Balanced headphones

[therzl]

My apologies if I'm posting this in the incorrect forum. My question is essentially this: I just purchased a Hiby R3 Pro Saber DAP. My understanding is it can accommodate Balanced Output headphones (TRRS?). Does this type of headphone offer better fidelity than (singular?) unbalanced? Most everything I've read says yes. If this is true, can anybody recommend a pair of suitable, balanced headphones? About $100 is my affordable limit. The jack is 2.5mm, and Hiby's website warns against using conversion cables (e.g., 3.5mm to 2.5mm). Also, is TRRS preferable to...? I'm very much a novice regarding all this. Thank you for your time.

 

[InvisibleInk]

My apologies if I'm posting this in the incorrect forum. My question is essentially this: I just purchased a Hiby R3 Pro Saber DAP. My understanding is it can accommodate Balanced Output headphones (TRRS?). Does this type of headphone offer better fidelity than (singular?) unbalanced? Most everything I've read says yes. If this is true, can anybody recommend a pair of suitable, balanced headphones? About $100 is my affordable limit. The jack is 2.5mm, and Hiby's website warns against using conversion cables (e.g., 3.5mm to 2.5mm). Also, is TRRS preferable to...? I'm very much a novice regarding all this. Thank you for your time.

Do you have any IEMs at the moment? If so, what type of connector do they have? Reason I ask, if the cable is detachable, it should be a simple matter to replace the stock cable that came with the IEM with a TRRS 2.5 mm balanced one.

 

[therzl]

Thanks for your response. Unfortunately, I don't have anything. I had a pair of 1More quads which were stolen a few months ago (and fixed cables).

 

[Roseval]

Does this type of headphone offer better fidelity than (singular?) unbalanced?

No.
Normally a headphone is terminated with TRS so a L+/R+/common ground
If you want to use it with a balanced amp, you need TRRS so L+/L- R+/R- because a "balanced" amp has 2 amps per channel, one pushing, one pulling. As you are using 2 amps per channel instead of one, there is more power but also more distortion.
Of course, your headphone remains the same but with a 4 wire connection you are more flexible at the side of the amp.

BTW: not everybody agrees that driving a headphone "balanced" is better. https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/audio-myth-balanced-headphone-outputs-are-better

 

[someguyontheinternet]

Balanced should not matter in most cases. It matters when you need the additional power and some very niche cases of noise.
Well engineered modern circuits should be good enough to avoid any noise a differential system can filter.

 

[rlw6534]

How about the Moondrop Aria ($79.00) plus the Linsoul Tripowin Zonie 2.5 mm 2-pin balanced cable ($19.95)? Prices are from Amazon. This should be a great bang-for-the-buck combo and you'll have both 3.5 and 2.5 mm balanced.