A Peek In Planar Magnetic Headphone's Secrets Of Planar Magnetic Headphone
Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones provide a detailed and wide listening experience. Audiophiles who want to upgrade their listening experience are raving about them.
Choosing the best headphones with planar magnetics depends on what you want the most when it comes to a headphone. It all boils down to clarity of the image and distinction as well as clarity versus bass volume.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The original LCD-2 was the first of the planar magnetic headphones to really take off. my response 's so popular, it has become synonymous with the technology. It's still among the top headphones of its kind. The sound quality is exceptional especially for a device that costs over $1,000. The bass is so deep that it extends past the human hearing range and is bursting with a lot of detail. The upper mids are warm but not obnoxious. Overall, the sound is full of detail and has very little distortion.
They are extremely comfortable to wear and are also very. The headband is soft and flexible and the earpads are extremely comfortable. They are also light enough to allow for long listening sessions without becoming too fatigued. However, they don't offer a seal over the ears like the open-back headphones do. And this means you'll be able to hear your surroundings. This isn't a problem for quiet environments but could be an issue in louder areas.
In terms of quality of build In terms of build quality, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and constructed to last. The earcups are made of crystal-infused nylon, which is a great material for a headphone. It looks sturdy and long-lasting, and is lighter than the wood rings used on 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 an absence of a polished look on the metal components. They're still a great pair of headphones, but they might not be right for everyone.
If you're seeking a similar headphone that is cheaper then the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent choice. They feature the same technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. They also have a more secure seal on the earcups and come with a carrying case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the impressive bass extension and clearness that they boast. However the sound quality is incredible and should satisfy most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for itself with its affordable and innovative range of planar magnetic headphones. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the company's latest headphone. It builds on the success of the first generation model with performance improvements and a new striped finish to increase the modularity.
The LIRIC comes with a full frequency response ranging from 4Hz to 92,000 Hz. It delivers music with exceptional clarity, and a vast soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone effectively reduces high-frequency peaks that can be a strain on the ear.
The headphones are designed to block out background noise and allow for high-fidelity listening while moving about. They also have an oval-shaped design that fits the natural human ear's shape for a better direct connection to the sound source.
The Meze LIRIC features the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver that has dual-shaped voice coils that improve ambience and spatial sound imaging. This dual sound is the result of over 30 years of research and design which makes it the most lightweight and advanced planar magnet driver on the market.
The LIRIC headphones feature a technology for equalizing pressure that regulates the pressure and airflow in the earcup chambers to improve the sound quality. This ensures that the user hears the same sound quality regardless of whether the headphones are used in an office on a plane, in a hotel or commuting to work.
The Meze LIRIC created an unison and smooth sound that I found very 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 incredibly expansive with good separation between vocals and instruments. I also appreciated the fact that no element of an album was too small to escape the attention of headphones from the decay and attack of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings on an electric guitar.
The Meze LIRIC is an excellent option if you're looking for the best closed-back planar magnetic headphones for less than $2000. It's a great competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3, but has a slightly different timbre and lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been stepping up their game in recent years with the release of several flagship products. The Elite the latest model, is their highest expensive headphone to date and is a worthy replacement for Empyrean as the company's flagship.
The Elite is also an open-back model, however, it has unique wings that improve wearability. The wings function similar to the design used on Dan Clark, HiFIMan, or Sendy headphones, in that they spread the weight of the Elite's heavier than average driver across a larger area of your head to improve the comfort when listening for long durations. They do work well, and I have worn the Elite for many hours without any discomfort.
The Elite is a reference-style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It can deliver extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1% over the entire frequency spectrum. It has an excellent sensitivity of 101 dB/mW, and an impedance 32 ohms. This means that it can be driven by budget headphones or DAPs if they support the standard jack.
The Elite diaphragm is another significant upgrade over the Empyrean. Instead of using a specially-designed polymer the film is a semicrystalline low-mass material that is engineered using biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This creates an Elite diaphragm which is flexible and thin, while providing excellent resistance to stress and fatigue cracking.
The switch to a lower mass diaphragm can also result in increased speed and resolution which brings the Elite to the level of performance that is right with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a lower price. The Elite is even more resolving and neutral than the LCD-2 but still offers the feeling of depth, transparency, air and transients.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most popular on the market. It's a great choice for any audiophile looking to make the jump into open back headphones and is also a great entry-level model for those who are already comfortable with planar magnetic technology. It features HiFiMAN’s new Stealth Magnet Design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction to nearly non-existent levels.
The HE400SE is a fantastic open-back headphone, but it does not have the same bass extension that some other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE has a very rich and deep bass, but it doesn't sound loud. The overall tonality is neutral, with a hint of forward-looking midrange and an elevated treble that many listeners will appreciate.
The HE400SE has a very clear sound. The HE400SE is a great choice for listening to acoustic music and also classical and orchestral music. This is the most affordable headphone for listening to this type of music. However, if you're used to closed-back headphones with an emphasis on bass, the transition can be somewhat uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to get used to it.
The HE400SE also has an impressive image. The HE400SE can create a huge and detailed soundstage that allows the musicians to feel centered in the space. The vocals and the drums are prominent in Prince's Let's Go Crazy. The guitar solo is prominent and can be easily heard over the other instruments.
The HE400SE is a great treble extension that has good clarity. The treble is slightly warm, but not abrasive at all. It doesn't have the extra brightness that some other headphones with brighter treble can possess, but it does have the sibilance and fatiguing quality of some other open back headphones.
The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means it will need an amp with a high power to reach the maximum SPL. It can be used with the majority of smartphones and portable players but will require an amp with at least 0.5 W output power to reach its maximum SPL of 102 decibels.