Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones create uniform soundwaves using a thin, flat membrane that is suspended between two magnets. This gives a better soundstage, more detail and a distinct sound signature.
Audiophiles may find them more expensive and difficult to drive however, the cost is worth it. You can pick up headphones for less than $400, such as the affordable Hifiman HE-400i or Monoprice Monolith M1070.
Soundstage
With their massive drivers, planar magnetic headphones can create exceptionally wide soundstages. These large soundscapes let you hear more detail and create a more immersive listening experience. You can better identify the instruments and vocals that are in the mix. This makes them a great choice for studio or mixing use.
Planar magnetic headphones are known for their amazing bass performance. Their massive drivers can move a lot more air, which allows them to reproduce deep bass notes with incredible clarity and precision. This is a significant improvement over the muddy, tinny bass you hear from the majority of dynamic driver headphones.
Planar magnetic headphones come with an unique design that utilizes flat diaphragms with an conductive trace pattern that is sandwiched between two arrays of magnetic material. When an electrical current is passed through the conductive pattern it creates a magnetic field that causes the diaphragm to vibrate and produce sound waves. The magnetic field regulates the diaphragm's movement and is evenly distributed across the entire surface. This produces an isodynamic (or constant) field that ensures that the motion of the dialygm remains constant throughout the entire frequency range.
The distortion produced by dynamic drivers is due to the voice coil moving in and out of contact with the diaphragm, planar magnetic headphones have considerably less distortion than their dynamic counterparts. This means that you will be able to hear the music exactly as the artist intended even at higher volumes.
Planar magnetic headphones leak more than open-back dynamic models. This is due to the large diaphragms in these headphones circulate a huge deal of air, and some of it escapes from the back of the headphone. But, if you're listening in an isolated environment, this shouldn't be an issue.
The choice between planar magnetic and dynamic headphones really comes down to your preferences in listening and your budget. Planar magnetic headphones are the best option for those who value accuracy, detail and low distortion.
Detail
In recent years, audiophiles have become more interested in headphones that are planar magnetic. They are renowned for their soaring sound and utilize flat diaphragms that are able to move at an incredible speed to create deep bass and superior high frequencies. The conductor trace that is present on planar magnetic headphones is attached to the diaphragm's flat surface and responds to the magnetic fields produced by two opposing magnetic poles. This allows the drivers to reproduce frequencies with greater variations than other headphones, and without driver distortion or diaphragm damage at high volume.
This also leads to the flat diaphragm creating a larger soundwavefront that is more planar, rather than the more narrow spherical waves like dynamic drivers (although some of the latest, high-end dynamic driver headphones such as Focal Utopia can extend into 20Hz). Planar magnetic headphones offer larger, more expansive soundstage that allows them to reveal recordings with greater detail. This is particularly evident with instruments, where the clarity and detail that planar headphones provide let you hear every individual woodwind note, string, and piano key clearly, as they were originally intended by the composer.
Another quality of a good pair of headphones is how they reproduce sounds that surround you. Depending on the design of the ear cups, and whether they're closed-back or open back headphones, certain models leak sound through the back of the ear cup. In most instances this isn't a problem however in certain cases it could be disruptive to others who are nearby when you're listening. In this case you should choose headphones that minimize leakage or have an optional grille that you can use in public spaces.
Whatever type of headphone you pick, it's essential to find the right pair to fit your lifestyle and music preferences. There are a variety of types, sizes and prices of a planar magnetic headphones that will fit your listening preferences.
Comfort
A planar magnetic headphone uses thin diaphragms that are imprinted with conductors strung across an array of magnets that manipulate the sound waves in ways that traditional dynamic headphones are unable to. This wider wavefront produces sounds that are more resonant and natural, with amazing detail, speed, accuracy and speed. They are heavy and need a dedicated amp to reach their full potential.
A variety of specialized HiFi audio headphone manufacturers have brought back this old technology in recent years which allows listeners to experience a new level of awe-inspiring audio quality thanks to the power of planar drivers. Although they might not appear as sleek and modern as high-end models, they are well-known for their deep bass, intimate presentation, and exceptional stage depth.
They are comfortable and easy to wear despite their size and unique design. The earcups will seal inside your ears and block out any background noise and allow you to concentrate on your audio, but they don't clamp onto the neck or head as some other over-ear designs do. click through the up coming post are also drawn to the lightweight design and comfortable earpads.
Another disadvantage of planar magnetic headphones is that they are generally high cost. You can find budget-friendly dynamics headphones, but a lot of models require a dedicated amplifier/DAC to get the most out of them. They are more complex than their dynamic counterparts and require a lot 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 high-end range and some of the top choices costing over $400 in price. This is a big purchase, particularly when you listen to music while on the move or spend the majority of your time playing games, but for those who wish to enjoy music with the highest quality and realism, they offer an incredible listening experience.
Despite their excellent sound quality however, the main drawback of the majority of headphones with planar design is their leakage. The bi-directional movement of dual magnets causes the sound to be pushed outward and can cause a disturbance to those nearby or let in noises from outside. Some models are more prone to this than others, but it's an issue for all listeners who would like to listen to the sound of a pair of these headphones in a quiet environment.
Noise isolation
To qualify as a pair of headphones to be called "headphones" they must be able to separate your ears from the surrounding environment. To do this, a quality planar magnetic headphone will use the best construction materials and a streamlined design to prevent sound from escaping through your ears. This will lessen the sound you hear and give you more of an immersive experience.
As a rule the planar magnetic headphones tend to be bigger and heavier than their counterparts with dynamic sound. This is because the driver itself uses a larger surface area to deliver sound which requires a larger earcup. Boutique HiFi audio brands like to create earpieces using exotic woods and composites.
Planar magnetic headphones regulate electrical current by using an electrified film sandwiched between magnets. The magnetic field on each side of the film causes it to vibrate, generating sound waves. The diaphragm oscillates as a whole, not just a small portion that is attached to the voice coil. This means they are less likely to become distorted when played at a high volume.
However, a lot of newer headphones with planar magnetics aren't as strong in bass and don't have quite as much "slam" or "punch" that you might get from a modern high-end pair of dynamic drivers. It's a tradeoff, but one that can be resolved through careful comparisons of different models of headphones.
As a result it's best to spend your time shopping around for a set of magnetic headphones that are planar and read carefully reviews from professional audio sites as well as users on the r/headphones subreddit. This is how you can be sure that the headphones you pick will provide you with the right performance for your needs and taste. Once you've done this the only thing left to do is to determine a suitable price/performance ratio. The Monoprice M1060 over-ear headphones are an excellent example of this, which combines incredible sound quality with a sleek stealth style and comfortable cushions that are comparable to the pads of headphones priced considerably more than the M1060.