Planar Magnetic Headphone Tips That Will Change Your Life Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones produce uniform sound waves by using a thin, flat membrane that is suspended between magnets. This offers a better sense of soundstage, greater clarity and a unique sound distinctiveness that distinguish them from other dynamic driver headphones.

Audiophiles may find them more expensive and difficult to drive however, the cost is worth it. You can get a pair of headphones for less than $400. They include the budget-friendly Hifiman HE400i or Monoprice Monolith M1070.

Soundstage

Planar magnetic headphones with large drivers can create a vast soundstage. These expansive soundscapes will let you enjoy more details and create an immersive listening experience. You'll be able to more precisely pinpoint the location of each instrument and voice in the mix making them an excellent choice for mixing or studio use.

In addition to their outstanding soundstage, the planar magnetic headphones are also known for their incredible bass performance. Their large drivers are able to move a lot more air, which allows them to reproduce deep bass notes with amazing clarity and precision. This is a significant improvement over the muddy, tinny bass you hear from the majority of dynamic driver headphones.

best planar magnetic headphones have an unique design that utilizes a flat diaphragm with a conductive trace that is sandwiched between two arrays of magnetic material. When an electrical current flows through the conductive trace it creates a magnetic field which causes the diaphragm's surface to vibrate and create audio waves. The magnetic field regulates the diaphragm's motion and is evenly distributed across the entire surface. This creates an isodynamic (or constant) field that guarantees that the motion of the dialygm remains constant across the entire frequency range.

Planar magnetic headphones are less distortion-free than dynamic headphones, since the distortion that is caused by a dynamic driver comes from the voice coil's movement into and out of contact between the diaphragm and the voice coil. This means you can hear the music exactly as the artist wanted to hear it, even at a high volume.

One drawback of these headphones is that they leak more than typical open-back dynamic headphone models. This is because the large diaphragms that are used in these headphones move a great amount of air, and some of it escapes the open back of the headphone. If you're listening in a quiet environment this isn't a problem.

The choice between planar magnetic headphones and dynamic headphones is based on your budget and your preferences in listening. Planar magnetic headphones are the best option when you want accuracy, detail and low distortion.

Detail

In recent years, audiophiles have been more attracted to headphones that are planar magnetic. Known for their large sound, they use diaphragms with flat surfaces that move at incredible speed and flexibility to create superior high frequencies and a deep bass. In contrast to dynamic drivers with stiff, rigid driver voice coils the conductor trace of the planar magnetic headphone drivers is fixed on the flat diaphragm's surface, and it responds to the magnetic field generated by two magnets that are opposite. This allows them to reproduce frequencies with greater excursions than other headphones, and without driver distortion or diaphragm damage at high volume.


The flat diaphragm also produces a wider and more planar soundwavefront than dynamic drivers which have a more centered and more spherical soundwavefront (although some of the top-of-the-line dynamic driver headsets, like the Focal Utopia, can extend to 20Hz). Planar magnetic headphones feature an expanded, wider soundstage that allow them to display recordings with greater detail. This is particularly noticeable when playing instruments, as the detail and accuracy that planar magnetic headphones offer allow you to hear each individual woodwind note, string and piano note clearly, as intended by the composer.

Another feature of a quality pair of headphones is the way they reproduce sounds from around you. Depending on the shape of the earcups and whether they're closed-back or open-back headphones, certain models leak sound through the back of the earcup. In most instances this isn't a problem but in certain situations it can be disruptive to those around when you're listening. In this case it is recommended to choose headphones that minimize leakage or have an optional grille to use in public areas.

It is essential to select the right headphones for your lifestyle and preferences for listening. There are a variety of designs, sizes, and prices of a planar magnetic headphone that will suit your listening preferences.

Comfort

A planar-style magnetic headphones employs thin diaphragms and conductors strung across various magnets to manipulate sound waves. This wider wavefront produces sounds that are more resonant and natural, with incredible clarity, speed, precision and speed. They are hefty and require a dedicated amp to reach their full potential.

In recent years, many special HiFi audio brands have brought this old technology back. This lets listeners experience new levels in audio quality. These headphones might not look as sleek as dynamic models but they are known for their deep bass, intimate audio and excellent stage depth.

They are comfortable and comfortable to wear despite their dimensions and distinctive design. The ear cups can seal in your ears and keep out any background noise which allows you to focus on the music, but they don't clamp onto the head and neck like some other over-ear designs do. The light build and comfortable earpads are also a big draw for some listeners.

Another disadvantage of planar magnetic headphones is their typically high price. You can find low-cost dynamics headphones, however, many planar models need a dedicated DAC/amplifier to get the best out of them. They are more complicated than their dynamic counterparts, and require plenty of power to move the magnets.

Although there are some inexpensive choices (such as the HIFIMAN Deva or AUdeze Venus), most planar headphones fall within the top end of the spectrum, with some of the most expensive choices costing over $400 in price. It's a significant investment if you play music only on the move or play games all the time. However, for those who enjoy music at its best the planar headphones provide the best listening experience.

Despite their great sound however, the main drawback of the majority of headphones with planar design is their leakage. The bi-directional motion of the dual magnets cause them to push sound further out which could disturb people nearby or let in noises from outside. Certain models are more susceptible to this than others, but it is a problem for the majority of listeners who would like to listen to the sound quality of these headphones in a non-intrusive space.

Noise isolation

For a pair of headphones to be termed "headphones" they should be able to isolate your ears from the environment. A quality pair of planar headphones should have ergonomic design and top materials to prevent sound from escaping your ears. This will reduce the noise you hear and provide you with more of an immersive experience.

As a general rule the planar magnetic headphones tend to be bigger and heavier than their counterparts with dynamic sound. This is because the driver requires a larger surface area to produce sound and requires a larger earcup. The most exclusive HiFi audio brands prefer to design earcups using exotic woods and composites.

Planar magnetic headphones function by regulating electrical current via an electrified film sandwiched between two magnets. The magnetic field on either side of the film causes the diaphragm to vibrate and generates sound waves. The fact that the entire diaphragm is being driven to vibrate by the magnetic field, not just a small area connected to a voice coil means they are much less susceptible to distortion at high volumes.

A lot of the newer planar magnet headphones have a lower bass and lack the punch or slam you'd expect from a top-quality pair with dynamic drivers. It's a tradeoff, but one that can be sorted out by careful comparisons between various sets of headphones.

Therefore, it's best to take your time looking for a set of magnetic headphones that are planar and carefully read reviews from audio websites that are professional as well as those on the r/headphones subreddit. That's how you can be certain that the headphones you select will give you the best performance for your needs and musical preferences. Once you've done this, all that's left is to determine a suitable price/performance ratio. The Monoprice M1060 over-ear headphones are an excellent example of this, combining amazing audio quality with a sleek stealth style and comfortable pads that compete with the comfort of headphones that cost much more than the M1060.