What are the big headphones called?

Any person who is sensitive to sound quality, be it a music lover or just a fan of computer games, must have large headphones in their arsenal. Their advantages over more compact models are obvious: deeper and more spacious sound, most accurately transmitted low frequencies and better noise insulation. Large-sized headphones are divided into two classes: monitor and over-ear.

Monitor (full size)

The largest and most bulky of all devices are called monitor or full-size. Despite this, for the most part they are very convenient, since these models are created for professionals - musicians, sound engineers, DJs, that is, people who work with sound. Therefore, the headphones should not cause discomfort when worn for long periods of time.

Headband arc

The most important element of comfort. Monitor arcs are usually quite wide, made of plastic, metal or a combination thereof. The part adjacent to the head is soft. The most common material for its manufacture is polyurethane foam, sometimes covered with leather or fabric.

The headphones themselves not only move in an up-and-down arc, but also usually have the ability to rotate slightly around a vertical axis. All these factors allow you to optimally adjust their fit on the head.

Ear pads

They cover the entire ear and are pressed tightly against the head, completely isolating the listener from surrounding noise.

REFERENCE. When making ear pads for expensive headphones, as a rule, genuine leather is used, sometimes from very exotic animals. Simpler models use leather substitutes.

Considering the quality of modern materials, it can be very difficult to distinguish eco-leather from real leather. And this hardly affects the sound quality significantly.

The surface of the ear pads in direct contact with the listener's head is usually perforated. This is done for ventilation.

Occasionally there are ear pads made of suede or fabric, which are also well ventilated.

Bowls

Typically made from high quality plastic, usually with decorative metal elements.

Although there is an opinion that the best bowls are made from expensive wood. For example, sakura from the southern slope of Fuji, cut down at sunset during the flowering period.

This is not a joke - there are quite a few stores on the Internet offering to replace stock bowls with wooden ones. The choice is not too large, but wooden bowls are not difficult to find for the most popular headphone models.

Unlike ear pads, the material of the cups affects the sound quality, although a non-specialist most likely will not notice the difference.

The wire

The wire of monitor headphones, like all other components, is monumental. This is an indestructible design, usually made of low-oxygen copper, stranded and shielded.

IMPORTANT! The thicker the cable, the lower the resistance and, accordingly, the less sound loss. However, a very thick cable is overkill. Therefore, the standard cable diameter for “monitors” is 5–8 millimeters.

Cable plug(s)

Typically these parts are gold plated, which is believed to also have a positive effect on sound quality. On monitor headphones, the cable is usually connected on one side.Often it is removable, and you can connect it to both the right and left headphones.

The cable is usually twisted and looks like a wire from an old push-button telephone. Do not pay attention to the technical characteristics of the cable. It, of course, affects the quality, but not so significantly that it can be noticed.

Concluding the description of monitor headphones, it is worth warning - do not expect any transcendental sound from them. This class of headphones is created precisely in order to transmit it as accurately as possible. Therefore, a set of very expensive headphones also requires a good source. For example, if headphones cost fifty thousand, and a player costs ten, then you shouldn’t count on high-quality sound with the finest nuances.

A huge disadvantage of “monitors” is the price. The most expensive ones on the Market cost 439 thousand rubles.

On-ear headphones

They represent a compromise for those who do not want to acquire monitors, but He considers small headphones not the best sound source.

“Monitors” are expensive, and are only suitable for home use. On the street, their lucky owner will look like Cheburashka. In addition, wearing a device costing 100 thousand or more thousand rubles on your head is a dubious idea.

IMPORTANT! The on-ear headphone option is optimal in terms of price/quality ratio.

Of course, there won’t be the same volume and detail of sound as in monitors. However Sound insulation and sound power are very good. But there is a clear reduction in weight and dimensions.

• The iconic Sony MDR-ZX300 weighs only 120 grams.
• The no less iconic Koss Porta Pro is even smaller - 75 grams.
• Porta Pro also has practically the smallest dimensions in its class, but has very decent sound.
• Among others, it is worth highlighting Sennheiser, Marshall, JVC, Audio-Technica.Each manufacturer has a decent range of on-ear headphones. To summarize: this category has disadvantages, but only if you compare them with monitor ones.