15 April Fools Pranks From Audio Brands So Unhinged They Might Actually Be Genius

Because sometimes the joke is way too close to something audiophiles would actually buy.

These prank products are so over-the-top, so oddly specific, and sometimes so well-executed that they start to feel a little too believable. Some even make you pause and think, “Wait… I’d actually buy that.”

From ramen-themed headphones to devices that translate Gen Z gamer slang in real-time, here are the most unhinged—and secretly clever—April Fools’ stunts from the world of audio.

1. A 50-Meter Cable, Because Why Not?

Nothing’s April Fools’ joke imagined the Ear (3.5mm) — a fictional wired headphone with a 50-meter (164-foot) cable and a “beautifully inconvenient” design. It parodied their real Ear lineup by turning the sleek Ear (Open) into something hilariously impractical.

That’s why the joke felt a little off to some. From a brand known for catering to audio purists, making fun of cables landed weird. Ironically, if Nothing actually released a wired model, it might not be a joke at all.

2. The $4 Million Cable to End All Cables

Effect Audio had some fun with audiophiles this year, unveiling the Hephaestus — a completely customizable headphone cable named after the Greek god of fire and craftsmanship. It was part of their fictional “Imagination Series” and promised buyers full control over every detail, using ultra-premium materials.

Beneath the satire was a clever nod to the real complexity behind their actual gear.

In a follow-up post, Effect Audio explained the prank was a tribute to the skill and precision that goes into cables like their Fusion 1 — which really does pack 40 wire bundles into a triple-layer design, combining gold-plated silver, pure silver Litz, and six types of copper.

Plenty of people played along, with forum users sharing fake orders and screenshots of absurd totals. Others admitted they almost believed it, which says a lot about the prices floating around in high-end audio. If anything, the prank worked because it felt just real enough.

3. Rock Solid Sound on Rock Solid Headphones

Master & Dynamic pushed material design to its limits with the MH40C1 Concrete Over-Ear Headphones. Not inspired by concrete—made of it.

Weighing a hefty 10.6 pounds, these were pitched as offering the same premium sound as their leather-and-metal siblings. The company even claimed the smooth concrete finish delivered “a superior level of comfort for hours of continuous use.” A bold promise for something that could double as a neck workout.

The prank was a clever send-up of the high-end audio world’s obsession with exotic materials. At the same time, it fit right into Master & Dynamic’s brand—known for turning unexpected materials into luxury gear. This just took the idea and ran it straight into a wall. Literally.

4. Real-Time Gen-Z Translator

Razer’s April Fools’ prank zeroed in on the chaos of modern multiplayer lingo with the Skibidi — a fictional headset billed as “the world’s first AI-powered brain rot translator.” The name itself was a nod to the internet’s most unhinged meme energy, straight from the depths of Gen Z humor.

Razer went the extra mile with a working demo on their site, letting visitors try the fake tech for themselves. And while the whole thing was clearly a joke, it hit on something real. In fast-paced online games, keeping up with rapidly evolving slang can feel like decoding a secret language — especially if you’re over 25.

A headset like this might not exist, but the confusion definitely does.

5. The 108-Driver IEMs

LETSHUOER took a playful shot at spec-obsessed audiophiles with their April Fools’ “Limited Edition Earphone” — a fictional IEM claiming to cram in 8 dynamic drivers, 32 balanced armatures, and 12 electrostatics. Per ear.

Behind the joke was a solid point: more doesn’t always mean better, especially when it comes to what actually hits your ears.

6. Age-Restricted Sound System

Not all the best April Fools’ jokes come from the brands themselves. This spoof imagined a special edition of JBL’s PartyBox 300 speaker that only millennials could hear.

It’s clearly a parody, but there’s a kernel of truth underneath. Noise complaints are real, and hearing does shift with age. As fake tech goes, this one’s got just enough pseudo-science to make you pause — and maybe wish it were real for that next house party.

7. Deliciously Absurd Headphones

Red Lobster’s April Fools’ Day stunt introduced Cheddphones — headphones shaped like their iconic Cheddar Bay biscuits. Equal parts bizarre and brilliant, it was a parody that somehow worked.

It’s the kind of cross-industry chaos that sticks. A seafood chain joking about audio gear? Sure. But it got people talking — and, more importantly, showing up hungry.

8. Pet-Focused Audio Products for Furry Audiophiles

Sony’s April Fools’ prank turned up the absurdity with the Animalia line — a series of audio products made “specifically for discerning domestic fauna.” The idea was simple: pets are family, so why shouldn’t they get high-end electronics too?

The In-Cage Speakers were designed for fitness-focused hamsters. As they ran on the wheel, the tempo of the music would speed up to match their pace — a motivational boost for burning off all those sunflower seeds.

Then came the M3-OW KittyCans, tailor-made for cats who want nothing to do with you. The headphones featured ActiveLight technology, making them look powered on even when they weren’t — so your cat could pretend it didn’t hear you and maintain its usual air of indifference.

And no, your cat doesn’t need headphones. But if anyone was going to try and sell them, it’d be Sony.

10. Two Heads, One Headset

Jabra’s prank headset, the Earbud(dy), was made for two — literally. The fictional dual-user design stretched across two heads, letting people share the same audio stream side by side. It even claimed to support voice assistants for both users, with a not-so-real price tag of $205.

That’s probably why speakers haven’t gone out of style, even as headphones get smarter and more isolating.

11. The Speaker Sneaker

Jabra imagined a pair of sneakers that don’t just carry you through your day — they soundtrack it.

The prank Speaker Sneaker came equipped with built-in Hi-Fi speakers, hands-free voice controls, and a so-called “dance assist mode,” just in case your feet needed a little coaching. As a bonus, the charging mat it shipped with could double as a picnic blanket. Obviously.

Battery life? Supposedly 15 hours — long enough to annoy an entire train car without breaking a sweat. The only thing missing was charging from walking, which, let’s be honest, would’ve completed the chaos. And yet, despite how silly it sounded, plenty of people said they’d actually buy them.

If nothing else, it proved there’s still room to dream wildly — and loudly — in audio gear.

12. Mood Ring Headphones

Master & Dynamic’s Thermochromium headphones weren’t just another material experiment — they were pitched as mood-sensing, genre-reactive wearables that changed color based on what you were listening to and how you felt about it.

The prank worked because it felt oddly believable — just futuristic enough to raise eyebrows, but not far off from where personalized tech is heading. For a moment, it really did sound like Master & Dynamic had cracked the code on emotional sound styling.

Turns out, they were just playing with our heads.

13. The Ultimate Surround Sound Headphones

DD Audio went all out with its DXB-6.5.8.1 TRUE Surround Headphones — a prank so over-engineered it bordered on performance art. These fictional headphones packed a full-size DD 1006 6.5″ subwoofer, seven “micro-stacked” studio-grade drivers, and a D.O.T.-approved helmet to house it all.

The price? A casual 1.986 bitcoin. The whole thing took audiophile excess and dialed it up to 11 — a sharp, hilarious send-up of the constant chase for “ultimate” sound, no matter how impractical.

14. Noodle-Compatible Audio

Nissin Cup Noodles and HyperX went full steam with one of the most unexpectedly detailed April Fools’ pranks in recent memory: the Cup MIX-IN headphones. Designed — in theory — to create the “ultimate sensorial experience” while eating instant noodles, these headphones were as absurd as they were oddly on-brand.

The faux headset featured Noodlette™ ear pads “woven together with noodle fibers,” promising the silky feel of ramen on your ears. A detachable Microphork™ lets you game and slurp simultaneously, without your chewing echoing through team chat. HyperX claimed the headset’s “Dual-Chamber Drivers” were engineered to eliminate slurping reverberations — because apparently, that’s a thing now.

As if that weren’t enough, they teased an expanded “gamer set,” including a heated mouse pad to keep your noodles warm during long sessions.

They looked ridiculous, probably felt ridiculous, and yet… kind of made sense in the strangest way. Sometimes the best April Fools’ jokes are the ones that feel just a little too real.

15. The Ultimate Minimalist Headphones

JLab pushed the trend of discreet earbuds to the extreme with Invisibuds — a fictional pair that were, quite literally, invisible. No wires, no stems, not even a visible shell. Just pure, unseeable audio bliss.

The best part? JLab actually set up a real product page and sold them for $20. Buyers didn’t get an empty box, either — the joke doubled as a clever little promo, with something useful tucked inside. Not bad for a prank with zero footprint.