Headphones: How Do They Work And How Should I Pick A Set?

Today, one can see almost everyone using headphones, lets face it they are fashionable! They were first created in 1930 and the current models have changed a lot from the rather primitive first model. Basically, headphones are small speakers that are designed to be able to fit over or in the ear. This article explains about how the device works and how one should choose the right set for themselves. You can a further look at the top 5 best headphones reviews in that article.

How Do Headphones Work?

how do headphones workThe human ear has a thin membrane called the ear drum that vibrates according to the sound waves falling on it. The ear drum will send the vibration to the brain and the brain translates those vibrations into music or sounds. A speaker works exactly like an ear drum.

A speaker has a cone, a drum, a paper diaphragm and a skin that covers the wide mouth of the cone which can be plastic or fabric or any other material. The other end of the cone is connected to an iron coil which has a magnet, in front of it. The coil is connected to the electronic instrument like your iPod or digital music player via a cord and a plug.

The sound generated by the electronic device is converted into electrical signals and are passed through the coil. The electrical signals convert the coil into a temporary electromagnet. This electromagnet based on the type of the electric signal will either repel or attract the magnet in front of it. As the magnet is fixed, the coil gets to move front and back because of the attraction and repulsion. This motion will either pull or push the skin (fabric or plastic) and creates waves. When these waves fall on our ears, it is transmitted to the brain, for translation. This mechanism is the same from loudspeakers to headphones.

The noise cancellation headphones use an aural padding that covers the ears with high density foam that prevents the environment noise from falling on the ear drum. Some types of devices produce a destructive interference that cancels the low frequency environment noise.

How Do I Pick A Good Set Of Headphones?

Every digital media player comes with a set of standard headphones or earphones, but most people tend to get a new set because the one that comes with the pack is never really good quality. People who want to hear their music at a totally new level should buy high quality headphones. However, there are a few steps to follow to choose the right set, which suits you.

Choose the earpiece

Choose whether you need an earbud type set or a set that covers your whole ear. The earbud type sets are easy to carry and they occupy less space. They fit into your jean pocket and are quite cheap. That doesn’t mean low quality though! However, the negative side of this type of set is that it might fall off your ears when you get sweaty and so, it is not a good option for those who use their digital music player, during jogging or other physical exercise. Also they might hurt the ears, when used for a long period of time.

The over the ear headphones, on the other hand, might be bulky and costly but gives a new experience with sound. The headphones that DJs wear are bulky but have very good sound containment, best sound quality and less pressure to the eardrums. These are the best option for those who tend to use their set, for a very long time.

The other type of headphones is the behind the neck style set, which is very suitable for joggers. If you do not want to mess up your hair style, you would opt for this type of headphone set.

The price tag

Compare the price tag and the quality of the product. $10 headphones and an $80 set might serve the same purpose but the quality of the sound, the pressure on your ears, comfort of usage and the lifetime of the set will not be the same. There are headphones which were made in the 90’s but they still work perfectly. It is because of the quality of the set. The high price you pay for an expensive branded pair is not just a fee for the name, it’s usually worth every penny spent on it.

Evaluate

Do not just check whether the headphones are working or not. Evaluate the performance of the set. Check the quality of your set to isolate noise and provide good sound quality. A good set will prevent you from turning your volume up and down to match the environment noise and drain the battery of your music player.

Check the frequency range of your set before buying it. Good headphones would have a frequency range between 10 Hz and 25 KHz. Noise cancellation does not come with a small price tag If you really need a set with noise cancellation, you should be ready to spend more. A low cost set that claim to have noise cancellation features are not as good as they sound. If you are a person who travels a lot or is always in a noisy environment, it is better to spend a little more to get high quality music experience. You can learn more about noise canceling here.

Check the impedance

The impedance is measured in ohms. The impedance of your digital music player should match with that of the set. If it doesn’t, the user has to increase the volume slightly up to match the sound effect.

Word of mouth

word-of-mouthWhether it be a $10 or a $250 set, you are spending your money on a product. Make sure you buy the right product by researching online review lists, discussion forums and customer reviews on the products site before buying it. Asking people who use a set would give the best and reliable answers about the performance.

The set you use should take your music experience to the next level, on the other hand  the wrong choice will irritate you. So make sure you buy the best product to help you enjoy your music.

 

 

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