CanJam is probably the world’s biggest headphone-focused audio event, run by Head-Fi.org, with shows popping up across the US, Asia, and Europe. The first London edition was back in 2015, and after a decade, I finally made it to the event.
What was supposed to be a quick 30-minute train ride to the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge turned into a slog of an hour and a half, capped off with a 25-minute march through torrential rain. But you know what? Every miserable step was worth it. I got to hear some seriously unique gear and rub elbows with a tribe of head-fi fanatics who share my passion.
Despite global tariff headaches threatening to shake things up, nobody backed down. The crowd and excitement were as strong as ever. Here’s a look at just a few headphones that grabbed my attention at the ninth CanJam London.
Latest Releases & Must-Hear Highlights
Audio-Technica ATH-ADX3000
I was immediately pulled to Audio-Technica’s booth, where they had a soundproof listening pod to escape the buzz of the packed audiophile crowd. It was the perfect setup to test their newest open-back, the ATH-ADX3000.
Marketed as the little brother to the flagship ADX5000 ($2,199), the ADX3000 impressed by coming remarkably close to its big sibling’s sonic chops—at a much more reasonable price (£859, $999, €999). The sound had a noticeable midbass punch and a bright, lively treble that made for an engaging, fun listen.
Plus, the ADX3000 was incredibly lightweight, making it comfortable enough to wear for hours without complaint. Honestly, I couldn’t find a flaw with these cans.
Where to buy: $1,099 at Amazon
FiiO FT7
Priced at £699 and $699, the FiiO FT7 stands as the Chinese brand’s most expensive full-size headphones to date. But when you look at the specs and hear the sound, it’s actually a heck of a value.
The tech inside is no joke. Each driver features a massive 106mm planar diaphragm that’s only 1 micron thick, pushed by 18 high-performance N52 neodymium magnets for effortless movement and impressive detail.
Build quality is next-level too, with exotic touches like zebrawood grilles and carbon fiber accents on the cups and headband. Sonically, the FT7 delivers a well-balanced frequency response with excellent dynamics. There’s a slight upper treble boost—think HiFiMAN Arya Organic vibes—which might bother some, but overall it’s a great listen.
Where to buy: $699 at Amazon
RAAL 1995 Immanis
I then wandered over to Elise Audio, a London-based store that practically took over an entire corridor at the show. Running on the Auris Ultima 88 amplifier, the RAAL 1995 Immanis delivered a sublime experience with excellent soundstage width and stunning holographic imaging.
That said, I did notice some subbass roll-off, which, at $7,589 or £6,999 for just the headphones, definitely counts as a downside.
Sendy Audio Egret
SIVGA and Sendy Audio showed off a bunch of new gear at CanJam London, but I naturally zeroed in on the Egret—a soon-to-drop pair of open-back planar magnetics priced at £899 ($899, €899).
With 3-micron diaphragms, these headphones packed a punch—powerful micro and macrodynamics backed by a subtle, tasteful midbass boost. The rest of the sound leaned mid-focused with a smooth treble, though the soundstage felt a bit on the cozy side.
Final DX6000
I somehow managed to forget to snap a photo of the Final DX6000, which is criminal, because they were easily one of my favorite listens at CanJam London. Despite the flagship looks, they were shockingly lightweight—just 363 grams—thanks to a smart aluminium-magnesium build that felt premium and ultra-comfortable.
Sonically, the DX6000 delivered one of the most open and expansive presentations at the show, with a relaxed tuning and a distinctly laid-back treble that made for hours of fatigue-free listening. But don’t be fooled—these are demanding headphones. With a sensitivity of just 83dB/mW and impedance that climbs past 400 ohms, you’ll need a serious amp to make them sing.
Pricing lands at £1,899 or $2,000, which feels justified for what they deliver—assuming your gear is up to the task.
ABYSS JOAL
ABYSS headphones aren’t exactly easy to find in the UK, so I jumped at the chance to demo their latest release, the JOAL—short for “Jack Of All Listening.” True to the name, ABYSS claims these are tuned to handle everything from music to movies and gaming with equal finesse. Coming off the Final DX6000, I appreciated how much easier the JOAL were to drive, with a very reasonable 30 Ohm impedance and 93.5dB/mW sensitivity.
The first thing that stood out was the laser-focused imaging—pinpoint accurate and immersive. However, the tuning leaned a little too hot in the upper mids for my taste, which made some tracks feel a bit shouty. Comfort-wise, no complaints at all. And let’s talk about that cable—there’s been a lot of online chatter trashing it, but in person it’s gorgeous and ridiculously supple. Easily one of the nicest stock cables I’ve ever handled.
At £1,750 / $1,895 / €1,995, the JOAL sits in a very competitive segment, but ABYSS seems to have crafted something that stands apart—especially if you value imaging, comfort, and versatile usability.
Where to buy: $1,895 at Abyss Headphones
4 New Headphones from HiFiMAN
HiFiMAN made a surprise splash at CanJam London 2025 with not one, not two, but four new headphone releases—each sporting a redesigned headband and comfort strap. Gone is the old-school thick padding found on their budget models; the new system feels a lot more refined and comfortable. The adjustment mechanism is smoother, too, which is a welcome upgrade for longtime HiFiMAN users.
First up, the Ananda Unveiled ($549, center-right) and Edition XV ($399, center-left) stood out as real contenders. A/B-ing them quickly, I found their tuning quite similar—balanced, clean, and notably smoother in the treble than past models. HiFiMAN seems to have learned something from the Arya Unveiled, because that upper-end harshness is blessedly dialed back here. The Ananda Unveiled may win on technical chops, but both impressed during short listens.
The HE-600 ($799, left) was a bit more divisive—solid, but less engaging compared to the other two. And then there was the Audivina LE ($399, right), which felt like a rare miss. The tuning was all over the place—like listening to your favorite album from the bottom of a swimming pool. Let’s just say it didn’t make my wishlist.
Overall, a bold showing from HiFiMAN with some genuine hits, a few surprises, and a reminder that even one of the biggest names in planar magnetics still likes to experiment… for better or worse.
Audeze LCD-S20
The Audeze LCD-S20 was a timely reminder that closed-back headphones don’t have to sound like you’re listening through a fishbowl. In fact, it was one of the most open-sounding closed-backs I heard at the show—thanks in large part to Audeze’s new SLAM technology.
SLAM stands for Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator, and it’s designed to tackle two classic closed-back problems: subpar bass response and that boxy, claustrophobic reverb. By using pressure equalization to smooth things out, it manages to give the LCD-S20 an impressively airy and clean presentation—especially in the low end, which had tight control without any bloat.
Audeze confirmed that SLAM will be implemented across all future models, and after hearing it in action here, that’s great news. The LCD-S20 shows that with the right engineering, closed-back planar magnetics can absolutely hold their own in open-back territory—without sacrificing isolation or impact.
Where to buy: $499 at Crutchfield | Audeze
Palma Audio DHS-1
The DHS-1 was easily one of the most unusual and clever headphone designs at CanJam London 2025. It’s essentially two headphones in one—an open-back and a closed-back—thanks to its rotating “shutter discs” that open or close the acoustic chamber with a simple 14-degree twist.
What really stood out? The frequency response didn’t change between the two modes. That’s a rare feat. Even in closed-back mode, the DHS-1 preserved an impressive level of openness and spatial presentation—better than some so-called open-backs I’ve heard.
That said, at €2,195, it’s not cheap. It’s beautifully built and clearly a premium product, but a couple of design quirks held it back for me. The earcups don’t swivel, which affects comfort, and the closed-back mode doesn’t isolate as well as you might hope. Still, it’s a fascinating concept, and one that actually works.
Where to buy: €2,195 at Palma Audio
ZMF ORI 3.0
ZMF is back at it with the upcoming ORI 3.0, a brand-new planar magnetic headphone set to launch on August 29th at $1,900—with the price jumping to $2,000 after September 15th. As always with ZMF, you’re getting handcrafted wood cups, beautiful aesthetics, and a distinctive tuning philosophy.
One standout feature is the inclusion of bass plugs, which let you customize the low-end response to your liking. I demoed them with the vented plugs, and the sound was wonderfully dynamic and engaging, with ZMF’s signature holographic staging in full effect.
With 60 Ohm impedance and a sensitivity of 95dB/mW, the ORI 3.0 is relatively easy to drive, making it a versatile option whether you’re running a desktop setup or something a little more portable. Another hit from the ZMF workshop is on the way.
Moondrop Horizon
Priced at just $200, the Moondrop Horizon lands squarely in the budget-friendly category. It ticks some important boxes out of the gate—lightweight, comfortable, and stylish enough to stand out in the crowded sub-$300 headphone space.
But when it came to sound, things got a little dicey. The treble tuning was both recessed and oddly peaky, which made for a fatiguing listen. That’s especially disappointing considering how solid the Moondrop Cosmo ($999) was—a headphone I also heard at the Elise Audio booth and genuinely enjoyed.
In short, the Horizon looks promising on paper but doesn’t quite stick the landing sonically—at least not in its current tuning.
Where to buy: $199 at Amazon
Best in Show – CanJam London 2025
MIRPH Designs VITRUM – Best Prototype
MIRPH Designs is the one-man operation of Homero Graco, who personally designs, assembles, and hand-finishes each headphone himself—something you don’t hear every day in a world of mass production. Following the success of the MIRPH-1, Graco has taken things up a notch with the Vitrum, which will retail for around $1,500.
The unit I demoed at CanJam London 2025 was still a prototype, but a number of build upgrades are already planned before launch—most notably a switch from plastic to a full-aluminium chassis and the addition of a suspension headband for better long-term comfort.
As for the sound? According to Homero, that part is locked in—and I’m glad to hear it. With the thicker pads, the Vitrum delivered an immediately engaging listen: a tasteful bass lift under 70Hz, balanced by a smooth and articulate response across the rest of the spectrum. If this is what the final version sounds like, MIRPH may have another hit on their hands.
Viking Weave Draupnir – Best Innovation
Known for their stunning, often artisan-level cables, Viking Weave decided to step into uncharted territory with the Draupnir—a headphone that looks more like a piece of medieval weaponry than a piece of audio gear. But don’t let the aggressive aesthetics fool you—this thing has some very clever engineering under the hood.
The Draupnir houses dual 50mm glass dynamic drivers, a unique move that gives it an immediate sense of space and punch. But the real party trick is the bass boost switch, which engages a circuit of capacitors and resistors to elevate the midbass without muddying the rest of the spectrum.
The end result? A seriously fun, immersive listen. Wide soundstage, laser-focused imaging, and with the boost toggled on, a bassline that slaps like Thor’s hammer. No final word yet on pricing or release date, but Draupnir definitely left an impression at CanJam London 2025—whether you’re into Norse mythology or just deep, clean low-end.
Meze Audio 105 Silva – Best Value
After my less-than-glowing take on the Meze POET, I wasn’t exactly foaming at the mouth to try the Romanian brand’s latest offering—the 105 Silva. But credit where it’s due: Meze has once again knocked it out of the park with comfort and build quality, and this time, sound might be catching up to the rest of the package.
At £469 / $499 / €499, the 105 Silva looks and feels like it belongs in a much higher price tier. Meze’s signature industrial design is here in full force, and from a physical standpoint, they continue to run laps around competitors charging double or more.
But the surprise? The tuning. First impressions delivered subbass extension that’s genuinely impressive for a dynamic driver under $500. Add a subtle but punchy midbass lift, and you’ve got tactility and impact that makes this headphone a lot of fun—without veering into sloppy territory.
Worth noting: Editor-in-Chief Ian White currently has a review unit in-hand, and his initial impressions match mine—and then some. As our resident Meze authority, he’s confident the 105 Silva could become one of the brand’s most successful models yet. Expect his full review within 7–10 days.
Where to buy: $499 at Crutchfield | Headphones.com | Meze Audio
The Bottom Line
I left CanJam London 2025 grinning ear to ear, convinced that the head-fi scene is thriving like never before. The community is expanding, fresh innovations keep rolling in, and headphones just keep getting better year after year. Honestly, it feels like the hobby is alive and kicking strong.
This is just the tip of the iceberg—expect more in-depth coverage from CanJam London 2025 coming soon, including my listening impressions of dongle DACs, DAPs, desktop DAC/amps, and plenty more. After experiencing this year’s show, I’m already counting down the days to CanJam London 2026.