Indulge in the "burning" headphones guide

Faced with a variety of earphones: ear, earplugs and headwear; moving coils, moving iron and electrostatic type; domestic, Japanese and European and American how do we choose? In this issue, we invited the editor of ZOL Digital Audio Division Wang Lelai and Let's talk.

From Edison to HiFi

Edison's invention of the phonograph made people enter the era of music recording. This antique set player and amplifier is the same, giving people the opportunity to cherish music outside the original sound, while also enjoying music at home. The other side of the brutal war is always With the stimulation and birth of new technology. World War II promoted the decomposition of players, amplifiers, speakers, headphones and other products. The earphones were originally military items used in the Second World War, and gradually evolved into mass consumer goods. Now, the headphones have been accompanied. We have been through a century.

Speaking of headphones, it is impossible to avoid the world's first dynamic headphone DT48 manufactured by Beyerdynamic in 1937. This is a milestone in the history of headphones. The high resolution and broadband of Baia headphones The band made the German intelligence department in wartime monitor a lot of valuable information. In the 1980s, Akio Morita led Sony and launched a young and fashionable Walkman (playman) to create a headphone culture. Since then, carry on Listening to the world, until the birth and rapid iteration of Apple's iPod and iTunes in 2001. The birth of the iPod was a sensation. In the next seven years, the sales volume exceeded 100 million, and the "halo effect" produced by it once promoted Mac. The popularity of the computer. And Wang Le believes that Apple's music route has always been more in line with the rules, the iPod mainly increases capacity each year, and there is no substantial breakthrough.

Currently on the market, the HiFi headphones that consumers are familiar with are Beyerdynamic, AKG, Sennheiser, and Grado, which are also called "Four Great Kings" in headphones. (Note: HiFi, Abbreviation for High Fidelity, meaning high fidelity.)

Once, the Walkman and Apple White Headphones on the street were once the representatives of fashion pioneers. Now, the HiFi enthusiasts who really pay attention to the original sound reproduction have become more and more. Although HiFi enthusiasts still seem to be a high-profile group, This group of headphones enthusiasts are really "burning" headphones.

One into the earphones is like the sea

Those who "burn" HiFi headphones to a certain level of friends, in Wang Le's eyes, are a group of crazy enthusiasts who are faced with expensive headphones and their heads are shivering. They are very different from ordinary headphones consumers. There is a HiFi headset legend that has to be said. It is an electrostatic headset produced by STAX in Japan. The mass production is 10 pairs a month, the price of headphones is 20,000, and the amp is 10,000. The maintenance of this headset is very complicated. It will be damaged when it changes to a humid environment.

"This is the legend of electrostatic headphones. In the 1980s, STAX made 300 sets, and now engineers have passed away." Wang Le said, "This headset can be repaired if it is broken, but if you buy it, it must be second-hand." Focus on music products In eight years, Wang Le said that his most impressed story is that he once interviewed STAX's big boss. He said that it is a stubborn "old antique". He has never left Japan. Ask him why, he said He didn't make a headset product and didn't go out of Japan. This kind of dedication to the design process and perfectionism made him feel shocked, and this demanding technical requirement made HiFi headphones bring excellent music enjoyment to enthusiasts. For the headset "small white", it may not be able to distinguish between the high-fidelity HiFi headset and the mobile phone delivery headset or the hundred-yuan headset. Their sound quality is really different. Wang Le said that after these people have experienced thousands of dollars or even Ten thousand yuan of HiFi headphones, and then want to go back to the original low-quality headphones, you may not be able to go back. He said that it is like "by breaking into luxury, but by luxury." Then once tried HiFi Headphones, is it fashionable to say: a HiFi deep like the sea, from this accessory Is it a passerby?

To really measure the HiFi level of a headset, it needs to be judged from subjective listening evaluation and objective test. Some enthusiasts spend a lot of money to buy HiFi headphones and listen to them, but they feel that they are worth the money, and some even say that The effect of HiFi headphones is as indecisive as metaphysics.

Wang Le believes that the current HiFi headset concept is too powerful. For subjective evaluation, different people may have contradictions in audition, the sound quality and personal preference are different, and the evaluation will be different. However, if you want to really judge HiFi headphones, In fact, it is possible to judge good and bad through objective tests. The HiFi-burning partners are usually obsessed with the high-reduction sound brought by the HiFi headphones, so they enter a state of extremes. "They may be because of a small one in the music. If you are dissatisfied with small details, you will change a line. Although the materials are different, the impedance and density are different, which will change the music. However, ordinary people can’t really hear it. "This headset is like a sea, not to say The small partners will spend a lot of money on the headphones, but once they enter the world of HiFi: "Headphones only account for 20% of the cost, other accessories will account for up to 80%", Wang Leru said.

Indulgence music guide

What is the real difference between headset enthusiasts and ordinary consumers? Wang Le said that in fact, it is to look at the price of the purchased headphones. The better the overall performance of the sound quality, the more expensive the headphones are. For different sound quality, tone and sound effects, consumers can There are different choices. From the perspective of manufacturers, the technical content of earphone products in Europe, America and Japan is relatively high. Consumers can choose according to their preferences: Japanese technology is relatively more advanced, including technologies such as bimodal and diaphragm; Fashion brands with a sense of charm have accumulated a long time. From the perspective of music style, Europe and the United States are biased to the bass, more lazy, self-enjoyed, and workmanship is rough; while Japanese is biased towards medium and high frequency, beautiful style, delicate workmanship, such as Liang Jingru Panasonic HTX7, Chen Hao's white iron triangle.

Questioned domestic goods and Beats

Said a lot of European and American and Japanese headphones, then how about domestic headphones? In the past five years, a number of niche headset manufacturers have emerged in China, but their roads have not gone smoothly." Domestic brands have entered a stage of rapid development in recent years. However, because the domestic headphones are not accumulated enough, the Chinese people have the characteristics of worshipping foreign products. They think that domestic headphones are low-quality representatives. "Wang Le said, "In fact, many domestic brands are cost-effective." For example, domestic high-end audio products. The founder of Hifiman, the manufacturer, said: "Our domestic brands have always been in a weak position. The earphone brands including Yuyin, Shengmei and VSONIC are actually doing very well. Some earphones are closer to the foreign brands. The original sound, but only dare to sell less than 300 yuan."

In addition to domestically produced headphones with high cost performance, many other domestic earphone manufacturers are indeed taking a vicious cycle. "They are not willing to invest money to make abrasive tools. The appearance and craftsmanship of the products are poor. After sales, they are even more reluctant to invest. "Wang Le explained. He said: "Domestic brands still have to raise the banner of national brands. Continue to accumulate brand connotations and improve product quality. Although it can not be compared with foreign earphone manufacturers with a history of 890 years, it still needs Continuous accumulation of technology and design process. In short, domestic headphones still have a long way to go.

Also questioned is Apple's bid to buy Beats for $3.2 billion. The reason for this question is that the transaction is due to the slowdown in smartphone growth, the iPhone's share is eroded by Android phones, and Apple is facing a critical moment. At the time. Why is Beats? Wang Le believes that Beats has a high R&D capability. Before Monster was separated from Monster, the products were produced by Monster, marketing and sales were taken by Beats. The acquisition of Beats will give Apple iTunes. Streaming media and sound effects bring power.

"Apple's sound is soft underbelly. For example, jazz, rock, pop, and blues sounds will pop up when they are turned on. Beats' technology will help," he explained. But many consumers report that Beats' sound quality is not good. Think: "Because the sound quality of pop music that domestic people listen to is different from Beats' main bass and hip-hop Hiphop." Although Beats has its own technical reserves, it is ultimately a fashion marketing route, including the world. Recording artists, rappers, DJs and fashion people on the record are more likely to prefer Beats, which is also inseparable from Dr.Dre's network resources and Beats' star effect promotion.