What are monitor headphones

There is a huge variety of headphones on the computer accessories market, including cable, wireless, open or closed, on-ear or monitor. What they are, by whom and for what purposes the last of the listed types are used will be discussed in this article.

What are monitor headphones

This name may be unfamiliar to the average personal computer user, since this accessory is used mainly by professional musicians in the studio, sound engineers, etc. Monitor headphones resemble ordinary on-ear headphones in appearance, but their sound quality characteristics are several times superior to them, transmitting sound in its original form, which is achieved by full coverage of the human ear by the ear pads.

It is also worth noting the significant difference in price. The cost of a monitor accessory starts from 7 thousand rubles. Acoustic sound allows a musician or singer to control the recorded sound and improve upon shortcomings. For a more complete understanding of the essence of monitor headphones, let’s move on to familiarize ourselves with their main characteristics.

Characteristics

The fundamental factor when choosing monitor headphones is their amplitude-frequency characteristic (the dependence of the signal amplitude on frequency). The best sound quality is considered to be in the range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

At values ​​beyond the boundaries of this interval, the sound is perceived unreliably by the human ear. The lower the frequency, the clearer the sound. A characteristic feature of the monitor version of the accessory is its linear frequency response, in which the sound does not improve in any way, but is reproduced as it was recorded in the original version. That is why it is not suitable for ordinary music lovers, since what is heard using such an accessory does not coincide with the usual processed version.

REFERENCE! Monitor headphones intended for sound engineers and professional musicians must certainly have a high degree of detail, reflect even the smallest interference in the recorded sound, and provide the ability to distinguish the sound of each of the instruments used in the recording.

Another important characteristic of a monitor accessory is a fairly high level of resistance (above 100 Ohms, usually about 250). This is due to the fact that when using them, a high input voltage level is assumed, and a high resistance will help reduce the current load on the amplifier and get better sound at the output.

The sensitivity indicator is responsible for sound volume, but increasing it is not a priority for manufacturers, since monitor headphones are used with stationary equipment to amplify sound. The strength of the material is also important, ensuring a long service life.

These are the main technical characteristics of such an acoustic device; now it’s worth moving on to considering the types.

Kinds

Traditionally, according to acoustic design, the following types are distinguished:

• open;
• half open;
• closed.

Monitor headphones fit comfortably on the head during use; there is no pressure on the ears when worn, which makes this type the most comfortable. The quality of the listening sound is preserved, however, due to the open design, there is a large number of extraneous sounds, which often causes inconvenience during their operation.

The second of the above types of monitor headphones is classified as a type of open headphone. They have a higher level of noise insulation, which allows for complete immersion in listening to music. The sound quality is not inferior to an open type device.

The closed type of the accessory provides the maximum level of noise insulation. It is achieved mainly due to the tight fit of the headphone arms to the head, and therefore to the ears. This type is most suitable for studio recording.

To summarize the above, we can conclude that monitor headphones are still a tool for professionals in the music field and will not reveal all their properties during normal use.