Sennheiser to Display Legendary $12,900 Orpheus Headphones

In celebration of its relentless 'Pursuit of Perfect Sound,' Sennheiser [Booth 20500] will display its legendary Orpheus headphones at its booth during CES 2013. Also known as the HE90, the Orpheus debuted in 1991 and was immediately recognized in audiophile circles as the best sounding, most innovative headphone system ever made. Indeed, it is still considered by many to represent the very pinnacle of audio reproduction.

With a limited production run of just 300, the Orpheus originally carried a retail pricetag of US $12,900, making it the most expensive headphone ever made when it was introduced at the Berlin International Radio Exhibition over two decades ago. Now a unique collector's item for the audio community's most absolute purists, the Orpheus can sometimes be found on today's auction sites for nearly triple that amount.

The Orpheus originally consisted of an HE90/HEV90 electrostatic headphone and amplifier system, and was intended to reproduce uncolored and undistorted sound with high accuracy and clarity. The HEV90 vacuum tube amplifier - a striking visual feast of audio componentry - utilized an all valve analog signal path and an onboard dedicated digital to analog converter (DAC).

The HE90 headphone design itself included a microscopically thin, platinum-coated diaphragm and electrodes made of special glass - which proved helpful in establishing a superior time response and reducing acoustical losses in the audio frequency range. The ear cushion, meanwhile, was instrumental in defining the overall sound balance and was optimized for both sound quality and comfort.

When it was introduced in 1991, the Orpheus was unsurpassed in its masterful design and uncompromising sonic purity. The essence of this perfection is still reflected in every product that Sennheiser manufactures to this day.