The Planar Magnetic Headphone Mistake That Every Newbie Makes
Top Planar Magnetic Headphones Planar magnetic headphones provide the most extensive and precise listening experience. They're a favorite among audiophiles seeking to upgrade their listening experience. Choosing the best headphones for planar magnetics is based on what you prioritize the most in the headphone. It comes down to clarity, image structure, and distinction versus bass slam and punch. 1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic The original LCD-2 was the first pair of planar magnetic headphones to really take off. It's so well-known, it has become synonymous with technology. It's still among the best headphones of its kind. The quality of its sound is incredible particularly for a headset that is priced at more than $1,000. The bass is deep enough to extend beyond the human hearing range and is bursting with a lot of detail. The mids and upper the treble are warm, but not in an unpleasant way. Overall, the sound is clear and precise and has very little distortion. The earpads are also comfortable. The headband is soft and flexible, while the earpads are extremely soft. They're light enough to allow for long listening sessions without becoming tired. Unfortunately, they don't provide a seal over the ears like some open-back headphones do, and this means you'll be able to hear the sounds around you. This isn't a problem for quiet environments, but it can be a problem in louder ones. The LCD-2 Classics have a very solid construction and are made to last. The earcups are made from crystal-infused nylon, which is a great material for headphones. It's sturdy and long-lasting, and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings that are found on some other Audeze models. The LCD-2 Classics do not feel like the same premium headphones. They have a bit of a DIY feel to them with all the screws visible, and a lack of finish on the metal parts. They are still a fantastic pair of headphones, however they may not be suitable for all people. Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product for an affordable price. These headphones feature the same planar technology of the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. The earcups are sealed better and come with a carry case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the amazing bass extension and clarity that they have. However the sound is impressive and should please the majority of audiophiles. 2. Meze LIRIC Meze Audio has made a name for itself through its affordable and innovative range of planar magnetic headphones. The company's newest headphone model, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first generation model with performance enhancements and a new striped ebony finish that offers improved modularity and a long, durable life. The LIRIC has a full frequency response, ranging from 4Hz to 92,000Hz. This delivers music with incredible clarity and a vast soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone effectively reduces high-frequency peaks that can be exhausting for the ear. Designed for high-fidelity listening on the on the go, these headphones feature a closed-back design to block out ambient noise. They also have an ovoid-shaped design that resembles the natural shape of the human ear for a more direct channel to the source of sound. The Meze LIRIC comes with the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid array driver, which has dual-shaped voice coils that provide better audio quality and spatial sound. This dual voicing technology is the result of more than 30 years of research and development, making it one of the tiniest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers available on the market. The LIRIC headphones have a pressure equalization technology that regulates the pressure and airflow in the earcups to enhance the sound quality. This ensures that the wearer receives the same quality sound regardless of whether the headphones are used at work on a plane, in a hotel or commute to work. In my tests during my testing, the Meze LIRIC delivered a superbly balanced and smooth sound that's very enjoyable to listen for long periods of time. The treble is clear and clear, and the bass is a roar with great quality. The soundstage is large and there is good separation between vocals and instruments. I liked that no detail was too small for the headphones to miss, from the sound of PJ Harvey’s 50ft Queenie to the individual guitar strings. The Meze LIRIC is a fantastic option if you're searching for the top closed-back planar magnet headphones under $2000. moondrop venus planar magnetic headphones 's a great alternative to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but has a slightly different sound and is lighter overall. 3. Meze Elite In their search to create a pair of headphones that are both stunning in appearance and sound quality, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have stepped up the game in recent years with various flagship products. The Elite new model, which is their most recent model, is their highest premium headphone yet and a worthy replacement for the Empyrean as the brand's flagship. The Elite is also an open-back design, however, it has unique wings that increase wearability. The wings are similar to those on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they spread the weight of the Elite's larger than average driver over a larger surface area of your head, improving the comfort of listening for long durations. Based on my experience, they indeed work very well and the Elite can be worn for a long time without discomfort. Sonically, the Elite is a reference-style headphone that has an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver that can provide extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency range. It also has a high sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW, and an impedance of 32 ohms, which means it can be powered easily by budget headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they can accept the standard headphone jack). The Elite diaphragm is another significant upgrade over the Empyrean. Instead of using a specially-designed polymer semicrystalline film with a low mass has been developed using biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This process allows the Elite to be a thin yet rigid diaphragm while still ensuring outstanding resistance to stress cracking and fatigue. This change to a lower-mass diaphragm also results in improved speed and resolution which brings the Elite to a level of performance that puts it right with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a more affordable price point. In actual fact the Elite is possibly more accurate than the LCD-2 and it can sound very neutral while still offering the impression of depth, transparency, top-end air, and transients. This makes it a great choice for those who enjoy rock music as well as other genres where bass is very prominent. 4. Meze HE400SE The HE400SE is one of the most popular headphones made of planar magnetic material around. 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 those who are already familiar with the use of planar magnetic technology. It comes with HiFiMAN's latest Stealth Magnet Design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction down to non-existent levels. Although the HE400SE isn't equipped with the bass extension some other HiFiMAN models do but it still provides solid low end performance for an open-back headphone. The HE400SE is very full and deep low end however, it isn't loud. The general tone is neutral but with trebles that are elevated and a forward midrange which many listeners will appreciate. The HE400SE is a great sounding model with a clear sound. The HE400SE is an excellent option for listening to classical or acoustic music. This is the best budget headphones to listen to this type of music. If you're used closed-back headphones with bass-heavy tuning, the transition might be uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to get used to it. The HE400SE's imaging is also impressive. The HE400SE creates a huge and detailed soundstage that makes musicians feel like they are in the right spot. The vocals and the drums are prominent in the song by Prince called Let's Go Crazy. The guitar solo is also very prominent and can easily be heard over the rest of the instruments. The HE400SE is a solid treble extension that has good clarity. The treble is slightly warm, but not harsh at all. It's not as bright as some other open-back headphones that have a more pronounced treble, but it doesn't sound as sibilant or fatigued. The HE400SE has an impedance of 25 O which means it requires a powerful amplifier to achieve its maximum SPL. It is compatible with all smartphones and portable devices, however, it will require an amplifier with at least 0.5 W output power to achieve its maximum SPL of 102 decibels. 