CanJam μ Impressions

Discussion in 'The Meeting Place' started by purr1n, Jun 22, 2019.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2019
  2. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Nice knife!
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Recently had it resharpened. Now hiding it from wife so it doesn't get ruined again from chopping salad.

    No one listened to anything until two hours before the last person left. We just drank beer and bourbon, ate donuts, beef jerky, slow roast tri-tip, and chashu. This is the proper way to have a CanJam.
     
  4. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    ^ THAT is how a micromeet is held! clearly exceeds the definition of a CanJam. need a higher quality tag name.
     
  5. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

    Staff Member Pyrate Gearmaster
    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,827
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Complex
    Impressions:
    • Marv does not suck.
    • @Donald North is cool.
    • All SBAF members who went do not suck.
    Can highly recommend.

    Edit: As a serious note, it was really a blast. Loved meeting some members and hanging out.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2019
  6. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

    Staff Member Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    8,145
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Exit stage left....
    did you measure them first?
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Thanks to everyone for showing up. I know it's a tough long drive for some of you (with the fake CanJam Orange County) being almost next door to you). Too bad Jude couldn't make it.
    • The Stellaris is still the finest sounding headamp around for dynamics (assuming you like the DNA sound). There is nothing at Jude's CanJam that comes close. That's sad.
    • Why does the HE-5SE feel so light and nothing at all like the OG HE-5 or the HE-5 re-release from last year?
    • Many have asked: the Aegir does well with the HE-5 and HE-6. It's a rounder presentation than Vidar. This means crank it up and you will see.
    • Some other smurf blue amp sounded 90% of the Stratus, but the form factor seems closer to the Sonnett. Not allowed to say more, but keep your eyes peeled.
    • Some serious sub $150-$400 Schiit. No idea. May be at end of year since too much Schiit coming out.
    • Monoprice LP is not Liquid Crimson junior. It does the job, but the Liquid Crimson is so so much better that they really shouldn't be used in the same sentence.
    • Lots of HD650s, 2xElex, x1 Clear, x1 Vader mod HD800, x1 Verum, various HE-5/6 mods, x1 Drop Fostex TX-0, x1 Ether Flow (grade A), x1 LCD-3 (grade B-) and Donald with this assortment of OG Denon woody and Beyer.
    • RME ADI2 Pro is legit as a DAC. Not as a headamp.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2019
  8. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,517
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Palms Of The Coasts, FL
    Maybe I should visit you guys next year more for hanging out than the equipment.
     
  9. JK47

    JK47 Guest

    In my drunken stupor I forgot to mention chopping across the grain on bamboo cutting boards f**k's up the edge quick. Get something else or chop with the grain, those seams where the bamboo is joined is hell on steel. I can sharpen knives pretty good (no charge for friends), I have the "Wicked Edge" system for sharpening steel...

    Oh, and the Char Siu and Tri tip was awesome, thanks for hosting @purr1n, also your son was a good sport about us invading your space.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 22, 2019
  10. PTS

    PTS Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,069
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Hard to spot, but he was definitely lurking.

    [​IMG]

    Got too close to the Modelo Negra case, seconds later was mistaken for a donut and gobbled up by @JK47.

    RIP Jude.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2019
  11. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

    Staff Member Pyrate Gearmaster
    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2018
    Likes Received:
    10,827
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The Complex
    f**k the "real" CanJam; this was where the party was at! Loved it!
     
  12. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,451
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    SouthernCA
    Agreed on the LP thing... I've heard a few different Crimsons in the past and always thought the extent of the resemblance was mostly limited to just the Cavalli house sound but I was never 100% sure enough about my memory on this... lo and behold others at mini meet agreed with me.

    Were actually 2 LCD-3, one was mine, one was ChaCha's. Different pads, possibly different "guts and drivers" too, sounded different, but not so different that I would mistake them for another headphone. I also confirmed that I'm one of the few people on SBAF that actually likes the LCD3, but no, I don't think they're perfect.

    Overall, great time. I'd go again. Only regret was having a headache the whole time and missing out on most of the alcohol. Will probably go to (my first) can jam tomorrow - still haven't been to one since I got into "audio" back in 2010... but at this point, I'm hoping today doesn't spoil canjam tomorrow.
     
  13. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    A grade A+ LCD3 is fantastic. Legend has it that someone owned such a pair, but it lasted less than 24 hours.
     
  14. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,451
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    SouthernCA
    Other notes:
    @Mdkaler - Darth Vader modded HD800 - First time I've heard an HD800 and didn't want to take it off shortly after. May have to get one eventually and mod it up.
    Listening to modded HE6 has also ignited some interest in HFM for me. Everything I had heard before has been ehh or good but nothing that caught my attention. Granted I have not heard HEK before.
    Tried some stuff I've been meaning to try. It's true that 5 seconds of listening can be worth as much as 5 impressions online - (future) purchasing decisions were easily made. Thanks to everyone for hauling in their gear.
     
  15. zonto

    zonto Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,975
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Boston, MA
    Can you be more specific?
     
  16. PTS

    PTS Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,069
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Slightly less members than last year, but was more fun. Thanks again to @purr1n for hosting, serving food and drink, etc. The Brit in me approves of the fact that Marv posted more photos of alcohol than headphone gear. I don't listen to headphones much these days, so mostly turned up to socalize. Listening to some of the gear today, I found myself getting drawn back in. Lots of good stuff, @Donald North's Stellaris amplifier being the highlight for me. The Lyr 3 was also really nice. I might have to start getting back into tubes.

    If any attendees can leave impressions on @E_Schaaf's modded HE6, that'd be great. His HiFiMan modifications are becoming popular, so feedback is welcome.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
  17. bengo

    bengo Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,371
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Divisive Kingdom
    Home Page:
    @purr1n and/or @PTS, would be interesting to hear your impressions how Lyr3 compares with the LP (although I note Lyr is only around 2/3 the price).
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Haha. A pointed question that makes me uncomfortable for obvious reasons. Good, good. The meet threads are always best to ask because they are not so public and get more easily buried.

    Both Lyr 3 and LP have similar tonality. The LP follows Alex's trademark laid-back house sound, the Lyr 3 seems to be a deviation from Schiit's more forward sound in that it's also laid back sounding. Now I'll have to go back to the Liquid Crimson, which I personally felt was the masterpiece from Alex (see here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...review-succinct-stream-of-consciousness.1765/). To this day, I can't believe that these went as far down as low as $1600ish on HF. The Liquid Crimson was the most lively and involving, of all of Alex's amps while still retaining much of the full-bodied and laid-back house sound. I know others preferred the Liquid Glass to the Crimson. The LG, which I rolled all sorts of tubes, was a solid amp, more resolving, better textured, but the tonal balance and transients were too forgiving for me.

    The Liquid Platinum is more like the Liquid Glass in that way, but without the resolution, fine detail, and texture of the LG. The Lyr 3 is more like the Liquid Crimson in presentation, a little less laid back, more lively. So I figured I'd get this out of the way first because the more obvious presentation differences, although slight, are going to determine what most people like, especially with lower end sources.

    Where I do find the Lyr 3 superior is the more robust sounding low end. Neither amp slams, neither amp has super bass articulation or texture; however, the Lyr 3 does have more heft and strength. Also, more critically, the Lyr 3 has a more lively sound, better microdynamics. This isn't obvious to many because of its more polite and forgiving (very atypical for Schiit) presentation.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
  19. PTS

    PTS Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    1,069
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    @bengo I heard two very different recordings from two different headphones (I forget which) from my short time with the Lyr and LP, so it's perhaps unfair to make a direct comparison.

    I heard vintage female vocal jazz from the Lyr, which was warm and engaging. A lush sound you'd expect from a good tube amp. Next to the Lyr was a solid state Massdrop THX AAA amp. The THX was cleaner, I could hear how the Lyr had a little more grain to the sound. I'd take musical engagement over headroom any day.

    I heard Talking Heads from the LP. It sounded great - clean, full, dynamic, and fun. Way less tubey sounding than the Lyr, more in common with the THX AAA.

    Marv's impressions are probably more accurate, I spent less than a minute with each.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
  20. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2017
    Likes Received:
    2,396
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Glendale CA
    Home Page:
    Special thanks to Marvey for hosting, Paul for organizing and to Donald for the chance to hear two of his fantastic amps.

    Always great to see some familiar faces.
     

Share This Page