CanJAM NYC 2025 Show Report

If you ever consider high-end audiophile fanatics as being passionate about their hobby, the specialty headphone group says, “Hold my beer.” This is no more evident than what I witnessed this year at the NY Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. For here, at CanJAM NYC 2025, the large room was packed and then some. Evident from the mezzanine overlooking the main floor, the attendees packed each booth, several people deep.

I would say it was a testament to the quality of products, the headphones I heard all sounded quite good despite the horrific ambient noise. Regardless, I was impressed by the passion from both the manufacturers and these audio enthusiasts.

Highlights for me included:

STAX – Japan

I met Douglas Ip, Sales, and Marketing Director at STAX who kindly let me listen to several headphones. Spoiler alert, the flagship SR-X9000 Electrostatic were the best headphones I heard. To qualify that statement, I’ll say I listened to them in a smaller private room with much less noise, so they had a leg up. But I was extremely impressed. MSRP $6,200.00

If I have not mentioned it yet, I was surprised that most manufacturers had over-the-ear headphones this year, so few demonstrated in-ear and even on-ear.

Focal – France

Focal always holds a dominant presence at CanJAM, and this year was no exception. Focal introduced a couple of new headphones, the closed-back Azurys and the open-back Hadenys which will be available in May. Both offered the consistent clarity, clean design, and comfort that Focal is known for. Excellent values at $599.00 and $749.00 respectively.

HIFIMAN – China

Dr. Fang Bian never disappoints, HIFIMAN and their table could hardly be approached. In musical chair fashion, an attendee would stand, and another would replace them without hesitation. What specifically caught my attention was the Mini Shangri-La Electrostatic Headphone system at $2,300.00 substantially less than its big brother $50,000.00 reference system. Also debuted was the Ananda-BT R2R DAC technology, (supporting 24bit/96 kHz) Bluetooth headphone at $799.00. Rounding out was the SERENADE Wireless desktop DAC/headphone class A amplifier at $999.00.

Meze Audio – Romania

The new planar-magnetic POET headphones will go down as the most comfortable cans I had listened to thus far at the show, such an effort to make these comfortable by Acoustic Designer Alex Grigoras. The sound was lush and full.

FiiO – China

One of those brands I could not get near, but I did have a peek at the new flagship FT7 planar headphones at $1,000.00.

FiiO displayed several “retro” looking products under the SnowSky brand including a cassette-styled case, and a portable Hi-Res music player called the Echo Mini. With an MSRP of $49.99, no less!

Or the DM13 portable CD player, for about $150.00 and it will play CD-R discs.

Technics – Japan

One of the few In-Ear Monitors showing on the floor. The wireless, noise-cancelling EAH-AZ100 at $299.00 featuring Dolby Atmos. Technics refers to them as their Reference Earbuds.

Viva Audio – Italy

Some of the prettiest if not largest headphone tube amplifiers were to be found here, including the Egoista 845 and the Egoista STX. The STX is touted as specifically designed for electrostatic headphones. Read our review from Editor-in-Chief Carlo Lo Raso.

Clearly, this show had an international feel with manufacturers from around the planet, who displayed their wares with passion and pride. From upgraded cables to headphones and amplifiers, streamers and DACS, the headphone industry is simply out of this world.