Sennheiser HE 1 - $10k down payment?

[Pancreas]

So the total is 60k wut

HE 1 Sennheiser United States

Discover a world of crystal-clear sound with Sennheiser Headphones and Soundbars - Delivering cutting-edge audio solutions. Explore a range of premium hearing aids and audio devices designed to enhance your auditory experience. Uncover innovation, quality, and expertise in every Sennheiser...

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)

 

[PeterNL]

Very good test and review from our Polish expert and guru in pro audio (Polish language):

 

[kchap]

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?

Talk about "Jumping the shark".

 

[DJBonoBobo]

What happened to a once sane, practical company?
View attachment 414823

Talk about "Jumping the shark".

You mean the time before 1990, when they presented the predecessor of the HE-1, the HE-90 "Orpheus"?

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Nothing wrong in having a extremely expensive piece for sale.
Nothing wrong with that.

 

[MarsianC#]

See what they did there... good choice!

 

[unpluggged]

See what they did there... good choice!
View attachment 414837

Actually, they have not much choice

 

[kchap]

You mean the time before 1990, when they presented the predecessor of the HE-1, the HE-90 "Orpheus"?

View attachment 414831

I was aware of the HE-90. I thought, well, in 1990 tubes would be a reasonable way to provide the high drive voltage. I gave the HE-90 half a star and reserved my total disbelief for HE-1

 

[Cbdb2]

"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?

 

[SCR]

What happened to a once sane, practical company?

Got bought by Sonova, so a tad more EBIT driven by now.

 

[DVDdoug]

HD800s are probably 90% as good

Maybe 110%. In a "blind" listening test, my guess is that most people wouldn't choose a super-expensive headphone...

 

[Leporello]

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.

 

[kemmler3D]

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...!

 

[PristineSound]

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.

Inside the factory building headphones that cost more than a luxury car

I went to the center of Ireland to get to the heart of how Sennheiser builds audiophile headphones and its legacy.

www.popsci.com