// THE VERGE — MOBILE & WEB
The weird and wonderful headphones of CanJam 2026
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Mainstream headphones are good but boring now. I went to an audiophile show to be reminded why I love headphones.
Mainstream headphones are good but boring now. I went to an audiophile show to be reminded why I love headphones.
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I’ve been reviewing headphones for a long time, and I’ve listened to everything from the barely serviceable to multi-thousand-dollar open-back headphones. But recently I’ve been uninspired by the state of mainstream options. Most are perfectly good — great, even — but they lack a distinct character. Something to remind me why I fell in love with headphones to begin with, landing me in this crazy career. I needed some revitalization. I needed to see something cool. I needed to be around other people with an emotional connection to headphones. I needed to go to CanJam.
CanJam is a small audio show produced by Head-Fi.org, the largest audio-focused online forum, with multiple events a year at different places around the world, including London, Shanghai, New York City, Dubai, and Southern California. It’s where mainly boutique manufacturers exhibit their latest headphones and related gear to enthusiasts constantly searching for the most accurate and engaging audio experience they can find. You won’t find Bose or Apple here — although Sony’s Pro division was there, as were some familiar names like Sennheiser and Audeze.
In all my years covering A/V gear, I’ve never actually made it to a CanJam. Either it wasn’t an interest for the outlets I was writing for, or personal obligations kept me from going. But this year, my first at The Verge, felt like the right time. So on August 29th, I braved the 405 from Los Angeles down to Irvine, California.