Audiophiles are referred to as hi-fi enthusiasts; some are content with a pair of reasonably-priced headphones. However, there are also audiophiles who are willing to splurge money on a pair of headphones with a high price tag. Some music lovers love to treat themselves to one of the most expensive headphones, treating it as an investment just like watches, exotic cars of jewelries handcrafted by famous jewellers.
A good pair of headphones is actually a meaningful investment which can really play a big role in your daily routine, especially if you are using headphones throughout the day. Listening to music or podcasts while driving a car, connecting your headphones to your smartphone via Bluetooth to listen to your favorite songs while working out or simply blocking out the noise in a room to relax for a few minutes is one of the most common things to do for most consumers, especially when they want to get a few moments for themselves. That being said, it is only logical and understandable if some people would want to invest in the world’s most expensive headphones.
Owning a pair of the most expensive headphones in the market can really give you an ultimate audio experience. Whether you have the budget to purchase one of the most expensive headphones in the world or simply want to familiarize yourself with the most premium headphones, you’ll definitely enjoy browsing through our curated list below.
Table of Contents
- Most Expensive Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-W5000
- Most Expensive Headphones: Sennheiser HD800
- Most Expensive Headphones: Grado PS1000e
- Most Expensive Headphones: Shure KSE1500
- Most Expensive Headphones: Beyerdynamic T1
- Most Expensive Headphones: HiFiMan HE1000 V2
- Most Expensive Headphones: Sennheiser Orpheus/HE-1
Most Expensive Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-W5000
What We Like
- stylish, rich aesthetics
- oxygen-free copper
Priced at $1,200, the Audio-Technica ATH-W5000 gives its listener an exceptional audio quality with stylish, rich aesthetics. Audio-Technica’s entry for the most expensive headphones comes with an 8N-OFC (oxygen free copper) voice coils and magnesium alloy frames. This pair of most expensive headphones are considered to be really high end and a delightful treat for discerning audiophiles.
Designed to look sleek and sophisticated at first glance, this pair of most expensive headphones from Audio-Technica also offers a glamorous approach to audio quality that offers a generous sound output, clean and rhythmic audio, an extended treble and fantastic bass.
Most Expensive Headphones: Sennheiser HD800
What We Like
- crisp, dynamic booming sound
- state of the art transducers
Sennheiser is known to be more on the expensive range rather than budget friendly, hence, it’s really not surprising that it has landed a spot on our list for the most expensive headphones. Manufactured by the audio equipment retail giant from Germany and priced at $1,500, the Sennheiser HD800 is actually one of the most affordable models of the brand.
Sennheiser is known to be one of the top producers of premium sound or audio equipment in the world and the HD800 is actually worth the dollar that audiophiles spend on this pair of beauty. In other words, it’s deserving to be part of the most expensive headphones roster because of the features it offers.
Aside from its crisp, dynamic and booming sound, the Sennheiser HD800 also comes with a sleek and stylish look, making the wearer look really classy and sophisticated while listening to music. Plus, this pair of most expensive headphones from Sennheiser also comes with state of the art transducers that are truly worth the overall cost of this product.
This pair of most expensive headphones from Sennheiser is also great for studio recording sessions. What more can you ask for? This pair of most expensive headphones from Sennheiser is sleek, elegant, professional and produces high quality sound fit for a recording studio.
Most Expensive Headphones: Grado PS1000e
What We Like
- designed from hand-crafted mahogany
- can last a lifetime
Some people would say that sound is pretty much the same no matter if you are using low budget headphones or the most expensive headphones on the market today. However, discerning audiophiles, those who are really particular with sound – from the amplifier to the noise cancellation down to the aural frequencies and overall performance of a pair of headphones – can really tell the difference.
The Grado PS1000e can be considered as one of the most expensive headphones on earth, priced at a whooping $2,030. Grado sound engineering labs have been producing state of the art, high-end headphones but their marketing has blatantly claimed that the Grado PS1000e is the finest quality headphones they have ever made. Plus, what adds to the luxury of the listening experience of a consumer is the fact that each component of Grado headphones is selected by hand.
For audiophiles who are more than willing to blow their budget or break the bank for a pair of the most expensive headphones in the market, the Grado PS1000e is worth getting paid for its price. This pair of most expensive headphones from Grado is designed from hand-crafted mahogany and is really an awesome investment. It’s also durable enough that it can last you a lifetime (of course, if taken well cared of).
Most Expensive Headphones: Shure KSE1500
What We Like
- first headphones to feature electrostatic drivers
What We Don’t Like
- may need a dedicated amplifier
If you’re looking for one of the world’s most expensive headphones that possesses a futuristic visual approach, you might find the Shure KSE1500 somewhat interesting. In terms of technical features, the Shure KSE1500 offers electrostatic drivers which gives a consumer an authentic and more complete listening experience. The electrostatic drivers of Shure’s most expensive headphones are noted to be the first of its kind.
While you may think that spending thousands of dollar on one of the most expensive headphones in the world will give you a design that is perfect, think again. The Shure KSE1500 is a perfect example that even if you spend a lot of money on a pair of the most expensive headphones in the world, there will still be a downside to it. In this case, you may need to use a dedicated amplifier to maximize your listening experience.
Most Expensive Headphones: Beyerdynamic T1
What We Like
- distinctive, clear as marble sound quality
What We Don’t Like
- lacking in aesthetic department
The Beyerdynamic T1 may not really be a marble that’s very pleasant to look at, but when it comes to value for your money, this pair of most expensive headphones is worth a try. If you’re a hi-fi lover that is very particular to sound quality that can accommodate any kind of music genre, the Beyerdynamic is an ideal choice for you.
Priced at $1,395, this pair of most expensive headphones offer Tesla-based technology that makes it a favorite of some editorial reviews. This product also delivers distinctive, clear as marble sound with their traditional drivers.
If you’re wondering if the Beyerdynamic is worth spending money on, the answer is yes. This pair of the most expensive headphones from Beyerdynamic is truly worth the sales. Plus, Beyerdynamic also has a reputable track record of offering consumers a wide variety of high-quality products that has truly made them earn their place in the business as one of the top producers of high quality audio equipment.
This pair of most expensive headphones from Beyerdynamic is an ideal choice for when you want to treat yourself to your first pair of quality headphones or if you simply want to upgrade your private listening experience.
Most Expensive Headphones: HiFiMan HE1000 V2
What We Like
- ergonomic design
- super thin 0.01 mm driver
Users of the world’s most expensive headphones have their own stories to tell – whether it’s listening to a favorite tune while crossing the pedestrian, or using that set of headphones for communication, there is a unique experience behind each listening experience.
HiFiMan headphones are well-known for their futuristic aesthetic position, and the HE1000 V2 follows the trend of its predecessors. While resting on its futuristic cloud, this pair of most expensive headphones on the market, with a price tag of $3,380 is worth spending your money on with its modern parts, ergonomic design and cutting edge engineering features.
Again, similar to the previous headphones, they’re pretty futuristic looking, but use some of the most modern engineering features and parts. Basically, this pair of most expensive headphones from HiFiMan are equipped with a super thin 0.01mm control driver making them planar, magnetic headphones that are truly worth the price tag. Aside from its ergonomic design, this pair of most expensive headphones from HiFiMan also gives a consumer excellent comfort, thanks to its polyester ear cups.
Most Expensive Headphones: Sennheiser Orpheus/HE-1
What We Like
- chassis made of Carrara marble
What We Don’t Like
- part of a kit, needs own valve amp to function
Sennheiser enters the list of most expensive headphones once again with the Orpheus/HE-1, priced at a whooping $68,000.
It’s worth noting that this pair of most expensive headphones from Sennheiser are not on the same level with typical, everyday use headphones. Instead, they are part of a kit and actually need their own valve amp to function properly. It has a set of vacuum tubes that are connected to a damped marble housing that are spring loaded.
This pair of most expensive headphones from Sennheiser are actually spring loaded to prevent vibrations and other unnecessary, structure-borne noise. Sennheiser’s most expensive headphones can be likened to a piece of jewel, as it’s chassis is actually made of exquisite Carrara marble that doubles as an intricate design and provides a damping feature.
The headphones of the most expensive headphones from Sennheiser are also made from leather, microfiber and sculpted aluminum. This is truly one of the most luxurious and jaw dropping headphones, in terms of features and price, from Sennheiser.
So that concludes our curated list of the most expensive headphones in the market. Whether you are planning to purchase a pair of the most expensive headphones or are still planning to save some money for this audio treat, don’t forget to focus on what you really need and want from a pair of headphones and we hope this article can guide you to make the right decision.
If you’re looking for the other side of the coin, you can check out our list for the best headphones under $50 here.
