The weird and wonderful headphones of CanJam 2026

<figure> <img alt="The CanJam SoCal 2026 show floor." data-caption="A collection of headphone manufacturers and fans come together for their love of great sound. | Image: CanJam Global" data-portal-copyright="Image: CanJam Global" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/canjam-socal-2026-show-floor.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> A collection of headphone manufacturers and fans come together for their love of great sound. | Image: CanJam Global </figcaption> </figure> <p class="has-drop-cap wp-block-paragraph">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.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">CanJam is a small audio show produced by <a href="http://head-fi.org">Head-Fi.org</a>, the largest audio-fo …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/990706/a-day-at-canjam-socal-2026">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>