uh, because the bass
6:23:25extension, the bass presence is
6:23:26beautiful. But there are sometimes I
6:23:28want a little more richness. And when I
6:23:30saw that part about the, you know, the
6:23:32subterranean base, that is something I
6:23:34wanted to pair with. So, I do have for
6:23:36the Zenith the upgrade cable option for
6:23:39it and it is a lovely thing. Mind you,
6:23:42this is much much much more expensive.
6:23:44Uh, that said, the Lord of Loggers will
6:23:46likely be a permanent companion for the
6:23:49Zenith because I love this pairing.
6:23:50Sounds amazing. So, for those cable
6:23:54enthusiasts, the high-end cable
6:23:55enthusiasts, and there are a lot of them
6:23:56that come to Can Jam, I'm looking at
6:23:58you, water cooler people, um, you're
6:24:00going to want to find the Nostalgia
6:24:02Audio Lord of Loggers at Can Jam. This
6:24:05is the Status Audio Golden Sound Pro X.
6:24:08Now, we've talked about the original
6:24:09Status Audio Pro X, which is a lovely
6:24:11true wireless IM. I love the sound of it
6:24:13to be very frank as an audio file true
6:24:15wireless IM. Um, but this one
6:24:18>> has an available golden sound tuning.
6:24:20That's the default tuning of this one,
6:24:21right?
6:24:21>> And that refers to Golden Sound, the
6:24:23reviewer, Cameron Otley's real name.
6:24:25Very respected reviewer in our
6:24:27community. And that tuning is only
6:24:28available with this version. I think
6:24:29it's the version to get for that reason.
6:24:31Anyway, we'll talk about the sound
6:24:32shortly. So, let's talk about what's
6:24:34identical with the Pro X because they're
6:24:35essentially the same IM. Um, so it's a
6:24:37three driver hybrid wireless with one
6:24:3912mm dynamic driver and two nulls
6:24:41balanced armatururses. ANC and
6:24:43transparency modes with three beam
6:24:44forming mics per side. Voice loom AI,
6:24:46which is
6:24:47>> that's an outgoing voice noise reduction
6:24:49system. Thank you very much. That very
6:24:50that's very important for a person like
6:24:51me who's on the phone all the time.
6:24:53Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC, which is always
6:24:55nice to have. Multi-point connectivity,
6:24:57also very nice to have. IP55 water and
6:24:59dust protection.
6:25:01>> I think it's important.
6:25:02>> Yes,
6:25:02>> especially if you're on the go. Up to
6:25:04eight hours of listening time per charge
6:25:06with an additional 24 hours in theQi
6:25:08compatible charging case. Status hub
6:25:10companion app. It's actually a very nice
6:25:12app.
6:25:13>> Yep. And within that app, if you have
6:25:15this version, you can unlock that key
6:25:17difference, which is the Golden Sound
6:25:19tuned sound signature. And here's what
6:25:21they say about that. The Pro X Golden
6:25:23Sound Edition was tuned to align more
6:25:25closely with the way people actually
6:25:26hear than any in-ear monitor before it,
6:25:28wired or wireless. I mean, a bold claim.
6:25:29>> Yeah.
6:25:30>> Um, thankfully, I I really dig the
6:25:32Golden Sound signature in this. They
6:25:34also say its sound was developed through
6:25:35one of the most rigorous measurement
6:25:37programs ever ever applied to a wireless
6:25:39earphone combining full sphere HRTF
6:25:41research at Imperial College London.
6:25:43Ruling care 5128 measurements and
6:25:45rederived listener preference targets.
6:25:47The goal was never to sound great for an
6:25:48earbud. It was to create sound your
6:25:51brain accepts as real. Again, another
6:25:53bold claim. Yeah. And again, thankfully,
6:25:55I like the sound signature that Golden
6:25:57Sound tuned in it. All right. The price
6:25:59prox $249. It used to be $299, then they
6:26:02reduced it to $249. That's the original.
6:26:04>> Mhm.
6:26:04>> This version's 30 bucks more at $279.
6:26:06So, the Golden Sound Pro X is $279. Oh,
6:26:08I also should mention another
6:26:09difference. Minor one. Uh, exclusive
6:26:12black and gold colorway.
6:26:13>> Yeah,
6:26:13>> I happen to like the way it looks. All
6:26:15right, here's what I think about the
6:26:16sound. The Pro X, uh, to me was already
6:26:19an excellent sounding audio file, true
6:26:22wireless, IM, right? What I love about
6:26:24that Status Hub Companion app is that
6:26:27you have several usable tunings. Even
6:26:29with the Pro X version, the the Golden
6:26:32Sound version just brings that golden
6:26:33sound tuning to it, which to my ears,
6:26:35like I don't know exactly what he's
6:26:36doing with the bass. I haven't measured
6:26:38these uh or the or the originals for
6:26:40that matter. Um but I I hear the bass is
6:26:42more textured with these.
6:26:43>> Um and you can compare them easily
6:26:45because in the app, if you have the
6:26:47Golden Sound version, you can compare
6:26:48the original default signature of the
6:26:49Pro X to the Golden Sound signature that
6:26:52this has as its default. I prefer that
6:26:55Golden Sound tuning. It's my favorite of
6:26:56all the available tunings uh because it
6:26:59has a more natural treble like a like a
6:27:01more smooth treble response still still
6:27:03resolving but that's more my style
6:27:05>> and then I again the bass is more
6:27:06textured and I also feel that it images
6:27:07better.
6:27:08>> Yeah, I think it does too.
6:27:09>> So and you can switch again immediately
6:27:10between you can hear the difference
6:27:11between the two.
6:27:12>> Yep.
6:27:13>> Now there are other what I love about
6:27:14the the the Status Hub Companion app is
6:27:16there are several usable tunings again.
6:27:19>> Um what are your favorites?
6:27:20>> Oh clearly for me the NLES and the audio
6:27:22file signatures.
6:27:23>> Yeah, I'm not surprised. I think that
6:27:24was also true for the Pro X for you. Um,
6:27:27so I I figured for you the Golden Sound
6:27:28might be a little bit smoother up top
6:27:30than you generally like,
6:27:31>> right?
6:27:31>> And for me, it's my favorite of the
6:27:33tunings. That said, I enjoy the other
6:27:36tunings that we've mentioned. The
6:27:38default Pro X tuning, the signature
6:27:40tuning I think they call it, and then
6:27:41the the Nullles one has a little bit
6:27:43more treble articulation and presence
6:27:45and the audio file one as well. So, I
6:27:47love that you have all those available
6:27:48at just the touch of a screen
6:27:50immediately. Um, and I prefer the Golden
6:27:53Sound one. That's why I think you should
6:27:55get the golden sound one because it's
6:27:57the only version that'll have the golden
6:27:58sound in the app. Um, and by default.
6:28:01So, at KJAM, if you want to hear one of
6:28:04my favorite true wireless audio files,
6:28:06Status Audio Golden Sound Pro X, this is
6:28:09the Civa Liarbird. Now, every once in a
6:28:12while in our KJM previews here, we'll
6:28:13talk about what we think might be
6:28:15sleeper hits at KJAM. And this, I think,
6:28:17is going to be one of those. Usually,
6:28:19it's a product that that's priced
6:28:20affordably, but that performs way above
6:28:22its price,
6:28:22>> right?
6:28:23>> I think this meets the description.
6:28:25We'll get to the sound shortly. Let's
6:28:26talk about what it is. The Civa Liar
6:28:27Bird is a four driver quadr on each
6:28:30side, one 10mm polymer composite dynamic
6:28:32driver, one balanced armature driver,
6:28:34one micro planer driver, and one 9.2mm
6:28:37multi-layer PZO electric ceramic driver.
6:28:39It's an interesting driver complent,
6:28:41especially considering the price, which
6:28:42we're going to get to. Uh CNC aviation
6:28:44aluminum alloy chassis. It's an elegant,
6:28:46simple chassis. stabilized wood face
6:28:48plates.
6:28:49>> Yeah, they're nice looking face plates.
6:28:50>> That's kind of the highlight of their
6:28:51looks. Yeah, resin treated. Improves
6:28:53hardness and moisture resistance. I love
6:28:55the look of stabilized wood. They did a
6:28:56beautiful job with these.
6:28:57>> Hybrid upgrade cable. Here's what they
6:28:59say about the cable. 30 core Furokawa
6:29:01OFC. That's oxygen-free copper. 10 core
6:29:03silverplated copper. 10 core enameled
6:29:05goldplated silver copper. Do they mean
6:29:06just all in this one cable?
6:29:07>> Yeah, I mean they call it an upgrade
6:29:08cable, so I I can see where they're
6:29:09coming from with that.
6:29:10>> It's actually a really nice cable.
6:29:11There's a lot going on in it, too. Two
6:29:12pin connectors on the earpiece side, 4.4
6:29:144mm termination uh for the plug. Uh
6:29:17comes with a crazy horse leather
6:29:19carrying case.
6:29:19>> Yeah, it's nice. We have it on the table
6:29:20here.
6:29:21>> Yeah, I'm not sure which tannery makes
6:29:22crazy horse leather, but it's a nice
6:29:24little case. The price $164.
6:29:27>> Mhm.
6:29:28>> So, I did not guess it at that price uh
6:29:31when I first heard it cuz I heard it
6:29:32before I knew the price. So, yeah,
6:29:35extremely strong value to my ears. Um
6:29:38so, here's how they describe the sound.
6:29:39Civa says, "Elastic bass with a relaxed
6:29:42presentation,
6:29:43>> clear mids with focused vocals and fine
6:29:45detail, smooth treble extension with low
6:29:47distortion, precise ultra high frequency
6:29:50response."
6:29:50>> Yeah, I get the impression that whoever
6:29:51writes their descriptions might share
6:29:53some sonic tastes with my with the way I
6:29:55do. Uh because I wrote down that I hear
6:29:57it as mildly smooth and warm. Uh I hear
6:29:59mild low-end punch and clear mids with
6:30:01nice vocals, which kind of lines up with
6:30:04a lot of the descriptions that they have
6:30:05going on there.
6:30:06>> Yes. So now I want to kind of like say
6:30:08what I think about it.
6:30:10>> Uh kind of accounting for our our sort
6:30:13of tonal balance, right? Preferences and
6:30:15the differences therein. So what you
6:30:18call smooth and warm. Uh I I understand
6:30:20why you describe it that way. I heard it
6:30:22probably a little more sparkly than you
6:30:24did. Yeah.
6:30:24>> Um just again given our preference
6:30:27range. Um mild low-end punch.
6:30:30>> I agree with you there. I I don't find
6:30:31it particularly emphasized at all on on
6:30:33the bass, but it seems like it has
6:30:34excellent extension.
6:30:35>> Yes. uh clear mids, nice vocals. I agree
6:30:38with you. In fact, I would say that when
6:30:40I was listening to female vocals, I I
6:30:41was getting some female vocal emphasis
6:30:43with a little bit
6:30:44>> and and so yeah, but overall that
6:30:46balance that it has,
6:30:48>> the resolution that it has,
6:30:50>> interesting driver compliment, too. And
6:30:51I like the way they integrated all those
6:30:52drivers. It sounds integrated to me.
6:30:54>> $164.
6:30:56>> Yeah.
6:30:57>> Civa liarbird Jam. I think it's going to
6:30:59be a sleeper hit. Do not miss them. AM
6:31:02will be exhibiting at Kanjam SoCal and
6:31:04they'll be bringing a new IM, one that's
6:31:06expected to release around the end of
6:31:07October and this new IM is called the AM
6:31:10Gnome. Now according to AM, the Gnome is
6:31:13their first ever earphone crafted from
6:31:14Titanium. It's the first earphone to be
6:31:16released in the four elements series.
6:31:18Now featuring a premium configuration,
6:31:20this earphone is powered entirely by
6:31:21Sony's latest cuttingedge drivers with
6:31:24the sole exception of a Null's dual
6:31:26driver. Now, in particular, the newly
6:31:28released quad EST driver delivers a
6:31:30distinctly upgraded audio experience,
6:31:32elevating the performance far beyond
6:31:33conventional EST driver sound. So, the
6:31:36driver count is on each side 6BA, 4 EST,
6:31:40two bone conduction drivers in a fiveway
6:31:42crossover network. Now, they also say
6:31:45true to its name, the design is inspired
6:31:47by a solid rock formation. It delivers a
6:31:50firm, punchy bass complemented by
6:31:51textured mids and highs, giving it an
6:31:53overall very modern sound signature.
6:31:56Notably, the new second generation EST
6:31:58drivers achieve a remarkably seamless
6:32:00crossover with the BA drivers. The
6:32:02exterior color and some parts are being
6:32:04refined and it is scheduled for release
6:32:07at the end of October. Now, popular
6:32:09reviewer Kurowong heard a pre-production
6:32:11Gnome in Canjam, Singapore, and he had
6:32:13this to say about it. He said, "Through
6:32:15the Gnome, my favorite Mark Rabau track,
6:32:18Aurora, was fantastic. The percussion is
6:32:20spot-on and sounded absolutely real. The
6:32:23sound stage from them is magnificent,
6:32:24absolutely accurate in both depth and
6:32:26width. And you hear the weird shifts of
6:32:28instrument positions midtrack suggesting
6:32:30considerable amounts of detail. These IM
6:32:33might well end up being my new reference
6:32:35for acoustic music in the future. And
6:32:37that's according to Kurowong. Now Jay
6:32:39Gunong from AM got the gnome to us only
6:32:42on the very last day of our video
6:32:44shooting schedule. This is the last day
6:32:46of our schedule. So I've only spent a
6:32:48very short time with them. My first
6:32:50impressions very much mirror what
6:32:52Kurawong said about the Gnome. And I can
6:32:54also confidently say the Gnome is the
6:32:56best IM for my tastes that I've heard
6:32:58from AM topping even the Raven which is
6:33:01one of the former AM flagships. And I'm
6:33:03a big fan of the AM Raven. Do not miss
6:33:06the AM gnome at KJM SoCal. This is the
6:33:10AM Igris. Now, the founder of AME is
6:33:13Jagen Song, a gentleman from Korea whom
6:33:16I've known for I I guess several years
6:33:18now, actually. And he's one of my
6:33:20favorite people to run into at the shows
6:33:22because he is one of the most
6:33:23enthusiastic, upbeat people I've met in
6:33:26this industry.
6:33:27>> Yeah,
6:33:27>> he loves music. He's a musician as well.
6:33:30And he loves crafting IM. And this Igris
6:33:33from AM is one I totally dig. So, let's
6:33:35talk about it. The AMGS is a seven
6:33:38driver tribid. on each side. One dynamic
6:33:40driver for bass and it's a dual magnet
6:33:42dual chamber design. Two son balanced
6:33:45armatururs for mids and mid highs. Two
6:33:47nullles balanced armatures for highs and
6:33:49two planar drivers for super highs and
6:33:52all of that in a four-way crossover and
6:33:5416 ohm impedance. The Igris comes with
6:33:56an Lotch cable. I love when uh IM come
6:33:59with a high quality aftermarket cable.
6:34:01>> So, this comes with an LEC cable with a
6:34:034.4 millimeter termination. The price is
6:34:06$1,788
6:34:07US. So, less expensive than their
6:34:09flagship of course, the Musa.
6:34:11>> Um, and now let's talk about the sound.
6:34:13Well, first I want to talk about some
6:34:14show notes that we have here. Some I
6:34:16think these are notes from AM, right?
6:34:17>> Yes.
6:34:18>> Uh, they describe it as a powerful,
6:34:19charismatic sound with a very profound
6:34:22and bold bass response. Okay, I agree
6:34:25with that. Uh, Igor delivers deep,
6:34:27punchy bass. So much so that we would
6:34:29call it the son of Musa.
6:34:33Okay, so now I don't know if I would
6:34:34call it the son of Musa like if I had to
6:34:36describe it,
6:34:37>> right? The Musa, which is their
6:34:39flagship, is a big, bold, thick sounding
6:34:42>> IM.
6:34:44>> The Igris has that big bass they
6:34:46describe, no question. But it sounds to
6:34:48me faster and overall certainly more
6:34:51neutral to my ears than the Musa.
6:34:54Frankly, I prefer the Igris to the Musa.
6:34:57>> Okay.
6:34:58>> And and and the Musa is their flagship.
6:35:00And I think for anybody who's heard the
6:35:01Musa who found it maybe a little too
6:35:03rich, a little too thick sounding,
6:35:06>> I think the Igris is going to hit hard
6:35:08in a great way because it does have that
6:35:11hard-hitting bass, but again, it's
6:35:12faster and more responsive sounding to
6:35:14me. A little airier sounding than the
6:35:15Musa. I prefer the Igris. They have
6:35:18another IM that I also really enjoy
6:35:19called the AM Raven, which I think has
6:35:21been your favorite of
6:35:23>> AM. Of all the AMs that I've heard, the
6:35:24Raven is my favorite.
6:35:25>> I prefer the Raven signature to the
6:35:27Musa. I prefer the Igris probably even
6:35:29to the Raven.
6:35:30>> Okay,
6:35:31>> so at Can Jam if you want to hear I this
6:35:34might be my favorite IM from AM so far.
6:35:36If you want to hear my favorite IM from
6:35:38AM at Can Jam, make sure not to miss the
6:35:41AMGs.
6:35:43Ever since Camper released the CP622B,
6:35:46as you well know, and I've said it many
6:35:48times, it's been one of my reference IM.
6:35:49Beautiful, magical mid-range. I believe
6:35:51it's the first IM I heard with bone
6:35:53conduction mid-range drivers.
6:35:54>> I think it was.
6:35:55>> Anyways, love the mid-range of the CP
6:35:56622B. It was the camper flagship. Catch
6:35:59that past tense. I say that was because
6:36:03I'm holding the camper CP752B.
6:36:06This is now the flagship of the camper
6:36:07lineup and it will be at Can Jam and you
6:36:10absolutely don't want to miss it cuz it
6:36:11is an exquisite, beautiful sounding IM.
6:36:14Let's talk about what it is. The Camper
6:36:15CP 752B is a 14 driver quadrid on each
6:36:19side. Seven balanced armatururs, four
6:36:20EST drivers, one planer magnetic driver,
6:36:23two bone conduction drivers. Now, in
6:36:25comparison, just to compare it to the
6:36:27CP622B, the CP622B was a 10 driver
6:36:31tribrid. It didn't have the planer
6:36:33magnetic driver. I want to say Camper
6:36:35did a beautiful job integrating those 14
6:36:37drivers of four different types into a
6:36:40very cohesive sound. They did it with
6:36:42the CP 622B though as well. But, but
6:36:44then when you add like another driver
6:36:45type, right,
6:36:46>> it's it's a challenging thing to do.
6:36:48>> And and it sounds as one and that to me
6:36:50is so important. Beautiful job camper.
6:36:53Uh the CP 752B has a medical grade resin
6:36:56shell. Their shells are always
6:36:57beautifully built. Um you know, they're
6:36:59like this one's actually rather simple
6:37:00in design. It's elegant, but they're but
6:37:03there's like they're like flawless
6:37:04shells. I don't think I've seen a single
6:37:05flaw on that shell.
6:37:07>> Um they say it has nextgen tuning
6:37:09philosophy. That's pretty general. I'm
6:37:10not sure what they mean, but I I can
6:37:12tell you I love your tuning for the
6:37:14CP752B.
6:37:15Again, exquisite. They say it's an
6:37:17evolution of the CP622B built on the CP
6:37:20622B's DNA. I actually hear that
6:37:24actually looks the part too. But it I
6:37:25actually hear that as well and I'm glad
6:37:27because what I would want from Camper
6:37:30like if they were going to make another
6:37:32flagship, you know, when when I was
6:37:34listening to the CP 622B, what I'd want
6:37:36is an evolution of that. I wouldn't want
6:37:38them to completely upend it,
6:37:40>> right?
6:37:40>> I love the way it sounded and the way it
6:37:42sounds. It's still still around. Uh they
6:37:44describe it the 7 the CP 752B as having
6:37:47richer mids and expanded sound stage. I
6:37:50hear the expanded sound stage. I'm not
6:37:51sure that I would use that phrase richer
6:37:53mids per se.
6:37:55>> I'm not disagreeing with you, camper.
6:37:56I'm just saying that I I I get why
6:37:57they're saying it, but I'm going to
6:37:58explain how it sounds to me shortly.
6:38:01>> And then it comes with an exclusive
6:38:02Ellettech cable. Lovely cable, by the
6:38:05way. They say it's newly designed
6:38:06premium cable designed for enhanced
6:38:08signal transmission and aesthetics.
6:38:09Okay, that's literally the extent of the
6:38:11information that we have. We have
6:38:12limited information, but we have the
6:38:13actual IM.
6:38:14>> Yeah.
6:38:14>> And I guess that's the most important
6:38:16part. Let's talk about the sound. All
6:38:17right. Again, an evolution of the CP
6:38:19622B. I agree. What would I have wanted
6:38:21more from the CP 622B, which is in the
6:38:23range of neutrality for sure. Well, one
6:38:25of the things I would have wanted was
6:38:27just a little more bass. Beautiful bass
6:38:29extension on the 622. 752 gives me that
6:38:33little more I wanted,
6:38:35>> right?
6:38:36>> The 622 had beautiful bass.
6:38:37>> I wanted just a touch more. I got that
6:38:39touch more with this. Still as textured,
6:38:43detailed. Anyway, what else would I
6:38:45wanted? I didn't necessarily know I
6:38:47wanted more air.
6:38:47>> Mhm. um from the CP 622B. I'm getting
6:38:51more air with this. Um so there's there
6:38:54seems to be a little more treble energy,
6:38:56a little more treble air, but with no
6:38:57etch,
6:38:58>> right?
6:38:58>> So, so you know what I always fear when
6:39:01companies try to seek more details that
6:39:03they could go toward etch. They did not
6:39:05do that at all with this. The CP752B is
6:39:08etch free to my ears. Now, on that on
6:39:11that on that richer mid statement, I'm
6:39:13not hearing it like that because I mean
6:39:15I'm hearing maybe there's more a little
6:39:17more in the treble, maybe a little more
6:39:18in the upper mids. Um, and if that's
6:39:20what they're talking about, yeah, but
6:39:21that's not usually where I describe
6:39:22richness. Maybe usually in the low mids
6:39:24to mid mids,
6:39:25>> um, where I'm not hearing necessarily
6:39:26more there with these.
6:39:28>> So, maybe it's just a semantics thing.
6:39:30>> I will agree with them though that it's
6:39:32fantastic.
6:39:33>> Yeah.
6:39:34>> So, the CP752B is an exquisite new
6:39:36flagship at Can Jam. You absolutely have
6:39:38to check it out. It's still in that
6:39:40range of neutrality, but it has that
6:39:42touch more richness that I wanted. And
6:39:43it is an absolutely fantastic IM. After
6:39:47all that, there are still more IM and
6:39:49accessory brands for you to discover at
6:39:51KJAM SoCal 2026. Dunu will be showing
6:39:54their new PRS5 IM alongside the PRS6 and
6:39:57Noctua models we discussed earlier.
6:40:00Effect Audio will be showing their new
6:40:02nine driver quadr, the Perseus. Forte
6:40:04ears will have their latest release, the
6:40:06single dynamic driver Vetta. Hercules
6:40:09Audio will be demoing their allnew
6:40:11flagship, the Moses Legend, and Lean
6:40:13Audio will have a variety of IM for you
6:40:15to try, including the Moonrop Harmon and
6:40:18the Truth Pure. Let's shore will be
6:40:20showing their flagship, the 10 driver
6:40:22Tribbrid Sonata. Linsol will have
6:40:24several new IM from their in-house
6:40:26brands, including the seven Herz
6:40:28timeless 2, the Kiwi ear sept, and the
6:40:31the Audio Elise Audio collaboration,
6:40:33Vera. Music Tech will be your
6:40:35destination for all things Camper, Flash
6:40:37Acoustics, Orololis, PMG Audio, and QDC,
6:40:41among many other brands. You'll also
6:40:43find IM and accessories from Adastro
6:40:45Acoustic, EPZ, FatFreak, Flip Ears, JVC,
6:40:49Kinwood, Lime Ears, O Bravo, Plexic, C
6:40:53Audio, Timoc, and Yangza at the show.
6:40:57Well, there you have it. Our preview for
6:40:59Can Jam SoCal 2026, which is happening
6:41:02August 29th and 30th at the Irvine
6:41:04Marriott in sunny Southern California.
6:41:06This year's event is sponsored by Hi-Fi
6:41:08Man, Music Tech, and Technics, and we
6:41:10want to give them a special thank you
6:41:12for helping make the show possible this
6:41:13year. Now, we featured a ton of personal
6:41:16audio gear, audio brands, dealers, and
6:41:19seminars that can be found at KJAM SoCal
6:41:21in this monstrous preview video. So, for
6:41:23a quick recap, scrolling on the screen
6:41:25now is the list of brands for you to
6:41:27explore when you join us in the greater
6:41:29Los Angeles area this weekend. Thank you
6:41:31so much for sticking with us through
6:41:33this sneak peek some have called a
6:41:34grander epic than the Odyssey. I did. I
6:41:37said that. Let us know in the comments
6:41:39what you're most excited to try at Can
6:41:41Jam SoCal this year. If something new in
6:41:43this preview video caught your eye, give
6:41:44us a like to let us know and subscribe
6:41:46to the channel for our upcoming audio
6:41:48reviews and future Can Jam content.
6:41:50We'll see you in California and on the
6:41:52forums at headv.org.
6:42:03>> [music]

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