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A Peek At The Secrets Of Planar Magnetic Headphone
Top Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones provide a detailed and wide listening experience. Audiophiles who want to upgrade their listening experience are raving about them.

The best headphones for planar magnetics is based on what you want the most when it comes to the headphone. It all boils down to clarity, image structure, and distinction versus bass sound and slam.

1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic

The LCD-2 was among the first planar magnet headphones to gain popularity. It was so well-known that it's now a symbol of the technology, and is still one of the best headphones of its kind. The quality of its sound is incredible, especially for a headset that costs over $1,000. The bass extends all the way down to levels that are beyond human hearing, and it has an incredible level of detail. The upper mids are warm, but not too loud. Overall, there is lots of clarity in the sound and very little distortion.

The earpads are comfortable. The headband and earpads have an incredibly soft and flexible feel. They are light enough to be worn for long listening sessions without becoming exhausted. Unfortunately, they don't provide an ear-to-ear seal like some open-back headphones do, and this means that you will hear the sounds around you. This isn't a problem in quiet areas but it could be a problem in noisy areas.

In terms of build quality goes in terms of build quality, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and built to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are made with a crystal-infused nylon. This is a great material for headphones. It appears tough and durable, and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings that are used on some other Audeze models.

However the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as luxurious as other premium headphones. They have a bit of an "artisanal" feel with all the screws visible and an absence of a polished look on the metal components. They are still a fantastic pair of headphones, but they may not be the best choice for all people.

If you're looking for a similar pair of headphones that is cheaper and less expensive, the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent choice. These headphones offer the same high-quality technology of the LCD-2 Classics, but they come at a more affordable cost. They also have a better seal on the earcups, and include a carry case. The only thing that's missing is the impressive bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still provide an incredible sound that should please the majority of audiophiles.

2. Meze LIRIC

Meze Audio has made a name for itself thanks to its affordable and innovative line of planar magnetic headphones. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the company's latest headphone. It builds on the success of the first generation model with performance improvements and a new striped finish for improved modularity.

The LIRIC features an entire frequency response that ranges from 4Hz up to 92,000 Hz. It delivers music with outstanding clarity and a large soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone is effective in reducing the high-frequency peaks, which can be exhausting for the ear.

For high-fidelity listening on the on the go, these headphones feature a closed-back design to block out ambient noise. The headphones sport an ovoid design that mimics the shape of the human ear for direct connection to the sound source.

The Meze LIRIC comes with the company's own proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver with dual-shaped voice coils designed to improve the ambience and spatial sound imaging. This dual voicing is the result of over 30 years of research and development, making it the most lightweight and advanced planar magnet driver on the market.

The LIRIC headphones have a pressure equalization technology that controls the pressure and airflow in the earcup chambers to improve the sound quality. This ensures that the wearer gets the same sound quality regardless of whether the headphones are worn in an office, on a plane or commuting to work.

The Meze LIRIC has an incredibly smooth and balanced sound that I found very enjoyable to listen to over long periods of time. The bass is booming and deep, with a sharp treble. The soundstage is incredibly expansive with a 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 an excellent choice if you're searching for the top closed-back planar magnet headphones that cost less than $2000. It's a solid competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but has a slightly different sound and is lighter overall.

3. Meze Elite

Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been stepping up their game in recent years, releasing various flagship products. The Elite new model, which is their most recent offering, is their most premium headphone yet, and an excellent replacement for the Empyrean as Meze's flagship.

Like the Empyrean model, the Elite is an open-back model with unique suspension design that helps improve their 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, enhancing comfort while listening for long durations. Based on my experience, they do indeed work very well and the Elite can be worn for long periods of time without discomfort.

The Elite is a reference-style headphone that features an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It is capable of delivering extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1% over the entire frequency spectrum. It has an excellent sensitivity of 101 dB/mW and an impedance 32 ohms. This means that it can be driven by budget headphones or DAPs if they support the standard jack.


The Elite's diaphragm has been a significant improvement over the Empyrean that has shifted away from the custom-developed polymer to utilize a low-mass semi-crystalline film that has been engineered by biaxial lengthening in a sequential manner. This technique allows for an Elite diaphragm that is both flexible and thin, while also offering excellent resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.

The Elite's lower-mass diaphragm result in increased speed and resolution. It is now able to compete with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a less expensive price. In fact the Elite is possibly even more resolving than the LCD-2 and can sound very neutral while still providing the impression of transparency, depth high-end air and transients. headset planar makes it a great choice for fans of rock music and other genres where bass is very significant.

4. Meze HE400SE

The HE400SE is one of the most well-known planar magnetic headphones around. It's an excellent choice for audiophiles wanting to make the switch to open-back headphones, and for those who are already comfortable with the technology of planar magnets. It comes with HiFiMAN's latest Stealth Magnet design, which reduces wave diffraction and distortion to levels that are nearly unnoticeable.

Although the HE400SE does not have quite the bass extension that some other HiFiMAN models do, it still delivers an excellent low end sound for a headphone with an open back. The HE400SE's lower end is deep and full but does not sound squeaky or bass heavy. The overall tone is neutral, but there's some higher treble and a forward midrange which many listeners will find pleasing.

Vocals are crystal clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is a fantastic choice for listening to acoustic music and orchestral and classical music. This is the most affordable headphone for listening to this type of music. If you're using closed-back headphones with a bass-heavy tuning, the transition could be uncomfortable. It takes several listening sessions to get the hang of it.

The HE400SE's imaging is also impressive. The HE400SE produces a large and detailed soundstage, which makes musicians feel like they are in the right place. On Prince's Let's Go Crazy, the vocals and drums are in front of your face. The guitar solo is prominent, and is easily heard over the other instruments.

The HE400SE is a good treble extension that has good clarity. The treble is a little warm, but not abrasive at all. It doesn't sound as bright as other open back headphones with a more pronounced treble, but it isn't as sibilant and fatigued either.

The HE400SE has an impedance of 25 O which means it will require a high-powered amplifier to reach its maximum SPL. It works with the majority of smartphones and portable music players, however it will require an amplifier that has a minimum of 0.5 W output to achieve its maximum SPL.

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