Instead of creating headphones strictly for the audiophile, PRYMA is setting their sights on the fashion-forward affluent buyer who wants to look just as good as their music sounds. Launched by World of McIntosh and made in Italy at the Sonus Faber factory, PRYMA headphones definitely have the aesthetic part down.
Though there have been many style-conscious tech products in the past, PRYMA seems to be the first that drew directly from the fashion industry when drafting the design—they even use the same Italian leather as the Bottego Veneta purse brand. The headband is reminiscent of a belt or a handbag strap, clipping onto the die-cast aluminum ear cups. Offering four different size settings and five different colors, customers can buy several and mix them up according to their outfits.
PRYMA is definitely stunning to look at, but the overall listening experience doesn’t quite reach the same bar. The audio comes courtesy of Sonus Faber, which is known for making stereo systems and amplifiers. Though the sound quality is warm and rich, giving music a fullness that sounds fantastic with uncompressed tunes, they do very little in the way of cancelling outside noise. One definite perk for audiophiles though is the three-month trial to TIDAL that comes with each set.
Available to purchase directly on October 2, PRYMA is open for pre-ordering now. The standard headphone is priced at $499, while a Special Carbon Marsala edition is available for $549. For those who want several different headbands, they’re on offer separately for $75 each. It’s important to note that the ear cups are not individually available, so make sure the PRYMA set you buy stars the cup color you prefer.
