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planar magnetic driver Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones offer the most detailed and expansive listening experience. Audiophiles who want to upgrade their listening experience are raving about them.
Choosing the
best planar headphones headphones with planar magnetics depends on what you prioritize the most in a headphone. It all boils down to image quality, clarity and distinction in comparison to bass sound and slam.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The original LCD-2 was the first pair of planar magnetic headphones that really took off. It's so popular, it has become synonymous with technology. It's still among the top headphones in its class. Its sound is incredible and especially for a headset that can cost more than $1,000. The bass goes all the way to the point of hearing and is awe-inspiring in detail. The upper mids and lower treble are warm, but not in a snooty way. Overall the sound is rich in detail and has very little distortion.
The earpads are also very comfortable. The headband is soft and flexible and the earpads are extremely soft. They're lightweight enough to wear for long listening sessions without becoming too fatigued. Unfortunately, they don't provide a seal over the ears like the open-back models do, and this means that you can hear your surroundings. This isn't a problem for quiet areas however it could be a problem in noisy areas.
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 great material for a headphone. It's robust and durable, and it's much lighter than the wood rings that are used on some other Audeze models.
The LCD-2 Classics do not feel like the same premium headphones. The LCD-2 Classics have a DIY-like feel with their visible screws and lack of a finish. These headphones are still fantastic but they might not be suitable for all.
Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product for a lower price. These headphones offer the same high-quality technology of the LCD-2 Classics, but they come at a more affordable cost. They also have an improved seal on the earcups, and come with a carry case. The only thing that's missing is the incredible bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still provide an incredible sound that will please most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for itself with its innovative and affordable range of planar magnetic headphones. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the latest model of the company's headphone. It builds on the success of the first generation model and features improved performance as well as new striped finishes for improved modularity.
The LIRIC comes with a full frequency response ranging from 4Hz to 92,000Hz. It delivers music with exceptional clarity, and a wide soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone is effective in reducing high-frequency peaks, which can be a strain on the ear.
The headphones are designed to block out noise from the surrounding environment and allow for high-fidelity listening even while moving about. The headphones have an ovoid design that is reminiscent of the shape of human ear for a direct connection to the source of sound.
The Meze LIRIC is equipped with the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid array driver, which features dual-shaped voice coils for improved ambience and spatial sound imaging. This dual voicing technology is the result of more than 30 years of research and development which makes it one of the tiniest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers on the market.
To enhance their audio quality, the LIRIC headphones come with an equalization system that precisely regulates airflow and ear cup chamber pressure. This allows listeners to hear the same high-quality sound regardless of whether they're wearing the headphones in a workplace or on an airplane.
The Meze LIRIC created an incredibly smooth and balanced sound that I found very enjoyable to listen to for long periods of time. The bass is booming and deep, with a crisp treble. The soundstage is wide and there's a good separation between vocals and instruments. I liked that no detail was too small for the headphones to miss, from the sound of PJ Harvey’s 50ft Queenie to the individual guitar strings.
If you're searching for the best $2000
closed-back planar magnetic headphones The Meze LIRIC is an excellent option. It's a great alternative to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but has a slightly different sound and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
In their quest to make headphones that are both visually stunning and sonically excellent, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have stepped up the game in recent years with various flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most expensive headphones to date. It replaces the Empyrean model, which was their flagship.
Like the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone with a unique suspension wings design that enhance their wearability. These wings work much like the design of Dan Clark, HiFIMan, or Sendy headphones in that they spread the weight of the Elite's more powerful than average driver across a larger area of your head, enhancing the comfort of listening for long durations. They work well, and I have worn the Elite for
closed-back Planar magnetic headphones a long time without any discomfort.
The Elite is a reference-style headphone that has an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It has incredibly low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency range. It has an extremely sensitive sensitivity of 101 dB/mW and an impedance 32 ohms. This means that it can be driven by low-cost headphone amplifiers or DAPs as long as they can be used with the standard jack.
The Elite's diaphragm is another significant improvement over the Empyrean, moving away from the custom-developed polymer to use a low-mass semi-crystalline film that has been developed by biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This technique allows for an Elite diaphragm which is flexible and thin, as well as offering outstanding resistance to stress and fatigue cracking.
This change to a lower-mass diaphragm also leads to improved speed and resolution and brings the Elite to a level of performance that is right with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a more affordable price point. In actual fact the Elite is arguably more detailed than the LCD-2 and it has the ability to sound extremely neutral while providing the impression of depth, transparency, high-end air and transients. This makes it a great choice for fans of rock music as well as other genres in which bass is quite prominent.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE is among the most well-known headphones made of planar magnetic material around. It's a great option for any audiophile who is looking to transition into open back headphones and is also a great entry-level headphone for those who are already comfortable with planar magnetic technology. It comes with HiFiMAN's latest Stealth Magnet Design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction to almost unnoticeable levels.
While the HE400SE does not have quite the bass extension some other HiFiMAN models have but it still provides excellent low-end performance for an open back headphone. The HE400SE's lower end is full and deep, yet it doesn't sound boomy or bass-heavy. The general tone is neutral but with elevated trebles and forward midrange which many listeners will find pleasing.
The HE400SE is a great sounding model with a clear sound. The HE400SE is a great option for listening to acoustic music and also orchestral and classical music. This is the most affordable headphone for listening to this type of music. If you're using closed-back headphones with bass-heavy tuning, the transition might be uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to adjust to it.