CanJam-Denver or Bust

OzarkTom · « **on:** 4 Sep 2011, 02:58 am »

Anyone else here going to RMAF and the CanJam? The Canjam looks like it is going to be awesome.

Noseyears · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 04:16 am »

I don't know much about the canfest, do you have more details?

OzarkTom · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 02:04 pm »

For one thing, it is called CanJam, not CanFestm sorry about that.
If you google these words, "2011 CanJam @ RMAF". you will find out all about it.

There are many, many more companies that have signed up this year, you might one to take a whole day going through the CanJam.

CanJam @ RMAF will once again be hosted in the Rocky Mountain Event Center ballroom (giving us over 12,000 square feet to showcase headphone audio exhibitors and member rigs). Over the previous two events, CanJam @ RMAF exhibitors have included:

• Sennheiser
• Moon Audio
• ALO Audio
• Woo Audio
• Schiit Audio
• Ray Samuels Audio • HeadRoom
• HeadAmp
• Cypher Labs
• Ultimate Ears
• beyerdynamic
• Monster Cable • HeadDirect / HiFiMan
• Westone
• JH Audio
• Audeze
• Lavry Engineering
• CEntrance

OzarkTom · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 02:18 pm »

Here is a better complete list.

ALO Audio/32 Ohms
Audeze
Beyer Dynamic
Bottlehead
Eddie Current
Ultimate Ears
Fostex
Unique Melody
Head Direct
Cavilli Audio
HeadAmp
V-Moda
HeadRoom
Hearing Planet
JH Audio
Moon Audio
Ray Samuels Audio
Schiit Audio
Sensaphonic Audio
Cypher Labs
SPL
RWA
TTVJ (Todd The Vinyl Junkie)
Centrance
Westone
Woo Audio

OzarkTom · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 05:20 pm »

Since these people are coming, I can't wait to hear the Cavilli Liquid Fire head-amp. Another can't wait to listen to is the RWA-Audeze combo.

Pez · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Sep 2011, 05:25 pm »

Can jam is one of the best part of RMAF. Last year honestly was a bit of a disappointment, but only because the previous year was so great. The vendors list this year looks solid.

Noseyears · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Sep 2011, 05:06 pm »

Quote from: OzarkTom on 4 Sep 2011, 02:04 pm

For one thing, it is called CanJam, not CanFestm sorry about that.
If you google these words, "2011 CanJam @ RMAF". you will find out all about it.

Oh, i was googling canfest..thought it was someting new.

thanks for the clarification.

OzarkTom · « **Reply #7 on:** 18 Sep 2011, 09:36 pm »

Audeze is scheduled to show new magnetic planer full range speakers. I hope those are as good as the LCD2's are.

OzarkTom · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Oct 2011, 04:26 am »

Best sound so far at Camjam are the new Audeze LCD3's with the liquid fire Cavilli amp.

A best buy is the Hifiman HE300's with the Schiit audio Valhalla or Asgard amp.

Kinger · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Oct 2011, 12:00 pm »

Wonder if with the release of the LCD3's we'll see a bunch of slightly used LCD2's on the sale market? Sure hope so

PeteG · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Oct 2011, 01:27 pm »

Quote from: OzarkTom on 15 Oct 2011, 04:26 am

A best buy is the Hifiman HE300's with the Schiit audio Valhalla or Asgard amp.

I agree, great sound for a good price. I spent 3 hrs there Fri but need to go back Sun.

DaveNote · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Oct 2011, 04:30 pm »

Tom, can you give us more on the LCD3? How do they compare to the LCD2?

Dave

Lyndon · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Oct 2011, 04:34 pm »

Tom,
Besides the Audeze and the HiFiMan
Did you get a chance to listen to the Fostex cans? Did they have the super modified ones that are supposed to compete with the level of the Audeze and HiFi lower models? Ah, the mod is called "Thunderpants".

Thanks,
Lyndon

dwk · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Oct 2011, 05:32 pm »

I spent about 1.5 hours wandering around CanJam yesterday with the agenda of figuring out a potential headphone setup to replace my desktop rig during some renovations. So far, I've come away a bit disappointed overall, although I generally stayed away from the mega-buck stuff. I suspect some of it is show conditions - the open phones definitely didn't provide the immersion and envelopment I was expecting and some of that is undoubtedly due to leakage from the environment. Maybe it also reflects my limited exposure to good headphone setups.

I discovered that the LCD2 didn't really do it for me. Uncomfortable, and underwhelming on all 3 systems I tried it on. I much preferred the HE-500. this is based on some pretty quick sessions though. Surprisingly, in the dynamic space I preferred the HD600s to the Beyer DT880s, although I never heard them on the same system. The HD600s through the Emmeline Apache was very nice, although $3k for an amp is certainly not in my target range.

I liked the HE500 driven by the Burson HA-160D, but didn't really come away seeing the value proposition over what I have currently (Shure SRH-840s driven straight from my Steinberg MR-816X). Not that my setup is great, just that if I'm going to spend $2k+ on an upgrade it had better be pretty spectacular.

I'm planning another couple hours at CanJam - maybe first thing Sunday morning where it might be a bit quieter. The Fostex are on my list to hit - I doubt they have the Thunderpants since it's not actually a Fostex product - it is a DIY modification to their stock T50RP can. I'm hoping they have the T50RP though, since there is a lot of buzz about it and I'd like to hear it.

OzarkTom · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Oct 2011, 02:56 am »

I imagine some will trade up to the LCD3's, but at $1000 more, I don't know how many.
The LCD3's are more refined with still more detail than the LCD2's. The bass is still there. I would say they are 10-25% better, depending on the quality of your amp. The better the amp you have, the more you will get between the LCD2 and LCD3.

DaveNote · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 Oct 2011, 03:13 am »

Quote from: OzarkTom on 16 Oct 2011, 02:56 am

I imagine some will trade up to the LCD3's, but at $1000 more, I don't know how many.
The LCD3's are more refined with still more detail than the LCD2's. The bass is still there. I would say they are 10-25% better, depending on the quality of your amp. The better the amp you have, the more you will get between the LCD2 and LCD3.

I find the LCD-2 if lacking in anything, a little weak in the high end. Tom, how is the high end on the LCD-3.

Dave

OzarkTom · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 Oct 2011, 03:42 am »

Quote from: DaveNote on 16 Oct 2011, 03:13 am

I find the LCD-2 if lacking in anything, a little weak in the high end. Tom, how is the high end on the LCD-3.

Dave

Yes, it has definitely more high-end, but without being bright..

tabrink · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Oct 2011, 04:16 am »

I listened to several cans fed via the Schit Bifrost and Lyr. Came away very impressed about how good this stuff sounds for little money!

SoCalWJS · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Oct 2011, 04:28 am »

I listened to a pair of HiFiMan HE500's through an Emmeline "The Dark Star" and was very pleasantly surprised - I need to look into them a bit more. A/B'ed them against the Sennheiser 850's. TOTALLY different sound. The Sennheisers seemed cold and analytical, little to no warmth, and lacking in bass. Not quite sure how much was the Cans and how much was the amp, but I was tempted to purchase right on the spot. Walked away.

Came back later, and everything had been switched around. HE500's weren't connected. Went to a different vendor. Different headphone amp (can't remember). Not impressed at all.

Maybe it was a good synergy. Maybe I was in a vulnerable mood

. Don't know, but I'll have to back tomorrow and try some different combos.

There is a very good selection and wide variety. This is my first RMAF/CanJam, but biggest selection I've ever seen.

tabrink · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Oct 2011, 04:45 am »

Gonna get some flack but listened to several LCD 2 and 3 today and I keep wanting to go home and compare to my Hifiman He-4. I have just grown to love the sound and weight of the He-4s.