After all the preparation, coordinating, traveling, setup, and everything else that goes into CanJam, we’re once again here to summarize a show that exceeded sky-high expectations. With every CanJam, I am usually left reflecting on how the next show will manage to top the previous, and the cycle continues as they always somehow find a way. As great as the memories are, however, we have a lot of gear to talk about, and I am excited to share some brief thoughts regarding what I got to check out at CanJam NYC 2026.

(as a disclaimer, show impressions are always subject to change after spending more time with a product in the future. Feel free to reach out at hello@bloomaudio.com to see if updated impressions are applicable, or to suggest we listen to something at the next CanJam!)

ZMF Tessidera

ZMF has been a formidable brand in the hobby for longer than I’ve been in it, and yet Tessidera feels like the first headphone that allowed me to say “I fully get it.” Oftentimes, I viewed ZMF headphones as art pieces that just happened to sound pretty good too, and would usually say style over substance was my common association with them, but Tessidera shut down all claims of that for me. Rumbling, impactful subbass paired with tasteful midrange colorations, a relatively well extended treble, and vocals that had really solid clarity to them combine for a headphone that pairs expert craftsmanship with beautiful sound – exactly what I’ve been longing for in a ZMF headphone. Zach and co. are some of my favorite people in the hobby, and I am happy to say Tessidera was one of my favorite listens of the show.

Astell&Kern PD20

Astell&Kern was ambitious with PD10, aiming for different ideas and a different level of execution than what we’ve come to expect from the brand hailing from South Korea, and I was incredibly excited to see innovation take the forefront seat of a manufacturer that has made some of my favorite DAPs in the entire space. With that said, PD10 came up short in my eyes of what A&K fully had envisioned for it. Now looking at the teaser I got of PD20 at the show, I believe A&K shared similar thoughts. With intuitive EQ options that you’ll actually use, spatial effects that offer genuine change to your most listened to songs at a click of a button, all wrapped up in a housing that features A&K’s luxury finish that has come to be expected, PD20 is simply exciting. I believe with the release of PD20, A&K can stand back and be proud that their full vision of the PD series has come to life in this model.

Prisma Lumen & Lux

Having spoken with the founder of Prisma, Josh, before the show, I knew Lumen was near the top of my list of the most anticipated listens I had for NYC. However, after gathering initial impressions and making baseless assumptions, I figured Lumen would be yet another take on the highly popular and already capitalized on “New Meta” tuning that we’ve seen in IEMs like Top Pro, Mega7, and Hype 4 MKII. Instead, Lumen greeted me with a sound that can simply be described as natural. While that term may be used a lot in the hobby, Lumen redefines it with linearity that isn’t boring, rather refreshing in a space dominated by flavors of the month that come and go with each new release. The mids are cohesive, with vocals sounding raw in the best way possible. Treble is smooth and has a delicate nature to it, but there’s enough contrast here to separate this from a true neutral tuning and rather set itself apart from what I believe is on the market today. For those looking for an all-rounder that doesn’t lack substance, Lumen becomes a very competitive option within the IEM space.

After 150Hz, Lux is quite similar to its counterpart, Lumen. But before 150Hz, Lux takes on a much heftier bass response that adds much more weight and body to the sound and ups the total coloration of what Lumen presented. To say this is a “basshead” set would be disingenuous in more ways than one, but it certainly captures a level of bass response that should scratch the itch for listeners who crave that natural tone Lumen presents without letting go of that weight and heft you want in your music. While I do think Lux is the Robin to Lumen’s Batman, Lux is a tuning that further bolsters Prisma’s lineup and sets up a great precedent of what Josh has in store for us in his next releases.

BGVP Solomon and Wukong

Solomon has come as a rather intriguing set as BGVP hadn’t been on my radar much until comments on our podcast began flooding in for us to listen and customers began asking for comparisons and impressions. I finally got some time with it, and I am afraid I don’t understand the hype, or possibly even the thesis, behind this IEM. To me, Solomon comes across as a set that bolsters great detail with solid contrast and energy, but there’s nothing this set does that truly captures me. Tonality feels somewhat like an afterthought, all while the detail can grow a bit fatiguing with female vocals that can be peaky and the overall treble being a bit splashy. Still, even then, Solomon presents bass that is textured and present, vocals that have excellent clarity (even if it comes at a cost of sibilance at times), and a generally competent tuning. But where I think I get hung up is the nature of the 1k price range and the competitiveness that this price tag demands. I can’t say Solomon would make my short list of recommendations as quickly as other IEMs would.

But where Solomon may get lost in the crowd, Wukong truly has no problem setting itself apart from the sea of gimmicky faceplates and flagship tunings that may not live up to their price tag. Wukong’s faceplate is a lot, and certainly not my cup of tea, but to deny the craftsmanship and the allure it has would be a mistake. While some IEMs can look well crafted in pictures, Wukong is one of the few IEMs that feels even better in hand. In addition to this, BGVP went with a relatively warm and more subbass emphasized tuning that makes Wukong easy and enjoyable to listen to. Flagship tunings can usually come with colorations that don’t resonate with the mass majority of listeners, or just go too far against the grain in their tuning approach, but Wukong plays it safe and offers good sound in conjunction with its striking visuals. I didn’t expect to like this set as much as I did, and while I am certainly not the demographic this IEM is for, Wukong offered a nice surprise across a vast amount of listening experiences CanJam had to offer.

FiiO M33

“Comparison is the thief of joy” - Theodore Roosevelt. M33 has drawn comparisons incredibly quickly after being announced alongside iBasso DX270 and featuring an R2R DAC chipset as well. Additionally, being half the cost of 270, there is bound to be some onlookers waiting around to see which R2R based DAP is worthy of their purchase. Comparisons aside, M33 offers simplicity with a rather utilitarian approach. The volume adjustment is simple, the portability and footprint are convenient, and the USB C power-in offers an elevated power output rather easily. Sound is mostly laid back from what I could gather, with a clean sonic replay that doesn’t have any obvious colorations within the mix. Now, bringing comparisons back into the picture, DX270 is simply head and shoulders above this DAP (as it should be, being superior in price). Call it coping as I am a DX270 owner myself, but just going off sound alone, DX270 offers a sound profile that I’ve found to be the pinnacle of what iBasso has to offer, and the assurance of being able to service parts in my DAP rather easily (if I can do it, so can you) is a huge plus for me. FiiO M33 purchasers, rest assured you’re getting another great addition to FiiO’s lineup, but for those looking for comparisons, the argument simply isn’t there from my point of view.

Audeze LCD-5s and CRBN2

LCD-5s actually surprised me right off first listen, being more impactful in the bass and relaxed in its presentation than what I was expecting. I would attribute this to Audeze’s new SLAM technology that seems to be making itself into a lot of their newer headphones. To my ears, LCD-5s’s foundational tuning has taken the SLAM technology quite well and opts for a headphone that’s still detailed and resolving while having appropriate tonality adjustments. In the same vein, even with this addition, LCD-5s didn’t spark that same level of excitement I got from other headphone offerings at the show, instead being more of a checklist item I wanted to get impressions on. This came as a surprise to me given that LCD-5 has long been one of my favorite over ears (with EQ) that I’ve listened to. I believe, with time, LCD-5s will grow on me more as initial impressions are relatively positive and the stylistic changes to this headphone are welcomed.

CRBN2, as with a large majority of the electrostatic headphones I’ve listened to, offered impressive resolution. However, and what possibly might be my most decisive take in my audiophile journey and experience, is that no e-stat has proven to be worth the cost it takes to experience. While there are brands knocking down walls to make the price of admission cheaper for e-stats, I have yet to see the true benefits of electrostatic headphones, aside from undeniable resolution retrieval, and most commonly gravitate to more traditional headphones like planars and dynamic drivers. With that said, the treble crispness, engagement of the impactful bass this headphone presents, and lively nature of the mids makes CRBN2 one of my favorite e-stats I’ve heard to date, but that doesn’t mean much given my lack of experience within this corner of the hobby. Still, I await the e-stat that truly moves the needle for me to understand the craze that often surrounds these headphones and systems.

Mysticcraft Tet and Prototype Amplifier

As those close to me know, Mysticcraft had me at first listen when I auditioned Hex and Myth at CanJam SoCal 2025. Lee has been amongst my favorite tuners in the hobby, with his excellent control over the treble regions and his generally tasteful colorations across the spectrum of his lineup has captivated me in a way no other IEMs have. Tet seems as though it’s a culmination of the Mysticcraft lineup and provides the striking resolution of Myth and pairs it with the monstrous bass Hex has to offer into an IEM that is unique in its sound but follows the formula closely that has made me fall in love with Mysticcraft IEMs in the first place. With that said, for the few who are lucky enough to own Myth or Hex, I am not sure Tet deviates enough in its style to truly coincide with those two in a collection, but for those who are ready and able to delve into what the boutique world of IEMs has to offer, Tet is the one to buy out of Lee’s many impressive creations.

I can’t speak much on this amplifier from a specification standpoint other than the fact that this metal box I listened to sports a whopping 20 watts of power in a transportable configuration that is battery operated. Without knowing much about the amp, I do know just how much Tet’s bass response and general dynamics opened up on this amplifier. It was an incredibly captivating experience, and I look forward to my next listen with it already.

Symphonium Zenith

Symphonium has been a brand that has become synonymous with my CanJam impressions videos and written articles as I feel as though I am always racing to get to their booth to check out any new offering they may have. Unfortunately, Zenith has been the first to leave me wanting more after departing from their table. Zenith offered technicalities that are about the baseline for what I’d expect an IEM priced in this market would offer, and the tonality was relatively average, putting Zenith in a position where it doesn’t truly excel - to my ears - in any given portion of the sound signature. Zenith asks for a hefty return from any buyer shopping here, and I truly believe better performance lies within other offerings in their own collection and through the other options available within this price range. Just based on the confidence I have in Symphonium, I imagine this IEM will still resonate with a larger audience, and I am simply just an outlier, but I hope for something that truly captivates me next time the largely successful brand makes a release.

HiFi For All Dahlia 2

As someone who really enjoyed both the present, current offering of HFA’s Dahlia, I believe I was always encapsulated by the potential of what this brand could develop into. Now, just a few days post CanJam NYC, I feel as though the feeling has been bolstered even further. Dahlia 2 already builds on the positive momentum Nick established with Dahlia in the edgier, more risky sound signature that headphone provided, now adding a safety blanket in offering more bass and rolling off the treble a touch, all while still providing great extension in the upper frequencies and impressive separation. Dahlia 2 is hard not to enjoy with its impactful, almost IEM-like bass, but the surrounding elements of impressive vocals, the immersive staging and imaging, and now a look that’s as captivating as ever, I feel as though the payoff of waiting for the San Francisco brand to truly emerge was all worth it, as I believe Dahlia 2 is the true vision of what Nick had for this headphone. I look forward to what he has in store next for us as the sky is truly the limit for what HFA can achieve. 

Head(amame) Pro

Head(amame) gave me my first listen in CanJam Dallas, and I felt as though the vision for the headphone was obvious, but the execution was still slightly missing the mark. Head(amame) Pro previously was mostly congested, at times peaky, and still very early in its journey. Even given these flaws, I knew the team of Morgan and Brian from Capra were going to figure things out, and I think that is becoming more evident as time passes on. Now, in NYC, Head(amame) Pro offers a warm neutral tuning that cleans up that level of congestion but still offers an impressive bass shelf that complements the overall V shaped sound signature rather well. The treble here I still think may be too much for others, but as my tolerance for riskier treble is relatively high, I thought the sharpness there was right on the edge for my liking. There are still some kinks to iron out in this headphone, mostly in the aforementioned treble tuning approach, and the team behind it are still adamant they can make the headphone lighter (to my surprise), so clearly there are still developments happening behind the scenes. With just a few more tweaks and adjustments, I believe Head(amame) Pro will be welcomed to a strong release within the space.

Canpur Silver Flash

Canpur has long been a strong force in the flagship market of IEMs, so it was only a matter of time until we had a more accessible offering enter their lineup. Even with that said, I didn’t think they would start this low at $129. However, I think it makes perfect sense, as I think Canpur’s house sound that I find very colored, rather forward, and more exaggerated fits perfectly in the budget scene of IEMs. Silver Flash is in your face and gives no bones about it. It’s rich, bodied, weighty, and downright fun. The single DD in this feels as though it’s pushed to its absolute limits in what it can do, and with that, bass feels as though it can be flabby and somewhat uncontrolled at times. Even then, the sins of Silver Flash feel like they can be overlooked when it feels as though Canpur didn’t “dumb down” their sound to fit a cheaper model - instead, they offered a great taste of what you can expect with their higher priced offerings. Silver Flash was an incredibly fun listen, and an easy buy in the sub-$150 price range, offering excellent contrast to what is currently offered on the market today.

CrinEar Reference

Reference’s trademarked “SOON” approach is quickly becoming “NOW,” because the idea Crinacle has had for this IEM feels as though it has never been closer. The shell design and look of this IEM, so far, have been the pinnacle of CrinEar’s design language, offering incredible cohesion in the aesthetics department of this IEM. Moving to the sound, I actually feel as though this will draw close comparisons to Prisma’s Lumen, as similarities quickly caught my ear in my listening session, but take that with a grain of salt given I couldn’t conduct a thorough A/B. Aside from that, Reference is thoughtfully balanced, clean, and incredibly smooth in the top end, and certainly going to be a contender for some of the best treble extension an IEM has in the sub-$500 price range. To me, Reference becomes a safe and easy recommendation at the intended $350 price range (subject to change) as an IEM you can build your collection around.

Vortex Reference

I am a simple man, I see Ice Tung’s name next to a product, I listen. Reference is a rather funny name for this IEM, because it’s truly anything but. Vortex - a cable manufacturer by trade - contracted Ice Tung, founder and head tuner of Ice Lab, to craft an IEM to display the differences Vortex found their cables to offer. Ice quickly went to the drawing board and made the world’s first dual MEMS driver IEM, capitalizing on incredibly low distortion, opening the door for Vortex cables to offer added changes to the sound signature. To me, Reference quickly went from an IEM that I wanted to talk about to an IEM that I wanted people to experience. As someone who is rather skeptical about the differences cables can provide, I genuinely had fun going between the few offerings Vortex had to see what differences I could make out within the sound signature. Ironically, the stock cable with Reference provided me the best experience, offering a soundstage that was as tall as it was wide, giving me an IMAX theater like experience, with sound that was as immersive as I’ve experienced in the hobby. Reference by name may lead you to believe it’s more of the same in terms of sound, but instead, the breath of fresh air this IEM breathed into a hobby dominated by similar driver types, tuning target adherent IEMs, and the obsessive pursuit for an IEM to sound “normal” was welcomed, and now quickly becomes an IEM anyone in the flagship market should be pursuing for something different and truly unique.

Conclusion

While the expectation that the company provided at CanJam will always be the highlight of the show, a conclusion I’ve been reflecting on heavily since getting back to the office has been how great offerings in this hobby are becoming. Even with the products that I didn’t fully resonate with, I heard multiple others rave about them and say they were amongst their favorites. The diversity and new experiences this hobby has to offer to be explored is truly exciting, and I am thankful CanJam is the best place to indulge in that.