Planar Magnetic SpeakersPlanar magnetic loudspeakers are specific type of speaker. They have a flat membrane that vibrates when magnetic fields are applied. They generate a wide frequency range and are different from dynamic drivers.
Dynamic driver diaphragms can be stiff and require large excursions to move air, which can cause distortion. Diaphragms made of planar materials are much smaller and more flexible, resulting in better performance.
The price is higher
Planar magnetic headphones provide incredible clarity and detail, however they come at a price. They are more expensive to produce and require a top-quality amplifier to ensure they function properly. They are also bigger and heavier than dynamic headphones, which makes them less portable. They are still a favorite among audiophiles because of their excellent sound quality.
A major advantage of planar inductors and
planar magnetic speakers transformers is their low winding ratio. They employ stacked coils, which allows more copper to be utilized in the same footprint. They also achieve a greater efficiency and a larger frequency response. This kind of design is well in mission-critical applications where power and reliability are crucial.
The price of headphones that are planar is among the main obstacles to their widespread acceptance. They are generally more expensive, especially when it comes to bass performance. The reason for this is because their drivers are more complex and require a premium amplifier to operate. This is why most people prefer a headset with an active driver instead of a planar.
In addition to the cost of planar headphones they also require lots of power to function. The massive magnets in the drivers can be very heavy, and they require a significant amount of power to uniformly move them. They also have a higher volume than conventional cone headphones, so you may need to lower the volume when listening to them in public.
Planar headphones are more costly than other kinds of headphones, however they have a variety of advantages that make the investment worthwhile. They offer exceptional clarity and resolution, which can bring new life to old favorite songs. They also can reveal the details in music that you may have missed earlier. Audeze LCD-4, and HiFiMAN's Susvara are just two examples. There are also planar headphones that are priced reasonably and offer amazing sound. Rinko by Seeaudio, and S12 Z12 by LETSHUOER are two of the best. In the end, the choice to purchase an open-back headphone is a personal choice and depends on what you value most.
They can be difficult to drive
A planar magnetic headphones uses flat diaphragms that have conductors on either side. The design is lighter than the cone-shaped or dome-shaped diaphragms used in dynamic drivers. It is therefore able to move faster and produce a greater excursion. Planar magnetics also cause less harmonic distortion than dynamic drivers. This topology is ideal for headphones with high-fidelity, since it offers an excellent image structure and clarity with a distinct bass response. It is harder to reproduce stereo sound with planar magnetic headphones than with dynamic drivers, but this is not an issue for audiophiles that value the ability to hear the finer details in their music.
However they require higher output amplifiers than dynamic headphones to achieve their full potential. This is because the diaphragm's movement creates sound pressure by contracting and expanding and needs to be powered with sufficient force to produce a clear, well-sounding sound. If the armature or voicecoil does not have sufficient power to drive diaphragms, they may not be able respond quickly to changes in frequency. This can result in distortion in the sound.
It is possible to find headphones that produce a booming bass. However they typically utilize a driver that is too small, which restricts their ability to expand and retract the diaphragm. This results in slow transient response and a slow bass that isn't responding as fast to changes in music.
A second problem with planar magnets is that they can be difficult to manufacture. This can lead to small mistakes in the phase response and distortion between units. This can result in noticeable differences to your listening experience. Fortunately, there are manufacturers who have come up with ways to overcome these limitations. Wisdom Audio, for example utilizes patent-pending innovations to boost the performance of their planar magnetic technology.
The choice of a planar magnetic headphones is a personal choice and will depend on your preferences and budget. Planar magnetic headphones, available in open-back and closed-back designs, are very popular with audiophiles because of their clarity and distinction. The open-back design is the most popular option, because it complements the strengths of these headphones: clarity, speed and accuracy.
Bulky
The
planar magnetic technology is an old component structure that has been revived by a few specialized HiFi audio headphone companies in recent years. These headphones feature a flat diaphragm suspended between two magnets, each with an equal magnetic force, which creates uniform sound waves. This technology delivers a large rich, deep sound that is reminiscent of the top electrostatic headphones. It also provides exceptional bass performance, which makes it a fantastic choice for listeners who want to enjoy music in the privacy of their own home.
In the past, planar headphones were very heavy, but advances in technology have made them much lighter and more transportable. These newer headphones have superior
planar magnetic speakers sound quality and are also more comfortable to drive. They have a better image clarity and structure, which allows listeners to isolate individual instrument lines. They are also known to have a rich bass response and clear vocals. However, they don't provide the same wide soundstage as true ribbon headphones and they may have a less natural dynamic range than their competitors.
The most heavy-weight headphones for planar magnetic are by nature, because they use large magnet structures which generate a significant amount of power to move the diaphragm. Motor designs can be intricate, requiring a large number of turns. This can add a lot of weight.
These magnetics are also difficult to drive since they require more voltage to create the typical sound of wirewound magnets. This voltage is necessary to overcome the hysteresis that occurs in the ferrite core. There are a variety of methods that can be used to reduce the parasitic capacitance of an arc-shaped magnetic design, including changing the winding order, removing inner turns, and Litzing techniques.
These methods have been tested and found to improve the performance of planar magnetics, and can be used to mathematically model these devices. These models can be used to determine the optimal circuitry of a planar magnet device and minimize parasitic capacitance.
Planar magnetics can be more expensive than standard headphones but they are worth the cost if you like listening to your favorite music in a premium audio environment. Professional musicians who require precise and clear sound can also benefit from these headphones.
They are not as portable.
A lot of planar magnetic headphones require an energized DAC or AMP in order to function, making them less portable than other types of headphones. This can be a challenge for those who want to take their music with them. Fortunately, there are several portable DACs and amplifiers available which can be used with planar magnetic headphones. These devices are expensive but it's worth looking into an option that is less expensive for listening on the go.
In addition to their high-frequency clarity,
planar magnetic headphone magnetic headphones are renowned for their deep bass.