本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛HEADPHONE SENSITIVITY MEASURMENTS
Just as with speakers headphones, which are mini speakers have a ‘sensitivity’. A low sensitivity headphone will need more power to drive it to a given level than a high sensitivity headphone. But it is not just about volume. A low sensitivity headphone needs an amp to drive it so as to bring out all of its sound qualities (sound stage, clarity, dynamics, detail etc) to their best level. Not amping a low sensitivity headphone is like putting a Mini engine in a Jaguar. It will still drive, but not the way it was intended. Even high sensitivity phones will benefit from being amped for the same reason, but less so.
If you look at the specifications for headphones you do not find a ‘sensitivity rating’. Instead you get a list which includes ohms and SPL (Sound Pressure Level). Ohms dictates the relationship between resistance, current and voltage. The higher the resistance the more current is needed to overcome that resistance. With headphone specifications the higher the number of ohms the more current the amp needs to provide. In effect it measures the ‘load’ presented to the amp.
However, the ‘sensitivity’ of the headphones is not just down to the ohms. SPL measures the amount of power is needed to drive the headphones to a given volume. According to Sennheiser a difference in SPL of 1db is just about perceptible. Doubling the SPL is equivalent to 6 db. A high SPL means that less power is needed to get to a given volume of sound. In effect it shows how much ‘power’ is needed by the headphones. (Some companies measure SPL in db/mW and others in db/v and I accept at the moment it is not clear who does what and the relation between them)更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
Just as with speakers headphones, which are mini speakers have a ‘sensitivity’. A low sensitivity headphone will need more power to drive it to a given level than a high sensitivity headphone. But it is not just about volume. A low sensitivity headphone needs an amp to drive it so as to bring out all of its sound qualities (sound stage, clarity, dynamics, detail etc) to their best level. Not amping a low sensitivity headphone is like putting a Mini engine in a Jaguar. It will still drive, but not the way it was intended. Even high sensitivity phones will benefit from being amped for the same reason, but less so.
If you look at the specifications for headphones you do not find a ‘sensitivity rating’. Instead you get a list which includes ohms and SPL (Sound Pressure Level). Ohms dictates the relationship between resistance, current and voltage. The higher the resistance the more current is needed to overcome that resistance. With headphone specifications the higher the number of ohms the more current the amp needs to provide. In effect it measures the ‘load’ presented to the amp.
However, the ‘sensitivity’ of the headphones is not just down to the ohms. SPL measures the amount of power is needed to drive the headphones to a given volume. According to Sennheiser a difference in SPL of 1db is just about perceptible. Doubling the SPL is equivalent to 6 db. A high SPL means that less power is needed to get to a given volume of sound. In effect it shows how much ‘power’ is needed by the headphones. (Some companies measure SPL in db/mW and others in db/v and I accept at the moment it is not clear who does what and the relation between them)更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net