Tag: Headphones

Company JVC presented its novelty – 11 mm in-ears headphones HA-KD1, created specifically for kids and having 20 Hz – 18 kHz reproducible sounds frequencies range, neodymium magnets and 200 mW max input power. Their sensitivity is 85 dB/mW, impedance is 33 Ohms and mass with cable is 11.3 g, without it : 4.5 g. Wire length is 0.85 m, it is mounted to both cups and is not detachable; to sound source it is connected via 1/8″ mini jack plug with nickel-plated contacts, compatible with Apple iPhone.

Volume level of JVC HA-KD1 is limited by 85 dB – safe for children level, they are supplied in 4 colors variants : blue, white, light blue and pink; package with headphones contains : stickers for device decoration, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all headphones are good enough and cost around 15 USD, from one side, this price is adequate for their characteristics; from the other : for smaller price there is ability to buy in-ears headphones with better characteristics and for approximately the same sum to buy monitor headphones, providing better sound quality. So, JVC HA-KD1 can be recommended for purchase only if there is need in exactly kids’ headphones, created for them and safe for them.

One of the new monitor headphones is a 40 mm device AKG K 72, supporting reproduction of 16 Hz – 20 kHz sounds frequencies, with closed acoustic architecture, 112 dB sensitivity and 200 mW max input power for 70 USD. Their impedance is 32 Ohms and mass is 200 g, cable with 3 m length is connected to only one of the cups, to sound source it is connected via 1/8″ mini jack connector. Headphones are supplied only in matte black color variant, wire is not detachable, earpads are made from leatherette and headphones are not foldable.

Package with AKG K 72 contains : screw-on adapter to 1/4″ jack connector, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are good : they have large membranes, full range of reproducible sounds frequencies and high sensitivity, their price, from one side, is adequate to their characteristics, from the other : there is ability to find much cheaper good 40 and 50 mm monitor headphones.

Novelty of even more professional level of Audio-Technica company is a 53 mm monitor dynamic headphones ATH-A990z with 5 Hz – 42 kHz sound frequencies playback support, 2000 mW max input power and closed acoustic architecture. Their sensitivity is 100 dB/mW, impedance is 44 Ohms and mass is 335 g. Cable has 3 m length and is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack plug with gold-plated contacts, it is attached to only one of the cups and is not detachable. Headband has automatic adjustment mechanism for listeners with different heads sizes; cushions are made from soft material for comfortable wearing over long time.

Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-A990z are not foldable, in each cup they have only 1 driver; manufacturer does not tell which magnets are used in device, but, the most probably, they are neodymium magnets; headphones are created with use of Double Air Damping System technology, allowing to better and more loudly reproduce basses due to their resonance in body of cups. Device has no active noise-cancellation function, as part of other monitor headphones have, but they have good noise isolation. In place of entering into cup cable is additionally reinforced with resin lining for increased durability and wear resistance during bending and tear-off forces applications. Cable has no built-in microphone and smartphone and volume control buttons.

Body around membranes of Audio-Technica ATH-A990z is made from aluminum for reduced chatter during audio playback; manufacturer tells about implementation of additional measures for Amplitude-Frequency Characteristic equalization : basses pumping up and high-frequencies normalization. Package with Audio-Technica ATH-A990z headphones contains : screw-on adapter to 1/4″ jack connector also with gold-plated contacts, warranty card and user’s guide. As most of the devices of Audio-Technica company, ATH-A990z are designed for professional studio use and have excellent characteristics for this; their price corresponds to this : 200 – 280 USD, and is not overly high for device of such level. For everyday high-quality sounds and music listenning such characteristics are not needed and there is ability to buy much cheaper consumer-level 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones. Also, if compactness and lightness are needed the most, then there is ability to look on in-ears headphones, which do not reproduce sounds as good, as monitor headphones, especially basses, but have small sizes and mass, which is the most needed during sportive exercises and trainings; also this type of headphones often have slider and clip on cable to prevent its tangling and clinging to clothes and surrounding objects.

There is also need to note, that Audio-Technica – is a Japanese company, established in Tokyo in 1962 year, as phonographs cartridges producer. Then it started to develop and introduced among its products microphones and headphones, among which now there are wired and wireless models. At current moment it is one of the leading foreign consumer sound electronics and government organizations devices supplier in USA. And in the country of a rising Sun audio devices are usually made with high quality of components and assembling.

Company Audio-Technica releases new professional 53 mm monitor headphones ATH-A550Z with closed-back architecture, 5 Hz – 35 kHz sound frequencies playback support and 100 dB sensitivity. Their impedance is 40 Ohms, maximal input power is 1000 mW and mass is 300 g without wire accounting. Cable has 3 m length and is connected to only 1 of the cups; it is plugged to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts. Headphones are released only in matte black color variant and have soft ears pads for comfortable long-time wearing.

Cable of Audio-Technica ATH-A550Z is not detachable, is covered with cloth material for increased durability and wear resistance and in place of entering into cups additionally reinforced with resin tubes; they are not foldable and have no active noise-cancellation function, however their noise isolation is quite good. In both cups there is only 1 driver with CCAW audio coils, manufacturer does not tell which magnets are used in device, but the most probably, these are neodymium magnets; headphones use Double Air Damping System ( D.A.D.S. ) technology for more high-quality and loud basses reproduction. PCB of Audio-Technica ATH-A550Z is placed in their top part for more free air flow and precise diaphragms movements.

Package with Audio-Technica ATH-A550Z contains : adapter to 1/4″ jack connector, warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are oriented on professional use and have all needed characteristics for this, their price corresponds to this : 160 – 180 USD. For professional equipment such price is justified; for usual high-quality music and sounds listening such characteristics are not needed and there is ability to buy much cheaper consumer-level 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones for much smaller price.

There is also need to note, that Audio-Technica – is a Japanese company, established in Tokyo in 1962 year, as phonographs cartridges producer. Then it started to develop and introduced among its products microphones and headphones, among which now there are wired and wireless models. At current moment it is one of the leading foreign consumer sound electronics and government organizations devices supplier in USA. And in the country of a rising Sun audio devices are usually made with high quality of components and assembling.

One of the novelties among in-ears headphones with not high price is a 8.6 mm device Philips SHE5200 with 10 Hz – 22 kHz sounds frequencies range playback support, neodymium magnets, semi-open acoustic architecture and around 14 USD price. Their sensitivity is 107 dB, impedance is 16 Ohms and maximal input power is 20 mW. Cable with 1.2 m length is connected to both cups, it is plugged to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts. It is additionally reinforced on all its length and in entrances into cups for increased durability; cups are made from metal for the same purpose and decreased chatter, when sound is played back, device is supplied only in white color variant.

Package with Philips SHE5200 headphones contains 3 ears tips of different sizes ( large, small and medium ), warranty card and user’s guide. All in all device is good : it has large for in-ears headphones membranes, wide reproducible audio frequencies range, neodymium magnets, reinforced construction and gold-plated contacts of a plug, wherein its price is quite adequate to characteristics. If device’s compactness is not needed and sound quality is more important, then there is ability to look on 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones with not much larger price.

Company Philips continues to release great devices, this time this a 8.6 mm in-ears dynamic headphones SHE5305 with microphone, 10 Hz – 22 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction support, semi-closed acoustic architecture and neodymium magnets. Their impedance is 16 Ohms, sensitivity is 107 dB and maximal input power is 20 mW. Cable with 1.2 m length and 2.5 mm diameter is connected to both cups and is additionally reinforced with metalized wires for increased durability; in its volume control module microphone and smartphones control button ( compatible with Apple iPhone, BlackBerry, HTC, LG, MOTOROLA, Nokia, Palm, SAMSUNG and Sony Ericsson ) are built in. It is plugged to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector with gold-plated contacts.

Wire of Philips SHE5305 is not detachable, in places of entering into cups it is additionally reinforced with steel springs for increased toughness and wire resistance against bending and tear-off forces; both cups have only 1 driver in them; headphones have no active noise-cancellation functions, as some monitor headphones have. Philips tells about tweaking of drivers for high-quality and loud basses reproduction, in comparison with other in-ears headphones this is so, but they have long way to go to monitor headphones. Cups of device have curved external form for comfortable long-time wearing.

Headphones are supplied only in black and white color variants, their cups are made from nickel-plated steel for increased durability and reduced chatter during sounds playback. Package with Philips SHE5305 contains : 3 ears-tips pairs of different sizes ( large, medium and small ), warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great for internal ones : they have wide range of reproducible sounds frequencies, built in microphone and smartphones control button, as well as high sensitivity. They are oriented more on sportive exercises and trainings, as well as every day compact use. There is ability to anticipate, that Philips will not set high price on its device and it can be recommended for purchase in time of appearance in the shops. There is also need to note, that, if there is need in high sound quality, especially in basses area, over compactness, then it is better to buy 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones with approximately the same price, instead of in-ears ones.

Philips – is a company, which were founded in Dutch in 1891 year; now it has 3 large subdivisions, which develop and produce : consumer electronics, medical equipment and lighting devices. At current moment this is one of the largest companies – producers of electronics, in which around 105000 people work in 60 countries of the world. In electronics area it produces wide range of devices : from kitchen appliances to headphones and smartphones. Philips is notable for producing quality devices, providing proper technical information about them without using of large amounts of psychological marketing and for setting of optimal prices for its goods.

One of the novelties among monitor headphones is an AKG K52 – 40 mm device with 110 dB sensitivity, 18 Hz – 20 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction support, 32 Ohms impedance, closed acoustic architecture and price around 50 USD. Their maximal input power is 200 mW, mass is 200 g; cable with length 2.5 m is attached to only one cup, it is not removable and connects to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector; headphones are not foldable and are supplied only in matte black color variant. Earpads are made from leatherette.

Package contains : AKG K52 headphones themselves, adapter to 1/4″ jack connector, warranty card and user’s guide. All in all, headphones are good, they have high sensitivity, wide reproducible sounds frequencies range and large enough membranes. From one side their price is not too high; from the other : there is ability to buy cheaper 40 mm monitor headphones with the same or even better characteristics or for approximately the same price 50 mm monitor headphones with better basses reproduction. So, to buy or not to buy there is need to decide by accordance of technical characteristics of these headphones to tasks, that they’ll handle, and by availability of discount in the shops.

Company Philips brings mirth again with its novelties in monitor headphones area and releases 40 mm device FX3BK with closed acoustic architecture, 8 Hz – 23 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction support, neodymium magnets and 102 dB sensitivity. Their impedance is 32 Ohms, maximal input power is 40 mW and mass is 154 g. Cable with 1.2 m length is connected to both cups and is plugged to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack gold-plated connector. Device’s sizes are 185 ( height ) x 173 ( width ) x 40 ( depth ) mm, they can be folded for more compact carrying and storage.

Package with headphones Philips FX3BK contains : warranty card and user’s guide; they are supplied only in black color variant. Headphones are great : they have wide reproducible sounds frequencies range, neodymium magnets, large membranes and good other characteristics; there is ability to anticipate, that Philips will not set high price on them and they can be recommended for purchase. There is also need to note, that there are 50 mm monitor headphones, providing better basses reproduction quality, with acceptable price.

Lets look today in audio part on 32 mm monitor headphones Philips SHL3065 with microphone, closed acoustic system, 10 Hz – 22 kHz sounds frequencies reproduction support, 106 dB sensitivity and neodymium magnets. Their impedance is 24 Ohms, maximal input power is 1000 mW and mass is 125 g. Cable is attached to both cups and has 1.2 m length, in its volume control module microphone and smartphones call answer button are built-in, it is connected to sound source via 1/8″ mini jack connector. Headband is adjustable and cups has soft cushions for comfortable wearing over long time. With Philips SHL3065 package contains : warranty card and user’s guide. Headphones are great, they have high technical characteristics, microphone and smartphones control button; probably, Philips will not set high price on them, so they can be recommended for purchase, when there is need in compactness and lightness with high-enough sound quality. However, when sound quality is main selection criterion, then there is ability to look on 40 or 50 mm monitor headphones.