Sony recently announced their next generation over-the-ear noise cancelling headphones: the forever stupidly named WH-1000XM6. I’m sure the new cans are better performing and whatnot, but what gets me is the new price. A $50 increase to the already hefty $400 of the previous generation.
$450 for a pair of headphones? Do people realize how much money that is? Think of how many hours you have to work to even net $450 into your deposit account. I’m old enough to remember when premium consumer noise cancelling headphones were in the $300s range. And please spare me with the “Well, if you adjust for inflation…”
Of course, $450 for the Sony cans is still not as insane as the $550 Apple’s been charging for their AirPods Max. Every time I see a student on campus with a pair those, I fail to fathom how one is capable of spending such a large chunk of their income (remember: students) on headphones. $199 for a pair of AirPods Pro (when it’s on sale at third party merchants, which is often) is all the private listening device I need. Travel? The AirPods Pro is vastly smaller than any of the over-the-ear products.
On MKBHD’s review of the Sony WH-1000XM6, he initially bristled at the $50 price increase, but at the end concluded that it’s worth it. I am sorry, but a guy with millions of dollars in net worth is a poor judge of value. Marques is no longer of the proletariat class. He can afford to wipe his ass with $50 bills. Spending $450 on consumer electronics is but a drop in the ocean for him. I don’t think he can appropriately judge worth for the typical consumer netting a few thousands a month in income.
I’m not hating on MKBHD. He deserves all the rewards for his ceaseless hard work. Enjoy your millions, King. I’m simply taking his judgement of value with a carton load of sea salt.
Reverie.