An audiophile’s dream - the most expensive headphones in the world
Sound technology has come a long way since its nascent beginnings a few decades ago. Today, it is highly sophisticated and can pack a punch even within a small device such as headphones. Along with world-class audio reproduction, the design, noise isolation and other features have made headphones a much sought-after device by music lovers who use it for both their personal and professional needs.
Due to this ubiquitous use of headphones, they come in a range of prices that meet the needs of different users. Starting from a few dollars, it even cost up to thousands of dollars to buy headphones. The choice of a headphone depends to a large extent on users’ preferences and what they expect from a headphone. If they want to listen to basic music, then a headphone that costs a few dollars would suffice. On the other hand, if they want a great sounding headphone that shows every detail, then it will cost more. In general, the cost of a headphone goes up when it has more features in it, though this rule has some exceptions too. Some expensive headphones may not sound as good as lower priced ones. However, these instances are exceptions rather than the rule, so users should have a higher budget if they want a great sounding headphone.
Below are some headphone models that are currently considered the most expensive in the world. Though their price tag may seem ridiculous to some users, it surely is value for money because of the features and comfort that come with these headphones.
Ultrasone ED10 LTD Edition 10 Limited S-Logic Plus Surround Sound Professional Open-Back Headphones
One of the most expensive headphones available in the market today is Ultrasone ED10 LTD Edition 10 Limited S-Logic Plus Surround Sound Professional Open-Back Headphones. On first look, these headphones are impressive, and the fact that it is limited editions adds an extra charm to it.
In terms of design and comfort, the Ultrasone ED10 LTD Edition 10 Limited S-Logic Plus Surround Sound Professional Open-Back Headphones are a winner. The leather pads are made of Ethiopian sheepskin that give a plush look, and at the same time, it is also extremely comfortable on the ears. These leather pads are not sweaty like a few models, and they make it a sheer pleasure to listen to music for long hours. Despite using such soft paddings, these headphones feel super light on the head.
The headbands looks stylish too as it made of original Ruthenium that looks metallic, but is actually plastic covered in faux metal. The good part is this material makes the headphones feel light, unlike some earlier models of Ultrasone that sat like a rock on the head because of the use of real metal. Moreover, their headband comes with a good fit that sits on the head without tightening the scalp. Though this design could have worked on smaller ear pads in tis past models, it does not go well with the open and large-sized ear pads of Ultrasone ED10. It also does not feel comfortable because it creates pressure on an area that is slightly above the ears, and this pressure feels uncomfortable after sometime.
The performance is good too with the right tonal balance. These headphones reproduce sounds clearly in terms of notes and clarity. Also, there is no sound grain that is typical in most headphone models today. Such a lack of grain enhances the quality of music in a big way, and takes clarity to new levels. As for midrange, the notes are pleasant and even sweet to hear. Surprisingly, the midrange does not feel recessed and the transition between treble to midrange to bass is smooth and consistent.
The bass comes with a good punch, though it could have been better. However, the detail is perfect and simply the best because its drivers can isolate the bass from other instruments so that it feels like a bass subwoofer that is without the phase delays. Lower notes of bass is good too, making these headphones a treat for bass lovers. It also provides amazing music for other genres such as electronica as well.
One of the very few downsides of this headphone is its treble. The makers used the clarity of these headphones to boost the treble level of these headphones, , and as a result, it sounds too loud and intense. Tracks that come with high treble levels do not sound too great because of this flaw, and this aspect can be annoying to users. The heavy sibilance that comes due to mismatched treble is heard on amplifiers too, and this can be a big disadvantage for Ultrasone ED10 LTD Edition 10 Limited S-Logic Plus Surround Sound Professional Open-Back Headphones.
In short, these headphones come with a cool design that is sturdy and elegant, and an amazing sound that justifies its high price tag. Its bass is top class, though treble could have been better.
Grado PS1000 Professional Series Stereo Headphone
The design is fairly standard for such an expensive headphone as it comes with no unique design or materials that users have come to expect from such high-end headphones. The headband is straight and even a little thin-looking, and they are connected to two steel rods on either side. These steel rods are the ones that hold the ear cups, making one wonder about the sturdiness factor in these headphones. The ear pieces are huge and sit on the ears. The foam padding makes it feel comfortable, but again there is nothing extra special that will justify its high price. However, the advantage with these foam padding is that they are so deep that there is no actual contact between the ears and the ear piece. Hence, users no longer have to worry about their ears getting squished when the headphones are used for long periods of time.
Though the design looks elegant, it is also very heavy. This weight is because the back of the ear cups are made of solid metal. As a result of this heavy weight, these headphones fall off when users turn their heads too fast. Moreover, the ear cups are held in place by two metal rods that are so thin that they look like antennas. As a result, there is always a tendency for these headphones to slip or sag when a user moves around a lot. In this sense, these headphones are not meant for any mobility whatsoever.
Another reason to stay in place while listening to these headphones is its open back design that tends to leak a lot of sound. This can be quite a problem for the person sitting next to the user because at high volumes, it can definitely be intrusive for them. Furthermore, the design will almost double the width of one’s head, and this is another reason for users to wear it in the confines of their home or studio.
Besides these disadvantages, another problem with these headphones is that it comes with no extra accessories such as detachable cables, remote controls or bluetooth capability, which can be disappointing for some users who are looking to get something extra for their money. Furthermore, the existing cabling can be hard to replace because it is not a simply plug and play operation.
Despite these drawbacks with design, the Grado PS1000 Professional Series Stereo Headphones sound fantastic. The open back design of these headphones give an open and airy sound. Its volume levels are surprisingly high, and these high volumes ensure that the low-end notes are super audible and clear.
The bass is another salient aspect of these headphones. With a frequency range of 5 to 50,000 Hz, they offer one of the deepest bass sounds among headphone models available in the market today. The good news is that such a high bass presence does not impede other frequency bands as the midrange notes are pleasant and soothing to the ears. The high notes are crisp and the treble is perfect. Overall, it present a nice balance between different notes, making it ideal for any kind of musical genre. Classical music sound lush, beautiful and refined while electronica tracks can make users jump with joy. It has a concert-level acoustics and an amazing sound reproduction that is hard to find.
In short, Grado PS1000 Professional Series Stereo Headphones has an out of the world sound quality and a mediocre design, making it a tough sell. Also the fact that they come with a huge price tag, makes it a difficult choice for many users. The verdict – if a user has a big budget and does not mind the design, then the Grado PS1000 Professional Series Stereo Headphones are a good choice as they are pure listening tools that deliver amazing music.
Sennheiser HD 800 Over-Ear Circum-Aural Dynamic Headphones
The striking design of these headphones set them apart from other models of the same company. The ear cups are large and with reason too because the drivers could now be placed farther away than the previous smaller models. Also, the transducers in ear cups are shaped like a doughnut - a design patented by Sennheiser. This doughnut shape is one of the largest in the industry, measuring at 56 mm across. Due to this unique design, there is less noise distortion when compared to conventional drivers that are the norm in most headphone models.
Besides functionality, these ear cups look luxurious and comfortable with their metal, plastic and padding. They are comfortable to wear and do not put excess pressure on the ears. Weighing at just about 330 grams, these headphones are fairly lightweight, so it is stable and does not fall off easily.
The cable is shaped like the letter ‘Y’ and is about ten feet long. There is one cord for each ear cup, and these wires are made of copper encased in silver-plated coating. To give an additional layer of durability, it is encased in Kevlar. The cable can be detached when needed, thereby making it easy to carry. These headphones also come in a beautiful case, and Sennheiser claims that each of these headphones are assembled by hand and tested extensively in Germany.
In terms of performance too, the Sennheiser HD 800 Over-Ear Circum-Aural Dynamic Headphones is good. The noise isolation feature is amazing as it can keep noise at bay even in a crowded small room. It comes with a nice sonic balance that is typical of such high-end headphones. Also, these headphones sound more like speakers than headphones because its sound comes from the front instead of the sides. As a result, the volume is ample and there is a good amount of depth that resonates well with each tone. However, the bass and treble are a little laid back and do not have the same intensity and oomph as that of both Grado and Ultrasone models.
In short, Sennheiser HD 800 Over-Ear Circum-Aural Dynamic Headphones is a little pricey for its features. Though it sounds spectacular, there is nothing unique about it, and there are many other lower-priced headphone models that provide the same sound quality.
The above headphone models give a glimpse of what high-end super luxury headphone models look like. While these headphones are not for everyone because of the steep price, it nevertheless can be a delightful experience for those who can own them.
