How Do
Magnet Planar Headphones Work?
It may be difficult to comprehend the workings of planar magnetic drivers in case you've never worked with two. Planar magnetic drivers make use of two flat magnets which are sandwiched in thin diaphragms with conductors. This differs from the voicecoil actuator, which pushes a stiff cone back and forward.
Diaphragm
Contrary to a traditional headphone driver that has a cone or dome shaped diaphragm, a magnetic planar is a flat piece of flexible film. The film has conductors traced on it that react with magnets that are placed on either side of the diaphragm. When the electrical signal flowing through these wires changes, the magnetic field created by the magnets causes the diaphragm react and move. This movement creates sound waves that can be heard by you.
The diaphragm in the human body is a dome-shaped muscular membrane that separates the thoracic (chest), and abdominal cavities. It is the primary muscle of respiration and is involved in the process of inspiratory action (exhaling air) like breathing, sneezing, coughing, laughing, crying, vomiting, and parturition. The diaphragm is also essential for expulsive actions, including the act of urinating and bowel movements and pushing the fetus out during delivery.
Due to the ultra-light and thin nature of the diaphragm of a planar magnetic it is more flexible to changes in audio signal than dynamic drivers. This gives planar magnetic headphones an audio that is more precise and delicate than what you get with dynamic drivers.
One of the drawbacks of planar magnetic headphones is that they can have a bit more leakage than their dynamic counterparts, especially at higher volumes. This is because the movement of the diaphragm in a magnet planar headphone causes some of the audio to be pushed outwards and toward the listener.
It is not a big issue if you are using headphones only in quiet settings, or to watch movies. However, it can be irritating when you are listening to music or in public usage. Thankfully, there are some great options to reduce the amount of leakage such as the Audeze LCD-4 or HiFiMAN Sundara. Wisdom Audio, for example is a leader in the development of PMD technology. They have put in a lot of effort to solve the issues associated with this type of headphone. This is the reason they have patented numerous innovations that you can see in their products. Their flex-circuit-based planar-winding technology overcomes the limitations that stamped copper windings must overcome to offer a higher utilization rate.
The Conductors
The conductors are what connects the diaphragm to the magnets and are responsible for producing the sound you hear. These are usually made from a mixture of aluminum and copper. The diaphragm is then wrapped around the central magnetic core. This is supported by the headphone's frame. The magnetic core may be made from any material, but the most common is Neodymium. The core itself is the central element of any planar magnetic audio driver. It consists of a number of nested layers that form an helix that is circular with an area of 10-20mm.
Planar magnetic drivers have the advantage of creating a wider soundstage than their more dynamic counterparts. This is because when an audio signal is received at a certain frequency, the entire diaphragm is vibrating instead of just the small space that is connected to the voice coil. This larger surface area also results in lower distortion levels, especially when the volume is higher.
The ability of a magnet plane to react quickly to changes in audio signals is an additional feature. This makes it easier to reproduce a wide range of frequencies and produces an even more realistic and detailed sound. Audiophiles who enjoy music with various instruments and vocals will appreciate this feature.
The stacking design of planar magnetics reduces part-topart variability which makes them ideal for critical applications that require high reliability. Compared to traditional wirewound magnetics, these offer improved consistency with lower magnetic field distortion, which is vital to the performance of any electronic device.
The Magnets
As its name implies the word magnet refers to a material that possesses magnetic properties. It can cause a repulsive or attractive force on certain substances such as iron, nickel, cobalt and some steels. It also can draw or repel electrical conductors. This phenomenon is known as magnetism and can be produced in temporary, permanent or electromagnets. Magnets can be used in a variety of applications and are utilised in many different types of devices, including electronic devices such as headphones, mobile phones, laptop computers and
magnet planar car audio systems.
Unlike traditional balanced armature and dynamic drivers, which push a stiff diaphragm with the voice coil, planar magnetic driver technology employs a thin, light and flexible diaphragm that vibrates to create an unidirectional sound wavefront, instead of the narrow spherical wavefront that is common in headphones and speakers. This creates a cleaner and larger soundstage. It is also recognized for its rich bass.
The main disadvantage of planar magnetic drivers is that they need quite a lot of power to move the huge magnets within them which makes them heavier and heavier than other kinds of headphone drivers. A lot of planar magnetic drivers require a power amplifier to work properly.
The amplifier must be constructed so that it matches the power output of the planar magnetic driver in order to give the
best planar magnetic headphones listening experience. Additionally the amplifier should have a sufficient input impedance to drive the planar magnetic driver at its maximum output frequency.
The planar magnetic driver is usually constructed to be a dipole (radiating equally and in opposite phase in front of and behind the speaker, like ESLs) or a Monopole (radiating only in the direction of the forward and more like traditional headphones). The most commonly used model is a bipole, with one north and one south pole. Its shape makes it simple to fabricate as a single piece of metal and is very effective in creating a strong field at the center of the faceplate.
Planar magnetic drivers are more efficient and have a lower distortion due to their dimensions. They are utilized in high-end headphone systems where sonic accuracy is crucial. They can also be found in professional audio equipment like microphones and loudspeakers. Due to their unique design they are also ideal for medical imaging as well as other applications that require extremely high precision.
The Seal
To be effective for optimal performance,
planar magnetic closed back headphones drivers need to be sealed extremely tightly and precisely. A small leak could be a major impact on the quality of sound and could cause distortion. It requires an enormous amount of effort to design the ideal seal for a planar driver.
Unlike many conventional headphone designs, planar magnetic headphones must not have any gaps within the enclosure for acoustics. This is because gaps cause the diaphragm's resonance to be influenced by multiple frequencies simultaneously. This is known as crosstalk and can cause the entire sound quality to be affected.
Rubber rings are the most commonly used type of seal used in headphones that are planar. This type of seal is extremely effective in preventing air leaks. It is also very robust and lasts for a long time. However it is crucial to be aware that this type of seal can occasionally produce an unnatural sound. If you're planning to use a planar magnetic headphone,
Magnet Planar be sure to choose a top-quality seal.
Another option for an in-plane magnetic driver is the liquid crystal display (LCD) seal. This is an advanced seal that is designed to stop gaps from forming. It also can withstand a lot of pressure.