I've noticed some of the best rated/most recommended headphones are years old

[xsoccer92x]

Is there a reason for that? Most other consumer products have a new release once a year or so. Does the headphone market not have set releases (yearly, every 2 years)? 
 
And if there is new products, it seems like the older ones still trump them. Any thoughts?

 

[squallkiercosa]

Headphones' technology doesn't improve at the same as electronics in general. Some older headphones can sound even better than newer ones. Some of them are already proved, tested and people now their capabilities. Some headphones were designed with durability in mind, something rare these days. What matter is sound quality in the end, not looks. 

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Is there a reason for that? Most other consumer products have a new release once a year or so. Does the headphone market not have set releases (yearly, every 2 years)? 
 
And if there is new products, it seems like the older ones still trump them. Any thoughts?

I would assume some headphone manufacturers are trying to sell headphones that have appeal on what is on the "outside" of the headphones.
I would also assume some people buy stuff just because it has the label "new design" in it's title.

 

[Trunks159]

  Is there a reason for that? Most other consumer products have a new release once a year or so. Does the headphone market not have set releases (yearly, every 2 years)? 
 
And if there is new products, it seems like the older ones still trump them. Any thoughts?

Not for the portable headphone market.  They're pretty much all new lol.  The 1r, momentum, m500, k550 (kinda), ws99, m4u, etc.
 
As for the open/home headphones, there are only a few newer contenders, for example, the Sony MDR MA900, ATH AD900x, and Fidelio X1.