Notes

The Three Greatest Moments In Best Planar Magnetic Headphones History
Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $1000

If you love music and would like to upgrade your headphones, a planar magnetic set could be a great investment. However, they can also be quite costly.

There are a variety of great options available below the $1000 price point. In this article, we'll take a look at the best budget headphones to provide an unforgettable listening experience.

1. Beyerdynamic T1

Beyerdynamic is a German brand that isn't a flimsy when it comes to premium headphones. The Beyerdynamic T1 has a classic style and is constructed from top quality materials that make it an absolute pleasure to wear. The soft headband and interchangeable earpads are extremely comfortable. The earphones might initially feel rough, but they soon adapt to the head and ears. They are able to endure long listening sessions with no discomfort.

The T1 has a very natural sound, with a controlled but high-pitched bass and clean mids. The highs can be sharp and detailed, but they could be too loud for those who prefer a more gentle sounding treble. They are a fantastic pair of headphones for demanding listening, and perform best at moderate to low volume. They will hold their balance while playing aggressive music like blackmetal or death metal, and won't be overpowered by cymbal crash.

Another great feature is the T1's excellent dynamic range. It can reproduce extreme differences in the volume of quieter and more loud passages with precision and clarity. This makes them a great option for musicians who want to hear every detail and nuance of their instrument. It is also a good choice for audiophiles who appreciate being able to easily distinguish different instruments in the course of a song.

A nice touch is the gold-plated connectors and the Beyerdynamic logo on the ear cup. This is a proof and guarantee of quality. They are supplied with a protective hard case that protects the headphones when not in use. Included is a detachable cord and an adapter for quarter inches.

The Beyerdynamic T1 has a closed back design and is not portable. They will not protect you from the noises of daily life such as rush hour traffic, children's alarm clocks or nagging partners. The ear cups that are large are not designed for vigorous sports like running because they could easily fall off your ears. The Beyerdynamic T5p also features an open-back design, however the cup sizes are smaller. They could be more suitable for listening at the go.

2. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano

The HIFIMAN Ananda Nano is the most recent version of the popular HIFIMAN mid-range open-back headphones. The Nano takes a quantum leap forward from the original Ananda model, featuring an innovative nanometer thickness diaphragm and clarity-enhancing stealth magnet, which was also featured on the ultra high-end Susvara headphone. These features promise ultra-low distortion and lightning-fast transient responses, and demonstrably improved clarity and dynamics.

The result is a broad and deep soundstage that has great separation between vocals and instruments. The Nano also offers a relatively warm sound, with a thump in the upper mids, which is ideal for pop, rock and hip-hop.

This emphasis in the upper mids comes with some drawbacks, though. It produces an unnaturally muffled sound especially in the higher registers, where some of the detail is lost. The Nano is also not as suitable for classical music due to the lower mids are usually overshadowed.

Bass is punchy and powerful and has good timbre in the lower reaches and excellent dynamics and slam. It's a bit fuller than the bass of the original Ananda and is perfect for modern music like rock and pop as well as gaming, yet it still offers plenty of rumble to be pleasing to audiophiles looking for the natural sound of their bass.

As you would expect leakage is a problem for open-back headphones. It can be a problem when in noisy environments. The headphone does not have microphone, which means it cannot be used for mobile phone calls.

The HIFIMAN Ananda Nano has lot to offer, and is a top choice for anyone looking for an open-back magnetic headphone under $1000. It's an excellent upgrade over the previous model, and is worth a look. The Ananda Nano is available with a travel case, which is an important addition for audiophiles who wish to listen to their music while on the move. The case is big enough to accommodate the Ananda Nano with its cable, as well as the smallest player/DAC. A carry-on pouch is included in the case. The headphones are well-made and durable, and have a 3-year warranty.

3. Hifiman Edition XS


The HIFIMAN Edition X created a lot of excitement in the world of audiophiles when it was first introduced. Now, the company has brought the same technology to the smaller, more affordable headphone that sits right between the Sundara and the Ananda. The Edition XS uses the same aerodynamically-shaped stealth magnets and a thin "Neo Super-Nano Diaphragm" to guarantee fast response time with minimal distortion.

As with all HIFIMAN products the headphones are robustly constructed. They are durable enough to withstand heavy use and are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. The cups are constructed of an anti-resonant, vibration-reducing material. The box includes a cord that is tangle-free and has an unidirectional plug and an earphone holder that can be used to store the headphones.

The Edition XS is a very top planar magnetic headphone which provides excellent detail resolution. This means that you'll hear things in your music that weren't before, or even notice flaws in your recordings you would have otherwise missed using a different set of headphones. They have a wide soundstage and superb imaging that can fill the entire room with 3D clarity.

They have a balanced and neutral sound profile, so they can be used with any type of music. They have great mids and reproduce vocals as well as lead instruments precisely, however they might lack a bit of energy and rumble in their bass. They have crisp, precise high frequencies but may be too bright for some listeners.

The HIFIMAN XS may be a good choice to anyone who is looking for an open-backed planar magnetic headphone that can be used in noisy environments, but doesn't need much power. The low impedance (18O) is what makes it easy to drive virtually every DAC or headphone amplifier. However you'll have the best results if you're using an audio interface that has a built-in headphone amp. The headphones are not the most portable and may be bulky however, they come with a cushioned travel pouch. These headphones are a bit more expensive than the other options, but they're worth the price because of their features and the quality.

4. Audeze LCD-5

The Audeze LCD-5 is the company's most recent flagship magnetic headphones in a planar design. The design is completely brand new and includes a brand-new driver and magnetic structure. This is a significant upgrade over the previous models of headphone and puts the LCD-5 solidly in the high-end of the personal audio market. The LCD-5's drivers are ultra-thin Nano-Scale diaphragms, paired with the latest technology for voice coils called Parallel Uniforce and Fazor waveguides. These new features work in conjunction to control the diaphragm's motion and provide a high-resolution.

Additionally, the LCD-5's earpads are designed to fit a wider range of head sizes. The pads are constructed of an elastic material, and the headband is smaller and lighter, so the LCD-5s will feel more comfortable on all ears than previous models. They do clamp slightly more than other Audeze headphones, and they may also be a bit tight for some, but this may resolve with use.

Audeze LCD series has been a benchmark in planar magnetic headphones for years. Their flagship LCD-2 introduced the modern age of high-fidelity audio, followed by the LCD-3 and LCD-4. The LCD-5 continues the trend by providing enhancements to every aspect of headphones' sound signature as well as their design.

The LCD-5 has more refined sound and a more mellow presentation compared to the LCD-2. This is due to their increased concentration on mid-range detail retrieval, surgical treble precision and microdetail retrieval. The LCD-5s remain a powerful headphone capable of being able to offer a massive dynamic range and full-bodied bass. But they're not as punchy as the likes of an Abyss AB-1266 or Hifiman HE1000SE and will often require some EQ to make them sound the best.

Audeze LCD-5 headphones are outstanding with their stunning sound signature. They also have an outstanding build quality. The LCD-5 isn't a good choice for everyone. But if you're willing to invest the money and want an audio device that provides a stunning listening experience Look for it. It's worth every cent.

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