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Buzzwords De-Buzzed: 10 Other Ways To Say Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers
Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers and Ribbon Tweeters

Planar magnetic drivers and ribbon tweeters offer many advantages over traditional dynamic speakers. Their large diaphragms only require a small amount of movement (excursion) and allow them to create the same sound quality as a conventional speaker.

They also have a dipolar pattern of radiation which means they radiate equally to the front and back of the speaker.

High-Resolution Sound

They are known for their accurate, detailed sounds. They are known for their high-resolution sound that reveals subtle variations in music that other drivers fail to reproduce or reveal.

In addition to their incredible accuracy in sound reproduction, planar and ribbon drivers have superior soundstages, allowing them to reproduce an expansive soundstage and exceptional clarity. This makes them a fantastic option for audiophiles and home theatre enthusiasts who wish to listen to music to the fullest extent possible.

One of the most important characteristics of ribbon and planar drivers is their dipole radiation pattern which emits equal energy both front and rear, with an inverted phase to create an authentic and spacious soundstage. This, combined with their large dispersion makes them ideal for large rooms, as they can fill the room with an expansive and natural soundstage, without causing unnatural reflections off furniture and walls.

Planar magnetic drivers also have a fast response time, which helps them to reproduce transients with more precision and speed than traditional cone drivers. This produces a clear and clear sound even at extremely high frequencies.

Planar magnetic drivers are also known for their low distortion. This is because they do not use an actual voice coil, but instead an electrostatic field. This allows the diaphragms to move without causing vibrations that could cause distortion.

Additionally, the distance between the magnets in a planar driver is much larger than in a traditional cone speaker. This results in a better frequency response and lower distortion at lower amplitudes while still providing good bass performance.

While the benefits of planar magnetic drivers are appealing, they do have some limitations that should be thought about. For example, they can be expensive and require more power than other kinds of speakers. Also, they can be large and difficult to install in certain spaces. They can also be sensitive to the acoustics in the room, and require extensive treatment of the room in order to get the best performance. Fortunately, there are ways to alleviate these issues by incorporating an attenuation resistor (provided by your speakers) in the attenuation position, or by applying some kind of room treatment.

Wide Dispersion

Like electrostatic speakers magnetic speakers produce sound by regulating the electrical current that flows through wires that are suspended between magnets. They vibrate a flat membrane directly, not using an electrostatic charge. This allows for an increased surface area and greater precision. This operation principle allows for the construction of them into smaller, more affordable headphones and speakers than electrostatic models.

Planar drivers are not only capable of dispersing sound effectively, but also deliver a better image and clarity in higher frequencies. planar magnetic vs dynamic headphones is a great benefit for audiophiles who enjoy watching movies or music on big screens or in an open space.

Planar drivers can also produce an extremely deep bass because they can be enhanced with subwoofers in boxes that are that are attached to or separate from the membrane-like ribbon. This is in contrast to traditional cone speaker woofers, which are typically located in the bottom of the cabinet, a location that cannot reproduce bass frequencies because of the physical constraints of the woofer enclosure.


A planar driver has a low distortion rate which is directly proportional to the size and movement of the diaphragm. A planar speaker is able produce a high volume of sound with no distortion. This is the reason why the sound reproduction is clear and precise.

In contrast the dynamic drivers utilized in traditional headphones and speakers typically exhibit significant amounts of distortion when they are driven to the limits of extreme excursion. This is why dynamic drivers often produce a hollow or boomy sound.

Additionally, planar magnetic drivers are also extremely efficient. They require less energy to drive, resulting in a lower energy consumption and impact on the environment. Their diaphragms that are generally smaller than traditional speakers, also reduce the amount of energy required to propel them in order to create a certain sound pressure.

Many audiophiles have heard of planar/ribbon speakers like those produced by Magnepan Infinity and Apogee Acoustics. However, there is a brand new on the market. New planar loudspeakers by manufacturers like Clarisys Audio and Diptyque, for instance, are incorporating the most recent advancements in ribbon technology.

Low Distortion

Planar magnetic speakers have very low distortion because they don't employ the traditional dome-shaped diaphragm or cone. This is due to their unique design that eliminates the voice coil inductance that is associated with dynamic speaker drivers. (See U.S. patent 6,353,560). This guarantees that the diaphragm is never out of phase with the magnetic field that surrounds it, resulting in an output that is constant. Distortion is generally only noticeable when large waveforms are being reproduced. With a single-ended magnetic planar driver, distortion is almost nonexistent at all frequencies above bass.

In addition to their extremely low distortion and low distortion, planar magnetic loudspeakers provide very high efficiency. This means that the drive requires less power than other speaker technologies. This means lower costs of ownership as well as less energy consumption.

Planar magnetic drivers also have significantly lower distortion compared to conventional dynamic speakers and are even less for electrostatic speakers. This is because the planar magnet driver's flat diaphragm is equipped with a conductor trace that lets it react to magnetic fields created on either side.

The two magnets need to be carefully positioned to ensure that the voice element is optimally positioned within the magnetic field at all times. This is what allows for the extremely linear performance of planar magnetic drivers at all frequencies above the bass.

There are numerous other advantages of planar magnetic drivers, the most important is that they are able to be constructed to be either dipole (radiating equally and in opposing phases in front and back of the speaker, similar to an ESL) or Monopole (radiating forward, much like an old-fashioned dynamic). This permits a wide range of designs, particularly when used with the ribbon-tweeter.

A variety of planar magnetic loudspeakers are on the market today from brands like Hifiman, Dan Clark, Audeze, and Fostex. Each company has their own signature sound, which is a result of their unique driver designs and other technological innovations. These speakers are characterized by their stunning clarity and dynamic as well as their controlled directionality.

High Power Handling

Planar magnetic drivers can handle a lot of power without the audible strain or stress that is caused by traditional dynamic speakers that move. The "voice coil" is not squeezed into the small space between the baskets and cones like in traditional dynamic drivers. Instead it is spread out over a larger area. This gives the voice coil a larger surface to dissipate any heat.

Another reason why planar drivers can handle so much power is due to having such a low mass as compared to conventional drivers. Dynamic drivers have diaphragms that are heavy and thick. They are orders of magnitude thicker and heavier than the ultra-light diaphragms used in planar magnetic drive. Due to their massive mass, conventional diaphragms need a larger amount of force to move back and forth (a measure referred to as excursion) to create the same level of sound pressure.

They can't be driven nearly as effectively as a planar magnetic driver, as the voice coil will start to create significant distortion. It's therefore important to buy loudspeakers that are designed for the amplifier you plan to use.

A planar magnetic driver's large excursion enables it to create an even larger soundstage than conventional drivers. This is due to the diaphragm's vibration in a uniform and flat way to create a wavefront, rather than the spherical wavefront that is typical with traditional drivers. This wider soundstage increases the accuracy and clarity of the speakers and allows them to reproduce subtle nuances and complex sounds.

The disadvantage of the superior power handling that is offered by planar magnetic drives is that they tend to be more expensive to manufacture and require larger amplifiers to operate at their full potential. They can also be heavy and large, which can make them difficult to install in some situations. They also have a lower bass response, which means you may need to add a subwoofer to your system to achieve satisfying results at lower frequencies.

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