Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $1000
If you enjoy music and would like to upgrade your headphones and set, a planar magnetic one can be a great investment. However, they can also be quite costly.
There are many great options available at prices below $1000. In this article, we'll look at the best budget planar headphones that will provide an unforgettable listening experience.
1. Beyerdynamic T1
Beyerdynamic is an innovative German brand in headphones. The Beyerdynamic T1 is made from top quality materials and features a classic design. It's an absolute pleasure to wear. The soft headband and interchangeable earpads make them extremely comfortable. The earphones may initially appear rough, but they will adjust to the ears and head. They allow for long listening sessions without discomfort.
The T1 has a very natural sound, with a soaring, but controlled bass and clean mids. The highs are dazzling and clear, but they can be too loud for those who prefer a more smooth bass. They are a great pair of headphones for serious listening, and perform best at low to medium volumes. They can maintain their balance even when playing violent music, such as death metal or black metal, and won't be overpowered by the crash of the cymbal.
The T1 has a wide dynamic range. It can reproduce the extreme contrasts between louder and quieter songs with crystal clear clarity and accuracy. This makes them a good option for musicians who want to be able to perceive every nuance and detail of their instrument, and for audiophiles who appreciate the ability to clearly distinguish different instruments in the course of a song.
A nice addition is the gold-plated connectors and the Beyerdynamic logo on the ear cup. This is a sign of quality and an assurance that you are getting a top-tier product. The headphones are protected by a durable case when not in use. A detachable cord and an adapter for quarter-inch are included.
The Beyerdynamic T1 is not designed for use on the go, as it is a closed-back design. They will not adequately shield you from the everyday noises such as rush hour traffic, children's alarm clocks or irritating partners. The large ear cups are not made for physical activities such as running, as they could easily fall off your ears. The Beyerdynamic T5p comes with an open-back design similar to the T5p, but with ear cups that are slightly smaller, so they may be a better option to listen to music on the go.
2. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano
The HIFIMAN Nano is the latest version of the popular mid-range, open-back headphones. The Nano makes a quantum leap forward from the initial Ananda model, incorporating the latest nanometer-thick diaphragm, as well as a more clear stealth magnet, which was also featured on the ultra premium Susvara headphone. These features promise low distortion, lightning fast transient response and demonstrably enhanced quality and clarity.
The resulting soundstage is wide and deep, with great separation of vocals and instruments. The Nano also offers a relatively warm tone to its sound, with a thump in the upper mids, which makes it suitable for pop, rock and hip-hop.
This emphasis on the upper mids has some drawbacks. It creates the sound being slightly muffled, particularly in the higher registers, where some details is lost. It also means that the Nano isn't suitable for classical music,
planar driver as the lower mids tend to be overshadowed by the bass.
Bass is powerful and punchy and has good timbre in the low-end and great dynamics and slam. It's a bit fuller than the bass of the original Ananda, which is ideal for contemporary music such as rock and pop as well as gaming, yet still has plenty of rumble, which is pleasing to audiophiles who want the natural sound of their bass.
Leakage can be quite problematic in the typical way for an open-back headphone, and it can be a problem in loud environments. The headphone does not have a mic, so it is not suitable to make calls on mobile phones.
The HIFIMAN Ananda Nano has lot to offer, and it is a highly recommended option for those looking for an open-back
planar magnetic headphones explained magnetic headphone that costs less than $1000. It's an upgrade over the previous model and is worth a look. The Ananda Nano is available with an accessory case for travel, which is a must-have for audiophiles who wish to listen to music on the go. The case is spacious enough to accommodate the Ananda Nano, its cable and a small DAC or player. Inside the case you will also find the carrying case. The headphones are well-made and durable, and come with a three-year warranty.
3. Hifiman Edition XS
The HIFIMAN Edition X created a lot of excitement in the world of audiophiles when it first came out. The company has since brought the same technology into a smaller, more affordable headphone that fits between the Sundara & Ananda. The Edition XS uses the same aerodynamically-shaped stealth magnets and a thin "Neo Super-Nano Diaphragm" to guarantee fast response time with minimal distortion.
Like all HIFIMAN products the headphones are well-built. They are sturdy enough to withstand heavy usage and are extremely comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. The cups are made of an anti-resonant, vibration-reducing material. The box includes a tangle-free cord with a straight plug and the headphone holder which can be used to store the headphones.
The Edition XS is a very excellent
Planar Driver magnetic headphone that offers excellent detail resolution. You'll be able to detect specifics in your music that you've never heard before. You may also find flaws you would not have observed in other headphones. They're incredibly clear and have an expansive soundstage that will fill a large room with crystal clear, 3D detail.
These headphones are neutral and balanced and can be used with all kinds of music. They have great mids and reproduce vocals and lead instruments accurately, although they might lack some energy and rumble in their bass. They have clear, precise high frequencies but they may be too bright for some listeners.
The HIFIMAN XS may be a good choice to anyone who is looking for a planar magnetic open-backed headphone that can be used in noisy environments, yet doesn't require the most power. The low impedance (18O) allows it to be easy to connect to almost any DAC or headphone amplifier. However it is best to be able to get the best results when you have an audio interface with an inbuilt headphone amp. They're not the most compact headphones, and they can be quite heavy to carry around, but they come with a padded pouch that can be used for travel. They're also a bit more expensive than the other choices on this list, but their performance and features make up for the cost.
4. Audeze LCD-5
The Audeze LCD-5 is the company's most recent flagship planar magnetic headphones. It's a completely new design incorporating an all-new magnet and driver. This is no small upgrade over the previous models of headphone, and it places the LCD-5 at the top of the line of the market for personal audio. The LCD-5's drivers comprise ultra-thin Nano-Scale Diaphragms, paired with Parallel Uniforce voice coils as well as Fazor Waveguides. These new features work in tandem to control the diaphragm movement and provide a high-resolution.
Additionally the earpads on the LCD-5 are made to fit a greater range of heads. The pads are made from a more flexible material and the headband is lighter and smaller, so the LCD-5s will feel more comfortable on all ears than past models. They do clamp a bit more than other Audeze headphones and may be a bit tight for certain models, but this will be able to be resolved with time.
Audeze's LCD series has long been a benchmark in audio quality using planar magnetic headphones.