How Planar Magnetic Headphone Was The Most Talked About Trend In 2023
Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones give the most detailed and expansive listening experience. They're popular with audiophiles who want to upgrade their listening experience.
The best planar earphones magnetic headphone depends on your priorities. It all boils down to image clarity and distinction, as well as clarity versus bass punch.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The LCD-2 was one of the first planar magnetic headphones to gain popularity. It became so popular that it's now a symbol of the technology, and it's still among the top headphones available. Its sound is phenomenal and especially for a headset that costs well over $1,000. The bass goes all the way to the point of hearing, and it is awe-inspiring in detail. The mids and upper Treble are warm but not in an unpleasant way. Overall, there is plenty of clarity in the sound and very little distortion.
They are very comfortable to wear, and also. The headband and earpads have an incredibly soft and flexible feel. They're light enough to allow for long listening sessions without becoming too fatigued. They don't encase the ear like other open-back headphones, so you can hear what is A Planar Headphone is happening around you. This isn't a problem in quiet environments but could be an issue in louder environments.
The LCD-2 Classics have a very solid build and are built to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are constructed of crystal-infused nylon. This is an excellent material for a headphones. It's sturdy and durable, and is lighter than the wood rings that are used on some other Audeze models.
However the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as luxurious as other high-end headphones. They have a bit of an industrial 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 everyone.
Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product at a lower price. These headphones feature the same planar technology of the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower price. They also have an improved seal on the earcups and come with a carrying case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the incredible bass extension and clarity that they have. However, the sound is still incredible and should satisfy most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for itself through its innovative and affordable 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 to improve modularity.
The LIRIC has a full-frequency response that ranges from 4Hz to 92kHz, providing amazingly detailed music that has exceptional clarity and a wide soundstage. In addition, the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively reduces high-frequency peaking that can be a strain to the ears.
For high-fidelity listening while on the on the go, these headphones feature a closed-back design that blocks out ambient noise. The headphones have an ovoid design that is reminiscent of the shape of human ear to provide an immediate connection to the source of the sound.
The Meze LIRIC is equipped with the company's exclusive Isodynamic Hybrid array driver, which has dual-shaped voice coils that provide better ambience and spatial sound imaging. Dual voicing is the result of more than 30 years of research and development, making it one of the tiniest and most advanced magnetic drivers for planar circuits on the market.
To improve the audio quality, the LIRIC headphones come with an equalization system that precisely controls airflow and the pressure of the earcup chamber. This allows listeners to hear the same sound quality, whether they are wearing the headphones in an office or on a plane.
In my tests during my testing, the Meze LIRIC produced a stunningly balanced and smooth sound that's highly enjoyable to listen to for long sessions. The bass is booming and deep, with a sharp treble. The soundstage is expansive and there is a good separation between instruments and vocals. I also liked the fact that no element of the 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 of an electric guitar.
The Meze LIRIC is a great choice if you are searching for the top closed-back planar magnetic headphones for less than $2000. It's a solid competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but has a slightly different timbre and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been trying to up their game in recent years, releasing several flagship products. The Elite the latest product, is their most expensive headphone to date and is a worthy replacement for Empyrean as the company's flagship.
Similar to the Empyrean and the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone with a unique suspension wings design that improve their wearability. The wings are similar to the ones 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 the comfort of listening for long durations. They are effective and I've worn the Elite for a long time without any discomfort.
Sonically it is a great headphone. Elite is a reference-style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver which can deliver exceptionally low harmonic distortion of less than 0.1% across its entire frequency range. It also has the highest sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW and an impedance of 32 Ohms which means it can be controlled very easily by even cheap headphone amplifiers and DAPs (assuming they support the standard headphone jack).
The Elite's diaphragm is another important improvement over the Empyrean that has shifted away from the polymer that was developed by a custom-made company to utilize a low-mass semi-crystalline film that has been developed by biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This allows the Elite to have an extremely slim yet strong diaphragm, while still providing an excellent resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.
The switch to a lower mass diaphragm also results in improved speed and resolution and brings the Elite to a level of performance that puts it right with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a more affordable price point. In fact, the Elite is perhaps more detailed than the LCD-2 and can be very neutral, while providing a sense of depth, transparency, high-end air and transients, making it a superb choice for those who enjoy rock music as well as other genres where bass is quite prominent.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE planar headphones magnetic headphones are among the most popular on the market. It's a great choice for audiophiles who want to 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 that reduces wave diffraction and distortion to levels that are nearly unnoticeable.
Although the HE400SE does not have quite the bass extension that other HiFiMAN models do but it still provides an excellent low end sound for an open back headphone. The HE400SE has a deep and full low end however, it isn't loud. The overall tone is neutral but with elevated trebles and forward midrange that many people will find pleasing.
The HE400SE has a very clear sound. The HE400SE is a great choice for listening to acoustic and also orchestral and classical music. It's the best budget headphone for this type of music. However, if you're accustomed to closed-back headphones that have an emphasis on bass, the transition can be somewhat uncomfortable. It takes a couple of listening sessions to get used to it.
The HE400SE's image is impressive. The HE400SE produces a wide and detailed soundstage, which allows musicians to feel like they are in the right place. The drums and vocals are prominent in Prince's Let's go Crazy. The guitar solo is extremely prominent, and is easily heard over the other instruments.
The HE400SE is a good treble extension that has good clarity. The treble is slightly warm but not overly harsh. It doesn't have that added brightness that other headphones with brighter trebles be, but it doesn't have the sibilance or fatiguing quality of other lower-priced open back headphones.
The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means that it will require a powerful amplifier to reach the maximum SPL. It will work with most smartphones and portable devices, however, what is A Planar Headphone it will require an amplifier with at least 0.5 W output power to achieve its maximum SPL of 102 dB.