Need audiophiles' help!

[aznmist]

I'm comparing headphones and don't quite know what the terms mean!

Aiwa HP-VX100 In-Ear Earphone
http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_30&products_id=75

Type: In-Ear, Dynamic
Driver Unit: 13.5mm diameter
Neodymium Magnet
Cord length: 0.5m (Single) (OFC) (remote friendly)
PlugGold-plated, Stereo Mini straight Plug
Impedance: 16 ohms at 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 107 dB/mW
Power handling capacity: 40mW
Frequency Response: 5 - 25,000Hz

Pioneer SE-CL30 Encapsulated Earphones
http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_30&products_id=493

Type: In-the-ear, Encapsulated, Dynamic
Driver Unit: 10mm diameter
Magnet: high-power Neodymium
Cord: OFC; 0.5m (remote friendly, with 1m extension cord)
Plug: Gold-plated, Stereo Straight Mini Plug
Frequency Response: 5 - 23,000Hz

Sony MDR-EX71SL Fontopia Earphone
http://www.audiocubes.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_30&products_id=387

Type: Lateral, In-the-ear, Closed, Dynamic
Driver Unit: Aperture 9mm (CCAW voice coil adoption)
Cord: OFC; Neck Chain, 0.5m (remote friendly)
Plug: Gold-plated, Stereo straight Mini Plug
Impedance: 16 ohms at 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
Power handling capacity: 100mW
Frequency Response: 6 - 23,000Hz

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1) What do terms like Lateral, Closed, Encapsulated and Dynamic mean?
2)I know that a larger driver size should be better, but does Sony's "CCAW voice coil adoption" make up for the small driver size?
3)What's sensitivity?
4)Will power handling capacity have a role when using portable audio systems?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rpower]

Hi

Give this link a look at for some info http://headroom.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=13

1) What do terms like Lateral, Closed, Encapsulated and Dynamic mean?

Lateral = type of speaker driver.
Closed and Encapsulated at the same thing = sealed type in link I gave
Dynamic = type of speaker driver


2)I know that a larger driver size should be better, but does Sony's "CCAW voice coil adoption" make up for the small driver size?

I know lateral speaker drivers are good at producing of human voices and small in size, But I am not that up on them.

3)What's sensitivity?

The higher a speakers sensitivity is the easier it is to drive the speaker. Meaning with the same amp output level the higher sensitivty speaker will play louder.

4)Will power handling capacity have a role when using portable audio systems?

Power handing is just the max power the speaker can take. Most all portable do not put out that much power, but the more power handing the better.

Hope this helps you out.

 

[aznmist]

Thanks RPower, you've been very helpful

 

[etal]

I would suggest you take a look at some audiophiles forums. Try www.headwize.com for friendly forums dedicated just to headphones.
As far as all the technical terms I must say that audiophiles usually avoid too much specs because the bottom line is "how it sounds" and you cannot find that out from reading specs. The general attitude would be to compare them by listening to them side by side, not by reading the advertising litrature. On the other hand you will be able to get some good advice for great sounding headphones (I'd recommend you look at the Sennheisers mx-500 for good & cheap earbuds). Another good commercial site to look at is www.headphone.com , they also have good product recommendations.

 

[Stealth1024]

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=HD280

I recently purchased a pair of these headphones. Couldn't be happier... Bass response rated down to 8Hz with 32 db external noise attenuation. Great for college! And the impedence is just right.

 

[newmz]

The point made by Etal about "how it sounds" is a good one. This may seem obvious, but imho the best way to test any new audio equipment is to, as much as possible, try it out with whatever you are expecting to use it with. So, in the case of a portable system, take it with you and perhaps more importantly, take some music that you know very well to use to audition the equipment.
This approach made me the enemy of many salespeople once when I was shopping for speakers, because I insisted on bringing my own power amp and disc player with some music I like (but isn't very friendly to other shoppers ;-) and playing it nice and loud. In your case, this shouldn't be a problem.

If you are looking for in-ear models specifically, I think you really should check out the "E-series" by Shure (Who are one of the biggest and most respected makers of professional microphones, monitoring systems, etc). They are a "personal audio" version of the in-ear monitoring systems used by rockstars everywhere for sound isolated foldback monitoring. I think the cheapest ones are about $60.

Check 'em out here

 

[Wolfdog]

The two specificiations that you should concentrate on are the sensitivity, and the overall frequency response. Since the amplifiers in portable and even home entertainment are generall all low watage amplifiers, it should be of no significance. You probably won't max out on power coming off a walkman. It should be noted though that the sensativity is not flat accross the entire frequency spectrum. The size of the driver has more to do with the overall response in the closed headphones. Manufacturers have a way of giving you the widest possible frequency response that thier product could give. Although the sensitivity(or how efficient they are at producing that particular sound wave) is generally quoted at or around 1khz. There usually is a roll off around the edges of frequency response. ie at 30hz the sensitivity of the speaker doesn't allow 30hz to be accurately reproduced, and is usually inaudable becuase of that. You also have to take into account that your ear has varying sensitivities for different frequencies of sound. But that is an entire seperate subject.

 

[Howard]

Not very technical, I should say...

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: Howard
Not very technical, I should say...

howard, stop trolling.

no reason to bump this thread after it died 2 days ago.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Mday

Originally posted by: Howard
Not very technical, I should say...

howard, stop trolling.

no reason to bump this thread after it died 2 days ago.

And yourself?