10 Things Competitors Inform You About Planar Magnetic Headphones
The Best Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones, also known as orthodynamics, generate sound using a thin diaphragm encased between several magnets. They provide a clear sound that is controlled and captures all the trailing edge of instruments and vocals to provide amazing musical precision.
They usually require a headphone amplifier to ensure that the drivers are properly powered. This is a small price to pay for a pair of headphones that will reveal new nuances and details you never knew existed in your music.
1. Dekoni Blue HE400SE
The Blue is the new definition of T50RP MK3 with a more neutral sound. It's not as neutral as the Philips FidelioX2HR but it's an excellent choice for those who like natural, warm sounding headphone and don't like excessive bass. The vocals are feminine and velvety. (Listen to Feel Good by Dominique Fils Aime). It has a good balance between low and high frequencies, making it a great choice for long listening sessions.
The planar magnetic structure helps to ensure accurate sound positioning, transparency, and a huge soundstage. This allows music to breathe and gives you the experience like you are in the middle of a concert. The treble is crisp and detailed and has a clear, non-fatiguing sound.
Bass is amazing for a budget-friendly headphone. It's incredibly clear and powerful yet it does not distort when listening to loud tracks. Its fidelity is also excellent with excellent midrange and detail retrieval.
2.
planar vs dynamic -2
Audeze headphones are well-known for their powerful sound and open-back design. These headphones are also hefty and bulky and don't effectively isolate. They won't be comfortable for everyone. They're an excellent choice for those who want headphones with a lively high-frequency.
With a custom-designed planar magnetic driver inside the ear cups, these headphones provide perfect sound that is free of distortion. They can even achieve low frequencies that traditional dynamic drivers struggle with. This is among the most popular planar magnetic headphones in the audiophile community.
Audeze's LCD-2 was their first headphone. It has the highest sound quality in its category. It has a rich and full-bodied bass that has honest transparency and virtually no distortion above 10Hz. It also has a natural-sounding treble that is balanced for sibilant tone, and it dips appropriately at around 9khz to account for concha interaction.
The LCD 2 Classics are a great alternative to the original LCD-2. They have the same iconic design and sound, but at much lower price. They're an excellent combination with tube amplifiers, and they have an impedance that is higher than other open-back headphones, so you'll require a headphone amplifier. These headphones aren't particularly breathable and may cause your ears to become warm after wearing them for long periods of time.
3. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano
The HIFIMAN Nano brings the egg-shaped design with the open back window shade of its predecessor to date, and comes with a variety of remarkable technological improvements. The Ananda Nano comes with a brand new NEO supernano diaphragm that's 75% thinner than the original model's, and also stealth magnets which offer greater clarity.
The midrange is spacious and airy with lots of clarity, a natural sound and will impress listeners. This is also a slightly bright headphone, with a bit of an edge to its sound that helps it stand out and add some personality. It's not harsh and does not have any bloating.
The low-end of HIFIMAN's is a little thin in its texture, but it does not compromise power or dynamics at all and the treble sounds crisp and clear without being overly bright or harsh. Contrary to other headphones that sound sluggish and closed-in, the treble of the Ananda Nano has great extension and is able to give a sense of space and clarity even at high volumes.
The headphone is simple to use and the acoustic clarity of its drivers will allow you to get the most out of your favorite music sources. Don't be fooled by the stories about these headphones needing a lot of power or high current - it's just a legend. In fact, I've been able to use these headphones for long gaming sessions as well as two seven-hour stretches at work, and they were still comfortable.
4. Audio Technica ATH-M1070
The price of headphones with a planar design can make them out of reach for a majority of music lovers, especially those who have other things to do in their lives. If you're willing to do some investigation you can find headphones that won't break the bank. Monolith by Monoprice's 1070C model is a closed-back model that features magnetic planar technology priced at $299 USD.
While the Monolith by Monoprice 1070C does not come with the features you might expect from a higher-end pair of headphones, it doesn't mean it's lacking in performance or quality. These headphones sound impressive and can be tuned to your preferences with some tweaking of the source of audio you pair them with.
The Monolith by Monoprice headphones have a high impedance and require a little help from your DAC/portable player to drive the sound effectively. Thankfully, the company provides several cord options in the box that come with the headphones including a three-meter coiled cable with an adapter with threaded 1/4 inches and two straight cables.
The 106mm driver in the Monolith by Monoprice 1070C delivers a rich soundstage that is full of detail and offers a sense of depth. On tracks like Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight the headphones can provide the impression of sitting in the back row of an orchestra. The treble sounds crisp and clear, while the mid-range is soft and smooth, without being too bassy.
5. Audio Technica ATH-M50X
The Audio Technica ATH-M50X are closed-back headphones that feature a surprisingly large pair of earcups that are comfortable over your ears. They're designed to function as an ideal studio headphone for recording mixing, as well as critical listening, which is why they have a full, rich sound that pleases bass lovers and also provides clarity to discern the subtle details in your music.
The ear cups are covered with a soft faux leather that feels comfortable on your ears and head, and they seal tightly enough to reduce outside noise. They come with a headband that is padded that fits around your head to provide comfort, but it could be a bit stiff and put pressure on the top of your head, which some listeners felt uncomfortable. They have a good soundstage, but some high-end details can be lost in the booming bass response.
These headphones feature a lively sound that's perfect for electronic music and other genres that are driven by pulse. The headphones feature a powerful bass boost that makes kick drums powerful, and have bright treble that emphasizes every note in a vocal melody or guitar riff.
The ATH M50X is a favored headphones for audiophiles and musicians. However it's not suited to all situations. It doesn't offer the same flat frequency response or articulation that higher-end headphones have like the Beyerdynamics DT 990 Pro, and can be a little too warm in the lower frequency for some.
6. Audeze LCD-XC
The LCD-XC is an open-back magnetic headphone that is planar and the first ever from Audeze. It is a big and heavy headphone, with wooden ear cups. It is the heaviest model on this list, and is among the most powerful closed-back models anywhere.
The Audeze LCD-XC has become the ideal device for musicians, recording engineers and audiophiles around the world because of its impressive neutrality and transparency. The closed-back design of the Audeze LCD-XC offers all the advantages that planar magnetic headphones offer like greater isolation and less ambient noise. This allows for a private listening experience. Your favorite music will erupt from the quiet background taking on a life of its own.
They have an exclusive innovative planar magnetic design that makes use of space-age materials and an ultra-thin diaphragms 4X larger than standard headphones for quick response times, significantly reduced distortion and higher resolution. Their unique driver design places a large, ultra thin driver in between two arrays of magnets to create incredible air movement. This results in their distinctive powerful bass and natural extended highs. The LCD-XC headphone is a reference-grade headphone that is specifically designed for professional mixing, recording, mastering and high-resolution Hi-Fi listening.
The treble is very clear and open, free of any artificial or colored sound. Vocals are also great with a rich and deep midrange and natural, crisp and clear treble that gives an authentic sense of intimacy.