CanJam London 2016 Show Report
CanJam London 2016 Show Report By Maurice Washington

Atomic Floyd HiDefDrum

  Here is one IEM that not only has a really vibrant and detailed-sounding signature, especially for those that are into crisp highs, but is also able to fit most ears well and is built to last. Another really interesting facet is how the HiDefDrum is the original design at least with regards to the build of its housing (created in 2007), as other competitors such as DUNU has copied Atomic Floyd's housing design, to a T. After thoroughly looking at both competitors' housings side by side/back to back and getting full, 100 percent confirmation in London, I believe it! I am a person that loves healthy competition, but, copying designs aren't the best way to conduct business, in my honest opinion. In the least it shows that the company chose the "easy way out" instead of coming up with their own design, and in the worst it shows that it's a company to not be trusted. I choose to support companies that are true to their own designs, not support those that copy (in this case, blatantly), and I fully support Atomic Floyd even more, as a result.

CustomArt

I remember really liking the Music One when I listened to it in CanJam SoCal at Massdrop's booth last year, but this time I listened to other IEMs in Piotr's Granicki's stable. My favorite is his Harmony 8.2 – a very smooth, very mellow sound. I'm looking forward to writing more about CustomArt in the future.

Echobox Audio The Finder X1 Titanium Earphones

This earphone is one that is about a year in the making. I listened to it at CanJam in 2015, and liked it, but didn't think it sounded amazing to my ears. Fast forward to the San Francisco meet in 2016 when I was able to have one of my own. There are filters! "Oh, goodness", I said to myself, knowing that if I knew there were tunable filters that were included with The Finder X1, then I may have adored the earphone back in 2015! I'm not even sure which filters were installed back then, but I found filters that I enjoy the most with my setup – and that is the pre-installed Bass filter.

How is the durability of The Finder X1? I've heard of a representative jumping up and down on the housings, and a vehicle running over the earphones, just to demonstrate the durability is no joke when it comes to the sheer abuse The Finder X1 can take and still work like they were new. The fit is really nice because the very small housing and curved nature of the housing means that I don't have to have the ends of the earphone rest with much pressure on the cavum of my ear. You can use any tips that you want with The Finder X1, but I really like using the silicone "Echobox" imprinted eartips that come with The Finder X1.

Take some time to find the filters that work best for your setup and your preferences, and you can change them based on your mood or if another person wants to listen/audition The Finder X1. The Balance and Treble filters were not too shabby with my QP1R, but I preferred the Bass filter for most of my listening. The midrange is very smooth with warmth, and the treble is slightly rolled off (use the Treble filter for that treble boost if seeking some free highs) – but the treble is smooth and not fatiguing in the least. The bass and lower midrange are where this earphone shines when it comes to the Bass filter. Invigorating, enveloping, weighty, and full of delicious, warm sweetness is what I would use to describe the lovely bass of The Finder X1. For the price, there are none that will combine the versatility of The Finder X1, coupled with the tank-like durability and comfort as well. Well worth a detailed listen and purchase.

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Jerry Harvey Audio Siren Series - Layla

Here is another CIEM that I received right before leaving to London, and showed to listeners as well. The sound is wholly pristine, soundstage truly natural, with an overall sound that is reference (not neutral), similar to the sound of well-tuned speakers. Why I say this is because I believe the UERR sounds a lot like the Layla, and the UERR was tuned by Capitol Records – correlations and similar sound signatures are in effect, to my ears. What I was surprised most of all was that the customer service has been increased and enhanced tremendously since just a short time ago. Emails back and forth were very refreshing, and it took me less than a week to receive my custom Layla. Also, the Layla was the CIEM that I used the most on my flights from London, to Paris, to New York, and then back to the Southern California area.

Lime Ears

My favorite of the two are the Aether and his 2 driver, the LE2. I like the selectable bass switch of the Aether, and the LE2 reminds me a lot of my Earwerkz/Empire Ears Supra dual driver in-ear. As with CustomArt, I'm looking forward to writing more about Lime Ears in the future.

Comforting iced green tea, goes well with the comforting 12 Classics

What do you get when you take the similar philosophy of using walnut earcups with your highly successful 99 Classics headphone and create your newest IEM with walnut wood housing? You get the 12 Classics! The look is truly classic, as each wood housing looks different, and, as time goes on, the color and contrast will change, like a fine bottle of your favorite beverage. The housing's construction embodies a slight flare, and that leads to a comfortable fit. Each housing is also very lightweight, and the cable is a nice and thicker-than-normal cable with a nice, subtle texture to it. The remote is pretty interesting as it is only one button and works as such with my iPhone 6:

One button press to play/pause and take or end calls.
Two button presses to track forward.
Three button presses to track at the start of the current song/track backward.
There isn't any fast forward or backward functionality.
Hold the button to summon Siri.

How does it sound? The 12 Classics sounds almost like the IEM version of the 99 Classics! What I will say is the 12 Classics do have a bit more midbass and subass than the 99 Classics, but the natural, organic-esque sound signature of the 99 Classics are largely the same with regards to the 12 Classics. The sound is full and smooth, with just the right amount of lushness to the presentation. Spatial abilities are not in full abundance, as soundstage, imaging is adequate, however, the depth of the midrange right on down to the lower registers is simply dignified with commendable detail. You may stop for the walnut wood, but stay for the textured sound that should sound thoroughly pleasing to your senses. Worth a solid audition.

RHA T20i Black

The T20i looks great in its brushed color, but in Black, it looks amazing, and also reminds me of the Knight Rider car for some reason! The earphone comes with loads of tips, and 3 different sounding filters (bass, reference and treble). Even though I love bass, the bass filter I felt was holding itself back. Trying the treble filter made me love the T20i, because there was still a lot of good quality bass to my ears, but the upper registers were as open as they could be, and lent to a clearer and more pristine overall sound. I saw a T20i on the Tube in London as a gentlemen wore one, so I talked to him (after asking if I could take a couple pictures of him with the T20i in his ears) – and invited him to meet one the RHA team at CanJam London. I'm not sure if he went to meet RHA, but at least he knew that RHA was noticed by myself, and that his IEM has major props with regards to a great build with a great sound attached to it. My two favorite RHA IEMs that I've listened to currently are the S500i (bass and upper midrange/treble deity), and the T20i with treble filters installed.

Sennheiser CX 686G Sport

Ooh... neon yellow, or neon green…or bright lime green. Whatever color you call it, I can see how this earphone can garner looks, but not a whole lot of listens. When I show this at meets, I usually see looks, but not a whole lot of people are willing to pick them up themselves and give them a listen – unless I hand it to them. I can see why though: the IEM is made for sports, I mean, it has the name "Sport" in its name! However, these are very good sounding IEMs. First, though, let's discuss fit really quick. The housings have integrated helix flaps, meaning, the upper part of each IEM goes underneath the flap of your ear, which makes it feel more like a custom IEM without you having to even obtain ear impressions or 3D scans! The fit is deep and stays completely in place. The fit is even better in my opinion than the awesome sounding Momentum 2.0 and their current IEM flagship: the IE800.

The sound: enveloping, reference with just a bit of kick. Quite detailed, intimate, yet coherent. Out of the Sennheiser IEMs that I've listened to, it is one of the most accurate. For the price, it may be pound for pound one of the best I've heard. This is saying a lot because I do thoroughly enjoy the Momentum 2.0 (midbass and midrange smoothness), but I really like the overall sound of the CX 686G Sport as it has a resolute, full, deep presentation with naught fatigue – I can listen for hours on end without issue. Worth at least an audition, especially for its asking price.

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