Most Expensive MP3 Player

Written by: tom Filed Under: Electronics, Fashion, Luxury, Music, World on April 3rd, 2006

The mp3 player, or digital audio player, is a small portable device which plays digital music files, the most common of which are mp3s. Flash-based players, like the Apple iPod Shuffle, and digital jukeboxes, like the larger Apple iPod, are becoming increasingly gadgets used by millions around the world.

After receiving an order from Russian-Canadian billionaire Alex Shnaider, owner of the Midland Formula 1 team, TrekStor a German manufacturer of MP3 players has developed the most expensive MP3 player ever built. This unique custom-made portable music device was created based on TrekStor’s i.Beat organix mp3 player.

The mp3 player has one gigabyte of memory, a battery life of 25 hours, and supports MP3, WMA, WAV, ASF, OGG audio files. But what really makes this an expensive mp3 player is the exterior.

The TrekStor MP3 player i.Beat organix Gold is cast in 18 carat gold and adorned with 63 diamonds (one carat). The gadget also has a modest chain ornamented with aquamarine gems. The exclusive, unique player was presented to the public for the first time at CeBIT, the world’s largest IT trade fair in Germany.

most expensive mp3 player

Jewelers Wenthe in Mannheim/Germany put over 100 hours of meticulous handcraft into the most expensive mp3 player making it an exquisite piece of jewelry.

This mp3 player may never become the most popular, but TrekStor has recently decided to produce a limited series of this magnificent gadget for those who would buy the most expensive mp3 player in the world.

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(99) Comments

99 comments...What do you think?

  1. Posted by Francois 3rd April, 2006 at 3:38 pm

    It’s ugly.

  2. Posted by god3 3rd April, 2006 at 4:00 pm

    yeah, it really is; and it has basically no memory. what kind of consumer would get this?

  3. Posted by fooyaddah14 3rd April, 2006 at 4:27 pm

    Do you really think that the people that buy this CARE how much music it holds? They buy it so that they have to take the earphones off every 12 secs at the country club in order to answer questions about what it is. They want the attention, not a feature-rich player.

  4. Posted by Chris Brunner 3rd April, 2006 at 4:34 pm

    I don’t think it’s ugly.

  5. Posted by Desire Campbell 3rd April, 2006 at 4:40 pm

    “Expensive” even though there’s no price… right.

  6. Posted by Derrik Pates 3rd April, 2006 at 4:57 pm

    If you have to ask…. you can’t afford it. Isn’t that the canonical “rich people” line?

  7. Posted by Jeff 3rd April, 2006 at 6:14 pm

    It’s seriously not even cool looking. Why would anybody buy this?

  8. Posted by Zi 3rd April, 2006 at 7:02 pm

    To everybody that said “it’s not cool looking”

    Do you think the rediculous chains rappers wear look good? How bout dogs in purses? Or coffee can muflers. It’s not about what it looks like, it’s about what it costs.

  9. Posted by jasper 3rd April, 2006 at 7:34 pm

    It’s great, but would be far better if the buttons were also ornamented.

    What DAC does this device use and how does it spec? It would want to be decent if you’re going to encrust it in gold and diamonds.

    Feature rich? Most ‘features’ are gimmicks. Take EQ for example: most players are incapable of producing anything even approaching a flat frequency response. What good is EQ under those constraints? It gives clueless idiots something to twiddle and helps shift more junky pieces of plastic to the plebian masses.

    I’ll take 5.

  10. Posted by wolfhound 3rd April, 2006 at 8:56 pm

    because it’s expensive. what, are you retarded?

  11. Posted by Matthew 3rd April, 2006 at 8:56 pm

    Because people are stupid, especially rich people.

  12. Posted by Alex 3rd April, 2006 at 9:05 pm

    it really is ugly

  13. Posted by DoughBoy 3rd April, 2006 at 9:23 pm

    This thing is an oxymoron… “most expensive” on the outside with all the jewels, yet a lousy 1 Gig of Memory inside. C’mon guys… could have done better than that.

  14. Posted by joe 3rd April, 2006 at 11:13 pm

    funny, if i did see someone with this, i’d think they paid a ton of money, and didn’t even get a custom player. for far less money, you can design the shell and specs of a core player and end up with a *much* more personal statement. instead, this one says, “eh, it was expensive and i didn’t have to think”

  15. Posted by thomas 3rd April, 2006 at 11:53 pm

    because it has 1 GB of memory and plays OGGs? oh, and as someone else said - the attention. If I had more money than god, I’d probably snap one up (and then feel bad for not giving the $50k or whatever to charity, of course).

  16. Posted by Alexander 3rd April, 2006 at 11:53 pm

    This looks like they just had someone fab the standard plastic case out of gold instead. Big Deal. Same hinky plastic controls still.
    What a sad way to just run up the price, with no added class.

  17. Posted by Nihar G. 4th April, 2006 at 12:02 am

    aren’t there enough mp3 players in this world? why do v have to buy one with gold n diamonds??? and ow bout security; i mean i wont b playin this thing when i m in the subway, or mayb it is 4 those who use a limo instead…

  18. Posted by Leonardo 4th April, 2006 at 12:22 am

    Man, this thing is very ugly.

  19. Posted by Jackson 4th April, 2006 at 12:27 am

    The only reason someone would get this is the whole status/prestigue thing. It’s ugly, and has shit all memory. It doesn’t even play memory. I’d never buy this no natter how much money I had.

  20. Posted by Alex 4th April, 2006 at 12:30 am

    Someone obviously wants to close in on the “I hate money and features” market.

  21. Posted by rawbytes 4th April, 2006 at 12:36 am

    can it make me a dinner?

  22. Posted by s13g3 4th April, 2006 at 12:39 am

    Because there are a LOT of people with really bad taste. Namely, those people who actually think gold is ever attractive. IMNSHO, gold is ONLY useful when being used to conduct electricity. If I could get a MoBo in white gold, I’d do it just so I didn’t have to look at the terribly tacky yellow stuff.

  23. Posted by jonathan 4th April, 2006 at 1:44 am

    they’d buy it because it’s ugly and expensive. it means that if you have one, you obviously have lots of money to waste.

  24. Posted by Mitochondria 4th April, 2006 at 1:49 am

    yes! it indeed looks ugly. moreover, it doesn’t have any cool features also.

  25. Posted by anonymous 4th April, 2006 at 2:17 am

    waste. excess.

  26. Posted by Francois 4th April, 2006 at 2:28 am

    Chris, come on.

  27. Posted by Matt 4th April, 2006 at 2:48 am

    It’s not a consumer product. The point was to make something new and interesting and ridiculous. It’s not supposed to be practical.

  28. Posted by Griswald 4th April, 2006 at 2:58 am

    It still isn’t EMP resistant.

  29. Posted by KungOna 4th April, 2006 at 3:11 am

    God kaka!
    Jag har en berguv i huvet!

  30. Posted by Alex 4th April, 2006 at 3:14 am

    Agreed, although there no pricetag available I’d say there’s little value for money:
    - 1Gb, come on…
    - shape isn’t that spectacular
    - gold is soft, and easily scratched. Since this is one of those things you carry around; soon to be world’s most scratched MP3-player?
    - all in all, lot of noise about something that is pimped in an uncool way… IMHO

  31. Posted by Mark 4th April, 2006 at 3:27 am

    Why would anybody buy this ?
    Because YOU can’t.
    Money doesn’t necessarily imply taste or common sense.
    Just like those filthy-expensive dog-ugly high-end watches.
    Or bright yellow Hummer V2s.

  32. Posted by Danny Suko 4th April, 2006 at 3:46 am

    It’s about 250.000 bucks… just ordered the second unit ;-) number one was for Alex

  33. Posted by Steve 4th April, 2006 at 3:52 am

    ugly, small… and not stylish. Alright yeah, the gold is nice… but, the design is about as plush and chic as an 89 ford fiesta… I.E not. I woulda bought into an obsideon and white platinum iPod video… if that was to be the most expensive.

  34. Posted by David 4th April, 2006 at 4:16 am

    well this is the stupidest thing I’ve seen all day.

  35. Posted by Jason 4th April, 2006 at 4:41 am

    I expect I could afford it… but it’s a pile of crap, truly naff.

  36. Posted by anonymous 4th April, 2006 at 5:57 am

    if it’s to expensive, why couldn’t they hire a designer?

    god, my 20$ mp3 looks MUCH better…

  37. Posted by Heather 4th April, 2006 at 5:58 am

    Does it come with an arm band? Clip for attachment? What about white gold and Opals instead of diamonds, geeze.

    Ridiculous

  38. Posted by Marian 4th April, 2006 at 6:11 am

    it really sucks! what the hell??? who needs such a player? it looks awesome!

  39. Posted by Tom 4th April, 2006 at 6:21 am

    I’d buy it.

  40. Posted by Man 4th April, 2006 at 6:35 am

    I bet you would all gladly accept it as a present :-p

  41. Posted by Lactose the Intollerent 4th April, 2006 at 6:37 am

    It looks like it came free in a Christmas cracker…

  42. Posted by Sindri 4th April, 2006 at 7:23 am

    Fugly!

  43. Posted by lodogg 4th April, 2006 at 7:34 am

    Come on people it’s all about the “BLING” factor you might see some of your top thugs out there pimping this stylish MP3 player while rolling with their spinners.. Everyone is right its ugly where is my Video Ipod :-)>

  44. Posted by Ian 4th April, 2006 at 7:42 am

    You’d think in the world’s most expensive MP3 player they could include …I dunno, at least 4 times that much memory, and a less unimpressive screen.

    I mean, I know it’s expensive …because it’s expensive and that means us peasants can’t afford it. (and therein lies it’s value!) Seriously though, for that price, shouldn’t you be getting ZERO compromises? The only impressive spec on that thing is the battery life.

    Also, other sites are reporting 20 grand.
    http://www.talkmp3players.com/2006/03/08/trekstor-ibeat-organix-only-20000/

  45. Posted by CaL 4th April, 2006 at 7:55 am

    I wonder if they give you special headphones to go with it… remember all the stories about people getting mugged because they has white headphones?(mugged for their ipod)

  46. Posted by 3.1415926535898 4th April, 2006 at 7:56 am

    Lil’ John’s gonna have this in his next video… instead of that cup he carries around.

  47. Posted by cpitch 4th April, 2006 at 8:41 am

    Rich people by expensive sports cars because they (usually) a) look good and b) out perform the cars the less fortunate could afford.

    Why would anyone buy a gold plated, jewel encrusted car with a 2-stroke, diesel engine and a top speed of walking pace..

    personally, I don’t think this thing looks that attractive.. the rich buy ipods.. gold ones if available because it is something they know is socially popular.. tbh, those gems could be zirconia and it wouldn’t make that much different

  48. Posted by Dan 4th April, 2006 at 9:59 am

    Your mom is ugly.. this thing is great!

  49. Posted by RoadRUNNER 4th April, 2006 at 12:01 pm

    I wonder what an iPod in that dress would look like ;-P

  50. Posted by unjoi 4th April, 2006 at 2:14 pm

    Someone need to make a slip case made of Gold and diamonds for an IPOD. Just put 64 not “63″ diamonds on it and name it afer me :)

  51. Posted by bill brassky 4th April, 2006 at 2:40 pm

    bill brassky orchestrated the merger between Unicef and Smith & Wessen.

  52. Posted by Skyhawk 4th April, 2006 at 2:55 pm

    It has Paris Hilton all over it.

  53. Posted by freddys 4th April, 2006 at 5:05 pm

    good god, that thing is stylish as a brick. what were they thinking, it makes the ipod look even more desirable by comparison lol:) is this a joke really? 1gb? freakin nano has 4. this is like a gold plated pinto.

  54. Posted by My blog » Blog Archive » The world’s most expensive MP3 player 5th April, 2006 at 3:44 am

    [...] It is cast in 18 carat gold, adorned with 63 diamonds and has a chain with aquamarine gems. Even the name inspires awe - TrekStor MP3 player i.Beat organix Gold. There is no price tag, because as the old maxim goes, if you have to ask the price you can’t really afford it. Apparently loads of money won’t buy you much space for music. It has only 1GB memory. But then again, why kid ourselves? Such a toy is not to play music anyway. Link. [...]

  55. Posted by Martin 5th April, 2006 at 4:24 am

    The design is really ugly, but there are allways snobish people who will buy this.

  56. Posted by dandi 5th April, 2006 at 5:16 am

    Wow, they actually managed to make it look really cheap, like something you’ve won at a local village fair.

  57. Posted by Jim 5th April, 2006 at 9:53 am

    Yea, I’m surprised the buttons weren’t made of various gemstones. Saphire, ruby and topaz buttons would have been nice. The chain could have been made of a platinum/titanium mix. There should be some white gold in it somewhere as well.

    Doesn’t matter. I’m much too poor to buy a plastic replica.

  58. Posted by Wicked Pupil 5th April, 2006 at 11:16 am

    That is the sweetest MP3 player ever. Fudge what you think and don’t ask me what it is… I’m listening to Static-X.

  59. Posted by MobuzzTV 6th April, 2006 at 3:22 am

    UMD Virtu-ally iBeats a Mechanical Man

    Latest fatality in the struggle for format dominance looks to be the UMD, The “Virtu” of MP3 players is TrekStor’s iBeat Organix Gold, Mark Ho’s amazing feat of craftsmanship-a little model person that you can pose to look sassy!

  60. Posted by Ozon3 6th April, 2006 at 4:31 pm

    well… it’s ugly alright :)

    and features? uhmmm… not very exciting… i’d go with a 50 bucker anytime over this one.

  61. Posted by will 13th April, 2006 at 6:53 pm

    i bet a pink version will come out soon and paris hilton will say “do you love it?” “thats hot”

  62. Posted by Robert 18th April, 2006 at 4:28 pm

    Cool, where can I buy a fake? jajaja!!!!

  63. Posted by Geek 24 29th April, 2006 at 1:54 am

    Imagine if it stops working. That might be some ‘expensive’ damage to your wallet :)

  64. Posted by Jonathan 13th May, 2006 at 8:46 am

    It’s pretty cool but it is just for showing off. Definitely not for using.

  65. Posted by wade ramsey 5th June, 2006 at 6:07 pm

    I can see the gold,but where are the diamonds.Is it supposed to be for looks or use? It looks alright.

  66. Posted by Derrick 6th June, 2006 at 2:29 pm

    I think it is just beautiful! Yes really im just so fasinated with things that make no sense. Maybe it can be put on display to collect money for the staving, yea thats a great idea money for the starving ;-]

  67. Posted by zack 2nd July, 2006 at 7:16 pm

    cover anythin wit gold n diamond and call it the most expensive ;), we wana see things of high Qualitfy extra options..

  68. Posted by B 3rd August, 2006 at 4:04 am

    By the way it cost $20,000 US
    Here is the link: http://www.gizmag.com/go/5462/

  69. Posted by binita 14th August, 2006 at 8:56 am

    excuse me pepel but look at this amazing piece of art work. it is in its own way stunning! :p x

  70. Posted by Randolph 16th August, 2006 at 9:47 am

    My father bought me one. It’s really not that cool.

  71. Posted by ysabel 18th August, 2006 at 11:10 am

    People who can’t afford expensive things, say crap about them. But once you get rich, you’ll understand the beauty of the weird and ugly.

  72. Posted by kimberly 4th September, 2006 at 9:31 am

    all you people that can’t afford it are only jeolouse,
    thats why you only have negative things to say about it
    but everyone has differnt tastes, and I agree it is ugly.

  73. Posted by fahad 18th September, 2006 at 8:02 pm

    Give this item to a poor countrie so they can sell it and be a little rich i said this because i want child labour to stop!

  74. Posted by fahad 18th September, 2006 at 8:03 pm

    wat happens it if breaks that will be some *expensive* damage to ur wallet =)

  75. Posted by dalton 16th October, 2006 at 1:56 pm

    look people there is no reason to waste ur money just being retarted. If u want to spend ur money move out and stop mooching of ur mom.

    THIS ONE GOES OUT TO THE IDIOTS WHO THINK THERE RICH!

  76. Posted by CiMi 13th November, 2006 at 2:24 pm

    Its nice but it’s not worth it
    for me and for others too because we just put our mp3 in our pockets and listen to d music so whats d difference . i dont care because i leave my mp3 everywere in my basket,locker etc.. so if its stolen i dont mind cause i ll buy an other one cause i ll buy the cheapest mp3 cause there all d same unless for the amount they store but if i lose that mp3 i would go mad so .. sry wrong invention hehe try somthing else ..

  77. Posted by DUTCHIE!!! 6th December, 2006 at 4:47 am

    I’ll never buy this, it is beutifal but it has so few memory(i’m dutch:P)

  78. Posted by DUTCHIE!!! 6th December, 2006 at 4:58 am

    wade ramsey: your question: where are the diamonts. they are around the screen but you don’t see them very well

  79. Posted by fayssal 10th December, 2006 at 8:25 am

    vous pouvez me portez un mp3 SVP

  80. Posted by giorgio 23rd December, 2006 at 2:34 pm

    it is rather ugly but for some it may apear stylish. only rich people would be stupidly enough to buy thats crap, and only 1 Gig of memory?!?! come on people they can do a lot better than that especialy the germans

  81. Posted by Valerie 27th December, 2006 at 5:25 pm

    Its not ugly. I wouldnt get it cause its probably expensive but its ok. I love my mp3 and thats enough. Why would you want to pay like 1000 dollars for this when you get one less than that and still have money. I mean you could get an ipod or donate the money well thats all.

    Valery

  82. Posted by John 30th December, 2006 at 12:15 am

    how the hell u gonna make it look at nice and tell of its “precious” designs but not its amount of data and etc.

    nobody cares of jewelry on a mp3 player if they wanted the mp3 player they just wanted to listen to music wow

  83. Posted by Helena 2nd January, 2007 at 4:02 pm

    That’s ALOT of memory to cram into such a small space, in case you all weren’t aware. With 25 hours of play time, one should wonder about how they managed to keep it from overheating and thus malfunctioning. Instead, you’re concerned with the exterior? Gotta love the consumers..

  84. Posted by Chief 2nd January, 2007 at 10:54 pm

    What a piece of junk trash, mother- rich that have nothing better to do with their cash

  85. Posted by Chief 2nd January, 2007 at 10:55 pm

    When you die you still gonna listen to your riches?

  86. Posted by Volour 9th January, 2007 at 12:29 pm

    This MP3 is ridiculous. I’ve seen comments about the fact that some are jealous they can’t buy it. I’m sorry but,
    I think it is not that amazing looking not to mention the memory it has is worthless. I expect to see this in a music video someday. The rich and famous need publicity to aquire fans. THIS will surely get them noticed. Why not just replace the buttons with jewels and make the diamonds big enough to see clearly. I agree with all those who think this thing is ridiculous…

    ugg. :(

  87. Posted by Valour 9th January, 2007 at 12:38 pm

    I think it’s ridiculous. To all those who stated in previous comments that those who didn’t like it were just jealous they couldn’t purchase it, I ask… Why purchase it? The memory is a good amount, Helena mentioned that. It’s mostly for show. If you truly wanted to listen to music, buy a MP3 for that purpose. Clearly, this is not something to use, it’s to pull out at a impressive country club, or celebrity party and spend endless hours answering questions of it’s cost and exterior. It’s a waste of time, money, and precious resources…

    All in all, it’s stupid.

  88. Posted by the stupidest guy in the world 11th January, 2007 at 5:23 pm

    i got one

  89. Posted by loner 17th January, 2007 at 6:53 pm

    Your mom is as ugly as this iPod here! OOH, burn! Plus, she probably holds as much memory as it! — 1GB!! OOH, BURN!

  90. Posted by MONA 22nd January, 2007 at 10:15 pm

    OMG are u serious? i though dimands are supposed to be worne around u neck not be carried on an mp3 dawg!!!

  91. Posted by jack atkinson 9th February, 2007 at 5:35 am

    too expensive far pricier than my cardboard box !!! maybe some other time!!

  92. Posted by bobby 21st February, 2007 at 6:32 pm

    skrew all that think this is ugly, it kicks your moms hard core peace out

  93. Posted by Barty 2nd March, 2007 at 9:27 pm

    My Ipod 30 GB first generation is just fine for me,

    I would except it as a present then sell it.

    Do you really think that the people that buy this CARE how much music it holds? They buy it so that they have to take the earphones off every 12 secs at the country club in order to answer questions about what it is. They want the attention, not a feature-rich player.

    by fooyaddah14 — April 3, 2006 @ 4:27 pm

    ^Too True

  94. Posted by Maddie 22nd March, 2007 at 4:58 pm

    The comment ‘Valour’ made, I totally agree.
    Even someone who can afford it would say it’s ridiculous.
    I know someone who can afford it and I showed it to her and she said something along the lines of: Ooh! Awesome! Another mp3 player… Was this one free from superdrug?
    I swear, it would look much less tacky if it had white gold… I just don’t find the colour gold all that attractive - but then again, that IS a personal opinion…

  95. Posted by hoppi 12th April, 2007 at 12:32 pm

    ure all slaggin it off.. but i bet u would accept it as a gift or sumthin!….p.s its still too expensive tho lol

  96. Posted by jordan 25th April, 2007 at 4:37 pm

    this thing is so bad like come on you would actually money for a mp3 made of gold that can’t hold alot of songs that really sucks

  97. Posted by andrea 3rd May, 2007 at 9:47 am

    i would hate to have an mp3 player like this ,because i would always be watching out for it so it doesnt get scratched……..and whats the price?

  98. Posted by Ian 13th June, 2007 at 10:40 pm

    I like ipods

  99. Posted by PerS 19th August, 2007 at 5:06 am

    You’ll find the worlds most expensive iPod at iDiamond.no.

    It’s pretty nice looking too.