SPL and Power handling value of headphone drivers?
Hello,
I am in talks with a chinese company for supplying 40mm headphone drivers.
That person becomes so restless when I say to him that I require drivers capable of handling 1000mW rms power. He says there is no driver in the industry used for headphones which requires anything more than 20mW.
He even rejected 100mW, saying that would be going overkill and it will actually harm the listener.
But if you see many professional headphones, their specs state that the drivers can handle even above 2000mW. That is the max power, I understand. But if going by the AES specification, for average to peak power there is a difference of 6dB in power. That is, the ratio is 4:1. So the average should be for those professional headphones 500mW. Isnt it?
So is that supplier unaware of high quality drivers or just being "neglectant", if i put it that way, about specifications?
Thanks.
Hello,
I am in talks with a chinese company for supplying 40mm headphone drivers.
That person becomes so restless when I say to him that I require drivers capable of handling 1000mW rms power. He says there is no driver in the industry used for headphones which requires anything more than 20mW.
He even rejected 100mW, saying that would be going overkill and it will actually harm the listener.
But if you see many professional headphones, their specs state that the drivers can handle even above 2000mW. That is the max power, I understand. But if going by the AES specification, for average to peak power there is a difference of 6dB in power. That is, the ratio is 4:1. So the average should be for those professional headphones 500mW. Isnt it?
So is that supplier unaware of high quality drivers or just being "neglectant", if i put it that way, about specifications?
Thanks.
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power handling as in putting out sound without bottoming against the magnet structure
or max that won't melt the glue, warp the coil?
most critical specs are sensitivity/efficiency - how much SPL do you get with what power
specing a Z compatible with expected use: ~ 1 Vrms from portable players or is your market for systems with desktop amps with more V - use higher Z
then add some margin for robustness/idiot proofing
or max that won't melt the glue, warp the coil?
most critical specs are sensitivity/efficiency - how much SPL do you get with what power
specing a Z compatible with expected use: ~ 1 Vrms from portable players or is your market for systems with desktop amps with more V - use higher Z
then add some margin for robustness/idiot proofing
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So with a 16 or 32 ohm driver, what is the maximum rms power possible. And the maximum input power?
Be glad you found a honest supplier.
He might have "agreed" , cashed your money, and printed a nice "1000mW MAX Powel" on the phones.
Like those "200W Max" PC speakers, with a 2" transparent plastic speaker, fed 5V (USB) and run by an LM386 😉
EDIT: doing the Math: 1V RMS into 32 ohms (typical headphone impedance): 1/32=31 mW .
FWIW typical cheap single battery powered MP3 player output: 200mV RMS so actual power: 1.25 mW
No doubt the Chinese gentleman was so upset with your specs.
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most DAP today use 3.6 V LiIon battery and can put out ~ 1 Vrms audio
which may explain some headphone manu now using dB re 1 Vrms instead of the older 1 mW reference standard - now you may have a research project to determine which is being used in a headphone spec since the marketing spec sheet writers don't know to put in the reference level
EU types may have to defeat the nanny state output limits in their player's software
200mV may be from onstage iem FM receiver amps with older ~1.2 V primary cells
which may explain some headphone manu now using dB re 1 Vrms instead of the older 1 mW reference standard - now you may have a research project to determine which is being used in a headphone spec since the marketing spec sheet writers don't know to put in the reference level
EU types may have to defeat the nanny state output limits in their player's software
200mV may be from onstage iem FM receiver amps with older ~1.2 V primary cells
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I found a sony headphone with maximum power handling to be 1000mW
Type-- Closed, dynamic (supra-aural)
Driver Unit-- 40mm, Dome type
Sensitivity-- 105dB/mW
Power Handling Capacity-- 1,000mW (IEC)
Impedance -- 40ohms at 1kHz
Frequency Response-- 5-25,000 Hz
Magnet-- Neodymium
Type-- Closed, dynamic (supra-aural)
Driver Unit-- 40mm, Dome type
Sensitivity-- 105dB/mW
Power Handling Capacity-- 1,000mW (IEC)
Impedance -- 40ohms at 1kHz
Frequency Response-- 5-25,000 Hz
Magnet-- Neodymium
The following driver has peak power rating of 2W:
K 36 WP - 8 Ohm
Although it is specified as an outdoor speaker, its construction is very similar to the typical headphone drivers. I tried it in a headphone and it sounds nice.
K 36 WP - 8 Ohm
Although it is specified as an outdoor speaker, its construction is very similar to the typical headphone drivers. I tried it in a headphone and it sounds nice.
Resonance is rather high though, so I guess it only works out well in a closed headphone, right?
Hi,
Which would mean they are capable of 135dB.
15dB more than the threshold of pain.
Clearly utter nonsense in any sense.
rgds, sreten.
It seems like we are not taking power compression into consideration.
Straight calculations of maximum spl should be derated at least 6 dB for speakers; more is probably closer to reality.
I don't know how much headphone drivers should be derated. I would assume that it is more than 0 dB. So it makes sense to choose drivers capable of 115 db + spl sustained for ultimate dynamic response; just don't listen that loud!
The human ear can withstand very brief transients up to about the threshold of pain, without long term hearing damage. Average spl of around 105-110 dB (not transients) will damage hearing over time; not to mention that your ears will compress the spl in short order and your perceived spl will be less (but not the damage).
My assertions are approximate and should be taken with a grain of salt. My personal experience is that my hearing is noticeably degraded over the last few decades.
Listen at your own risk.
Straight calculations of maximum spl should be derated at least 6 dB for speakers; more is probably closer to reality.
I don't know how much headphone drivers should be derated. I would assume that it is more than 0 dB. So it makes sense to choose drivers capable of 115 db + spl sustained for ultimate dynamic response; just don't listen that loud!
The human ear can withstand very brief transients up to about the threshold of pain, without long term hearing damage. Average spl of around 105-110 dB (not transients) will damage hearing over time; not to mention that your ears will compress the spl in short order and your perceived spl will be less (but not the damage).
My assertions are approximate and should be taken with a grain of salt. My personal experience is that my hearing is noticeably degraded over the last few decades.
Listen at your own risk.
Power compression in speakers comes from very hot voice coils increasing copper wire resistance and is a factor in big (PA/MI/DJ) speakers run continuously at highest power possible.
Don't think it's an appreciable factor in headphones.
If anything, the main problem with 135dB capable headphones would be brain liquidification.
Don't think it's an appreciable factor in headphones.
If anything, the main problem with 135dB capable headphones would be brain liquidification.
Okay then. Along with the power handling capacity, the optimum which can be considered as 20mW rms, what SPL can be considered as "perfect"(for 16 or 32 Ohm). That is something between adequate and abundant. Obviously having a near linear response.
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