Notes

Why All The Fuss Over Planar Magnetic Headphone?
Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones produce uniform sound waves by using a thin, flat membrane that is suspended between magnets. This gives a greater sense of soundstage, more detail and a distinct sound signature that sets them apart from typical dynamic driver headphones.

They tend to be more expensive and difficult to drive than dynamic headphones, but they are an excellent investment for audiophiles. You can pick up headphones for less than $400, such as the affordable Hifiman HE-400i or Monoprice Monolith M1070.

Soundstage

With their large drivers, planar magnetic headphones can create soundstages that are extremely wide. These vast soundscapes let you hear more detail and create a more immersive listening experience. You will be able to distinguish the individual instruments and vocals in the mix. This makes them an excellent option for mixing or studio use.

Planar magnetic headphones are renowned for their incredible bass performance. Their massive drivers are able to move more air, allowing them to reproduce deep bass notes with amazing accuracy and clarity. This is a significant upgrade from the dull bass that you get when you use the most dynamic driver headphones.

Planar magnetic headphones have an unique design that utilizes a flat diaphragm with a conductive trace that is sandwiched between two magnetic arrays. When an electrical current runs through the conductive trace it creates a magnetic field which causes the diaphragm's surface to vibrate and generate audio waves. The magnetic field regulates the movement of the diaphragm and is evenly distributed over the entire surface. This produces an isodynamic field that ensures that the diaphragm's motion is constant throughout the entire frequency range.

Planar magnetic headphones are less distorted than dynamic headphones because the distortion created by a dynamic driver results from the voice coil moving between and between the diaphragm and the voice coil. This means you can hear the music as the artist intended, even at a loud volume.

Planar magnetic headphones leak more than dynamic models with open backs. This is due to the large diaphragms used in these headphones circulate a huge amount of air. Additionally, some of it escapes the open back of the headphone. However, if you are listening in a closed space, this shouldn't be an issue.

The choice between dynamic and planar magnetic headphones comes down to your budget and preferences for listening. If you are looking for accuracy, detail and low distortion, a pair of planar magnetic headphones will be the best choice for you.

Detail

In recent times, audiophiles are more attracted to the planar magnetic headphones. They are renowned for their wide sound signature and use flat diaphragms which are able to move at an incredible speed to produce deep bass and superior high frequencies. The conductor trace of the planar headphones is anchored to the flat surface of diaphragm and responds to the magnetic fields created by two opposing magnetic poles. This allows them to reproduce frequencies with greater excursions than other headphones, and without distortion of the driver or damage to the diaphragm at high volumes.

This results in the flat diaphragm creating a wider, more planar sound wavefront instead of the more narrow spherical waves like dynamic drivers (although some of the latest, high-end dynamic driver headphones such as Focal Utopia can extend well to 20 Hz). The broader and larger soundstage of planar headphones give them an impressive ability to show the specifics in recordings. This is particularly evident when it is related to instruments. The clarity and precision of headphones with planar magnetic technology allows you to hear each string or woodwind note exactly as the composer intended.

Another feature of a quality pair of headphones is the way they reproduce sounds around you. Depending on the design of the ear cups, and whether they're open-back or closed-back headphones, some pairs leak sound through the back of the earcup. In many instances, this isn't an issue however in certain cases it can cause disruption to people around while you're listening. In this case, you should look for headphones that are leak-proof or have an optional grille that you can use in public spaces.

No matter what kind of headphone you pick It is essential to choose the one that is compatible with your lifestyle and music listening preferences. There are many designs, sizes, and prices for a planar magnetic headphones that can be suited to your music preferences.

Comfort

A planar magnetic headphone uses thin diaphragms and conductors hung on a variety of magnets to manipulate sound waves. This wider wavefront creates more natural and immersive sound with impressive detail speed, precision, and speed. They are very heavy and require a dedicated amp to reach their full potential.

In recent years, many specialist HiFi audio brands have brought this older technology back. This allows listeners to enjoy new levels of audio quality. These headphones might not look as sleek as the more modern models but they are known for their deep bass, intimate presentation and superb stage depth.

They are comfortable and easy-to-wear despite their dimensions and unique design. The earcups will seal inside your ears and block out the background noise and allow you to concentrate on the music, but they do not clamp on the head and neck like some over-ear designs can. The light build and comfortable earpads can be a big draw for some listeners.

The cost of a planar magnetic headphones isn't the only disadvantage. You can find low-cost dynamics headphones, however, many models require a dedicated DAC/amplifier to get the best out of them. This is due to the fact that they are more complex than their dynamic counterparts and typically require a significant amount of power to move the two magnets around.

Some headphones with planar designs are affordable (such as HIFIMAN's deva or AUdeze's Venus), but most are high-end models and some priced at more than $400. It's a big expense if you listen to music only on the move or play games most of the time. However, for those who love music at its peak and want to listen to music in a more intimate setting, planar headphones are the best listening experience.

The main drawback of planar headphones, despite their great sound quality, is the leakage. monoprice planar headphones move in both directions, which causes the headphones to leak sound. This can cause a disturbance to people who are nearby or let outside noises to enter. Some models are more susceptible to this than others. However, it is an issue for the majority of listeners who want to enjoy a pair in a peaceful setting.


Noise isolation

A pair of headphones must be able to isolate your ears from their environment in order to be called "headphones". To do this, a quality planar magnetic headphone makes the choice of optimum construction materials and ergonomic design to stop the sound from entering your ears. This will lower the amount of noise that you hear, and give you an immersive listening experience.

In general the planar magnetic headphones tend to be larger and heavier than their counterparts that are dynamic. This is because the driver itself has more surface area to deliver sound which requires a larger earcup. Audio brands that are boutique prefer earcups that look as good as they sound, using exotic woods and composites in their designs.

Planar magnetic headphones regulate electrical current by using an electrified film sandwiched between magnets. The magnetic field on either side of the film causes the diaphragm to move and produce sound waves. The fact that the entire diaphragm is being triggered to vibrate by an electric field rather than only a small portion attached to a voice coil means that they are less susceptible to distortion at high volumes.

However, many newer headphones with planar magnetics are a bit weak in bass and don't have quite as much 'punch' or'slam' that you'd get from a high-end pair of dynamic drivers. It's all about balancing the demands and comparing different headphones.

It's a good idea to search for a pair of planar magnetic headphones, and read reviews from both professional audio sites and users on the r/headphones Subreddit. You can be sure that the headphones you pick will satisfy your audio and musical needs. After that it's a matter of finding an acceptable price-to-performance ratio. The Monoprice M1060 over-ear headphones are an excellent example of this, combining incredible audio quality with a sleek, stealthy design and comfortable pads that compete with the pads of headphones priced significantly more than the M1060.

Website: https://www.headphonesshop.uk/categories/planar-magnetic-headphones