The Imaging of Headphones

Hi folks, I still don't quite understand the main factor(s) that effect(s) the imaging of headphones. When we talk about the imaging of speakers, usually the narrower the baffle, the imaging become more pinpoint, more disappearred into the wall (some like to say in the space), but how about hps? The size of drivers? The pads, how especial should the pads be? The enclosure, or the "baffle" within?

 

What is imaging? I hear that term a lot.

 

Here's a definition of imaging that seemed pretty decent to me (of course apply it to headphones):

"Imaging is how well speakers create the individual instruments. In other words, in your mind's eye, do they create "auditory images" of instruments which sound realistic, well defined and three dimensional; like you would swear the piano or vocalist is in the room with you, or... are the instruments presented in such a way that they all seem to blur together into a single hodgepodge of undefined sounds: You know that "that" instrument is suppose to be a trumpet or an upright bass, but it sounds very flat or two dimensional and unconvincing. Often times, when speakers image well, you'll hear folks say that they can even hear the "air" around the instruments."

Source: http://forums.audioreview.com/home-...tage-imaging-exactly-mean-9713.html#post71460

In summary, I personally read that as good imaging = instruments having their own, unmistakable presence and placement within a 3D space. Soundstage is just the sheer size and shape of the space/stage front-to-back, left-to-right, and top-to-bottom.

The rest of the linked post is useful too, not to mention that that very thread's discussion might also answer some of the OP's questions.

 

Proper imaging and a well-proportioned soundstage are critical components to a satisfying listening experience for me. It is generally held that open headphones image better than closed types. Also having drivers angled towards the ears seems to improve matters as does the "speed" of the driver surface (which could be a function of size, mass, electromechanical design, mechanical and acoustic dampening). All of these I believe relate to some extent to consistent phase integrity across the frequency band and at different loudness levels.

If you want to be convinced about the impact of phase on imaging, download "Virtual Barber Shop" and hear a $50 pair image like the HD800. I understand the phenomenal imaging results form the use of dummy head microphones and sophisticated filters. Dr Edgar Choueiri is the leading authority on this and is credited with making Chesky's binaural albums sound as good as they do.

 

I don't know, although probably some grouch will come in and point out this has already been discussed on changstar or something.

My quick definition of imaging: sound localization and focus. As to what attributes contribute to that, I haven't seen anything conclusive. I've seen Tyll Hertsens suggest that a double impulse peak at the start of a square wave from a headphone can be bad for imaging. I personally believe that good channel matching throughout the upper mid-range in particular is important - as you can imagine, panning the harmonics of a sound in multiple directions and magnitudes will cause a "blurred" image.

 

Imaging and sound stage with regard to headphones is mentioned a lot. But for me, I have never really understood or have been able to hear what people are talking about. For me, the "image" when using headphones always sounds pretty much "in my head".

Yes, some headphones sound more "open" and on recordings with a lot of ambient information, I suppose some headphones have enough detail to hear the ambiance of the venue where the recording was made. Maybe that's what people refer to as imaging in headphones. But for me the location of the instruments, singers, etc. all sound like they're between my ears.

That's why I like listening to speakers (or Out Of Your Head with headphones), so I can hear speaker-like imaging and sound stage. Otherwise, I don't hear what I would consider imaging or a sound stage.

 

I second that. I know some "purist" folks don't like all that DSP crap, but for the past couple years I've been using OOYH to listen to all my music. I can't imagine myself listening to headphones without OOYH anymore.