New Loewe Headphones, The Price Is Astronomical But You Do Get Diamonds Thrown In

Loewe Technology the European TV brand has announced its first move into the luxury headphone market with the help of jeweller Jacob & Co, and before you get excited you had better be prepared to stump up some serious cash for these headphones. 

The two companies launched a pair of bespoke, limited-edition over-ear headphones at an exclusive event in Monaco and the price is staggering. 

Literally pushing the boat out in celebration, the exotic head-fi was unveiled on the brand’s newly commissioned Tankoa T55 Sportiva superyacht, in Monaco’s iconic Port Hercule. Loewe CEO Aslan Khabliev announced the gemstone encrusted over-ears, saying they are “the finest in the world.”

Only ten pairs will be produced worldwide. The Noir Rainbow edition is adorned with 15.97 carats of multi-coloured sapphires, while the Ice Diamond version is set with 12.47 carats of white diamonds. Prices start at $185,000.

That launch figure might sound like satire, but Loewe is very serious about its entry into the rarefied world of haute joaillerie audio. With champagne flowing and caviar-topped canapés making the rounds, the setting was almost as extravagant as the headphones themselves.

I was fortunate enough to get an early listen, no doubt sticking out like a sore thumb amongst the glamour. But here’s the thing: beneath the hype and the gemstones, this first foray into the highly competitive world of luxury personal audio sounds exceptionally fine.

For one thing, they are astonishingly dynamic. Yes, treble has diamond clarity, but bass boasts satisfying authority too. I ran through everything from Ella Fitzgerald to Daft Punk, and they handled genre shifts with impressive ease.

Both models offer adaptive active noise cancellation, with voice assistant support, and a battery promising up to 65 hours of playback. Loewe’s engineers have clearly worked hard to ensure these headphones are no baubles.

The launch’s glamour was boosted by the arrival of French footballer Kylian Mbappé, now a strategic investor in Loewe through his firm Coalition Capital. Holding more than 10 per cent of the company, Mbappé is expected to help the brand expand beyond Europe into markets in Asia and North America.  

To drive their credibility home, Loewe staged a blind listening comparison onboard, against five rival flagship headphones, including models from Focal, Mark Levenson and Apple. By the end of the evening, Loewe’s shiny newcomers had (perhaps unsurprisingly) won over the assembled crowd.  

Of course, with just ten pairs to be sold globally, these jewel-encrusted editions are intended as halo products. But Khabliev confirmed that a more affordable core edition, stripped of diamonds and sapphires but retaining the same acoustic engineering and premium build, will launch later this year.