I hear you say £999 for the above Astell & Kern AKR02 in ear headphones. Surely not. But I am afraid that is the correct price. And this is just one of a growing band of expensive high end headphones that are emerging.

The AKR02 headphones have been produced in collaboration with Final Audio Design, and use the company’s Balanced Air Movement (BAM) driver technology, which sport a balanced armature design.

There’s a removeable oxygen-free copper cable, while precision-made air holes in the earphones allow airflow in an effort to improve bass levels. The AKR02 earphones are finished in a polished, stainless steel housing, and each pair comes with an Italian leather case complete with a unique serial number.

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