January 23, 2009 Home shoppers have long been aware of the miraculous properties of Zirconia of the cubic variety. Now audiophiles can discover the wonders of Zirconia through Panasonic’s high fidelity in-ear headphones that feature a sound chamber made of Zirconia, a white crystalline oxide of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) that is extremely durable and can withstand extreme temperatures.

Panasonic have chosen Zirconia for the RP-HJE900’s sound chamber over plastic or aluminum as it has less resonance than either of those materials. Panasonic claims this results in the headphones delivering ultra-clear sound reproduction with virtually no distortion and, as an added bonus, the durability of Zirconia offers audiophiles a scratchproof, ultra-tough construction for a lifetime of use. Since this means that the Zirconia headphones are likely to outlast the wires the RP-HJE900 headphones feature detachable wires that can be replaced if they fray.

Constructed with Neodymium magnet the RP-HJE900 in-ear headphones boast a frequency response of 6Hz-26kHz and have a sound pressure sensitivity of 100dB, impedance of 26Ω and 12.5 mm drivers. The cord also has a slider to prevent tangling.

ThePanasonic RP-HJE900 Zirconia Audiophile In-Ear Headphones will be available in either black or white in May 2009, with a suggested retail price of USD$229.99.