About Balanced Headphone Systems
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The high-end of resolution in audio is best achieved with headphones. Speakers will always image and deliver the physical intensity of sound better; conversely, headphones deliver complete isolation and clarity when listening. With high-end headphones this can be an an intensely immediate experience with the music--and balancing them makes it even better.
In regular headphones, the signal from the amplifier drives one side of the voice coil in the headphone driver; the other side of the coil is connected to ground through the ring of the headphone plug. In balanced headphones, one side of the voice coil is driven by the normal audio signal, and the other side of the coil is driven by a perfectly inverted replica of the normal signal. This requires four signals from the amplifier (L+, L-, R+, R-) and therefore needs a special headphone amplifier with four channels, and a special rewiring of the headphones. Learn more in our Balanced Drive Article Series.
Technically, a number of performance factors are improved (slew rate, linearity, common mode rejection), but the important result is a significant improvement in clarity, coherence, and the ability to hear the sound as more natural.
Our Review Of The Best Balanced Headphones
Because the cost of a balanced headphone system is substantial it doesn't make much sense to run anything but the best headphones in balanced mode. Very conveniently, the Sennheiser HD650 has connectors on the earpieces for the cable, so it is very easy to upgrade these headphones using the Cardas HD650 Balanced Cable. You can also buy the Sennheiser HD650 with Cardas Balanced Cable already attached. These are smooth sounding, laid-back headphones that are a joy to hear and encourage long luxurious listening sessions. A faster, more detailed headphone is the AKG K701, recabled at HeadRoom with Cardas Fat Pipe Balanced Cable. We also balance Denon headphones possessing wonderful bass and treble extension, and a liquid and coherent mid-range. The Denon AH-D7000 is a headphone capable of reaching the lowest lows with tight, controlled bass; the midrange is lush, and the highs are clear and wonderfully smooth. The very highest level of headphone audio performance is achieved with the Sennheiser HD800, which is astonishingly neutral, natural, and provides the best imaging on headphones we've ever heard. The HD800 headphones are balanced by taking the very high quality stock cable and modifying it for balanced operation. We also include an adaptor so they can continue to be used with a regular headphone jack.
A balanced headphone amplifier is required for balanced drive. HeadRoom makes the Balanced Ultra Desktop Amp, a true achievement in audio fidelity. For technical information and diagrams, see the Balanced Drive Article Series.
We've listed our top picks below but you can click here to see all balanced headphones.
