Sony’s high-end Qualia 010 stereo headphones cost about $3,299.00USD, have a frequency response of 5-120kHz, and weigh a mere 200 grams. At that spec and with a low rate of production, they’re hard to find, but Audiocubes has one of the few reviews of the 010 available anywhere. 
Writing in italianate English, author Nicola Alfonsi’s prose is sometimes stilted, but there’s no mistaking his high regard for the product, as he slowly waxes enthusiastic about the 010′s “technological leap ” and how it is intended for those “who demand next to the highest level of equipment”. The author apparently listened to the 010 for 4 months in forming his opinions, and used the components listed below. He had some decidedly un-run-of-the-mill equipment (shown below) available for his evaluation, including the Rudistor RP010, which is an amplifier custom built for the Qualia 010.
- Linn Sondek CD 12
- Sony Qualia 010 MDR1
- RudiStor Sound Systems RP010
- Shinpy Spheros cables
- MusicTools shelves
- Siltech Octopus Signature power supply Sony Qualia Q010-MDR1 Stereo Headphones - review by Nicola Alfonsi Sony Brings Music to the Ears of Consumers With Ultimate High Definition Headphones – Sony Press Release for the Qualia 010 on Apr. 21, 2004 RudiStor Sound Systems
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Not to be snarky, but are there a lot of people who demand “next to the highest” level of service?
If it’s cheaper, I’ll take next to the highest any day!
I wouldn’t want to buy headphones like these, but I would want to try them out in order to hear what $3300 headphones sound like.