

The headphone drivers (transducers) convert the audio signal (electrical energy) into sound (mechanical wave energy).The amplified audio signal is sent to the headphone drivers.An internal amplifier amplifies the analog audio signal.Digital audio signals are then converted to analog signals via a digital-to-analog converter (if the headphones are designed for it).

The wireless receiver, tuned to pick up the single-frequency carrier wave, accepts the wireless signal and effectively decodes the audio signal.This single-frequency carrier wave is propagated through space.The wireless transmitter encodes the audio signal (modulating signal) into a carrier wave.The audio source sends its audio signal to a wireless transmitter.So to recap, let's go through the chronological steps involved in wireless headphone audio transmission: However, it is more common to have built-in rechargeable batteries in today's wireless headphones.įor more information on active headphones, check out my article How Do Headphones Get Power & Why Do They Need Power? These batteries may be AA, AAA or batteries that are inserted into the headphones. To maintain the “wirelessness” of the headphones, the power must be supplied by internal batteries. In other words, they require power to function properly. It's important to note that regardless of the specific type of wireless headphones, being wireless means the headphone is active. The analog audio signal is then amplified to drive the headphone drivers properly. If the audio signal is digital, it is converted into an analog audio signal. Wireless receivers must be tuned to accept the specified carrier wave frequency. The wireless receiver reads the carrier wave and decodes the modulating signal (audio signal) from the wave. Audio signals are generally made up of frequencies within the audible range of 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz. It's important to note that the carrier wave is a single-frequency wave within the above-mentioned ranges. You can skip ahead to the sections of this article that explain these carrier waves in more detail by clicking the links in this paragraph. The carrier waves used to transmit wireless headphone signals are either in the radio frequency range or the infrared frequency range. This modulating signal is encoded into a carrier wave that is transmitted wirelessly to the receiver. The intended audio signal is referred to as the modulating signal. Transmitters effectively encode the audio signal into a wireless format (the carrier wave) and propagate the wireless signal through the air. This “wireless signal” is appropriately called the carrier wave. Wireless headphones have built-in receivers designed to accept the wireless waves that carry the audio signal intended to drive the headphone drivers. Connecting Wireless Headphones To A TV, Radio, Or Other DeviceĪs the name suggests, wireless headphones receive their audio signals wirelessly rather than via headphone cables (often referred to as “hardwired” headphones).How Does Bluetooth Transmit Audio From A Device To Headphones?.How Does Radio Frequency Transmission Work?.Related article: How Do Wireless Microphones Work? We'll discuss wireless transmission methods and the designs of wireless headphones, along with the pros and cons of going wireless. This article is all about wireless headphones and how they function. The headphones receive the RF or IR signal and decode it to audio. These signals are encoded by the source device and transmitted via radio frequencies (common) or infrared (less common) carriers. How do wireless headphones work? Wireless headphones work by receiving wirelessly transmitted signals from their paired audio sources. If you've ever wondered how your wireless headphones or earbuds play back the audio from your device, then this article is for you.

However, in 2004, Bluetooth wireless headphones came onto the market and revolutionized personal audio listening, gaining great popularity among audio consumers and professionals alike. Wireless headphones have been around since the 1960s.
