anythignbutipad
Go Back   abi>>forums > General Audio > Headphones

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-09-2007, 10:45 AM
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander's Avatar
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander is offline
Ultra Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 1,297
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander has a spectacular aura about
Default Dynamic Drivers & Balanced Armature Drivers

Here is some information on the differences between the dynamic and armature drivers used in headphones. Feel free to add any extra information you might have.

In all speakers there is a U-shaped permanent magnet, which produces a constant magnetic field between its two poles. Between these two poles is located a coil, which doesn't touch the magnet. When an electric current is placed into the coil it creates another magnetic field around the coil. Since these two magnetic fields are sharing the same space and the current which causes a temporary field to be established is constantly changing, so to will the temporary magnetic field. This will result in a force which will cause anything which isn’t held in place to vibrate.

Dynamic Driver:
The part of a dynamic driver which is not in a fixed position is the coil itself. It is held by a flexible support so the vibrations it carries are transferred directly into a diaphragm (very basically put, a thin disc) from where the circumference of the coil’s end makes contact. The diaphragm carries the vibrations over a greater surface area so that the sound which is passed into the air in front of the diaphragm has enough amplification.



Balanced Armature Driver:
Unlike the above arrangement, the coil does have a fixed position in a balanced armature driver. Instead a long arm, the armature, is placed through the centre of the coil, but does not come in contact with it. The arm is only held in place in its centre, so it can still move and become the source of the driver’s vibration. As the diagram shows, one end of the armature is connected to a small connecting rod (also called a drive rod, or drive pin) which carries the vibration to the very centre of the diaphragm. Once again the diaphragm in turn passes the sound ahead with a sufficient sound pressure level.

(Balanced Armature Driver from Crystal Radio)


Keep in mind that, as dfkt says, there is no "better" headphone technology. These two different methods of driver technology both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Last edited by WalkGood; 05-14-2009 at 09:00 PM.
Reply With Quote

 
  #2  
Old 03-09-2007, 11:01 AM
dfkt's Avatar
dfkt dfkt is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vienna, Austria
Posts: 10,439
dfkt has disabled reputation
Classified Rating: 100% (4)
Default

Excellent summarization, Zeddicus!

Dynamic Driver IEMs: Sennheiser CX300, Creative EP-630, V-Moda Vibe, Shure E2c, Future Sonics, UE Metro.Fi 2, Sony EX51/71, ...

Balanced Armature IEMs: Etymotic, Shure E3-E500, Ultimate Ears, Westone, Sensaphonics, ACS, ...

Hybrid IEM: Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 EB (dynamic driver for bass, armature for mids/treble)
__________________
Please don't PM me with questions that can be answered in a forum thread.
My Gear and Reviews | Last.fm | IRC: #AnythingButiPod on Freenode | Eliminate DRM
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-09-2007, 11:01 AM
JDGAFFLIN JDGAFFLIN is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 877
JDGAFFLIN is a jewel in the rough
Default

Wow. Great, informative post. Good stuff.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-09-2007, 12:50 PM
Andreas's Avatar
Andreas Andreas is offline
Associate Editor
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Norway
Posts: 2,161
Andreas has disabled reputation
Default

nice job
__________________
http://andreasodegard.com/
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 04-03-2007, 01:48 PM
dfkt's Avatar
dfkt dfkt is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vienna, Austria
Posts: 10,439
dfkt has disabled reputation
Classified Rating: 100% (4)
Default

Here's an excellent thread with images of dozens of headphone drivers: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=204406
__________________
Please don't PM me with questions that can be answered in a forum thread.
My Gear and Reviews | Last.fm | IRC: #AnythingButiPod on Freenode | Eliminate DRM
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-06-2007, 02:49 PM
Assassassin's Avatar
Assassassin Assassassin is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: That one place...
Posts: 404
Assassassin is on a distinguished road
Default

So which driver is better overall?
__________________
ALPHA KENNY BODY
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 07-06-2007, 04:21 PM
dfkt's Avatar
dfkt dfkt is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vienna, Austria
Posts: 10,439
dfkt has disabled reputation
Classified Rating: 100% (4)
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Assassassin View Post
So which driver is better overall?
For me - dynamic drivers sound more pleasing, as of now. Future Sonics Atrio, CrossRoads MylarOne, V-Moda Vibe... for me they're all more fun to listen to than any of the balanced armature IEMs I've heard until now. Others prefer balanced armatures cause of their clarity and precision. YMMV.
__________________
Please don't PM me with questions that can be answered in a forum thread.
My Gear and Reviews | Last.fm | IRC: #AnythingButiPod on Freenode | Eliminate DRM
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 11-17-2007, 01:47 PM
dfkt's Avatar
dfkt dfkt is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Vienna, Austria
Posts: 10,439
dfkt has disabled reputation
Classified Rating: 100% (4)
Default

Here's some more good info about balanced armatures: http://www.sonion.com/RandD/Technolo...0Armature.aspx
__________________
Please don't PM me with questions that can be answered in a forum thread.
My Gear and Reviews | Last.fm | IRC: #AnythingButiPod on Freenode | Eliminate DRM
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 11-18-2007, 07:10 AM
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander's Avatar
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander is offline
Ultra Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Perth, Australia
Posts: 1,297
Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander has a spectacular aura about
Default

Wow, that design (in the link above) is really clever, good info too. Since I wrote on the balanced armature driver, Wikipedia actually has a decent description and a few diagrams too.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-19-2009, 10:23 PM
fmwyso's Avatar
fmwyso fmwyso is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 105
fmwyso is an unknown quantity at this point
Default

Is there a list where I can find out what my specific earphone has? Seems like something interesting to understand and know about them...

If there isn't, does anyone happen to know which Phonak PFE's use?
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-19-2009, 10:29 PM
skip252 skip252 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Chicago
Posts: 439
skip252 is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by fmwyso View Post
Is there a list where I can find out what my specific earphone has? Seems like something interesting to understand and know about them...

If there isn't, does anyone happen to know which Phonak PFE's use?
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archi...one-review.php
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:11 AM.