Some of the world’s most expensive pairs of headphones

Focal Utopia by Tournaire – $120,000 (approx. £98,000)

Launched in Tournaire’s Paris boutique in 2016 (and at CES in Las Vegas soon after) the $120,000 Focal Utopia by Tournaire is the world’s most expensive headphones today. Made by master jewellers Tournaire, the design has 18-carat gold mounted with a trilogy of diamonds on the headband totalling 6.5 carats, handcrafted completely in Tournaire’s workshops.

Onkyo H900M with 20-carat diamonds – $100,000 (approx. £82,000)

The Focals aren’t the just luxury headphones to have lit up Sin City during CES; Onkyo took its H900M cans and added 20-carat diamonds to its earcups. Onkyo also embedded these diamonds onto aluminium plates surrounded by a ring of beautifully polished stainless steel.

Sennheiser Orpheus/HE 1 – £51,000

Earlier called Orpheus, the flagship Sennheiser HE-1 headphones have their own valve amplification. Once commissioned by the customer, Sennheiser says “each pair can be customised to become as individual as its future owner”.

The chassis is made of Carrara marble, the same type Michaelangelo, is used for his sculptures.

Warwick Acoustics Sonoma Model One – £4995

The headphones don’t feel particularly high-end – the headband which is made up of tough Nylon 12 polymer, may creak a little when twisted, this headphone system sounds so stunningly clear and informative that we can’t help but get involved with the music.