Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $1000

If you enjoy music and would like to upgrade your headphones, a set of planar magnetic headphones is a good investment. However, they can also be quite expensive.

Fortunately, there are some fantastic options for headphones that are priced below the $1000 mark. In this article, we'll take a look at the top budget planar headphones that will provide an unforgettable listening experience.

1. Beyerdynamic T1

Beyerdynamic is an innovative German brand in headphone design. The Beyerdynamic T1 has a classic style and is constructed from high-quality materials, making it an absolute pleasure to wear. They are very comfortable and feature an extremely soft headband and padded and replaceable ear pads. The earphones can initially appear rough, but they quickly adjust to the shape of your head and ears. They allow for long listening sessions without discomfort.

The T1 is a natural sound, with a well-controlled but high-pitched bass and clean mids. The highs can be extremely vibrant and best planar magnetic headphones clear, however they may be too much for those who prefer a soft sounding treble. These headphones are great for listening to music that requires a lot of concentration, and they excel at medium-low volumes. They are able to maintain their balance even when playing violent music such as blackmetal or death metal and won't be overpowered by cymbal crashes.

Another outstanding feature is T1's exceptional dynamic range. It can reproduce extreme variations between louder and quieter songs with crystal clear clarity and precision. They are a fantastic choice for musicians who wish to hear every nuance and detail of their instrument and audiophiles who appreciate the ability to distinguish between various instruments in the song.

The gold-plated connectors on the ear cup and the Beyerdynamic logo are a nice addition. This is a symbol of quality and is a guarantee that you're getting a top quality product. The headphones are protected by a durable case when not in use. A detachable cord and a quarter-inch adapter are included.

The Beyerdynamic T1 has a closed back design, and isn't portable. They will not adequately shield you from the everyday noises like rush hour traffic or children's alarm clocks, as well as nagging partners. The large ear cups are not designed for vigorous activities like running, because they can easily fall off your ears. The Beyerdynamic T5p also has an open-back design, however the ear cups are smaller. They might be better for listening at the go.

2. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano

The HIFIMAN Nano is the newest version of the popular mid-range, open-back headphones. The Nano makes an enormous leap forward from the previous Ananda model, with an innovative nanometer thickness diaphragm, as well as a more clear stealth magnet that also appeared on the ultra high-end Susvara headphone. These features promise extremely low distortion, lightning speed transient response and a noticeable improvement in dynamics and details.

The resulting soundstage is wide and deep, with excellent separation of instruments and vocals. The Nano has a warm and mellow sound with a peak in the upper mids, making it ideal for hip-hop rock, and pop.

This focus on the upper mids can have certain disadvantages. It results in an unnaturally muffled sound especially in the higher registers, where some details is lost. The Nano isn't suitable for classical music as the lower mids are usually overshadowed.

Bass is powerful and punchy, with good texture in the low-end and great dynamic and slam. It's a little more full than the bass of the original Ananda and is perfect for contemporary music such as pop and Best Planar Magnetic Headphones rock and gaming, yet still has plenty of rumble, which is pleasing to audiophiles looking for an acoustic tone that is more natural to their bass.

Leakage can be quite problematic, as expected for an open-back headphone. it can cause problems in loud environments. The headphone is also not equipped with a microphone, which means it won't be able to make calls to mobile phones.

The HIFIMAN Nano is an excellent choice for those looking for an open-back magnetic planar headphone that's priced under $1000. It's a step up from the previous model and is worth checking out. The Ananda Nano comes with a travel bag, which is an excellent addition for audiophiles who travel. The case is large enough to hold the Ananda Nano, its cable and a smaller DAC or player. In the box you will also find the carrying case. The headphones are well-constructed and durable and come with a three-year warranty.

3. Hifiman Edition XS

When HIFIMAN introduced the Edition X, it created quite an uproar in the world of audiophile. The company has now incorporated the same technology into a smaller, more affordable headphone that can be used in between the Sundara and Ananda. The Edition XS uses the same aerodynamically-shaped stealth magnets and a thin "Neo Super-Nano Diaphragm" to guarantee fast response time with minimal distortion.

As with all HIFIMAN products the headphones are robustly constructed. They are sturdy enough to stand up to heavy use and are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. The cups are constructed of an anti-resonant, vibration-reducing material. A tangle-free cord with straight plug is included in the package, as well as an accessory stand for the headphones that can also double as a case for storage for the headphones.

The Edition XS planar magnetic headphones provide excellent detail resolution. This means that you'll hear things in your music that weren't evident before, or even notice flaws in your recordings you would have otherwise missed with a different set of headphones. They offer a wide soundstage and superior imaging that can fill the entire room with three-dimensional clarity.

These headphones are balanced and neutral and can be used with any kind of music. They have great mids and reproduce vocals as well as lead instruments with precision, but they may be lacking a bit of punch and rumble in their bass. They have clear precise high frequencies, but may be too bright for some listeners.

The HiFiman Edition XS is a good option for anyone who wants an open-backed magnetic headphone that can be used in noisy environments and doesn't require any power to operate. The low impedance (18O), makes it easy to connect to almost any DAC, or headphone amplifier. However you'll have the best results if you use an audio interface with a built-in headphone amp. They're not the most portable headphones, and can be quite heavy to carry around, but they come with a padded bag for travel. They're also a little more expensive than other options on this list, but their quality and features justify the extra cost.

4. Audeze LCD-5

The Audeze LCD-5 is the company's most recent flagship magnetic headphones that are planar magnetic drivers. It's a brand new design, with a brand new magnet and driver. This is no small upgrade over the previous models of headphone, and it places the LCD-5 at the top of the line of the market for personal audio. The LCD-5's drivers are ultra-thin Nano-Scale diaphragms, paired with a brand new Parallel Uniforce voice coil technology and Fazor waveguides. These new features work in conjunction to control the diaphragm's movement and deliver a high-resolution.

In addition the earpads on the LCD-5 are designed to fit a wider range of head sizes. The LCD-5s are more comfortable than the previous models due to the pads are made of an elastic material and the headband is lighter and slimmer. The headphones clamp slightly more than other Audeze models, and could be slightly tight for some users, however they will get more comfortable as time goes on.

Audeze LCD series has been a benchmark in the field of planar closed back headphones magnetic headphones for many years. The LCD-2 was the first high-fidelity headphone that was to be released in the series, then followed by LCD-3 and LCD-4. The LCD-5 is the latest in the series, offering enhancements to every aspect of the headphones' sound quality as well as their design.

The LCD-5 has more refined sound and a more mellow presentation than the LCD-2. This is due to their greater focus on midrange detail retrieval, surgical treble precision and microdetail retrieval. The LCD-5s still have a massive dynamic range with a full-bodied bass. They're not as powerful as an Abyss AB-1266, or Hifiman HE1000SE. You'll have to adjust the EQ to get the best sound.

Audeze LCD-5 headphones are outstanding with their stunning sound signature. They also have an outstanding build quality. They're not for everyone, but if you have the money and you want an excellent headphone that will deliver a jaw-dropping listening experience, look no further than the LCD-5. It will be worth every penny.