Yes, This Exists: $1,000 Earbuds
Half-inch earphones that sound as good as over-the-ear cans
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For all their convenience, earphones have never matched the quality of over-the-ear headphones (a.k.a. cans). Their compact drivers can’t range from deep bass to high soprano. Companies have tried using multiple, differently tuned drivers, but that can degrade the signal. Instead, designers at Sennheiser built a new, seven-millimeter driver and acoustic housing for the IE 800—the first earphones with over-the-ear sound.
Sennheiser IE 800
Weight: 0.3 ounces
Frequency range: 5 Hz–46,500 kHz
Price: $1,000
Speaker Driver
Rather than use the compact drivers typical of earphones (called balanced armatures), designers shrank a dynamic driver, a larger mechanism found in speakers and cans. Audio transmits through a copper coil, and the coil pushes a diaphragm, which generates sound waves. One driver can produce the entire audio range.
Bass Vents
Rather than use the compact drivers typical of earphones (called balanced armatures), designers shrank a dynamic driver, a larger mechanism found in speakers and cans. Audio transmits through a copper coil, and the coil pushes a diaphragm, which generates sound waves. One driver can produce the entire audio range.
Sound Absorbers
Rather than use the compact drivers typical of earphones (called balanced armatures), designers shrank a dynamic driver, a larger mechanism found in speakers and cans. Audio transmits through a copper coil, and the coil pushes a diaphragm, which generates sound waves. One driver can produce the entire audio range.
Exploded View