Author: Sword of Damocles
In Pasila, Helsinki, the traditional event will be held on September 16-17, Hifi Fair, where you can get acquainted with not only speakers and peripheral equipment but also some new headphones. I found the 2022 fair so interesting (link to travelogue), that I intend to visit them again this year, even though a Saturday day trip from Joensuu to Pasila is not the lightest in terms of schedule. A general guide to the event's product offerings was recently published (download link), so I thought I'd consider in advance what headphone enthusiasts are likely to find, and which headphones I myself would hope to quickly test. However, the exact headphone selection will ultimately only become clear on site, as there can always be changes for many different reasons.
Mareksound has the widest selection of headphones
This year, headphones seem to be most comprehensively available for audition at Mareksound's stand in the main hall of the event. The biggest draw mentioned is Yamaha's 5700-euro YH-5000SE headphone model and the HA-L7A amplifier designed for it, which will apparently also cost several thousand euros. The headphones have received a very mixed reception, so it will be interesting to get a small taste of their sound. Although the frequency response of the YH-5000SE seems almost unsuccessful, I intend to approach it with as open a mind as possible. Sometimes unusually tuned headphones can surprise if their designer has had some kind of justified vision for the final sound. It's generally nice to see a new hi-fi headphone from Yamaha after a long time, instead of it just settling for making more mediocre noise-cancelling headphones.
Other brands mentioned at Mareksound's stand include headphone manufacturers Hifiman, Focal, Bowers & Wilkins, and T+A. Peripheral devices, on the other hand, are available from NAIM, Chord Electronics, and McIntosh, so I would expect to see at least the NAIM Uniti Atom headphone amplifier and the McIntosh MHA200 tube headphone amplifier. From Chord, for example, the Mojo 2 mobile amplifier and/or the Hugo TT 2, costing over 5000 euros, might be on display.
Hifiman:
From Hifiman, I would hope to see new headphone models on display, such as Audivina, HE1000 V2 Stealth, Arya Organic, or Ananda Nano. In fact, a new Sundara Silver model has also been released for the popular Sundara (review), which we aim to at least get for review in Kuulokenurkka. Hifiman has a sufficient variety of headphone models, so it remains to be seen which ones will ultimately be on display this year. Last year, Tur-Pex, which presented the manufacturer's headphones, brought with it the Susvara (review) as well as three closed models: the HE-R9, HE-R10D, and Sundara Closed (review).
Focal:
At the time of the previous fair, the French Focal was just about to release the Bathys noise-cancelling headphones (review) and the new Utopia model, so they were not yet on display in Finland. I wouldn't be surprised if at least the Bathys were available for testing. I would also hope to hear the Utopia 2022, which, according to general opinion, sounds a bit fuller and calmer than the previous model. Additionally, it would be nice to hear the closed Stellia again (review), because it has already been about two years since my last time. I also haven't personally heard the Clear MG yet (review), which last year was in a space far too noisy to make one want to try it. This, on the other hand, is always the downside of a fair environment, unless a separate, quieter space has been reserved for headphones, where speakers are not playing at the same time.
B & W:
Bowers & Wilkins, mentioned as the third highlight, is currently known in the headphone field mainly for its PX7 S2 and PX8 noise-cancelling headphones, so at least one of them is likely to be available for listening. I have performed on my own equipment for the PX7 S2 frequency response measurements, in addition to which I have also listened to it for a while. The sound of the headphones is very consumer-oriented, meaning mid-bass heavy and slightly sharpened in the high frequencies. The mid-frequencies remain somewhat unclear and subdued, as in many other noise-cancelling headphones. However, in my opinion, the tuning of the PX7 S2 has not gone completely wrong, so those who appreciate that style of presentation could choose worse headphones. The more expensive PX8 is apparently very similar, so it would be interesting to hear it alongside, for example, the Focal Bathys, which I found to be good.
T+A:
I have not had the opportunity to hear German T+A's planar headphones before, nor was I aware that they had a retailer in Finland. It will be interesting to see what the manufacturer ultimately has on display at Mareksound's stand. It released, at least most recently, the Solitaire T, which, at its price of approximately 1300 euros, is currently the world's most expensive noise-cancelling headphone.
Kruunuradio's ”headphone suite”: Grado and Dan Clark Audio
Headphone enthusiasts should also head to Kruunuradio's suite at the Hifimessut, where headphone listening tests are arranged this year too in a separate room from the loudspeakers, which is likely a bedroom that can be closed with a sliding door. This allows for trying out open-back headphones in a relatively peaceful environment, which I appreciate.
It is said that Grado's RS and GS series headphones are available for testing, as well as at least the Aeon- (Aeon 2 Closed model review) and Expanse models, and possibly also Ether. Expanse particularly interests me because it is an open and slightly different version of the Stealth headphones, whose tuning very closely follows Harman's target curve. Dan Clark Audio headphones are characterized by strong damping on both sides of the planar driver. This facilitates sound tuning, but in my opinion, makes the reproduction somewhat undynamic and lifeless. However, not everyone perceives this or experiences it as any kind of weakness, so an interesting discussion would arise from this topic.
The manufacturer's Stealth and Expanse models also feature a metamaterial layer on top of the driver, which counteracts high-frequency reflections and standing waves that typically form inside the cups and pads. This removes a large part of the room effect from the sound, making the result quite similar to how a recording would sound in an anechoic chamber. This is precisely why these headphones are worth trying, as they are at least different compared to products from many other manufacturers. I personally hope to be able to test one of these models at some point in peace, while writing a comprehensive review.
Kruunuradio also mentions that headphone listening is handled by quality amplifiers from Ferrum Audio and Violectric, which are connected to Ferrum Audio's Wandla D/A converter. Earmen might also be on display with a few devices, so there will certainly be plenty to test in terms of equipment as well.
Where are Meze Audio, STAX, and Audeze headphones?
Meze Audio headphones are not mentioned in the exhibition guide or brand list, which is somewhat surprising, as they have become a kind of mainstream in recent years. Especially the 109 Pro, costing around 800 euros (review) would probably interest many, so I'm surprised if it hasn't been thought to be brought for testing. Last year, the manufacturer's headphones were exhibited by Simex, their importer, who, however, does not seem to have its own stand at the fair this year. This year, STAX's electrostatic headphones also do not appear to be on display, even though last year Audelec presented their latest and most expensive SR-X9000 model.
Likewise, Audeze headphones are not seen on display in Finland for one reason or another (though I have an educated guess), even though the manufacturer has released many interesting products in the past couple of years, which also have domestic retailers. The selection would include, among others, the highly praised Maxwell gaming headphones, as well as the more expensive hi-fi models MM-500 and LCD-5. It's a shame that no one is showcasing these at the fair, as Audeze is, after all, an internationally well-known headphone manufacturer. That reminded me to mention that the company was recently sold to Japanese Sony, so there will be plenty to follow in the future of both manufacturers.
Of course, the world contains many other headphone manufacturers whose products are not seen at Hifimessut. I won't start complaining about possible shortcomings; instead, I am pleased that an event like this is even organized in a country the size of Finland, where there is always something interesting to find. I might write another article this year, discussing my experiences with different products.
See you at Hifimessut!
PS If you see me in a Headphone Corner hoodie, feel free to come say hi
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