Hey Secrets readers! It’s time again for another CanJAM show. This time around we will be reporting from CanJAM NYC 2024, by all accounts the largest headphone show in North America.
Secrets crackerjack reviewer Taps Das, and myself will be in the heart of New York’s Times Square this weekend, surveying everything new, cool, and exciting in the world of headphones and supporting products.
Even before the show starts there are already a plethora of new product announcements from the likes of Focal, Meze, Audio-Technica, HIFIMAN, and Metaxas & Sins just to name a few. And this show always tends to have a vibrant, diverse, and passionate crowd that consistently attends so it should make for a busy but enjoyable weekend.
The show runs Saturday and Sunday, March 9 and 10 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. Hours are 10 AM – 6 PM on Saturday and 10 AM – 5 PM on Sunday. Be sure to check it out in person if you are in the area.
Please keep a weather eye on the Secrets Instagram and Facebook feeds for the latest updates from the show that we will post over the weekend. After the show, we will port everything from our social media, along with additional content, over to this page.
As always, we want to thank the team at Head-Fi.org for putting on this annual event. They have a great team and support crew that is endlessly helpful and on point for us on the press side.
We’re looking forward to bringing you all the latest and greatest and we hope you enjoy our coverage.
All the best!
Carlo Lo Raso
Editor-In-Chief
Day 1
A little glimpse of what’s going on outside the show in Times Square and inside the show on the floor.
Me and reviewer Taps Das as we hit the show floor.
Fiio
The team at Fiio are really upping the game when it comes to affordable yet kick-ass audio. Starting with the newly announced M23 digital audio player which comes with the flagship AKM AK4499WX + AK4191EQ DAC chipset, a 4-channel fully balanced THX AAA 78+ headphone amp section, multiple independent power supplies, and a beautiful, responsive GUI, all for $699.00. A great sounding player that felt very well put together. Availability begins in April.
Then there was the new R9
digital media steamer, the next step up from the R7 that our Mel Martin recently reviewed. It features a dual ESS ES9038 PRO DAC architecture, a high power 8-channel THX AAA 78+ headphone amp section, HDMI ARC support, Roon Ready, Dual balanced and one single-ended headphone output, along with another responsive and beautiful color touchscreen. All that goodness for $1500.00.
Fiio also had their new FT5 open-back planar magnetic headphones which, again, are a step-up model to the FT3 headphones that our Mel Martin reviewed last month. Featuring a 90mm planar magnetic driver with 20 Neodymium magnets per side, and a very comfortable fit with quality finish, these are priced at $450.00. I paired these with the last new item from Fiio, the K19 desktop DAC/AMP. This slim standalone unit has all the main features of the R9 but without the streaming section and the touchscreen interface. It packs a little more headphone amplifier power than the R9 (8000mW vs 7200mW) and can decode PCM bitrates up to 32-bit 768 kHz and up to DSD512. A 31-band Parametric EQ system is included along with a set of RCA and XLR analog outputs for more versatility. Price will be $1300.00. The pairing of the FT5 and the K19 sounded excellent in the limited sample time that I had with both units. I was enamored so much with the listening that I forgot to grab a photo of the K19 so I’ve attached a stock image.
iFi Audio
A visit to the iFi Audio booth saw both Taps and I trying out the iCann Phantom combination standard and electrostatic headphone amplifier. It will directly amplify almost any standard or electrostatic headphone available. The options are almost too much to list. Selectable tube or solid-state input stages, selectable electrostatic bias voltage via SD cards, and a robust amp section. I currently have one in-house for review and I am thoroughly impressed with its flexibility and wealth of options for almost any listening situation. At $3750.00 it could be considered a bargain! Taps is listening to the iCANN through a pair of Audeze CRBN electrostatic headphones.
Pro-Ject
Dropped in on the fine folks of Pro-Ject to see what was new and exciting from them here at CanJAM. They were rocking a new standalone CD-player called the CD Box S3 at $550. Everyone seems to be jumping back on the CD player bandwagon and I, for one, approve! This new player is made in Slovakia and features the latest “Blue Tiger” CD drive mechanism. Another new item is the completely analog Head Box S2. For $189.00 this little powerhouse of a headphone amplifier can put out 725mW @ 32 ohms. Enough to power the attached Abyss Diana AR headphones ($3,000) that I was listening to very, very well!
STAX
Cannot pass up the chance to visit our friends at STAX and snag a listen to some of their earspeakers. In this case the STAX SR-X9000 mated to a SRM-T8000 tube energizer. They sounded smooth effortless as all get out. I do confess to having a soft spot for the classic Lambda series, the SRM-L700 specifically. Something about that classic “wearing a set of cheese graters” look that got my attention back in my teens. Taps never listened to STAX earspeakers before so he spent some quality time with a few different pairs.
And speaking of those “cheese grater” STAX earspeakers, I sampled the SR-L300 ($455.00) powered by the new SRM-D10 2 portable energizer ($945.00). I was able to plug my teeny little Shanling M0 DAP into it via 3.5 mm analog jack, but I suspect a proper USB OTG cable could connect the two digitally as well. Listening to a little Frank Zappa on a pair of STAX made for a most enjoyable morning thus far!
Benchmark Media Systems
Our friends at Benchmark Media Systems were in fine form at CanJAM NYC 2024. I personally own a Benchmark HPA4, DAC3 B, and AHB2 stack and can vouch for its power, transparency, and value. Both as a stereo front end and as a headamp section, it is reference class all the way. And in case you are wondering, yes that is a pair of HIFIMAN Susvara headphones and yes, the HPA4 will drive the “bo-jangles” out of them!
Metaxas & Sins
Reel Sound Distribution, who represents the Metaxas & Sins product line in the US had the headphone-focused products of designer Kostas Metaxas on full display and demo here at the show. Grabbing much of the attention (both literally and figuratively) were the two Ethereal electrostatic headphone amplifiers ($32K base price) on display. I’ve had a chance to listen to the Ethereal at the Warsaw show with a set of STAX earspeaker and here I got to try it with the CRBN
electrostatic headphones ($4,500) by Audeze. It most definitely delivered the sonic goods here as well.
The Tourbillon RTR deck ($49K base price) was “wowing” much of the headphone crowd, many who had never experienced the sound from a proper reel-to-reel deck before. I saw a lot of smiles from people hearing a new (to them) medium for the first time over high quality cans and amplification.
The things that piqued my interest at this show were the two Marquis single-ended headphones amplifiers ($7,500 base price). I have a habit of using my resin human skull replica as a headphone stand in some of my headphone review photos, so these babies are right up my aesthetic alley! The gold and metallic purple skulls were striking in execution with the red LED/VU meter eye sockets. The purple sample was paired with a fine set of ZMF headphones, the wood earcups, red eyes and purple cranium gave off some definite Caribbean voodoo vibes. The gold sample paired with the latest iteration of the Focal Utopias ($5K) spoke to me on a most musically satisfying, if somewhat deliciously macabre level. I love the Utopias already and the Marquis just gilded the lily that much more. It makes an artistic statement that may not entirely be for everyone, but for me, experiencing this stuff is just too much damned fun!
T+A
The T+A booth had their HA200 Headphone Amplifier/DAC ($9,650.00) paired with a choice of either their Solitaire P ($6,900.00), Solitaire P-SE ($3,900,00) or Solitaire T ($1,700.00) headphones. That HA200 has to be one of the most serious looking pieces of equipment I’ve ever seen. I have seen one of these units disassembled in the past and it is built like an absolute vault! It even has two stereo HDMI inputs and one output with ARC. For me, paired with the Solitaire P headphones, it all just sounded like a little slice of Teutonic heaven. Achtung, baby!
Spirit Torino
It’s always good to catch up Andrea and Giordano from Spirit Torino. Every New York show these guys have something new and interesting to introduce and this year was no exception. Known for their headphones, Spirit Torino does have one reference headphone amplifier in their lineup and it’s known as the Sigfrid. This year Andrea walked me through a brand new headphone amplifier they’ve called the “Amplifica Torino.” The design is fully balanced from input to output using only discrete components and no negative feedback. It can put out a maximum of 4000mW via the balanced headphone jacks and 2000mW from the single-ended jack. The chassis is substantial, using thick aluminum panels engraved with the ancient city map of Turin, circa 1706. Finished with a finely stained wood front panel and an aluminum volume knob mimicking one of their headphones, the Amplifica Torino looks like nothing else. Sampling the new amp with a set of Spirit Torino’s Valkyria headphones sounded fantastic! Price is tentatively set at $8,000.00 for the new amp.
Dudes!
Amazing who you run into, wandering around CanJAM NYC. Headphone heavyweights Dr. Sean Olive, Senior Fellow and longtime researcher on speakers and headphones at HARMAN International, Axel Grell, longtime manager of audiophile products at Sennheiser, who now works for himself, and Dan Clark, CEO of Dan Clark Audio (formerly Mr. Speakers). BOOM!
Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica invited us to a suite on the 43rd floor of the Marriott to introduce us to a very special set of products that marked the launch of their new ultra high-end Narukami line. These were the gorgeous Narukami tube headphone amplifier and Narukami headphones. The name “Narukami” is loosely taken from the name of the Japanese god of thunder, an apt choice for such branding I’d say.
The HPA-KG NARU amplifier is a fully balanced, dual mono design employing four
Takatsuki 300B power tubes and ECC83S small signal tubes. It can also serve as a preamplifier with balanced and single-ended inputs and outputs onboard. All interior components are of the highest quality including silver wound Lundahl input and output transformers. The wood used for the amp’s casing and headphone earcups is from a particular species of persimmon tree. The trees harvested to obtain the properly grained and figured wood need to be at least 100 years old.
The ATH-AWKG headphones are closed back and use 53 mm drivers with specialized Permendur magnetic circuitry, titanium flanges, and high-purity oxygen-free copper voice coils. Audio-Technica’s exclusive D.A.D.S. Double Air Damping System is said to provide smooth, accurate bass and a second set of hybrid earpads, courtesy of ZMF, are provided for an alternative listening experience. If you purchase the amplifier at $108,000.00 the matching headphones are included. The headphones may be purchased on their own at $4,200.00. So how did the combination sound? Extremely appealing from the brief listen. Not as warm as some tube amps I’ve heard, but enough to draw you in more. A nice overall balance between highs, mids, and lows. I’d need more time with the system to get more specific. So how about it Audio-Technica?
Focal-Naim
The team at Focal-Naim America know how to make an impression and were front and center at CanJAM NYC with their stellar line of headphones. We’ve got some great video content from them that we will share soon particularly about the new Bathys Dune headphones. But for now, it’s just cool to celebrate a great bunch of people!
Meze Audio
Dropped in to see the fine folks at Meze Audio, while at CanJAM NYC 2024. The big news from Meze was the launch of the updated Liric 2 closed-back planar magnetic headphones. Besides the obvious and very tasteful ebony wood trim on the outside of the earcups, I spoke with designer Alexandru Grigoras about other technical and tuning differences between the original Liric and Liric 2. He reported that small details like earpads that now are removable for easy repair or
replacement are results from customer feedback. The biggest changes are in the sound tuning. Alexandru described how the headphones are much less forward in the midrange with a more linear sounding profile overall.
I got a chance to do a quick comparison of both the original and new Lirics with my iPhone and THX Onyx DAC/amp dongle and some familiar music. Sure enough, the entire midrange and upper-bass section on the Liric 2 sound cleaner than the original but without lacking body in vocals. I always thought the original Liric was slight muddy in the mids but no more. Bass still had plenty of impact for my taste and the upper end didn’t strike any sour notes with me. We definitely need to get a pair of Liric 2 in for a longer and more thorough take but at first blush, I think Meze has another winner on their hands!
Day 2
HIFIMAN
Our friends at HIFIMAN had a booth that was slammed with show goers just about the whole weekend.
While the crew was keeping the main booth staffed we were able to spend a little one on one time with HIFIMAN’s Dr. Fang Bian to discuss the new EF500 and EF499 DAC/Headphone amps. A detailed interview video will be coming shortly but these amps are both big deals for a few reasons. Price point is one, at $459.00 and $299.00 respectively so they are eminently affordable. Second,
the EF500 has the company’s Himalaya LE ladder DAC architecture while the EF499 uses the respected Philips R2R DAC architecture instead. Both units are roughly the same size and provide plenty of power to drive most headphones, save for the power-hungry Susvara. And finally, both units have Ethernet and PC-USB inputs allowing streaming music to them in a couple of different ways. The looks are elegant and understated and they both sounded excellent with the HE1000se headphones that were on hand.
When we were actually able to sit at the HIFIMAN booth during a lull on Sunday, I got a chance to listen to the Goldenwave Prelude fully balanced high current headphone amp ($2,499.00) and Goldenwave Serenade DAC/Amp ($999.00) with the Himalaya Pro R2R ladder DAC. This combo drove the Susvara headphones really well and sounded killer doing it!
Viva Audio/Meitner
Distributor High-End by Oz sponsored a room that was full of all sorts of goodies courtesy of Italy’s Viva Audio and Canada’s Meitner Audio. The Italians were represented by the Viva Audio Egoista 845 headphone amp, the Egoista 2A3 headphone amp, and Numerico DAC. Also in attendance was company co-founder Giampietro Schembri who will appear in an upcoming video discussing the finer points of the Egoista 2A3. The Canadians were in attendance with the Meitner MA3 DAC/Network Streamer. Listening again to the mighty HIFIMAN Sundara headphones via the Egoista 2A3 and sourced by the Meitner was a stunning and potent combination. Definitely a dream headphone rig for many!
Dan Clark Audio
Visiting the Dan Clark Audio room is always a learning experience. The company always has something they are cooking up, previously it was the Stealth closed-back headphones ($3,999.99) and then the Expanse open-backs ($3,999.99). This year it was the E3 closed-back headphones ($1,999.99). The E3 are Dan Clark’s new midrange headphones that have taken much of the design and tech from the Stealth and the Expanse and applied them to a more affordable price point. And sound-wise
I think they have succeeded. Much of what I like about the smoothness of the Stealth is to be found in the E3 along with some of the additional bass punch I like from the Aeon2 Noires. They are also extremely comfortable so I could easily see being able to wear these for a couple of hours of uninterrupted listening. Nice work guys!
If I’m honest though, I was really looking forward to listening to the Corina electrostatic headphones ($4,499.99). I heard them last year and I have had them on my mind ever since. They are a pair of electrostatics that by accident or sheer luck have been tuned to my personal listening preference. Effortless sound with deep, powerful, and detailed bass. Listening to them here again connected to a Blue Hawaii tube amp did not disappoint!
Topping
We were surprised and delighted to see Topping with an official display for the first time here at CanJAM NYC. The company was showing off their 15th Anniversary DX9 headphone amp/DAC, the D90 III Discrete DAC, and the D900 flagship DAC with an A900 flagship 6-channel headphone amp. What was unusual was that for the D90 III Discrete and D900 DACs, Topping has eschewed working with either an AKM or ESS chip and decided to roll their own Discrete DAC cores on these upcoming models. The DX9 headphone amp/DAC relies on the flagship AKM AK4499EQ chipset and pairs it with a custom relay-based analog volume control and a high powered headphone amplifier section. Topping has developed a well earned reputation for high quality, ultra-low distortion DACs and amplification products and it was great to see them at the show.
Astell & Kern
Astell & Kern was featuring their new DAP, the A&ULTIMA SP3000T. The player features is a alternate spin on their current SP3000T flagship DAP but it includes a selectable tube output stage. The tubes can be heard on their own with three steps of current adjustment or a “hybrid” listening mode can be chosen (tubes + op-amps) or they can be bypassed altogether. The player features dual AKM AK4499EX DACs with dual AK4191EQ Delta-Sigma modulators. The construction fit and finish is typical Astell & Kern which is to say outstanding. AK was also showing off their new limited edition NOVUS in-ear monitors which is a collaboration with respected IEM maker Empire Ears. Unique both inside and out the casings are made of T6 aluminum finished with “Diamond-Like Carbon” and 24K gold faceplates and sapphire glass. On the inside each unit features a whopping 13 drivers combining dual subwoofers, bone conduction, balanced armature, and electrostatic drivers. Both products will be available in May with the SP3000T retailing at $2,999.00 and the NOVUS at $4,999.00.
Technics
The gang from Technics were showing off a selection of their wireless earbuds. Taps sat down with them to to get a closer look in his Day 1 summary video above.
Ferrum Audio
Ferrum Audio from Poland has made a bit of a reputation for itself with its robust Hypsos power supply ($1,195.00) and OOR headphone amplifier ($1,195.00) combination which can drive just about any headphone available. Ferrum has added the matching Wandla DAC ($2,795.00) which is based on the ESS ES9038PRO chipset and using three standard ESS digital filters and two custom designed digital filters. This tidy little stack of components has also been intelligently designed to have upgradable firmware (via computer) to increase performance and introduce new features.
HEDD
Heinz Electrodynamic Designs or HEDD for short introduced their first headphone a couple of years ago that used two large full-range AMT drivers in the earcups, and it caused quite a stir. This year at CanJAM NYC, HEDD introduced an updated version called the HEDDphone TWO ($1,999.00) and, after a brief listen, I think it has made substantial strides over the original. I found it far more comfortable to wear with it’s weight being more evenly distributed and an improved overall feel. I remember the original version sounding slightly harsh to my ears but there was none of that in the latest iteration. Smooth and very appealing were my immediate impressions. Of course the DCS Lina system may have helped out a bit. A very interesting product, that I originally took for a gimmick two years ago, has made me throw out that original assessment.
Carlo Lo RasoA native of Toronto Canada, Carlo's interest in audio began at a young age when, unbeknownst to his mother, he started taking apart her numerous transistor radios to see how they worked. This desire for “knowledge through deconstruction” continued through to the family’s 8-track tape player, turntable, headphones, and speakers. Carlo subsequently spent a lot of time in his room.
Toronto was a fertile ground for Hi-Fi in the 1970s and 80s and Carlo spent much of his wayward youth hanging out in downtown Toronto stereo shops, listening to all manner of gear and picking the brains of the various store owners. Through that formative experience, Carlo developed an appreciation for good music and good sound reproduction. Also, as a budding graphic artist, the aesthetic aspects of a given piece of gear became increasingly of interest to his eyes. It was at about that time as well that Carlo began purchasing “Audio Magazine” on a regular basis and came to appreciate, in particular, the writing and reviewing of the late Leonard Feldman. Later on, he was also influenced by the writing and observations of the staff at Sound and Vision Canada, helmed at the time by Alan Loft.
Carlo graduated from Sheridan College with a degree in Classical Animation and was subsequently employed by Walt Disney Consumer Products for 10 years as a Character Artist and Art Director. Having become disenchanted with Los Angeles, he then decided to strike out on his own. Carlo started his own company and has been freelancing artwork, from his home studio, primarily for the toy and publishing industries since 2001.
In 2013, on a bit of a lark, Carlo answered a “Call for Writers” ad from an AV website that he had been regularly reading for about 5 years called Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity. He had come to appreciate the website’s combination of subjective impressions along with the objective bench-testing available in several of the reviews. The “B-Team” must have been working that day because by some miracle he was hired as a writer and his first review for the site was published early in 2014. Carlo has been continually writing, editing, traveling, listening, and learning on the company’s behalf ever since.
Carlo currently lives in Granville, Ohio with his wife, two sons, and a very old, but chill dachshund.
