No matter how expensive, a pair of earphones simply do not feel captivating enough just by looking at it. That is unless you see the ‘Lab 2’ from S-Next a boutique premium audio gear manufacturer based in Japan. The earphones are encased in a Steampunk styled 3D modeled casing made of Titanium. Along with giving a unique look the casing also improves the distribution of high-frequency sounds. Housed inside the casing is a 15mm dynamic driver designed for the sole purpose ‘accurate reproduction of audio’. The back of the driver is made of titanium which improves low frequency sounds reproduction. The housing is designed to simulate a gap between the ear canal and the housing resulting in a natural sound field.
3D Printing of metals leaves a very rough finish especially with a strong metal like titanium. But the company uses a proprietary chemical treatment which increases the glossiness and according to the company results in the highest level of smoothness. Limited to just 200 units the Lab 2 earphones will be available from October 22 in Japan for 450,000 Yen ($ 4300), making them the most expensive 3D printed earphones in the world.
[Via : Final-Audio-Design (Japanese)]
