This article is your go-to comprehensive guide for headphone driver intel. In this blog, I will uncover what headphones have the most drivers, different types of headphone drivers, and the impact of the number of drivers on audio quality. As the name suggests, drivers are the driving force behind the precise and clear music from headphones. High-end In-ear Monitors use multiple drivers while others commonly use single dynamic drivers. Headphone drivers are responsible for the audio quality of headphones. Drivers control the frequency response, audio clarity, and precision of music.
Headphone Drivers
Drivers act as miniature loudspeakers converting electrical signals into audible sound. Typically there is one driver per earcup in headphones. The size, type, and number of drivers significantly impact the audio output of headphones. Currently, 5 types of drivers are being used in headphones and audio devices.
Different Types of Headphone Drivers
- Dynamic Drivers (DDs) are the most commonly used drivers in headphones. They offer a solid base, and efficient music output, and are cheaper than the other options.
- Planar Magnetic Drivers Produce a deep bass response. The sound is less distorted and more precise, detailed, and transparent.
- Electrostatic Drivers: The audiophile quality headphones use an electrostatic driver. These are expensive compared to the above two options. These drivers deliver fast, low distortion, super-detailed sound, with wide frequency response. Especially, the trebles are more precise and transparent.
- Balanced Armature Drivers: BA drivers are generally used in In-ear monitors (IEMs). These are small in size, yet efficient and precise.
- Bone Conduction Drivers: The headphones with bone conduction drivers rest outside the ear, on the cheekbones. The vibrations from these drivers are transmitted to the ear through cheekbones, perceived as music.
While most headphones use one driver, which is responsible for producing the entire frequency range of a track, some headphones opt for multiple drivers, these drivers are specialized in a specific frequency of the sound spectrum. The idea is to use different components for music production instead of overworking one driver.
Do More Drivers Can Improve Sound Quality?
The number of drivers can improve audio quality reproduction if the drivers are finely integrated and tuned together in such a way as to give a perfect audio output. The use of multiple driver configurations does not guarantee improvement of sound quality.
Frequency Separation in Multiple Driver Configurations
Multiple driver configurations allow splitting frequency reproduction across different specialized drivers for more refined audio.
| Bass Driver | Midrange Driver | Treble Driver |
| Covers low-range frequency (20Hz- 250Hz)Output is deep bass | Enhances high sound frequencies (4kHz- 20kHz). Good for reproducing detailed cymbals, string instruments, and airy vocals. | Enhances high sound frequencies (4kHz- 20kHz)Good for reproducing detailed cymbals, string instruments, and airy vocals. |
What headphones have the most drivers?
In-ear monitors (IEMs) and gaming over-ear headphones use High Driver numbers.
In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) with High Driver Counts
- 64 Audio U18t – For Audiophiles
64 Audio U18t uses 18 balanced armature (BA) drivers in each earbud. A preference for audiophiles, the sound output is immersive with exceptional details.
- Empire Ears Odin – For Professional Musicians
Empire Ears Odin has a hybrid driver configuration of 11 drivers. There are 5 balanced armature (BA) drivers, 4 Electrostatic drivers, and 2 dynamic drivers. The sound signature encapsulates the professionals with a reference tuning that yields a deep base and crisp highs.
- JH Audio Layla AION – 12 Balanced Armature Drivers
Layla AION is a choice of critical music listeners. It has 12 BA drivers in totality: 4 for low-frequency range, 4 for mids, and 4 for High sound frequencies. With fine-tuning, these integrated drivers produce rich, warm, and immersive music.
- Shure SE846 – Mid-range multi-driver IEMs
Shure SE846 yields smooth, detailed, and adequately warm music with its 4 Balanced Armature Drivers (2 low, 1 mid, and 1 high).
- KZ ZS10 Pro – Budget Multi-Driver IEMs
KZ ZS10 Pro with hybrid drivers is recommended for casual listeners with a budget. These IEMs are affordable with 5 multi-drivers. The combination has one Dynamic and 4 Balanced Armature Drivers for a pleasing audio profile.
Over-ear Headphones with Multiple Drivers
Over-ear headphones typically use one large driver to cover the complete frequency spectrum of the music, but there are some exceptions. Some headphone manufacturers tried to create a few models with multiple driver configurations on an experimental level.
Here are some of those rare over-ear headphones with multiple drivers:
Enigma Acoustics Dharma D1000
Dharma D1000 is an over-ear headphone with a hybrid driver configuration. It uses one dynamic driver with one electrostatic driver. This configuration, when integrated properly, produces a perfect sound signature. Dharma D1000 has a deep and punchy bass along with accurate highs.
Razer Tiamat 7.1 V2 – Gaming Headset
Razer Tiamat 7.1 V2 is a gaming headset with 5 drivers per ear cup (2 Subwoofer, 2 Front, 2 Side, 2 Rear, 2 Center). These headsets are desired for immersive gaming. The configuration of 10 drivers is integrated to provide positional accuracy, perfect for a fun gaming session.
Which one is better: Single-Driver or Multi-Driver Headphones?
Here is a preview of the pros and cons of both types of headphones:
| Multi-Driver Headphones | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Dedicated drivers for different frequency ranges result in improved and accurate sound quality | Tuning inconsistency |
| Reduced strain on high volume, better music at highs with minimum distortion | High cost for multiple drivers |
| Immersive audio with enhanced bass and treble | Gear can be bulkier and/or larger |
| Enhanced sound separation | |
Comparison
| Single-Driver Headphones | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Coherent, smooth, and a nice audio profile | Limited frequency response with one driver simultaneously covering highs, lows, and mids |
| Well-tuned single driver with minimal risk of frequency mismatch. | The sound might be distorted at high volumes |
| Compact and lightweight models are available | |
| Multiple budget options are available. | |
Conclusion
With this detailed account of what headphones have the most drivers, we can safely conclude that IEMs work better with multiple drivers while there is room for improvement for over-headphones.
For the best music experience for yourself, before buying a headphone
- Check out reviews from fellow audiophile community
- Read comparisons with different options for in-depth analysis and understanding
- Consider headphones for your specific needs instead of a general trend
Have you ever used in-ear or over-ear headphones with multiple drivers? Share your experience, we would love to hear about it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there multi-driver over-ear headphones?
Yes, there are multi-driver over-ear headphones. For example, Razer Tiamat 7.1 V2. This headphone uses 10 drivers for an immersive gaming experience.
Why do over-ear headphones typically have fewer drivers?
Over-ear headphones typically have one driver to reduce tuning complexities. Over-ear headphones tend to use fewer drivers to maintain a balanced and smooth audio profile.
Are Multi-Driver Over-Ear Headphones Worth It?
Multi-driver over-ear headphones might not be worth it for certain reasons. First, the tuning complexity of different drivers to produce harmonious sound might add much more work when single-drive headphones work fine, another aspect is that it may add to the cost of production, tuning equipment, and services, all with unreliable outcomes.
I am Michael a Texas-based recording engineer and sound enthusiast. I contribute to Headphones Pedia’s efforts to educate readers about intriguing new devices and other audio-related issues by drawing on their experience working on several sound projects. I also use AI tools to assist with content creation.
