How Do Magnet Planar Headphones Work?
If you've never tried a pair of headphones that utilize planar magnetic drivers, it may be difficult to get your head around how they work. In contrast to the voicecoil actuator which drives a stiff cone back and forth,
planar magnetic drivers employ two flat magnets sandwiching thin diaphragms that is printed with conductors.
Diaphragm
Magnet planars are flat pieces made of flexible film, which is different from traditional dynamic headphone drivers with a dome or cone shaped diaphragm. The film is made of conductors which react to magnets on across the membrane. The diaphragm is able to react and move when the magnetic field generated by these magnets is stimulated by the electrical signal that flows through the wires. This movement creates soundwaves that you then hear.
The diaphragm of the human body is a dome-shaped membrane that separates thoracic (chest) and abdominal cavities. It is the main respiratory muscle, and is responsible for inspiratory actions, like breathing coughing and sneezing and crying, laughing as well as vomiting and parturition. The diaphragm also is essential for expulsive actions, such as the act of urinating and bowel movements and pushing out the fetus during the birth.
A planar magnetic diaphragm is more sensitive to changes in audio signals than dynamic drivers due to its ultra-lightweight and thinness. This gives planar magnetic headphones an audio that is more precise and delicate than the sound you get from dynamic drivers.
One of the downsides of planar magnetic headphones is that they are likely to have a little more leakage than their dynamic counterparts, especially at higher volumes. This is due to the motion of the diaphragm in a magnet
planar headphone causes some of the audio to be pushed further outwards and then towards the listener.
This isn't a problem if you only use the headphones in quiet areas or while watching films, but it can be a problem for listening in public and usage. There are, however, very good options available for
Magnetic planar reducing the amount of leakage, like the Audeze LCD-4 or HiFiMAN Sundara. Additionally, certain brands like Wisdom Audio are at the forefront of the development of PMD technology and have been working hard to address the issues that come with this style of headphone. This is why they have patents on various innovations that you see in their products. Their flex-circuit-based planar-winding technology overcomes the limitations that stamped copper windings have to provide a higher utilization.
The Conductors
Conductors connect the diaphragm to the magnets, and they are responsible for the sound you hear. These are usually made from a combination copper and aluminum. The diaphragm is then wrapped around the central magnetic core. This is supported by the headphone's frame. The magnetic core can be made from any material, but the most common is Neodymium. The core itself is the primary component of any planar audio driver and consists of a series of nested layers of an helix that is circular with an area of 10-20mm.
One of the main advantages of planar magnetic drivers is that they create an even larger soundstage than their dynamic counterparts. This is due to the fact that the entire diaphragm vibrates when an audio signal is received instead of a tiny area that is connected to the voice coil. This greater surface area results in lower distortion levels especially at higher volume.
The ability of a magnet plane to quickly react to changes in audio signals is a crucial characteristic. This enables a wider spectrum of frequencies to be reproduced, as well as a more realistic sound. This is an excellent feature for audiophiles who enjoy music that includes a variety of instruments and vocals.
The stacked design of planar magnetics reduces part-topart variability which makes them ideal for mission-critical applications that require high reliability. In comparison to wirewound magnetics, they offer better consistency and lower magnetic field distortion, which is essential to the performance of any electronic device.
The Magnets
As the name suggests it is an element that has magnetic properties. It can create an attractive or a repulsive force on certain materials such as nickel, iron cobalt and some steels. It also can draw or repel certain electrical conductors. This phenomenon is referred to as magnetism. It is produced by electromagnets, permanent or temporary magnets. Magnets are used in many applications, such as electronic devices such as mobile phones, headphones and laptop computers.
Planar magnetic driver technology, unlike traditional balanced armature or dynamic drivers, which push an extremely rigid and stiff diaphragm by using the voice coil to produce the sound wavefront, uses an extremely thin and flexible diaphragm. This diaphragm vibrates and creates a flat sound wavefront instead of a spherical focused one, which is the norm in the majority of headphones and speakers. This creates a cleaner and more spacious soundstage, and is well-known for its deep bass.
The biggest drawback to planar magnetic drivers is that they need plenty of power to move the huge magnets inside them making them more bulky and heavier than other kinds of headphone drivers. Therefore, a lot of planar magnetic drivers require a separate power amplifier to function correctly.
The amplifier should be designed to match the power output of a planar magnetic driver order to give the best listening experience. The amplifier must also have an impedance that is high at the input in order to drive the planar magnet driver to its maximum output.
The planar magnetic drive is usually designed as either dipole, which radiates equally and in opposite phases in front and behind the speaker (like ESLs) or a monopole that emits only in the forward-facing direction (more like traditional headphones). The most popular design of a planar magnetic driver is a bipole with alternating poles on the south and north. Its shape makes it simple to create as one piece of metal and is very effective in creating a strong field in the center of the faceplate.
Planar magnetic drivers are more efficient and have a smaller distortion due to their size. They are often employed in headphones with high-end features in which sonic precision is essential. They are also found in professional audio equipment like speakers and microphones. Due to their unique construction, they are also suitable for medical imaging as well as other applications that require extreme precision.
The Seal
To be effective Planar drivers must be sealed very securely and precisely. A tiny leak can have a significant impact on the quality of sound and may cause distortion. Therefore, a great deal of work is required to create the proper seal for drivers with planar designs.
Planar magnetic headphones, in contrast to other headphone designs, must not have any gaps in the enclosure for acoustics. This is because gaps cause the diaphragm's resonance to occur at multiple frequencies at once. This is known as crosstalk and can cause the overall sound quality to suffer significantly.
Rubber rings are the most common type of seal used for planar magnetic headphones. This type of seal is very effective in preventing air leaks. It is also very robust and lasts for an extended period of time. It is crucial to remember that this type of seal may sometimes create an unnatural sound. If you plan to use a planar magnet headphone, you must choose a top-quality seal.
The liquid crystal display (LCD), seal is a different option for a
magnetic planar driver. This is a higher-end type of seal designed to prevent the formation of gaps. It can also stand up to pressures of a great deal. It is an excellent choice for audiophiles who want premium sound quality.