Parts of a headphone
High-quality headphones are a collection of high-quality parts that are not only functional but durable and beautiful as well. The main goal of making a high-end headphone is to maximize the level of electronic signals that reach the sound drivers while minimizing the noise that will cause interference.
For high-end headphones, most parts can be repaired or replaced instead of the whole headphone. To gain a better understanding of how headphones work and how we can repair them, we need to know the various parts that make up the headphones.
Jack
Let’s start from the very end of the headphones – the jack. The jack is the small metal piece at the end of the cable. The jack plugs into the headphone jack where metal contacts will transmit electrical signals through it. Stereo headphones without mics will have jacks with three metal segments.
Those with built-in microphones will have four segments. Each of these segments will have a corresponding contact inside the device’s headphone port where electric signals will be sent. You will also notice a slight dip in the jack which serves as a lock to hold it in place.
The jack is a crucial part of the headphone system as it is the first part of the headphone to receive the signal from the audio player. The material used, the structure of the jack, even the solder between the jack and the cable contribute to the quality of the signal that will reach the speakers. This is why good quality jacks are coated in gold, as it is one of the best conductors of electricity.
The part of the jack that tapers into the cable is usually its weakest part. This usually takes the weight of the hanging part of the cable. It is also the pivot where the cable bends down and is prone to twisting and bending.
Cables can also break at this point. Original equipment (OEM) headphone jacks are usually sealed, and replacing them will mean soldering the wires from the cable to specific contacts inside the body of the jack. There are aftermarket audio jacks that are more durable than OEM jacks and are of equal or better materials.
Cable
The cable is what connects the jack to the main body of the headphone unit. It is a set of insulated wires that are further insulated by a rubber (or similar material) coating. The cable is the pathway for the electrical signals coming from the device and passing through the jack into the headphone speakers.
Copper is used for the wiring because it conducts electricity well while remaining very flexible. As a general rule, thicker cables allow better signal transmission. For headphones, this must be balanced out by considerations for the comfort of the user.
Cables are designed to be flexible to minimize the chances of kinking and twisting. As it ages and through normal wear, however, the wires inside the cable eventually get frayed. Frayed cables introduce additional noise to the electrical signals passing through them. It is inevitable for old cables to eventually break. Usually, this will result in sound coming from only one side of the headphones. If the cables for both sides break, there will be no sound on the headphones at all. Having intermittent sound could also mean that there is a break on the cable.
Finding a break in a cable is quite challenging. Since most breaks happen on the metal wires inside the cable, we cannot see them. There may be external signs like deep bends or kinks on the cable, but these are also difficult to verify. Testing for continuity will require a probe with a multitester. The easiest way to repair a cable break is to replace the entire cable.
Speakers
The cables are soldered into contacts that extend to coils of wire within the speakers. Speakers are what transform the electrical signals from the audio device into vibrations on its cone or audio driver. These vibrations move the air around and produce sound. Better materials on the speakers result in higher fidelity sound through the headphones.
As speakers wear out, they produce a buzz that progressively becomes more audible.
Noise-canceling circuitry
Noise-canceling headphones not only produce sound but listen to it as well. There are built-in microphones to its speakers that “listen” to the ambient sounds in the environment. As sounds come in waves, the headphone will play inverted versions of these sound waves with the music or audio content. The effect is that the noise is “canceled out”, producing a clearer listening experience.
The speakers play the biggest role in establishing the headphone brand’s signature sound. They are also the most expensive parts of the headphones. Very few companies will sell their own, original equipment replacement speakers, as this practice could lead to loss of business or even the piracy of their product.
Buying aftermarket speakers will almost surely lead to a heavy loss in audio quality. In case a headphone speaker goes bad, the best thing to do would be to replace the actual headset.
Speaker case
Headphone speakers are locked inside their case to hold them in place and keep them secure, the cases also serve as sound chambers to further give quality to the sound that the speakers will produce. Headphone cases are usually made o plastic as metal parts produce a more audible vibration that can add to the noise. Headsets that use metal cases for aesthetics and durability have insulation to ensure that the acoustics inside is not affected.
Much like the headphone speakers, the case also plays a big role in the headphone brand’s signature sound, the structures inside the case will affect the sound that the speakers produce. A crack in the case, or even just an improper seal, will cause sound leakage and distortion.
Any wires that aren’t secured inside and come in contact with the speaker or the walls will produce vibration and result in noise. Because of this, great care must be taken when replacing headphone cases. Ensure that all fittings are tight and secure and that there is no sound leakage. Most headphone cases are also irreparable due to the use of permanent adhesives.
Opening a glued case means destroying it. Although there are some aftermarket speaker cases, these will not be of the same quality as the original and the methods o sealing them will not equal that of the factory. Like the speakers, it is best to replace the entire headset when a case breaks or to take the unit to the manufacturer for high-end headphones.
Headphone cushions
Headphones don’t only need to sound and look good, they need to be comfortable as well. Cushions serve two purposes for headphones: they shield the ears from the hard materials of the headphone case, and they form a seal around the ear to minimize the ambient noise wherever the headphone is used.
Ordinary headphones use man-made leather or similar materials or their cushions. These wear out quickly and the outer layer usually has fragments break off. Higher-end headphones use real, soft leather which is more durable and could last for years with constant use,
The cushions are usually the first part of the headphone to wear out. Fortunately, they are also the most user-friendly to replace.
Headband
The headband is the flexible, springy part of the headset that connects the left and right speakers. For headphones that only have the cable coming from one speaker side, the headband also contains its wiring to the other speaker.
The headphone plays an important role in both the comfort of the listener and blocking out noise. The most common material for headbands is plastic. High-end headphones use metals with a leather shield.
The Headbands, along with the cables, are the most abused parts of the headphones. Just putting a headphone on requires the headband to be stretched open, and it remains stretched while the headphones are on.
As part of regular wear, the headband will eventually begin to lose elasticity. You will notice that it is no longer as tight on the ears as when new. You will also find more ambient noise making its way through the cushion seal. In time, headbands will get worn out or broken. It’s best to replace them when they start leaking sound in to keep the listening experience enjoyable.
Headphones have three main purposes. The first, and most obvious, is to reproduce sound as clearly as possible. The second purpose is to block out the noise from the environment, and this additionally helps achieve the first purpose. The last purpose is to provide a comfortable listening experience so that the listener can enjoy what he is listening to for longer periods.
Headphones are so ubiquitous and cheap nowadays, that most manufacturers no longer consider repair-ability as an issue. The idea is that since good, modern headphones are now more affordable, they can also be disposable.
Even high-end headphones are now getting more difficult to repair. But by knowing the parts of a headphone and their functions, you should have a better understanding of how to care for and, whenever possible, repair your headphones.
If you want to buy a pair of noise cancelling headphones, then below is our list of recommendations based on quality, price and users’ feedback
For more information about noise cancelling headphones and headphones in general you might want to have a look at our list of e-books below
- Your health and headphones
- The In and out of anti-noise headphones
- Evolution of headphones technology
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