Headphones are a pair of speakers worn around one’s head or over the ears. In a more technical sense, headphones are electro acoustic transducers that convert electrical signals to corresponding sounds. For headphones to work effectively, they need to be connected to a power source which is commonly an audio source like a mobile phone, media player, radio, amplifier, or even game consoles.
This connection to the source can be established by using either a physical cord or by using wireless technologies like Bluetooth. Another thing about the headphones working theory is that they are created in different qualities and capabilities.
For instance, those that were created for telephones are not capable of reproducing sounds with the highest possible fidelity, unlike those that were really created for the purpose of listening to music. And to be able to fully understand what to pick, given that there are a lot of different choices in the market with different capabilities, it is important to get a good grasp on what headphones working theory is.
These headphones are also known to be just smaller versions of speakers that can allow users to bring them more conveniently to anywhere and everywhere they need to go. They are commonly used by various people from different fields such as employees of call centers, aircraft pilots, sound engineers, and even DJs.
Of course, headphones have been around and have given people the benefit of having easier access to doing their jobs and with experiencing different sounds and music.
As a matter of fact, people have been too familiar with them that truly understanding how they work is already beyond the concerns of people. As long as it’s working and it is able to perform in a manner that is expected from it, then people are now more than satisfied.
But the reality is that it will not hurt to be more aware of all the mechanisms involved. This can allow people to have a better understanding of why they are important, and also be more aware of the corresponding precautions when using these headphones.
Electronic components of headphones
To be able to truly understand the headphones working theory, it is best to understand some of the common electrical components involved in allowing headphones to function properly.
The first component is the impedance which refers to the capacity of the headphones to produce an output, which in this case is sound. Headphones are usually classified to be able to produce low or high impedance, depending greatly on the power source.
Recently, the impedance of the newer headphones tend to be on the lower spectrum primarily because people nowadays prefer to use them with battery-powered audio sources, as opposed to those directly plugged in.
In a nutshell, headphones with lower impedance often give off a louder sound and are found to be more efficient, as long as they are connected to amplifiers with high quality. On the other hand, headphones with higher impedance are able to tolerate more amplifier limitations, in exchange to having a lower capacity to give off a louder sound.
The next component of headphones is the sensitivity which describes the ability of an earpiece to convert electrical signals to audible sound. As a result, the sensitivity of headphones indicates the volume capacity.
Part of understanding the headphones working theory is also digesting the fact that sound levels in headphones is all a matter of choice. The acceptable level ranges between 90-110 decibels because this is the optimal level for sound that will not cause hearing problems for people using the headphones.
Types of headphones
Because there are different factors that can affect the effectiveness of headphones, it is worth mentioning that part of understanding the headphones working theory also comes with being familiar with the different types that are available in the market.
Circumaural headphones
The first type is called the circumaural or full size headphones and the most prominent thing about its appearance is that it has circular ear pads that usually cover the entire ear. And the main purpose of the ear pads is to make sure that all the noise from the external environment can be filtered out. This is a pretty good benefit from circumaural headphones, but one drawback is that this type can get quite bulky and heavy.
supra-aural headphones
Another type of headphones is supra-aural, these are on-ear headphones that can be characterized by pads that are pressed against the ears, as opposed to having them cover the entire ear.
Back in the 1980’s, they were the most common type to come out in the market because they were usually sold with stereos. Because these headphones are smaller, it is also less effective in blocking out external noises from the environment; along with that, users of this type can have more discomfort while using it because of the pressure it puts on the ears. However, it also makes sense to note that the comfort level of these headphones greatly varies depending on the preferences of each user.
Ear-fitting headphones
There is also a type of headphones called ear-fitting or what is commonly called as earphones; this is the type that fits right inside the outer area of someone ear. This is very convenient type of headphone because of its small size, but a lot of users do not like using this type because they find it uncomfortable.
The downside of using this type of headphones is that it has very minimal ability to block out external noise which forces users to turn up the volume which has a higher risk of it eventually leading to hearing problems when done on a regular basis. When earphones started to become more popular among people, they were then sold with various audio players.
One improvement that was done with earphones is that they were later on sold with foam pads for the ear pieces to be able to provide additional comfort to users. When the science behind earphones was eventually perfected, a new version was created – the in-ear earphones.
This type is basically the same as the earphones, but the only real difference is that the ear pieces can penetrate up to the ear canal. The materials used for the plugs that go in the ear canal are usually foam, elastomeric, or silicone rubber. Some brands offer to do custom in-ear earphones to be able to get the actual shape of the ears, thus making the ear plugs suitable and more comfortable.
Another type of headphones that should be understood to be able to fully appreciate the headphones working theory is the headset which is basically a hybrid of headphones and microphone. One of the things that made headsets in demand is because it has combined the functionality of a telephone handset without really having to use the hands.
How headphones work
To be assured that headphones will be able to produce high quality sound, it is a logical fact that all the components need to be of high quality as well. And understanding how each component works and how they contribute to the overall sound that is produced, is needed to be able to completely understand the headphones working theory. One thing to know about the different components of headphones is that almost all of them can be replaced in the event that something malfunctions.
The first and most visible part of headphones is the jack – it is the hard part at the opposite end of the cord, and it is an important component because it is basically the passageway that allows audio source to be converted into sound on the other end.
The shiny needle is made up of three metal contacts placed on top of each other and only separated by layers of insulation. The three contacts are identified by different names – the tip of the jack is called the tip, the middle part is the sleeve, and the contact connected to the cord is the ring. Because of these three distinct contacts, the jack is also formally known as the TRS connector.
What is the reason why there are three contacts, you might ask? The tip allows signals to power the left earpiece; the sleeve allows signals to power the right earpiece, while the ring combines both to be able to create a common ground. Note that there are some jacks available that have four contacts, and the fourth contact is used to power microphones.
The wires are usually insulated with a coating of plastic and often have additional designs to make them more appealing. The insulation does not only provide safety, but it also ensures that the jack will be easily inserted and removed when needed.
Another component of headphones is the cord that connects the jack to the earpieces. The cord is actually a collection of really thin and small wires coated usually in rubber or other non-conductive materials available in the market. This is the part of headphones that should also be cared for the most because this is where the quality of sound will depend on. Treat the cord like a pathway where electrical signals pass for it to get to the other end and be converted to sound; so if the road is not taken care of properly, the signals would also not be converted to different sounds efficiently.
Lastly, the earpieces are the ones that amplify the sound – they turn electrical signals and convert them to clear and crisp sounds that enable the users to enjoy music. But since it’s not enough to know that electrical signals are converted to sound through the earpieces, the details about how these signals are converted will be elaborated further and will give a deeper understanding about the headphones working theory.
When an ear bud is dissected to see what’s inside, different little components can be found. Of course, there’s a back case that literally holds everything in place including wires that are connected to the passageway which is the cord. There is also a front case that seals and holds everything in.
The front case has holes in it to allow the sound to pass through and reach the ears of the users. These holes are large enough for sound to pass through, but also small enough to not allow earwax and dust to penetrate the earpiece that can damage it. Since the front case is the one that gets the most contact with the ear, it is usually designed to be soft and comfortable.
As a matter of fact, some brands even provide foam or fabric to go with the earphones to make the experience of wearing them more enjoyable. In addition to this, there usually is a seal that holds both cases together to ensure that no component will fall out.
Inside the case, there are small wires that enable the conversion of the signals to sounds. These wires are coiled around a cone which is suspended on to a metallic plate, which is circle in shape. This plastic cone is known as the diaphragm; on the other side in the center of the metallic plate, a magnet can be found.
All of these components form one part which is known as the transducer. The conductor coiled around the cone then turns into an electromagnet when current is already present. And because there are two magnets, it produces a force that is exerted on each other due to the conflicting polarities. This force makes the diaphragm move that also produces vibration in the air – and this vibration actually creates the sound from air molecules.
Understanding the headphones working theory also requires knowledge of the fact that the great thing about these headphones is that they are also innovating along with all the technological advancements happening.
For instance, headphones today use different ways to be able to insulate from all the external noise. These can be seen through the headphones that have noise cancelling mechanism that in a nutshell creates their own sound waves to be able to fight off the ones being created externally.
The only trade-off of these headphones is that because they have the need to create their own waves, they also need to have a form of power source. This means that most of these headphones with this technology need to be operated with rechargeable batteries.
In addition to these headphones with noise cancelling capabilities, wireless headphones are also now being introduced in the market. This means that the presence of the cord that forms a passageway from the jack to the earpieces are now being eliminated to give make the uses of these headphones more convenient.
The headphones working theory for these wireless equipment basically work the same way. The only difference is that the signals are sent to the coil wirelessly through sensors. These wireless headphones are proof that different brands are jumping on the trend and the direction where gadgets are clearly being welcomed – in a world where anything can be done faster and wirelessly.
Moving forward with headphones
It is true that being more aware of the amazing principles behind the headphones working theory is a good knowledge to have because it allows people to have a deeper understanding of how this equipment truly works.
Knowing how headphones work also leads people to also understand what they are looking for and know why they are looking for these specific things from headphones. And making the most out of these technological advancements on headphones can be the most practical thing to do especially if certain functionalities are singled out because of specific preferences of the users.
Not to mention, the ones available in the market now are also able to produce sound with highest possible quality.
But as with anything else in the world, using these earphones should also be done in moderation. Being fixated on using this equipment can cause harm in the long run because of the possible hearing problems that it might cause when used too much and with high sound volume.
Aside from acquiring different hearing problems, it’s also possible that using earphones all the time can cause people to drift apart because of the lack of social interaction. It’s always so tempting to hole up in a room while wearing headphones and feel like one is still being socially engaging because different forms of media give the illusion that experiencing them from afar is enough.
But the reality is that not having any interaction with someone at all can even be more fatal than smoking cigarettes.
Hopefully, with the invention of these newer and more modern versions of headphones, people will still be encouraged to interact one another, and not just isolate themselves from everyone.
Because truly understanding the headphones working theory does not only require knowing the technical aspect, but also knowing the deeper implications brought about by these headphones. They were created to allow people to fully enjoy different sounds and various types of music, and not create a barrier between people and the world.
If you want to buy a pair of safe 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
Related articles
Are noise cancelling headphones safe or dangerous?
Are noise cancelling headphones worth it?
Do noise cancelling headphones cause headache. Find out today
Do noise cancelling headphones damage ears and hearing?
High quality cheap noise cancelling headphones
These are major reasons why you need noise cancellation
This is why noise you need noise cancelling headphones when commuting
This is why you need noise cancelling headphones when in stadiums
This is why you need noise cancelling headphones when in the club
Top reasons why you need noise cancelling headphones when flying
Types of noise cancellation and why you need noise cancellation
What are noise cancelling headphones and how they work
The hidden truth behind noise cancelling headphones and vertigo
The shocking truth behind noise cancelling headphones and tinnitus
Five major reasons why you need noise cancelling headphones when meditating
Best noise cancelling headphones
Paww wave sound 3 active noise cancelling headphones review
Reasons why noise cancelling headphones are unavoidable when in the market
Sennheiser hd1 noise cancelling headphones review
Sensitive features to check before buying noise cancelling headphones
Sony wh1000 xm2 noise cancelling headphones review
Tao tronics active noise cancelling headphones review
The amazing science behind sound and music every headphones owner must know
The best headphones manufacturing companies and brands
The cause of hissing sound in headphones and how to correct it
The difference between wired and wireless headphones
The effects of dust to headphones you didn’t know
The history of headphones
The magic behind headphones wireless transmission technologies
The reasons behind the interference in wireless headphones
The science behind wiring system of headphones
The source and history of the word headphones
The theory behind how headphones work
Bose qc 35 noise cancelling headphones review
Components of headphones
Cowin e7 wireless active noise cancelling headphones review
Devastating side effects of high sound intensity to a human ear every headphone user must know
Discover the smartest way to keep your headphones clean and free from germs
Effects of water or sweat on headphones
Serious infections caused by sharing headphones everyone should be aware of