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Listen up: “most expensive” doesn’t necessarily mean “the best,” so when we say we’re going to be talking about the most expensive headphones, we could mean some diamond-encrusted Apple EarPods. But that’s not really what PCMag is about.
These headphones are not just high in price, they’re high in quality.
The highest-priced headphones in history may just be the Sennheiser Orpheus. A highly limited run of 300 pairs was initially released for $16,000 each. Demand combined with their legendary status now has them going for about $30,000(Opens in a new window) on the secondary market. There’s good reason for that, beyond the fact they look as much like art as technology.
The Sennheiser Orpheus headphones are a two-part system consisting of electrostatic headphones connected to a tube amplifier. They use an electrostatic transducer instead of the more common moving coil, which results in drastically reduced diaphragm distortion and produces a truer sound. The headphones are made of beech wood not just for the wood’s beauty, but also because it’s aurally neutral (making it a favorite for concert-hall seats as well). One of the most charming aspects of the Orpheus is the key required to turn on the system. Needless to say, these aren’t headphones for riding the subway.
If you don’t want to buy headphones that cost as much as a Hyundai, peruse our roundup of five of the most expensive headphones out there that still cost a fraction of the Orpheus. Each has its acolytes who appreciate the sound differences between them, whether it’s a distinctive warm sound or something neutral that lets the music tell its own story. Naturally they all have their own aesthetic; some look fantastically futuristic while others bank on classic form. Whichever ones you choose, you’ll be amazed at the difference they make to listening to music on a home stereo system (or even an iPod).
1. Grado GS1000
The Grado GS1000 headphones earned a perfect 5-star rating from our own Tim Gideon. They sit slightly off the ear, but a driver in each ear “operates in what almost seems like its own room,” Gideon writes. The headphones are hand-assembled in the United States and feature mahogany earpieces.
2. Denon AH-D7100
3. Sennheiser HD 800
4. Audio-Technica ATH-W5000
5. Ultrasone Edition 10
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