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How a Planar Magnetic Diaphragm Headphone Driver Works
Typically, dynamic drivers comprise a voice coil attached to the middle of the diaphragm conical. When electrical signals pass through a voice coil, the diaphragm moves.
The force is applied to a small part of the diaphragm, so it's difficult to move several points at the same moment. This leads to breakup modes that can lead to distortion.
Sound Detail
Many audiophiles want a detailed sound through their headphones. One way to achieve this is by using a planar magnetic diaphragm. This kind of headphone driver works in a similar way to dynamic cone drivers, but with much more advanced technology behind it.
A planar diaphragm is a flat piece of material that is embedded within the frame of a headphone and made of a thin and lightweight material. It's made to be as uniform as possible, and its flat surface permits an even distribution of pressure across the entire surface which, in turn, improves the clarity of sound.
The flat design of a planar diaphragm magnetic diaphragm lets you control the soundstage. A more focused wavefront results in better sound staging that can help pinpoint the location of a vocal or instrument on the track. This is an advantage over the more spherical waves that are typical of dynamic drivers.
In contrast to traditional dynamic drivers, which utilize a voice coil located to the center of a plastic or paper cone, a planar diaphragm utilizes a series of magnets on its flat surface. The electric current that flows through the voice coil interacts with the magnets to cause the diaphragm to vibrate and produce sound. Since the entire diaphragm is driven at once there is no breakup modes mechanical filtering transmission delay, or local resonances that can negatively impact sound quality.
A diaphragm with a flat and uniform shape can also accelerate faster than the thicker and heavier ones that are used in dynamic drivers. Physics' laws of physics say that force is proportional to acceleration and mass, so the faster a diaphragm is able to move the more power it will exert. This gives planar magnetic drivers a more accurate bass response and superior detail retrieval.
The advantages of a planar magnetic driver are not without cost. Since they come with a complex motor system and large diaphragm, they usually cost more than dynamic drivers, are heavier and require a more powerful amplifier to function effectively. Many manufacturers of planar magnetic headphones can take advantage of their technology and design premium headphones at competitive prices. Examples include the Audeze LCD-4 and HiFiMAN Susvara.
High Sensitivity
Planar drivers differ from moving coil drivers used in most headphones or IEMs in that they employ a flat membrane instead of a conventional cone or dome membrane. When an electrical signal travels through it, it interacts with magnets on both sides of the diaphragm. This produces sound waves by bouncing the diaphragm. The flat nature of the diaphragm enables it to respond quickly to sound and is capable of generating a wide range of frequencies, from bass to highs.
The main benefit of a planar magnetic design is that it's more sensitive than other types of headphone driver, which can use a diaphragm that is up to a few times larger in volume than a typical planar headphone. This allows you to listen to all the details of your music.
Planar magnetic drivers also provide an extremely consistent driving force that is evenly distributed throughout the diaphragm. This eliminates breakup and creates an undistorted, smooth sound. This is especially crucial for high-frequency sounds where breakups can be noticeable and distracting. This is achieved in the FT5 by using polyimide, a material that is extremely light and durable, and also a sophisticated design of conductors which eliminates distortion of intermodulation caused by inductance.
OPPO's planar magnet drivers also offer a superior phase coherence. This means that when the sound wavefront hits our ear, it is flat and unaltered. Dynamic drivers have a spherical-shaped wavefront that disrupts the coherence of the signal, which results in less-than-perfect reconstructions of the highest frequencies, particularly at higher frequencies. OPPO headphones sound incredibly natural and realistic.
Wide Frequency Response
Planar magnetic diaphragms have the ability to reproduce sounds at higher frequencies than traditional drivers. This is because their thin and lightweight diaphragm moves very precisely. This allows them to offer an excellent transient response. This makes them an exceptional option for audiophiles who need quick responses from their speakers and headphones to reproduce the finest nuances in music.
This flat design also allows them to have a more uniform soundstage than headphones that have coiled dynamic drivers. They are also less prone to leakage - the sound that leaks out of the headphones into the environment. In some cases this can be a problem because it can distract listeners and alter their focus when listening to music. In headphone planar magnetic can be beneficial as it allows listeners to enjoy their music in public environments without having to worry about disturbing others close by.
Instead of using a coil that sits behind a cone-shaped diaphragm planar headphones are made up of an array of conductors printed on the very thin film of the diaphragm. The conductor is then suspended in between two magnets, and when an electrical signal is applied to this array it becomes electromagnetic, causing the magnetic forces that are on either side of the diaphragm to interact with each with each other. This is what makes the diaphragm vibrate, creating an audio wave.
The low distortion is due to the uniform motion of the lightweight, thin diaphragm, and the fact that the force is evenly dispersed across its surface. This is an enormous improvement over traditional dynamic drivers, that are known for causing distortion at very high levels of listening.
Some premium headphones utilize the old-fashioned design of moving coils. However, most HiFi audiophiles are embracing this long-forgotten technology to create a new generation planar magnetic headphones that sound amazing. Some of these models are extremely expensive and require a top-of-the-line amplifier to run them however for those who can afford them, they provide an incredible experience that's unrivalled by any other headphone. They deliver a deep and detailed sound without the distortion that comes with other headphones.
Minimal Inertia
Due to their design, planar diaphragms can move faster and are lighter than traditional drivers. This means they can reproduce audio signals with greater precision and can be tuned for greater frequency ranges. They also produce more natural sound and have less distortion than traditional dynamic speakers.
The dual rows of magnets inside a planar magnetic driver generate equal and uniform magnetic forces across the entire surface of the diaphragm. This eliminates any unwanted and unnecessary distortion. The lightweight diaphragm is more manageable since the force is evenly dispersed. This permits the diaphragm to move in an exact pistonic motion.
They are also capable of achieving very high levels of performance while carrying minimal weight. This makes them perfect for use as a portable headphone. Additionally, they can be produced to have the widest range of frequencies, ranging from deep bass to high-frequency sounds. The wide frequency response and accurate sound reproduction make them a favourite among audio professionals.
In contrast to dynamic drivers, which make use of coils to push against the diaphragm the planar magnetic driver has no mechanical parts that can come into contact with each with each other, causing distortion. This is due to the fact that the conductors' flat array sits directly on the diaphragm rather than within a coil behind it.
In contrast the slim and light diaphragm in a planar magnetic driver can be driven by a powerful magnetic field without any loss of energy. The diaphragm, thin, light membrane is driven by the magnetic field, which exerts a constant pressure. This prevents it from deforming or creating distortion.
The moment of inertia is the resistance to the rotation of an object. It is calculated using the formula I = mr2. An object's shape affects its minimum moment of inertia, with longer and thinner objects with lower moments of inertia compared to bigger and more robust ones.