Top Wireless Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM2
Roskachestvo together with the International Assembly of Organizations for Consumer Testing (ICRT) study of different models of headphones from a variety of price categories. Based on the results of the study, a rating of the best devices that are available to Russian buyers was compiled.
In total, experts studied 93 pairs of wired and 84 pairs of wireless headphones from different brands (while professional studio models were not tested). All models have been tested for parameters such as the quality of the audio signal transmission system, the durability of the headphones, functionality, sound quality and ease of use.
The testing itself was carried out in a leading international laboratory that operates according to the ISO 19025 standard (a quality standard adopted by the International Organization for Standardization).
Specialized equipment was used to evaluate parameters such as the quality of the audio signal transmission system, the strength of the headphones and their functionality. The sound quality and convenience of the device has been tested by experts. Technology is not capable of such an assessment.
Interestingly, some manufacturers of non-professional headphones indicate a very wide range of reproducible frequencies, which, firstly, does not always make sense, and secondly, it often does not correspond to reality.
βHuman hearing is arranged in such a way that it perceives sounds with a frequency of approximately 20 to 20000 Hz. Everything below 20Hz (infrasound) and everything above 20000Hz (ultrasound) is not perceived by the human ear. Therefore, it is not very clear when the manufacturer of household (non-professional) headphones writes in the technical description that they reproduce frequencies in the range of 10 - 30000Hz. Perhaps he is counting on buyers not only of earthly origin. In fact, it often turns out that the declared characteristics are very far from the real ones, βsaid Daniil Meyerzon, chief sound engineer of the Govorit Moskva radio station.
He also believes that when choosing headphones, you need to check the sound quality of your favorite music in a particular model. The fact is that someone likes basses, and someone, on the contrary, does not like them. Preferences are always very individual, the sound in the same headphones is perceived differently by different people.
Music creators, performers, music teachers were invited as specialists. All invitees are of different ages and with different musical preferences. The tests were carried out by listening to seven musical sets in each pair of headphones: classical, jazz, pop, rock, electronic music, as well as speech and pink noise (the spectral density of such a signal is inversely proportional to frequency, it can be detected, for example, in heart rhythms, in almost any electronic devices, as well as in most genres of music).
As for checking various characteristics, a special device for measuring amplitude-frequency characteristics and sensitivity in electroacoustics, audiometry and other similar fields was used to evaluate the quality of sound transmission. This device is often referred to as an artificial ear. With its help, experts evaluate the level of acoustic leakage. This indicator helps to understand whether the device "holds" the sound well. For example, with a large leak, the music played in the headphones is audible to others, plus the bass is distorted.
And such an indicator as functionality included a test of ease of use - for example, whether the headphones fold easily, how easy or difficult it is to determine where the earpiece is for the left ear, and where - for the right, whether a case or case is included in the kit, whether there are built-in buttons for receiving calls and controlling music playback, etc.
Another important parameter is the safety of using headphones. At the same time, experts warn that now the number of people who suffer from sensorineural hearing loss has increased dramatically. One of the reasons for the violation is listening to loud music in headphones.
Well, the participants determined the best wired headphones in terms of sound quality
Sennheiser HD 630VB, wireless - Sony WH-1000XM2, Sennheiser RS175, Sennheiser RS ββ165.
The top 5 wireless models that took the lead in all assessed indicators are:
- SonyWH-1000XM2;
- Sony WH-H900N hear on 2 Wireless NC;
- Sony MDR-100ABN;
- Sennheiser RS ββ175;
- Sennheiser RS ββ165.
Three of the best wired:
- Sennheiser HD 630VB (maximum score for sound quality);
- Bose SoundSport (ios);
- Sennheiser Urbanite I XL.
Experts from Roskachestvo also recommended listening to music with headphones for no more than three hours a day and no more than two hours in a row, and not at maximum volume. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the ear and loss of hearing sensitivity.
Source: habr.com