Rating of the best reinforcing headphones for 2022

Headphones are usually chosen for their appearance, price and sound quality. Everyone has their own selection criteria. Some wear headphones as an accessory, others use them as a working tool in sound recording. But everyone comes to the conclusion: it is difficult to enjoy music, an audiobook, game accompaniment without good sound. In this article, we will define what reinforcing headphones are, what they are, find out their advantages and disadvantages, compare current models for 2022 and the average price.

What are armature headphones?

To understand what place in the hierarchy the reinforcing headphones occupy, let's denote the most common types. There are differences in many ways: open and closed, overhead and in-channel, wired, wireless and others. They do not directly affect the sound quality. It depends on such a detail as the emitter. This is what is found in all headphones, what makes the sound good or not so good. According to the type of emitter, headphones are divided into:

• dynamic;
• reinforcing;
• hybrid (or rebar-dynamic);
• electrostatic;
• electret.

Each of the types has a different type of radiator and, therefore, a special sound. If they are in-ear, that is, they are placed in the ear canal, like earplugs, then there is protection from external noise. When the question arises which headphones to buy, the choice often falls on reinforcing or dynamic.

Dynamic models are popular. This type of driver is used not only in headphones, but also in acoustic systems. They are able to maintain a high sound level, so they are bought by lovers of “make it louder”.

Dynamic "ears" are the entrance to the world of in-ear headphones, which everyone starts with. Then experiment with other types. As a rule, this is the purchase of reinforcing or hybrid headphones. Other species are not particularly popular due to their cost.

“Armature” is bought by people who want clarity of sound and detail. They have a Russian name - headphones with a balanced anchor. They began to call them reinforcing, inspired by the English version balanced armature, namely the second word, which looks like “armature”. If translated correctly, then armature is "anchor". Therefore, the Russian version of the name reflects the essence more, but is used less often - it did not take root.

How did it all start?

It all started about 100 years ago. When reinforcing radiators began to be included in the design of hearing aids, since their advantage is sensitivity and sound amplification. Ear plugs were custom made. Later, custom headphones began to be made according to this principle.

In the 1940s, the armature emitter was introduced into military telephones. The volume of such phones was higher than usual by 20-40%. This simplified negotiations during the fighting, where the noise level went off scale.

Armature headphones, in their usual form, began to be produced in 1987. And only in 1995 they became available to a wide audience. They were bought by everyone - from audiophiles to the stars of the world stage. Musicians began to call them monitors, because they “monitored” the sound on stage with their help.

Peculiarities

At concerts, you can see that all the musicians perform in headphones. What do they hear there? For example, a guitarist hears himself, that is, what he plays, and bandmates. In sum, they hear the song they are playing and a little louder their part. We will not analyze how exactly this is configured. These are subtleties. In general, they have a choice: to hear through headphones or through stage monitors (similar to large speakers). In the second case, the sound is scattered and it is difficult for the musician to hear himself. Headphones make every part clear, there is no “porridge”.

They love armature and buy it for live performances in public. She does not embellish the picture, but shows the sound as it is, close to reality.High and medium frequencies are well developed, low ones are less pronounced. Because of this, the bass is not boomy, but clear and articulate.

It's clear with musicians. But why do regular music lovers buy armatures? To hear the true sound of the song that was intended. For example, in the reviews they write that dynamic ones embellish it a little. Reinforcing opposite - minimally change the sound, work without acoustic distortion. This is how rebar differs from dynamic models. So you can check how well the song is recorded.

The sound depends on how the manufacturer sets up the emitter.

Flaws

Reinforcing headphones are more fragile than dynamic ones. They withstand overload worse, since the coils are small, they burn out faster. Also, the armature is not as loud as dynamic headphones. More expensive than dynamic, but cheaper than electrostatic. For some, the minus is unexpressed low frequencies. This is typical of inexpensive headphones that have only one driver.

Rating of budget reinforcing headphones

Sodo SD-1005

Price – 1 030 ₽

SODO SD-1005 are large size wireless headphones. Comfortable fit provides a soft headband. The case is made of aluminum alloy, leather and ABS plastic. On a single charge, the headphones work for 12 hours.

• comfortable fit;
• Bluetooth 5.0;
• built-in radio;
• price.

• not noticed.

Fischer Audio SBA-03

Price — 3 350 ₽

Buy a budget option up to 5 thousand is real. These are Russian-made reinforcing headphones with one driver.

Designed in classic black. Compared to competitors, this is a miniature model. This ensures a comfortable fit for any type of ear.The set includes 3 pairs of silicone tips, a case and a cable cover. The cable cannot be changed.

Inexpensive reinforcing headphones have 2 extremes: bass hitting the ears, or vice versa - pronounced upper and middle frequencies, that is, lack of saturation. The sound of the Model SBA-03 is balanced, with detail, and copes well with the mids. There is a characteristic clarity: the bass is quite articulated. According to buyers, there is one drawback - microphone noise.

Headphones are suitable for listening to music at home, in the office or public transport. The sound will not disturb others.

• compactness;
• comfortable fit;
• price.

• non-removable and not strong enough cable;
• limited frequency range.

Knowledge Zenith BA10

Price – 3 990 ₽

Knowledge Zenith are good in everything - they produce headphones of any price category, simple in design and multi-driver. The headphones reach the buyer in a classic black cardboard box. The body of the wired Knowledge Zenith BA10 is made of metal and decorated in red and gold. The unusual cubic shape is also striking.

Bass lacks low frequencies and density, although it is articulated. The mids sound standard, as expected from reinforcing headphones. The upper middle stands out in places. In the high range, the sound is not always satisfying - it is "loud" and cuts the ear, but if you cut the top with an equalizer, the desired balance will appear.
The set is modest - a braided cable, 2 pairs of silicone ear tips, instructions and quality control cards.

• detachable cable;
• stylish design.

• uncomfortable fit due to the angular shape;
• pronounced high frequencies.

Rating of the best reinforcing Bluetooth headphones

Mifo O5 Pro

Price – 6 320 ₽

This model is from China. Wireless headphones are in a metal box in red or gray with a magnetic clasp and the Mifo logo. The brand positions its headphones as comfortable for sports, as they do not fall out of the ears during active movements. In addition, the Mifo O5 Pro model is suitable for working with sound.

Headphones are made of 2 materials: metal on the outside, black plastic on the inside. You can distinguish what kind of earpiece it is - left or right - by the blue and red frames, respectively. The case has a built-in indicator that shows how much charge is left. This is signaled by different colors: green - maximum, red - almost discharged, white - half charged.

One case charge gives 100 hours. This is enough for 15 headphone recharges. On a single charge, the headphones work for 6 hours. The set comes with a USB cable and 6 pairs of ear tips of different sizes, so that everyone can choose the ones that are comfortable for themselves.

• wireless connection;
• Each headphone has 2 volume controls;
• charge status indicator;
• smooth frequency and amplitude;
• HI-FI quality.

• not noticed.

AC Robin Echo

Price – 6 590 ₽

AC Robin Echo are lightweight portable Bluetooth headphones. There is a similarity with Mifo O5 Pro in terms of characteristics and functionality. The case is made of aluminum and is charged via micro USB. A fully charged case is enough for 15 recharging of the headphones. This is a model for a phone with a manual volume control function through the buttons on the case. With the help of them, you can not only change the dynamics, but also switch tracks.

The manufacturer's experiments with electronics have affected the sound for the better. You can hear that the emphasis is on high and medium frequencies. But they are balanced so that you can listen at high volume and the quality does not deteriorate, there is no "sand". The blue-red flashing of the LEDs indicates that the device is paired with another.

• 1 charge = 6 hours of operation;
• water protection;
• small size;
• good soundproofing.

• unexpressed bass.

AC Robin Mist

Price — 10 990 ₽

The model is equipped with two emitters. Good signal quality draws you into what is happening, so AC Robin Mist is used for games and watching movies. Detailing the sound immerses you in the atmosphere of the plot. Even at a low volume, the dialogues will be clear - this is a feature of HI-FI.

The operating time is slightly longer than that of other rating models - 8 hours. That's exactly how much one charge is enough. Despite the fact that there is no special noise reduction, the headphones partially isolate from surrounding sounds.

The metal storage box is made in black and is small in size - it fits in a pocket. Management here is atypical and different from other models. One touch - volume control, double - pause and play.

• HI-FI sound;
• Bluetooth 5.0;
• touch control.

• price.

Top 3 models for musicians

Westone UM1

Price – 7 613 ₽

Westone UM1 are legendary armature headphones. First released in 2002 for the professional musician segment. Mid frequencies are the strong point of this model. They are beautifully brought to the fore, slightly out of the mix, which adds detail to the vocals. High - atypical for fittings, there is no usual sonority.This is understandable - only one driver was used in the design to emphasize a certain range.

The kit comes with a 120 cm mini-jack cable and several pairs of foam eartips that straighten in the ear canal and adapt to the individual shape.

• tonal balance;
• passive noise isolation;
• compact.

• plastic case;
• soft highs and bass.

Shure SE425-CL-EFS

Price — 13 990 ₽

Electronics is represented by two reinforcing radiators, which are coordinated with each other through a crossover. The protection of drivers in case of falls and damages is thought over. There are 3 pairs of silicone and foam ear pads to choose from. Thoughtful design and earbuds together provide a high level of noise isolation. The transparent case makes the model an inconspicuous but stylish accessory. The cable is detachable and fits comfortably behind the ears.

The model does not embellish the sound, but, like other fittings, shows naturalness. If the music is recorded poorly and there are flaws, it will be clearly audible. The mids are accentuated.

• built-in shock absorber;
• design;
• soundproofing;
• a lot of baits.

• short-lived wire;
• price.

Campfire Audio Ara

Price – 112 990 ₽

In 2022, Campfire Audio pleased music lovers with several new products. One of them is the Ara model. The design differs from previous generations: the corners of the case are rounded for convenience, now they are not so sharp. The titanium case itself does not allow corrosion processes to occur, it is durable, scratches will be almost invisible. Silver white titanium looks minimalist but stylish.

Armature drivers are distributed throughout the range.4 out of 7 drivers reproduce low frequencies. This emphasizes the sound of the bass, gives richness to the sound. For balance, the other 3 drivers are for high and low frequencies.

The level of comfort when listening depends on the material of the ear pads. The kit comes with 3 pairs of foam and 6 pairs of silicone tips of different sizes, which have a good fixation on the ear and protect against external noise. Several cases are offered for storing the headphones. The main one is made of environmentally friendly material - dyed cork. Its feature is moisture resistance. In addition to the main set, there are 3 half-mesh covers. To maintain hygiene, a tool in the form of a brush is given. The MMCX cable with metal splitter is made interchangeable.

• 7 reinforcing radiators;
• 9 pairs of nozzles of different material and size;
• frequency balance;
• moisture resistant storage case;
• durable body material;
• cleaning tool.

• price.

Tips for Choosing Headphones

In this article, the advantages and disadvantages of reinforcing headphones were considered. Anyone who has already decided that he wants to buy reinforcing headphones asks himself: how to choose a model that is right for me? To avoid mistakes when choosing, just follow the following tips:

• If the budget is limited, choose by price. There are worthy representatives in any price category.
• It's pointless to buy Campfire Audio: Ara for 112,000 to watch movies or enjoy game soundtracks. You may not see much of a difference. Because they are revealed in a different field of activity. For example, in a recording studio or on stage.
• Another option is recommendations from friends or reviews on the Internet and on Youtube.
• A win-win option is to choose by the popularity of models that have a large number of reviews. So the future buyer will objectively evaluate each option. As the number of buyers and feedback grows, manufacturers are paying attention and improving the shortcomings in the following models.
• For those who want a balanced sound without an emphasis on high, mid or low range and are considering a budget option, single-driver headphones are suitable. The cost also depends on the country of origin. Finding models from the low price segment is not a problem if you pay attention to Chinese-made headphones. The entire range can be viewed in online stores, in the same place - order online.
• If the benefit is not an empty word for you, consider the Aliexpress option. Explore the range of stores, as the price varies from place to place. You can save a lot.
• Musical preferences also play an important role. Fans of club music and bass should refrain from buying rebar headphones, as low frequencies are not sufficiently pronounced for this genre. Alternatively, you can buy hybrid, that is, rebar-dynamic. This means that the strengths of each type are combined in a single design.
• For lovers of rock and beautiful vocals, fittings are suitable, as the upper and middle frequencies are pronounced, which will emphasize the instruments and voice.
• If the desired sound is natural, you should purchase headphones with a small number of emitters.
• Before buying, you need to consider the motivation, that is, what exactly the headphones are for. This will limit the choice and make life easier. Because it is easy to drown in countless descriptions, reviews, reviews.

If possible, it is better to come to the store and listen to your favorite track in the desired headphones. Some provide demo models. Since the anatomy of the ears is individual for each, and the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe ideal sound is different.

The article presents the best manufacturers of budget headphones that are available to many, and individual models for professionals. This is only a part of the models of reinforcing headphones. A large number of options are higher in cost, and this is justified.