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We all have used headphones at one time. For some, headphones are synonymous with studio recording. But have you ever wondered what are the types of headphones available to you? Have you asked yourself, do I really know enough about headphones before I purchase one? After reading this, you will be able to filter through some of the different types of headphones and select the one that fits you and your needs the most. First, let us detail the three main different types of headsets. These are Orthodynamic (also known as Isodynamic) Headphones, Dynamic Headphones and finally Electrostatic Headphones. What differentiates these is the technology used to manufacture the headphones. -Orthodynamic Headphones The Orthodynamic headphones have somehow disappeared from our shelves for sometimes. They started to be popular at the beginning of the 1970s and have had some difficulties in the 80s and 90s. But all of a sudden, they have been revived and are now back to stay for a long time with their new improved designs. Some of the largest manufacturers have taken their old designs out of their drawers and came up with great new headsets based on the Orthodynamic technology. Manufacturers such as Hifiman, Fostex, Kenwood, Audeze and Dual have all invested in this and are being highly successful. Usually an Orthodynamic headphone has bigger and flat voice coils covering the diaphragm (the diaphragm being the device making the sound output and is the central part of a headphone %u2013 without it there is no sound). As the coil cover a large area of the diaphragm, the current coming from your mp3 player is distributed across the diaphragm, hence providing better sound waves. The downside is that the coils tend to be large, hence diaphragms tend to be large. This means you will need more power to drive your headphones, supplying your coil. This also means your smart player batteries will have to be recharged often. On the good side, Orthodynamic headsets offer exceptional sound quality and are highly responsive. On the down side, Orthodynamic headphones are bigger than their counterpart and require an amplifier to drive them when used with smart devices such as smart phones, mp3 players, etc. Amplifiers are getting smaller and lighter and therefore one can enjoy clear quality music on the go. One point to note is that they are quite expensive and more on the high end products. - Dynamic Headphones A moving coil driver is what makes Dynamic headsets different. Simply put, a magnet is first inserted into the heart of the headphone. This magnet produces a magnetic field. Second, a coil is placed in the magnetic field. Then a current is applied to the coil. As the coil is attached to the diaphragm, each time a current is applied to the coil, the coil moves, leading to the diaphragm vibration. The diaphragm vibration produces the sounds. This is where the term moving coil driver comes from. What is good about Dynamic headphones is that they need very little power to work. You can use Dynamic headphones for long periods without having to change or charge your batteries every five minutes. It is important to note that the majority of headphones available on the market are dynamic headphones (low energy consumption being the main factor for this). You can find a wide variety of Dynamic headphones with all of the major manufacturers involved such as Sony, Sennheiser, Beyer, Audio-Technica and Grado. They also have a wide price range in between $10 or $900 US Dollars (USD). The can be wired type (with cords) or wireless (without a cord). The downside is that Orthodynamic are better in sound quality and have a better speed response than Dynamic ones. This means you have more of an experience with the Orthodynamic. This is also true for the Electrostatic type headphones. If you are looking for a cheap headset, then you will definitely find one in the Dynamic headphone range. - Electrostatic Headphones Electrostatic headphones are quite different than the other two headset types. Their drivers do not have a voice coil. This means the diaphragm is directly charged with electricity. Simply put, the diaphragm is positioned between two metal plates (also called electrodes). These electrodes are perforated and electrically charged. As soon as the diaphragm vibrates, it moves its surrounding air producing a sound wave. Unfortunately, Electrostatic headphones are quite expensive when compared to the dynamic headphones. Similarly to the Orthodynamic headset, Electrolystatic headphones use substantial amount of electricity. Hence, they need an amplifier, which may not be the favorite route for everyone. On the good side, the thin diaphragm that constitutes the main part of the headphone offers a unique frequency response well above our audible limit (of 20kHz). In fact, this higher frequency response leads to better sound quality and much better experience. So to summarize, if you want the greatest sound quality, then go for Electrostatic headphones. Do not forget to buy an amplifier if you go for this solution and please double check if it is a real electrostatic headphone. The price tag for these is quite high starting at about $600 when you are lucky and ending towards the $15,000. In terms of the Dynamic and Orthodynamic headsets, the main difference is price and sound quality. If you want great sound experience, go for Orthodynamic. If you are worried about price, then get a Dynamic Headphone. Read much more on headphones, reviews and headset comparison with pics at Best Buy Headphones and Click here to get your own best headset. Daniel is enthusiastic about headphones considering the fact that his dad bought him one when he was a teenager. He has designed a internet site www.bestbuyheadphones.net to reveal his enthusiasm and reviewed numerous headset for you. You can also speak to Daniel if you want any details about headsets.
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