At CES 2026, Amsterdam-based audio company Breggz used the industry’s largest consumer electronics stage to announce a certification milestone rather than a feature list. The company says its Zohn-1 wireless in-ear headphones are the first of their kind to receive IMAX Enhanced certification, marking the program’s expansion into true wireless earbuds and signaling a broader push to bring cinema-grade audio standards into personal listening devices.
IMAX Enhanced certification is designed to ensure that hardware meets defined performance thresholds for sound quality and fidelity, with the goal of preserving the creative intent of filmmakers and musicians across home and mobile devices. Until now, that ecosystem has largely focused on televisions, AV receivers, soundbars, and larger speaker systems. By adding wireless in-ear headphones to that lineup, IMAX and its partners are acknowledging how much premium content is now consumed through earbuds rather than traditional home theater setups.
The Breggz Zohn-1 enters this space positioned as a high-end wireless in-ear option built around four core design priorities: anatomical fit, balanced acoustic drivers, onboard microprocessing, and user personalization. Instead of emphasizing raw volume or exaggerated bass, the company frames the product around accuracy and adaptability, aiming to reproduce sound as it was mixed rather than reshaping it for mass appeal. This approach aligns with IMAX Enhanced’s broader focus on consistency and clarity across devices.
Breggz founder Xander de Buisonjé, a professional musician, has repeatedly pointed to dissatisfaction with typical in-ear audio as a motivating factor behind the product. His criticism reflects a common industry tension: while production tools and studio playback systems have advanced significantly, everyday consumer headphones often lag behind in faithfully reproducing that work. The Zohn-1 is positioned as a response to that gap, though its real-world impact will ultimately depend on how the earbuds perform outside controlled certification tests.
From IMAX’s perspective, extending Enhanced certification to wireless earbuds reflects changing viewing habits. More users now watch premium films and series on phones, tablets, and laptops, often with headphones as their primary audio device. Supporting that reality without fully abandoning theatrical standards is central to the IMAX Enhanced strategy.
While the announcement leans heavily on certification credentials, it also highlights a broader shift in the audio market. As streaming platforms invest more in high-quality audio formats, pressure is increasing on headphone manufacturers to keep pace. Whether the Zohn-1 sets a lasting benchmark or remains a niche product will depend on pricing, comfort, and how well it integrates into everyday use beyond IMAX-branded content.
