HOW TO CHOOSE HEADPHONES? DETAILED GUIDE

To enjoy your favorite songs to the fullest, you need good headphones or an audio system. Today we will talk about headphones and Headphones Price in Pakistan: their price ratios, their structure, signal transmission method, characteristics and other factors that should be taken into account when choosing.

HOW THE HEADPHONES ARE ARRANGED

Sound is the vibration of air in the form of a wave. At the stage of recording, analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) is carried out – the wave is converted into computer code. At the playback stage, the reverse process is carried out – digital-to-analog conversion (DAC). First, the code is converted into an electrical pulse, and then the signal is converted into sound. This happens with the help of a driver (sound emitter), which reproduces air vibrations with movements.

The driver is a key element of headphones , so you need to pay attention to its type. It depends on how accurately the sound will be transmitted compared to how it was during recording. (This is also affected by other factors, which we discuss below.)

Depending on the principle of operation and structural features, there are 4 types of drivers used in headphones:

Speakers (dynamic emitters).

The most common type, so very often all drivers are called speakers, which is incorrect. The main elements of the speaker are a fixed magnet and a diffuser (diaphragm) with an attached coil. A current is applied to the coil, and due to the electromagnetic interaction, the diffuser begins to vibrate, repeating the frequency of the current. The accuracy of reproduction largely depends on the materials and the size of the speaker. The advantage of headphones with a dynamic driver is the price, good bass and “tight” sound. Disadvantage: Inertia – the diaphragm cannot quickly transition from the reproduction of low frequencies to medium and high frequencies, which can cause distortion.

Armatures (with a balanced anchor).

The key feature is the coil armature, which is surrounded by a magnet (see picture). The magnet provides stabilization of the armature, as a result of which inertia is reduced compared to the speaker. The sound is clearer. The disadvantage of armature radiators is called less juicy bass, which is not entirely correct. Low frequencies are indeed “drier”, but this does not mean that they are bad, because deep bass is not present in all musical styles.

Electrostatic.

They use a thin diaphragm (membrane) that is placed between two electrically conductive grids. Grids create a balancing field that affects the membrane from two sides. The diaphragm itself (without the help of an armature/coil) begins to move when an electromagnetic field occurs, which ensures high sound purity: high frequencies sound better, the timbre is accurately transmitted, and clear vocals. The disadvantage of electrostatic headphones is the price. They are expensive in themselves, and they also require a good amplifier.

Magnetic planar.

They are similar in structure to electrostatic ones, with the difference that there is a conductive track on the membrane. Depending on the shape of the track, there are isodynamic (in the form of a snake) and orthodynamic (in the form of a circular spiral) drivers. In terms of sound quality, planar headphones beat armature headphones, but lose to electrostatic ones. Like the latter, they require an amplifier.

Note: Driver type does not guarantee that some headphones will sound better than others. There are dynamic headphones that can compete in terms of reproduction quality not only with armature ones, but also with electrostatic ones.

If you are looking for budget headphones , choose between armature and dynamic models. You can find good planars in the mid-budget segment. High-end planar and electrostatic models belong to the premium segment and are worth looking at if you are ready to spend at least $300 on headphones.

Number of sound emitters

Depending on the number of drivers, the headphones are:

  • Single-driver . One emitter is used. No matter how high-quality and advanced it is, the driver will not be able to reproduce the entire frequency range equally well. Therefore, either high or low frequencies will have to be sacrificed.
  • Multi-driver . In such headphones, two emitters are used. Usually, these are drivers of the same type, but with a different range. There are also hybrid headphones in which different types of emitters are installed. The number of drivers not only affects the quality of playback, but also allows you to create surround sound.

Do not think that single-driver headphones are always worse than multi-driver ones. With a high probability, a person without a musical ear will not notice the difference, which means that overpaying does not always make sense.

Acoustic design

Human hearing is adapted to the natural sound wave, thanks to which we can determine the direction of the source, the distance to it. This is how the voluminous sound and feeling of the scene arises.

Headphones and headsets direct the wave directly into the ears, so they sound different than if we were listening to a live performance. Acoustic design (bowl type) should correct the situation, making the sound more natural.

There are 3 types of headphones depending on the acoustic design:

  • are open On the back wall of the bowl there is a hole equal to the diameter of the speaker. Thanks to this, the music sounds natural and there is a sense of the scene. At the same time, loud surrounding sounds can break through, and your music will also be heard by the surroundings.
  •  Closed . There are no holes. This allows you to create a wall of sound – a very dense sound that is great for heavy styles and electronic music.
  •  Semi-open/semi-closed . Average version – there is a small hole on the bowl. Semi-open headphones can sound very different, so it is not possible to give a general characteristic for them.

Method of signal transmission

The sound quality is also affected by the method of signal transmission from the source (player, smartphone, computer). According to this feature, the following are distinguished:

Wired 

The DAC is activated on the gadget, and the processed electrical signal is sent to the headphones. The advantage of wired models is that the cable has a high bandwidth. Therefore, there are no file format restrictions, and there are no delays.

Wireless

 A raw signal is received from the gadget, which is converted directly on the headphones. The most common option is transmission via Bluetooth , sometimes an IR port or a radio channel is used . The problem with wireless headphones is bandwidth: not all models are capable of playing music in Lossless quality (more on that below).

Combined 

There is a wireless connection and a detachable cable.

There are two aspects to consider when choosing between wired and wireless headphones. The first: convenience. You can argue as much as you like that the cable is not so much in the way, but in fact it is. For example, the author of the article has been admiring the “cobweb” on the smartphone screen for the past month, because he accidentally caught the headphone cable and the phone fell on the asphalt.

The second aspect is the ratio of sound quality and price. You can easily find good wired headphones for $100. Wireless with such a price cannot always please with high-quality sound.

Ideal option: buy two headphones. For everyday use, bet on convenience (admit, perfect sound is not necessary during trips to work and trips to the store) and take budget wireless ones. And when thoughtfully listening to music at home, the cable will not interfere, so you can buy good wired headphones.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SOUND SOURCE

This topic requires a separate article, so let’s limit ourselves to a brief summary.

A situation may arise when, when listening, the difference between headphones for 1,000 and 10,000 hryvnias is imperceptible. Most often it is related to the source of the music. This means 2 factors:

Equipment

Some headphones will sound bad when connected to a smartphone, but it is worth using an amplifier, and the situation changes dramatically.

Bitrate

You can evaluate expensive headphones only when listening to music in Lossless formats. Most often, problems arise with wireless models: most of them do not support high-resolution Bluetooth codecs (aptX HD, LDAC).

If you do not want to search for music with a high bitrate (it is not available on all streams) and are not ready to allocate a separate budget for the purchase of additional equipment, it does not always make sense to buy headphones more expensive than $ 100-150.

TYPES OF HEADPHONES

The comfort of the headphones and some aspects of the sound are affected by the format of the headphones. The following types are distinguished:

Internal channels (vacuum) 

They have a slightly elongated shape due to the protruding sound pipe, which is placed in the auditory canal. Fixation and sound insulation is provided by ear pads. When choosing, be sure to check how comfortable they are. Some in-canal headphones are big on their own, and replacing the ear pads doesn’t solve the problem.

Inserts

Compact headphones that fit in the auricle. Unlike in-channel ones, they do not have ear pads, so it is worse to hold. A much bigger problem is the lack of sound insulation, so you will hear the surrounding noise. It is tolerable under normal conditions, but in public transport the noise can noticeably “clog” the sound.

Invoices

They have a large cup that completely covers the ear, but does not have sound insulation. Hence their main problem: the music will be heard by others. When worn for a long time (more than an hour), over-the-ear headphones can cause discomfort, as they press on the ears.

Full size

 As a rule, they have a bowl with a sound-insulating rim, which is larger than the ear. First, it provides sound insulation, and secondly, it transfers pressure to the bone, due to which less discomfort occurs. (During the fitting, be sure to pay attention so that the rim does not pass over the ear, because the second plus will lose its meaning.) The main disadvantage is that full-sized headphones block the access of air, and therefore the ears become parco over time.

The type of fastening also affects the comfort of headphones. In-canals, liners, and TWS usually hold without additional fasteners. Some of them have a bracket that is worn behind the ear. It provides better fixation, but can rub.

Full-size and over-the-ear headphones stay in place thanks to an over-the-head arch . If you don’t take off your headphones for a long time, choose models with a headband or at least a soft “hoop” padding, as it can cause discomfort by itself. A plus will be the presence of height and elasticity adjustment to adjust the device to yourself.

HEADPHONE CHARACTERISTICS

Of course, it is difficult to tell how good the headphones sound by the numbers in the specifications. This will be clear only after the test listening. Nevertheless, it is worth studying the parameters to have a rough idea of ​​what to expect from a particular model.

 Power

This characteristic is the most confusing because it can mean 2 different parameters: 

  • The maximum permissible input power . Indicates how strong a signal the headphones can withstand without harming itself.The volume is unaffected by it in any manner.. If you listen to music from a phone , player or computer , this option can be ignored. Such electronics simply do not produce power capable of harming headphones. Another thing is if you have an amplifier. In this case, the maximum permissible power of the headphones should not be less than the output power of the amplifier.

Note: When comparing, keep in mind that amplifiers are usually rated in watts (W/W) and headphones are rated in milliwatts (mW/mW). 1 W = 1000 mW.

  • The power of the built-in amplifier . All wireless and some wired headphones have a built-in amplifier. In this case, the power directly affects the volume. It also affects energy consumption, i.e. such headphones will quickly discharge themselves (wireless) or use the battery of a player/smartphone.

Frequencies

The average person hears sound in the range of 20-20,000 Hz. Some headphones go beyond these values, but they will not sound better than this. Moreover, even a deviation for the worse will not always be noticeable. The bass line sounds good already at 40-50 Hz. The 18,000Hz highs will also suit most people.

When choosing, it is important to understand that the working range is normally measured only in headphones of the Hi-Fi and Hi-End class. For most budget models, it is indicated “just in case” (therefore, the above-mentioned 20–20,000 Hz can often be seen in the characteristics). In mid-budget headphones, the numbers inspire more confidence, but they also do not always correspond to reality.

Another point worth remembering is the balance of frequencies. The speaker can reproduce both 40 Hz and 20,000 Hz, but it is unlikely to make such a transition quickly. With a rapid change in the playback range, there can be distortions, which we talk about in the section on amplitude-frequency response (frequency response).

Resistance

The higher the resistance of the headphones, the clearer the sound. The problem is that it cannot be made too high, because then a more powerful input signal will be needed.

For use with portable devices, you should choose low-impedance models with a resistance of up to 32 ohms. If this limit is exceeded, the headphones will play, but the volume may not be sufficient.

High-impedance headphones with a resistance of 100 Ohms are intended for players and computers. They are connected to portable accessories only through a mobile amplifier. At the same time, it is worth considering that power consumption will increase, and the battery will discharge faster.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity reflects the ratio of input power to loudness. For example, if you connect headphones with a sensitivity of, say, 90 dB and 100 dB to one source, the second will be louder. 100+ dB is considered a good indicator.

Amplitude-frequency characteristic

The picture shows a graph of frequencies. Frequencies recorded in the digital file are highlighted in red, reproduced frequencies in green. Even with modern technology, it is impossible to make them match 100%. Exactly which frequencies and in which direction (peak/sag) will differ depends on the type of sound emitter.

The amplitude-frequency characteristic shows how close the graphs are. Ideally, the frequency response should not differ by more than 4 dB at any point on the graph. As a general rule, multi-driver headphones have better frequency response than single-driver ones because they have emitters that specialize in certain frequencies.

Bad news: measurements of amplitude-frequency characteristics are not carried out by all manufacturers. This parameter is usually specified for Hi-Fi and Hi-End class devices. Frequency response values ​​for some popular models can be found on audiophile forums.

Read More: 7 more high-quality wireless headphone models.