Overview of types of headphones

It's hard to imagine our world without headphones. Walking the streets, you can meet a lot of people with different shapes and sizes of devices in their ears. Headphones allow you to listen to texts and music without disturbing others. Portable models make it possible not to part with your favorite tunes outside the home, taking them from tiny players and phones.

It all started at the end of the 19th century, when those who could not get into the theater were offered to listen to the performance through bulky inconvenient structures from the Electrophone company, which became the prototype of all headphones.

Modern devices surprise with their variety: they are divided according to their constructive nature and technical properties. They can be classified by purpose: household, professional, outdoor, home, and streaming. After smartphones and fitness bracelets, it's time for smart headphones that are controlled by touch and voice. There are vibration headphones (with bone conduction), they were created to help people with reduced hearing, responding to vibrations. If you add a microphone to your headphones, they are called "headset".

With the development of electronics, especially portable electronics, the importance of headphones is growing steadily. Devices specially adapted for the latest technology are produced. Therefore, when choosing headphones, one should not only rely on design features, but also take into account the device with which they have to work. By the way, the manufacturers managed to make a completely self-contained headset with a built-in processor and memory card.

In the article, we will consider the classification of devices according to various criteria:

• type of construction;
• dynamics;
• acoustic data;
• sound transmission.

There are other technical characteristics that do not coincide in different models.

We pay attention to the appearance and design features first of all, and then we delve into the technical properties of the device. Let's take a closer look at what types of headphones can be found in the modern electronics market.

Plug-in gadgets belong to the simplest and most compact type of portable devices, they are also called inserts, buttons, shells or droplets. Miniature headphones are often bundled with consumer electronics, but can be purchased separately. Products for use are inserted into the outer ear, but not inserted into the ear canal, hence the name "inset".

The need to use earbuds appeared in the late nineties and early 2000s, when mobile communications began to spread en masse. There are certain difficulties associated with wearing headphones on the street. There was an urgent need for portable products, which was realized for us by Etymotoc Research.

The first models looked like barrels and were still far from good sound, but despite design flaws, they quickly became an integral part of mobile phones for many users. Over the years, the designers still managed to give the products a shape that took into account the anatomical features of the human ear. But also today, not everyone manages to find their ideal option, so the search for designers in this direction is still ongoing.

Since earbuds are among the simplest devices, they are not without drawbacks. Models have poor acoustic data, poorly absorb external noise. This interferes with listening to music in the subway or on the street, you have to turn on the sound loudly, which eventually leads to a decrease in the user's hearing.

There are also complaints about the attachment, for some users the earbuds simply fall out of their ears. There are different recommendations on how to fix this situation: choose the correct size, turn the headphones over with the wire up, put the wire behind the ear, around the neck, under long hair, whoever has it. A special clip holds the cable. It is recommended to pay attention to suitable ear pads. Of the advantages of plug-in structures, their compactness and budgetary cost are noted.

Separately, I would like to note this type of product as droplets. They can be considered a transitional form from plug-in models to in-channel views. "Pills" are inferior in popularity to "plugs", but their subspecies ("droplets") from Apple has become a worthy continuation of the in-ear headphones class which is now a thing of the past.

If in-ear devices achieve a snug fit in the ear due to the ear cushions, then the “droplets” are perfectly installed in the ear cavity due to their streamlined teardrop shape.

This is the most popular type of portable headphone. Unlike plug-in versions, they are not simply installed in the ear cavity, but direct sound directly into the ear canal. With the help of ear pads, the device fits snugly into the auricle, creating a vacuum effect and not allowing noise from the street to interfere with listening to music and texts. Therefore, such designs are popularly called "plugs", "vacuum tubes", "earplugs".

The absence of external noise from the headphones is a plus and a minus at the same time. The advantage lies in comfortable listening to melodies, "without admixture" of extraneous sounds. But in the condition of the street there is a drawback in the insulating properties - when fencing off from the outside world, you may not notice the danger, especially on the roads.

In addition, not all people react in the same way to the feeling of a vacuum in their ears - for some, it causes discomfort. Experts advise to wait a little for the pressure in the ear cavity to equalize, but, unfortunately, this advice does not help everyone.When purchasing in-ear headphones, you should pay attention to ear pads, they are made from different materials, and each user has a different feeling of comfort. Most people prefer silicone tips, they can follow the shape of the ear, do not slip, hold well and create a high-quality seal. PVC products also fit tightly, but many do not like their rigidity. Those who want to save money choose sponge models. The material is inexpensive, but behaves with dignity, has a good grip on headphones and on the ear.

The most unique are custom devices, when ear pads are made to order (from a cast of the owner's auricle). They fit perfectly into the ear, but they can only fit their owner. The cost of such overlays is high, often “competes” with the price of the headphones themselves.

The ear cushions are periodically worn out and must be replaced. If this is not done, the tightness will be broken, sounds from the street will be heard simultaneously with the melody from the gadget.

When choosing, you should take into account the size of the model, for each ear it is different. The product is selected by trial. When the ideal size is determined, it should be remembered, the information will come in handy during the next replacement of ear pads or the purchase of the following devices.

Outwardly, these gadgets live up to their name, they have supra-aural overlays (translated as "over the ear"), which are superimposed on the ears, but do not completely cover them. This option provides more realistic sound than in-ear or in-ear products.

Because the speaker cups are layered on the surface of the ear rather than inserted into the ear, a more powerful driver and higher volume are needed for better sound. The size of the speakers is already large enough to create surround sound and good bass expression, which is not the case for portable devices.

When choosing on-ear headphones, you need to find a compromise between a tight fit to your ears and unnecessary pressure on your head. Even eminent brands do not always manage to find a "golden mean", so it is better to try on a product before buying.

Ear cushions for in-ear and on-ear devices are completely different from each other, but they have common goals: they act as a seal between the earpiece and the ear, thereby providing sound insulation. Tighter earpieces allow the speakers to perform more efficiently by suppressing external noise. Ear cushions made of foam soft polyurethane have proven themselves well, they have a memory effect and repeat the shape of the ear.

Models of this type have different mounts. Most often they look like arcs covering the head, or "zaushin". Interesting are miniature folding options that are convenient to use at home and on travel, since they do not take up much space. Cases or covers are included with the compact on-ear headphones.

The largest type of headphone, it has good sounding, it is intended for use in home and office environments. If the attachments of the on-ear models are pressed against the ears, then full-size products can be called the most comfortable, since they do not press on the auricle, but cover the head with soft ear cushions. The devices have large speakers, which has a positive effect on the sound quality. Unlike earbuds, their low frequencies are deeper and richer. The advantages include excellent noise isolation, which allows you to focus on your favorite melody and at the same time not interfere with the household.

They can be called full-size, but they are distinguished by a more voluminous design, better technical characteristics and belong to professional equipment. Their cups tightly fix the auricles and quite often, together with a large bow, are covered with a single massive polyurethane lining. The headphones reproduce high fidelity sounds, balanced in frequencies.

The emitter is necessary for converting electrical vibrations of sound frequency into acoustic ones. For these purposes, the headphones can contain one of four types of speakers. But you will not find a wide variety in the sale, and buyers do not focus on such a topic. Most often, there are ordinary speakers - dynamic.

The driver unit is a closed housing with a membrane. The device is supplied with a magnet and a coil with a wire. The electric current creates a field directed at the membrane. It is activated and makes sounds. There are also two-driver headphone models. Dynamic views have a wide range of sound, but they are not particularly high quality. Popularity is driven by budget cost.

They are popularly called reinforcing bars, since the name is consonant with the English word armature ("anchor"). The speaker is equipped with a ferromagnetic alloy armature. Headphones belong to in-ear models and cost a lot. They are miniature, therefore they have a small sound range, the basses suffer especially, but they are endowed with excellent detailed reproduction.

Hybrid models are popular, combining dynamic and reinforcing properties, with good sounding of low and mid frequencies.

Hi-End products belong to the elite class. It is almost impossible to find them in electronics stores, they are very expensive. There is a weightless membrane in the device, which is located between the two electrodes, this allows you to get rid of all sound distortion. The device is installed only in full-size headphones. A separate docking station is required to connect the device.

The speakers are also called planar-magnetic, magnetoplanar. They are equipped with a membrane with metal tracks that conduct an electric current, which in turn vibrates a grid of bar magnets. The device is distinguished by high detail of sound and is found only in full-size models.

This characteristic is important both for the user and for the people around him, since it depends on it whether they will hear music from the headphones. Acoustic design can be open or closed, let's dwell on them in more detail.

The body of the product does not have a perforated lattice with openings to the outside. If you add to this the snug fit of the ear cushions, the sound from the transmitting device will be directed to the user's ear and will not interfere with others. Using headphones, you can focus on music or speech texts without being distracted by extraneous noises from the outside. But such devices also have negative points:

• clear timbre and loud sounding cause hearing fatigue;
• long-term use of headphones while listening to loud music may result in headaches and irritability;
• Closed, tight-fitting ear cushions deprive the scalp of normal air circulation and lead to discomfort.

Headphones of this type are safer. The lattice holes release the sounds of the emitter into the external environment, and in the opposite direction let the ambient noise through. It would seem that such a sound exchange reduces the sound quality, but it turns out to be the other way around.

There are two ways to connect to a signal source: by wire and by air. Let's take a closer look at both options.

Any headphones can be wired, the signal goes to them through the wire. The product does not require recharging, you just need to connect the device to the connector. When choosing a model, you should pay attention to the wire itself: too thin can tear, long can get confused, and short does not give freedom of movement. The user will have to choose which of them to prefer. For some models, the wire may contain a microphone, volume control, call button.

The way information is transmitted over the air can be different:

• infrared (IR);
• radio waves;
• Bluetooth;
• Wi-Fi.

The first two methods are gradually becoming a thing of the past, the third option is by far the most common, the fourth is actively gaining popularity. The latter has a large radius of action and can receive informational sound directly from the network. Wireless devices operate using battery power. There are also hybrid models with a detachable cable.

There are other technical possibilities of modern headphones, on the basis of which they are also classified.

By the number of channels, the devices are divided as follows:

• monophonic - the signal to the sound emitters in the headphones comes through one channel, in the same way it is transmitted to the external environment;
• stereophonic - each sound emitter has its own separate channel, this is the more common version;
• multichannel - have a balanced transmission principle, at least two sound emitters are connected to each ear, each of them is endowed with its own channel.

There are quite a few variations of fasteners, designers and designers have succeeded in this matter. They produce plastic, metal and even wooden versions. Headphones can be found in the following types:

• with headband - when the cups are connected by a bow through the crown of the head;
• occipital - the bow of the headphones runs along the back of the head, in which case the load on the ears is more noticeable than in the version with the headband;
• on the ears - earhooks, clothespins or clips help fix the products on the auricle;
• without fasteners - these models include plug-in, in-ear and hidden induction (invisible) earpieces that students use during exams;
• neckband - very convenient form factor, wireless headphones.

By the method of connecting the cable, the devices are divided into one-sided and double (double-sided):

• unilateral - the wire fits only to one bowl, then with the help of a connecting tap it goes to another, the transition wire can be hidden in the bow of the product;
• bilateral - each ear cup has its own cable connection.

Portable and over-ear headphones have different levels of impedance:

• low impedance - have resistances up to 100 ohms, portable headphones use it even less - from 8 to 50 ohms, since high impedance will not allow them to provide sufficient sound volume;
• high resistance - with impedance more than 100 ohms, used for large models with support for a separate power amplifier.

Finding the perfect headphones for all occasions is impossible. Models that are different in purpose, shape and sound require the same ambiguous approach. For the home, it is better to buy full-size products, it is more convenient to use "plugs" in the metro. Do not forget about the style of clothing. Headphones for business, sports and casual looks different. No matter how much we would like to save money, it is not at all easy to get by with one model today.

For information on how to choose the right quality headphones, see the next video.