Наушники — Erzetich Audio Charybdis Gold-Plated Limited Edition

The Charybdis Gold-Plated Limited Edition is a numbered variant of the Charybdis open planar magnetic headphone from Erzetich Audio of Slovenia. Only 20 pairs were made, each individually numbered, and the price at launch was 4500 EUR while stocks lasted, compared with 3000 EUR for the regular Charybdis. Like the rest of the Erzetich range, it is assembled by hand in Slovenia.

Key specs that matter

The headphone keeps the planar magnetic driver of the standard model unchanged, so the published data of the base Charybdis apply - an impedance of 43 ohm and an open cup system. The standard version weighs 740 g according to the maker. Erzetich lists no sensitivity or frequency range figure for it. What sets this edition apart is the metalwork - the aluminium parts are plated in 24-karat gold, and the frame has been subtly revised. A redesigned height adjustment system is fitted to the headband to give a better fit. Each pair ships with a Grandioso headphone cable from PixelCables in place of the stock lead.

Engineering and use context

Erzetich builds the Charybdis around cups milled from solid aluminium on CNC machines and a carbon fibre headband. Ear pads are covered in leatherette, as the company does not use animal products. The cable is detachable and balanced, and the connectors on the cups follow the layout used by other major manufacturers, so owners can fit aftermarket cables. A balanced to unbalanced adapter is part of the standard package. The maker states the design is completely serviceable and made in the EU, with a 2-year limited warranty on the Charybdis line. In a planar magnetic driver a thin film with a conductive trace is moved by magnets on both sides, which is why such headphones tend to be heavier than dynamic models with the same cup size, and the weight of the Charybdis reflects that. The limited run is aimed as much at collectors as at listeners, given the small number of pairs.

Pairing

Erzetich names its Scylla fully balanced class A amplifier and the out-of-production Medousa hybrid as suggested partners. Both suit a balanced cable, and the Scylla offers only a 4-pin XLR headphone socket. With the supplied adapter the headphone can also run from a single-ended 6.35 mm jack, such as the one on the Bacillus II.

Alternatives

The standard Erzetich Charybdis is the same open planar magnetic headphone without gold plating, available in silver or black.