What is the emitter of headphones and how it affects the sound?

Do you think that all headphones are the same? Not really. The fact is that emitters (speakers) strongly affect the sound that you hear.

Headphones - incredible technology and, without exaggeration, one of the best inventions of mankind!

One of the main advantages of the device is its versatility: headphones are used as ordinary people who love to listen to music in bed or on the road and real professionals in need of clean and clear sound to edit music and video.

The fact is that each headphone model is equipped with emitters (or speakers) that differ greatly in size and are made differently depending on which they are intended. The speakers, of course, affect the sound that enters the user's ears.

What is the emitter?

speaker (emitter, driver) is, in fact, a small device that converts electrical signals into The sounds that we hear. All emitters differ in size depending on the type of headphones and their purpose.

For example, in-ear headphones have very small speakers, the size of which is about 8 mm. The diameter of larger models is about 15 mm. The overhead headphones differ in size a little more - from 20 to 70 mm.

Headphone dynamics consist of three components: magnet, sound coils and membranes.

  • Magnet creates a magnetic field and is usually made from cobalt or ferrite.
  • Sound coils, usually consisting of various types of copper, help to convert electrical signals into sound.
  • The membrane vibrates, generating sound waves from an electric current passing through sound coils.

Types of speakers

Not all speakers work equally, so some of them give the sound better than others. It all depends on the materials used and technologies used.

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Dynamic

The most common type of headphone emitter is dynamic. Such speakers work according to this principle: an alternating magnetic field is created under the influence of the coil around the coil, due to which the coil begins to vibrate and transmits fluctuations on the membrane, and that in turn generates sound waves.

Dynamic emitters give excellent low frequencies, but this can lead to a distortion of sound at high volume, which will not be especially pleasant for your ears.

However, the dynamics are not so bad. They are pretty cheap in production, as a result, headphones, respectively, are also not very expensive. Not all dynamic emitters are the same, since the sound quality may vary depending on the housing and the materials used.

reinforcement

The reinforcement speakers are small and used mainly in the manufacture of headphones Inserts. Emitters of this type consist of a P-shaped magnetic pipeline that creates a magnetic field, anchors with a sound coil, which is located in the created field and diffuser connected with anchor.

When the current is supplied in the coil, magnetic oscillations arise, which give an anchor in motion, and one, in turn, transfers the vibration of the membrane.

The dynamics of this type do not have additional holes, which is why the sound is better. As in the case of any other emitter, the sound quality may vary depending on the design. Some brands and at all combine the dynamic speaker with reinforcement, thereby creating a more rich sound with high bass.

Planar

Planarno - Magnetic The speakers are usually installed in open-type headphones and are more expensive than dynamic. The principle of operation is as follows: a very thin film is placed between two permanent magnets, covered with conductive aluminum tracks. The current is fed directly to the tracks and leads the membrane in motion.

Open headphones have a greater sound leak compared to closed, because of which they are not very suitable for listening to music in public places, but are good for home use.

Electrostatic

Electrostatic speakers are much less common For high prices and are used only in a specific technique. Regarding headphones, only open-type models are equipped with electrostatic speakers.

As you could have guess, such emitters use static electricity to play sound. They consist of a thin membrane placed between two electrodes. The high voltage passing through the electrodes leads to a motion of a membrane, creating sound oscillations.

Given the principle of operation, the dynamics require high voltage, which is why it will be necessary to purchase an amplifier, which is very expensive.

Headphones with such a type of emitters give a very good sound, but it is almost impossible to find them in ordinary stores.

Despite this, it is better to choose other open-type headphones in which planar magnetic speakers are used. They provide similar sound that electrostatic drivers, but are less and much easier to use.

So what to choose?

Headphones are a very universal device created for a variety of people. If you are a conventional music lover using headphones at home, then you should buy an open model with a planar magnetic speaker.

If you are engaged in sports (for example, running), then a pair of large open headphones is not the best choice. In this situation, they will need headphones with small, but well-sounding reinforcement speakers.