CanJam Chicago 2022 – Coverage Sponsored by Underwood HiFi Part 4

Welcome back for part 4 of our multi-part in-depth coverage of CanJam Chicago 2022 once again thanks to our good friend Walter Liederman of Underwood HiFi, https://www.underwoodhifi.com/, the best place to find high-end audio at affordable prices, for his magnanimous support in sponsoring our show coverage.

Empire Ears

Empire Ears was showing their wonderful line of IEMs including the stunning Empire Ears Legend EVO IEM ($3,099) which features eight drivers including two Next Generation W9+ Subwoofers and a Weapon X (W10) Bone Conduction Ultra Driver and a nine-way synX Crossover Network, with a frequency response down to 5Hz, this is a bass-head’s dream. Also on display was their Flagship Tribrid 11 Driver Empire Ears ODIN IEM ($3,399) which employs Premium Electrostatic Drivers using EIVEC (Empire Intelligent Variable Electrostatic Control Technology).

AUDEZE

Audeze was making their usual big splash with a large booth displaying all of their amazing products with a special focus on their brand new Audeze MM-500 Headphone specifically designed for studio use and voiced by 11-time Grammy Winner Manny Marroquin their new Head of Professional Products. Of course, also available for your listening pleasure were Audeze’s two flagship headphones the Audeze LCD-5 Planar Magnetic Headphone ($4,500) and the Audeze CRBN Electrostatic Headphone ($4,500).

Fidelice

Fidelice was promoting their RAD X RND Limited Edition Bundle ($6,999) of a pair of Rosson Audio Design RND-0 Headphones ($2,600) with the Fidelice Precision Digital-To-Analog Converter ($4,995). They were also displaying their Fidelice Precision Headphone Amplifier ($1,195) and Fidelice Precision Phono Pre-Amplifier ($1,195).

Dan Clark Audio

It’s always a pleasure to visit Dan Clark Audio who shared a room and a table with Justin Wilson of HeadAmp. Dan has been a friend since he first introduced his MrSpeakers ETHER planar magnetic headphone 7 years and 15 headphones ago, and all three of my Dan Clark headphones, the ETHER C Flow 1.1, AEON Flow Open, and ETHER², remain to this day among my primary reference headphones. When it was released the Dan Clark VOCE became my reference as the best sounding headphone period (though I was not able to afford a pair and the necessary accompanying amplifier), then last year he released the Dan Clark Audio STEALTH Planar Magnetic Headphone ($3,999.99) which at CanJam SoCal 2021 I was able to determine was slightly superior to the VOCE in tonal balance. Well, thankfully, Dan saw that as a challenge and upgraded the VOCE ($3,299.99) for this year with a modification to the earpads that put the electrostatics again on top which is where they belong. Of course, the STEALTH remains among my favorite headphones and represents a better value as they can be used with any headphone amplifier which was evidenced by how many were used at CanJam this year. Of course, the AEON2 ($899.99) still represents one of the best values in headphones offering reference quality sound for less than $1,000 whether you prefer them in Open, Closed, or Noire.

HeadAmp

Justin Wilson is not only a manufacturer of some of the finest Headphone Amplifiers out there he is also a well-respected online retailer, so everything you see in his room and on his table in the main showroom is available at his website https://www.headamp.com/ for a great price. While for me the HeadAmp Blue Hawaii Special Edition Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier ($6,495) remains at the top of the list for exciting products, he is the first to have the brand new RAAL|requisite CA-1a Circum-Aural Ribbon Headphone ($2,000 without cables and interface) (Not even shown on the RAAL|requisite website yet) though shipping has not yet begun. Also on display were the HeadAmp GS-X mk2 Balanced Headphone Amplifier/Preamplifier ($2,999), HeadAmp GS-X Mini Balanced Headphone Amplifier/Preamplifier ($1,795), and the HeadAmp Gilmore Lite  mk2 Class-A Headphone Amplifier/Preamplifier ($499) with the soon to be released HeadAmp Golden Reference Power Supply ($299). Among the other brands he had on display were iFi, Naim, Dan Clark Audio, Audeze, HiFiMan, Spirit Torino, STAX, iBasso, Bricasti Design, Earmen, Meze, and Chord though his full line of products stretches far beyond that.

Abyss

Abyss was showing their new Abyss Diana TC Premium Audiophile Headphone ($4,495) as well as their Abyss AB1266 Phi TC Audiophile Reference Headphone ($5,995) with the spectacular dCS Lina System ($29,150) (See Frank’s review of the Lina HERE) that is comprised of three components, the dCS Lina Network Ring DAC ($12,750), the dCS Lina Master Clock ($7,300) and the dCS Lina Headphone Amplifier ($9,100), and as an added bonus both systems were sourced through the ROON Nucleus Plus Music Server ($2,559). Simply put, this was the best I have heard either headphone sound, truly wonderful.

Spirit Torino

Spirit Torino was full of surprises at the show including their prototype Spirit Torino Headphone Amplifier ($11,000), Spirit Torino Valkyria Titanium Headphone ($11,000), and their Spirit Torino Mistral radiant Bluetooth blue/mahogany Wireless Headphones. As usual, the combination of the Valkyria Titanium and the Spirit Torino amplifier provided exceptional and unique sound that makes them a must-have in any reference system, and their beautiful Italian artistic design makes them an attractive addition to any household.

Robb Watts/Chord

Robb Watts the brains behind Chord Electronics Ltd. gave a seminar on the design philosophies behind the new Chord Mojo₂ DAC/Headphone Amplifier ($775) to a fairly packed house. It was a real insight into the reasons that Chord products sound as they do. One of the key factors was that he looks at micro detail produced at minus 300dB far beyond the ability of the electronics to reproduce that have a residual effect on the overall sound of the DAC. I hope to be able to review the Mojo₂ in the not too distant future when one becomes available.

eksonic

One of the most exciting finds of the show, for me at least, was eksonic. Their eksonic DIY “Kerry Built” T2 Electrostatic Headphone Amplifier ($14,000) is based on the “Legendary” STAX SRM-T2 amplifier and the result of a DIY project started in 2009 miniaturizing and improving on the original design. All I can say is that the sound was unprecedented. Through the DIY “Kerry Built” T2 the vintage STAX SR-007 Mk I Electrostatic Earspeakers sounded dynamic with excellent tonal balance and deep bass, I thought I was listening to the new SR-X9000. It brought a whole new dimension to the Audeze CRBN Electrostatic Headphones. When Dan Clark was nice enough to bring over his Dan Clark Audio VOCE Electrostatic Headphones ($3,299.99) I was completely floored with the sound quality making this my new favorite combination. eksonic will also be building a miniaturized version of the amplifier named the eksonic aeras Elec Headphone Amplifier ($6,695) which sounded so good that despite not yet being in production Kerry sold one of the prototypes at the show. As Dan Clark noted, “There is now competition for the Blue Hawaii”.

ZMF

I met Zach Mehrbach the same day in 2015 that I met Dan Clark, literally within minutes of each other, though I actually met Zach first. They were both building modified versions of the same Fostex headphone, and had I not heard the ETHER headphone the same day, I would have said those were the best sounding headphones made at that time. And both fell victim to Fostex discontinuing the driver they used and were forced to start designing and building their own drivers branching out in similar but very divergent paths. Whereas Dan focused primarily on planar magnetic drivers, Zach builds both dynamic driver and planar magnetic headphones. Zach also retained the custom aspect of his headphone designs which is why he has so many models, and there is no contesting the physical beauty of ZMF headphones. Zach has also branched out, not only producing many headphone accessories, but going as far as commissioning custom-made tube amps with the ZMF name and now distributing Cayin another excellent tube amp and personal audio manufacturer.

The highlight of the show was the new ZMF Atrium Headphone ($2,499.99), listening to the Atrium on the dCS Lina System ($29,150) as Frank Iacone noted earlier in his show report segment was the very best sound I have heard from the Lina, to die for.

The other thing that really caught my eye was the ZMF/Decware Reference OTL headphone Amplifier, simply a thing of beauty.

Stay tuned for Frank’s Conclusion of our CanJam Chicago 2022 coverage sponsored by Underwood HiFi.