As CE retailers in Australia rethink their headphone strategies with several brands set to be dropped, German headphone maker Sennheiser is getting stronger with the Company announcing a $70,000 pair of headphones that won’t be sold at JB Hi Fi.
The new A$70,000 Sennheiser Orpheus headphones that were on
display this year at CES 2016 left one bunch of European Hi Fi journalists
“gobsmacked” as journalist from UK What Hi Fi Sound + Vision
described the experience after listening to the Eagles’ “Hotel California” as
the sample music
So what exactly makes these headphones worth $70,000? Here
are some titbits from the Sennheiser website:
“The Orpheus is the first electrostatic headphone with a
Cool Class A MOS-FET high voltage amplifier integrated into the ear cups.”
“It’s amplifier sits on a housing crafted from glass, and a
solid block of Carrara marble. This luxurious natural stone-the type made
famous by Michelangelo’s Renaissance sculptures-lends beauty but also prevents
structure-borne noise.”
“2.4-micrometer platinum-vaporised diaphragms are employed
as their size was shown by Sennheiser research to deliver optimal sound
reproduction.”
“Outstanding electrical and acoustical performance is
ensured through gold-vaporised ceramic transducers, while 99.9 % silver-plated
OFC cables are used for optimal conductivity.”
Back to the ones you can buy at retailers in Australia
Sennheiser quietly introduced a new, slightly improved version of the HD 800,
dubbed the HD 800 S.
The HD 800 S are similar to the same audiophile classic that
the company has been selling for years now, but Sennheiser say they’ve improved
reproduction of the mid-range and low-end frequencies.
It’ll also be sold with two pairs of cables, including
balanced XLR4 cables for those looking to get the absolute best out of each
driver. They also come in a new colour, opting for a shade of black rather than
the gravy/silver look of the original. These are not your average headphones,
and need a headphone amp to be driven adequately.
Rumours claiming the iPhone 7 will ditch the 3.5mm headphone
jack abounded at CES 2016.
Dr. Andreas Sennheiser said that the company will simply go
with the decision Apple will make regarding the audio experience in its
upcoming line of mobile devices.
“If Apple decides to go with a new standard, we will look at
the opportunistic side and how we can exploit that change in a positive way to
give a better sound experience,” the exec said.
Sennheiser said that “in the audio world we’ve seen
different connection standards come and go for many years.”
The CEO further explained that Apple’s potential change
might bring an overall improved sound experience, including 3D effects.
Also at CES Sennheiser showcased its AMBEO 3D technology for
audio capture and reproduction.
Visitors were able to experience the 3D immersive audio
products in the company’s dedicated 9.1 listening room.
Sennheiser also presented its virtual reality microphone,
designed with VR content producers and due to launch in the third quarter of
2016. The microphone captures high quality audio in four quadrants.
