Hi-Fi+/TAS Can-Jam 2012 Report - Part 3

Posted by: Chris Martens at 7:07 pm, October 25th, 2012

For those of you not able to make it to Denver, CO for the 2012 Rocky Mountain Audio Fest, I’d like to let you in on a little secret. These days, by teaming with HeadFi.org, RMAF now offers attendees a show within a show thanks to an event called Can-Jam. What’s a Can-Jam? In simple terms, it’s an exposition and celebration of all things pertaining to high-end headphones, earphones, and the specialized electronics required to drive them.

Below, I describe some of the coolest new products seen and heard at RMAF/Can-Jam 2012. As always, my apologies in advance to any manufacturers whose worthy products I fail to mention. 

This is Part 3 of a three-part report. Click here to read Part 1, or click here to read Part 2

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KingRex

KingRex is a Taiwanese company founded in the late 1980s that has a rich background in the development various entertainment-related electronics products. Through a process of ongoing evolution, though, the company eventually moved into the audio product arena and, by 2006, had dedicated itself to the development of very high quality computer audio and, as KingRex puts it, “mini audio” components. At Can-Jam, five specific KingRex products were highlighted in a demo area sponsored by KingRex’s U.S. Distributor, Moon Audio. These products were the:

• --Headquarters HQ-1 headphone amp/preamp ($899), an ambitious, Class A MOSFET-powered design packaged in in two companion chassis—one housing the audio circuitry and the other housing a compact linear power supply.
• --PSU MkII power supply ($419), an uprated power supply module compatible with a variety of KingRex components.
• --UD384 DAC ($499), a 32/384-capable, asynchronous USB DAC with very low-jitter (1 ppm) clock.
• --UD2 uPower battery pack ($199), the preferred companion power supply for the UD384 DAC, which is “recommended for completely off-the-grid and noise-free operation.”
• --uArt Y USB Cable ($599 for a 2M cable), an unorthodox and highly specialized USB cable with two input-side connectors cabled via a “Y” junction to feed a single output-side USB connector. The key concept behind the product is that one leg of the input pair supplies USB power while the other leg supplies USB audio data—a separation of functions said to yield substantial sonic benefits. In practice, a user would connect the signal USB leg to a computer or server, would connect the power USB leg to the UD2 uPower pack, and then connect the output USB leg to the UD384 DAC.

Monster

Monster Cable is plainly looking to regain its footing in the headphone marketplace after its break with Beats by Dre (a company that Monster Cable was instrumental in putting on the audio map). Thus, over the past year Monster has launched at least three new Monster-branded models:

• --Inspiration Active NC self-powered, active noise-cancelling, full-size headphone ($299).
• --Inspiration Passive full size headphone ($199), essentially a passive version of the Inspiration Active NC.
• --Miles Davis Trumpet earphone ($399), arguable the most distinctive looking of all Monster’s Miles Davis-branded products, this earphone features earpieces the loosely resemble the bell of Davis’ trumpet (hence the product name).

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Speaker is not so much a headphone manufacturer as a very serious headphone modifier whose key product is an extensively re-worked version of the Fostex T50RP headphone. Specifically, changes include revisions to the headband, ear pads, and other comfort features, plus a thoroughgoing set of revision to the headphone’s acoustic envelope. Mr. Speaker’s version is called the Mad Dog headphone ($314), and it sounds very, very impressive for its price; it’s truly one of the few mid-priced ‘phones that manages to sound like a much higher priced product typically would. Moreover, the Mad Dog is extremely comfortable to wear, which was one of Mr. Speaker’s primary goals in developing the product.