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Sennheiser HE 1 - $10k down payment?

Nice ornament, valve amp flat from DC to daylight??!!
 
I liked HD580 driven from a HeadRoom portable amp (don’t remember if my original Total AirHead or later Total BitHead) better than the OG Orpheus in a direct A-B back in the day. That amp was really pretty, though.
 
HD800s are probably 90% as good
There's no way I'd pay that
That's the thing... there are many headphones that get close 'enough' to the HE1 within their budget.
The HE1 is 'nice' for folks wanting something exclusive that have the luxury of an (almost) unlimited amount of money that also like a high sound quality.
 
It looks extremely cool. Total hang-the-expense audio jewelry for a select few.

@amirm, here's another preamp output level at 1.6V. LOL.

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HE-1 is a statement piece. So the price is also... a statement :)

Maybe someday when I have "free" money to burn.

ps. I really like the design, also in some interview Axel said that part of the amplifier is placed close to the "membrane" in the headphone cups itself, that's interesting. (that's why you see the fins on sides)

Here you can listen a bit more (around 10:30)
 
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HE-1 is a statement piece. So the price is also... a statement :)

Maybe someday when I have "free" money to burn.

ps. I really like the design, also in some interview Axel said that part of the amplifier is placed close to the "membrane" in the headphone cups itself, that's interesting. (that's why you see the fins on sides)

Here you can listen a bit more (around 10:30)
What happened to a once sane, practical company?
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Talk about "Jumping the shark".
 
"The HE 1 is the first electrostatic headphone with a Cool Class A MOS-FET high voltage amplifier integrated into the ear cups."

So the tubes are just for show?
 
HD800s are probably 90% as good
Maybe 110%. :D In a "blind" listening test, my guess is that most people wouldn't choose a super-expensive headphone...
 
I have heard them briefly. Sure, they were very good, possibly the best headphone sound I have heard. But I was still listening two channel stereo on headphones, no way around that. They were perhaps 10% better than my HD600 - at 200 times the price.
 
Nothing wrong with offering an ultra-premium product if you can move a few, especially if you get something noticeably different for the money.

However...

high voltage amplifier integrated into the ear cups.

I hope you don't sweat too much while wearing these...!
 
I'm not a headphone guy. I only use it when I don't want to disturb others.

If I was winning lottery rich, I doubt I would spend $70k on headphones, one speakers, I think so.


 
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