[Doug Freyburger]

josephkk wrote:
Dick Pierce wrote:
RichD wrote:

Why does that cost $40 extra?

It costs extra because of the signal processing,
mixing capability to properly blend the processed
mic signal with the incoming music signal, amplifiers
to power the headphone drivers themselves, the
mechanical packaging to hold it all together, etc.

Where does the energy for all that processing and mixing come from?
?-)

Each headset comes with its own tiny little self contained thorium
breeder reactor. Part of the cost is in developing them that small, but
most of it was in getting the shielding light enough that the head sets
don't crush you under their weight. ;^)