Planar Magnetic Technology for Headphones

Planar magnetic technology is being revived by a few specialist HiFi audio companies. These companies make headphones with planar drivers from the old school that deliver the most powerful, full-bodied sound signature.

This paper focuses on the fundamental features of a planar magnet device by examining winding inductance, leakage capacitance and conduction losses in winding. A method is also proposed to reduce the parasitic elements.

Low profile or low vertical height

Compared to traditional wire-wound magnetics Planar magnetic technology has lower profile and greater efficiency. It also minimizes leakage and capacitance. This also permits the use of a smaller-sized core, which reduces the overall cost of the device. Additionally it doesn't require any clamping of the magnets. This makes it perfect for use in power electronics devices.

Another advantage of planar magnetic technology is that it is lighter and more compact than traditional headphones. It can also handle an increased frequency range without distortion. This is due to the flat diaphragm which is used in these devices, which is usually made of a thin layer and is fitted with a conductor trace it. This film is able to react quickly to audio signals and can produce high sound pressure levels with ease.

The audio generated by these devices will be more acoustic and more precise. This is why it is highly favored by audiophiles, especially those who like listening to music in their workplace or at home. It is important to keep in mind that a planar magnetic driver requires a powered amplifier and digital audio converter (DAC) to function correctly.

The resultant sound is more natural and precise than that of dynamic drivers. Planar magnetic drivers are capable of reacting to changes in audio signals quicker, which makes them ideal for listening to music that is fast.

Despite their advantages, planar magnet drivers have some drawbacks. Their cost is partially due to the huge amount of magnetic material needed to make them work. Another drawback is their size and weight that could pose a problem when trying to make them portable.

Wide band gap (WBG) devices

Wide band gap (WBG) semiconductors are a class of materials which have higher electrical properties than silicon-based devices. They are able to withstand higher current densities as well as higher voltages and lower switching losses. They are therefore ideal for optoelectronics and power electronics applications. Wide band gap semiconductors, such as gallium nitride and silicon carbide, can offer significant enhancements in performance and size. They are also more environmentally green than conventional silicon-based products. These attributes make them appealing to satellite and aerospace manufacturers.

Planar magnetic drivers operate using the same principles as dynamic drivers. Conductors of electricity move between magnets that are fixed when audio signals are passed through them. Planar magnetic drivers, however, What is a Planar headphone employ a flat array of conductors encased or attached to an elongated diaphragm that resembles a thin film instead of a coil. Conductors are a set of coils' that are placed on the diaphragm and sit directly between two magnets. This creates the push/pull phenomenon that triggers the diaphragm's movement.

This technology produces music without distortion and produces a distinctive, pleasing sound. The driver moves uniformly and quickly due to the even distribution of magnetic force over the entire surface as well as the absence of a coil behind the diaphragm. This results in a clear and precise sound. The resulting sound is known as isodynamic, orthodynamic, or magnetically-incident.

However, due to their complicated design and higher price point headphones that use planar magnetic drivers are usually more expensive than those using other driver technologies. That said there are plenty of excellent, affordable alternatives such as the Rinko by Seeaudio and S12 Z12 by LETSHUOER that were recently released.

Power electronics

Unlike traditional wire wound magnetic components planar magnetics are better at dissipating heat. This allows them to handle more power without causing excessive stress or strain that is audible. This makes them perfect for headphones and other applications. In addition to their higher efficiency, planar magnetics allow for higher power density. This technology What is a planar headphone especially suited for applications such as fast charging of electric vehicles batteries, battery management and military systems.

Compared to dynamic driver headphones, what is a Planar headphone which utilize a diaphragm suspended by a voice coil, planar magnetic drivers work using a different method. When an electromagnetic signal is transmitted through the array and the magnets on the opposite sides of the diaphragm get pushed together and a push-pull effect is created. This generates sound waves that move the diaphragm creating audio.

Planar magnetic devices are more efficient than conventional magnetics because they have a greater surface-to-volume ratio. This means they can disperse more heat, which allows them to operate at higher frequencies of switching without exceeding their maximum temperature ratings. They also have lower thermal sensitivity than wire-wound devices. This allows them to be used in smaller power electronics circuits.

Designers need to consider a variety of aspects to optimize a planar booster. This includes the design's core and winding configurations as well as losses estimation and thermal modeling. The ideal inductor features include low winding capacitance, low leakage inductance, and easy integration into a PCB. It should also be able handle high currents and should be compact in size.

In addition, the inductor should be compatible with a multilayer PCB that has a through-hole or SMD package. The copper thickness must also be thin enough to prevent thermal coupling and limit eddy-currents between conductors.

Flexible circuit-based planar Winding

In planar magnetics, flex circuit-based windings can be used to create a high-efficiency resonance. They are made up of one-patterned conductor layers on dielectric film that is flexible and can be made using a variety of metal foils. The most popular choice is copper foil, which has superior electrical properties and is processed to enable termination features on both sides. The conductors in a flex circuit are linked with thin lines that extend beyond the edges of the substrate, thereby providing the flexibility needed for tape automated bonding (TAB). Single-sided flex circuits can be found in a wide range of thicknesses and conductive coatings.

In a typical planar headphones, the diaphragm is set between two permanent magnets that vibrate in response to the electrical signals that are sent by your audio device. These magnetic fields generate a sound wave that travels across the entire diaphragm's surface, creating a piston-like motion that prevents breakups and distortion.

Planar magnetic headphones are able to reproduce a variety of frequencies, especially at lower frequencies. This is due to the fact that they have a larger surface area than traditional cone-type drivers, which allows them to move more air. They also reproduce bass sounds with an increased level of clarity and detail.

However, planar magnetic headphones are costly to manufacture and require a powered amplifier as well as a DAC to function properly. Additionally, they are heavier and bulkier than conventional drivers, making them difficult to transport and fit into smaller spaces. Their low impedance requires more power to drive, which could quickly become a problem when listening to music at a high volume.

Stamped copper winding

The use of stamped copper windings with planar magnetic technology can improve the window utilization rate and reduce manufacturing costs. The technique involves making grooves in the body of the coil to support the windings at an exact location in the layer. This prevents deformations of the coil and increases tolerances. This also reduces scrap and improves quality control. This kind of planar coil is commonly employed in relay and contactor coils, ignition coils, and small transformers. It can also be used in devices with a wire thickness of up to 0.05 mm. The stamping creates a uniform coil with high current density. It also ensures that the windings are precisely positioned on the coil body.

Unlike traditional dynamic drivers, that use a conductor voicecoil behind the diaphragm in order to create sound waves, planar magnetic headphones have a variety of flat conductors placed directly to the diaphragm. The conductors vibrate when electronic signals are applied. This creates a pistonic movement that produces sound. This is why planar magnetic headphones can produce higher-quality sound than other types of audio drivers.

This technology can increase the bandwidth of transducers. This is important because it allows them to operate in a larger frequency range. Furthermore, it lowers the power requirements of the driver.

This technology is not without some disadvantages. For instance, it could be difficult to produce an ultra-thin diaphragm with a thin film that can withstand the extreme temperatures required by this kind of technology. However, manufacturers like Wisdom Audio have overcome this issue by introducing an adhesive-free product that can withstand temperatures of up to 725degF (385degC). This allows them to create superior audio quality without sacrificing durability or longevity.