Left And Right Earbuds: How Is The Test Done? What Do The R And L Designations Mean? Which Ear And How To Put The Headphones Correctly?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-18 12:09

The most advanced users of modern audio technology know that headphones are an important and integral part of a sound reproduction system. For efficient operation with the possibility of obtaining surround stereo sound, this device is divided into 2 channels, one of them is right and the other is left. High-quality audio headphones always have letter or other markings, but there are also budget models where the order of the channels is not so important.

For the purpose of watching TV programs, videos and other conditions, it is important to determine the positioning of the sound . The design of some models of headphones is made in such a way that, having confused the right and left sides, the user feels inconvenience, and also notes a decrease in the sound quality of the audio series. To locate the right and left channels of a device, you just need to follow a few simple steps.

Why is it important?

Some users think that nothing depends on the position of the headphones and that it is not necessary to put them on correctly. But this is a pretty big misconception. If you mix up the left and right channels in places, the sound of the audio sequence will be significantly distorted due to the loss of stereo effect. Stereo should be understood as the transmission of an audio signal that goes simultaneously through several audio channels.

For clarity, we will consider examples that confirm the importance of observing the channel parameters

• Watching movies or TV programs . Improper use of audio channels will result in unobtrusive sound. When recording sound in a movie, the sound is divided into 2 halves. From the right side of the screen, it is broadcast to the right ear, and from the left to the left ear. If the audio channels are rearranged, you will feel disorientated. If a sharp sound signal occurs in the plot of the film, and its source, for example, is a racing car located on the right side of the screen, then in the confused headphones the sound will come from the left side. In addition, the sound may lag slightly behind the movement of the frames. Such viewing will not give you the fullness of the sensations and will only cause bewilderment.
• Listening to music . If the audio channels are misused, the stereo effects will be lost. In addition to the loss of the special effect, the listener will have the feeling that the sound quality is low, since he will not hear the depth and volume of the sound, as well as its strength and beauty.
• Games on the computer . More often than not, the role of headphones matters in shooter games where it comes to battles in one form or another. In order to hear and react in time to the approach of the enemy, the player must carefully listen to the situation around him. This is the only way to fully immerse yourself in the gameplay and get the most out of it.

Correctly distributing audio channels to the right and left completely changes the sound background, thanks to which the experience of watching a movie, playing a computer game or listening to music will become truly complete.

Marking

For ease of use, manufacturers mark the headphones with a color or lettering. The Latin letter "L" (left) stands for the left side, the letter "R" (right) stands for the right side. A red color bar or dot is usually used for the right audio channel, while blue or green is used to mark the left channel.

The “R” and “L” designations are usually located on the outside of the earphones, and can also be found on the front or back, closer to where the audio cable comes into contact.

Determination methods

With prolonged use of headphones, the letters "R" and "L", painted with paint, are gradually erased, so it becomes difficult to determine where is the right and where is the left audio channel. In addition to visual marking, verification of the location of the channels can be performed in other available ways.

• In the case when your device is equipped with a fixed type of wire, you will see a microphone at the point of its connection. When you put this headset on your head, the microphone point will be on the outside in the correct position.
• Headphones equipped with a detachable lead with connectors will have different lengths of this lead, which runs to the right and left. So, the short part of the wire will go to the right audio channel, and its long part will go to the left channel. In addition, you will see the location of a small microphone near the right channel.
• Some models of headphones are equipped with raised dots in the amount of 1, 2 or 3 pieces. Their location is regulated by the manufacturer. For example, on one channel these points are present, but on the other they are absent, therefore the channel with the points is the left part, and without the points it is the right.
• Headphones can have an anatomical design, and if worn incorrectly, the person will feel a little physical discomfort in the area of the auricle.

In addition to these methods, verification of the correct positioning of the channels can be carried out using certain tests

• Software utilities . The special program Real Space 3D Audio is suitable for testing. When you start it, you will be able to identify the channels of the headphones. In addition to this program, regular Skype can help in this matter.
• Video file . There are special test files with video and audio that can be downloaded on the Internet. You will need to activate such a file and put on headphones. You will see text on your computer monitor. The essence of the test is that you need to match sound and text. If the location of the text appears in sync with the sound coming from its corresponding channel, it should be understood that the channels are selected correctly. In case of desynchronization, try swapping the headphones and pass the test again.

In order not to be confused anymore, where the right channel is located, and where the left channel is, after they have been accurately determined, the headphones should be marked. This can be done in any way, but a particularly convenient and practical option is to buy multi-colored ear pads.

It remains only to remember which color will correspond to the right earpiece, and which one is intended for the left one.