Sennheiser HE 1 - $10k down payment?

[Pancreas]

So the total is 60k wut

HE 1 | Sennheiser United States

The first electrostatic headphones with integrated high-voltage amplifiers. Discover ultimate sound experience now!

www.sennheiser-hearing.com

 

[Punter]

Nice ornament, valve amp flat from DC to daylight??!!

 

[Pearljam5000]

HD800s are probably 90% as good
There's no way I'd pay that

 

[jhaider]

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.

 

[solderdude]

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.

 

[restorer-john]

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.

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

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)