Test: How Much Do You Know About Planar Magnetic Headphone?
Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones offer a detailed and wide listening experience. They're a favorite among audiophiles seeking to improve their listening experience.
Choosing the best headphones for planar magnetics is based on the features you value the most in the headphone. It comes down to image structure, clarity and distinction, as well as bass punch and slam.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The LCD-2 was one of the first planar magnetic headphones to gain attention. It's so popular, it has become synonymous with the technology. It's still among the best headphones in its class. The sound quality is amazing particularly for a headphone that costs well over $1,000. The bass is so deep that it goes beyond the human hearing range, and has an incredible amount of detail. The upper mids are warm but not overbearing. Overall, there is a lot of clarity in the sound and very little distortion.
The earpads are also very comfortable. The headband is soft and flexible, while the earpads are very plush. The headphones are light enough for long listening sessions, without feeling tired. They don't encase the ear like other open-back headphones, which means you can hear what's going on around you. This isn't a problem in quiet environments, but it can be an issue in louder areas.
The LCD-2 Classics have a very sturdy construction and are built to last. The earcups are made from crystal-infused nylon which is a fantastic material for a headphone. It appears robust and durable, and it's much lighter than the wood rings used on other Audeze models.
However, the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as high-end as some premium headphones. The LCD-2 Classics have a DIY feel with their visible screws and lack of finishing. These headphones are still fantastic but they might not be suitable for everyone.
Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product at an affordable price. These headphones have the same planar technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. They also have an improved seal on the earcups, and come with a carry case. The only thing that's missing is the amazing bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still have an amazing sound that should please the majority of audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for itself through its innovative and affordable range of planar magnetic headphones. The latest model from the company model, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first-generation model with improved performance and a new striped ebony finish to improve modularity and a long-lasting life.
The LIRIC features a full-frequency range that spans from 4Hz up to 92kHz, providing impressively detailed music with exceptional clarity and a broad soundstage. Additionally, the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively manages high-frequency spikes that can be exhausting to the ears.
The headphones are designed to block out noise from the surrounding environment and provide high-quality listening even while moving about. The headphones have an ovoid design that mimics the shape of human ear for direct connection to the source of the sound.
The Meze LIRIC features the company's exclusive Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver that has dual shaped voice coils to enhance ambience and spatial sound imaging. This dual voicing is the result of over 30 years of development and research which makes it the lightest and most advanced planar magnet driver available.
To enhance their sound quality, the LIRIC headphones have a pressure equalization mechanism which precisely regulates airflow as well as ear cup chamber pressure. This allows the listener to hear the same high-quality sound regardless of whether they wear the headphones in an office or on a plane.
In my tests during my testing, the Meze LIRIC sounded a fantastically well-balanced and smooth sound that is very enjoyable to listen for long periods of time. The treble is clear and clear, and the bass is powerful with great quality. The soundstage is huge with a good separation between vocals and instruments. 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 $2000 closed-back planar magnetic headphones, the Meze LIRIC is a great option. It's a good alternative to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but has a different timbre and is a bit lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been working to up their game in recent years by releasing various flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's highest-end headphones to date. It replaces the Empyrean that was previously their most popular.
Similar to the Empyrean and the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone with a unique suspension wings design that increase their wearability. These wings are similar to the ones on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they spread the weight of the Elite’s heavier than average driver across more of your head, improving comfort while listening for long periods. They work well and I've worn the Elite for a long time without any discomfort.
Sonically, the Elite is a reference headphone that comes with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver that has the ability to provide extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1% across its entire frequency range. It also has the highest sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW as well as an impedance of 32 Ohms which means it can be driven easily by budget headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they support the standard headphone jack).
The Elite diaphragm is another important improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of utilizing a polymer that has been developed specifically for the Elite, a low-mass semicrystalline film has been engineered by sequential biaxial lengthening. This allows the Elite to be a thin yet rigid diaphragm while still offering outstanding resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.
This shift to a lower-mass diaphragm can also result in increased speed and resolution, bringing the Elite to an level of performance that puts it with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a lower price point. The Elite is also more clear and neutral than the LCD-2 and still provides an impression of clarity, depth, air and transients.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE is among the most well-known planar magnetic headphones around. It's a great choice for any audiophile who is looking to make the jump into open-back headphones. It's 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 almost unnoticeable levels.
While the HE400SE isn't equipped with the bass extension that other HiFiMAN models do however, it does provide solid low end performance for an open back headphone. The HE400SE's lower end is very rich and full, but it doesn't sound loud or bass-heavy. The overall tone is neutral but with trebles that are higher and forward midrange which many listeners will appreciate.
The HE400SE has a very clear sound. The HE400SE is a fantastic option for listening to acoustic music and orchestral and classical music. It's the best budget headphone for this type of music. If you're used closed-back headphones with a bass-heavy tuning, the transition might be uncomfortable. It takes a couple of listening sessions to get used to it.
The HE400SE also has an impressive image. try here can produce a large, clear soundstage that allows musicians to feel centered in space. The vocals and the drums are very prominent in Prince's Let's go Crazy. The guitar solo is very prominent and easily heard over the rest of the instruments.
The HE400SE is a solid treble extension that has good clarity. The treble has a slight warmth but it's not too harsh. It doesn't have that added brightness that some other headphones with brighter treble can be, but it doesn't have the sibilance or fatiguing quality of some other cheaper open back headphones.
The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means that it will need an amplifier that is powerful to achieve the maximum SPL. It is compatible with all smartphones and portable devices, but requires an amp that has at minimum 0.5 W output power to reach its maximum SPL of 102 decibels.