Interest in creating a timeline of high end audio products

I like it!  Curious if the release dates match up competitively or if some companies typically lag an industry leader with their flagship models.  Perhaps there is even some reverse engineering by the laggers.

You better add the  Sennheiser "HD-800's, what are they 3 yrs. old now? maybe more!! Just a guess!!!

Why is the K-701 on there?

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMahler 

Stax:

Lambda

Omega 2

Omega 1

4070

 

Which lambdas are you talking about? Lambda (Normal Bias), Lambda Sigs, LNS, others??

Add the SR-Sigmas; I believe they were the Stax flagship until the SR-Omegas came along.

You can find details regarding release dates of Stax earspeakers here

http://www.stax.co.jp/Export/History.html

What about the Sen 414.. Were they not Sens first flagship headphone? I noticed the DT48 is listed, which from research are the first closed hi fi headphones, while the 414 being the first open headphones.. Just leads me to believe audio is timeless, since many of the headphones listed are old yet cherished by many. I'm still lagging behind.. I really don't want to try a lot of mid fi headphones.. I like color over accuracy, with emphasized bass. I'm seriously considering the D7000 or the T1 with my Ipod.. Will need to save up..I have 2 jobs & school.. But I'm looking for the 'one.' I like Brazilian/Caribbean music with heavy bass percussion, & chanting.. & Pop.. light rock.. Paul Davis, Gordon Lightfoot for IE.. Hard rock & heavy metal is like nails to a chalk board IMO..

Very helpful for a noob David. Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMahler 

I am really interested in seeing if we at head-fi can put together an approximation of when flagship headphones were debuted. 

 

It will be interesting for a number of reasons:

 

I wonder if there is trend in what designers were shooting for a specific times.  It would also be interesting to see how amp builders reacted to new flagships and make a timeline of flagship amps as well.

 

I guess first step is to compile a list of all the known serious flagships in the industry.

 

I will begin by naming a bunch here, but feel free to add and then we can start compiling release date information and also revision date information.

 

 

Sony flagships:

MDR R10

Qualia 010

SA5000

CD3000

 

Sennheiser flagships:

HE-90 Orpheus

HE-60

HD-800

HD-650

HD-600

HD-580

 

Beyerdynamic:

DT48e

T1

DT880

DT990

 

 

AKG:

K1000

K501

K701

Sextet

 

 

Stax:

Lambda

Omega 2

Omega 1

4070

 

 

Grado:

HP-2

PS1000

GS1000

RS1

 

 

Audez'e:
LCD-2

 

 

Ultrasone:

Edition 9

Edition 8

Edition 7

Edition 10

 

 

Ultimate Ears:

UE10

UE11

UE18

 

 

Hifiman:

HE-5

HE-5LE

HE-6

 

 

 

Jerry Harvey:

JH13

JH16

 

 

 

Denon:

D7000

D5000

D950

 

 

 

I probably left out many.... but any release date or revision on the ones listed above would be great!