1. Sound quality

There are some ways to evaluate headphones by evaluating a speaker, but the listening experience of headphones is different from that of a speaker. The sound waves emitted by the speaker attenuate in the air, interfere, and interact with the human head and ears. The sound from the headphones enters the ears directly.

The sound quality of earphones is more important than their technical performance. Due to the different shapes of the head and ears, a pair of earphones can have different listening sensations for different people. Therefore, recommendations can only be used as a reference, and it is important to listen personally when there is a chance.

What are high fidelity headphones? The main performance of high fidelity headphones recommended by the International Electrotechnical Commission in document IEC581-10 is: the frequency range is not less than 50Hz to 12500Hz; The allowable error of typical frequency response is plus or minus 3dB; The slope of the frequency response curve shall not exceed 9dB per octave; The difference in average sound pressure level between the left and right units within the same octave bandwidth between 250Hz and 800Hz shall not exceed 2dB; Within the range of 100Hz to 5000Hz, when the sound pressure level is 94dB, the harmonic distortion does not exceed 1%, and does not exceed 3% at 100db; The frequency response of headphones allows for a slight decrease between 2KHz and 5KHz to improve transparency and sense of space.

The biggest advantage of headphones over speakers is in terms of details. In practice, an excellent pair of headphones should have clear sound, rich details, and no audible distortion; Low frequency deep diving and clear, effectively controlled; The entire frequency band should be smooth and flat, and high-frequency frequencies should not be too bright or too dark. For any pair of headphones, three bands cannot always be perfect, and a smooth and natural connection between them is the most important.

If it is a wireless/cordless earphone, the background noise should be as low as possible.

2. Comfort

The comfort of headphones is also quite important. When using headphones, other activities should also be taken into account. A pair of headphones should not be too tight or too loose, and should be worn for a long time. The adjustability of the headband and unit can ensure the use of different head shapes and purposes. Professional audio personnel sometimes need a single unit to monitor, and the unit needs to be able to rotate. In addition, the length of the line and the way the unit enters the line are also factors that affect the use. When adjusting the length of the headband, it should be noted that if the headband is short, the pressure on the top of the head will be high, and the pressure on the earmuffs will be low. When the headband is long, the opposite is true. Balancing the pressure at three points is the most comfortable, and there is no need for adaptive headbands.

3. Durability

Durability is very important in portable audio and professional fields. The earphones of portable audio are relatively light and small, making them easy to be damaged; Professional earphones are frequently used and moved, and the cables are also prone to being stepped on and pulled apart. It is required that the earphones be made very sturdy, and the components are easy to repair and replace.

Another aspect related to durability is the ability to withstand power. A small amount of power can push the earphones loudly, and there is a possibility of damaging the earphones when the power exceeds the limit. Generally, the power withstand of civilian earphones is less than 100mW, while professional earphones range from 100mW to 1000mW. High impedance earphones have strong voice coil resistance, which is not as sensitive to power changes as low impedance earphones, and are more durable.