At first, Bluetooth headphones infuriated many music lovers due to poor ergonomics and the need to come to terms with a number of conditions. But gradually wireless models are catching up with wired ones.
Now is the time to test the best models in both categories. CHIP finds out which devices best suit certain music preferences, which are the most convenient, which have the best features, and which are the most portable.
Headphone design: on-ear or full-size?
On-ear, as the name of the type of design suggests, is placed over the ear. For example, like , our optimal choice. Full-size ones, like the test winner from the category, completely cover the ear. Both types are divided into closed and open according to their acoustic design.
Closed-back headphones are more common, they reproduce low frequencies more assertively, and the music they produce sounds warmer and less detailed than open-back headphones. Open ones allow sounds to pass through the holes in both directions, so that a person hears background noise and is not completely disconnected from the outside world. At the same time, those around him are also forced to listen to his music, and not everyone likes this.
Reproduction of low frequencies is highly dependent on the size of the driver. Many models are equipped with drivers with a diameter of about 40 mm and, reproducing sounds with a frequency of 20 Hz, can reach lower frequencies than a person can usually hear without straining.
Glossary: Headphones
> Design type: overhead (on-ear)
The headphones are placed on the ear, which ensures the compactness of the entire design> Design type: full-size (over-ear)
The headphones completely fit the ear, so they are larger in size than over-ear ones. The sound stage of full-size ones is also more voluminous compared to overhead ones.> Type of acoustic design: closed
The sound stage of the headphones is isolated, the headphones block out external noise, resulting in warm and rich sounds.> Type of acoustic design: open
The headphones transmit sounds, both external and internal, and sound insulation is relatively weak. Open-back headphones produce transparent, lifelike sound> Input sensitivity
The sound pressure level of a signal with a power of 1 milliwatt, measured in decibels. The higher the value, the higher the volume> Impedance
Frequency-dependent AC resistance determines sound quality and maximum volume level> Emitter
Loudspeaker built into the earcup, consisting of a magnet, moving coil, membrane and housing
Power: the role of impedance
Headphone volume is determined primarily by sensitivity, which measures the sound pressure level the headphones can produce per milliwatt of power, expressed in decibels per milliwatt (dB SPL/mW, where SPL is sound pressure level).
The second important parameter is the headphone's AC resistance or impedance, which is determined by the variable coil: the lower the impedance, the more power from the input voltage. For portable players, low-impedance models are recommended - with an impedance below 100 Ohms.
The other side of the coin: the lower the impedance, the more distortion the amplifier produces. Top-end headphones often have an impedance of around 600 ohms and require powerful amplifier- a smartphone is too small for this.
Wires or Bluetooth?
Without a doubt, wires in headphones are annoying. Technology wireless communication, it would seem, promises to correct the situation. It is important to know that audio streams are not transmitted over Bluetooth without loss: they are compressed using SBC or aptX codecs, so the sound quality of such headphones does not reach the level of wired ones due to reduced dynamics and detail. For fans of pop and rock music, as a rule, this is not a problem, but listening to dynamic classics or jazz may interfere.
Wired headphones transmit sound analoguely from the amplifier output, so distortion digital signal and compression artifacts are negligible. In addition, they do not require batteries or rechargeable batteries.
Sound quality: Bluetooth keeps up with wires
The most important criterion for headphones is playback quality. Depending on the style of music, each listener has his own individual preferences. Classical and jazz lovers should look for a model that allows them to distinguish all the sound and spatial nuances. For such genres, open wired headphones are best suited. If you like pulsating beats, pop, rock or hip-hop, choose closed systems with rich, warm sound.
Of the Bluetooth headphones, we were most impressed by the JBL Everest 300, which deliver differentiated, multi-faceted sound with bright and powerful highs and lows. JBL masterfully reproduces even classic works, such as Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" as interpreted by Max Richter, with remarkable power for Bluetooth headphones. , and the test winner also made a good auditory impression.
Of the wired ones, the model transmits audio signals best of all. Beautifully balanced sound: these headphones reproduce individual instruments as accurately as possible and place them correctly in the surround sound picture. The same can be said about more expensive Sony MDR-100AAP and our optimal choice.
Comfort: no pressure
The headphones should fit well. Ideally, you won't feel it at all. Therefore, they must have soft ear pads on the inside of the cups and padding on the headband. Very comfortable to wear, for example, lightweight ones. But not all headphones are suitable for every head shape. So, JBL Everest 300 can press unpleasantly if a person has a large head. For those who don't wear glasses, over-ear headphones are often recommended because they don't compress the ears. Those who wear glasses usually prefer over-the-eye glasses - they compress the temples of the glasses less. But to be sure, it’s better to try different options yourself.
Buttons on the cord or on the body allow you to control music or telephony functions. The highly sensitive touchpad on the earcup goes even further: as soon as you touch it lightly (for example, when changing position), some function is accidentally launched, and you have to listen for a long time to the noise from the touches, which echoes in the earcups, and is very annoying.
Headphones without a headband: miniature “plugs” with maximum sound
If you listen to music on your way to work, you may find headband headphones too bulky. Then the solution would be headphones without a headband: in-ear headphones - small capsules that go into the ear canal and completely plug the ear. This provides good sound insulation. There are also in-ear headphones (aka “earbuds”), which are placed in the auricle. For sports, in-canal ones are preferable because they are held more securely. True, they can create a feeling of pressure.
Earbuds like the Apple EarPods aren't for everyone; they can easily fall out if they don't fit securely into your ear. The ideal option would be “plugs”, which are selected by hearing aid specialists according to the individual shape of the ear.
Bluetooth devices are unsurpassed in portability - they do not have a cord that gets tangled and gets in the way. The best representatives: and recently presented. Wireless plugs, as a rule, also use Bluetooth, and this is their main problem: the human head greatly muffles the signal, which affects the sound.
Near Field Magnetic Induction (NFMI) technology, which is equipped, for example, in the Bragi The Headphone model, works better. However, during the first testing we often observed a disconnection. But what we liked: the sound control allows you to control the muting of noise environment- this function is integrated into the Smart Fitness system on the more expensive Bragi The Dash model. Tiny in-ear capsules are separately interfaced with the player. They are almost invisible in appearance, but nevertheless are equipped with a built-in microphone for phone calls. But such tiny equipment costs a lot - as much as 300 euros (about 20,000 rubles).
Equipment: not always good
For wired headphones, a detachable cable is desirable, as on the Noontech Hammo S: if damage is detected, it can be easily replaced. You can also connect longer cords or twisted cable. Most devices fold, making them easy to transport. But not all headphones come with a cover or case to protect them from dust and dirt.
To avoid having to remove your headphones every time the phone rings, most models have built-in microphones with control buttons. Of the Bluetooth headphones, only the model is deprived of these pleasures. provide a noise reduction function, which, however, only imposes constant background noise, which can interfere with listening to quiet tracks, and cause sensitive people headache.
Portability: up to 26 hours of music playback
Tested wireless headphones On average, they can withstand 24 hours of operation without recharging. In reality, they need to be plugged in every day. It manages the received energy best of all, working up to 26 hours without recharging. The battery charging time is also impressive - 90 minutes. The test winner, for example, for fully charged The battery time required is an hour more.
Leaders of our test
AKG Y50: perfect sound and ergonomics
With or without wire, Austrian manufacturer AKG knows what great headphones should be. makes a lasting impression, receiving the maximum number of points in almost all criteria. The device inspires respect with its very neat execution, first-class ergonomics and good packaging in the form of a soft case and adapter. As for the most important criterion - sound - the headphones reproduce excellent detailed, balanced sound, for which they receive a well-deserved hundred points. Moreover, the AKG Y50 is not the most expensive headphones in the test.
Pros: Best sound, excellent value for money, high ergonomics, excellent equipment
Minuses: Despite the excellent scores, the treble could have been a little livelier
Marshall Major II: for harsh rockers and more
have impressive sound and the best ergonomics of all headphones tested. Thanks to the bright, but not annoying high frequencies, the sound is light. The headphones, which visually match perfectly with guitar amplifiers from the same manufacturer, are especially good at reproducing rock and pop music. Only too resonant low frequencies and, in comparison with the rest of the test participants, not very high volume prevented them from receiving more points. However, in terms of packaging, the headphones could also score points: for example, there is no carrying case.
Pros: Impressive sound, very comfortable, stylish design, very good buy
Minuses: Quite strong low frequencies, limited packaging, no carrying case
AKG Y50BT: Very balanced sound
During testing, the full-size headphones impressed with their balanced sound. Compared to the wired analogue, openness and transparency are slightly lacking - this is a minus wireless technology. But when playing songs with pronounced mid frequencies, the headphones are distinguished by excellent voice reproduction. They sit firmly on the head without squeezing it, but 300 grams of weight are felt. The device is characterized by good configuration and battery endurance - the operating time without recharging is more than 26 hours. However, the battery takes a relatively long time to charge - as much as 2.5 hours.
Pros: Balanced sound, very good voice reproduction, good battery life
Minuses: Quite bulky and heavy, poor quality sound reproduction compared to Y50
Marshall Major II BT: Punchy Sound Without Cables
Unlike their wired counterpart, they are more in the tradition of world-famous guitar amplifiers: the headphones produce rich sound, ideal for heavy riffs. The sound of the wireless version is characterized by a relative predominance of bass. Thanks to the fact that the headphones fit perfectly, you can enjoy music for hours - the battery life allows it. The British only slightly missed the mark with the packaging - for example, the delivery set does not include a case for transportation. The box contained only the headphones and cable. But given the affordability, you can live with this.
Pros: High volume, fine treble, good battery life, very comfortable, good buy
Minuses: You can hear the predominance of low frequencies in the sound, there are some shortcomings in the configuration
Many people don't even realize that headphones can sound better than speakers. Most often we use cheap earbuds for the player, or “professional headphones” from companies specializing in the production of refrigerators. Having become accustomed to cheap Chinese headphones, it’s hard to believe that expensive headphones can provide very high-quality sound. Yes, they cost money - and sometimes a lot. But even if you don't know the difference between a diatonic scale and a dominant seventh chord, your head will still thank you for your good musical equipment.
Want to build a real hi-fi system, but don't have three thousand dollars for an amplifier and Lebanese cedar speakers with diamond tweeters? What if we tell you that a tenth of this amount is enough to join the elite club of music lovers? Don't believe me?
Meet Their Majesties Headphones! The natural choice of a reasonable individualist.
A little theory First acoustic speakers
were created in the 1930s for the needs of sound cinema, but headphones appeared much earlier - along with the telephone and radio. Small “headphones” sing only for you, which is very important when your elderly neighbor gets tired of using his hearing aid and turns on the TV at full blast. Good headphones for a thousand rubles play like speakers three times more expensive. This is explained by the “collection” of their bass (the speakers resonate, breaking up into soft and hard), as well as the relative simplicity of their design.The stereo sound in the headphones is completely unnatural. When some of the music starts going into only one ear, it feels like you've suddenly gone deaf in the other. Stereo effects are one of the causes of headaches when listening to music through headphones for a long time. Binaural recordings that use differences in sound pressure levels and the spectral composition of acoustic signals to create realistic spatial sensations could theoretically turn headphones into the head office of Carnegie Hall, but they have not achieved mass distribution. |
Before purchasing, headphones (like speakers) need to be listened to. Their ergonomics are as individual as their sound quality. Even if you find headphones that play exactly the way you need, don't rush to remove them. Do the temples put pressure on your head? Do your ears sweat? Are the ear pads too tight? Keep in mind that even the most comfortable headphones will only provide you with a few hours of comfortable listening time - you can't do without breaks.
Another pitfall of headphones is their volume. For most models it can exceed 100 decibels, which is extremely dangerous for hearing. Even in the absence of unpleasant sensations, you should avoid listening to loud soundtracks on headphones, because it is very difficult to feel their harm: the sound level seems acceptable, angry neighbors do not knock on your wall, and health consequences will occur only after a series of similar listening sessions.
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Isolation from society
Open headphones do not isolate you from external noise, or those around you from your music, but they make it lighter and more “transparent” (due to bass leakage). Closed models cut off some of the sounds coming into and leaving the headphones, and also provide stronger bass (which is not always desirable). Compromise option - headphones half open type. There are models with active noise reduction
. The built-in microphone catches external noise, the processor reverses its phase and sends it along with the music to the speakers; at the output, “anti-noise” encounters the noise and partially dampens it.
And now the hunchback!
Unlike speakers, the frequency response (amplitude-frequency response) graph of headphones should not be flat. Many models have a slight “hump” in the range from 40 to 500 Hz (compensation for their naturally weak bass), and to reduce the high-frequency “hump” due to the proximity of the speakers to the ears, a slight drop of 8-10 decibels is required in the range from 1 to 20 kHz.
The strong "blip" at about 10 kHz is caused primarily by the acoustic properties of the human ear, the bends and folds of which dampen sound reflections. A palisade of peaks or a flat “platform” above 3 kHz indirectly indicates that headphones tend to “color” the sound. On the contrary, a series of shallow dips at frequencies from 2 to 8 kHz indicates its naturalness. As for the harmonic distortion graph, the ideal option is a flat “base” and several peaks that fade towards the upper frequencies. |
One of the most expensive headphones: Stax SR-007 Omega II. 85,000 rub.
Naming Rule Monitor (studio)
headphones are used for work in studios and reproduce sound as honestly as possible, with all its shortcomings. A good sign of pro-headphones is an impedance of 120 Ohms and higher. Regular hi-fi headphones “embellish” the music, making it louder, bassier or ringer. You should not buy “monitors” for home entertainment. Their dry and boring sound will disappoint you.
In the world of headphones, brand really matters. Don't waste your money on expensive headphones from multimedia companies. Even cheap products from reputable manufacturers ( AKG , Audio-Technica , Beyerdynamic , Fostex , Grado , Sennheiser ) is head and shoulders above most top-end Genius or Logitech models. And remember the magic “rule of names”: the best mid-range headphones in the world are made by German companies.
| Top class |
At the forefront of science today are electrostatic “ear loudspeakers” and Hale emitter headphones. Don't be confused by the fact that these products look like props from Star Wars. Electrostatic headphones feature a lightweight diaphragm that vibrates within an electric field. They play quieter, but much more detailed than conventional speakers. Hale's airflow converters are similar to a foil accordion driven by a powerful neodymium magnet (due to this design, air movement is five times faster than the movement of the membrane, which provides the headphones with excellent sensitivity). |
These types of headphones have a bandwidth of 5 to 50,000 Hz (beyond the sensitivity of our hearing) and reproduce sounds that even premium speakers cannot handle.
Harmonic distortion tends to zero, and prices tend to four or five zeros. Parade-alley! AKG Acoustics has become famous throughout the world for its magnificent
studio microphones . All AKG products are still manufactured in Austria (and not in China, like many other reputable manufacturers). The K271S model is the direct successor to the legendary K240/270 series of headphones, which have become the industry standard for sound monitoring and have been used in most studios around the world for almost 20 years. However, the Studio console was issued to K271, as they say, with his fingers crossed behind his back. They are not suitable for monitoring, since they make the highs very “airy”, and the low-frequency spectrum is colored thanks to patented technology
This is exactly the rare case when headphones can be taken without prior listening. The headphones are cool. Stylish, lightweight, and with a self-adjusting flexible arm that can be tied in a knot if desired, these headphones will fit perfectly on any head size.
The only “but” is that the ears in the AKG K271 Studio (as in most other closed headphones) sweat a lot.
Verdict: The best value for money closed-back headphones on the market. Acoustic, practical, gut. Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro
- a relatively new model from a very famous German company. Audiophile headphones with clean, neat and detailed sound, champions in bass weight. At the same time, the bass does not thump separately from the rest of the music - vocals are heard well, mid and high frequencies retain detail and transparency. Everything is as it should be.
The design is classic: aluminum arms, massive “cups”, headbands made of delicate velor fabric. The downforce, according to the passport data, is exactly 3 N. This is not much. But the pressure of the ear pads on the auricle is very noticeable and causes discomfort when worn for a long time - from time to time the ears have to take a break.
Verdict: if catharsis can be bought with money, then its starting price is 7,000 rubles. Proven by Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro.
Verdict: Great headphones, but overall the Grado brand is a little overpriced. The halo of “elitism” that hovers over it does not correspond to the real state of affairs. Freedom always comes at a price. In the case of radio headphones - sound quality. Wireless models obviously play worse than wired ones, this is an axiom. If you want to kill two birds with one stone - wires and radio interference - then you should start with at least AKG K506 AFC
.
Despite the impressive weight, these headphones are very comfortable. The same technologies are used here as in the AKG K271S, but the sound quality is objectively worse - primarily due to the background hum of the radio path, which interferes with listening to quiet compositions.
The stated range of 100 meters is marketing lies. The K506AFC covers an ordinary apartment without any problems, but radio interference awaits you on the landing. Verdict: Hegel would have loved these headphones. With them, everything that is reasonable is real, and everything that is real is reasonable. Cheaper is only worse. More expensive is not always better. at a price of about 27,000 rubles. In our case, we have smooth midrange frequencies and a crystal clear top (instead of a conventional speaker there is a so-called “reinforcement radiator” - a ferromagnetic plate that vibrates in a magnetic field and affects the diaphragm). If you are uncomfortable wearing regular arc headphones on the street and looking like Darth Vader, take a closer look at super. fi 3.
Verdict: The headphones are good.
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They outperform all closed models in today's test - with the exception that super.fi 3 lacks bass.
In the last issue we talked about speakers that are sold for the price of a Porsche Cayenne.
To continue this analogy, headphones are like racing motorcycles. One pilot, minimal comfort, but the feeling is indescribable. And most importantly, good headphones are much cheaper than a motorcycle. Ride them and you will feel like the king of music tracks. We are often asked to recommend headphones “for the computer” - to sit, play, listen to music and not disturb anyone. We prepared for the test for a long time and thought about testing several available models, but somehow we got carried away and immediately collected 12 of the most interesting full-size headphones in four price categories - up to 1200, up to 2000, up to 3000 and up to 5000 rubles. Organizing such a test turned out to be difficult: in each category I wanted to present only best models, on the market, but we physically couldn’t listen to everything that was on sale. Therefore, only the masters of the audio industry were included in the list of favorites -, Sennheiser Audio-Technica JBL and newbie
Fischer Audio
. Left behind are those for whom the main occupation is the production of mice or keyboards, and music is only an appendage to it.
The tests weren't easy either. It is possible to impartially assess the sound quality (headphones must cope with music, be frightening in games and work accurately in films), but it is more difficult to decide on design and wearing comfort.
Everyone’s head is different, so the convenience of each model was assessed by several people at once - for objectivity. Sennheiser HD 202 used by many manufacturers: a long arch, right up to the ears, with hanging cups. The design cannot be called successful, but this way you can save on fastenings. The speakers cling to the arms like rails - with a simple plastic hinge. It looks ugly (the emitters dangle like crazy), but the position can be adjusted in three planes at once, so the HD 202 sits confidently on the head and does not press anywhere. You will have to get used to the ear pads: Sennheiser missed the mark with the size; the ear does not close completely, but is only covered halfway. You need to remove the headphones carefully - the cable is attached to two cups at once and clings to the chin.
The sound of the HD 202 surprised us, to put it mildly. The headphones play much cooler than you might think by looking at the price tag. The engineers spat on market standards and did not hide the shortcomings with strong bass. The HD 202 has dips in the midrange, and in difficult moments the sound seems to come from a barrel. But the headphones try to sound as smooth and assertive as possible. Sometimes you get the feeling that they are playing for the last time in their lives and are getting the most out of themselves.
True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 5/10
Design: 5/10
Music: 6/10
Movies: 5/10
Games: 9/10
Price quality:
Sennheiser HD 201 IN model range
HD 201 is lower than HD 202, but costs more and looks more solid. These are already full-fledged headphones of a standard design: the speakers do not dangle, the mounts extend out of the earpiece, and the ear pads completely cover the ear. The HD 201 fits well and does not fall off during sudden movements. But the quality of execution is still a problem. Like the HD 202, they are made of cheap plastic that will fall apart at any moment. The ear pads feel like they are made of hard paper: you will have to break them in for the first few days.
The sound of the HD 201 is reminiscent of the previous model: the same pressure and honesty, only the speakers sound duller, there is no richness that we saw in the HD 202. However, because of this, the headphones are easier to handle complex scenes - the first seconds are not swallowed.
True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 3/10
Design: 4/10
Music: 5/10
Movies: 5/10
Games: 7/10
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The magic of numbers Headphones have dozens of characteristics, but now we will tell you about the most important ones - those listed in the comparison table. It's hard to say why a third more expensive than HD 202. The materials are the same: cheap plastic and suspicious leatherette on the ear pads. The build quality, as they say, is honest. Drop it and the arm will crack, pull the wires harder and hello, soldering iron. A positive point is the folding design, which makes transportation easier, and also flexible customization: the speakers move freely in three planes. However, the wearing pleasure is questionable - the ear pads put too much pressure on the ears. The ATH-SJ3 sound is ambiguous. In character they resemble Sennheiser products, but they play sharper. The guitar sounds evil, the vocals stand out well, and the drummer's work can be heard. Only at peak moments do the headphones give up and start wheezing. There is still not enough detail; it is difficult to clearly distinguish the sound of one instrument. But in games, the pressure is right: shots sound juicy and powerful, the sounds are not split into separate components and create the desired effect of military operations. True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 4/10 Design: 4/10 Music: 4/10 Movies: 7/10 Games: 7/10 Audio-Technica ATH-AD300Let's move on to category number two - up to 2000 rubles. Surprisingly: I gave 1000 rubles on top - and it was as if I had switched from a domestic “five” to a good foreign car: the quality of finish, comfort and sound of the headphones increases significantly. The first model Audio-Technica ATH-AD300, amazes with its appearance and level of execution. Unlike flimsy “thousanders”, this is already a well-made device that you are not ashamed to show to your friends. The speakers are connected by a pair of thin metal arcs covered with rubber tubes. From expensive models, they brought here a head-mounting system: the headphones do not hang on the ear pads or arm, but rest on the top of the head with soft paws. The speakers are attached to the main structure through rods, which allows rotation in a vertical plane. The ear pads are cool, velvet is used instead of cheap leatherette. Unlike the ATH-SJ3, the more expensive model does not try to take on pressure or bass, but sounds balanced. In the ATH-AD300, you begin to recognize the small details of the composition, the nuances of extraction, the ideas of the sound engineer, the timbre of the voice, and the like. The headphones swing quickly in difficult scenes, cope well with high frequencies and honestly display the bass component. There are some mid-range overlays; the guitar can get lost in the general background, but for a device costing 1,900 rubles, this is forgivable. In addition, these are open-back headphones, and therefore they have a very beautiful stereo image. True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 6/10 Design: 7/10 Music: 6/10 Movies: 7/10 Games: 10/10 At first you can’t even believe that the sound isn’t coming from the speakers, it’s so voluminous and airy. The ATH-AD300 is a joy to play, and good source positioning can save your virtual life. Only people around will not like the openness of the structure: there is no sound insulation.Fischer Audio FA-004 JBL Company founded in 2006 and is now actively making its way into the audio market. At one time, we underestimated the potential of this company and today we will correct ourselves: headphones from Fischer Audio will enter the competition in two price categories at once. The model was the first to be tested FA-004 . In terms of performance quality, it outperforms the ATH-AD300. Like its competitor, the arm of the FA-004 is made of two thin metal arches, completely covered with soft leatherette. The speakers are housed in a casing made of soft-touch plastic that is pleasant to the touch. Accurate assembly - no play or loose parts. True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 7/10 Design: 6/10 Music: 5/10 Movies: 8/10 Games: 9/10 It is difficult to customize the FA-004. The design allows for the cups to move only in one plane - up and down, so you have to wait until the metal arch bends to the shape of your head.The headphones sound about the same as they look - collected. Good rich bass, pleasant highs, there is a dip in the mid frequencies, but it's not scary. atypical for the budget Sennheiser line. We are already accustomed to the fact that the company tries to save money and, first of all, puts the design under the knife. An exception was made for HD 438. The headphones resemble a sports car. The cups are decorated with mirrored discs, and the stands are curved as if the speakers are trying to break away and go wherever their eyes look. After the first listen, there was a strong feeling that we had been deceived somewhere. On the player COWON S9 The headphones sounded quietly and managed to wheeze in particularly intense passages. With the built-in sound card the story was the same. Only with high quality DAC from Burr-Brown The headphones paid off a bit. The sound became cleaner, pronounced highs and pleasant lows appeared, but still our HD 438 did not reach the level of the ATH-AD300 and FA-004. We already wanted to replace the HD 438 with something more interesting, we even contacted suppliers, but we made an effort and tried the headphones in other directions. To begin with, we turned on the movie - and were ready to take our hats off to Sennheiser: these are one of the few headphones with which it is pleasant to watch a movie. The fact is that headphones tuned to music distort people’s voices, put background music in first place and compressed files recording flaws highlight too much. In the Sennheiser HD 438, one gets the impression that the sound is coming from ordinary speakers: people’s voices are clear and not overloaded with excessive “musicality”. Considering the lightness of the design and the softness of the velvet ear pads, you can spend more than one hour in them. So if you like to watch a couple of episodes of your favorite TV series at night or arrange protracted battles in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, then HD 438 will be an excellent choice. True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 7/10 Design: 4/10 Music: 9/10 Movies: 8/10 Games: 6/10
Audio-Technica ATH-M30In the range of up to 3,000 rubles, the most difficult thing is to find headphones that differ from the “two-thousander” ones not only in appearance. Too often, manufacturers forget about sound and spend money on packaging, materials and design. And it turns out the same as for 2000 rubles, but in a beautiful wrapper. Audio-Technica has a different approach. It’s hard to even imagine right off the bat that ATH-M30 are more expensive than ATH-AD300. The plastic is the same, the speaker mounts are loose, and the ear pads are made of weak leatherette, which will peel off in a year and require replacement. True, the ATH-M30 fits well on the head. True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 6/10 Design: 8/10 Music: 5/10 Movies: 9/10 Games: 10/10 They can’t withstand sudden movements, but they don’t put pressure either.You forget about the design flaws after the first listen. We don’t know to whom the Audio-Technica engineers sold their souls, but their headphones sound charming. They can handle absolutely any style of music. The speakers seem to gather their will into a fist and blast music at you with such pressure that it seems as if your favorite band is performing right in front of you. The sound is so rich at all frequencies that you don’t even want to look for flaws. And we couldn’t do without them: headphones sometimes like to add bass where there is none, or bring to the surface what should have sounded like background. But if you have nothing to compare with, you won’t even notice it. JBL ROXY Reference 430 It’s somehow impossible to take headphones with an orange headband and bright pink cups seriously. But in vain, because they are made with high quality. All design elements fit neatly together and are significantly superior to the ATH-M30. The ear pads and the inside of the headband are covered with soft velor and pleasantly fit your head. The only negative: the cable is attached to both speakers at once, and it’s difficult to remove True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 10/10 Design: 8/10 Music: 4/10 Movies: 9/10 Games: 10/10 ROXY Reference 430uncomfortable.- the second open headphones in our test. They are made to last: high-quality plastic, nice design, soft covering of the arms, velor ear pads. They fit tightly on the head and do not fall off even with sudden movements; Due to the openness of the design, they practically do not strain the ears. The sound of the HD 555 can be described in one word - beautiful. The headphones do not have the pressure of the ATH-M30 or ROXY Reference 430: they play softly and airily. The stage and the location of the instruments are perfectly felt. At first, many will be confused by the quiet low frequencies, but due to this, the HD 555 has honest and beautiful bass. True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 9/10 Design: 9/10 Music: 5/10 Movies: 7/10 Games: 9/10 The lack of pressure sometimes spoils the sound and will not appeal to fans of heavy and fast music, but otherwise the HD 555 is beyond praise.Sennheiser HD 201 If you want beautiful, calm, and most importantly, honest sound, then these headphones are definitely worth at least listening to. Fischer Audio FA-003 price range from 3,500 rubles is worth getting into if you have already heard enough about cheap models, bought a good sound card and have a clear idea of what you want to get. It is quite possible that even headphones bought for 25,000 rubles will sound terrible to you. After all, station wagons are no longer held in high esteem here, and models are tailored to suit certain trends in music. Fischer Audio FA-003 True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 8/10 Design: 9/10 Music: 5/10 Movies: 8/10 Games: 8/10
Sony MDR-XB700The headphones sound about the same as they look - collected. Sony- rare guests in our magazine, their prices are too high. But MDR-XB700- a pleasant exception. The headphones look simple and somehow very cozy, the huge leather ear pads just beg you to quickly press them to your ears. The head in the MDR-XB700 is very good. But the MDR-XB700's sound isn't for everyone. The headphones are part of the Extra Bass series, and there really is a lot of bass here. Despite the fact that the speakers cope well with the entire frequency range, the overstated bass creeps in from all the cracks and hides everything else. Thus, the headphones rather try not to convey each instrument separately, but to demonstrate the overall emotional picture of the composition. Of course, you won’t listen to orchestral music in them, but electronic music or even rock will do. So if you are not a fan of nuances, but just want to go about your business while listening to music, then the MDR-XB700 will be. True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 10/10 Design: 7/10 Music: 5/10 Movies: 9/10 Games: 9/10 good choiceBut the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro sounds far from worth its money. This class of sound is usually found in headphones priced from 7000-8000 rubles. The character of the HD 280 Pro was somewhat reminiscent of the ATH-M30: energetic, lively, and well-positioned sources. Only due to the higher quality speakers, Sennheiser did not have to increase the volume of low frequencies. Even without this, headphones can display all the work of the drummer and bass player. After all, their main trump card is the evenness of sound and detail of each instrument. Many people may not like this: not everyone is ready to perceive music as it is. True, the lack of detail and accuracy cannot be helped, but this is a cost of the low price, and not Sennheiser’s fault. 7/10 Design: 10/10 Music: 7/10 Movies: 7/10 Games: 10/10 * * *But if you spend at least a day or two with the HD 280 Pro, you definitely won’t want to part with them.
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When connecting a headset to a computer, you may need to check the quality of our microphone. We can use Skype-level programs for this, as well as a variety of network services specifically designed to test the functionality of our device. In this article I will tell you how to do it online check how a microphone works on headphones, and what network tools will help us with this.
Options for testing microphone performance and quality
Online microphone testing services can have two main forms of implementation:
Working with these test tools is simple, intuitive, and can be recommended to any user. When going to such a resource, do not forget to enable and also allow the service access to your microphone by clicking on the “Allow” button, otherwise the functionality of such services will simply be useless.
Best Ways to Test the Microphone on Headphones
Let's move on to the list of services that allow you to study the operation of a microphone on the Internet online.
Webcammictest.com
The first of the services I want to talk about today is webcammictest.com. This service makes it easy to perform a microphone test for free, has a Russian-language interface, and can be recommended to any user. If you need to fix this, follow the list of actions at the link.
To work with it, do the following:
Online-voice-recorder.com - test for operation and noise
The online-voice-recorder.com service is an international project with Russian localization in the form of an online voice recorder that will allow you to record sound from your microphone, and then listen to what was recorded online.
To work with a resource, do the following:
Mictest.ru will help you diagnose your microphone
Another Russian-language service for online microphone testing. Working with it is no different from other services of this plan:
Onlinemictest.com
The onlinemictest.com service works in a similar way to the resources of this plan. The only difference is the English-language nature of this site, which, however, will not cause any special problems even for people not familiar with the language of Shakespeare.
speakpipe.com
Well, the last test service for working with a microphone online, which I want to talk about, is the speakpipe.com service. This tool has an English-language interface and works on a similar principle to the online-voice-recorder.com service, allowing you to first record any audio segment from a microphone, and then listen to the sound quality (you can check it not only on desktop PCs, but also on mobile devices).
To work with the service, do the following:
Conclusion
Online checking of a purchased or used microphone on headphones can be performed using the services I described above. All of them are extremely easy to implement, and can be recommended to any users who want to test the operation and quality of the microphone.
A microphone is an important part of any modern gadget. It becomes especially popular when it is necessary to communicate via Skype or when recording audio. It’s good if it’s already built into the device, but sometimes it’s much more convenient to purchase this auxiliary item separately, for example, bundled with headphones. This will allow you to hear your interlocutor, talk to him and at the same time create a minimum of inconvenience for others. In order to understand how the kit works and check the correctness of its operation, just connect headphones with a microphone to the connector located on the computer.
There are the following main verification methods:
- with help operating system Windows;
- recording sound;
- via Skype;
- online.
Using standard Windows tools
For Windows 7 The check is done like this.
- In the control panel you should find the “sound” tab, and in it “recording”.
- Find the connected equipment and make sure there is a checkmark in the green circle (the device is working). It also checks to see if there is a sound bar when talking into the microphone. If there is a reaction, then it works.
- By selecting required device, you should click its properties and in the first tab (general) make sure that there is a controller, and also that the input into which the device is connected is activated.
- Additionally, you need to open the “listen” tab and click on “listen from this device.”
- After the point above, the required device is indicated and it is checked whether there is sound after recording.
The audio scale should work when checking the microphone
On Windows 10:
It is worth knowing that in this tab you can adjust the sound so that in the event of a call, the volume of a movie, music or other content will automatically decrease and will not interfere with the conversation.
Recording sound
Recording audio will also help you check the microphone on your headphones. In order to do this, you need to go to “Start”, select “Standard Programs”, “Record Sound” and in the window that opens click on “Start Recording”. After this, we make a recording and save the resulting file in any convenient place. By opening the file, you can listen to the sound and its quality both through headphones and speakers.
Via Skype
Another very convenient way to check your headset is to do it via Skype, no matter whether you use this application in real life or not. You can do an express version of the check, or you can spend a little more time. In the first case, it is enough to select any contact from your address book and click on the item “Data on communication quality”. In the window that opens, you need to select your microphone option and click the “Test” button; after a few moments of recording, the resulting audio will be played back.
In addition to the above option, you can dial through a special call recording quality check service. To do this, select “Echo/Sound Test Service” and make a call. The recording lasts 8-10 seconds and plays back after a while. Naturally, in order to use this option, you need Internet access.
You can also adjust the volume in Skype. This is done through regulators, which automatic settings by default are translated to manual mode(uncheck the “Automatic adjustment” box), after which you can set all the necessary parameters yourself. It’s better to do this right during a conversation with one of your friends.
Online check
For those who do not like built-in verification utilities, there is an alternative - online verification.
- The browser asks you to “check your microphone online.”
- Next, you should find the voice recording enable button.
- Sometimes the service asks for permission to process data; if this is the case, then it should be granted.
- The last stage of the test is to talk into the microphone and see the service rating about the quality of the connection.
Online microphone test service
These simple ways will help you check the operation of your working set of headphones and microphone in order to understand whether it is suitable for further use or not. As you can see, the check will not take much time, and you can easily handle it yourself.
Why is the microphone not working?
If the headset's microphone stops transmitting sound, the failure may be caused by a physical breakdown or errors software(BY).
Hardware faults:
- cable is broken;
- the socket in the PC is faulty;
- defective accessory;
- The device is not turned on on the control panel.
Software malfunctions may be of the following nature.
- If the accessory is connected to the front panel of the PC, you should check the assignment of the ports. By default, the microphone is connected to the pink jack.
- There are no current drivers, or none at all.
- Conflict between applications. If one program uses a microphone to record voice, it may block it for other software.
- Sound card malfunction. The card may be forcibly disabled in Windows, or it may be prohibited from using external devices.
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