Canor Gaia C2: first test of the DAC with CD player – and straight into the reference class

Canor Gaia C2: first test of the DAC with CD player – and straight into the reference class
The first review of the brand-new high-end CD player Canor Gaia C2 will be published in January 2026 on lite-magazin.de. The editors praise the device’s naturalness and musicality, placing it straight into the reference class:

“Daft Punk’s Discovery spins above the laser, and the Gaia C2 immediately creates a large soundstage, impressively high in the room and fully utilised. The DAC then surprises with an unexpectedly nuanced rendering of the bass range. It’s not about sheer power here, but rather micro-dynamics. At the same time, the bassline has a nice physical presence, is well defined, but stands out especially through its smooth flow. With Aerodynamic, the bass drops deep into the frequency basement, delivering more power while still maintaining that relaxed beat flow. In the mids and highs, the fine resolution of the transport and DAC becomes apparent. […]

The DAC’s beautiful sense of space is also based on a very dark background, against which the music gains a wonderful three-dimensionality. Everything feels cleanly defined and differentiated. The sound has power, dynamics, and always remains controlled. Even with electronic music, the naturalness of the device becomes evident in CD playback. The Gaia C2 conveys a certain calmness, feeling silky and analog, without letting its relatively neutral tonality drift into warmth. Musical flow is prioritised over hard-hitting attack. Yet the CD-DAC still packs plenty of punch.

After the CD, the Gaia C2 switches to the USB input and a connected streamer. The DAC’s sonic character again delivers impressive depth and spatiality. The piano emerges with full-bodied presence, complemented by punchy drums and crisp cymbals, dynamically placed in the soundstage. The bass drum in particular feels tight and powerful. […]

The sound of the Canor – especially with the ‘Dynamic’ filter activated – is far from limited to gentle jazz or orchestral classical music. The DAC renders …Like Clockwork by Queens of the Stone Age with hefty, rich bass strings, laced with great detail. And with Ariel Pocock’s HiRes cover of Someone like you, the DAC brings forth a delicate voice, combining it with gently plucked guitars and a vivid piano, in a dreamy, relaxed demonstration of its audiophile qualities.