CanJam London and the Rise of Choice in Premium DAPs
The main topic of this article is how CanJam London 2026 highlighted a new generation of hi-res digital audio players, DACs, and headphone amplifiers that give audiophiles meaningful architectural choices—especially between AKM delta-sigma and R2R DAC designs—rather than superficial cosmetic updates. This year’s event at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge ran on July 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and July 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., drawing more brands and attendees than the previous year. What matters is not that CanJam London 2026 was bigger; it was smarter. Exhibitors moved past “more chips, more knobs” thinking and leaned into clear sonic identities. Premium digital audio players that once played second fiddle to phones and streamers now argue that a dedicated device with advanced DAC implementation and native hi-res support is the better way to listen. The mood on the show floor made one thing obvious: if your idea of portable listening is still a phone into a dongle, you are missing where personal audio is going.
FiiO M25 vs. M25 R2R: Two Architectures, One Ambitious Platform
FiiO stole the narrative by doing what most high-end DAP makers refuse to do: let buyers pick their DAC architecture without forcing a different product line. The forthcoming FiiO M25 and FiiO M25 R2R DAP share the same upper-tier platform but diverge where it matters most. The standard M25 uses AKM’s flagship separated-DAC arrangement built around an AK4191 digital filter and twin AK4499EX converters, keeping digital processing and conversion stages distinct. The M25 R2R replaces those chips with FiiO’s second-generation R2R PRO resistor-ladder DAC, a design that reconstructs the analog waveform via a tightly matched network of resistors instead of a delta-sigma modulator. Japanese show coverage lists a tentative global price of approximately USD 1,000 (approx. RM4,600) before tax for the M25 series, placing them in serious-enthusiast territory. Both models run on the faster QCS6490 platform and add a more flexible 31‑band parametric EQ system alongside that R2R PRO option in the ladder-based version. On paper, FiiO is no longer selling a finish or anniversary badge; it is selling taste.
Of course, there is a catch. Both players remain unreleased, with no final specifications, confirmed regional pricing, or shipping date, so listeners are judging prototypes rather than finished products. Output power figures are also quoted without full context; the company has not yet disclosed the connection, impedance load, gain setting, or distortion threshold for its headline numbers, which makes direct comparisons to existing players premature. Still, the concept is the real story. In a market crowded with premium DAPs from Astell&Kern, HiBy, iBasso, Shanling and FiiO’s own M27, where faster processors and big DAC counts are merely the entry ticket, offering a clear R2R DAC architecture alternative within the same chassis is the kind of choice audiophiles have been asking for but rarely getting.
R2R Everywhere: FiiO R7 R2R and Desktop Contenders
R2R used to be a niche obsession; at CanJam London 2026 it felt like the new mainstream ambition. The FiiO R7 R2R is a perfect example: an all‑in‑one desktop streamer, DAC, preamp and headphone amplifier that keeps the original R7’s Android interface, vertical touchscreen and wide connectivity—Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay, Roon Ready, plus balanced 4.4 mm and four‑pin XLR outputs and a 6.35 mm jack—but swaps its ESS ES9068AS delta-sigma DAC for an R2R resistor-ladder stage. According to the show impressions, that single architectural decision brought “greater bass impact, more warmth and a fuller overall presentation” compared to the standard version. The R7 R2R is expected to cost about USD 700 (approx. RM3,220), in line with the original, and a provisional Chinese price of around 3,000 RMB (approx. USD 450 / RM2,070) was quoted for related developments, although taxes and distribution will change local figures. That matters because hi-res digital audio players and desktop DACs at this level are no longer toys; they are credible alternatives to multi-box stacks for serious listening.
Competition on the desktop spans from budget-conscious to heavyweight. Fosi Audio’s ZH1 DAC and headphone amplifier sticks to a roughly £130 price point, using dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 chips and a custom amp circuit inside a compact hexagonal chassis. Its oversized, color-lit volume knob may divide purists, but it will appeal to gamers and younger listeners who want both more than one watt of output power and some personality in their setup. At the other extreme sits Aune’s A17, a near‑absurd 18 kg amplifier that delivers almost 12 watts from its balanced output and exerts tight control across the audible band, yet costs upwards of USD 2,399 (approx. RM11,015) and wears a design that many will find plain or even cheap-looking. Between these, the clear theme is that desktop gear now competes on character, not just raw numbers.
Portable Headphone Amplifiers and DAPs Across Price Tiers
Portable headphone amplifiers and hi-res digital audio players had a distinct energy at CanJam London 2026 because they are no longer a compromise; they are a preference. The Audma Brioso PHPA1 took a Best Portable DAC/Amp nod, even as the only portable system of its type heard by the reviewer, reminding listeners that a well‑voiced portable stack can be more satisfying than a spec‑chasing brick. Back on the FiiO booth, the unreleased CLASS A headphone amplifier showed how far a pure Class A, fully discrete design can go when tuned for control rather than headline wattage. Despite delivering “one watt per channel” on paper, its internal 60‑watt toroidal transformer, discrete regulated power supply and five selectable gain levels allowed it to drive headphones with far more authority than the numbers suggest. Outputs spanning 3.5 mm, balanced 4.4 mm and four‑pin XLR, plus both RCA and balanced inputs, make it usable in almost any chain. For pure headphone listeners, this sort of compact but serious amplifier is often a better investment than sprawling integrated units; as one opinion at the show expressed, the smaller Burson Conductor Stellar is preferable to the larger Voyager unless you absolutely need extra I/O. The lesson is simple: good portable and compact gear now earns respect on its own terms.
Why These DAPs and DACs Matter for Audiophiles
CanJam London 2026 was less about gadget tourism and more about signaling a shift in how serious listeners choose their electronics. Premium hi-res digital audio players are starting to challenge the convenience of phones and laptop streamers by offering clear sonic philosophies: AKM’s separated-DAC precision in the FiiO M25 or the organic, weighty feel of R2R DAC architecture in the M25 R2R and R7 R2R. Buyers spending near USD 1,000 (approx. RM4,600) on a DAP are no longer impressed by another aluminum chassis, oversized volume wheel, or DAC-chip arms race; they want gear that sounds different, not just more expensive. Desktop units like the Fosi ZH1 or Aune A17 and portable headphone amplifiers such as the Audma Brioso PHPA1 and FiiO CLASS A prove that every price tier now includes credible, characterful options. For audiophiles, the takeaway is clear: stop chasing spec sheets and start listening for architectures and implementations that match your taste. The best products at CanJam London made it easy by giving you that choice upfront.
