I tried what’s probably the most expensive headphone amp in the world—the Audio-Technica Narukami (HPA-KG NARU), priced around 114,000 SGD—and this video is basically my “pro studio guy” impressions of what that kind of money actually sounds like. Quick disclaimer: I’m not an audiophile. I’m more on the studio side, so I’m always listening for balance, detail, and whether something can pull double duty for work and play. I also wasn’t able to audition the full Narukami + Kurugaki pairing together—these were separate sessions—so think of this as a real-world story time more than a lab test. First, I hit High End Asia to finally hear the Audio-Technica Kurugaki (ATH-AWKG) and revisit the ADX5000. The ADX5000 is still the one I’d personally pick for studio use: smooth but present upper mids, open top end, and low-end energy that stays pretty controlled. The Kurugaki felt more “smooth/floaty” and emotional than purely critical, with tight lows and fast transients, but not as forward in the 3–5k area as I usually like. Then at Audio-Technica HQ, the Narukami honestly shocked me. It made my own Hugo 2 + LCD-X setup sound dark and muddy in comparison—wider stage, cleaner separation, and this weird “it fixes the track” vibe. Less about dissecting flaws, more about sitting back and just enjoying the music.