Author: Sword of Damocles
Table of Contents:
I haven't previously visited the Hifi Fairs held in Helsinki, so I decided to rectify that this year at the fair on 10.-11.9. As I don't really dabble in speakers, I was particularly interested in hearing new headphones. Traveling from my hometown Joensuu to the capital region takes a considerable amount of time, so I decided to also visit Hifitalo's store in Kaarina on the Friday preceding the fair, while I was at it (Edit. the company filed for bankruptcy at the end of 2023). I wanted to check out their recently completed headphone room, where I knew interesting products would be on display.
Friday: Hifitalo's headphone room
I left Joensuu on the five o'clock morning train towards Kupittaa, from where I moved to Kaarina with a stomach full of VR's meatballs. It was around 12 at this point, and it was time to swap the 150-euro Soundcore Space Q45 noise-cancelling headphones I had with me for higher quality hifi.
Hifitalo has invested an exceptional amount in headphone listening tests at its Kaarina store, as a separate room has been built for this purpose, featuring an interesting selection of good headphones (around 20 headphone models) as well as numerous different amplifiers and D/A converters (around 20 devices).
Listening to different devices is implemented so that music is streamed simultaneously to several D/A converters and amplifiers via an IFI Zen Stream device and a Topping U90 USB bridge. Customers can try their chosen headphones with different equipment setups, which I think is excellent. Someone might find the affordable Topping devices more than sufficient, while another might get excited about Feliks Audio's tube amplifiers. Also available for listening were IFI's popular Zen series devices and Matrix Audio products, which are rarer in Finland.
Hifitalo acts as ZMF's official reseller in Finland, so those interested in the manufacturer's headphones should definitely stop by to audition both Verite models, as well as Atticus and Aeolus (no longer possible due to bankruptcy). Reviews of these can also be found in Kuulokenurkka.
Also on display in the room were a few Hifimans, such as Sundara and the new Edition XS, several Grado headphones, and Focal Celestee. In addition to these, I was positively surprised to get to listen to Dan Clark Audio's Ether 2 and Aeon 2 Open. Since I already know all ZMF models like the back of my hand, I tried headphones I hadn't heard before.
Dan Clark Audio Ether 2:
The Ether 2 (price 2400 €) reminded me of the Meze Empyrean, as the low frequencies were reproduced pleasantly robustly and the high frequencies calmly, if not quite subdued. In my opinion, the headphones are a clear improvement compared to the more affordable Aeon series – though the price is, of course, considerably higher. One of the Ether 2's greatest strengths is its almost non-existent weight, which makes it an exceptionally comfortable high-end headphone. It would be interesting to test the Ether 2 for a longer period, as it sounded quite original.
Hifiman Edition XS:
Among the other headphones on display, Hifiman's Edition XS (price 560 €) impressed me in its price range. Its reproduction was balanced, but also had a touch of fun with a slight bass and treble boost. The headphones initially seemed like a small improvement over the more affordable Sundara, although the final truth would only become clear with a more detailed comparison. A review of the Edition XS will actually be published in Kuulokenurkka in the coming months, so I will leave a more detailed analysis for later.
Grado Hemp and Focal Celestee:
I had not heard Grado's Hemp model before, so it was nice to try them with the smooth-sounding Feliks Audio Euforia amplifier. The upper midrange frequencies of many Grados grate badly on my ears, but the Hemp, when briefly tested, sounded pleasant and engaging. The Focal Celestee, on the other hand, is quite neutral in sound for a closed-back headphone, and it doesn't make a greater impression on me, unlike the more fun and warmer-sounding Radiance model, which I heard two weeks earlier at the Joensuu High End fair. Reviews written by Roderick for both Grado Hemp and Focal Celestee can already be found in Kuulokenurkka.
Summary
The three hours I spent in Hifitalo's headphone room passed pleasantly, so I would have enjoyed sitting in the armchair there even longer. I hope to see similar headphone rooms in more places in the future, as the concept seems functional. A peaceful environment, in my opinion, provides an excellent setting for testing different headphones and making potential purchasing decisions. It also didn't hurt that the store's staff was really friendly. If I lived in the Turku region, I would visit the store more often. A more thorough evaluation of headphones takes a surprisingly long time, so it's impossible to go through a wide selection all at once. At this point, however, it was time to head to the hotel in Tikkurila to gather strength for the next day's Hifi Fair.
Saturday: Hi-fi fair in Pasila
After a poorly slept hotel night (thanks to Stig, who was performing downstairs), it was time to head to Pasila to find out if headphone enthusiasts had been remembered at the Hifi Fair. I hadn't had much time to study the fair map beforehand, but fortunately, the event wasn't incredibly large, so I managed to go through the different rooms well during one day – I spent about 6 hours at the hifi fair. Next, I will share my observations on the headphones on display.
Focal
Many of the speakers I briefly listened to at the Hifi Fair were magnificent, but most were plagued by the terrible acoustics of the listening room. The most noticeable aspect of the sound was usually a boomy upper bass. For example, Focal's 55,000 euro Maestro Utopia Evos were truly mediocre in their own room. Unfortunately, Focal's headphones (Clear MG and Stellia) were located in the same room, making it difficult, if not impossible, to listen to them amidst the rumble of the speakers. Fortunately, I had already heard the Stellia and Clear OG, so I skipped testing the Focals this time.
Meze Empyrean Elite
The Meze Empyrean Elite (price 4000 euros) was placed against the back wall of the McIntosh/Focal speaker room, so it was not possible to listen to it in a peaceful environment unless there was a longer break in speaker listening. Fortunately, I had already had the chance to listen to the Empyrean Elite model at the Joensuu High End fair, so the matter didn't bother me any further.
In my opinion, the Empyrean Elite is a clear improvement compared to the 1000 euro cheaper Empyrean model (I have listened to both models consecutively). The Empyrean of the two sounds thicker and calmer, while the Elite brings clarity to the reproduction. Especially the separation of sounds is more precise in the Elite, making it compare more evenly with other top-tier headphones. The Elite also has a more balanced treble, as in addition to air frequencies, there is sufficient energy in the lower treble frequencies as well. In terms of frequency response, both models are still quite similar, or in one word, relaxed.
Tur-Pex // Hifiman
I was particularly looking forward to hearing Hifiman's new Sundara Closed model at the fair, and I was not disappointed. The headphones were encountered right in the main hall of the event at Tur-Pex's display stand. Hifiman has been releasing new headphone models at a really fast pace, so all the other headphones available for listening were also new to me. In addition to the Sundara Closed, the 7000 euro Susvara was on display, as well as two new closed-back models equipped with dynamic drivers: HE-R10D and HE-R9. It had been decided to intentionally bring mainly closed-back models to the fair, which I thought was a good solution considering there was constant considerable background noise in the hall. Amplifiers available for the headphones were IFI's Pro iCAN Signature and xDSD Gryphon.
Susvara:
Due to the background noise, it was impossible to get everything out of the headphones, but based on a brief listen, the Susvara might very well be one of the best headphones on the market. The frequency response was typically easy to assimilate for Hifiman, and especially the treble seemed more refined and smoother than in many of the manufacturer's more affordable models. The Susvara also sounded truly realistic and fluid overall. The separation and placement of different musical elements in the soundstage were very impressive. Perhaps it's better that I couldn't listen to the Susvara in more favorable conditions, as I might have started to consider all my own headphones significantly inferior.
Sundara Closed:
My expectations for the closed version of the Sundara were moderate. Hifiman promises the headphones to be close in sound to the open-back model. However, since the closed-back model is priced about 150 euros more expensive (499 €), I believe it should be somewhat better than the open-back model.
The external structure of both Sundara models is similar, with the difference that the closed-back model has added orange, rather cheap-feeling, wooden cups and slightly differently shaped ear pads. The Sundara Closed sat very securely on my head, so the pads have successfully compensated for the deficient headband structure (the cups lack horizontal movement).
The Sundara Closed sounded even surprisingly similar to the open-back Sundara. The treble had similar clarity and separation, and the mid-frequencies were pleasantly balanced. The soundstage also resembled in size what I remember the Sundara to be. The biggest difference compared to the open-back model was found in the bass reproduction, which, quite expectedly, was fuller in the closed-back model.
However, at this point, I am not yet entirely sure about the functionality of the bass reproduction, as I noticed clear booming and resonance caused by the wooden cups, which was constantly present in the background as if a separate detail. This would not be a major problem for me, considering the price range, if the bass reproduction hadn't fit rather poorly with the headphones' otherwise precise and resolving nature. On the other hand, the more prominent bass was a welcome improvement for me compared to the open-back Sundara. The headphones seem interesting, so I would like to test them further.
The bass of the Sundara Closed was actually very controlled compared to the following closed models…
HE-R10D and HE-R9:
Hifiman also currently manufactures closed-back headphones equipped with dynamic drivers, of which the HE-R10D (1400 €) and HE-R9 (750 €) were on display. The peculiar shape of the wooden cups of the first released R10 model, as well as the name of the headphones, have been mimicked from Sony's legendary MDR-R10 headphones. There can be many opinions about this stunt, but I decided to listen to the headphones with an open mind, not caring too much about the things influencing their background.
In my opinion, the R10D sounded really peculiar, and I can't quite say what I would think of it. The result was very different from what I'm used to expecting from Hifiman. The headphones' bass-heavy, rather V-shaped sound will likely appeal to many people seeking fun, but in my opinion, the mid-frequencies, as well as detail and separation, remained too indistinct due to the overwhelming bass for the 1400 euro price.
I have also never heard such resonant wooden cups. As a fun feature, however, the reverberation and large cups made the bass so massive that I couldn't help but smile. It literally felt like my head was surrounded by an enormous amount of bass. The result was quite ridiculous, but at the same time really fun. Although I find the R10D to be a strange product, I consider it a positive thing that Hifiman occasionally tries new things. Sony's MDR-R10 was known for its rather subdued bass, so Hifiman's HE-R10D certainly cannot be called a direct copy of it.
The more affordable R9 sounded quite similar, but its bass was both more powerful and clearer than in the R10D. The R9 is such a bass cannon that it would be a really fun headphone for listening to bass music. On the downside, however, the bass covered everything else even worse than in the R10D, so the headphones might not be suitable for very versatile use. The R10D sounds more balanced of the two, and the Sundara Closed, in turn, sounds considerably more “normal” and clearer compared to both. All were headphones worth trying, although in my opinion, Hifiman's headphone selection should focus on open-back models, which are almost without exception excellent.
Kruunuradio // Dan Clark Audio & Grado
A well-implemented headphone testing environment was found in Kruunuradio's suite, where the headphones were placed behind a sliding door in the bedroom. On the table were Dan Clark Audio's Ether 2, Ether C Flow, Aeon 2 Open, and the STEALTH model, priced at 4150 euros, praised for its frequency response that closely follows the Harman target. On another table, there were also three Grado headphones, of which I tried the new RS-1X. For listening, the Ferrum Audio Oor & Hypsos combination and two Violectric amplifiers were used – all very high-quality options!
DCA Stealth:
I focused on listening to the praised Stealth model in the room. The headphones have a closed-back design, but they sounded exceptionally open in terms of how naturally the sound spreads and fades towards the edges of the soundstage. The soundstage itself was otherwise quite a conventional size.
The Stealth's presentation style was very clear and resolving, making it well-suited for critical listening and music analysis. The somewhat thin-sounding frequency response, bringing mid-frequencies forward, would also support this. The headphones sounded balanced and immediately good, but they ultimately left me feeling rather cold.
The reproduction did not evoke any emotions, and the mid-frequencies were too aggressive for my taste – however, the headphones were by no means too bright; the treble was just the right amount for my taste. I probably agree with the amount of treble in terms of Harman's target response, but I would wish for the mid-frequencies to be a bit calmer and fuller. So, the Stealth sounded good, but it didn't make a big impression for its over 4000 euro price. Part of the reason for this, in addition to the high price, is certainly the light dynamics, even though the headphones were not as lifeless as the more affordable Aeon series.
DCA Ether C Flow:
I only listened to the Ether C Flow headphones briefly, but a strong 6 kHz emphasis immediately became apparent, making the reproduction piercing and fatiguing for the listener. Apart from that, everything else was quite well in place, so with a small equalization or tuning pads provided by the manufacturer, the closed Ether model could become quite good headphones. Not everyone might even be bothered by the emphasis in the frequency response.
Audelec // STAX
The most peaceful headphone listening room and perhaps the quietest room of the entire fair was found at Audelec, which had brought STAX's new SR-X9000 electrostatic headphones (€7250) and SRM-T8000 amplifier (€5900) for testing. There was nothing else in the room, so this product pair received all the attention.
I have not heard STAX's SR-007 and SR-009 models, so I cannot say how the X9000 compares to them. However, I was impressed by both the construction of the headphones and their sound. The X9000 was a pleasant combination of the lightness and effortlessness of electrostatics and the richness familiar from dynamic headphones. The presentation style was quite calm and easy to listen to, so bigger circus tricks were missing – however, I don't see this as a bad thing. What stood out most about the headphones was the engaging and excellently controlled bass reproduction, which I did not expect from electrostatics. With a quick listen, the only major question mark is the price tag of over 7000 euros, so the X9000 would require more listening before I could form a more comprehensive opinion of it.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
I also found Bowers & Wilkins' new PX7 S2 noise-cancelling headphones at the Hifi Fair, but I couldn't get any sound out of them. My own phone refused to pair with the headphones, and there wasn't any sound from the device/stand used for demonstrating the headphones either. However, the headphones felt high-quality externally, and their noise-cancelling function was not among the worst. Perhaps I'll get to evaluate the sound quality another time.
Mark Levinson's No. 5909 noise-cancelling headphones (priced around 1000 euros) were apparently also on display at the Hifi Fair, but I didn't notice them when peeking into the room from the door. However, according to what I heard, these headphones were not allowed to be listened to, which is a rather peculiar solution.
Summary
At the Hifi Fair, it was possible to listen to exactly the headphones I expected, so bigger surprises were essentially not experienced. However, many interesting headphones were on display instead of the usual models, so in my opinion, it was worth attending the event. I ultimately got good value for the 10-euro entrance ticket, even though I focused mainly on headphones. I am considering visiting the Hifi Fair next year as well, if it is organized normally.
In the future, I hope to see more peaceful listening rooms for headphones or some kind of soundproof booths, as open-back headphone models are impossible to listen to in the same room with speakers. However, I understand that a single exhibitor cannot reserve too many rooms. Nothing would also change the fact that it is difficult to form a comprehensive opinion about headphones with a quick listen. In any case, it is interesting to get to try new models.
In addition to the headphones, I also remember the fruitful discussions with various people at the fair, regardless of whether the other party was a commercial operator or a hobbyist in the field. Conversation flowed easily on different topics, and the atmosphere at the event was, in my opinion, pleasant and refreshingly open. It's much more enjoyable to talk to people face-to-face than via email. I gained a few new contacts with whom I will certainly be in touch in the future. My headphone trip brought me new energy for autumn reviews, even though the tedious train journey via Pieksämäki back to Joensuu threatened to eat some of it away.
PS At the Hifi Fair, it was amusing to notice how many people put their headphones on the wrong way around. Headphone manufacturers still have something to learn regarding R and L markings.
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