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Are Planar Magnetic Headphone The Greatest Thing There Ever Was?
Top Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones offer the most extensive and precise listening experience. Audiophiles looking to upgrade their listening experience love them.

Choosing the most suitable planar magnetic headphones depends on what you prioritize the most when it comes to a headphone. It all boils to clarity of image and distinction as well as clarity as well as bass punch.

1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic

The original LCD-2 was the first pair of planar magnetic headphones to truly take off. It's so well-known that it has become synonymous with technology. It's still among the best headphones in its class. The quality of its sound is incredible especially for a device that is priced at more than $1,000. The bass is so deep that it goes beyond the human hearing range, and it has a staggering amount of detail. The upper mids are warm, but not overbearing. Overall, there's a lot of clarity in the sound and very little distortion.

The earpads are also very comfortable. The headband and earpads are an incredibly soft and flexible feel. They are light enough to wear for long listening sessions without getting exhausted. They don't completely seal the ear canals like other open-back headphones, so you can hear what's going on around you. This isn't a problem in quiet areas, but it could be an issue in louder areas.

The LCD-2 Classics have a very sturdy construction and are built to last. The earcups are made from crystal-infused nylon which is an excellent material for a headphone. It looks tough and durable, and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings used on some other Audeze models.

The LCD-2 Classics do not feel as premium as other high-end headphones. They have an industrial feel with all the screws visible, and an absence of a polished look on the metal parts. They are still a fantastic pair of headphones, but they might not be right for everyone.

If you're seeking a similar headphone that is less expensive and less expensive, the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent choice. These headphones have the same technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. They also have a more secure seal on the earcups, and come with a carrying case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the amazing bass extension and clarity that they have. However the sound is incredible and should satisfy most audiophiles.

2. Meze LIRIC

Meze Audio's unique and affordable planar magnetic headphones have made it an international brand. The latest headphone from the company, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first generation model with improvements in performance and a brand new striped ebony finish for improved modularity and a long, durable life.

The LIRIC has a full-frequency response that goes from 4Hz to 92kHz, providing stunningly detailed music with outstanding clarity and a large soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone efficiently reduces high-frequency peaks, which can be a strain on the ear.

The headphones are designed to block out ambient sound and provide high-quality listening even while moving about. They also have an ovoid-shaped design that is a natural human ear's shape to provide a clearer channel to the sound source.

The Meze LIRIC is equipped with the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid array driver, that features dual-shaped voice coils that provide better ambience and sound imaging in spatial space. This dual voicing is the result of over 30 years of development and research which makes it the most compact and light magnet driver on the market.

To enhance their sound quality, the LIRIC headphones feature an equalization system that precisely controls airflow and ear cup chamber pressure. This ensures that the listener receives the same quality sound regardless of whether the headphones are worn at work, on a plane or commuting to work.

In my tests in my tests, the Meze LIRIC produced a stunningly smooth and balanced sound that's extremely enjoyable to listen to for long sessions. The bass is punchy and deep, with a clear treble. The soundstage is extremely wide with a good separation between instruments and vocals. I also liked the fact that no element of a song was too small to escape the attention of the headphones, from the decay and attack of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings on an electric guitar.

The Meze LIRIC is a fantastic choice if you are searching for the top closed-back planar magnet headphones under $2000. It's a solid competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but offers a slightly different timbre and is a bit lighter overall.

3. Meze Elite

Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been trying to up their game in recent years by releasing various flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most expensive headphones to date. It replaces the Empyrean model, which was their most popular.

Similar to the Empyrean and the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone that has a unique suspension wings design to increase their wearability. These wings are similar to the ones on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they spread the weight of the Elite's heavier than average driver across a larger surface area of your head, improving comfort while listening for long durations. From my experience, they really well and the Elite can be worn for a long time without discomfort.

The Elite is a reference style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It is capable of delivering extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1% over its entire frequency range. It also has the highest sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW as well as an impedance of 32 ohms, which means it can be driven very easily by even budget headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they can accept the standard headphone jack).

The Elite diaphragm is another important improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of using a specially-designed polymer semicrystalline film with a low mass has been engineered by biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This process permits an Elite diaphragm which is rigid and thin, while providing excellent resistance to fatigue and cracking.


This shift to a lower-mass diaphragm also results in improved speed and resolution which brings the Elite to the level of performance that puts it against rivals like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a lower price. In actual fact, the Elite is arguably more detailed than the LCD-2 and it can sound extremely neutral while providing the impression of transparency, depth top-end air, and transients that makes it a great option for those who love rock music and other genres where bass can be extremely prominent.

4. Meze HE400SE

The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most sought-after on the market. It's an excellent choice for anyone who wants to make the jump into open-back headphones. It's is also a great entry-level model for those who are already comfortable with the use of planar magnetic technology. It is equipped with HiFiMAN's Stealth Magnet Design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction down to inaudible levels.

While the HE400SE isn't equipped with the bass extension that some other HiFiMAN models have, it still delivers excellent low-end performance for an open back headphone. The HE400SE is very full and deep low end however it doesn't sound like a boomer. The overall tonality is neutral but with some higher treble and a forward midrange that many listeners will appreciate.

The HE400SE offers a crystal clear sound. The HE400SE is a great option for listening to acoustic music, but also classical and orchestral music. It's the perfect budget headphone for this type of music. If you're used to closed-back headphones with a more bass-emphasized tuning the transition may be a bit uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to adjust to it.

The HE400SE also has impressive imaging. planar magnetic loudspeakers can create a huge soundstage with a clear soundstage that allows musicians to feel comfortable in space. On Prince's Let's Go Crazy, the vocals and drums appear to be in front of your face. The guitar solo is very prominent and can be easily heard over the rest of the instruments.

The HE400SE is a great extension of the treble, with excellent 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 brighter treble, but it does not sound as sibilant or fatigued either.

The HE400SE is an 25 O impedance device, which means that it will need an amplifier that is powerful to achieve the maximum SPL. It can be used with the majority of smartphones and portable players but will require an amp that has at minimum 0.5 W output power to reach its maximum SPL of 102 dB.

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