Difference in headphone driver size

[pikkie-mahn-mastah]

Does anyone know the difference in the quality or loudness of headphones with driver size 40mm vs 50mm? I'm deciding on 2 headphones and want to know the difference.

[Oshino Shinobu]

It would depend on the headphones. A pair of £20 headphones with 50mm drivers will likely be worse than a pair of £130 headphones with 40mm drivers. 

[FatalityDiablo]

bigger driver is not bigger/better sound or anything, simply a design choice.

[minibois]

I believe 60mm is mostly good for bass type stuff.

I suppose that is too for 50mm vs. 40mm.

[pikkie-mahn-mastah]

It would depend on the headphones. A pair of £20 headphones with 50mm drivers will likely be worse than a pair of £130 headphones with 40mm drivers.

That makes sense, thank you.

bigger driver is not bigger/better sound or anything, simply a design choice.

I gotcha

[Guest]

An upper limit is imposed on dynamic drivers by cone breakup, so they can be only so large. In practice, there is little difference in driver performance between various diameters. In theory, a larger driver should be able to produce less distorted bass, but this is really only relevant to open headphones and in practice the differences are negligible. Good closed headphones will produce deep bass more effectively no matter what, due to the fixed volume of air between the driver and the ear.

[ShearMe]

There are so many other factors that make a bigger difference that it really doesn't matter. ATH-AD 500X has 53mm drivers but is not very bassy.