Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones provide a detailed and wide listening experience. They're popular with audiophiles who want to upgrade their listening experience.
Choosing the most suitable planar magnetic headphones depends on what you want most in the headphone. It all comes down to clarity of the image and distinction, as well as clarity in comparison to bass volume.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The original LCD-2 was the first of the planar magnetic headphones that really took off. It was so well-known that it is now synonymous with the technology, and it's 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 is so deep that it goes beyond the human hearing range and is bursting with a lot of detail. The upper mids are warm but not obnoxious. Overall the sound is clear and precise and has very little distortion.
The earpads are comfortable. The headband is soft and flexible, while the earpads are extremely soft. They're light enough to wear for long listening sessions without getting tired. They don't encase the ears like some other open-back headphones, which means you can hear what is going on around you. This isn't an issue in quiet areas but it can be a problem 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 a great material for a headphone. It's sturdy and durable, and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings used on other Audeze models.
The LCD-2 Classics do not feel as luxurious as other high-end headphones. They have a DIY feel to them with all the screws visible, and a lack of finish on the metal parts. They're still great headphones but they might not be for all.
Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product for a lower price. They feature the same planar technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. They also have an improved seal on the earcups, and come with a carrying case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the impressive bass extension and clearness that they boast. However the sound quality is amazing and will please most audiophiles.
2. planar headphones and innovative magnetic headphones that are planar have helped make it a household name. 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 to increase the modularity.
The LIRIC has an entire frequency response that ranges from 4Hz up to 92,000 Hz. This provides music with outstanding clarity and a wide soundstage. Additionally, the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively tames high-frequency peaking that can be a strain to the ears.
The headphones are designed to block out background noise and allow for high-fidelity listening while in motion. The headphones have an ovoid design that mimics the shape of the human ear to provide a direct connection 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 audio quality and spatial sound. This dual voicing technology is the result of more than 30 years of research and development which makes it one of the tiniest and most advanced magnetic drivers for planar circuits on the market.
To enhance their sound quality, LIRIC headphones come with a pressure equalization mechanism that precisely controls airflow and ear cup chamber pressure. This lets the listener hear the same sound quality, whether they are wearing the headphones in an office or on a plane.
The Meze LIRIC has an incredibly smooth and balanced sound that I found very enjoyable to listen to over long periods. The treble is crystal clear, and the bass is powerful with great clarity. The soundstage is extremely wide with good separation between vocals and instruments. I was impressed by the fact that no detail was too small for the headphones to miss, from the attack of PJ Harvey’s 50ft Queenie to the individual guitar strings.
The Meze LIRIC is a fantastic option if you're looking for the best closed-back planar magnetic headphones for less than $2000. It's a solid competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but offers a slightly different timbre and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been working to up their game in recent years by releasing several flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most premium headphones to date. It replaces the Empyrean model, which was their most popular.
The Elite is also an open-back, but with unique wings that increase wearability. The wings are like the ones found 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 periods. They do work well and I've worn the Elite for many hours without discomfort.
The Elite is a reference style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It can deliver extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1% over its entire frequency range. It has an excellent sensitivity of 101 dB/mW, and an impedance 32 ohms. This means that it can be driven by low-cost headphones or DAPs if they support the standard jack.
The Elite diaphragm represents another significant upgrade over the Empyrean. Instead of utilizing a polymer that has been developed specifically for the Elite, a low-mass semicrystalline film is engineered using biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This process allows the Elite to be a slim yet strong diaphragm, while still offering an excellent resistance to stress cracking and fatigue.
The Elite's lower-mass diaphragm results in a higher speed and resolution. It's now capable of competing with other models like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a slightly cheaper price. In actual fact, the Elite is perhaps even more resolving than the LCD-2 and can sound very neutral while still providing the impression of depth, transparency, high-end air and transients. This makes it a great choice for those who enjoy rock music and other genres where bass can be extremely noticeable.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most well-known on the market. It's an excellent choice for audiophiles wanting to make the switch to open-back models, as well as for those who are already familiar 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.
The HE400SE is a good open-back headphone, however it doesn't have the same bass extension as other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE is very rich and deep bass, but it doesn't sound loud. The overall tone is neutral but with some forward-looking midrange and an elevated treble that many listeners will find appealing.
Vocals are crystal clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is a fantastic choice for listening to acoustic and classical music. It's the most affordable headphones for this kind of music. If you're using closed-back headphones that have a bass-heavy tuning, the transition might be uncomfortable. It takes a couple of listening sessions to get used to it.
The HE400SE also has an impressive image. The HE400SE can produce a large, rich soundstage that allows musicians to feel centered in the space. The drums and vocals are very prominent in Prince's Let's go Crazy. The guitar solo is also very prominent and can be easily heard over the rest of the instruments.
The HE400SE is a great treble extension, with good clarity. The treble is slightly warm but not overly harsh. It doesn't have that extra brightness that other headphones with brighter trebles be, but it doesn't have the sibilance or fatiguing quality of some other open back headphones.
The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means it requires an amplifier that is powerful to achieve the maximum SPL. It will work with most smartphones and portable players but will require an amp with at least 0.5 W output power to achieve its maximum SPL of 102 dB.