Sensitivity and freq. range of headphones

[aethyrmaster]

Why is it that earbuds have higher sensitivites and a greater frequency response range than larger headphones (behind the ear and over)? Many of the small earbuds have 102-106 dB/mW sensitivity(which is very good to exceptional) and response from 16 to 22000 Hz (Very good lows and powerful highs). Larger units are only 96-102 dB/mW(mediocre to good) and response sometimes as poor as 22 to 20000 Hz. What makes the buds so much better? Using earbuds too long sometimes will give me a pressure headache, but they are some of the most comfortable phones I've used. Is there a good compromise?

[syko]

I guess headphones are harder to power because they have a larger diaphragm than conventional earbud earphones. The softer the diaphragm, the more powerful the bass can be (which gives some low dynamic range) and since the diaphragm is smaller, the high frequencies are better. That's what I think anyway, but don't crucify me if I'm wrong.

[sony_man]

holy cow do theys say all this on the back of the packages?

[bhangraman]

The listed sensitivity is useful when deciding your phones, but the quoted frequency response is neither here nor there. It is simply a lab-based measurement of the level of frequencies that the phones will react to. It has nothing to do with what you hear if the ranges quoted are outside your hearing. Do extremely high-range phones make use of harmonic overtones in some way? I don't believe so, but someone else might say otherwise.

The fact is that most people can't hear below 20hz. At the other end most young people can hear 18khz, but beyond that you'll find it impossible to make anything out.