Most Expensive Headphones

The Most Expensive Headphones Ever

#1 Audio-Technica ATH-W5000 ( $1,200 )

Let us start with the $1000 price range, even though there are many great headphones out there in the $1000 range, but the ATH-W5000 is one of the more stunning and unique headphones, so deserves to be added on the list.

They`ve got a Magnizium-alloy frame, Oxygen free copper voice coils, 53mm drivers driven by Neodymium magnets, and a claimed frequency response of 5Hz to 45,000 Hz.

Digital Trends review:

The ATH-W5000 headphones are endowed with exceptional sound characteristics and stylish, cutting-edge design which earns them recognition as some of the best-sounding headphones available today.”

#2 Hifiman HE6 ( $1,299 )

The HiFiman has two features that you will notice is very common among the most expensive headphones, and those are open back, and Planar magnetic. Planar Magnetic headphones ( and speakers) use a thin material suspended in a magnetic field. They sound quite different compared to your traditional drivers.

CNET Review:

The Hifiman headphones and amplifier provide a remarkably direct connection to the music, without adding or subtracting much from the sound. It’s as close to “being there” as I’ve heard from headphones.”

#3 JH Audio JH16 Pro ( $1,149 + Custom Ear Molds )

There are mainly two reasons why the JH16’s are so expensive. One being, they are custom built to fit your ears. So you need to get a mould taken of your ears, before they can get started on making them specifically for you.

The other reason for them being so expensive is inside the headphones, and that is that there are 8 drivers per ear. Most headphones make do with only one driver per ear. These are really a pair of exquisite headphones.

You can also get less expensive versions, that have fewer drivers.

#4 Beyerdynamic T1 ( $1,399) 

The T1’s are also open-back design headphones, but they use traditional drivers. They have what Beyer calls “ Tesla Technology”, or completely re-engineered transducers ( drivers ) based on a Neodymium ring magnet with optimized magnetic field characteristics. This combination creates a magnetic field inside the transducer which is far stronger ( >1,2 Tesla- measuring unit for magnetic flux density- with current headphones the strength of the magnetic field is <0.65 Tesla ) than the standard headphones. Due to this increased magnetic field, the voice coil is more compact but still provides a very high degree of efficiency.
In short- the T1’s  can play loud and have powerful dynamics. But they still retain clarity and wide open sound and they feel very comfortable.

CNET Review: 

The Beyerdynamic T1 may have arrived a little late to the high-end headphone party, but it was worth the wait. Its keen balance of comfort, high-end sound, and build quality should reward buyers with many years of musical enjoyment.”

#5 Sennheiser HD800 ( $1,500)

Sennheiser seems to make headphones for every kind of budget range and that includes the high end category.

The huge HD800’s are also an open back design with the biggest transducers ever used in headphones today. It sounds more like you are listening to full sized speakers than headphones. They are really huge. But they still retain the great quality sound and comfort that we are used to with Sennheiser products.

#6 Grado PS1000 ( $1,695 )

The Grado’s definitely look different than the other headphones shown here. They have a very old school look on them, with none of the flash you will expect from such expensive headphones, but for me personally, that old school look is part of their appeal.
They are dearly loved by a certain segment of the headphone community, and like the majority of headphones mentioned here they are also open backed.

What HiFi review: 

“They justify their price with a simply astonishing sound. Headphones can’t get much better than this.”

#7 Audeze LCD-3 ( $1,945 )

Ok so Audeze could have filled more spots on this list, namely three spots. The LCD-3 is their top of the range headphone, but the $1,800 LCD-XC and $1,700LCD-X are not much cheaper. The LCD-3 and LCD-X are open back design,, but the LCD-XC is a closed back design. As you can see by the image of the LCD-3, that they are open back and use planar magnetic drivers. When you plug them in, you will have a listening experience that will paralyse you....

#8 AKG K812 ( $1,990 )

This is AKG’s new open backed flagship headphone, in this headphone they marry premium materials with precise sonic engineering.

The K812 is a full-size, open acoustic, circumaural headphone. The overall color scheme is gun-metal gray, black, and satin-finished metal. The main headband arch is two metal bands covered in a somewhat soft synthetic covering, which appear to be very durable. The headband pad is suspended under the two arches, and is leather with a breathable mesh pad. Head size adjustment is accomplished by detented adjustment slides on either side of the headband pad. The adjustments are quite firm and it's not easy to make the size adjustment while the headphones are on your head, but once in place they remain firmly so. They are very comfortable headphones, and as we well know, they sound spectacular as is the case with all AKG products.

#9 Stax SR-009 ( $4,450 )

Ok to be honest they are really not much to look at.... But this is what is said about the Stax-009....  “the SR-009 always seems able to dig deep (deeper than any other headphones can) to tease out the innermost elements of tonal purity and, yes, tonal beauty in any given recording.

You may very well be floored by the breathtaking intricacy and coherency of the Stax Headphones.
The Stax have electrostatic drivers, these are similar to the planar magnetic drivers in the Audeze and few other headphones, but instead of a thin film with embedded conductors, the diaphragm is suspended in a electrostatic field.

#10 Ultrasone Edition 5 ( $4,999 )

Just like the Audeze the Ultrasone could have taken several spots on the list, but that would not have been fair.

The new Edition 5’s are high end headphones, but they are also more high end than expected even for them....

And by reading the parts list you will get an idea where all the money went to: Ethiopian long haired sheep leather, bog oak with a “seven layer varnishing process”, titanium-coated 40mm drivers with a claimed frequency response of 5Hz to 46,000Hz.

The Edition 5’s are a rare closed back ultra expensive headphone.....

#11 Abyss AB-1266 ( $5,495 )

Ok now if the Stax and Ultrasone were not expensive enough for you.... Well there is always the Abyss. Which is another planar magnetic design, the components are “ machined from solid aluminium” with “ low carbon steel front baffle” and jip.... lambskin pads...

What CNET has to say:

“With good recordings you feel like you’re in the room with the band; no other headphone can come close to producing that level of realism.” He mentions, ”The Abyss AB-1266 is the most expensive headphone I’ve ever tested, but it outruns the competition in every way I evaluate headphone sound.”

#12 AKG K3003 ( in ear buds ) ( $1,299.95 )

Ok these are not as expensive as the Stax, Ultrasone and Abyss, but I just had to add some normal in-ears as well, so just bare with me for a while and we will get back to mind blowing price tags.

This is the only pair of  normal ear-bud headphones to make the list. While generally ear-buds can’t compete with over-the-ear headphones in sound quality, these probably come the closest because of the innovative combination of one dynamic and two balanced-armature drivers in each ear-bud, creating a fuller sound than in most ear-buds. They also come with three different attachable bass/treble filters that allow you to further adjust the sound. And while the sound quality overall could be better for the price, they do have a stainless steel casing, come with a leather travel case, two adapters, and have a built in remote for skipping songs and taking calls.

#13 Beats By Dr. Dre ( $1,000,000)

I am not a fan of the Beats, but even I have to say Dear Lord these are down right expensive !

We all know how there always needs to be that one person that has to go and outdo everyone? That’s this pair of headphones and hot damn are they flashy! They were created by Dr. Dre and London’s Graff Diamonds for LMFAO to perform with Madonna during the Super Bowl. Lil’ Wayne has also been seen sporting a pair. They are studded with 114 carats of diamonds.
 And that explains why they literally cost an arm and a leg !!!

Hope you enjoyed an insight into the world of high end and high priced headphones !