23. February 2026

Canor Gaia C2: “Highlight” in the test by i-fidelity.net

In February 2026, the online magazine i-fidelity.net will publish a review of the High End D/A converter with integrated drive, the Canor Gaia C2. The result: outstanding and very good ratings, as well as the very rarely awarded distinction “Highlight”:

“I conducted my first listening sessions using the integrated CD drive. What immediately stands out is the bass. It reaches deep, is cleanly structured, and has an effortlessness that quickly becomes enjoyable without seeming artificial. It remains controlled at all times and never sounds bloated. Voices are positioned calmly within the space, very natural, without artificial presence or emphasized contours. The soundstage unfolds wide and stable, as one knows from well-designed tube output stages, with clearly defined layers extending to the rear.

The openness of the sound image is striking. Despite its warm basic tuning, the Gaia does not sound closed-in or veiled, but surprisingly transparent. Details emerge quite naturally, without being highlighted. Nothing is showcased, nothing is swallowed. Overall, the sound image appears warm, cohesive, and lively, yet at the same time airy and open, without slipping into softness or vagueness. By default, the digital filter is set to ‘Natural’. If desired, it can be switched to ‘Dynamic’, which gives the sound a bit more drive and immediacy.

[…]

Among other things, I listened to Supertramp with ‘A Soapbox Opera’ from the album ‘Crisis? What Crisis?’. […] Here, the Gaia demonstrates how naturally it handles space. The music does not simply sit between the speakers but gradually expands backward. The space audibly opens up with the introduction of the orchestral elements, without the stage feeling artificially widened. Strings and brass integrate organically; nothing pushes forward, nothing falls out of the overall picture. The Gaia allows this build-up to unfold at its own pace; it does not rush anything. The bass calmly supports the foundation, deep and stable, more as a supporting plane than as an effect. It is always present, but never dominant—rather the element that holds everything together.

Peter Gabriel with ‘Down to Earth’ presents different demands. His voice stands very clearly at the center and thrives on subtle nuances. The Gaia reproduces this distinctive vocal timbre cleanly, without making it larger than life. Very quiet passages alternate with significantly more dynamic moments, sometimes abruptly. The Gaia remains completely composed here. Even when the arrangement becomes denser, it does not lose its overview. The voice retains its contour, even when a lot is happening in the background. […]

Finally, something bass-heavy was in order. From the soundtrack to ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ by Alexandre Desplat, ‘Canto At Gabelmeister’s Peak’. The track builds up slowly, layer by layer. The tension arises less from sudden accents and more from steady escalation.

For this to work, the bass must operate absolutely cleanly; otherwise, the whole presentation quickly falls apart. This is precisely where the Gaia feels most at home. The bass comes across dry, pitch-black, and highly precise. […] Here, the DAC clearly demonstrates how well it can combine structure and depth without disturbing the musical flow. Especially in the low-frequency range, it becomes clear how consistently the Gaia performs. The bass never sounds like an effect or something that demands attention. It is simply there—stable, dry, and very controlled. This creates the sense of calm in the sound image that makes it possible for space and dynamics to unfold cleanly. Nothing appears bloated, nothing artificially added. The bass holds everything together and ensures that even as density increases, everything remains comprehensible.

Test Result
The Canor Gaia C2 is not a device for the impatient. It requires time—both to warm up and to get acquainted with it. Large, heavy, and more relaxed than hectic in operation, it deliberately relies on composure rather than showmanship. The integrated drive is functionally well implemented but is not the focal point of the concept.

As a DAC, however, the Gaia C2 reveals its true strength: enormous versatility combined with a remarkably balanced sonic signature. The bass is structured and present, voices sound believable and tangible, and the stage is stable, wide, and open. Minor quirks are not absent—but they are less weaknesses than expressions of a distinctive character. Those who embrace it gain a relaxed, long-term-capable, and superbly musical partner.

Sound quality: outstanding
Features: very good
Workmanship: very good

 

Read the full review in German Find a retailer