[CT007]

Do headphones with angled drivers(tilted along a vertical axis, such as AD700X) have distorted/limited horizontal positional audio, compared to headphones with flat drivers(Sundara)? For example, with Sundara I am able to hear things further behind the my ears, where AD700X doesn't seem to provide such a wide angle/arc of information. (AD700X drivers appear to be angled rearward)

Where can I find more information about the effect angled drivers have?

Thanks!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Do headphones with angled drivers(tilted along a vertical axis, such as AD700X) have distorted/limited horizontal positional audio, compared to headphones with flat drivers(Sundara)? For example, with Sundara I am able to hear things further behind the my ears, where AD700X doesn't seem to provide such a wide angle/arc of information. (AD700X drivers appear to be angled rearward)

The angled drivers or earpads are meant to position the drivers relative to your ears at roughly the same angle as a stereo speaker system laid out in front.

Therefore it's designed to maximize imaging depth along the front, not the rear, unlike in a surround speaker system that handles the latter by physically having two more speakers on each side behind you.

Here's a diagram where the arc aren't filled in so you can see the difference plus what two speakers in front will be able to do as what angled drivers try to emulate.

At this point you'll probably ask why people use angled driver headphones for gaming and something with flat earpads and mounts like the HD600 on stock earpads aren't ideal. Well, they can't create depth towards the front, so if you hear a sound coming from the front, it's hard to tell how far ahead and to what direction specifically. Plus while the HD600 imaging is at least proportional (unlike the cymbals at the far ends on other headphones), with gaming it's too small for some. Either way it's going to be a compromise from having five physical speakers anyway so it depends on the user which compromise they'd go with.

 

[CT007]

The angled drivers or earpads are meant to position the drivers relative to your ears at roughly the same angle as a stereo speaker system laid out in front.

Either way it's going to be a compromise from having five physical speakers

Ah, I see! That makes sense, as long as the drivers are always angled rearward. Are they all..? I'm sure some are probably also/alternatively angled up or downward, too.

Nice 2D skills ;p

 

[CT007]

And, how dare you mention HD600 & gaming in the same sentence 0_0 Have you no shame?!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Ah, I see! That makes sense, as long as the drivers are always angled rearward. Are they all..? I'm sure some are probably also/alternatively angled up or downward, too.

Some can have the center of the drivers set lower than the center of the ear canal but I don't remember any of them being angled upward. I could be wrong though.