• Ideal characteristics for headphones. What does headphone impedance mean and how does it affect sound?

    Majority modern smartphones(and simple mobile phones) come complete with a wired headset (headphones), but not every pair of standard headphones can boast clear sound, convenience, and even less design. Listening to music, audio books, radio and watching your favorite movies on your smartphone will be much more enjoyable if you choose the right one.

    First, you should decide on the type of headphones: in-ear, in-ear (they are also called “plugs” or “plugs”), on-ear (there are many folding models among them; sometimes they are called arc), and monitor. In addition, headphones can be wired or. The most suitable earbuds for your phone are small-sized in-ears and on-ears. Each of these types has its own advantages: invoices provide more volume and high quality sound due to the larger membrane, but they are not as compact as plug-in or overhead ones; in-ear headphones are comfortable and affordable, but if you choose such headphones that do not fit the shape of your ear, they can fall out of your ear, which is inconvenient; cork “plugs,” on the contrary, sit very tightly in the ear, but not everyone is comfortable wearing such headphones, besides, doctors do not recommend using them for a long time, this can affect your hearing aid, another important fact- on the street you may not hear anything except your music, which can be dangerous if, for example, you are riding a bicycle.

    To understand which type of headphones is best for you, think about where you will most often use them with your phone. If they need to be invisible and take up little space, then it is better to choose in-ear or plug-in ones. For long trips and trips, overhead headphones are more suitable, as they make your head and ears less tired.

    Some headphone models were originally designed specifically for mobile phones, such as . When buying headphones in an online store, carefully read the description, and then you will definitely make right choice.

    Headphone weight

    Headphone weight. If for large home headphones weight does not matter the most, then for a telephone, the lighter they are, the better. Wired ones are always lighter than wireless ones, since the weight of the latter is affected by the presence of batteries. “Earbuds” usually weigh 5-30 grams; overhead - 40-100 grams.


    For connoisseurs of quality sound

    The standard jack is 3.5 mm. However, in some mobile phones and voice recorders you can find a 2.5 mm connector. Often, headphones come with an additional adapter for 2.5 and 6.3 mm, which is very convenient.

    Gold plated connector. You've probably noticed that some headphones have a gold-plated connector. So, the gold coating on the connector and adapter is not accidental. Gold plating is resistant to corrosion and oxidation. Good contact- cleaner and higher quality sound.



    Important technical characteristics of headphones

    Membrane diameter

    The diameter of the membrane, or the size of the speakers. This indicator affects the sound quality. A larger membrane diameter reproduces better low frequencies. Again, when choosing headphones for your phone, you are unlikely to plan to buy large monitor headphones. The standard for in-ear headphones is a membrane with a diameter of 9-12 mm. For example, on-ear headphones for home use With good quality“bottoms” start from 30mm. Large studio headphones can be up to 70mm.

    Impedance

    Impedance, or the nominal resistance of the headphones alternating current. Technical characteristics. In general, for headphones this figure can range from 1.0 to 820.0 Ohms. And it depends primarily on what equipment you are going to use them with. For portable equipment, choose models with an impedance of 16-40 Ohms. This will ensure sufficient volume at low power input signal.

    Band frequency

    The frequency range can be specified by the manufacturer from 2 to 110000 Hz. It should not be forgotten that the human ear perceives from approximately 20 to 20,000 Hz. If headphones have a wider range, you may not notice the difference unless your ears are particularly sensitive.

    Headphone sensitivity

    Headphone sensitivity can be from 60.0 to 130.0 dB. Sensitivity affects the volume of sound in the headphones. Without going into the technical side of the issue, it’s worth choosing headphones with a sensitivity of at least 100 dB, which will ensure sufficient volume on the street and in noisy places.

    Cord length

    Cable length in wired headphones primarily affects their comfortable use. For a phone, the optimal length for headphones can be considered 80-120 cm, depending on where the phone will be: in a bag, jacket pocket or jeans pocket.

    Replaceable ear pads

    Number of pairs of replaceable ear pads included. Some headphones may have only one pair, while others may have 3. The number of ear pads that come with in-ear headphones can matter, since purchasing additional ones can be problematic. By the way, ear pads are removable parts of headphones that are directly adjacent to the ear. Sometimes there are pairs included different sizes so that the user can choose the size for themselves.


    Additional benefits:

      Waterproof housing. Yes, and the headphones are waterproof

      Airplane adapter. If you fly frequently, you may find this adapter useful to connect your headphones in the cabin to use the internal audio system.

    On the Internet you can often see the request “recommend good headphones” for music or games. But before choosing a gadget, you need to understand how headphones generally differ from each other, and which ones are better for certain tasks.

    Gadgets may differ from each other in design features. There are the following gadget designs.

    Open or closed

    In turn, full-size gadgets are divided into closed, semi-closed and open. Which one is better? IN closed version The gadget's bowls have a design that does not allow sound waves outside and outside noise inside. They are usually made of plastic, do not have any holes and look quite massive.

    Dimensions open headphones the same as for closed ones. They differ only in the holes on the back of the bowl, through which sound can escape, which affects the perception, as it becomes more realistic. gadget open type can be recommended for listening to music.

    Semi-open type headsets is an intermediate option. It combines all the positive characteristics of both closed and open gadgets. If the question arises, which headphones are best to buy, then you need to decide what they will be used for. For games best choice will be closed, as in some online games It’s important to hear all the noises.

    We choose headphones with surround sound function for gaming. Usually on the packaging it says that there is support for the 7.1 format. Recommend headphones with surround sound to your friends in online battles - they will be grateful to you.

    Headphones for music are either an open or semi-open type of gadget that does its job well.

    How to choose headphones with a microphone if you need them for online communication? It should be noted that all of the above types of gadgets can have a built-in microphone. There are 4 ways to attach it to the headset.

    1. Built-in- is the worst option that you can think of, since it will catch, except for the voice of the owner of the headset, everything extraneous noise. The only thing that might motivate you to buy headphones with such a microphone is that it is invisible.
    2. On cable– standardly located in the volume control in mobile headset. Due to the fact that the wire moves all the time, the signal may be distorted, which affects the quality of the connection.
    3. Fixed mount. The microphone is held on a stationary plastic holder, being at a fixed distance relative to the mouth. It’s worth choosing headphones with a fixed mount if you plan to communicate frequently online. They can be buried, open, semi-open or overhead type.
    4. Movable mount. This type headsets are the most the best option to connect to a computer. You can easily adjust the distance of the microphone relative to your mouth: just turn the holder. If the microphone is not needed, it can be raised up, and in some models, detached.

    Connection method

    Based on the connection method, headsets are divided into 2 types: wired and wireless.

    Wired

    This is the most common option for connecting a gadget. This connection is the most preferable if you want to get the best quality sound. Let us highlight that this connection option is less expensive than wireless.

    The only downside is that freedom of movement is limited by the length of the cord, although it can be extended using a connecting cable.

    Connection to devices occurs via a standard connector (3.5 mm mini jack) or via USB. There should be 2 plugs (one for the microphone, and the second, green, for the audio signal), if these are ordinary computer headphones.

    In case your headset has one plug with contacts for the right and left channels, as well as for a microphone, then it is quite suitable for a phone or laptop with a special socket, near which there is a certain marking.

    To connect to a PC you will need to take an adapter.

    Wireless

    Recommend headphones wireless type for those who need to move freely within their home or office. This headset comes with base station connected to a PC. It is equipped with a radio signal receiver and transmitter. The headset itself also contains a transmitter and receiver that are powered by batteries . If infrared radiation serves as the transmitting signal, then free movement will be limited by the visibility limits of the emitter and receiver.

    The main disadvantage wireless headset You can name the fact that it is necessary to periodically charge the batteries, and it weighs significantly more. Also, the sound quality in such gadgets is worse compared to wired ones.

    Wireless headphones Sony MDR-RF855RK

    Headphone Specifications

    To know how to choose the right headphones, you need to take into account not only the type of design, but also the technical characteristics of the gadget.

    Resistance

    The standard resistance value is 32 ohms. The higher the resistance, the better the sound. But at the same time you have to sacrifice volume. For professional headphones, the resistance can reach several hundred ohms. If you are choosing a headset to use with a tablet, phone or PC, then 32 Ohms will be quite enough, since these devices do not have enough power.

    Power

    When choosing a stereo headset, it is advisable to pay attention to such a parameter as the headphone power indicator (not to be confused with the sensitivity of the headphones). It is not worth pursuing large values ​​of the indicator, since such a device will quickly drain the battery phone, tablet or laptop. The power indicator should be within 100 mW.

    Harmonic distortion level

    The characteristics of the headphones also include this parameter, which is measured as a percentage. High quality headphones have a minimum distortion value of 0.5%.

    Before you choose good headphones, know that devices with a ratio above 1% are considered mediocre.

    There are times when the gadget packaging shows a percentage harmonic distortion is not indicated what you should pay attention to, since the manufacturer can thus hide the poor quality of its products. It is not recommended to purchase such a gadget.

    Frequency range

    The sound quality depends on how wide the boundaries of this parameter are. The human ear is capable of detecting sound within frequencies from 16 to 20,000 Hz. Therefore, the frequency range of the headphones must be within these limits. The optimal frequency for normal headphones is 20-20000 Hz. Gadgets selected in this way will reproduce deep bass and normal high frequencies. Recommend headphones with such frequency characteristics to your friends, and they will not be disappointed with the sound quality.

    Sensitivity

    When thinking about which headphones to choose, you can get confused by the names of the parameters. The sensitivity of headphones is discussed when a person in a store asks the salesperson to “advise headphones that have a high volume.” The higher the headphone sensitivity setting, the louder the music in the device will be. The normal value is sensitivity, in the range from 90 dB to 100 dB (for budget gadgets) and higher (for expensive models) at a constant power level.

    Microphone Specifications

    Before choosing good headphones with a microphone, you should pay attention to its technical characteristics. Microphones in the headset are condenser and dynamic. If you choose by parameters, then the transmission quality is better with capacitor ones. The microphone can also be unidirectional (catches less third-party noise) or circular. Frequency range a normal microphone ranges from 100 Hz to 16 kHz. It’s good if it’s implemented in the microphone noise reduction function.

    To sum it up

    In conclusion, we can say that the choice of headphones should be approached individually, since there are no universal recommendations on this matter. First, decide what kind of headset you need, mobile or stationary, and only then select it according technical specifications. Don't forget about ergonomics, trying on the selected headphones for yourself. They should not cause unnecessary pressure on the ears and should be light enough. Otherwise, after prolonged use of the gadget, pain in the neck and ear area may occur. In any case, before buying you need to weigh the pros and cons, and then choose best option so that you are satisfied with the price and quality of the headset.

    A huge number of people use headphones today, but not everyone knows what to look for when choosing them. Users are most often simply interested in the quality of sound transmission and personal comfort when listening to music, but these indicators directly depend on technical features one or another model of headphones. Let's consider the main characteristics that you need to pay attention to when choosing such products.

    Frequency response- this is one of the main indicators that determines sound quality, its richness, depth and reliability of transmission. This parameter is expressed in units such as hertz (Hz) and kilohertz (kHz). For him precise definition, as a rule, a certain frequency range is indicated, for example 5 Hz - 20 kHz. The greater the interval between the first and second values, the better quality headphones and even more accurately they transmit sound.

    Deviation frequency response between left and right channel- this is a parameter on which the detail of the sound depends. The more the frequency response value differs between channels, the worse the sound will be, the sounds from all instruments will be “blurred”. It should be noted that the deviation in the region of low and high frequencies feels much less than mid-range deviation. As a rule, headphone models with a small spread have a fairly large monetary value, since their production requires significant expenses.

    Sensitivity is a characteristic on which depends maximum level sound for which the headphones are designed. To ensure a sufficiently high volume, this figure must exceed 100 dB. At a lower value, the sound may seem quiet and inexpressive, especially when listening to music on city streets or in public transport. Sensitivity largely depends on the material from which the magnetic core is made. Headphones with a small membrane diameter usually have a magnet with low power.

    Impedance is the nominal resistance, which is expressed in Ohms (Ohms). When choosing headphones, you need to consider that they electrical resistance must match the impedance of the sound source used. When using portable equipment, it is necessary to choose headphone models that have an impedance in the range of 16-40 Ohms. In most cases, products of this type are characterized by a resistance of 32 Ohms. Accessories high class with an impedance of more than 300 Ohms they distort the sound very little, but to use them effectively you need an amplifier with a high voltage.

    Maximum power is a value that reflects the volume at which headphones are capable of transmitting sound. It is worth noting that the volume also depends on the supplied power, the nominal resistance of the product and its sensitivity. It is imperative to ensure that the input power is not higher than permissible, as this can lead to some disturbances and damage to the headphones.

    Harmonic distortion factor is an indicator that allows you to evaluate distortions when converted to beep electric. The user perceives this as wheezing, slight inaccuracies in timbre, or as a loss of crystalline sound. This coefficient is measured by the ratio of the magnitude of additional distorted signals and the magnitude of the main signal. Expressed this parameter as a percentage, and the lower it is, the more clear sound capable of playing headphones. The permissible distortion also depends on the signal frequency, and the lower it is, the greater the coefficient can be.

    There are an incredible number of headphones on the electronics market today. Therefore, their choice must be approached taking into account the purchase budget, as well as the intended purpose of the headphones. Let's say that some models are great for working at a computer, but will be completely unsuitable for listening to music through a player. Therefore, let’s look at their main varieties and determine which characteristics are really important.

    Based on their intended purpose, headphones are:

    • Portable. Typically this is vacuum headphones and the so-called “inserts”. Intended for use with portable equipment. Their advantage is their small size. The downside is the relatively low sound quality.
    • Computer. Inexpensive, designed for working at a computer and communicating online. They are usually overhead and often equipped with a microphone. Pros - low cost, minus - sound quality is also not great.
    • Gaming. These headphones are used by gamers. The clarity of positioning of sounds is most valued in them. They produce headphones that are full-sized and comfortable for long-term use, since gamers spend a lot of time in them.
    • Concert. They are mainly used by DJs during concerts, as they are able to drown out external noise. Have a loud high-quality sound with powerful bass.
    • Studio. The most expensive type of headphones. They give the clearest sound without distortion. Used in professional recording studios.

    Headphone Specifications

    The main factor when choosing headphones is the sound quality and how comfortable it is for you to use them, and not being tied to certain technical parameters. But, it is worth paying attention to the main technical characteristics of the headphones. These are:

    1. Frequency range. This parameter is expressed in hertz and kilohertz and directly affects the sound quality. As an example, in the description of this parameter you can see the following data: 10 Hz - 23 kHz or 15 - 19000 Hz. The lower the first and higher the second value, the better the sound quality will be.
    2. Sensitivity. It affects the volume of the sound being played. This parameter should be at least 100 dB, as the sound will not be loud enough.
    3. Distortion level. The lower the percentage of distortion, the better the sound. Headphones with a coefficient of less than 0.5% will produce high-quality sound, while headphones with a coefficient of 1% or more will sound mediocre.

    Also, when choosing headphones, take into account the type and length of the wire. There is a standard wire, twisted (twisted into a spiral), and also a very convenient flat one (it does not get tangled).

    To use headphones with an audio player, a standard cord length is also suitable, but when buying computer headphones, it is advisable to choose a model with a longer cord.

    You should also pay attention to the ear pads. They come in ear-covering and overhead styles. The first ones are the most comfortable, as they do not come into contact with the ear and do not cause discomfort during prolonged use. On-ear headphones fit tightly to the ears, so they can cause discomfort if used for a long time. But for some, this type of ear pads is very comfortable.

    Choosing headphones for your computer and player

    Everyone approaches the choice individually based on what exactly they want to get from headphones. For example, wireless headphones will ensure freedom of movement. You can buy monster headphones, which are available in both wired and wireless model range. Disadvantage: limited use time without recharging. But this can be solved by purchasing an additional set of batteries.

    Also, you should pay attention to the presence of a microphone and volume control on the headset if you communicate online or play games where communication with the team is necessary.

    Folding computer headphones are an excellent choice for people who use headphones not only at home. They take up little space and fit into a bag without any problems.

    When choosing headphones for your player, in addition to sound, you should consider them appearance. Some people want not to attract the attention of passers-by and buy vacuum earphones. In addition to their compactness, music from them is practically inaudible to others. Others love large over-ear headphones. The sound quality in them is better, but due to their size, many people refuse such headphones.

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