earphones

Headphones are a pair of small loudspeaker drivers worn on or around the head over a user's ears. They are electroacoustic transducers, which convert an electrical signal to a corresponding sound. Headphones let a single user listen to an audio source privately, in contrast to a loudspeaker, which emits sound into the open air for anyone nearby to hear. Headphones are also known as earphones or, colloquially, cans. Circumaural ('around the ear') and supra-aural ('over the ear') headphones use a band over the top of the head to hold the speakers in place. Another type, known as earbuds or earpieces consist of individual units that plug into the user's ear canal. A third type are bone conduction headphones, which typically wrap around the back of the head and rest in front of the ear canal, leaving the ear canal open. In the context of telecommunication, a headset is a combination of headphone and microphone.
Headphones connect to a signal source such as an audio amplifier, radio, CD player, portable media player, mobile phone, video game console, or electronic musical instrument, either directly using a cord, or using wireless technology such as Bluetooth, DECT or FM radio. The first headphones were developed in the late 19th century for use by telephone operators, to keep their hands free. Initially the audio quality was mediocre and a step forward was the invention of high fidelity headphones.Headphones exhibit a range of different audio reproduction quality capabilities. Headsets designed for telephone use typically cannot reproduce sound with the high fidelity of expensive units designed for music listening by audiophiles. Headphones that use cables typically have either a 1⁄4 inch (6.4 mm) or 1⁄8 inch (3.2 mm) phone jack for plugging the headphones into the audio source. Some stereo earbuds are wireless, using Bluetooth connectivity to transmit the audio signal by radio waves from source devices like cellphones and digital players. As a result of the Walkman effect, beginning in the 1980s, headphones started to be used in public places such as sidewalks, grocery stores, and public transit. Headphones are also used by people in various professional contexts, such as audio engineers mixing sound for live concerts or sound recordings and DJs, who use headphones to cue up the next song without the audience hearing, aircraft pilots and call center employees. The latter two types of employees use headphones with an integrated microphone.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  • 400

    Stuart Wright

    AVForums Founder From Birmingham, UK
    • Messages
      17,040
    • Solutions
      1
    • Reactions
      14,015
    • Points
      7,651
  • 3

    Tony Roma

    Prominent Member From Essex
    • Messages
      2,321
    • Reactions
      66
    • Points
      637
  • 2

    Joe Pineapples

    Distinguished Member From Doncaster
    • Messages
      8,929
    • Reactions
      2,222
    • Points
      2,264
  • 2

    Ed Selley

    Hi-Fi Editor 43
    • Messages
      12,046
    • Reactions
      5,496
    • Points
      3,077
  • 2

    harry66

    Prominent Member From Ilford
    • Messages
      1,730
    • Reactions
      99
    • Points
      436
  • 2

    brad123

    Distinguished Member From Yorkshire
    • Messages
      6,397
    • Reactions
      278
    • Points
      2,019
  • 1

    Garioch

    Prominent Member From Scotland
    • Messages
      1,892
    • Reactions
      2,916
    • Points
      916
  • 1

    Dean

    Prominent Member From London
    • Messages
      3,423
    • Reactions
      690
    • Points
      751
  • 1

    booyaka

    Moderator From .
    • Messages
      14,162
    • Reactions
      6,298
    • Points
      3,041
  • 1

    Eagle1UK

    Established Member
    • Messages
      531
    • Reactions
      24
    • Points
      140
  • 1

    Thug

    Moderator From Middlesbrough
    • Messages
      11,274
    • Reactions
      8,556
    • Points
      3,477
  • 1

    steve1

    Prominent Member From maidstone
    • Messages
      1,520
    • Reactions
      75
    • Points
      356
  • 1

    Scampa

    Established Member From Midlands
    • Messages
      151
    • Reactions
      9
    • Points
      37
  • 1

    smallangryboy

    Prominent Member 51
    • Messages
      2,235
    • Reactions
      99
    • Points
      616
  • 1

    nix

    Prominent Member
    • Messages
      2,632
    • Reactions
      235
    • Points
      504
  • 1

    richard plumb

    Distinguished Member From Windsor
    • Messages
      14,789
    • Reactions
      1,109
    • Points
      2,826
  • 1

    AMc

    Distinguished Member From Near Norwich
    • Messages
      9,726
    • Reactions
      5,873
    • Points
      2,579
  • 1

    845H

    Prominent Member 43 From London
    • Messages
      4,130
    • Reactions
      1,148
    • Points
      856
  • 1

    m00zza

    Prominent Member
    • Messages
      4,636
    • Reactions
      350
    • Points
      808
  • 1

    Doctor_AB

    Prominent Member From Buckinghamshire
    • Messages
      2,734
    • Reactions
      96
    • Points
      480
  • Back
    Top Bottom