Would you pay $55K for a pair of headphones?
For audiophiles out there, German company Sennheiser is manufacturing top-of-the-line headphones that just might break the bank. The next generation Orpheus headphones will set you back $55,000 per pair.
Luxury Orpheus headphones first debuted in 1991, and Sennheiser's new revival of the product is equipped with "state-of-the-art technology" that will "transform music from something you listen to, into something you live in," according to the product description on the company's website. The headphones have an audio range of 8 Hz to more than 100 kHz.
Sennheiser is touting its product's high sound quality as a justification for the hefty price tag. The headphones are electrostatic, with audio signal voltages causing a thin film that rests between two metal plates to move back and forth, producing sound. This thin film is so light that it doesn't produce its own sounds, which sends crystal clear notes to the wearer's ears, the company says.
In addition, various components are made out of silver, platinum and Italian Carrara marble.
So, who will spend the money on this kind of product? CNET's Jeff Bakalar told CBS News the target audience is probably the same customer who would buy a 18-karat rose gold Apple Watch.