Sheet 05 of 05
Archive
Collectors follow lines the way watch people follow calibres. This sheet traces how the great flagships evolved, lists the makers who build to order, and opens a desk for buying and selling rare pieces privately.
- Lineages
- 6
- Models archived
- 34
- Bespoke makers
- 9
- Private desk
- By enquiry
Sennheiser open reference
2015, launched at about €50,000
Sennheiser HE 1
Announced in November 2015 as the Orpheus successor, with an amplifier in a Carrara marble housing and, per Sennheiser, the first electrostatic headphone with a Cool Class A MOS-FET high-voltage amplifier integrated into the ear cups.
Open it in the catalogSony flagship line
2016, launched at $2,300
Sony MDR-Z1R
Flagship of the Signature Series introduced at IFA 2016, with 2.75-inch (70 mm) magnesium-dome drivers and a beta titanium headband, launched alongside the TA-ZH1ES amplifier and NW-WM1Z Walkman.
Open it in the catalogStax electrostatic Earspeakers
2021, launched at ¥693,000
Stax SR-X9000
Announced in September 2021 with a four-layer MLER-3 metal-mesh fixed electrode and a diaphragm 20 percent larger than the SR-009S.
Open it in the catalogAudeze LCD series
2026, launched at $4,500
Audeze LCD-5s
Debuted at NAMM in January 2026 with SLAM acoustic technology and redesigned earpads, and Headfonics reports it replaces the original LCD-5.
Open it in the catalogHIFIMAN planar flagships
2024, launched at $8,000
HIFIMAN Susvara Unveiled
Announced on June 4, 2024 as the follow-up to the Susvara, with the driver grilles removed, a silver conductor layer and a suggested price of $8,000.
Focal flagships
2022, launched at $4,999
Focal Utopia (2022)
Revised Utopia launched in September 2022 with honeycomb grilles and a forged recycled-carbon yoke, at a US price of $4,999 against $3,999 for the 2016 original.
Open it in the catalogCircles are dynamic drivers, squares planar magnetic, diamonds electrostatic. Amber marks the current end of each line. Years are the maker’s first official announcement. Lines show succession within each maker’s flagship range, which is not always direct engineering descent. Launch prices are in the currency they were announced in.
Bespoke makers
- LavricablesGrand Silver Focal Utopia upgrade cableHandmade upgrade cable for Focal Utopia: 4 cores of AWG20 cryo-treated 6N silver multistrand litz (8-core option), choice of 3.5 mm, 4.4 mm, 6.3 mm and XLR terminationsOffered in nine lengths from 1.2 m to 5 m, with the maker advising at least 150 hours of burn-in.from $558.29
- Cardas AudioClear Beyond Headphone CableTwo separate cables, one per channel, joined by braided blue and black thread; 8 x 25.5 AWG copper plus 4 x 30 AWG silver; Hybrid Metallurgy Matched Propagation Conductor; many headphone terminations availableCardas says adding silver to the Clear conductor was something it had never done before, after several years of development.To order
- Custom Full-Size Headphone CableMade-to-order headphone cables in UP-OCC litz with damping cores and PS outer insulation; in-house connectors with gold-plated copper contacts; one-year warrantyCables are designed and hand assembled at the company's Los Angeles headquarters.To order
- Double Helix CablesPrion4 Headphone CableCustom OCC silver litz headphone cable in 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 10 ft; terminations by headphone type (4-pin mini XLR, dual 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm, 4-pin XLR, Lemo and others); the maker calls it its masterpieceDouble Helix says its Silver Complement of 2009 was the first OCC silver headphone cable.from $1,999
- Lawton AudioCustom Wood Chambers for Fostex / Denon / TH-X00 / E-MUHand-finished wooden ear cup chambers that replace stock cups on Fostex, Denon, TH-X00 and E-MU headphones; woods graded Instrument, Exhibition and MuseumThe finish takes almost a month to cure between coats.from $339
- Hyland HeadphonesVenusOpen-back circumaural headphone; 50 mm 32 ohm dynamic drivers; about 360 g; bespoke woods, cable and tuning on requestEach pair is handmade to order and individually tuned by the maker.£700
- Moon AudioSilver DragonUP-OCC silver with Kevlar, Teflon insulation, Cardas silver solderFour 24 AWG 99.99998% silver conductors, handcrafted and terminated in-house at Moon Audio in Cary, North Carolina.from $825
- Norne AudioSilvergarde SC5 gen250/50 OCC silver and OCC copper litz, cotton coresFour 22 AWG conductors, each a fusion of silver and copper OCC litz, with enlarged cotton cores for damping.from $495
- DanacableLazuli Reference PlusCopper litz with added silver wires, Furutech 1/4in or 4-pin XLRBuilt to the Lazuli Reference midrange voicing with added silver wires for treble extension, offered in versions matched to specific headphones.from $1,399
Private sales desk
Rare pieces, placed quietly
Discontinued flagships, limited runs and collection pieces change hands between people who know what they are. Tell us what you want to sell or what you are hunting for, with photographs and provenance where you have them.
- 01Describe the pieceModel, condition, accessories, purchase history, photographs.
- 02We verify itSerial numbers, provenance and condition, before anything is listed.
- 03We introduce buyer and sellerPrivately, with a fee agreed up front.