Tag: Electronics

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.