How to engineer specialized headphones

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the engineering of specialized headphones that can also function as room speakers. Participants explore the feasibility of incorporating volume-limiting features to ensure safe headphone use while allowing for ambient sound playback. The conversation touches on technical specifications such as speaker sensitivity and the need for amplifiers.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • A participant proposes building headphones that can double as room speakers, questioning whether 85dB or 90dB speakers would be sufficient for this purpose.
  • The same participant inquires about the necessity of including an amplifier and a volume-limiting mechanism in the design.
  • Another participant expresses concern about the safety of such a design, suggesting that it could be fundamentally dangerous due to the risk of exceeding safe volume levels.
  • This concern is elaborated upon, highlighting potential failure points such as malfunctioning switches or user error that could lead to unsafe listening conditions.
  • There is a suggestion that liability issues could arise if such a device were marketed, and that there may be better alternatives to achieve the desired functionality.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the safety and feasibility of the proposed headphone design. Concerns about potential dangers and technical challenges remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of volume-limiting mechanisms and the implications of using speakers designed for ambient sound in a headphone context. The discussion reflects a range of assumptions about user behavior and device reliability.

CWilli14
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Hello,
I'm a newby at audio electrical engineering. I would like to build headphones that can do double duty as room speakers (in both situations they would be plugged into an ipod headphone jack). What I mean is, I would like to incorporate speakers that are sufficient for playing music ambiently, but then, when a (volume-limiting?) switch is thrown, the speakers max out at a certain volume that makes them able to safely be used as headphones.

Would 85db speakers be loud enough for this? Should it be more like 90db speakers? Do I need to have an amplfier built in as well as a volume limiting element?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!
 
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CWilli14 said:
Hello,
I'm a newby at audio electrical engineering. I would like to build headphones that can do double duty as room speakers (in both situations they would be plugged into an ipod headphone jack). What I mean is, I would like to incorporate speakers that are sufficient for playing music ambiently, but then, when a (volume-limiting?) switch is thrown, the speakers max out at a certain volume that makes them able to safely be used as headphones.

Would 85db speakers be loud enough for this? Should it be more like 90db speakers? Do I need to have an amplfier built in as well as a volume limiting element?

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

Welcome to the PF.

This idea seems to be fundamentally dangerous, no? There are some things that probably just shouldn't be built...

Do you remember the Far Side cartoon, where the scientist is about to plug in the power cord for an 8-foot monster robot...? :bugeye:
 
Thanks for the welcome - and, yes, I do remember that cartoon:)

Hopefully this idea wouldn't loose similar havok. Why do you consider it fundamentally dangerous?
 
CWilli14 said:
Thanks for the welcome - and, yes, I do remember that cartoon:)

Hopefully this idea wouldn't loose similar havok. Why do you consider it fundamentally dangerous?

Because it seems like it would be difficult to ensure that the volume could not exceed safe headphone levels if the capacity were there for use as small room speakers. You could try putting switches on the headphones that sensed when they were being worn, but what if those switches got stuck or failed? You could put a switch on the headphones that the user sets, but then there is always user error or the switch getting bumped...

For sure if you were trying to market something like this, there would be liability issues. But even building something for yourself, it seems like the possibility of error would be enough to keep you from doing it. There probably are other, better options, I would think.
 

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