[Feilong4]

So they're going to cost $2,199 according to CNET? 
 
Welp there goes my hopes and dreams..

 

[LajostheHun]

I would have to agree, but I think it really depends on what gear they are auditioning these headphones on. If it is the DAP or Sony's new Amp (which is probably is) I doubt these headphones are reaching anywhere close to their true potential.

- InsanityOne 

Curious comment from someone who hasn't heard them yet. But more importantly you think the DAC/amp that was specifically designed with this headphone in concert yet it is not gonna reach it's full potential? Why because it's a Sony and not some boutique brand?

 

[Whitigir]

Curious comment from someone who hasn't heard them yet. But more importantly you think the DAC/amp that was specifically designed with this headphone in concert yet it is not gonna reach it's full potential? Why because it's a Sony and not some boutique brand?

your statue needs both palms

 

[LajostheHun]

your statue needs both palms

good one.

 

[deafdoorknob]

Curious comment from someone who hasn't heard them yet. But more importantly you think the DAC/amp that was specifically designed with this headphone in concert yet it is not gonna reach it's full potential? Why because it's a Sony and not some boutique brand?

the mix of hype and antihype is endemic to product launches I suppose.

 

[JayLam]

From the price, Z1R will not be as legendary as R10 and Q010...
But still exciting!

 

[The Life]

If Sony secretly-re-released the R10 for $500 as MDR-A1872782, audiophiles will criticize it for having "tubey bass," a "honky midrange" and "veiled treble." More people should listen with their ears and not their wallets.

All aside, I'm pretty excited to hear these. Even from photos, these are the most gorgeous full-size headphones I've ever laid eyes on. All they have to do is not suck and Sony can have my Amex.

 

[Currawong]

  From the price, Z1R will not be as legendary as R10 and Q010...
But still exciting!

I don't think that is a sensible thought. The R10s were $2500 (about $4000 in today's money) with a very fancy case. I assume the Z1Rs don't have a super-fancy leather and wood case this time. They don't have exotically shaped woods either, and taking into account what are likely more efficient methods of manufacture and the simpler design of at least the headband and gimbals, a much higher price is arguably unnecessary. Regardless, I'd put the R10s performance on the same level as the HD800s (both from listening and from measurements) though they do have radically different tuning.  I would hope that these perform much better than the R10s as the goalposts have shifted considerably.   If Sony headphone pricing follows history with these, I'd expect to see them on sale at HD800S/Ether Flow/Audeze LCD-3 levels within a few months, which means months of arguments about which median-high-end-headphone-priced flagship is the best. 

 

[XERO1]

More people should listen with their ears and not their wallets.

 
Truuf!!
 
 

Even from photos, these are the most gorgeous full-size headphones I've ever laid eyes on. All they have to do is not suck and Sony can have my Amex.

 
Same goes for me, brotha!  

 

[gto88]

Do you guys feel that these manufactures are raising the price of  so called flagship model.
is it money getting worthless, or their product really worth it?
is it just for $3k HP over a $2k one?
I hope all trusted reviewers to compare flagship to flagship and state if one is worth the money
over the other.
My wallet cannot catch up on this high price trend.

 

[deafdoorknob]

MDR-R10 - 1988 - 360,000 Yen / $2,500 USD (inflation adjusted $5,083.12) 
QUALIA 010 - 2004 - 260,000 Yen / $2,515 USD (inflation adjusted $3,203.96)
AKG K1000 - 1989 - $1,200 USD (inflation adjusted $2,328.84)

 

[Arzeboj]

  Do you guys feel that these manufactures are raising the price of  so called flagship model.
is it money getting worthless, or their product really worth it?
is it just for $3k HP over a $2k one?
I hope all trusted reviewers to compare flagship to flagship and state if one is worth the money
over the other.
My wallet cannot catch up on this high price trend.

No one can tell you if it's WORTH $2000. That'f for you to judge. Keep in mind that people also have different incomes and different priorities in how they spend their money. For some, maybe $2k is worth it. For others, it will not. It just depends. Value and worth are all relative IMO. But certainly prices have been going pretty up there. But that's just cause there is a demand for them and people buy it. Too bad I'm just a student. NONE of this stuff is in my range LOL

 

[deafdoorknob]

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232185

https://bostonreview.net/forum/paul-bloom-lure-luxury

Lest we forget that aside from sound engineers, sound editors most products priced above the apple earbuds, koss portapro and sennheiser hd280s are luxury items, in that they are non essential items.

 

[gr8soundz]

Curious comment from someone who hasn't heard them yet. But more importantly you think the DAC/amp that was specifically designed with this headphone in concert yet it is not gonna reach it's full potential? Why because it's a Sony and not some boutique brand?

 
They're all boutique brands at these prices.
 

  Do you guys feel that these manufactures are raising the price of  so called flagship model.
is it money getting worthless, or their product really worth it?
is it just for $3k HP over a $2k one?
I hope all trusted reviewers to compare flagship to flagship and state if one is worth the money
over the other.
My wallet cannot catch up on this high price trend.

 
Prices keep going up because someone is always willing to pay the asking price and some believe that low price means low performance (and low expectations, less exclusive, less confidence in the product hence the lower price, etc.).
 

 

[Deftone]

£1,700 on sony.co.uk

Let the lust begin...