This is by far NOT EVEN the most expensive item of one of the most fines watchmaker's product line:
http://www.watchmaxx.com/watch/patek-philippe-grand-complications-men-5213G-001
Do your own research to find wristwatches priced for over a million bucks. Now are these watches more punctual than a 50$ quartz Casio? Hardly. These are really handcrafted statement products. (your average Rolex is handcrafted? Hah, forget it). Of course, a perpetual calendar movement will cost more than an average movement but you can get a nice Tissot perpetual calendar for less than 600$, brand new straight out from Switzerland with warranty. With these multi hundredthousand -dollar timepieces you pay for the finest materials, white gold, aligator skin, etc.
and the brand name it comes with. Alas, most people outthere never even heard the word Patek, so when they look at your watch they won't realize it's not stainless steel but white gold, etc.
Only you know what is on your wrist and it makes you feel just good and proud. Luxury watchmakers built a multi billion dollar business on this concept.
Want the most punctual watches? Get a japanese masterpiece (I remember it's a Seiko) which automatically adjusts its time by connecting to some atomic clock on a daily basis for like 700$, brand new (if memory serves me right).
The aforementioned Patek model costs way more yet it's not as punctual as the Seiko.
What you pay for is the name, the brand and, sometimes, the innovation. (think of kinetic watches, for instance).
Now we have this new flagship from Sennheiser. According to the news it emplyos innovative approaches and materials to further push the barriers of our headphone realm. It's not only like you buy an elegant product from a respected luxury company (a'la Patek) but something that had never been done before. I don't know Jude Mansilla personally, but based on his background I'm sure he knows what he talks about when it comes to headphones. When he says this new product was something like he NEVER heard before in terms of realism, I tend to believe him. And you know what? If someone can pull such a feat, that would be only Sennheiser or Stax, I think.
In a way I understand the source of the negative comments as I'm one of those who love this hobby with great music and I know I won't be able to check these out let alone to own one. But to bash this company who have invested 10+ years into this product to come up with something we never heard/seen before is simply foolish.
And I by no means trying to talk low on the beautifully crafted luxury watches I just ry to bring some attention to the fact that some people spend quite a lot of dough on luxury products that serve only one goal: to stand out. If you can afford and decide to buy this new Orpheus you shall not stand out (well, maybe a little bit
) but you will possess a headphone system so innovative that even most of our contemporary headphone lovers/aficionados can't really apprecaite.
I have a feeling with this model Sennheiser created something that will be only appreciated by the posterity. On the flipside, chances are, that, because of the asking price, many of these items will be bought up by millionaires who won't even know the difference between a sollid state vs tube amp!
My two cents.