[Andykong]

just to clarify...25w = 250k, 30w = 300k...

which is USD$50k....

I have corrected my mistake and included US$ for reference, hopefully this will straighten the discussion.

Thanks for pointing out the fault.

 

[Music Alchemist]

I have corrected my mistake and included US$ for reference, hopefully this will straighten the discussion.

Thanks for pointing out the fault.

 
Whoa, whoa, wait.
 
The Orpheus 2 is going to be around $50,000?!
 
That's by far the most costly headphone system ever. (I'm assuming it will include its own exclusive amp like the original Orpheus.) Orpheus 1 retailed at less than $20,000, and even the most exorbitant eBay listings only went up to $35,000 or so.
 
Do you have any other info as to why it's so expensive?

 

[elwappo99]

   
Whoa, whoa, wait.
 
The Orpheus 2 is going to be around $50,000?!
 
Do you have any other info as to why it's so expensive?

 
Because they can? 
 
 
Really though. Sennheiser went from the $500 HD650 to the $1500 HD800, and people gobbled them up. 4, 5 years later, people are still gobbling them up. 

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Because they can? 
 
Really though. Sennheiser went from the $500 HD650 to the $1500 HD800, and people gobbled them up. 4, 5 years later, people are still gobbling them up. 

 
I have no problem with spending four figures on a headphone...but I'm crossing my fingers that the $50K price is just a publicity stunt. I've been interested in the rumored Orpheus 2 for a long time now.

 

[Head Injury]

   
Because they can? 
 
 
Really though. Sennheiser went from the $500 HD650 to the $1500 HD800, and people gobbled them up. 4, 5 years later, people are still gobbling them up. 

I think all but the most dedicated headphonephiles (or wealthiest, or most bat **** insane) would spend $50k on a system, though, whereas $5k is within many more budgets. Frankly I'm thinking they're shooting themselves in the foot if they plan on finding a market for a $50k headphone.
 
But this could just be another publicity stunt like the original Orpheus. They basically made it to say "Look what we can do!" Even then I think they're making a mistake: there are many, many technically impressive headphones on the market now and at reasonably affordable prices. The Orpheus 2 better sound damn good if they really want to make an impression.
 
Though with Head-Fi's track record, the price alone will probably be enough for praises to be sung and ballads to be written 

 

 

[Music Alchemist]

  I think all but the most dedicated headphonephiles (or wealthiest, or most bat **** insane) would spend $50k on a system, though, whereas $5k is within many more budgets. Frankly I'm thinking they're shooting themselves in the foot if they plan on finding a market for a $50k headphone.
 
But this could just be another publicity stunt like the original Orpheus. They basically made it to say "Look what we can do!" Even then I think they're making a mistake: there are many, many technically impressive headphones on the market now and at reasonably affordable prices. The Orpheus 2 better sound damn good if they really want to make an impression.
 
Though with Head-Fi's track record, the price alone will probably be enough for praises to be sung and ballads to be written 

 

 
When I said publicity stunt, I was alluding to them listing that price, but then releasing it at something more reasonable.
 
The Orpheus was a marketing tool, but I still genuinely want to buy it someday.

 

[zachchen1996]

I honestly think 50k is a typo considering the 009 & abyss are around 5k.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  I honestly think 50k is a typo considering the 009 & abyss are around 5k.

 
If it ends up being cheaper than the original Orpheus, I'm snatching it up ASAP, especially since it will likely be a very limited edition.

 

[Head Injury]

   
When I said publicity stunt, I was alluding to them listing that price, but then releasing it at something more reasonable.
 
The Orpheus was a marketing tool, but I still genuinely want to buy it someday.

Oh I wasn't talking about your post, just the original Orpheus. I was typing my post already when you posted yours.
 
Anyway, I don't think Senn's trying to play with the MSRP. They've been enforcing a MAP on their other models; to list the Orpheus 2 at a ridiculous price then discount it doesn't match the rest of their marketing strategy. Either it's a typo like zach thinks, or they're dead serious.

 

[zachchen1996]

   
If it ends up being cheaper than the original Orpheus, I'm snatching it up ASAP, especially since it will likely be a very limited edition.

 
I'm really hoping Sennheiser wont release their HD800 successor as a limited edition product. I think up to $6k would be a reasonable price.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Oh I wasn't talking about your post, just the original Orpheus. I was typing my post already when you posted yours.
 
Anyway, I don't think Senn's trying to play with the MSRP. They've been enforcing a MAP on their other models; to list the Orpheus 2 at a ridiculous price then discount it doesn't match the rest of their marketing strategy. Either it's a typo like zach thinks, or they're dead serious.

 
Yep, I know! ^_^ I was just clarifying myself in case of any confusion.
 
That's what confused me so much. It better be a typo, man!
 
By the way, if you can reply at my thread with more ideas about the spoiler tag, I'd appreciate it.
 

  I'm really hoping Sennheiser wont release their HD800 successor as a limited edition product. I think up to $6k would be a reasonable price.

 
I was talking about the Orpheus 2, not the HD 800 successor (which probably won't be over two or three grand).

 

[zachchen1996]

   
Yep, I know! ^_^ I was just clarifying myself in case of any confusion.
 
That's what confused me so much. It better be a typo, man!
 
By the way, if you can reply at my thread with more ideas about the spoiler tag, I'd appreciate it.
 
 
I was talking about the Orpheus 2, not the HD 800 successor (which probably won't be over two or three grand).

 
Ohh ok, my bad

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Ohh ok, my bad

 
hehe...I'm assuming you knew the price the Orpheus goes for, which I cited at the top of this page. (It would be really bad if an HD 800 successor was in the five figure range.)

 

[Andykong]

Whoa, whoa, wait.

The Orpheus 2 is going to be around $50,000?!

That's by far the most costly headphone system ever. (I'm assuming it will include its own exclusive amp like the original Orpheus.) Orpheus 1 retailed at less than $20,000, and even the most exorbitant eBay listings only went up to $35,000 or so.

Do you have any other info as to why it's so expensive?

Lets talk business. The original Orpheus was launched in early 90s (1994?), I don't recall the original price but lets take the number your suggested as-is.

The $20,000 price tag was a 20 years historical figure, I am sure if you factor in inflation, or present value, or GDP per capita, or average household income, exotic car price, ....., you can definitely find ONE formula to justify the $50,000 price tag in 2015 with reference to $20,000 in 1994. If Senn is CRAZY enough to ask for $20,000 in 1991, why won't they ask for $50,000 in 2015?

On the other hand, if you are the head of Senn Sale/Marketing, and you noticed that a 20 years old Orpheus can ask for $35,000, what will be the figure you suggest to senior management on the forth coming Orpheus 2?

The problem is, the original Orpheus was a limited edition and only 300 were made, consider the HeadFi market has expanded expotentially since 1994, will Senn make this a limited edition again and what will be the number they have in mind. If they are goind to make 300 units only, like what they did with the original Orpheus, I am sure this will be a sold out within 12 months, there is a reason that the news/figures leaked from Mainland China as that is a big rising market for exotic toys like this.

 

[Music Alchemist]

Lets talk business. The original Orpheus was launched in early 90s (1994?), I don't recall the original price but lets take the number your suggested as-is.

The $20,000 price tag was a 20 years historical figure, I am sure if you factor in inflation, or present value, or GDP per capita, or average household income, exotic car price, ....., you can definitely find ONE formula to justify the $500,000 price tag in 2015 with reference to $20,000 in 1994. If Senn is CRAZY enough to ask for $20,000 in 1991, why won't they ask for $50,000 in 2015?

On the other hand, if you are the head of Senn Sale/Marketing, and you noticed that a 20 years old Orpheus can ask for $35,000, what will be the figure you suggest to senior management on the forth coming Orpheus 2?

The problem is, the original Orpheus was a limited edition and only 300 were made, consider the HeadFi market has expanded expotentially since 1994, will Senn make this a limited edition again and what will be the number they have in mind. If they are goind to make 300 units only, like what they did with the original Orpheus, I am sure this will be a sold out within 12 months, there is a reason that the news/figures leaked from Mainland China as that is a big rising market for exotic toys like this.

 
I put your little typo in bold.

 
The Sennheiser Orpheus was released in 1991 at a retail price of $12,900. Factoring in inflation, that's $22,446 in today's dollars.
 
After the first 300 units of the system (with the HE 90 headphones and HEV 90 amplifier), a few hundred more of the headphones were produced alone.
 
I would imagine that the new and improved version would be able to be made and sold at a lower price, though, since technology is at a higher level of advancement.
 
I'm not sure of the highest price an Orpheus system has actually sold for. It has been listed for sale for up to $35K, but again, that's because it's such a rare and desirable collector's item, and I don't think it ever sold at that price.
 
In any case...I really want all these headphones!