Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones offer the most extensive and precise listening experience. Audiophiles who want to upgrade their listening experience are raving about them.
The best headphones for planar magnetics is based on what you want the most in the headphones you choose to purchase. It all boils down to image structure, clarity and distinction, as well as bass punch and slam.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The original LCD-2 was the first of the planar magnetic headphones to really take off. It's so popular that it has become synonymous with the technology. It's still among the top headphones of its kind. The quality of its sound is incredible, especially for a headset that costs over $1,000. The bass is so deep that it extends beyond the human hearing range, and has an incredible amount of detail. The upper mids are warm but not overbearing. Overall, the sound is rich in detail and has very little distortion.
The earpads are comfortable. The headband is soft and flexible,
closed-back planar magnetic headphones and the earpads are extremely soft. The headphones are light enough for long listening sessions without feeling tired. Unfortunately, they don't provide an airtight seal around your ears like the open-back headphones do, and this means you'll be able to hear the sounds around you. This isn't a problem for quiet areas, but it can be a problem in noisy areas.
The LCD-2 Classics have a very solid build and are built to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are made of crystal-infused nylon. This is an excellent material for a headphones. It's robust and long-lasting, and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings that are used on some other Audeze models.
The LCD-2 Classics do not feel like the same premium headphones. They have a bit of a DIY feel to them with all the screws visible and the lack of a finish on the metal components. They are still a fantastic pair of headphones, but they might not be right for everyone.
Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product at a lower price. These headphones feature the same great technology of the LCD-2 Classics, but they come at a less expensive price. The earcups are sealed better and come with a carry case. The only thing missing is the impressive bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still provide an incredible sound that should satisfy most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for itself thanks to its innovative and affordable line of planar magnetic headphones. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the company's latest headphone. It builds on the success of the first generation model and features improved performance as well as the new striped finish that allows to improve modularity.
The LIRIC boasts a full-frequency response that ranges from 4Hz to 92kHz, delivering impressively detailed music with exceptional clarity and a broad soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone effectively reduces high-frequency peaks, which can be tiring to the ear.
The headphones are designed to block out ambient sound and provide high-quality listening while in motion. The headphones sport an ovoid design that is reminiscent of the shape of human ear for an immediate connection to the sound source.
The Meze LIRIC comes with the company's own proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid-Array Driver, which has dual-shaped voice coils that improve the ambience and spatial sound imaging. Dual voice coil is the result of more than 30 years of development and research which makes it the most lightweight and advanced planar magnet driver available.
To improve the sound quality, LIRIC headphones come with a pressure equalization mechanism that precisely regulates airflow and the pressure in the ear cup chamber. This ensures that the wearer receives the same quality sound regardless of whether the headphones are used in an office, on a plane or traveling to work.
In my tests during my testing, the Meze LIRIC produced a stunningly balanced and smooth sound that's extremely enjoyable to listen to for long periods of time. The treble is crisp and clear and the bass is punchy with excellent clarity. The soundstage is expansive and there is good separation between the instruments and vocals. I liked that no detail was too small for the headphones to miss, from the roar of PJ Harvey’s 50ft Queenie to the individual guitar strings.
If you're searching for the
best planar magnetic iem $2000
closed-back planar magnetic headphones, the Meze LIRIC is a great choice. It's a good alternative to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but offers a slightly different timbre and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
In their search to create headphones that are both stunning in appearance and sound quality, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have increased their game in recent years with several flagship products. The Elite the latest offering, is their most premium headphone yet and an excellent replacement for the Empyrean as Meze's flagship.
The Elite is also an open-back design, however, it has unique wings that improve wearability. The wings function similar to the design of Dan Clark, HiFIMan, or Sendy headphones, in that they distribute the weight of the heavier than average driver over a greater area of your head to increase the comfort when listening for long durations. In my experience, they indeed work very well and the Elite can be worn for hours without discomfort.
The Elite is a reference-style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It has incredibly low harmonic distortion, averaging less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency range. It has a high sensitivity of 101 dB/mW, and an impedance of 32 ohms. This means it can be driven by low-cost headphone amplifiers or DAPs as long as they are compatible with the standard jack.
The Elite's diaphragm has been a significant improvement over the Empyrean, moving away from the polymer that was developed by a custom-made company to utilize a low-mass semi-crystalline film that has been developed by biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This process allows the Elite to be a thin yet rigid diaphragm while still offering outstanding resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.
The Elite's diaphragm with a lower mass results in a higher speed and resolution. It is now able to compete with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a slightly cheaper price. In actual fact the Elite is perhaps even more resolving than the LCD-2 and can be very neutral, while delivering an impression of depth, transparency, top-end air, and transients. This makes it an excellent choice for fans of rock music as well as other genres where bass is very noticeable.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most well-known on the market. It's a great choice for audiophiles wanting to transition to open-back headphones, and for those already familiar with the technology of planar magnets. It features HiFiMAN's new Stealth Magnet design that reduces wave diffraction and distortion to levels that are nearly unnoticeable.
While the HE400SE doesn't have the bass extension that other HiFiMAN models have, it still delivers solid low end performance for an open back headphone. The HE400SE has a very rich and deep bass however it doesn't sound boomy. The overall tonality is neutral but with some higher treble and a forward midrange which many listeners will find appealing.
The HE400SE has a very clear sound. The HE400SE is a great option for listening to acoustic and also classical and orchestral music. It's the most affordable headphones for
Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones this kind of music. If you're using closed-back headphones with a bass-heavy tuning, the transition could be uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to adjust to it.
The HE400SE also has impressive imaging.