The Marriott Marquis in NYC’s Times Square once again played host to the audiophile community and to the purveyors of premier audio technology for the CanJam New York headphone show, which ran March 7th and 8th. This annually held high-profile exhibition, produced by Head-Fi.org, drew more than 100 exhibitors and attracted enthusiastic browsers to Midtown Manhattan to experience, as described in the show’s program, “some of the world’s best headphone and personal audio technology in one place.” Here’s a sampling of some of what was on view:
The Technics EAH-AZ100 True Wireless Earbuds, premium reference-class Hi-Fi true wireless earbuds with Dolby Atmos ($299.99), were spotlighted at the booth in a champagne gold finish. Positioned as Technics’ flagship earbud model, the AZ100 features a newly developed magnetic fluid driver designed to reduce distortion while delivering accurate bass and high-resolution audio performance.
The earbuds incorporate full adaptive hybrid active noise cancelling that automatically adjusts in real time to changing environments, while spatial audio optimized for Dolby Atmos with head tracking provides a more immersive listening experience. Battery life is rated at up to 10 hours with ANC enabled (up to 28 hours with the charging case), and the earbuds support Bluetooth 5.3 with LDAC high-resolution streaming. Additional highlights include three-device multipoint connectivity for seamless switching between devices, along with enhanced JustMyVoice and Voice Focus AI technologies designed to improve call clarity by reducing background noise during conversations.
Forté Distribution’s Roger Fortier posed with the Eversolo T8 Streaming Transport ($1,400), a high-end digital streaming transport designed to serve as a flagship source component for audiophile systems. The unit combines advanced clocking technology with a super-silent linear power supply and ultra-high-precision femtosecond clock to reduce jitter and deliver accurate digital signal timing. A professional isolation design separates the unit’s digital outputs — including USB, IIS, AES/EBU, coaxial, and optical — to minimize interference and preserve signal integrity.
The T8 supports high-resolution playback up to DSD512 and PCM 768kHz/32-bit and offers extensive connectivity, including Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and an SFP fiber port for electrically isolated network transmission. Storage options include dual SSD slots supporting up to 16TB of internal music storage, while a 6-inch touchscreen and companion control app provide intuitive navigation across both local libraries and integrated streaming services such as TIDAL and Qobuz.
T+A’s booth featured the T+A Solitaire T Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones ($2,140, cognac finish), a high-end travel-oriented model designed to blend audiophile-grade sound with everyday versatility. The over-ear, closed-back headphones use a newly developed dynamic driver system capable of reproducing subtle sonic nuances in both passive and active listening modes.
Hybrid active noise cancelling, combined with effective passive isolation, suppresses ambient noise, while the lightweight, pearl-blasted aluminum construction and anti-allergenic synthetic-leather ear pads ensure comfort and durability for extended use. Battery life is rated at 70 hours, and the headphones support USB-C and high-quality Bluetooth streaming with aptX, aptX HD, and AAC codecs. A foldable design and included travel case make the Solitaire T a highly portable companion for audiophiles on the go, all while retaining the refined design language of T+A’s flagship Solitaire series.
At the Austrian Audio outpost, Roy Feldstein showcased Austrian Audio The Arranger Open-Back Reference Headphones ($1,399), a high-end, open-back over-ear headphone designed for both audiophiles and professional engineers. The Arranger features a 44 mm high-excursion driver with a DLC-coated diaphragm and the company’s proprietary ring-magnet architecture, delivering precise transients, ultra-low distortion, and clean bass extension down to 5 Hz. Its open-back design creates a wide, natural soundstage with excellent depth and spatial resolution, making instruments feel accurately placed in space.
Built for comfort and durability, the foldable metal frame and suede-touch ear pads allow for extended listening sessions while ensuring portability. A detachable 3 m cable with a 3.5 mm TRS connector is included, with optional support for balanced Pentaconn or 5-pin XLR connections, and the low-impedance design allows the headphones to perform well even with mobile devices. Fully serviceable and crafted in Europe from premium materials, The Arranger combines reference-quality sound with long-term reliability.
Audio-Technica held court at its booth with the Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 Open-Air Dynamic Headphones ($3,499), the company’s flagship open-back headphone designed for reference-level listening. The model features Audio-Technica’s new HXDT driver technology, which uses a precision molding process to create a 58 mm diaphragm with exceptional roundness for improved accuracy and detail. The integrated driver assembly — including the magnet, voice coil, and baffle plate — is precisely aligned to improve energy transfer and reduce distortion, helping deliver a natural, spacious soundstage with detailed mids and refined high frequencies.
The open-air design incorporates aluminum honeycomb-punched housings and proprietary Core Mount Technology to optimize airflow and minimize resonance, while a lightweight magnesium frame helps dampen vibration for greater sonic purity. The ATH-ADX7000 also includes two sets of interchangeable earpads — high-density velvet and Alcantara — allowing listeners to tailor comfort and tonal balance, along with both balanced and unbalanced detachable cables for high-end audio system compatibility.
See also: Klipsch At CES 2026: From Iconic Powered Speakers To The Future Of Audio
