World’s best headphones converge in NYC jamboree

The CanJam headphone extravaganza returned to NYC this past weekend (Feb. 17-18) at the New York Marriot Marquis hotel in lovely Times Square, where the best of the best headphones were truly an ear opening experience. 

For starters take a gander at Meze Audio's upcoming Empyrean planar magnetic headphone. My first impression of the preproduction headphone was extremely natural and effortless sound. Look for an Audiophiliac review in the coming months. Price has not yet been set.

I've loved 1More's in-ear headphones, so I was super curious about their new Triple Driver over-the-ear model. It's really good for $250, £130. My review is in the works. 

Wow, that's my one word review of this new model from Final Audio. Can't wait to try this one at home. The D8000 sells for $3,799, £2,999.

That's ZMF's Zach Mehrbach with his open-back, hand-crafted Auteur headphones ($1,599). Its unbound sound is a feast for your ears. 

Woo Audio 3ES is a fully balanced electrostatic headphone amplifier and preamplifier. The driver tubes are 6SN7s, power tubes are 300Bs, and a rectifier is a 5U4G tube. The standard version will be $7,999, an Elite Edition will be available for $15,999.

The planar magnetic Abyss' Diana on-ear headphones ($2,995, £3,450) radical look is matched by its stunning sonics. And yes, a review is in the works.

The Z1R is Sony's flagship 'phone is truly a world class design for sound and comfort, it's $2,299, £1,850.

Campfire Audio's new Cascade portable headphone ($799), modeled here by Campfire's Ken Ball. I had a quick audition and liked what I heard. Look for an Audiophiliac review in the coming months. 

It's gorgeous, beautifully built, and sounds like everything you'd want in a high-end 300B tube amplifier. Priced at $3,999, the HA-300 looks like a lot of amp for the money when shipping commences in March.

Sennheiser's HD 800 has long been hailed as one of the greatest headphones on the market, but since it's an open-back design it can't hush external noise. The HD 820 is a new closed-back version, and it's $2,399, £1,999.

This upcoming $8,000 electrostatic tube amplifier and headphone system delivers extraordinary transparency and musicality. This is another one I can't wait to hear at home. 

The Mytek Manhattan II isn't just a world class digital converter, it's a superb headphone amplifier too ($5,995/£4,995). That's an Audeze LCD-XC headphone sitting on the Manhattan II.

Oh boy, this ravishing, made in Italy tube behemoth is something else again! It's $12,000.

With this $499 headphone Hifiman upped its game, it's a planar magnetic design with an 80 percent thinner, more responsive diaphragm. Sundara is also more comfortable than the outgoing HE400S model. Sound and build quality are also improved.

It looks rather pedestrian for a high-end headphone amp, but the sound was flat out astonishing. The Headtrip sells for $7,000.

The NYC CanJam 2018 is history, but CanJams span the globe, they're coming up in Singapore, March 24-25; Los Angeles, April 7-8; London, July 21-22; Boulder, CO, October 5-7; and Shanghai, November 3-4.