Beyerdynamic's Headzone headphone promise "perfect spatial impression"

We've got another from the pre-IFA run-up, this time it's Germany's own Beyerdynamic getting set to launch their Headzone Home surround-sound headphone system. Using their patented "Headtracking" tech, the kit is said to react to the listener's head movements and automatically adapt "the space impression" in real-time. In other words, the actors' voices remain at the front of the room even while turning your head. They even claim to deliver "perfect spatial impression" regardless of your room acoustics. With a list price of €2490/$3,397, they'd better. Best give these a whirl in a noisy showroom before laying out that kind of dough, though.

[bombastinator @ Aug 28th 2007 5:18AM]

OMG! Look at those antennae on top!

I guess there are some people in the world who just don't think they look dorky enough and are willing to spend thousands of dollars to do so. These things are like giving yourself a wedgie in the high school locker room.

[Bad Beaver @ Aug 28th 2007 5:40AM]

Did mommy allow you to use the computer again? Bad, bad boy.

[bombastinator @ Aug 28th 2007 5:53AM]

No seriously. Look at those antennae things on top of the headset! Would you seriously want to be caught in public wearing those things? It's like a bad 70's doctor who costume.

[McGinley @ Aug 28th 2007 6:22AM]

These are designed for home use and home use alone.

Besides maybe we're not all as caught up with our self image as you are...

[Region Free HD @ Aug 28th 2007 6:31AM]

Those aren't antennae, look at the cord comming out of those. That thing on top is for head tracking.

That said, €2490/$3,397 and they couldn't even make it wireless? Also, what do room acoustics have to do wih how a pair of headphones sounds?

[bombastinator @ Aug 28th 2007 6:40AM]

I guess one would have to be.

It really is an odd setup though. This thing looks like the setup for a Wii, but backwards.

Assuming it works more or less the same way (a fairly safe bet) if one puts the widely spaced photosensors on the stereo instead, or better yet on the speakers which are even farther apart, the thing wouldn't look nearly as stupid. You'd need more electronics in the headset, but hey, just pull apart a wiimote. They even have an unactivated audio out jack on them.

[Orpheus @ Aug 28th 2007 6:28AM]

Although that Headtracking thing sounds cool, why would you be moving your head around much when you're watching a movie or something?

[bombastinator @ Aug 28th 2007 6:44AM]

Two words: air guitar.

[Julian @ Aug 28th 2007 6:53AM]

Why not just spend that $3,397 on a hifi and loads of sound proofing?
wouldn't that have the same effect...but for way less money

[McGinley @ Aug 28th 2007 7:09AM]

No,it would be the same effect for the SAME price if you spend $3,397 on it.

[MikeG @ Aug 30th 2007 4:40AM]

lol, owned.

[bombastinator @ Aug 28th 2007 7:14AM]

re: regionfree HD
There are two types of antennae. the kind that detect radio waves,(radio antenna) and the kind that are two rods sticking out of your head with knobs on the ends(insect antennae). I was referring to the latter.

I didn't see the cord though, good point. Off hand though I'd say that the reason they're not wireless is that they want decent sound out of them.

The wireless headphones I've seen are decidedly low-fi. It's just hard to pack enough data for really good sound into a radio signal and then unpack it using small battery powered equipment. You might as well just strap the entire stereo to your head.

[dark_helmet @ Aug 28th 2007 12:30PM]

But that would get heavy and you would look like even more of a dork. I think we can all agree that while there are kinks to be worked out in the headphone department, nobody deserves to be subjected to a stereo duct-taped to their face.

[bombastinator @ Aug 28th 2007 1:09PM]

I dunno. "no one" is a very widely encompassing term. What about the dude who wrote "hamster dance"?

[John @ Aug 28th 2007 3:01PM]

He doesn't deserve to have a head to strap a stereo onto.

[philipbarrett @ Aug 28th 2007 9:08AM]

I'd say ho-humm too except that it's from Beyer who are one of the most respected & conservative professional audio manufacturers and hardly prone to hyperbole.

[Dave @ Aug 28th 2007 10:08AM]

Interesting, that looks like a DT880. Which you can get for under $300. Charging ten times that for whatever they're adding on makes me wonder..

[Mike @ Aug 28th 2007 12:53PM]

"perfect spatial impression" regardless of your room acoustics? No shit, they're headphones. I've yet to see a pair that are affected by room acoustics.

[bombastinator @ Aug 28th 2007 3:22PM]

I think what they do is make it seem like the sound is coming from a particular direction. If you turn your head to the left it will make it louder on your left ear. Handy for movies and whatnot I suspect. It also likely alleviates a problem with headphones in that if you have music with large "side to side" motion movements it doesn't seem like the music is bouncing through the middle of one's skull

[Wwhat @ Aug 28th 2007 5:13PM]

Well yes that's what they do, but why must it cost that much? it's 2007 the extra 'technology' should add no more than say 80 bucks, I mean the Wii can do tracking and isn't that much.
Although it should be noted that it's a surround sound system not a stereo system, so it requires manipulation a bit more complex than a simple volume adjust I imagine, plus you pay for the 5.1 to headphone system in that price.

[Mike @ Aug 29th 2007 10:01AM]

Yup, I was aware of what they are intended to do, I just thought bringing in room acoustics to justify a premium on a pair of headphones was a little odd.

[Brendan @ Aug 28th 2007 3:12PM]

They are Beyer dt880s, just like the ones resting on my head right now. 880s are widely regarded as some of the most neutral, fantastic sounding headphones you can buy. The extra cost comes from the spatial tracking technology on the phones, and the signal processor / headphone amp they plug into. The reason they aren't wireless is that they have a high resistance. Probably 250 ohms. Wireless headphones need to be battery powered and generally sound like poo because its hard to design a headphone shape that sounds good and fit the driver plus all the extra electronics that comes with a wireless design. To properly design a 5.1 system that sounded as good as these phones you might need to spend a lot more then they cost, but if you knew what you are doing you could probably do it for less. They do seem a little frivolous but their are headphones out there that cost more then this entire system.

[matt byrne @ Aug 28th 2007 7:20PM]

The Sennheiser's with the tube pre-amp were way cooler than this.

I only really listen to music at home on my iPod and headphones and these seem like overkill. Having said that, I'd love a set of Sennheiser HD650s.