[vasyachkin]

most agree that open headphones are more "audiophile" than closed


one obvious explanation is that sealed headphones can have resonances in the chamber that muddy up sound


but i just thought of something else. the extra springiness of the chamber ( versus open can ) requires extra damping from the driver. this may require higher "BL" so to speak. which in turn may require heavier voice coil with resulting higher inductance, distortion and more severe breakup modes ...


i say open headphones make a good case for infinite baffle

 

[Kanaris]

Vasy..... you should change your title from Ubermensch...to The All Knowing Oracle.

 

[kgveteran]

Good grief Charlie Brown, you're the Charlie Browniest

 

[noah katz]

Actually that's an interesting observation.


The closed chamber would require higher BL, however I think that that would be much more than offset by adjustments that could be made because of the much lower excursion required for bass with a sealed design.

 

[tvrgeek]

Hmmmmm. With the exception of the STAX Nearphones, are open back really infinite baffle? What about any loading on their face by your head and ear? Could they be considered single lossey chamber vs double chamber loaded? (Pro-4 aa's) My old YH-1's change drastically depending on if they are sitting well on the ear which would make me think that there is loading from the head side. Ok ok. I know all the ones I mentioned are 30 years old. Physics has not changed. I do like your conclusion for a comparison.

 

[vasyachkin]



Quote:
Originally Posted by noah katz /forum/post/16841535


however I think that that would be much more than offset by adjustments that could be made because of the much lower excursion required for bass with a sealed design.

well doesn't excursion required depend on the earcup seal, not rear chamber ...


of course closed hedphones typically employ a tighter seal as well ( leather vs velour ) but not always.

 

[vasyachkin]



Quote:
Originally Posted by tvrgeek /forum/post/16843109


Hmmmmm. With the exception of the STAX Nearphones, are open back really infinite baffle? What about any loading on their face by your head and ear? Could they be considered single lossey chamber vs double chamber loaded?

well yes there is still the front chamber, but like you said its lossy.


of course you can also add damping to the rear chamber in form of an aperiodic vent and i think most headphones do that.


it can still be a factor though.


and i don't see how stax are any more open baffle than any other open cans like Sennhesier HD600.


by the way i would love to have Stax Omega2 with a Blue Hawaii amp if not for sound then just for the sheer awesomeness factor

\\


check out the monstrosity of a power supply in this headphone amplifier:

http://www.headamp.com/electrostat_amps/bhse/index.htm

 

[noah katz]

"well doesn't excursion required depend on the earcup seal, not rear chamber ..."


I took closed chamber to mean that it's sealed.

 

[tvrgeek]



Quote:
Originally Posted by vasyachkin /forum/post/16843320


well yes there is still the front chamber, but like you said its lossy.


of course you can also add damping to the rear chamber in form of an aperiodic vent and i think most headphones do that.


it can still be a factor though.


and i don't see how stax are any more open baffle than any other open cans like Sennhesier HD600.


by the way i would love to have Stax Omega2 with a Blue Hawaii amp if not for sound then just for the sheer awesomeness factor

\\


check out the monstrosity of a power supply in this headphone amplifier:

http://www.headamp.com/electrostat_amps/bhse/index.htm

Just the one model . It was a giant box that had a driver perpendicular to the ear. It allowed your outer ear to do it's thing. Before your time. My interest was it was about the cheapest they made, so it was just out of reach.