16 versus 32 ohm?

[pbblues]

I recently did the quantum leap upgrade from the standard 32 ohm buds issued with my Creative Zen Microphoto to 16 ohm Creative EP-680 IEM's and the imrovement in sound is definately there, however, I am now (despite listening at lower levels) finding that the battery is going flat much quicker. I rip at 320kps and don't use the equaliser. What causes this and furthermore, why do IEM manufactures favour 16 over 32 ohms? Thanks.

 

[ClieOS]

No, impedance isn't the cause. It is more likely that the battery is going bad, as all battery does in time.

 

[pbblues]

I don't think it's a battery problem as it is only on it's fifth or sixth charge.

 

[ClieOS]

If you manufacture hundred of thousand of DAPs monthly, you are bound to find some defective parts make it to the final product, and that been said, you might just be unfortunate enough to get one of them.

Most earbud use so little power, it is only fraction compare to what the ram and the decoder chip used. If you want to be absolutely sure, do a battery drain test. Charge your player to the max, than let it run continuously (on repeat till battery die) on one set of headphone, than do the whole thing again with the other set. Although I do expect no more than + 3% of total run time b/w the two, it is also good to find out if your player's battery is getting bad or not (reflect in the total time). Do post back the result you got if you decided to do the test. Good luck.

 

[pbblues]

Thanks ClieOS. I will endeavour to run the test and post the results in a couple of weeks time.

 

[ericj]

EarHugger, the only headphone maker in Utah, sells 200 and 300 ohm crappy headphones under the marketing assertion that they increase battery life.

But if you're listening at the same levels, assuming your new buds aren't less sensitive than your old buds, that should mean the same amount of miliwatts used.

Switch back and see if your battery life comes back.

(Disclaimer: I've heard two pair of Earhuggers and they both were on par with the stuff you get free with an in-flight movie. If an EarHugger rep sees this and wants to defend their honor, y'all are more than welcome to take me on a tour of your facility and shower me with free 'phones that i agree to review honestly and objectively.)
(yeah, fat chance of that happening)

 

[pbblues]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClieOS /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you manufacture hundred of thousand of DAPs monthly, you are bound to find some defective parts make it to the final product, and that been said, you might just be unfortunate enough to get one of them. Most earbud use so little power, it is only fraction compare to what the ram and the decoder chip used. If you want to be absolutely sure, do a battery drain test. Charge your player to the max, than let it run continuously (on repeat till battery die) on one set of headphone, than do the whole thing again with the other set. Although I do expect no more than + 3% of total run time b/w the two, it is also good to find out if your player's battery is getting bad or not (reflect in the total time). Do post back the result you got if you decided to do the test. Good luck.

It seems that it was more of problem of sensitivity rather than impedance as I tried another set of 16 ohm IEMs and your estimate of only a 3% variation on power useage appears to be correct.

 

[65535]

Lower Resistance headphones are just going to be louder than higher resistance at any given volume level.

 

[Arothorn]

Per Ohm's Law: Voltage = Current * Resistance (impedance)

This is an average, but your 16 Ohm buds will eat twice as much current as the 32 Ohm buds, if you use the same volume level. The impedance will vary across the frequencies with an average around the stated value. This is why they say a lower impedance load will be a challenge to some amps.

Also, typically, lower impedance cans/buds/speakers will have a higher sensitivity. i.e. They get louder with less power. So, with higher sensitivity buds, you should be able to listen at the same sound level using less power.

I hope this helps.

->Aro

 

[ClieOS]

As I said before, I really don't think it is the impedance of different headphone that cause the battery drain faster... did you do a comparison between your 32ohms and 16ohms 'buds?

One of the way to save battery is to re-encode your songs to CBR .mp3 file in lower bitrate (such as 192/256kbps). Unless your has an accurate hearing (and a much better 'phone than EP-630), you won't likely to notice any different in sound quality and it will save battery life.

 

[AzN1337c0d3r]

It's probably as a result of ripping everything at 320 Kbps.

Your hard drive needs to be accessed more as the files are bigger and this is what is killing your battery life.

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 65535 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Lower Resistance headphones are just going to be louder than higher resistance at any given volume level.

Thats completely untrue. Looking at the Ohm resistance rating by itself, of ANY headphone, without also lookign at at least the dB sensitivity rating is meaningless.

The AKG K701 are about 250 Ohms less than the Sennheiser HD650. But their sensitivity is so much lower that they actually tend to need another notch ont he dial to reach the same playback volume.

 

[qazwsx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericj /img/forum/go_quote.gif EarHugger, the only headphone maker in Utah, sells 200 and 300 ohm crappy headphones under the marketing assertion that they increase battery life.

LOL, I've seen those as well. Actually I wouldn't be too quick with that statement. EarHugger is more of a brander, as I've seen some of their 'phones marked under Jensen and Maxell.

 

[Mandrake]

Hi Arothorn,

I'm a bit confused. If impedance, let's say lower impedance, both eats more current but also increases sensitivity (loudness), then what is the bottom line on if these effects cancel out or not?

From what I know in the audio world, some amps can't drive 4 ohm speakers, but speaker loudness is almost always expressed in terms of sensitivity, implying that the two (sensitivity and resistance) are not related???

I'd love to learn more about this!