Headphone Types Driven
Headphone types driven identifies the broad electrical headphone families an amplifier is designed to operate.
Conventional dynamic and planar-magnetic headphones use ordinary headphone outputs. Electrostatic headphones need specialised high-voltage drive and an appropriate bias supply. Some equipment supports both families, but their connections and requirements remain different.
Headphone Types Driven — Headphone Amp
The supported family is an initial compatibility check. A conventional headphone output can serve dynamic or planar designs, while an electrostatic output must supply the required drive and bias. Equipment with both output systems can support both families without making the sockets interchangeable.
Within the supported family, compare the headphone's requirements with output power, impedance and connector wiring. Electrostatic compatibility also requires the correct bias and socket system. The category does not promise that every headphone in it will reach the desired level. Ribbon headphones needing a dedicated interface require their own documented arrangement; do not infer support from a conventional output alone.