What are the best parameters for headphones. Appointment of different types. Frequency response and frequency response

In-ear headphones have become very popular. They are not big size, therefore it is convenient to carry with you. As a rule, they are supplied complete with mobile phones and mp3 players. However, manufacturers of these devices often save on the quality of the headphones in favor of the price of the device itself, so often you have to buy more quality headphones inserts separately.

Let's define what these headphones are for? Surely, we will buy them for mobile device to listen to music on the road, in various noisy places.

In-ear headphones for mobile or mp3 can be divided into two types: regular "tablets" and in-ear. We will talk about in-ear (hereinafter simply "earbuds"). Earphones "tablets" have a number of disadvantages: they often fall out of the ear, do not protect against extraneous noise, do not differ in terms of sound quality.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages of in-ear headphones

Good fit in the ear. The set includes a set of silicone inserts that can be matched to the size of the ear canal.
Good sound insulation
Compactness
Compared with more professional headphones (computer), they give out less high quality sound... This is due to the area of the membrane. In them, it does not exceed 1 cm in diameter, therefore, this cannot but affect the quality, especially at low frequencies (bass).
Hearing damage. The human ear is designed in such a way that, thanks to the device of the auricle, all sounds around us are captured and amplified in a certain way. The use of in-ear headphones places an increased strain on the hearing aid as the sound is fed directly into the ear canal, bypassing the sink. We recommend not to abuse loud music.

Disadvantages of earbuds

Choosing earbuds

What to do right choice, you need to consider the following criteria:

frequency range

This is the range of sound waves that headphones can reproduce. However, you should not be guided by it in the choice. Why? - read about the frequency response (we already wrote about the frequency range and other quality characteristics in the article about headphones for PC). In most models, the manufacturer will declare 20 - 20,000 Hz.

Sensitivity

The sensitivity affects the final sound volume. All other things being equal, those headphones in which the sensitivity will be higher will play louder. For earbuds, it will be optimal from 100 dB.

Resistance

The impedance also affects the volume of the sound. All other things being equal, headphones with a higher resistance will play quieter, and such headphones will consume a little more battery power (for example, a smartphone), but the sound will be better. Headphones with high resistance, usually used on stationary equipment, where the output signal power is higher. However, to achieve good level volume on high impedance headphones is possible due to the high sensitivity. Prices for such models will be above the lower price range.

For earbuds for mobile or mp3, a resistance of 16-32 ohms will be acceptable.

Headphone cable

How long your earbuds last depends heavily on the cord. Often, it is he who breaks down first. Poor-quality cord - not elastic enough, too thin. High quality - elastic, of sufficient thickness, binding can be used, which makes it more durable.

Make sure the length was sufficient, taking into account where the sound source will be (in your pocket, bag).

Brands you can trust

Leaders: Sennheiser, AKG, Koss, Monster Beats, Sony. Other good brands: Panasonic, Philips.

Bottom line. How to correctly earbuds

In order not to be mistaken with the choice of in-ear headphones, first decide where you will mainly listen to them, which device will be used, what budget. If you choose to listen to music in noisy places from your mobile (transport, etc.), the optimal choice would be a model with 16-32 Ohm, the sensitivity is about 100 dB. If the resistance is higher, then select a higher sensitivity. The declared range must be at least 20 - 20,000 Hz. Since more detailed information about the tests is usually not included in the specifications, we strongly recommend buying headphones from trusted manufacturers.

But it was not without its drawbacks. Vacuum headphones place unnecessary strain on the hearing aid as they need to be inserted quite deep into the ear canal. It is believed that if often, then you can plant hearing.

How to choose good on-ear headphones

It's not even worth explaining in detail why they were named. It's simple - the headphones are literally superimposed on the ears. Their design is also more than standard - a headband with attachment and adjustment, ear cups, wire (optional).

Let us immediately note their main advantage over the two previous types. The larger the diaphragm will sound better. Also, this type has improved sound insulation. So false ears are also suitable for non-demanding music lovers.

Just as a side note, let's add that there are excellent ones. For the price they will be even cheaper than in-channel ones.

How to choose good monitor headphones (they are also full-size)

In the title, we have already clarified that this type is also called full-size - the design is such that it completely covers the ears. However, we immediately note that monitor headphones are divided into open and closed models. Closed ones are suitable for those for whom it is important to get complete isolation from the outside world. Open type monitor headphones have holes in the ear cushions in the design.

The closed type of these headphones is mainly chosen by musicians or filmmakers so that they can observe the entire range, avoiding any extraneous noise. The open type is mainly chosen by music lovers, gamers and simply those who value high-quality sound.

The biggest disadvantage of these headphones is their size. Do not run with them for a walk, so consider this fact. It will be possible to listen to music only at home, without unnecessary sudden movements. The second drawback, although this is not a drawback, but a feature is high-quality headphones renowned manufacturers(Koss, Sennheiser, AKG, Audio-Technica) will be expensive.

How to Pick a Good Headphone with Microphone

We decided to talk separately about the models that have. And right there we note their varieties: capacitor, dynamic and a subspecies of capacitor - electret. Capacitors are better at transmitting sound than others, but they have a requirement - a separate power supply. However, you shouldn't expect the same result as from professional microphones.

Also, remember that it is impossible to speak unequivocally about the quality of sound recording by a microphone without a specific sample on hand. The type of microphone influences, of course, certain nuances of recording, but the quality of the microphone that the manufacturer has built into the headphones affects this much more. Therefore, you need to read reviews for each specific model headphones to find out how the microphone works in them.

Nowadays USB headphones are gaining popularity. Their main difference from conventional models is that the DAC and ADC are built into the headphones themselves and the sound quality, as well as the sound recording quality, depends on the headphones themselves, and not on the sound card of your computer. USB headphones often come with special drivers and programs that need to be installed on a computer in order for the headphones to make the most of their capabilities. All of this affects the quality of sound and recording.

Learn the difference between condenser and dynamic microphones in the video.

It is important to note that microphones can be circular or unidirectional (basic types). A unidirectional one will pick up sound better without loud noises, but it is important to set it in the correct position. If you have already decided to buy headphones with a microphone, then ask if there is a built-in noise cancellation system.

Unidirectional microphones are most commonly used in gaming headphone models. Omnidirectional for musical models. Their main difference is reflected in the name. The omnidirectional microphone picks up sounds from all directions equally. A unidirectional microphone picks up sound better from your mouth and worse from your surroundings.

Wireless headphones

Without fail, we decided to separately talk about headphones with wireless interface, but even here there is a rather big choice:

models with Bluetooth support;
working on a radio channel;
working on the infrared channel.

Bluetooth headphones

This is the most common option. Usually, their range is limited to 10-12 meters, but we can talk about a low level of distortion. In more expensive models there is even support for special technologies to reduce noise and improve the quality of sound transmission.

Resistance (impedance)

This parameter is measured in Ohms. Be sure to consider when choosing headphones models, as this affects the sound quality depending on the source. If you have a pocket player or a smartphone, then headphones should be chosen with an impedance of 16-50 ohms. But keep in mind that the higher the impedance, the more powerful the input signal must be, otherwise the membrane will be difficult to swing.

For example, head-mounted monitors often need a powerful sound source. Studio headphones generally have an impedance of around 250-500 ohms and require a dedicated amplifier. But note that the higher the impedance, the clearer the sound will be. Inexpensive low impedance headphones often have noticeable distortion.

Impedance is the nominal impedance at the headphone input... The term impedance is borrowed from the word impedance, which translates as impedance. Often used as a synonym for headphone impedance. Impedance is a combination of resistive and reactive components, resulting in a frequency-dependent impedance level. In most cases, the graph shows low frequency resonance for dynamic headphones.

You need to choose headphones by impedance in accordance with the technique with which you are going to use these headphones. For use with portable equipment, headphones with a lower impedance should be selected, and for stationary equipment, with a higher impedance. Amplifiers for portable equipment have a tightly limited output voltage level, but as a rule, they do not have a tight limitation on the current level. Therefore, the probability of getting the maximum possible power for portable equipment is possible only with low-impedance headphones. In stationary equipment, as a rule, the voltage limitation is not so low and high-impedance headphones can be used to obtain sufficient power. High impedance headphones are a more favorable load for the amplifier and the amplifier works with them with less distortion. Low-impedance headphones are considered headphones conventionally up to 100 ohms. For portable equipment, headphones with an impedance of 16 to 32 ohms are recommended, with a maximum of 50 ohms. However, if the headphone has a high sensitivity, then a higher impedance can be used.

Power

Typically, the box indicates the permissible power range - from 1 mW to 5000 mW. If the power goes beyond the upper limit of the range, then your headphones will instantly fail.

When it comes to power, don't chase watts. Especially when the main source of music is a smartphone or portable player. With high sensitivity, a few milliwatts are enough for music to play loudly, and the amplifier of the gadget is not overloaded and economically consumes battery power. Yes, if you choose headphones with high power, the sound, perhaps (only possible), will turn out to be solid and assertive. But it will not last as long as you would like - the battery of the gadget under such a load will start to discharge rapidly. Moreover, there are often cases when the built-in amplifier simply cannot cope with powerful headphones. As a result, you will not hear a good sound (loose shallow bass) and get distortions at a volume above average.

For headphones used at home, high power is no longer a problem, because it is assumed that they will be used with a stationary amplifier. Then the high power will contribute to the high sound quality.

Distortion (Harmonic Distortion)

Of course, the headphones may produce slight distortion when reproducing sound. This parameter is measured as a percentage. The smaller it is, the higher the sound quality. The normal range is now considered to be from 0.5% to 2%.

Selecting Headphones Based on Sound Source

Headphones for the player

Today, almost any conscious purchase of a music player involves a lengthy search for the desired information on the web. Let's say you've read hundreds of reviews, consulted with professionals and bought a player from a well-known brand.

Typically, these players come with headphones in the kit, so that the package is “all at once”. After you have charged the battery and read the instructions (which is necessary), you plug in the headphones and press Play. We think that immediately you will be disappointed, because the player may be of high quality, but it often comes with an inexpensive accessory.

For such players, usually choose good in-ear or vacuum headphones- all because of the characteristics of the player itself and its compactness. We talked about the characteristics separately above.

If we combine everything that we indicated above, we get the following picture:

Form factor: in-ear or overhead;
Resistance: 16 to 32 ohms. Higher impedance headphones will work, but you won't get good sound from them;
Power: for in-ear headphones, a power of 30-40 mW is quite enough, for overhead headphones from 300 mW and above.

Headphones for smartphone

Headphones for phones are chosen in much the same way as for pocket MP3 players. There is only one caveat - we often choose not just headphones, but a headset so that we can comfortably talk with the interlocutor. Therefore, pay attention not only to the characteristics and sound quality of compact headphone types.

Test the microphone ahead of time - it's even better to call someone and ask about the sound quality. The best option is in-ear or vacuum with a microphone with a standard 3.5 mm jack.

Headphones with microphone

We will separately highlight this option, since the microphone can be not only for headsets for phones. Such headphones are more often bought for communication on Skype or for online games. There are models in which the microphone is rigidly connected to the headphone structure, but there are options with a detachable microphone. This type is suitable for those who do not often speak on Skype.

As we wrote above, it is very difficult to give advice on choosing a microphone built into the headphones. According to the technical data that manufacturers write on the packaging, it's hard to talk about the quality of the microphone. You will either have to rely on your luck or read a review of those headphones with a microphone that you want to buy. There is no other way.

Headphones for TV

More often, we need headphones for TV in order to enjoy watching a movie. Therefore, the choice is limited to overhead or monitor headphones with good sound insulation and a long cable (but you can also wireless).

Form factor: overhead or monitor;
Frequency range: the wider, the better, but not less than 20-20000 Hz .;
Sensitivity: preferably at least 100 dB;
Resistance: 16 to 64 ohms. Headphones with a higher impedance will work, but you won't get good sound from them (when connected over a wire). If you buy wireless headphones, you do not need this parameter, since the headphones are perfectly matched to the base from which they will receive the signal;
Power: from 300 mW and above. However, remember that listening to loud sounds or music for as little as 5 minutes can have a very detrimental effect on your hearing, even irreversibly. Please do not listen to headphones at full volume.

For computer

Choosing headphones for a computer is not difficult, and in general terms, headphones for a computer are the same as for any other technology. But there are some nuances. If you choose headphones for games, and then the best result can be achieved if you buy comfortable and sound music headphones. Believe me, they will sound better in games, and in some cases much better than those headphones that manufacturers proudly call "gaming headphones". In gaming headphones, the focus is on low frequencies, quite often they are so strongly accentuated that the mids and highs fade into the background. It may sound effective, but only for the first 5 minutes. If you play with such headphones for hours, your head and ears will get tired very quickly from such a sound.

Also, gaming headphones are often equipped with a microphone and it also does not shine with quality. Yes, it will work, but you will get the best speech recording quality from a lavalier microphone, which can be bought at any computer store for 200-400 rubles. He will not look so pretentious, but he will hear you better. Of course, there is always an exception and, perhaps, there are gaming headphones in the world with an excellent microphone, but I have not held such in my hands yet.

Form factor: in-ear, overhead or monitor;
Frequency range: the wider the better, but not less than 20-20000 Hz. Note that this range is narrower on many gaming headphones. This is because the main emphasis in them is on low frequencies, and not only are the upper and middle frequencies that the driver can reproduce fade into the background, the manufacturer also tunes the headphones so that they do not have any headroom for high frequencies for their correct reproduction;
Sensitivity: preferably at least 100 dB;
Resistance: 16 to 32 ohms. Depending on which sound card is used in your computer, you can buy headphones with an impedance of up to 600 ohms. But this is possible if the instructions directly say about the support of such headphones. If you did not buy a separate sound card or do not know which card is installed in your computer, feel free to buy headphones with an impedance of up to 32 (50) Ohm maximum;
Power: for in-ear headphones, a power of 30-40 mW is quite enough, for overhead headphones from 300 mW and above. However, remember that listening to loud sounds or music for as little as 5 minutes can have a very detrimental effect on your hearing, even irreversibly. Please do not listen to headphones at full volume.

Find out which we have selected the best.

A huge number of people use headphones today, but not everyone knows what to be guided by when choosing them. Users, most often, are simply interested in the quality of sound transmission and personal comfort when listening to music, but these indicators directly depend on technical features a particular headphone model. 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 the quality of sound, its saturation, depth and reliability of transmission. This parameter is expressed in units such as hertz (Hz) and kilohertz (kHz). For its accurate determination, as a rule, a certain frequency range is indicated, for example, 5 Hz - 20 kHz. The larger the interval between the first and second values, the better the quality of the headphones and the more accurately they reproduce sound.

Deviation frequency response between left and right channel- this is a parameter that determines the detail of the sound. The more the frequency response between the channels differs, the worse the sound will be, the sounds from all instruments will be “washed out”. It should be noted that the deviation in the low and high frequency range is felt much less than the deviation in the middle range. As a rule, models of headphones with a small spread have a rather high monetary value, since their production requires significant costs.

Sensitivity Is the characteristic that determines the maximum sound level for which the headphones are designed. To ensure a sufficiently high volume, it is necessary for this figure to exceed 100 dB. At a lower value, the sound may appear quiet and lackluster, especially when listening to music on city streets or in public transport. The sensitivity depends a lot on the material from which the magnetic core is made. Headphones with a small diaphragm usually have a low power magnet.

Impedance Is the nominal impedance and is expressed in ohms (ohms). When choosing headphones, you need to take into account that their electrical resistance should correspond to the resistance of the sound source used. When using portable technology, it is necessary to choose such models of headphones 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. High-end accessories with an impedance of more than 300 ohms distort sound very little, but for them effective use an amplifier with a high voltage is needed.

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

Harmonic distortion factor Is a metric that allows you to evaluate the distortion when converting to sound signal electric. The user perceives this in the form of wheezing, slight inaccuracies in timbre, or as a loss of crystal sound. This coefficient is measured by the ratio of the magnitude of additional distorted signals and the magnitude of the main signal. This parameter is expressed as a percentage, and the lower it is, the clearer the sound the headphones can reproduce. The permissible distortion also depends on the signal frequency, and the lower it is, the greater the coefficient can be.

In the last century, the question of "how to choose headphones" was of little concern to anyone, since the latter were used only by those people who professionally worked with sound or received signals from the air.

This product was not distributed to the general public. There was no reason. People listened to music through turntables, cassette recorders or radio. Turn on the reel-to-reel tape recorder and put on the headphones, such a nonsense could hardly have occurred to anyone.

It used to be considered prestigious to turn the sound louder, so that everyone in the neighborhood could hear who “sings in the house” and what kind of music you like. But today this is not the case, and the point here is not a change in tastes and manners, but in technological progress. As soon as the music library of many thousands began to fit into a small digital storage device, people wanted to listen to their favorite music from their player at any time. Now it is exactly the opposite - so as not to interfere with others, at any place, plunging into the world of sounds and images. And this cannot be done today without personal device for listening. So, how to choose good headphones is the topic of our article.

What are modern headphones

I would like to say right away, since the market is full different types"Head monitors", it can be quite difficult to choose the right option. Therefore, to make the process easier, let's first classify existing devices by their type, purpose and characteristics. After that, it will be easier for us to understand how to choose the right ones.

All of them can be conditionally divided into 4 types:

inserts (droplets);
plug-in, vacuum (plugs);
consignment notes (with special fastening);
monitor (full circumference of the ears).

This classification depends on how close the speaker is to the ear itself. In this regard, each type has both its pros and cons.

Regardless of the type of headphones, there are a number of recommendations for their use without harm to health:

In-ear headphones

In-ear headphones have this name due to the fact that they are embedded in the auricle. They are held by the force of elasticity, but since the droplets are standard in diameter, and the shape of the ear is different for all people, the earbuds "have a habit" of falling out periodically.

In addition, due to the small size of the membrane, they poorly reproduce low frequencies. They are also characterized by poor sound insulation. These are their main disadvantages.

And what is the advantage? In their inexpensive cost, as well as compactness: they do not take up much space. Droplets are best suited for people who are unpretentious in sound quality, and they were most often sold earlier in the load for phones.

Another unobvious plus for some users: there is a type of people with a certain "architecture" of the ear, which simply does not hold vacuum headphones and they freely pop out of the auricle a second after insertion. And so an infinite number of times. This creates problems for the owners of such miniature (or, on the contrary, large?!) Ears, so for them drops remain the only acceptable option that allows them to save money. Unfortunately, nowadays, plugs are more often the standard type for all equipment, so drops have to be bought, and on sale they are less and less common.

Vacuum

Vacuum headphones or earplugs are better than those mentioned above. Soft silicone tips and fixation of the speaker inside the ear canal are their main difference from other types.

The sound quality of such models is much higher. The plugs have a deep level of soundproofing, the person in them is literally immersed in sound. That is why they are relevant in noisy places, in the subway, on the train, in the metropolis. The accessory is good for listening from both a player and a phone.

In-channel speakers are distinguished by powerful bass, so music lovers can use them. If only to find a model from recognized brands, and these are such as Apple, Sony, Ceneva, AKG. They will give you the quality you need, but the price will bite.

However, they also have their drawback: they create a significant load on the human auditory organs, as they are inserted deep into the ear. Obviously, when used frequently, plugs can immobilize hearing.

The specificity of using vacuum headphones is the need for regular cleaning:

Overhead

These are the ones that, in the literal sense of the word, are superimposed on the ear. They have a special attachment: on the ear, on the occipital arch or on the headband.

This accessory sounds better than droplets due to its larger diaphragm. Also, a special attachment, especially the headband, literally pulls them to their ears.

It is suitable for a tablet owner or gamer, as well as for enjoying music from a player. Another plus: quite good sound insulation.

Their cost starts from $ 25, for example, such as Sony MDR-370LP White cost 1100 rubles.

Monitor headphones

Over-ear or monitor headphones are those that completely cover your ears. This type is also divided into open and closed. Closed ones provide complete isolation from the outside world. The open ones in the ear cushions have holes.

As a rule, sound directors work in closed headphones, who need to see the whole sound picture and do not need extraneous noise. And the open is the lot of amateurs computer games, music lovers listening to music on the computer.

Flaw full-size headphones Are their dimensions. Quality ones like AKG and Sennheiser, Koss or Audio-Technica come with a high price tag.

Assigning different types

So, considering the various types, we have already touched on such a topic as purpose. Nevertheless, let's expand the range of application of head monitors and once again decide where, in what area it is best to use this or that.

Headphones are used:

for sound recording and music mixing;
for work in a music and radio studio;
for listening on the player;
to listen to audiobooks;
while playing by gamers;
while surfing the Internet;
to watch videos on a computer, tablet;
to listen to Internet radio on your phone or smartphone;
for a Skype conversation;
just like a headset for your phone.

Obviously, a DJ in a radio studio will not work in droplets, and an ordinary person will not need studio accessories to talk to a friend on Skype. To each his own. Therefore, in order to choose headphones, you must always first decide how and when you will use them.

Therefore, general advice for now, without going into the characteristics, will be like this.

If you are unpretentious to the sound quality, you need at least some "ears", if you always have a phone or a smartphone at hand - your choice of droplets or plugs.
If you are on the move all the time, jog in the morning, like to listen to audiobooks or music from the player, listen a lot - your choice is overhead. You need a good fit so that your hearing doesn't get tired.
If you are a gamer or, working at a computer, like to “withdraw into yourself” for a while, your choice is full-size open ones.
And of course, if you work professionally with sound, then you need high-quality closed "ears".

So, we figured out how to choose headphones regarding their type and purpose.

About the choice: expert opinion (video)

Wireless head-mounted monitors

I would also like to mention that, according to the methods of sound transmission and its connection, headphones are divided into wired and wireless. The latter work at the expense of a channel, for example, a radio signal. They provide some kind of mobility, mobility, but have a limited range. And their disadvantage is low sound quality. Whether it makes sense to buy such, you decide.

If you want to watch TV while lying on the couch so that the sound does not interfere with those around you, then they will come in handy. Also, the purchase is useful if you are tired of extra wires or they bother you. But then you need to stock up on batteries, since such accessories require additional power.

The cost of pleasure is from $ 50. For example, such as PHILIPS SHC5100 / 10 cost 2499 rubles.

Specifications

Now let's turn our attention directly to the characteristics of the headphones in order to choose the best among the existing types.

These include:

frequency range (frequency spectrum);
sensitivity (loudness);
resistance (impedance);
maximum power;
distortion level;

It is not necessary to scrupulously research all these features, but it is necessary to have a general idea in order for your choice to be deliberate.

frequency range

This characteristic reflects in which frequency range the sound will be reproduced. The wider it is, the better the sound quality. As a rule, physically here the relationship is as follows. The larger the membrane of the earphone, the wider the frequency range. Music lovers want to hear the entire spectrum that their ear can pick up. But it usually hears frequencies from 15-16 to 18,000-20,000 Hz. Therefore, everything below and above is the privilege of only a few.

Sensitivity

This characteristic is responsible for how loud you will hear the sound. The standard for most headphones will be at least 100 dB. The sensitivity depends on the magnetic core used. The earbuds and plugs have a small diaphragm diameter and a low-power magnet, so they are not very sensitive. However, the volume of sound is enough for a person due to the proximity of the membrane to the ear.

Resistance

This parameter must be taken into account in relation to which technique you will use. For gadgets and portable technology, the headphone impedance is 16-50 ohms. The point is that the higher the headphone impedance, the more powerful the input signal will be needed to swing the membrane. In other words, high impedance accessories will need a powerful sound source.

Therefore, if you connect studio headphones with an impedance of 250 Ohm to a regular player, they will sound quiet, you will not get a powerful sound. And for studios with an impedance of 500 ohms, you will need an additional amplifier.

Another regularity: the higher the resistance, the clearer the sound. Therefore, low-impedance headphones can sound distorted, while high-impedance ones are not very loud.

We draw the following conclusion. For a portable player or computer, headphones with an impedance of 32-80 ohms will suffice. For serious studio work, the impedance can be 200, 300 ohms and above.

Power

A similar correspondence should be for such a characteristic as power. If the power from the sound source exceeds the capacity of the headphones, they will be damaged. Typically the power range is from 1 mW to 5000 mW.

Distortion level

Some distortion is allowed during sound reproduction. Their level is measured as a percentage. Accordingly, the quality will be better, the less this percentage.

When choosing headphones, you must also take into account their weight and size. To make it easier for you to navigate, know that earbuds and vacuum ones weigh about 5-30 g, overhead - 40-100 g, and monitor ones - 150-300 g.

The weight of the earbuds will be especially relevant if you are going to use them with a cell phone:

After all, ask yourself how much time do you plan on spending in them? Do you need them only as a headset for Skype conversations or will you work in them? Do you often listen to music, audiobooks, or occasionally? Or maybe you really need wireless?

What type of technique is better: professional opinion on video

Useful Tips

Any music lover, computer technician and ordinary student today uses headphones, which have already become a part of everyday life. But you need to know how to choose the right headphones that could provide high-quality sound.

The very first thing you need to do pay attention - this is the type of headphone... Many people immediately look at the price and buy headphones based on this parameter, which is a big mistake.

It is the type of headphones that determines not only the sound quality, but also how comfortable it will be for you to wear them.

It is also very important when choosing headphones, to know about some useful functions... For example: noise canceling, Bluetooth, digital optical input... But let's start in order and put everything on the shelves to make it clear.

Types of headphones - which headphones to choose

Most of the headphones sold in stores today can be divided into four main types:

Inserts ("tablets");

Plug-in ("plugs");

Overhead;

Closed type ("monitor").

The first two types of headphones ("pills" and "earplugs") are worn directly on the ears themselves, which is why they are also called Intra-aural (inside the ear). They are comfortable to wear and can provide good sound. They are also very compact and can be worn with a headgear without any problems, making them the most popular. Most often, these types of headphones are used for a mobile phone, player, tablet and other portable devices.

How to pick good headphones

Now let's take a closer look at each type.

Earbuds

This type of headphone is usually supplied with players and phones in the kit. But they have several serious disadvantages:

These headphones transmit noise very easily, which means that in public transport, for example, people around you will hear sounds coming from your headphones.

Small earbuds are not able to fully reproduce low clarities (bass) due to the small diameter of the diaphragm.

The shape of the "pills" is almost always the same, while the human ear is different for everyone. This means that not every user will have such headphones comfortably. In addition, if you touch the wire a little, they will simply fall out.

The most significant advantage is the very low price.

In-ear headphones

These headphones are somewhat similar to earbuds, the main difference being a narrower shape and silicone tips (sometimes they can be rubber). A narrower shape allows you to insert "plugs" deep into the ear, and silicone or rubber tips serve as good noise isolation.

Usually high-quality in-ear headphones come with several earpieces different sizes... This is so that the user can find the best fit that will allow the headphone to sit firmly in the ear.

The quality of such headphones is an order of magnitude higher than that of earbuds. However, the small diameter of the membrane also brings some limitations in the reproduction of low frequencies.

It is also worth mentioning that in-ear headphones are divided into two types: reinforcing and dynamic, but about them a little later.

On-ear headphones

They are also called Supraaural (over the ear). Due to the large size of the membrane, these headphones provide good quality sound that any music lover will appreciate. They also adhere well to the ears and are comfortable to wear.

To ensure good sound insulation, manufacturers use special pads that can be made of foam rubber or a similar material.

Another plus is its low weight, and this is despite its rather large volume. They can be used both at home and with portable device(mobile phone, player) outside.

On-ear headphones can have different mounts. They can be attached to the headband, the back of the head, or on each ear separately (which is very convenient for walking, because you can wear a baseball cap, for example).

Monitor headphones

Manufacturers of monitor headphones sometimes write Circumaural on the box (around the ear) to characterize this species.

Monitor headphones are used both at home and in professional (in recording studios, for example). They have special cups that cover the entire ear, which prevents outside noise from entering.

The diaphragm is large enough to reproduce sound with all kinds of frequencies. This is what captivates big fans of high-quality sound.

Perhaps the only drawback is the size of the monitor headphones, they are quite large and take up a lot of space, which means that it is better to forget about mobility.

Types of headphones - which headphones are best for you

The types of headphones depend on their design. Today, all headphones can be divided into:

Dynamic;

Rebar;

Electrostatic.

Isodynamic headphones

Orthodynamic headphones

Headphones dynamic

Most of the earbuds you can see in stores come in a dynamic type. This type is so called because the basis of the headphones that belong to it is the electrodynamic principle of transformation.

The design of dynamic headphones includes a membrane (emitter), a coil and a wire. When an alternating current is started up, a magnetic field is formed around the coil - it then transfers the vibrations to the membrane.

This type of headphone has become very popular due to its low price. To this day, the design of dynamic headphones is being improved - new materials are added to it, which raises the level of quality of the reproduced sound.

Armature headphones

The name of this type comes from the Balanced Armature. These headphones work differently than dynamic ones. Their design includes a U-shaped ferromagnetic alloy plate.

The vibrations generated by the plate appear due to the influence of a permanent magnet and an alternating field emitted by the coil. The sound comes from the armature to which the diaphragm is attached. Due to very slight distortion, the sound in these headphones is quite clear.

Most often, it is musicians who purchase reinforcing headphones, as they are ideal for performing on stages and radio stations.

It is worth mentioning that such headphones are classified as IEM (In-Ear monitor), that is, in-ear monitor headphones. Unlike dynamic headphones, the price of reinforcing ones is quite high.

Electrostatic headphones

In order for these headphones to create clear sound, they use the thinnest membrane installed between two electrodes. A constant voltage is applied to the membrane, while an intense high-voltage signal from the audio system is applied to the electrodes.

The voltage between the electrodes determines to whom it will reach, and from whom it will repel. As a result, the vibrations of the membrane will clearly repeat the shape of the transmitted electrical signal.

The main advantage of these headphones is high quality sound. But the price for them is very high, since they have a complex design, and you also need to use a special high-voltage amplifier. Experts recommend using such headphones only with Hi-End and Hi-Fi audio equipment.

Isodynamic and orthodynamic headphones

These types of headphones allow the user to obtain balanced, even and clear sound reproduction. The difference between these types is mainly their design, while the same technology is used. This is the reason why both of these types are listed in the same group.

These headphones create very high quality sound. But there are a couple of drawbacks: firstly, it is high cost, and secondly, to achieve the best sound, you need to connect an amplifier, which in turn means not only that you can forget about mobility, but also extra financial costs.

How to choose wireless and wired headphones

You should also know how the headphones are connected to the sound source. Two types are known:

Wired;

Wireless.

If you need freedom of action (say, you are driving a car or just move around the office often), then it is natural to purchase wireless headphones.

But there is one drawback of such headphones - the loss of an audio signal.

The best choice for those who want to get high quality sound will be wired headphones.

Headphone types by cable connection method

Reversible - Connecting cable goes to each cup.

One-sided - the connecting cable is led to one cup, and that in turn is connected to the second branch hidden in the bow.

Headphone jacks

Before you buy headphones, you need to know about the connectors, otherwise you will have to buy an adapter.

Mini-jack 3.5 mm - the most popular, as it is present in almost all devices - suitable for both a player or a mobile phone, and for a computer.

Jack 6.3 mm and micro jack 2.5 mm - in order to connect headphones with such connectors to a smartphone or computer, you will have to purchase an appropriate adapter.

USB - is gaining popularity and is used in newer headphones, which are usually produced for those who like to chat on Skype.

How to choose headphones for your computer

Headsets are a separate type of headphone. Most often, you can find a model with one or two headphones and a microphone.

As well regular headphones, headsets are wired and wireless.

By design, headsets are classified in the same way as headphones - waybills(open, closed), plug-in, earbuds.

Headset temples

Headphones can be divided into three categories: die-cast, self-adjusting and sliding.

Cast - reliable, but cannot boast of great demand.

Self-adjusting - help to evenly distribute the weight of the headset, reliable, durable.

Sliding - evenly spread on the sides to adjust the desired size.

Since headsets are the same headphones, but with a microphone, all their characteristics coincide with those that were mentioned earlier, and you need to talk about the microphone separately.

Headset microphone

It is worth paying special attention to several important characteristics microphone in the headset. For example, the microphone mode is mono or stereo, sensitivity, frequency range and presence of noise reduction.

Microphone mounts

On the wire - usually found in headsets for mobile phones, headsets and earbuds.

Fixed - the position of the microphone does not change and the microphone is attached to the ear cushion on a small plastic holder.

Movable - you can adjust the position of the microphone, which is attached to the swivel or flexible element.

The built-in microphone is inserted into the headset body, which makes it unobtrusive, but at the same time all extraneous noises are heard from the outside, which is naturally not very convenient.

Headsets are produced for mobile phones for Skype communication.

How to choose the right headphones - terms in the description of headphones

If you have visited a store (real or virtual) that sells headphones and / or headsets, then you should be aware of some of the terms that are often used by manufacturers in product descriptions, and what these terms mean.

Frequency

Simply put, this term describes the sound quality. The larger the headphone diaphragm, the better the sound quality. Simple to medium headphones have a range of 18 to 20,000 Hz. More professional headphones can record a range from 5 to 60,000 Hz. But it is worth noting that the human ear is capable of picking up sound waves at a frequency of 20 to 20,000 Hz.

Sensitivity

This is the maximum volume at the specified value of the signal applied to the headphones (from 30 to 130 dB). With the same signal level and equal impedance, more sensitive headphones will produce more loud noise... The standard is usually taken an electrical signal, which has a power of 1mW. If you are in a noisy place, then the desired sensitivity threshold should be at least 100 dB.

Resistance (impedance)

Nominal impedance at the headphone input. This indicator depends on the technology to which you connect the headphones. For example, for players and smartphones, you can choose headphones with an impedance of 16 to 40 ohms. If you are going to connect headphones to sound card without a special amplifier, you can choose headphones with an impedance of 120-150 ohms. Higher impedance headphones are usually used by professionals who use them with special equipment that has high level outgoing voltage.

Power

This parameter is responsible for the sound volume of the headphones. Models can be found with powers ranging from 1 to 4,000 mW. It is important to know that listening to sound in headphones at maximum volume for a long time can negatively affect the hearing organs.

The best / most popular headphone firms

The firms mentioned in this list took their highest places in user ratings. Some have become famous exclusively for their quality, others for the ratio of quality and price. But do not forget that in addition to the manufacturer, you should also pay attention to all of the above characteristics.