Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers and Ribbon Tweeters

Planar magnetic drivers and ribbon tweeters offer numerous advantages over traditional dynamic speakers. Their large diaphragms need only just a tiny amount of movement (excursion) which allows them to produce the same sound as an ordinary speaker.

They also have dipolar radiation patterns which means that they radiate equally in front and behind the speaker.

High-Resolution Sound

Ribbon and planar magnetic speakers are known for their ability to create precise, clear sound. They are known for their high-resolution sound that reveals subtle nuances in music that other drivers aren't able to reproduce or show.

Ribbon and planar drivers aren't just accurate, they also have superior soundstages, allowing them to reproduce a large soundstage with exceptional clarity. Audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts as well as audiophiles will find them to be a great choice.

Planar and ribbon drivers can be distinguished by their dipole pattern. This pattern emits equal amounts of energy in front and back with an inverted phase that creates an organic soundstage. Their large dispersion and dipole radiation pattern make them ideal for planar magnetic Loudspeakers large spaces, where they are able to create a natural and spacious soundstage.

Planar magnetic drivers also have a fast response time, which helps them to reproduce transients with greater precision and speed than traditional cone drivers. This results in a highly clear and precise sound, even at very high frequencies.

Planar magnetic drivers are also known for their low distortion. It is because they don't employ a voice coil rather an electrostatic field. This allows the diaphragms to move without causing vibrations that can cause distortion.

Additionally, the distance between the magnets in the planar driver is larger than in a traditional cone speaker. This provides a higher bass performance and a higher frequency response at low amplitudes.

While many of the benefits of planar magnetic drivers appeal to you however, they have some limitations that must be taken into consideration. They can be costly and require more power to other types of speakers. They can also be heavy which makes it difficult to fit into specific areas. They can also be sensitive to the acoustics of the room, and require extensive treatment of the room to get the best performance. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce these issues by incorporating an attenuation resistor (provided by your speakers) in the attenuation position, or applying some kind of room treatment.

Wide Dispersion

Planar magnetic speakers also generate sound by controlling the flow of electrical currents through wires suspended in between magnets. They vibrate a flat membrane directly, instead of using an electrostatic charge. This gives them a larger surface area and more precise. This operational principle also allows them to be built them into smaller, more affordable speakers and headphones than electrostatic models.

In addition to providing wide dispersion, planar drivers deliver superior imaging and clarity of soundstage, particularly in the higher frequencies, where they excel. This is a huge benefit for audiophiles that enjoy watching music or films on big screens or in a large open space.

Furthermore they can also produce deep bass as they can be augmented by boxed woofers which are attached to or independent of the ribbon-like diaphragm. This is different from traditional cone-shaped speakers that contain woofers at the bottom, which cannot reproduce bass frequencies because of the physical limitations of woofer enclosures.

A planar driver has a low distortion rate, which is directly proportional to the size and travel of the diaphragm. A planar speaker is able create a large volume of sound with no distortion. This is the reason that the sound quality is so clear and precise.

In comparison the dynamic drivers that are used in conventional speakers and headphones typically show significant levels of distortion when they are driven to the limit of extreme excursion. Dynamic drivers can produce an enveloping sound or a boomy sound.

Planar magnetic drivers are extremely efficient. They require less power to drive, which results in a lower energy consumption and reduced environmental impact. Their diaphragms, which are usually lighter than traditional speakers, also reduce the energy needed to propel them to produce a certain sound pressure.

Many audiophiles have heard of planar/ribbon speakers, such as those made by Magnepan Infinity and Apogee Acoustics. However, an entirely new brand is available. New planar loudspeakers by manufacturers such as Clarisys Audio and Diptyque, for instance, are incorporating the latest advances in ribbon technology.

Low Distortion

Since planar magnetic speakers don't feature a cone- or dome-shaped diaphragm, they produce extremely low distortion. This is the direct result of their unique design which eliminates the voice coil inductance that is associated with conventional dynamic speakers (see U.S. Patent 6,353,560). This assures that the diaphragm never out of phase with the magnetic field around it, resulting in an output that is constant. Distortion is generally only noticeable when large waveforms are being reproduced. With a single-ended magnetic planar driver, distortion is almost impossible at all frequencies that are above bass.

Planar magnetic loudspeakers can be very efficient and have low distortion. This allows the drive to be used with much less power than is typically required for other speaker technologies. This means lower costs of ownership and less energy consumption.

The distortion of planar magnetic drivers is significantly less than that of traditional dynamic speakers, and even more so for electrostatic speakers. This is because the closed-back planar magnetic headphones magnet driver's flat diaphragm is equipped with an electrical conductor trace that lets it react to magnetic fields generated on either side.

The two magnets have to be placed in a way that the voice element remains in the magnetic field optimally at all times. This is what enables the extremely linear performance of planar magnetic drivers at all frequencies that go beyond the bass.

Planar magnetic drivers have many other advantages, but the most important is that they can be built as either dipoles (radiating in opposite phases and equally behind and in front of the speaker like an ESL) or Monopoles (radiating in the direction of travel and more like traditional dynamic speakers). This allows for a variety of designs, particularly when used with using a ribbon-tweeter.

Many planar magnetic loudspeakers are on the market today from companies like Hifiman, Dan Clark, Audeze and Fostex. Each manufacturer has their own unique sound, which is the result of their unique driver configurations and other engineering innovations. These speakers are characterized by their incredible detail and their dynamic, as well as controlled directionality.

High Power Handling

Planar magnetic speakers can handle more power than traditional dynamic moving coil drivers, without the audible strain and stress that they may cause. This is due to the fact that the "voice coil" is spread out across an extensive area instead of being squeezed into a small gap between the basket and cone as in traditional dynamic drivers. This gives the voice coil more surface area to absorb heat effectively.

Another reason that planar drivers are able to handle such a large amount of power is because they have the smallest mass when in comparison to conventional drivers. Dynamic drivers utilize thick, heavy diaphragms that are a tenth of a pound larger and heavier than the diaphragms that are ultra-light and thin used in planar magnetic drives. Because of their mass, conventional diaphragms need a greater amount of force to move forwards and backwards (a measurement referred to as excursion) to produce a certain level of sound pressure.

Therefore they aren't able to be used as effectively as a planar magnetic driver could since the voice coil would begin to produce significant amounts of distortion. It is therefore essential to purchase loudspeakers that are rated for the amplifier you're planning to use.

A planar magnetic driver's large excursion enables it to create a wider soundstage than conventional drivers. This is because the diaphragm vibrates in a uniform and flat way to create a wavefront, rather than the spherical wavefront typical with conventional drivers. This wider soundstage also increases the clarity and accuracy of the speakers and allows them to reproduce more subtle variations and more complex sounds.

The drawback to the superior power handling of planar magnetic drivers is that they are often more expensive to manufacture and require stronger amplifiers in order to operate at full capacity. They can also be quite large and heavy, which can make them difficult to install in some environments. They also have a low bass response, meaning that you may need to add a subwoofer your system to get a satisfying result at lower frequencies.