Meet the new Sennheiser Orpheus

[pagani123]

i must be honest, but is it only me, or do you guys sort of prefer the old amp over the new one?

 

the new headphones looks ballin... but the marble amp simply puts me off.

i do like the old one better than the new one but if this is used as a show piece there suited for different houses the old one is suited for a more art deco house and the new one is suited for modern styled house 

[pagani123]

As if the pricing of TOTL headphones wasn't already ridiculous enough, he have to endure this nonsense.

i dont think its nonsense first off that marble is quite expensive plus all the gold and other extraordinarily expensive components second thats 10 years of r and d they will likely drop their price as they continue to make them but these things probably only belong in a studio setting anyways 

[Prysin]

i do like the old one better than the new one but if this is used as a show piece there suited for different houses the old one is suited for a more art deco house and the new one is suited for modern styled house 

well, you need a house full of glass and steel to make the new one fit in.

 

Also... i'm a sucker for art deco stuff. just looks really nice if it is executed thoroughly.

[pagani123]

well, you need a house full of glass and steel to make the new one fit in.

 

Also... i'm a sucker for art deco stuff. just looks really nice if it is executed thoroughly.

i am also a sucker for art deco but i like modern styling as well (and lets face it if your going to drop 50 grand on a pair of headphones there going to be a show piece) the new one would be perfect for a house like this

the old one would be perfect for this house

(this is actually my favorite house its called blairsden very pretty especially the interior)

[SSL]

i dont think its nonsense first off that marble is quite expensive plus all the gold and other extraordinarily expensive components second thats 10 years of r and d they will likely drop their price as they continue to make them but these things probably only belong in a studio setting anyways 

 

You pretty much made my point for me.

 

I get the appeal of luxury items, and I'm sure they are nice for people that can afford them, but audio is particularly plagued with expensive snake oil and prestige pricing inflation. I guarantee that this headphone will only usher in yet more expensive headphones. We've already seen $3k and $4k headphones recently from HiFiman and Audeze. What next?

[pagani123]

You pretty much made my point for me.

 

I get the appeal of luxury items, and I'm sure they are nice for people that can afford them, but audio is particularly plagued with expensive snake oil and prestige pricing inflation. I guarantee that this headphone will only usher in yet more expensive headphones. We've already seen $3k and $4k headphones recently from HiFiman and Audeze. What next?

yes i understand that its silly and they probably added an extra 0 on their pricing because there sennheiser and they can. but the materials cost at least 5 to 10 thousand. granted the marble really wasn't needed but the gold and other exotic materials in the headphones are used for a specific reason and not just for show  

[SSL]

exotic materials in the headphones are used for a specific reason and not just for show  

 

I think it's a bit premature to draw conclusions about the materials science in a headphone we know nothing about.

 

Senneheiser obviously went overboard because this is a statement product. My point is that this is at best silly, and potentially not that great for the direction of headphone audio as a whole.

[spwath]

I think it's a bit premature to draw conclusions about the materials science in a headphone we know nothing about.

 

Senneheiser obviously went overboard because this is a statement product. My point is that this is at best silly, and potentially not that great for the direction of headphone audio as a whole.

Yeah they probably could have made them cheaper. I dont think a marble base is necicary.

[SSL]

Yeah they probably could have made them cheaper. I dont think a marble base is necicary.

 

Apparently it's to dampen vibrations in the tubes.

[spwath]

Apparently it's to dampen vibrations in the tubes.

Because tube vibrations are a problem?

[SSL]

Because tube vibrations are a problem?

 

Microphonics are a thing. Whether or not it's necessary to combat them by making your amp out of marble is less clear.

[ttam]

The HE90 is probably my most expensive item owned next to cars and a house. Was gifted them by a family friend who owned a recording studio before he passed away.

[Rune]

Surprised this made it to the second page before this happened, but: in b4 someone asks Linus to do a review.

[2FA]

When they remake them again in another 20 years, they'll be $150,000.

[Albatross]

I don't see what was wrong with the old design, but the new one looks really nice too. Too bad that thing wouldn't stay on my head.  :lol:

[BuckGup]

If anyone here has ever listened to tubes you know the difference. There is no such thing as compression and it sounds like 1000% better then records

[SSL]

If anyone here has ever listened to tubes you know the difference. There is no such thing as compression and it sounds like 1000% better then records

 

Right...

[BuckGup]

Right...

Analog sounds so much better then digital.

[SSL]

Analog sounds so much better then digital.

 

Right... despite having higher distortion, lower dynamic range, serious physical limitations, and much more quality variance. It's just more musical. Mm. Love it.

[Andrew Storlie]

I guess its time to start my "kidnapping, stealing organs and selling them on the black market" business lol

[Sithhy]

I'll take 3 of them in the not nearest future possible

[BuckGup]

Right... despite having higher distortion, lower dynamic range, serious physical limitations, and much more quality variance. It's just more musical. Mm. Love it.

It is the warmth that comes through it that amazes me

[SSL]

It is the warmth that comes through it that amazes me

 

Indeed. Compared to digital, with all those square-edged bits, unforgivingly cold and sterile. Standing clinical and measured sentinal over a morgue of sound, all emotion faded and forgotten. It's enough to make you cry, really.

[Philosobyte]

Right... despite having higher distortion, lower dynamic range, serious physical limitations, and much more quality variance. It's just more musical. Mm. Love it.

 

Indeed. Compared to digital, with all those square-edged bits, unforgivingly cold and sterile. Standing clinical and measured sentinal over a morgue of sound, all emotion faded and forgotten. It's enough to maake you cry, really.

lmaooooooo

 

But come on, just that some people think tube-style frequency/transient response sounds warmer/more enjoyable doesn't mean they see digital audio as emotionless  

 

Also the tubes I've seen all impart a frequency response far from flat, so I'm guessing the Orpheus isn't aiming to be neutral (at least when paired with its amp). So that's quite a bummer. 

[BuckGup]

Indeed. Compared to digital, with all those square-edged bits, unforgivingly cold and sterile. Standing clinical and measured sentinal over a morgue of sound, all emotion faded and forgotten. It's enough to maake you cry, really.

Indeed it does make you cry. 

You obviously haven't listened to analog amps then.