Headphone specifications are intricate and technical, making it difficult to pick the perfect one merely by looking at them. The driver size of headphones is typically advertised by headphone makers to show that their products offer superior sound quality than the competitor. People have begun to examine the driver sizes of different headphones, as well as other crucial parameters, before purchasing a new pair of headphones.

What Is a Driver for Headphones?

In headsets, the driver is the most significant component. This is due to the fact that it is the piece that turns electrical signals into sound. To put it another way, it is responsible for the sound you hear. Consider the drivers in your headphones to be small loudspeakers within your ear.Basically, bigger the driver, better the bass. That isn't to say that headphones with bigger drivers sound better than headsets with smaller drivers. Not at all. When it comes to the audio quality of headphones, there are numerous aspects to consider.

Different types of drivers and how they impact sound quality

Dynamic drivers

Also known as moving-coil drivers, are perhaps the most popular driver technology because they provide an excellent balance of sound quality and cost. A neodymium magnet provides a strong magnetic field in a dynamic driver. It also has an internal diaphragm that is connected to a voice coil. The voice coil becomes a momentary electromagnet when an electric or audio signal is delivered to it, and it makes sound by vibrating the diaphragm while it encounters a pull/push reaction in the presence of an uniform magnetic field. At ideal volume levels, dynamic drivers create a good bass range.

Balanced armature drivers

Are relatively small drivers that are commonly seen in in-ear monitors (IEMs). When a current is given to a balanced armature driver, it contains two electromagnets and a magnetic armature hung within it that pivots to either side. The diaphragm is vibrated by the pivoting action of the magnet armature, which generates sound. The magnetic armature is said to be balanced when it is fully centred in the magnetic field and feels no net force. High-frequency drivers with balanced armature drivers are excellent, but they lack the capacity to produce a significant bass response.

Planar magnetic drivers

Also known as orthodynamic drivers, are most commonly found usually in over-ear headsets. Planar magnetic drivers have two big magnets that are positioned in opposite directions. It includes a membrane with a wire-pattern implanted in it between these magnets. When an electric current is passed through the membrane's wire pattern, it creates a magnetic field that responds to the permanent magnet's magnetic field. This reaction results in movement and sound.Planar magnetic drivers require more power to operate and are also more costly to manufacture. However, even at high volumes, they deliver outstanding sound quality with nearly little distortion.

Electrostatic drivers

Are rare and only seen in high-end headphones since they are the most expensive to manufacture and require specific amplifiers to work. Two electrodes with holes make up an electrostatic driver. An electrically charged diaphragm stays between both the electrodes. An electric field is created when a current is supplied to the electrodes. Based on the polarity of the field, the diaphragm moves back and forth between the electrodes.
The sound is produced by the displacement of air through the holed electrodes as a response to this action. Although electrostatic drivers are not portable, they create the most realistic soundstage and incredible sound quality.

Conclusion

If you wish to buy a headphone with a larger driver, go for a premium or at the very least a popular model with a solid rating, since these will have a good build quality and the necessary technical characteristics to generate good sound. Checkout PLAYGO’s BH47 and BH70 to get an idea of what a high quality driver can deliver.
All your concerns will be gone once you hear or sense the contrast in sound quality that a high-end headphone with a regular driver size can create when compared to a normal headphone with an above-average driver size