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Creative Bloq
Creative Bloq
Technology
Beren Neale

After hearing $5,000 and $100 headphones there's a levelling factor that no one is talking about

Various IEMs and headphones at CanJam London 2026. .

I've been happily burrowing down the audiophile rabbit hole for the last year or so, and this past weekend marked my very first CanJam – the top personal audio trade show that brings everything from ultra-budget bangers to unattainable $5,200 flagships straight to the public.

And though it was a blast to finally tear my ears to shreds with all the exotic stuff I'd previously only read (dreamt?) about, the weekend also delivered a few disruptive realisations – some truths that will undoubtedly shape how I think about my headphone and IEM reviews moving forward.

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