Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones offer an immersive and spacious listening experience. They're a favorite among audiophiles seeking to upgrade their listening experience.
The best headphones for planar magnetics is based on what you want most in the headphones you choose to purchase. It all comes to clarity of the image and distinction as well as clarity in comparison to bass impact.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The LCD-2 was one of the first planar magnet headphones to gain attention. It was so popular that it is now synonymous with the technology, and it's still one of the best headphones available. The quality of its sound is incredible especially for a device that costs more than $1,000. The bass is a long way to the point of hearing and is awe-inspiring in clarity. The mids and upper Treble are warm but not in an obnoxious way. Overall, there is plenty of detail in the sound, and very little distortion.
They are extremely comfortable to wear, and also. The earpads and headbands have a soft, flexible feeling. They are also light enough to allow for long listening sessions without getting too fatigued. However, they don't offer a seal over the ears as some open-back headphones do. And this means you'll be able to hear the sounds 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 solid build and are built to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are constructed with a crystal-infused nylon. This is a fantastic material for a headphones. It appears robust and durable, and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings that are used on some other Audeze models.
The LCD-2 Classics do not feel as premium as other high-end headphones. The LCD-2 Classics have a DIY-like feel, with visible screws and lack of a finish. They're still a great pair of headphones, however they might not be right for all people.
Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product at an affordable price. These headphones feature the same excellent planar technology as the LCD-2 Classics, but they come at a more affordable cost. The earcups are sealed better and come with a carry case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the impressive bass extension and clearness that they have. However, the sound is still amazing and will please most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio's unique and affordable magnetic headphones with a planar design have made it a household name. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the latest model from the company's headphone. It builds on the success of the previous model with performance improvements and a new striped finish to increase the modularity.
The LIRIC comes with an entire frequency response that ranges from 4Hz up to 92,000 Hz. It delivers music with outstanding clarity and a large soundstage. Additionally the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively tames high-frequency spikes that can be exhausting to the ears.
The headphones are designed to block out background noise and allow for high-fidelity listening on the move. The headphones feature an ovoid design that is reminiscent of the shape of the human ear for a direct connection to the source of the sound.
The Meze LIRIC comes with the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid array driver that features dual-shaped voice coils to improve ambience and sound imaging in spatial space. Dual voicing technology is the result of more than 30 years of research and development which makes it one of the tiniest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers available on the market.
To improve their sound quality, the LIRIC headphones come with a pressure equalization mechanism which precisely regulates airflow as well as ear cup chamber pressure. This allows listeners to hear the same sound quality regardless of whether they wear the headphones in an office or on a plane.
The Meze LIRIC has a smooth and balanced sound that I found enjoyable to listen to for long periods. The treble is crisp and clear and the bass is punchy with great quality. The soundstage is expansive and there is a good separation between instruments and vocals. I loved that there was no detail that 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 looking for the best closed-back, magnetic headphones that cost $2000 The Meze LIRIC is a fantastic choice. It's a great rival to the Dan Clark Audio E3, but has a slightly different tone and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been trying to up their game in recent years with the release of several flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most premium headphone to date and replaces the Empyrean model, which was their most popular.
The Elite is also an open-back design, however, it has unique wings that enhance wearability. The wings are similar to the ones on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they distribute the weight of the Elite’s heavier than average driver across a larger surface area of your head, improving comfort when listening for long durations. They are effective, and I have worn the Elite for many hours without discomfort.
Sonically the Elite is a reference-style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver that has the ability to provide extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency range. It has a high sensitivity of 101 dB/mW, and an impedance of 32 ohms. This means that it can be driven by low-cost headphones or DAPs if they are compatible with the standard jack.
click the up coming site is another significant improvement 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 allows the Elite to have a thin, yet robust diaphragm still ensuring excellent resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.
The Elite's lower-mass diaphragm result in increased speed and resolution. It's now capable of competing with rivals like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a lower cost. In actuality the Elite is perhaps more accurate than the LCD-2 and can sound very neutral while still providing an impression of transparency, depth high-end air and transients that makes it a great choice for fans of rock music as well as other genres in which bass is very noticeable.
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 transition to open-back headphones. It's is also a great entry-level model for anyone already familiar with the use of planar magnetic technology. It features HiFiMAN's new Stealth Magnet design that reduces wave diffraction and distortion to levels that are nearly unnoticeable.
Although the HE400SE isn't equipped with the bass extension some other HiFiMAN models have however, it does provide solid low end performance for an open back headphone. The HE400SE has a full and deep low end however, it isn't boomy. The overall tone is neutral but with elevated trebles and forward midrange which many listeners will find pleasing.
Vocals are incredibly clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is a fantastic choice for listening to acoustic music, but orchestral and classical music. It's the most affordable headphone to listen to this type of music. If you're using closed-back headphones with bass-heavy tuning, the transition may be uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to adjust to it.
The HE400SE's sound quality is impressive. The HE400SE creates a huge and detailed soundstage that lets musicians feel as if they are in the right place. The vocals and the drums are very prominent in the song by Prince called Let's Go Crazy. The guitar solo is very prominent, and is easily heard over the other instruments.
The HE400SE has a good extension of the treble and clarity. The treble is a bit warmth to it however it isn't harsh. It's not as bright as other open-back headphones with more pronounced treble, but it does not sound as sibilant or tired either.
The HE400SE has an impedance of 25 O, meaning it requires a powerful amplifier to achieve its maximum SPL. It will work with most smartphones and portable players but will require an amp with at least 0.5 W output power to achieve its maximum SPL of 102 dB.