Most Beautiful Headphone designs

[markanini]

Have to give to the Focals, no doubt they will still look sharp 20 years from now.

 

[usersky]

Plus of course there's the Meze 99 Classics (Walnut/Gold) :

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But they sound so totally bad...

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Seriously.

 

[_thelaughingman]

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Seriously.

Omg these are epitome of steampunk aesthetic. Me likey

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Omg these are epitome of steampunk aesthetic. Me likey

They were all the rage in WW II.

 

[_thelaughingman]

They were all the rage in WW II.

Grados look sort of like the steam punk aesthetic but could do more to make them look cool.

 

[MakeMineVinyl]

Grados look sort of like the steam punk aesthetic but could do more to make them look cool.

I have some Grados and they do look like they were influenced by these Western Electric phones.

 

[Mountain Goat]

Or, as I believe Mother Ann of the Shakers said:
'That which has the most function, has the greatest beauty'...

My Mom has Shaker furniture, which I will inherit. When I was a kid we went to Shaker Village one year on vacation. It was pretty cool.

https://shakervillageky.org

 

[Foulchet]

The Parrot Zik 3 was pretty cool. They were designed in partnership with Philippe Starck.

However they are terribly built aside from the cool design, mine is completely ruined (which is sad because I liked the sound and the software was great). Parrot completely left the consumer market for both drones and headphones (especially).

 

[_thelaughingman]

My personal Grado SR80e'. Modded with a leather headband and G Cusion.

 

[virtua]

I've always thought the Hifiman Arya looked great

 

[BARDUKE]

From all the ones mentioned in this thread, the ones I like the most are
1. ZMF
2. LCD-3
3. Meze 99

 

[restorer-john]

Those are amazing looking.

How did they sound?

Actually better than I remembered. I dug them out and had a listen against the AKG-702s.

The bass response is phenomenal. In a whole other league to the AKG-702s. Absolutely hits notes I've never heard on some tracks.
But the mids are 'cuppy' sounding and a little too laid back for my tastes.
The treble is fine, the two way design allows for clean treble but I don't think it is as extended as the AKGs.

Power handling seems beyond anything I am prepared to throw at them. No distortion, rattles, buzzes or anything, but this pair is in time-warp condition. ABsolutely as new, including the foam, pads cable etc. Hard to believe they are nearly 50 years old (1973/4).

Anyway, here's a few pics:

The badge across each rear padded cup is a die-cast metal piece:

Hinge point covers are metal with a black insert:

The concentric control knobs are solid anodized aluminium:

Frame is stainless spring steel

Why can't modern vinyl leatherette last nearly half a century like these?

Headband is perfect

 

[restorer-john]

The Pioneers are also pretty solid, weighing in at 753 grams.

Here's their instruction manual date, June 1974:

This is extremely cool. The padded leatherette case has a twist latch you can put a padlock through! Keep the kids/wife away from your expensive (they were in 1973) headphones.

 

[ZolaIII]

Pioneer Monitor 10 II. Sound good, highs could be better but they are heavy. Cone material used whose much ahead their time.

 

[ZolaIII]

Creative Aurvana Air earbuds for the design which works rather well. They sound very decent (like old Sennheisers) for the earbuds and are most conformable to wear tho not a easiest one's to put on and adjust.

 

[restorer-john]

Creative Aurvana Air earbuds for the design which works rather well. They sound very decent (like old Sennheisers) for the earbuds and are most conformable to wear tho not a easiest one's to put on and adjust.
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I like them. Where did you find those?

 

[ZolaIII]

I like them. Where did you find those?

Both my second pair on Amazon UK (Creative store) about two years ago for some 50£ (during holiday discount). They use Foster 12.2 mm paper cone drivers (102~103 dB LPS/mW). The wire hook is made from NiTi and also can be removed quite easily (never did that).

They averagely last about 5 years and I hope they will continue making them. Of course try them if you get a chance, best regards.

 

[solderdude]

Have the Pioneer 305

Not my most beautiful headphone.
Nor is the HD414 but this one is very basic yet elegant and functional. More so than Grado.

 

[VintageFlanker]

Most Beautiful Headphone designs

... certainly not this thing Mark Levinson just announced.

Looks just like some random no-name BT headphones we're used to see on Amazon/AliExpress. Except this one costs 1k.