One small step for headphones, one giant leap for audiophiles: why this super-small invention could make your next headphones sound a lot better | Tech Radar
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One small step for headphones, one giant leap for audiophiles: why this super-small invention could make your next headphones sound a lot better
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Knowles has found a way for headphones to use balanced armature drivers
This could let future headphones offer greatly improved sonic qualities
Currently, no headphones offer this tech, only earbuds — but they will
While earbuds makers have been tripping over themselves to bundle more and more drivers in their buds — the Soundpeats H3 have three and they cost less than the Air Pods Pro 3 (which don't have three), while the Status Between 3ANC pictured below sport dual Balanced armature drivers and one 10mm dynamic driver — it's a race that's not yet reached the best headphones.
Hold the phone: it has now reached them, thanks to Knowles' new design. The company, best known for its Balanced Armature (BA) driver because in 1955, Hugh Knowles invented it for the hearing aid market, thinks it's finally ready to revolutionize the headphone game.
Knowles has unveiled a new hybrid design for headphones, which allows its small and light BA drivers to sit alongside the much bigger dynamic drivers typical in over-ear designs. While the dynamic driver would handle the same frequencies as always (typically lower-end ones), the BA driver would add a bit of high-end sparkle.
Basically, headphones might soon sound a lot better, and have a lot more room under the ear cups to add extra features.
At the time of writing, no headphones have been unveiled with this tech, but hopefully, we'll start seeing cans which benefit from it roll out very soon.
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Traditionally, most headphone makers have believed that multi-driver systems in headphones is a bad idea. It's a shame, because in earbuds, each driver can focus on a different range of frequencies, instead of relying on one to do as much as possible. And when done well, (see Campfire Audio's lineup for several gorgeous examples) it can sound utterly sublime.
For a combination of reasons like phase avoidance, complications with spatial audio tuning and ear positioning, most (though not all) headphones have a single driver. It's because the drivers are further from your ears than in buds, where they're up close and personal with your ear canal, which complicates matters.
However, BA drivers are popular for being small and lightweight, so they add some much-needed versatility within the acoustic architecture.
Knowles' design for cans features one dynamic driver with two BA drivers, which sit in front of the dynamic unit, pointed precisely at your ears.
According to Knowles, this is one of the main draws: a hybrid design can be used "without significantly changing industrial designs, comfort, or overall product dimensions". So they won't be heavier than your standard cans — if anything, they might be lighter.
However, reading between the lines, it sounds like a precise fit will be even more important on over-ear headphones with this architecture. I imagine that it rules out the tech being implemented in on-ears, which I've always found to fit quite loosely, and possibly also workout headphones, due to the natural shake of exercises.
Knowles has already put BA drivers in buds from JBL, Status (pictured above this text), JLab, Edifier and Baseus, so these companies may well be the first to take Knowles up on its offering and release over-ears using the tech. But only time will really tell — so for now, we wait.
➡️ Read our full guide to the best noise cancelling headphones
- Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM6
- Best mid-range: Bose Quiet Comfort Headphones
- Best under $100/£100: 1 More Sonoflow Pro HQ51
- Best under $60/£50: Soundcore Q30
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Tom Bedford is a freelance contributor covering tech, entertainment and gaming. Beyond Tech Radar, he has bylines on sites including Games Radar, Digital Trends, Android Police, Tech Advisor, Whatto Watch and BGR. From 2019 to 2022 he was on the Tech Radar team as the staff writer and then deputy editor for the mobile team.
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