[Moontan13]

Realistic Optimus Pro 25, originaly priced at $40 in '87 or thereabouts.

I read about this lightweight 40mm re-branded Koss headphone in Stereophile magazine, getting an excellent review, and deservedly so. These were the only portable phones I used up until a month or so ago when I got some marshmallows. Got a 2nd pair, dated 1994, as a backup, but haven't had to use them yet. The one downside to it is the volume slider, as it has to be taken apart and cleaned every now and then.

 

[MoodySteve]

Audio Technica ATH-W11JPN

AKG K1000 (not sure how rare it was, but it's out of production)

That high-impedance Sennheiser that Head-fi gave away a prototype of to the winner of a photo contest a while back.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoodySteve /img/forum/go_quote.gif AKG K1000 (not sure how rare it was, but it's out of production)

K1000 = around 11000 units. Not rare at all imo...

The MB Quart PMB 1000 is quite rare though. Never seen anyone around Head-Fi!

 

[Uncle Erik]

Philodox - I think the DT48 is still in production. Last I checked, the DT48E was selling at B&H with an e-mail price of $306. Though they are rare around here and offer top notch performance.

And while it is not a great headphone, the Stax Aperio Alpha is tough to come by and still sounds pretty good. It was Stax's attempt at a dynamic headphone. I got a pair some time back and squirreled them away. I will bring them to the LA meet in a couple of weeks and CanJam 2009.

 

[bjarnetv]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif The MB Quart PMB 1000 is quite rare though. Never seen anyone around Head-Fi!

most Peerless PMBs are rare: never seen a 1000, only one 500, four 100s, one silverline and one 85DA

there are also too many rare (and great) orthos and electrostats to mention.

 

[wolf18t]

Sennheiser HD540 Reference Gold edition in the wood box. I had the regular HD540 that I replaced later by HD560 Ovation.

 

[kool bubba ice]

The 48 A.00. They are made to order. Can take up to 6 month to make, and each transducer is carefully hand selected and comes with their own FR chart, since each will very a bit from headphone to headphone. To me, that makes then very rare. So rare, most headphone zealots have no clue what they are. So far I only know of 3 owners at headfi, and they have the E models, not the A models. The E models can be purchased at BH Photo for 311.00. The A's retail for 447.00. I can honestly say thats a bargain, with a midrange, neutralality and detail that can hang with headphones costing 3-6 times as much.. And maybe the best for accustics.

 

[Zorander]

The AKG K145 is a rare item too. It is a lesser version of the K340 (IMO) but sounds more intimate than its big sister.

Edit: I am currently waiting for an AKG K20 to arrive. No comment on sound as I have not heard it (though if its looks has any relation to sound, it probably is not that great), but rare it certainly is.

 

[Akabeth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donunus /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wow, no mention of the r10 yet.

AFAIK, there are more than 1000 R10 units produced.

Not rare compared to some other great performers methinks

 

[subtle]

Some of the suggestions in this thread are quite suspect. How a headphone that is still in production can be labeled as "rarest" is beyond me?

To actually meet the criteria of the OP, the Qualia 010 and Grado PS-1. End of story.

 

[myinitialsaredac]

Orpheus isnt in production any longer,
Assuming it sounds pretty darn decent to fetch that kind of money.
Seems a bit rare with only 300 made.

Dave

 

[John E Woven]

how many qualia 010's were made / sold ?

 

[jjcha]

I've owned or passed on numerous opportunities to own most of the headphones mentioned in this thread with one exception, the Stax Omega 1. They just don't come up that often. I guess one could say the L3000G is just as rare or rarer, but buying that sound is rather easy.

Best,

-Jason

 

[philodox]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif Philodox - I think the DT48 is still in production. Last I checked, the DT48E was selling at B&H with an e-mail price of $306. Though they are rare around here and offer top notch performance.

Really? That's the best news I've heard all day. Been reading about these headphones a bit lately and they intrigue me. Is the DT48E the preffered version?

 

[coolcat]

I just do some googles
here in Germany
BEYERDYNAMIC DT-48 E / 200 OHM costs 259 €
BEYERDYNAMIC DT-48 E / 25 OHM costs 279€
the prise is around 210 brit pound

here is the links to the shop in UK
Search Results - Page 1 - U.K. International Cyberstore

for the BEYERDYNAMIC DT 48 A.00 I donn't think you have to wait for a long time if you want to order them. Here in germany they cost EUR 295,00
and I've seen it costs $389.00 by this
Beyerdynamic DT 48 A.00 Closed Dynamic Headphones
But actually as i said I just did google.So I am too not sure if these shops can send us the headphones in a short time after ordering.