The Only $1,500 Headphones You'll Ever Need

Yesterday I had the rare opportunity to get my ears on what may be the most expensive headphones currently for sale anywhere in the world, the Ultrasone Edition 9, which retail for a whopping $1,499. No returns. All sales final.

Now I know you're asking: What could possibly make a pair of headphones worth more than my entire stereo system? I'm not an audio engineer, but the proof is certainly in the sound. Compared to earbuds or normal over-the-ear headphones, the Edition 9s are incomparably better. Naturally, the clarity is exquisite. Listening to a song I'd heard hundreds of times before, I suddenly became aware that the noise I'd previously thought was some kind of rippling corduroy sound effect was actually a tambourine. Who knew?

Ultrasone's rep also explained to me why the sound field was so much broader than with standard headphones. That's because the Ultrasone driver isn't centered directly in front of the ear canal but rather offset so that the sound bounces through the ear the way it would in a concert hall or a recording studio. The result is a kind of surround sound that lets you actually hear (or think you hear) instruments playing in different locations around you rather than just on the left or right. The effect is so impressive Ultrasone says that some professional sound mixers are using the headphones in lieu of pricey studios.

Naturally, Ultrasone hasn't skimped on the materials here. Plugs are gold plated, the driver is made from titanium and Mylar, and the cups and headband pad are crafted from Ethiopian hair sheep (making them unbelievably soft). They're also surprisingly light, and even with no music playing, they block out so much outside noise it was impossible to have a conversation with them on.

Sure, I'm not about to drop the equivalent of four car payments on a set of headphones, but if you require the best, well, you've found it. Should you encounter the Edition 9s at an audio store or trade show, I highly encourage you to give them a listen, even if you have no intention of buying them.