The UK’s biggest headphone and portable audio tech show, headroom@Indulgence, is expanding to include a wider range of international brands, giving attendees greater choice plus the chance to compare headphones not available anywhere else. 
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Jay Garrett, of our partner tech site, Gadgety News, takes a trip to the London Headroom show for Hifi Pig. More »
The world’s leading audio brands are descending on London’s headroom™ show which returns to the capital this autumn as part of a wider audio and luxury goods event, The Indulgence Show. The autumnal headroom is set to be the biggest event to date and features the latest in portable audio and headphone tech, plus a wide range of new launches, including key models from Bowers & Wilkins, Audeze and Sennheiser.
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The headroom™ show is returning to London in 2016 as part of The Indulgence Show, an exciting new lifestyle experience featuring the world’s best home and portable audio entertainment. headroom™, which is one of three events that make up The Indulgence Show, will be the biggest headroom™ to date, featuring the latest in portable audio and headphone technology, including new Apple Lightning-ready launches with several Lightning-cabled products on demonstration.
The first headroom™ show was held two years ago at Metropolis Studios (where it makes its return in March 2017), headroom™ at The Indulgence Show, however, takes the UK’s leading headphone and portable audio event to the next level. Attendees can experience the widest range of demonstrable headphones in the UK, all under one roof, making headroom a must-visit event for anyone considering new portable audio or tech or headphones for the new Apple iPhone 7 this side of the festive season.
The unique three-day experience brings together the world’s leading portable audio manufacturers and showcases the latest products, technology and trends within one of London’s most popular exhibition centres – Novotel London West, Hammersmith.
The event runs from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th of October and gives attendees the opportunity to try and buy the latest headphones and portable audio devices from the world’s leading brands.
The event runs from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th of October and gives attendees the opportunity to try and buy the latest headphones and portable audio devices from the world’s leading brands, including Sennheiser, B&W and SHURE. Full exhibitor list here.
Ride the Lightning
headroom is also the chosen event for a number of new Apple Lightning-ready headphones. Audeze, the California-based audio manufacturer, will have the first UK showing of its new iSINE in-ear headphones, the world’s first single-driver in-ear planar magnetic headphones which also feature direct Apple Lightning connections. The ground-breaking models, weighing from just 20g, are the world’s first earphones to use full-range planar magnetic technology.
FiiO, who is making its UK debut at the show, will also have the world debut of its new Lightning-cabled iF3 in-ear dynamic earphone, which features a built-in discrete high-performance audio codec chip supporting high resolution audio. The Apple MFi-certified iF3 uses a high-quality Lightning plug and is available in a range of colours.
The show offers an audio experience that’s refreshingly unique and dedicated to the blossoming headphone and portable audio market. It’s perfect for today’s contemporary music lover, from commuter to desktop audio champion and discerning audiophile. Experts from each respective company will be on hand to offer help, advice and answer questions.
headroom 2106 is an annual event held at the world-famous Metropolis Studios in London. It is a showcase for all that is portable audio and headfi. In this special Hifi Pig and GadgetyNews e-magazine we take a look at the event, some of the exhibitors and, of course…there’s lots of lovely photos for you to enjoy. Click here to download your free copy or click on the image.
The Chord Company has chosen headroom to reveal a number of new cables designed to exploit the full potential of today’s high-performance desktop audio and headphone-based systems.
Chord’s headroom stand will introduce new high-performance USB and digital cables, plus the Tuned ARAY prototype headphone cable. The new headphone cable will be available in two terminations at the show: miniature XLRs for use with Audeze systems, plus 3.5mm mono plugs – a full range of terminations will be revealed at launch later in 2016.
The headphone cables uses a new version of Chord’s proprietary Tuned ARAY conductor technology and gives show-goers the chance to experience Chord’s Tuned ARAY construction techniques for headphones for the first time.
The Chord Company will also be showing a range of streaming and USB cables, alongside a range of UK-made analogue and digital cables. Chord will also be arranging a trio of demonstrations using high-quality partnering equipment to highlight the performance benefits of Chord’s no-compromise approach to cable design and construction.
Demonstration 1
The Chord Company’s USB cable range using Chord Electronics’ Hugo TT with Melco and laptop sources. Chord will demonstrate all its current USB cables from the USB Silver Plus right up to the flagship Sarum Super ARAY USB, as well as a new prototype USB cable. This system will also be showcasing the prototype Tuned ARAY headphone cables.
Demonstration 2
Chord’s analogue cable range will be presented using an Arcam source component and a Meridian Prime headphone amplifier. The demonstration will contrast the acclaimed entry-level C-line right up to the flagship models, including two unseen Tuned ARAY cables.
Both the Arcam and Chord Electronics systems will be used to demonstrate Chord’s latest digital cables, which will include new prototypes, plus the recently released Chord Clearway Digital and the flagship Sarum Super ARAY.
Demonstration 3
This demonstration features Chord’s range of streaming cables using a Melco source plus a Chord Electronics streamer. Cables on demonstration will include the C-stream, Anthem, Signature and Sarum streaming cables.
London’s headroom show will see many of the world’s leading audio manufacturers launch brand new products for 2016 .
Headroom will introduce a number of brand new headphones and portable audio devices to consumers in 2016. The biggest brands, including Sennheiser, SHURE, Audiolab and Quad have chosen headroom, which runs from Friday 29th to Saturday 30th January, to launch a number of brand new products, all inside the world’s largest independent professional recording complex, Metropolis Studios, Chiswick.
NEW LAUNCH: Sennheiser HD 800 S reference-level headphone (£1,200)
The HD 800 S is Sennheiser’s new reference-level headphone. Precision-built in Germany the HD 800 S offers high-precision connectivity with a 6.3mm connector, plus an XLR-4 balanced cable to maximise sound quality from sources with balanced outputs. The headband and headphone mounting utilises advanced materials developed for the aerospace industry, giving high strength with minimal weight.
NEW LAUNCH: Audiolab M-DAC+ (£799.95)
Audiolab’s highly anticipated M-DAC+ enhances the performance of its M-DAC sibling to include 32-bit/384kHz resolution for the USB input. The M-DAC+ can also link directly to Apple devices to access stored music via USB-A. DSD audio is also catered for with the
M-DAC+ offering four different DSD and seven different PCM filters. Further features include redefined circuitry with a new internal power supply.
NEW LAUNCH: SHURE KSE 1500 isolating electrostatic earphone (£2,199)
The KSE 1500 combines a Sound-Isolating™ electrostatic earphone with a matched high-res SHURE USB amp/DAC, providing a unique system giving unmatched clarity and detail with extremely high fidelity. The high-res 24/192 USB amp/DAC is compatible with Mac, PC, iOS and Android devices, with navigation and control performed via a single wheel.
NEW LAUNCH: Questyle QP1R high-res portable music player DAP (£699)
The new QP1R high-performance portable music player (DAP) supports DSD128 and 24/192kHz PCM playback and uses a pure Class A headphone amplifier with discrete transistors and components. File support is included for ALAC, APE, FLAC, AIFF, WAV, WMA Lossless up to 24bit/192kHz and high-res audio files such as DSD128 and DSD64. Questyle’s proprietary Current Mode Amplification technology is included, which was developed from its amplifiers, to drive virtually any headphone with ultra-low distortion, wide bandwidth and pure Class A operation – a rare feat among portable devices.
NEW LAUNCH: Quad VA-One headphone amp (£1,399.95)
The new VA-One integrated amplifier from Quad follows founder Peter Walker’s approach to sound quality, using carefully selected hi-fi amplifier valves to drive life-like excitement into music. It includes both analogue and digital inputs, with RCA, optical and coaxial options, plus a 6.3mm headphone jack output on the front panel. Its USB-B and Bluetooth inputs (aptX) enable simple connectivity to PCs, tablets and smartphones.
NEW LAUNCH: Arcam MusicBOOST headphone amp/DAC for iPhone (£120)
The Arcam MusicBOOST is a genuine new-category product, a portable headphone amplifier with a high-precision DAC and powerful battery pack for the Apple iPhone 6, all in one sleek protective sleeve case weighing just 100 gms. MusicBOOST is an ideal travel product, able to be easily swapped in/out depending on usage and totally ends battery anxiety when boarding passes are kept on phones!
NEW LAUNCH: FOSTEX HP-A4 BL DAC/headphone amp (£379)
Headroom marks the first appearance for the newly released Fostex HP-A4 BL USB- powered DAC and headphone amp, which now offers a balanced headphone output. Based on the original HP-A4, the new version maintains support for DSD128 and PCM192, with a simple-to-use layout and great portability.
London’s headroom show (Jan 29/30th) is to launch the new Audiolab M-DAC+ and Quad VA-One amplifier!
Audiolab’s highly anticipated M-DAC+ (£799.95) enhances the performance of the original M-DAC to include 32-bit/384kHz resolution for the USB input. The M-DAC+ can also link directly to Apple devices to access stored music via USB-A. DSD audio is also catered for with the M-DAC+ offering four different DSD and seven different PCM filters. Further features include redefined circuitry, with a new internal power supply.
The new VA-One integrated amplifier from Quad (£1,399.95) follows founder Peter Walker’s approach to sound quality, using carefully selected hi-fi amplifier valves to drive life-like excitement into music. It includes both analogue and digital inputs, with RCA, optical and coaxial options, plus a 6.3mm headphone jack output on the front panel. Its USB-B and Bluetooth inputs (aptX) enable simple connectivity to PCs, tablets and smartphones.
London’s headroom show (January 29th-30th 2016 ) will debut the world’s first noise-isolating electrostatic earphone system from SHURE, the new KSE 1500 which combines a Sound-Isolating™ electrostatic earphone with a matched high-res SHURE USB amp/DAC.
Electrostatic technology, which until now has never been applied to earphones, provides the fastest, most accurate transient response available the company says. The Sound-Isolating™ electrostatic earphone and matching amp/DAC provide a unique system that operates “holistically, giving unmatched clarity and detail with extremely high fidelity”.
Each earphone features a virtually weightless, massless diaphragm surrounded by an electrostatic field generated by back-plates that manage charge-oscillation. The earphones connect to a rechargeable amplifier using an advanced Kevlar cable, specifically engineered to work with the electrostatic diaphragm and provide the correct operating bias.
The 24/192 USB amp/DAC is compatible with Mac, PC, iOS and Android devices, with all navigation and control performed via a single wheel. A colour screen gives source, EQ, volume information and more, plus each KSE 1500 is supplied with a comprehensive accessory pack.
headroom is a unique two-day experience that brings together the world’s leading portable audio manufacturers and showcases the latest products, technology and trends within an exclusive environment: Europe’s foremost recording, mastering and production studios, Metropolis.
