Planar Magnetic Earbuds
If you're an audiophile professional or simply looking to upgrade your listening experience on the go, a great pair of planar magnetic headphones can elevate your music experience to the next level. These headphones are perfect for listening with a keen eye in audio production or at home where you can sit back and relax to your favorite music and enjoy them with clarity and comfort.
Price
The good news is that planar magnetic headphones can provide a lot of detail without distortion. The downside is that they can be costly.
Planar magnetic drivers (sometimes called orthodynamic) use a diaphragm with a small amount of conductive material sandwiched between two magnets. They sound more spacious and have a wider frequency response than dynamic drivers.
Planar magnetic headphones are typically more expensive than dynamic headphones because they are more hefty and require more power. They tend to have open-back designs that let in noise and allows for bleeds of sound. This can make them less mobile than their counterparts with a dynamic design and more likely to require an external amplifier to achieve optimal performance.
While the most premium planar magnetic headphones can cost a few thousand of dollars There are plenty of options for budget audiophiles willing to compromise. The HIFIMAN Sundara, for example is an example of open-back headphones that provide the speed and accuracy an earphone with a planar magnet can deliver without breaking the bank.
Another great option is the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, which offers a combination of bass slam and nimble technicalities which make them perfect for listening to music that is heavy. The LCD-2 is also one of the few sets of headphones on this list that comes with a hard-back pelican style travel case, ensuring more protection for your investment.
If you're looking for the best quality in headphones with a planar magnetic design you should budget at minimum $350. The models of the above-mentioned HIFIMAN Sundara are detail powerhouses and are a great way to get into the world of high-end headphones.
Design
Planar magnetic headphones consist of ultra-thin membranes printed with conductors, and
planar magnetic strung over a magnetic array which manipulates them at a staggering speed to create sound. They offer very low distortion and lightning rapid transient response. They also produce a very broad and precise frequency response, according to Audeze, the manufacturer. Audeze.
Audeze, HiFiMAN and other manufacturers have incorporated this technology into their top-of-the-line audiophile headphones. However, these aren't your grandfather's headphone - they tend to be heavier and larger than conventional dynamic-driver cans, often resulting in significant discomfort for some listeners after long listening sessions. Many audio brands that are boutique have created smaller designs which are more comfortable.
In addition to their distinctive aesthetics, many of these modern headphone designs offer superior bass response compared to traditional headphones. Planar magnetic headphones are able to create bass at a rate that is higher than most dynamic driver headphones. This is true even for open-back headphones like the Audeze Sundara and LCD-4z. Planar magnetic headphones on the other hand, offer a better image quality, clarity, and structure and can isolate each instrument line in the mix. They also have a distinct 'plucked" character that some audiophiles like.
All of these advantages add up to an expansive natural soundstage that lets music come alive and gives it the sense of air and space that dynamic-driver headphones cannot compete with. They're ideal for classical music and jazz in particular and modern instrumentalists who can count on their headphones to take care of intricate details and busy articulation without overwhelming the background. Like all headphones, there are both closed-back and open-back options which provide more spacious sound but isn't as effective in keeping out the noise while the latter gives greater privacy, but reduces transparency.
Soundstage
A top-quality
planar headphone can create a wide soundstage, which will increase the realism and realism in your favorite music. They also reproduce bass notes with the full-bodied sound listeners enjoy, offering an exciting and satisfying listening experience.
Planar headphones create their impressive soundstages by using unique drivers. These headphones employ thin diaphragms instead domes and cones used by most headphones. These drivers are able to move a greater amount of air than regular dynamic driver speakers, which results in superior clarity and accuracy in low frequency. This is the reason why these headphones are so popular with audiophiles and engineers alike.
These drivers have a larger volume, which allows for a more expansive and deeper soundstage than other headphones. A good pair of planars headphones also have clear and spacious mids and highs. The high-quality audio that they produce is unmatched by other kinds of headphones, ranging from low-cost portable models to the most expensive HiFi models available.
If you're thinking of upgrading to planar headphones, it's important to conduct your research. Be sure to review reviews from reputable audio websites like Head-Fi and the r/headphones subreddit as well as read the opinions of real users on social media. This will help you pick the best headphones that meet your requirements and preferences.
Like all headphones like all headphones, planar magnetic headphones are available in closed-back and open-back styles. Open-back models allow sound to escape from the earcups and out into the surrounding, whereas closed-back headphones block out the sounds inside to keep you in the privacy of. Both have advantages and disadvantages, however the majority of listeners prefer an open-back headphone as it provides a feeling of authenticity and airiness in their sound.
Comfort
Planar magnetic headphones are extremely comfortable and typically come with the earpads of soft premium materials like leather or suede. In addition, a lot of higher-end models have an earband that is light and air-conditioned. This means that they're comfortable for a long period of time.
Many audiophiles opt for planar magnetic headphones due to the fact that they provide the feeling of being immersed in their music. They also deliver incredible detail, clarity and realism that will give new life to your favourite tunes. However, since they tend to use open-back designs that bleed sound and allow surrounding noise to intrude, they may be less than ideal for listening to music in public.
The latest generation of planar drivers can overcome this limitation using dual voice coils that splits the diaphragm's frequency response. This allows the low frequencies to be handled by a switchback ring which is located on top of the driver and the mid-high frequencies to be dealt with by a spiral coil which is directly above the ear canal.
As a result, most modern-day headphones are more comfortable and lightweight than their predecessors. They also provide better bass and a more clear sound when compared to dynamic headphones. They are also less susceptible to distortions caused by harmonics than other kinds. The diaphragm's movement is quicker and more uniform than a dynamic speaker. This makes it less prone to fluctuations.
Noise isolation
The best headphones with planar magnets offer superior sound isolation over their dynamic driver counterparts. In addition to this they have lower impedance and sensitivity which makes them more suited to drive with portable electronics and require less power to operate. These headphones also have a wider range of frequencies than most other headphones. This lets you hear more bass and audio detail.