Are the headphones uncomfortable to wear? Let’s first understand the differences between these types
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Are the headphones uncomfortable to wear? Let’s first understand the differences between these types
When purchasing headphones, people often fall into parameter superstition - frequency response curve, THD, impedance... These parameters are useful, but for ordinary consumers, in order to choose a pair of headphones that are comfortable to wear and not unpleasant to listen to, they must first understand the essential differences between different types.
Classification of wearing methods: first determine which one you can accept
In-Ear
Silicone earplugs extend into the ear canal and create a physical seal.
Advantages:
- Good passive sound insulation (15–30dB isolation from ambient noise)
- Sufficient sense of low frequency (sealed cavity produces low frequency gain)
- Portable, not easy to fall off during exercise
Disadvantages:
- There is a sense of pressure in the ear canal when worn for a long time, and it is prone to sweating and airtightness.
- The shape of the ear canal varies greatly, and some people can never find the right fit.
- The sound field (sound space) is narrow and difficult to simulate the effect of large speakers
Suitable scenarios: commuting, sports, noisy environments
Semi-in-ear type (earbud type)
It does not go deep into the ear canal and hangs on the ear concha.
Advantages:
- More breathable than in-ear type, comfortable to wear for a long time
- There is a certain amount of ambient sound, but it is not completely isolated from the outside world.
- No need to change earplugs, unified contact surface
Disadvantages:
- Little to no passive sound insulation
- The sense of low-frequency volume is worse than that in the ear (the cavity is not sealed) -Easy to fall off during exercise
Suitable Scenarios: Office, easy listening, scenarios where there is a need for environmental awareness
Earhook type (hook ear type)
Equipped with ear hooks for more stable fixation.
- Advantages: Best stability in sports, suitable for running and cycling
- Disadvantages: Some people's ear shapes are not suitable, and there is a foreign body sensation for a long time.
Head-mounted type (Over-Ear vs On-Ear)
Over-Ear:
- The earmuffs completely cover the ears, and the pinna is suspended inside the earmuffs
- The most comfortable to wear, no fatigue when listening for a long time
- Generally the sound field is wider and the sound is more natural
- Large in size and not portable; earmuffs get hot and sweaty in summer
On-Ear:
- The earmuffs press against the auricle and are lighter than over-ears
- Feeling of tenderness in the auricle after wearing it for a long time
- A compromise between in-ear and large-ear
Classification of sound production principles: moving coil vs. moving iron vs. flat plate
Dynamic Driver
The magnetic field drives the diaphragm to vibrate and produce sound, and the principle is the same as that of ordinary speakers.
Features:
- Sufficient low-frequency volume and elastic sound
- Prices range from tens to tens of thousands
- The first choice for most consumer-grade headphones
Balanced Armature
Using the principle of balanced armature, the body is very small, and the frequency band covered by a single moving arm unit is limited.
Features:
- Rich high-frequency details and high definition -Multi-unit moving iron can cover the whole frequency band
- Extremely fast transient response
- The sense of volume at low frequencies is usually not as good as that of moving coils and requires special adjustment.
- more expensive
Multi-unit moving iron design:
- 1 moving iron: low frequency/full frequency unit
- 2 moving irons: high frequency + low frequency
- 4 moving irons or above: each unit is dedicated to different frequency bands and requires a precise frequency divider
###Hybrid
The moving coil is responsible for low frequency, and the moving iron is responsible for high and medium frequency. Try to combine the advantages of both.
Note: The mixing of hoop iron does not mean that it is better than a single type. The key lies in whether the tuning is coordinated. If the two units are poorly integrated, the sound will have a sense of disconnection.
Planar Magnetic
The ultra-thin diaphragm covers the entire magnetic field coil, and the entire diaphragm is driven evenly.
Features:
- Very low distortion (THD typically < 0.1%)
- Wide sound field, delicate and natural sound
- Mainly found in high-end headsets
- High driver requirements, requiring headphone amp cooperation
Wired vs Wireless: More than just a matter of convenience
| Comparison items | Wired | Wireless Bluetooth |
|---|---|---|
| Upper limit of sound quality | Higher (no compression loss) | Limited by Bluetooth encoding |
| Latency | Almost zero latency | 50–200ms (low latency encoding < 40ms) |
| Easy to use | Restricted by wires | Free movement |
| Battery | Not required | Requires charging |
Bluetooth audio encoding comparison:
| Encoding | Sound quality | Delay | Suitable for the scene |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBC | Basic (320Kbps) | High | Default to cover |
| AAC | Medium, preferred for iPhone | Medium | For Apple devices |
| aptX | Medium-high, close to CD | Medium | Android Common |
| aptX HD | High (576Kbps) | Medium | Listening to songs Hi-Fi |
| LDAC | Highest (990Kbps) | Medium | Sony Android |
| aptX Lossless | Lossless | Low | Qualcomm Ecosystem |
Note: Both the transmitter (mobile phone) and the receiver (headphones) need to support the same code to take effect. As long as one end does not support it, it will be downgraded.
Impedance and sensitivity: Do you need to buy a headphone amp?
| Parameters | Impact |
|---|---|
| Impedance (Ω) | The higher the impedance, the harder it is to drive and the more you need an amp |
| Sensitivity (dB/mW) | The higher it is, the easier it is to be driven, and the same power will be louder |
Mobile phone direct push: Impedance below 32Ω + sensitivity above 100dB/mW, mobile phone direct push without pressure Earphone amp required: For headphones with an impedance of 150Ω+, the driving power of the mobile phone is insufficient, and the sound will appear soft and weak.
*The technical parameters in this article are derived from audio industry specifications and professional evaluation standards, and do not represent recommendations for specific brands and models. *