At CanJam SoCal 2026, John Higgins looked for the originality he found lacking in mainstream products at the show bringing boutique headphone manufacturers and audiophiles together. Organized by Head-Fi.org, CanJam is held throughout the year at various locations, including London, Shanghai, New York City, Dubai and Southern California. Brands such as Sennheiser, Focal, HiFiMan, Astell&Kern and Noble Audio were present in the exhibition area at the Irvine Marriott. Participants showcased headphones, DACs, amplifiers, media players and cables at listening stations using Qobuz.
Higgins’s first stop was Portland-based Campfire Audio. The Chimera model, which the brand introduced at CanJam Singapore in May, features a total of nine drivers in each earpiece. The “quad-brid” earphones use a dynamic driver for bass and lower midrange frequencies, a dual-diaphragm balanced armature for midrange frequencies, two balanced armatures for treble and four electrostatic tweeters. They also feature bone conduction for additional bass support. Despite its large build, the Chimera delivered a positive listening experience with powerful, clean bass, airy treble and particularly detailed midrange frequencies. However, the product is priced at $7,500. Its carbon fiber and brass Damascus body, six-conductor cable and various ear tip options are among the factors contributing to the high price.
There were also more accessible products at the show. Fosi Audio offered wired in-ear models priced below $150. The $900 Dan Clark Audio Aeon Core, meanwhile, stood out with its wide soundstage and closed-back design. HiFiMan’s $1,449 Arya model, which features a built-in Wi-Fi receiver, delivered good sound but was considered difficult to evaluate in the show environment because of its open-back design. Wi-Fi was described as an intriguing but still rare feature in headphones because it can transmit lossless audio over longer distances than Bluetooth.
Another product that caught Higgins’ attention was the Écoute TH2, which was funded on Kickstarter last March. The headphones feature a built-in vacuum tube preamp with 6P1 tubes, independent dual-mono amplification for the left and right channels, active noise cancellation and an 8-band equalizer. Praised for its comfortable design and effective noise cancellation, the TH2 made listeners feel as though they were inside the performance when playing live recordings; however, its upper frequencies were said to be overly elevated. According to Higgins, CanJam enables the discovery of unusual products of this kind that exist outside the mainstream.
Why it matters
This table shows that innovation in the headphone market is not limited to the pursuit of better sound quality; features such as different driver architectures, bone conduction, built-in tube preamps, Wi-Fi and active noise cancellation are diversifying product design. However, these innovations come with high prices and limitations tied to usage conditions; the fact that a model is technically advanced does not mean it will deliver the same result in every listening environment. While the show gives audiophiles an opportunity to compare designs that fall outside mainstream options, it also demonstrates that lower-priced products can be part of the same interest. The key question that remains is how manufacturers will balance these unusual features with sound quality, comfort and accessibility.