Announcing the Launch of the SUSVARA

[Rotten Apple]

I think the HE-1000 will be my last headphone from HiFiMAN, their headbands really aren't built to last. I don't think that's acceptable for a £2000+ headphone.

You're obviously missing the point with the release of these headphones. The headbands were not designed to last, they were meant to be admired, adored and worshipped - from a distance. Get with the programme. Just think, the new model contains gold, real gold. Perhaps a hundredth of a gram or two. These futuristic yet totally underpriced headphones vibrate from afar and are guaranteed to provide an orgasmic experience for the even the slightest dust particles that are blessed to come within .0001 microns of each grill.

I don't think that Hifiman could and will ever again reach such harmonic heights. Until next year, perhaps... And the following year of course. I'm going to buy a couple pairs just to keep my dust bunnies satiated with the soothing hits of Justin Bieber.

 

[landroni]

That's $100 per Ohm.

Oh, oh, let's hope they don't get around to producing 600Ω headphones... Which makes me wonder: Is the effective impedance of the Shangri-La 500Ω by any chance?

 

[NoMythsAudio]

I just want to thank all the good and sane people who commented on this thread. This insanity of price gouging in the Audiophile world has been going on for far too long and yet people and reviewers keep promoting this absurdity without hesitation. What and when is the limit. I guess with Focal Utopia north of $4000 (which is ridiculous and stupid), Hifiman feels emboldened to add their presence to this delusion of grandiosity. But no, these companies won't stop until people start to vote with their wallet by refusing to buy the new and latest monstrosity.

Do we even enjoy music anymore? Or all we do is analyze headphones and amps and dacs? I have two headphones and one of them almost gets no use. It's often confused me how people with 4 TOTL headphones manages to have use for all of them.

Let's continue to give our hard-earned top dollars to these barons and the reviewers who pushes these products so aggressively, soon entry level audiophile HP will start at $1500. Ridiculous!!!

 

[DeeKay10]

I like this thread. So far the comments are much more entertaining than the announcement, and although I agree $6k is bonkers, I won't rule these out until some reviews are out.
Lemme remind you Sennheiser has a set costing $55k, so here's a fabulous deal in that regard.

 

[Dillan]

Yea I like this thread too, at least the community seems a little more down to earth than it has been the last few years. "Worth" definitely is subjective I agree but the trend is real and some brands are worse than others with the rapid increase/releases.

I do love the HEKv2 though regardless of the questionable build materials.. I would still like to hear the Susvara but it would be hard to meet my personal standards for that pricing.

 

[raypin]

Mm..all these talk about pushing the market to extinction because of TOTL price inflation is BS. Compared to 4 years ago (when I started my headfi journey), the market today is positively thriving. We are spoilt for choice. It seems that every day, a new company is unveiling a new headphone or in-ear. What is easily overlooked are products like the fairly-priced Audeze iSine series (I am a fan) or, although I am not a fan, A&K introduced the Kann at a price point that is surprisingly low (relative to past A&K products) or Chord's new Hugo 2 (just slightly more expensive than the retail launch of the original Hugo) or the Aeon. It means manufacturers are not insensitive to what the market will bear in terms of pricing. It is a dynamic marketplace and I love it. A few statement products does not make the market. On the contrary, it helps push new technology out there and that benefits us all. It is not inconceivable that the tech they used for these few statement headphones will eventually trickle down to headphones priced more affordably. Isn't that a win-win?

 

[erik701]

I just want to thank all the good and sane people who commented on this thread. This insanity of price gouging in the Audiophile world has been going on for far too long and yet people and reviewers keep promoting this absurdity without hesitation. What and when is the limit. I guess with Focal Utopia north of $4000 (which is ridiculous and stupid), Hifiman feels emboldened to add their presence to this delusion of grandiosity. But no, these companies won't stop until people start to vote with their wallet by refusing to buy the new and latest monstrosity.

Do we even enjoy music anymore? Or all we do is analyze headphones and amps and dacs? I have two headphones and one of them almost gets no use. It's often confused me how people with 4 TOTL headphones manages to have use for all of them.

Let's continue to give our hard-earned top dollars to these barons and the reviewers who pushes these products so aggressively, soon entry level audiophile HP will start at $1500. Ridiculous!!!

Totally agree with you. Few weeks ago I sold my HD800S, because I just didn't use them so much. When I find time for listening, my first choice is LCD-4.

By the way, HiFiman will add their EF-6 amp for free to first 10 orders of SUSVARA.

 

[Dillan]

Mm..all these talk about pushing the market to extinction because of TOTL price inflation is BS. Compared to 4 years ago (when I started my headfi journey), the market today is positively thriving. We are spoilt for choice. It seems that every day, a new company is unveiling a new headphone or in-ear. What is easily overlooked are products like the fairly-priced Audeze iSine series (I am a fan) or, although I am not a fan, A&K introduced the Kann at a price point that is surprisingly low (relative to past A&K products) or Chord's new Hugo 2 (just slightly more expensive than the retail launch of the original Hugo) or the Aeon. It means manufacturers are not insensitive to what the market will bear in terms of pricing. It is a dynamic marketplace and I love it. A few statement products does not make the market. On the contrary, it helps push new technology out there and that benefits us all. It is not inconceivable that the tech they used for these few statement headphones will eventually trickle down to headphones priced more affordably. Isn't that a win-win?

Just throwing this out there.. I don't think the market is anywhere close to "extinction" in any form or fashion. I actually believe the flagship pricing is only going to keep climbing (as much as I hate admitting that). This industry is certainly thriving at the moment and that's actually how they can get away with charging an arm and a leg for the totl. And you're right, we may have to cough up a huge chunk of money for some of those flagship products but on the other hand, there are also a never ending ocean of products out there with respectable price tags.. (and great sound).

What I don't agree with though (besides my personal opinion of most flagships being overpriced in general) is things like the new Orpheus and Shangri-La.. I whole hearted believe that these projects are primarily a marketing ploy. The astronomical pricing is to get the community stirring and talking and to show the community that they can create the "best" "most expensive". You know there is this entire world of price psychology in marketing and I think there is a lot more technology worth "trickling down" in other items like the HD800S - which we have already have seen with HD700. If you guys didn't know, more time went into research and development of the HD800 than the Orpheus. Just my two cents.

 

[paradoxper]

Mm..all these talk about pushing the market to extinction because of TOTL price inflation is BS. Compared to 4 years ago (when I started my headfi journey), the market today is positively thriving. We are spoilt for choice. It seems that every day, a new company is unveiling a new headphone or in-ear. What is easily overlooked are products like the fairly-priced Audeze iSine series (I am a fan) or, although I am not a fan, A&K introduced the Kann at a price point that is surprisingly low (relative to past A&K products) or Chord's new Hugo 2 (just slightly more expensive than the retail launch of the original Hugo) or the Aeon. It means manufacturers are not insensitive to what the market will bear in terms of pricing. It is a dynamic marketplace and I love it. A few statement products does not make the market. On the contrary, it helps push new technology out there and that benefits us all. It is not inconceivable that the tech they used for these few statement headphones will eventually trickle down to headphones priced more affordably. Isn't that a win-win?

I think the issue has been the way HifiMan's product iterations have unraveled. The crux is not pricing.

 

[Fastnbulbous]

You are not entitled to anything. It is as simple as that. For as long as Hifiman delivers on what the Susvara promises to deliver, then I have no problem with that. Let them be and let the market decide.

The same sentiments apply to Sennheiser. They sell as low as 39.95 usd to 50,000 euros. Good for them.

The lowest priced over-ear reference headphone actively in production from HiFiMAN is the Edition X V2 for $1,300. I wouldn't mind trying the HE-6, but it's in high demand since no equivalent is being offered anymore. So they're losing some of their potential market.

 

[Contrails]

Do we even enjoy music anymore? Or all we do is analyze headphones and amps and dacs?

Nailed it!

The other illusion that most of us get sold into is if it's more expensive, it must be better! IMO, while the TOTL headphones keep reaching new heights - in regards to pricing, I hope some company comes along and delivers a headphone that trumps them all sonically and is priced around the HD800s. Why? It would be a fantastic way to capture the market.

 

[Fastnbulbous]

What makes this hobby interesting is that nobody agrees on what's the best, because the differences get pretty subtle at a certain point. I heard the Shangri-La at Axpona and didn't love it.

 

[mike138]

I don't care that it costs 6 grand. If people are willing to pay it, HFM can charge it. The only thing I would be pissed about is if I bought the previous high end models, thinking it was the best HFM had to offer, only for this to come out straight away.

But I'm not the target demographic anyway. I'm perfectly happy with my 400i and Schiit stack.

 

[RCBinTN]

Nailed it!

The other illusion that most of us get sold into is if it's more expensive, it must be better! IMO, while the TOTL headphones keep reaching new heights - in regards to pricing, I hope some company comes along and delivers a headphone that trumps them all sonically and is priced around the HD800s. Why? It would be a fantastic way to capture the market.

I agree with this line of reasoning. I am perfectly happy w/ my "mid-fi" headphone line-up (see signature line). Will be hard-pressed to go even to the $4K level let alone higher. Too many diminishing returns. Although, I have heard great things about the LCD-4.
I think the Ether Flow are a great example of a new HP introduced at the right price point.

FWIW, YMMV, IMHO.
Cheers,
RCB

 

[Deftone]

I just want to thank all the good and sane people who commented on this thread. This insanity of price gouging in the Audiophile world has been going on for far too long and yet people and reviewers keep promoting this absurdity without hesitation. What and when is the limit. I guess with Focal Utopia north of $4000 (which is ridiculous and stupid), Hifiman feels emboldened to add their presence to this delusion of grandiosity. But no, these companies won't stop until people start to vote with their wallet by refusing to buy the new and latest monstrosity.

Do we even enjoy music anymore? Or all we do is analyze headphones and amps and dacs? I have two headphones and one of them almost gets no use. It's often confused me how people with 4 TOTL headphones manages to have use for all of them.

Let's continue to give our hard-earned top dollars to these barons and the reviewers who pushes these products so aggressively, soon entry level audiophile HP will start at $1500. Ridiculous!!!

Couldnt agree more, it needs nipping in the bud asap!

remember back when SE846 launched, people gasped, fainted, slapped themselfs, shout insanity at its $1000 price tag. Jump years ahead and now this is fine, completely normal price for iems but the shock is with $3000+ now instead.