Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones offer an immersive and spacious listening experience. Audiophiles who wish to improve their listening experience are raving about them.
The best planar magnetic headphone depends on the priorities you set. It all boils to image clarity and distinction as well as clarity as well as bass impact.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The original LCD-2 was the first pair of planar magnetic headphones to really take off. It became so popular that it's now synonymous with the technology, and it's still among the top headphones of its kind. The quality of its sound is incredible especially for a device that is priced at more than $1,000. The bass is deep enough to extend beyond the human hearing range, and is bursting with a lot of detail. The mids and upper the treble are warm, but not in an obnoxious way. Overall, there is lots of detail in the sound, and very little distortion.
They are extremely comfortable to wear and are also very. The headband and earpads have a soft, flexible feel. They are light enough to wear for long listening sessions without getting too fatigued. Unfortunately, they don't provide an airtight seal around your ears like the open-back headphones do. And this means you'll be able to hear the sounds around you. This isn't an issue in quiet environments but could be a problem in louder ones.
In terms of quality of build in terms of build quality, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and made to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are made with crystal-infused nylon. This is a great material for headphones. It looks durable and is much lighter than the wood rings that are used on other Audeze models.
However, the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as high-end as some high-end headphones. They have an "artisanal" feel with all the screws visible, and the lack of a finish on the metal parts. They are still a fantastic pair of headphones, but they may not be suitable for all people.
If you're seeking a similar headphone that is less expensive then the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent option. These headphones feature the same planar technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower price. They also have a more secure seal on the earcups, and come with a carry case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the impressive bass extension and clearness that they boast. However the sound is incredible and should satisfy most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio's affordable and innovative planar magnetic headphones have made it an international brand. The company's newest headphone, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first generation model with performance enhancements and a brand new striped ebony finish for improved modularity and a long, durable life.
The LIRIC boasts a full-frequency response that spans from 4Hz up to 92kHz, delivering stunningly detailed music with outstanding clarity and a broad soundstage. In addition the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively manages high-frequency spikes that can be exhausting to the ears.
For high-fidelity listening on the on the go, these headphones feature a closed-back design to block out ambient noise. They also feature an ovoid-shaped design that is a natural shape of the human ear for a more direct channel to the source of sound.
The Meze LIRIC comes with the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver with dual-shaped voice coils designed to improve the ambience and spatial sound imaging. This dual voice coil is the result of more than 30 years of development and research, making it the most lightweight and advanced planar magnet driver on the market.
best magnetic planar headphones come with an equalization system which regulates pressure and airflow in the ear cup chambers to enhance the sound quality. This ensures that the listener receives the same quality sound regardless of whether the headphones are used in a workplace or on a plane commute to work.
The Meze LIRIC created an incredibly smooth and balanced sound that I found very enjoyable to listen to over long periods. The treble is clear and clear and the bass is powerful with great quality. The soundstage is incredibly expansive with a good separation between instruments and vocals. I also enjoyed the fact that no element of an album was too small to not attract the ears' attention, from the decay and attack of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings of an electric guitar.
The Meze LIRIC is an excellent choice if you are looking for the best closed-back planar magnet headphones that cost less than $2000. It's a great competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3, but offers a slightly varying sound quality and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
In their quest to make a pair of headphones that are both visually stunning and sounding great, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have increased their game in recent years with several flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most premium headphone to date, and replaces the Empyrean, which was previously their flagship.
Like the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone with a unique suspension design that helps enhance their wearability. The wings are like the ones found on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones, in that they distribute the weight of the Elite's larger than average driver over the larger area of your head, enhancing comfort while listening for long durations. They are effective and I've worn the Elite for many hours without discomfort.
The Elite is a reference headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It has incredibly low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency spectrum. It also has the highest sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW as well as an impedance of 32 Ohms which means it can be controlled easily by low-cost headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they can accept the standard headphone jack).
The Elite diaphragm represents another important improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of using a custom-developed polymer semicrystalline film with a low mass has been developed using sequential biaxial lengthening. This process creates an Elite diaphragm that is both rigid and thin, while also offering superior resistance to stress and fatigue cracking.
This change to a lower-mass diaphragm also results in improved speed and resolution which brings the Elite to an level of performance that is right up against competitors such as the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a more affordable price. In actual fact, the Elite is possibly more accurate than the LCD-2 and it can be very neutral, while offering the impression of transparency, depth, top-end air, and transients that makes it an excellent choice for those who enjoy rock music and other genres in which bass is quite noticeable.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE is among the most well-loved headphones made of planar magnetic material around. It's a great choice for audiophiles who want to switch to open-back models, as well as for those who are already comfortable with planar magnet technology. 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 great open-back headphone, however it does not have the same bass extension as other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE has a very rich and deep bass however, it isn't like a boomer. The overall tone is neutral, with a hint of forward-looking midrange and an elevated treble which many listeners will appreciate.
Vocals are incredibly clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is a fantastic option for listening to classical or acoustic music. It's the most affordable headphone to listen to this type of music. If you're used to closed-back headphones that have an emphasis on bass, the transition can be somewhat uncomfortable. It will take a few listening sessions to get used to it.
The HE400SE also has impressive imaging. The HE400SE produces a wide soundstage with a clear soundstage that allows musicians to feel centered in the space. The vocals and the drums are prominent in Prince's Let's Go Crazy. The guitar solo is very prominent, and can be easily heard over the other instruments.
Lastly, the HE400SE has good treble extension and clarity. The treble has a slight warmth but it's not too harsh. It's not as bright as some other open back headphones with a brighter treble. However, it isn't as sibilant and tired either.
The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means that it will require an amplifier that is powerful to achieve the maximum SPL. It can be used with the majority of portable and smartphones, but requires an amp with at least 0.5 W output power to achieve its maximum SPL of 102 decibels.