No matter how high-quality the headphones are, sooner or later they break, and the search for new ones begins. At the same time, if a person really likes high-quality sound, he tries to acquire a new headset, at least not inferior in quality to the previous one. Someone prefers headphones of a certain brand, and someone buys only vacuum ones. And there are those who believe that reinforcing headphones are the best that a true music lover can dream of. Since many of us hear about this type of device for the first time, let's try to figure out whether they are really so good and whether they are worth the crazy money that sellers want to get for them.
Reinforcing headphones: device and principle of operation
For people whose work is associated with construction, the name of this type can cause considerable surprise. Indeed, most often the word "reinforcement" means a popular type of metal, which is used to strengthen reinforced concrete. However, do not rush to get scared. Reinforcing headphones play sound through miniature emitters, the main component of which is a ferromagnetic plate in the shape of the letter “P”. It is because of this type of detail that this type got its current name - reinforcing headphones, or simply “fittings”. The plate itself is held on an axis, and this gives it the opportunity to oscillate. Through a special rod, it connects to the sound-reproducing membrane and thus transmits sound signals. The oscillations of the plate are caused by a pair of miniature permanent magnets and an electric coil. When the music is turned on, alternating current flows through the wires to the winding of the latter. As a result, a magnetic field arises that changes the force of attraction of the ferromagnetic plate to the magnets. Oscillations of the plate are transmitted to the membrane, and air begins to oscillate from it, and in this way sounds are created.
Reinforcing headphones: advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of such a device is an extremely insignificant level of distortion, which is achieved due to the meager weight of the membrane compared to a ferromagnetic plate. The second, no less important, advantage of the “fittings” is considered to be high sensitivity, which allows the emitter to demonstrate good volume at a low level of the signal arriving at it. The third plus is almost complete sound insulation and compactness.
However, it is worth noting that even the best reinforcing headphones are not without some drawbacks inherent in this type. First of all, this, of course, is the “cosmic” price. Secondly, in comparison with monitor headphones, the “armature” worse conveys the volume of the melody and the scene. Thirdly, the requirements for the signal source are quite high - to enjoy the perfect sound, you need a high-quality player or uncompressed audio recordings. Fourth, cheap reinforcing headphones reproduce a narrower frequency range compared to dynamic sound emitters, therefore, in expensive models, in addition to the main sound emitter with a balanced armature, additional ones are installed, and thereby eliminate this drawback.
Conclusion
Along with the indisputable advantages, the described type of devices for listening to music has serious disadvantages. Therefore, before you give from 50 to 700 dollars for reinforcing headphones Sony or another well-known company, you should carefully weigh everything and only then make the final decision. Do not forget about obsolescence and the rapid pace of technological progress. After all, it often happens that a gadget or device, which only a few years ago was the ultimate dream for many, today is difficult to sell even for half its cost.