Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones give a detailed and wide listening experience. Audiophiles looking to upgrade their listening experience will love these.
The best headphones with planar magnetics depends on the features you value the most when it comes to the headphones you choose to purchase. It comes down to clarity, image structure, and distinction versus bass punch and slam.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The LCD-2 was one of the first planar magnetic headphones to gain a lot of attention. It's so well-known, it has become synonymous with the technology. It's still among the top headphones of its kind. The sound quality is exceptional particularly 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 mids and upper Treble are warm but not in an obnoxious way. Overall, the sound is clear and precise and has very little distortion.
The earpads are also comfortable. The headband and earpads are an incredibly soft and flexible feel. They are light enough to be worn for long listening sessions without becoming too fatigued. They don't completely seal the ears like some other open-back models, so you can hear what's happening around you. This isn't an issue in quiet areas, but it can be a problem in louder areas.
In terms of quality of construction In terms of build quality, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and constructed to last. The earcups are made from crystal-infused nylon which is a fantastic material for a headphone. It looks tough and is much lighter than wood rings used in other Audeze models.
However the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as high-end as some 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're still a great pair of headphones, however they may not be the best choice for all people.
If you're seeking a similar headphone that is less expensive then the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent choice. These headphones have 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 carry case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the incredible bass extension and clarity that they have. However, the sound is still impressive and should please the majority of audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio's affordable and innovative magnetic headphones with a planar design have made it an international brand. The latest headphone from the company, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first-generation model with improvements in performance and a 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 amazingly detailed music that has exceptional clarity and a large soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone efficiently reduces high-frequency peaks that can be a strain on the ear.
Designed for high-fidelity listening on the on the go, these headphones feature a closed-back design that blocks out ambient noise. The headphones have an ovoid design that mimics the shape of the human ear to provide a direct 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 to improve ambience and sound imaging in spatial space. This dual sound is the result of over 30 years of development and research making it the most compact and light magnet driver on the market.
To improve their sound quality, the LIRIC headphones feature a pressure equalization system which precisely regulates airflow as well as the pressure in the ear cup chamber. This ensures that the user hears the same sound quality regardless of whether the headphones are used in a workplace on a plane, in a hotel or traveling to work.
The Meze LIRIC has 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 clarity. The soundstage is expansive and there is good separation between vocals and instruments. I also enjoyed the fact that no element of an album was too small to not attract the attention of headphones, from the attack and decay of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings on 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 formidable rival to the Dan Clark Audio E3, but has a slightly different 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 stepped up the game in recent years by introducing several flagship products. The Elite the latest product, is their most premium headphone yet and a worthy replacement for the Empyrean as the company's flagship.
Like the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone that has a unique suspension wings design that improve their 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 heavier than average driver across more of your head, increasing comfort when listening for long periods. From my experience, they really well and the Elite can be worn for a long time without discomfort.
The Elite is a reference-style headphone that has an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It can deliver extremely low harmonic distortion, averaging less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency spectrum. It also has an extremely high sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW and an impedance of 32 ohms which means it can be driven effortlessly by even budget headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they can accept the standard headphone jack).
The Elite diaphragm is another significant upgrade over the Empyrean. Instead of utilizing a polymer that has been developed specifically for the Elite semicrystalline film with a low mass has been engineered by sequential biaxial lengthening. This technique permits an Elite diaphragm which is strong and thin, while also providing outstanding resistance to stress and fatigue cracking.
The Elite's lower-mass diaphragm result in increased speed and resolution. It's now capable of competing with rivals like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a lower cost. In planar magnetic closed back headphones , the Elite is perhaps more detailed than the LCD-2 and it can sound extremely neutral while providing the impression of transparency, depth, high-end air and transients, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy rock music as well as other genres in which bass is extremely significant.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most well-known on the market. It's a great choice for audiophiles who want to switch to open-back headphones, or for those already familiar with the concept of planar magnets. It comes with HiFiMAN's latest Stealth Magnet Design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction to nearly unnoticeable levels.
The HE400SE is a good open-back model, but it doesn't have the same bass extension as other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE is very full and deep low end however, it isn't loud. The overall tone is neutral but with trebles that are higher and forward midrange which many listeners will find pleasing.
Vocals are incredibly clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is a fantastic option for listening to classical or acoustic music. This is the most affordable headphones to listen to this kind of music. However, if you're used to closed-back headphones that have an emphasis on bass, the transition can be somewhat uncomfortable. It may take some time to get used to it.
The HE400SE also has impressive imaging. The HE400SE can produce a large and detailed soundstage that allows the musicians to feel centered in the space. The drums and vocals are prominent in the song by Prince called 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 solid treble extension, with good clarity. The treble has a slight warmth but it's not too harsh. It doesn't sound as bright as some other open-back headphones with a more pronounced treble, but it does not sound as sibilant or fatigued either.
The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means that it will need an amplifier that is powerful to achieve the maximum SPL. It works with the majority of smartphones and portable music players, but it will require an amplifier that has a minimum of 0.5 W output to reach its maximum SPL.