One small step for headphones, one giant leap for audiophiles: why this super-small invention could make your next headphones sound a lot better

Date:
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:59:44 +0000

Description:
Audio component company Knowles has unveiled a brand-new piece of kit, which could change how future headphones sound.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Knowles has found a way for headphones to use balanced armature drivers This could let future headphones offer greatly improved sonic qualities Currently, no headphones offer this tech, only earbuds but they will While earbuds makers have been tripping
over themselves to bundle more and more drivers in their buds the Soundpeats H3 have three and they cost less than the AirPods Pro 3 (which don't have three), while the Status Between 3ANC pictured below sport dual Balanced armature drivers and one 10mm dynamic driver it's a race that's not yet reached the best headphones .

Hold the phone: it has now reached them, thanks to Knowles' new design. The company, best known for its Balanced Armature (BA) driver because in 1955, Hugh Knowles invented it for the hearing aid market, thinks it's finally
ready to revolutionize the headphone game. Knowles has unveiled a new hybrid design for headphones, which allows its small and light BA drivers to sit alongside the much bigger dynamic drivers typical in over-ear designs. While the dynamic driver would handle the same frequencies as always (typically lower-end ones), the BA driver would add a bit of high-end sparkle. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

Basically, headphones might soon sound a lot better, and have a lot more room under the ear cups to add extra features.

At the time of writing, no headphones have been unveiled with this tech, but hopefully, we'll start seeing cans which benefit from it roll out very soon. You may like The best headphones you can buy today, all tested by our experts The best noise cancelling headphones, all TechRadar tested Sony reveals new high-end 1000X The Collexion headphones, and explains their upgrades Knowling Me, Knowling You (ah haaa) (Image credit: Future) Traditionally, most headphone makers have believed that multi-driver systems in headphones is a bad idea. It's a shame, because in earbuds, each driver can focus on a different range of frequencies, instead of relying on one to do as much as possible. And when done well, (see Campfire Audio's lineup for several gorgeous examples) it can sound utterly sublime.

For a combination of reasons like phase avoidance, complications with spatial audio tuning and ear positioning, most (though not all) headphones have a single driver. It's because the drivers are further from your ears than in buds, where they're up close and personal with your ear canal, which complicates matters. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
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However, BA drivers are popular for being small and lightweight, so they add some much-needed versatility within the acoustic architecture.

Knowles' design for cans features one dynamic driver with two BA drivers, which sit in front of the dynamic unit, pointed precisely at your ears.

According to Knowles, this is one of the main draws: a hybrid design can be used "without significantly changing industrial designs, comfort, or overall product dimensions". So they won't be heavier than your standard cans if anything, they might be lighter.

However, reading between the lines, it sounds like a precise fit will be even more important on over-ear headphones with this architecture. I imagine that it rules out the tech being implemented in on-ears, which I've always found
to fit quite loosely, and possibly also workout headphones, due to the
natural shake of exercises.

Knowles has already put BA drivers in buds from JBL, Status (pictured above this text), JLab, Edifier and Baseus, so these companies may well be the
first to take Knowles up on its offering and release over-ears using the
tech. But only time will really tell so for now, we wait. The best noise cancelling headphones for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best noise cancelling headphones 1. Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM6 2. Best mid-range: Bose QuietComfort Headphones 3. Best under $100/100: 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 4. Best under $60/50: Soundcore Q30 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/one-small-step-for-headphones-one-giant-leap-f or-audiophiles-why-this-super-small-invention-could-make-your-next-headphones- sound-a-lot-better


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