5 high-end features to expect from professional headphones

Headphones are an integral accessory of our daily lives. All headphones serve the same purpose. They enable us to enjoy music. Some headphones, however, go beyond the normal replication of sound waves. They replicate the sound waves in incredibly detailed audio clarity. Artists and sound engineers require crisp, clear audio to mix, master, create and compile their sound. 

Here are 5 reasons why high-end professional headphones stand out from regular ones:

1) Headphone drivers

The driver is the most important unit in a headphone. The headphone driver transmits electrical/audio signals and converts them into audible sound waves for the listener. Drivers consist of magnets, a wire/coil, and a membrane. Electrical signals cause the driver to vibrate, creating sound waves that are audible to the listener. When it comes to drivers, larger is better. The detail in the reproduced sound is directly proportional to the size of the driver. Sound detail is critical when replicating low tones.

The type of connector used is as important as the speakers used. Stainless steel, gold, chrome, and bronze are the materials used in high-quality drivers.  The type of connector determines the quality of electrical conduction that occurs.

Several top-end headphones have multi-drivers. Multiple driver headphones have dedicated drivers for each range of audio frequency. High-end headphones have carefully crafted audio drivers enabling the user to listen to sound in incredible detail that most regular headphones lack.

2) Impedance

Impedance is a quantity of energy that plays a crucial role in the functioning of headphones. When electricity tries to pass through a headphone, it encounters resistance from natural phenomena. This inbuilt resistance is due to the components of the headphone. Impedance matching in high-end headphones allows them to power through the resistance using an amplifier. Too much power can stress the headphones, whereas too little power negatively impacts the audio quality. High-end headphones have variants of impedance. These headphones usually have a higher impedance to match the high output required for mixing tracks and delivering outstanding audio. 

3) Total Harmonic Resistance (THD)

A membrane cannot vibrate at the required speed when music is played at a higher volume. This situation can alter the musical notes or cause a crackling noise between the tracks. High-end headphones are designed to provide the listener with zero distorted sound. All high-end headphones usually guarantee 0.01% total harmonic resistance, resulting in a crisp and accurately replicated sound. 

4) Sensitivity

Sensitivity is the headphone’s ability to detect and play sound, even at the smallest change at the lowest volume. Sensitivity is also known as sound pressure, indicating how loud the headphones can be. Sensitivity is measured in decibels per milliwatt (dB/mW). Highly sensitive headphones amplify music and the remaining electric noise like the hiss of an amplifier. High-end headphones have a fixed impedance and fixed sensitivity to keep the headphone from being damaged and to protect the listener.  Their purpose is to ensure the user remains comfortable while listening to music. 

5) Frequency response

Frequency response is the range of sound frequencies the headphones can reproduce. Frequency response is measured in Hertz (Hz). Higher frequency represents high notes, usually indicated at ‘bright,’ and a lower number indicates the amount of bass, usually characterized as ‘dark’.  Frequency response doesn’t mean good quality audio but rather indicates the type of headphones you need to listen to a particular type of music. Bass-heavy music sounds best in headphones that support low frequencies, while acoustic music sounds better in headphones that support high frequencies. Some headphones have a wider frequency response, while others have a narrow range. The audible frequency range for humans is from 20Hz to 20kHz, and headphones reproducing that range are good enough. However, high-end headphones provide extra frequency response, which leads to an accurate and flatter response.

Conclusion:

Studio headphones are expensive but deliver unparalleled audio quality. The material used in their construction and the build quality is premium and made to last a long time. High-end headphones also have replaceable components. If something goes wrong, you can replace the single damaged piece, and your headphones will be as good as new. Beyerdynamic’s range of studio headphones offers the listener all the features mentioned above. Our studio headphones have great bass and treble range, offering noteworthy performance.