Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
planar headphones magnetic headphones provide an extensive and rich listening experience. Audiophiles looking to upgrade their listening experience will love these.
The best planar magnetic headphone depends on your preferences. It comes down to clarity, image structure and distinction, as well as bass sound and slam.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The LCD-2 was one of the first headphones with a planar magnet to gain popularity. It was so popular that it's now associated with the technology, and it's still one of the best headphones of its kind. The quality of its sound is incredible especially for a device that costs more than $1,000. The bass is a long way to the point of hearing and offers a remarkable level of clarity. The mids and upper treble are warm, but not in an obnoxious way. Overall, the sound is clear and precise and has very little distortion.
They are extremely comfortable to wear and are also very. The headband and earpads are a soft, flexible feeling. The headphones are light enough for long listening sessions, without feeling tired. However, they don't offer a seal over the ears like the open-back headphones do. And this means you'll be able to hear your surroundings. This isn't a problem for quiet environments, but it can be an issue in louder environments.
The LCD-2 Classics have a very sturdy construction and are built to last. The earcups are made from crystal-infused nylon which is a fantastic material for headphones. It looks tough and is much lighter than the wood rings that are used on other Audeze models.
The LCD-2 Classics do not feel like the same premium headphones. The LCD-2 Classics have a DIY feel with their visible screws and lack of finishing. The headphones are still excellent, but may not be suitable for everyone.
If you're seeking a similar headphone that is cheaper and less expensive, the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent option. They feature the same high-quality design and technology as the LCD-2 Classics, but they are priced at a lower price. They also have an improved seal on the earcups, and come with a carry case. The only thing that's missing is the impressive bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still provide an incredible sound that should satisfy most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for
Planar magnetic drivers itself thanks to its unique and affordable line of planar magnetic headphones. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the latest model from the company's headphone. It builds on the success of the previous model, with improved performance and new striped finishes for improved modularity.
The LIRIC features a full frequency response, ranging from 4Hz up to 92,000 Hz. This provides music with outstanding clarity and a wide soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone effectively reduces high-frequency peaks, which can be a strain on the ear.
The headphones are designed to block out ambient sound and provide high-quality listening even while on the move. They also have an oval-shaped design that fits the natural shape of the human ear for a more direct channel to the sound source.
The Meze LIRIC is equipped with the company's exclusive Isodynamic Hybrid array driver, that features dual-shaped voice coils for improved ambience and spatial sound imaging. Dual voicing is the result of more than 30 years of research and development, making it one of the tiniest and most advanced
planar magnetic drivers on the market.
The LIRIC headphones have an equalization system that regulates the airflow and pressure in the earcup chambers to improve sound quality. This lets the listener enjoy the same quality of sound regardless of whether they wear the headphones in an office or on the plane.
The Meze LIRIC has a smooth and balanced sound that I found very enjoyable to listen to over long periods. The bass is powerful and deep, with a clear treble. The soundstage is extremely wide with a good separation between vocals and instruments. I also liked the fact that no element of the song was too small to escape the attention of the headphones including the decay and attack of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings on an electric guitar.
If you're looking for the top closed-back magnetic headphones for $2000, the Meze LIRIC is a fantastic choice. It's a strong rival to the Dan Clark Audio E3, but has a slightly different tone and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been trying to up their game in recent years by releasing various flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most premium headphone to date, and replaces the Empyrean model, which was their flagship.
The Elite is also an open-back model, however, it has unique wings that enhance wearability. These wings work much like the design used on Dan Clark, HiFIMan, or Sendy headphones, in that they distribute the weight of the heavier than average driver across a larger area of your head to increase the comfort when listening for long durations. Based on my experience, they indeed work very well and the Elite can be worn for a long time without discomfort.
The Elite is a reference-style headphone that features an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It is capable of delivering extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1% over the entire frequency spectrum. It has an excellent sensitivity of 101 dB/mW and an impedance 32 ohms. This means that it can be driven by low-cost headphones or DAPs if they can be used with the standard jack.
The Elite diaphragm is another significant improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of using a specially-designed polymer semicrystalline film with a low mass has been engineered by biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This technique permits an Elite diaphragm which is flexible and thin, while providing excellent resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.
This shift to a lower-mass diaphragm can also result in increased speed and resolution and brings the Elite to an level of performance that puts it up against competitors such as the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a more affordable price point. In actuality, the Elite is arguably more accurate than the LCD-2 and it can be very neutral, while delivering the impression of transparency, depth, high-end air and transients. This makes it a great choice for those who enjoy rock music as well as other genres in which bass is very prominent.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most sought-after on the market. It's a great option for any audiophile looking to move into open back headphones and is also a great entry-level model for those who are already familiar with the use of planar magnetic technology. It comes with HiFiMAN's latest Stealth Magnet Design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction down to inaudible levels.
Although the HE400SE doesn't have the bass extension that some other HiFiMAN models have, it still delivers an excellent low end sound for an open-back headphone. The HE400SE's lower end is very full and deep, yet it doesn't sound loud or bass-heavy. The overall tone is neutral, but there's some elevated treble and forward midrange that many listeners will find pleasing.
The HE400SE offers a crystal clear sound. The HE400SE makes a great option for listening to acoustic and classical music. It's the perfect budget headphones for this kind of music. If you're used to closed-back headphones which have a more bass-emphasized tuning the transition may be a bit uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to get used to it.
The HE400SE also has impressive imaging. The HE400SE produces a wide and detailed soundstage that lets musicians feel as if they are in the right spot.