What Freud Can Teach Us About Planar Magnetic
How a Planar Magnetic Diaphragm Headphone Driver Works
Typically, dynamic drivers feature an internal voice coil that is attached to the middle of a conical diaphragm. When an electrical signal is passed through the voice coil, it causes the diaphragm to move.
However, the force applied is limited to a tiny area and it's difficult to allow different parts of the diaphragm to move at the same time. This can cause distortions due to breakup patterns.
Audio with a Detailed Sound
Many audiophiles want to hear a detailed sound through their headphones. A good method to achieve this is with a planar magnetic diaphragm. This type of headphone driver functions in a similar way to dynamic cone drivers however with 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 light material. It's designed to be as uniform and flat as it is possible. This allows for an even pressure distribution across the entire surface.
The flat design of a planar magnetic diaphragm allows for a more controlled soundstage. A more focused wavefront results in better sound staging, which can help you identify the exact location of an instrument or vocal on the track. This is a major benefit over the more spherical wavefront that is typical of dynamic drivers.
A planar diaphragm differs from traditional dynamic drivers which utilize a voice coil that is attached to the cone's center composed of plastic or paper. Instead, it employs a series of magnets on each side of its flat surface. planar vs electrostatic headphones is vibrating and emits sound when the electrical current that passes through the voice coil interacts with these magnets. Because the entire diaphragm is driven simultaneously there is no breakup modes, mechanical filtering transmission delay or local resonances that can adversely affect sound quality.
A diaphragm with a flat and uniform shape is also capable of accelerating faster than the thicker and heavier ones used in dynamic drivers. Physics laws state that force is proportional to mass and acceleration so the faster a diaphragm will move, the more power it can exert. This gives planar magnetic drivers a more precise bass response as well as superior detail retrieval.
Of course, the benefits of the planar magnetic driver do not come at a cost. Because they have a complicated motor system and large diaphragms, they generally cost more than dynamic drivers, weigh more and require a higher-powered amplifier to function properly. Many manufacturers of planar magnetic headphones are able to take advantage of their technology to create premium headphones at competitive prices. Some 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 use a flat membrane instead of a traditional dome or cone shaped membrane. As an electrical signal moves through, it interacts both with the magnets as well as the diaphragm to create sound waves. The flat diaphragm can react quickly to sound, and produce a broad spectrum of frequencies from lows to highs.
Planar magnetic headphones are more sensitive than other drivers for headphone, which can use diaphragms up to several time larger than the typical planar design. This results in an exceptional quantity of clarity and dynamic range which allows you to appreciate every detail your music has to offer.
Additionally, planar magnetic drivers produce an extremely uniform force throughout the diaphragm and eliminates breakup points and produces a smooth sound that's free of distortion. This is especially crucial for high-frequency sounds where breakups can be noticeable and distracting. This is accomplished in the FT5 by utilizing polyimide, a material that is both ultralight and durable, and also a sophisticated conductor design that eliminates intermodulation distortion 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 wavefront, which alters the coherence of the signal, which causes less-than-perfect reconstructions of the highest frequencies, particularly at high frequencies. OPPO headphones sound incredibly natural and realistic.
Wide Frequency Response
A planar magnetic diaphragm is able to reproduce sounds with much wider frequencies than conventional dynamic drivers, thanks to their lightweight and thin diaphragm moves in a very controlled manner. They are able to deliver a high-quality transient response. This makes them a perfect option for audiophiles who are looking for speakers and headphones capable of reproducing the finest details of music.
The flat structure also gives them an even soundstage than normal headphones that have dynamic drivers that are coiled. In addition, they are less prone to leakage, which is the sound that escapes the headphones and out into the environment around you. In some instances this is a concern because it can distract listeners and affect their focus when listening to music. In other situations it can be beneficial since it allows listeners to enjoy music in public areas without worrying about disturbing people near by.
Rather than using a coil behind a cone-shaped diaphragm planar magnetic headphones have an array of conductors printed on the thin diaphragm. The conductor is hung between two magnets. When an electrical signal is applied, it transforms into electromagnetic energy and makes the magnetic forces on each side of the diaphragm to interact with each other. This is what makes the diaphragm vibrate and produce a soundwave.
The smooth movement of the diaphragm, which is lightweight and the fact that the force is evenly distributed over its surface this means that distortion is incredibly low. This is an enormous improvement over traditional dynamic drivers, which are known for producing distortion at high levels of listening.
Some premium headphones still employ the old-fashioned moving coil design, however most HiFi audiophiles are adopting a long-forgotten technology and a new generation of amazing sounding planar magnetic headphones. Certain models require a premium amp to drive them. But for those who are able to afford it, they provide an experience unlike any other headphones. They deliver a deep and detailed sound without the distortion you get with other kinds of headphones.
Minimal Inertia
Due to their construction, planar diaphragms can move faster and are lighter than conventional drivers. They reproduce audio signals with greater accuracy and can be tuned to a wider range. They also produce more natural sound and have less distortion than traditional dynamic speakers.
The two rows of magnets in a planar magnetic driver generate equal and uniform magnetic forces across the entire surface of the diaphragm. This reduces unnecessary and unwanted distortion. Since the force exerted on the diaphragm's lightweight is distributed evenly it is able to be controlled more precisely. This permits the diaphragm to be able to move in a precise pistonic motion, leading to an accurate and smooth music reproduction.
They also have the capability of achieving high levels of performance with very little weight. This makes them perfect for headphones that can be carried around. Additionally, they can be designed to offer a wide range of frequencies, from deep bass to high-frequency sounds. Audio professionals appreciate them for their broad frequency response and precise sound.
Planar magnetic drivers are different from dynamic drivers which use coils to push the diaphragm. They do not have any mechanical parts that could cause distortion. This is due to the fact that the conductors' flat surface rests directly on the diaphragm rather than being enclosed in a coil behind.
In contrast, the thin and lightweight diaphragm of a planar magnetic driver may be driven by an extremely strong magnetic field without loss of energy. As a result, the diaphragm is driven with an even pressure, which prevents it from bending and causing distortion.
The moment of inertia defines the resistance to the rotation of an object. It can be calculated from the formula I = mr2. The shape of the object determines its moment of inertia minimum. Longer and thinner objects have lower moments of inertia.