Home Theaters

 While perusing the internet for things relating to home theaters I came upon a set of headphones by Audio Technica, a company known for its excellence in microphones, its moving magnet and moving coil cartridges (for playing records - back when vinyl was the way we got our music), and headphones.

Audio Technica made all levels of headphones. Cheapies selling for $15 were sold alongside a pair for $150. This was in the mid 80s, so that would be equivalent to about $300 in today’s deflated currency. The top of the line back then was called ATH-7, and was an electrostatic design. It required an external box to provide the high voltages for the plates which held the diaphragm suspended and allowed such amazing and articulate sound. The quality of these headphones was amazing, easily surpassing speakers costing 10-15 times the cost of the headphones. The frequency response was extended, the detail beyond what most people have ever heard in reproduced sound.

Audio Technica ATH-ESW9 Sovereign headphones, with outer earpieces made from Japanese Hokkaido cherry wood - $330 retail

I have been thinking that some who really are strapped for cash, or strapped for space, or both, might want to assemble a home theater experience that is diminutive in size, but accurate in reproduction.

This could be something as simple as a Home Theater PC, a 20″ - 24″ LCD, coupled with another monitor for other needs, like the display of controls, etc., and a great set of headphones for exquisite, but individual, entertainment. With this type of setup the experience cannot be shared at the same point in time, but can prove extremely satisfying. The removal of external noise, afforded by the isolation of good headphones, plus the knowledge that the bass reproduction of the movie is not causing great consternation of all your apartment neighbors can be very enjoyable.

A quick look at Newegg gives a Samsung 226BW a widescreen monitor of 22″, with 1680 x 1050 resolution, 700 : 1 contrast ratio, and a $279 cost. Very high quality picture for not so much money, and it can be explained to others as a business expense, as when not used for movies, it makes a great dual page monitor for any other computing need! This is just one example. Comparisons to larger monitors such as these will prove favorable.

The headphones above aren’t going to be exorbitant to most, yet the thought of headphones being of such quality is mystifying to some, in stark contrast to the idea most have about the throw-away nature of headphones. The above pair are not close to top of the line - it is possible to spend much more on a set of headphones from Audio Technica.

ATH-W5000
Dynamic Headphones 

Current Top Of Line MSRP $1,659

Specifications

Type                 Closed-back Dynamic, Double Air Damping System
Driver Diameter     53 mm
Magnet              Neodymium
Voice Coil          OFC8N bobbin-wound voice coil
                          Permendur magnetic circuit
Frequency Response        5 – 45,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power     2000 mw
Sensitivity          102 dB/mW
Impedance         40 ohms
Weight               340 g (without cord)
Cable                Elastomer sheath/OFC6N + Hi-OFC/ 3.0 m (dual-sided),
                         4-core parallel cable
Connector         Standard 1/4″ (6.3 mm) gold-plated stereo plug

Accessories Included    Hard case; cable storage bag

If you decide that you want to buy something made in the United States, there is KOSS, which has been a supplier of superior quality headphones for decades.

KOSS ESP950         Top-of-the-line MSRP $999

The thing to remember is the multiplier of quality between speakers and headphones - it is on the order of 10 -15. The quality of a $200 pair of headphones will exceed the capabilities of speakers upwards of $2000 per pair - plus the headphone experience makes 5.1 channel a non-issue. Properly mic’ed stereo mixes will have all the information needed to give the full experience with headphones. You will not lack for anything, or feel cheated in any way. The frequency response is superior, the spatial cues will all be there, and the dynamic range achievable will be better than most full room designs. When comparing to similarly priced speakers it is apparent how well the money is spent on superior personal reproducers.

With a great pair of headphones, a nice LCD screen to look at, and an HTPC to provide the content, all is needed is a comfortable chair or other place to take in the movie!

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