Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $1000

A planar magnetic set is a great option for those who are looking to upgrade their headphones. They can be expensive.

There are plenty of excellent options that are less than the $1000 mark. In this article, we'll look at the top budget planar headphones for an unforgettable listening experience.

1. Beyerdynamic T1

Beyerdynamic is a German brand that isn't a flimsy when it comes to premium headphones. The Beyerdynamic T1 is made from top quality materials and features a classic design. It's a pleasure to wear. They are very comfortable and come with an extremely soft headband and padded and replaceable Ear pads that can be replaced. They may feel rough on the skin initially but they quickly meld into the head and ears and provide long listening sessions with no discomfort.

The T1 is a natural sound, with a well-controlled but elevated bass and clean mids. The highs can be extremely vibrant and clear, however they may be too much for those who prefer a soft bass. These headphones are great for listening to music that requires a lot of concentration, and they excel at medium-low volume. They will hold their balance while playing aggressive music like death metal or blackmetal, and won't be overwhelmed by cymbal crashes.

Another great feature is the T1's exceptional dynamic range. It can reproduce extreme differences in the volume of more quiet and less loud parts with a high level of 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 same song.

A nice touch is the gold-plated connectors as well as the Beyerdynamic logo on the ear cup. This is a sign and guarantee of quality. The headphones are protected by a durable case when not in use. A detachable cable as well as an adapter for quarter-inch are included.

The Beyerdynamic T1 has a closed back design, and isn't portable. They will not shield you from everyday noises like traffic jams, children's clocks or nagging spouses. The ear cups that are large are not designed for physical sports like running because they could easily fall off your ears. The Beyerdynamic T5p comes with a similar open-back design with ear cups that are slightly smaller, so they may be a better option to listen to music on the on the go.

2. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano

The HIFIMAN Ananda Nano is the most recent version of the popular HIFIMAN mid-range open-back headphones. The Nano is a quantum leap ahead of the original Ananda, featuring a new nanometer-thick diaphragm with a stealth magnet that provides greater clarity. These features were included on the ultra-high-end Susvara headphones. These features promise low distortion, lightning speed transient response and a noticeable improvement in clarity and dynamics.

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

This emphasis in the upper mids comes with some disadvantages, however. It creates a slightly muffled sound, especially in the higher registers, where some details is lost. This also means that the Nano isn't the best planar magnetic headphones choice for classical music, as the lower mids tend to be overshadowed by the bass.

The bass is powerful dynamic, powerful and lively with a great bass timbre at the lower end. It's a bit fuller than the bass of the original Ananda, which is ideal for contemporary music such as pop, rock and gaming, but still provides plenty of rumble, which is satisfying for audiophiles who prefer the natural sound of their bass.

As one would expect leakage is not a good thing for headphones with an open back. It could be an issue in noisy environments. The headphone is also not equipped with an audio microphone, so it won't be able to make calls from mobile phones.

The HIFIMAN Nano is an excellent choice to anyone looking for an open-back magnetic planar headphone that costs less than $1000. It's an upgrade from the previous model, and is worth checking out. The Ananda Nano comes with a travel bag, which is a great option for Best Planar magnetic Headphones audiophiles traveling. The case is big enough to fit the Ananda Nano with its cable and the smallest player/DAC. Inside the case, you will also find an accessory pouch. The headphones are sturdy and well-made and come with a 3-year warranty.

3. Hifiman Edition XS

When HIFIMAN introduced the Edition X, it created quite a stir within the audiophile world. The company has brought the technology to the smaller, more affordable headphone that sits right between the Sundara and the 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 they are sturdy and well-constructed. They are sturdy enough to stand up to heavy use and are comfortable to wear during long listening sessions. The cups are also made from an anti-resonant material to reduce vibrations. The box has an untangled cord with straight plugs and the headphone holder which can be used to store the headphones.

The Edition XS is a very excellent planar magnetic headphone that provides excellent detail resolution. This means you'll be able to hear things in your music that weren't before, or perhaps notice imperfections in your recordings that you wouldn't have noticed with other headphones. They feature a large soundstage and excellent imaging that can fill the entire room with three-dimensional clarity.

These headphones are neutral and balanced, so they can be used with all kinds of music. They have excellent mids and best planar magnetic headphones reproduce vocals and lead instruments precisely, however they may lack a bit of the rumble and punch in their bass. They have crisp precise high frequencies, but may sound too bright to some listeners.

The HIFIMAN XS may be a great choice for anyone looking for a planar magnetic open-backed headphone that is suitable for noisy environments, yet doesn't require the most power. The low impedance (18O) makes it easy to drive with virtually any DAC or headphone amplifier, however you'll likely achieve the best results with an audio interface with integrated headphone amp. The headphones aren't the most portable and may be bulky however they come with a cushioned travel pouch. They're also a bit more expensive than other models on this list, but their performance and features justify the extra cost.

4. Audeze LCD-5

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

In addition, the LCD-5's earpads are made to fit a greater range of heads. The pads are made of a more flexible material, and the headband is lighter and smaller which means that the LCD-5s be more comfortable on the majority of ears than past models. The headphones clamp a bit more than other Audeze models, and might be a bit tight for some people, but they will get more comfortable over time.

Audeze LCD series has been the benchmark in the field of planar magnetic headphones for years. The LCD-2 was the first high-fidelity headphones to be released and was followed by LCD-3 and LCD-4. The LCD-5 is a continuation of this trend, offering improvements in every aspect of the headphones' sound signature and design.

The LCD-5 has an improved sound quality and a less sloppy 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 are still an extremely powerful headphone, with the capability to deliver massive dynamic range and full-bodied bass. They're not as loud like an Abyss A-1266 or Hifiman HE1000SE. You will have to adjust the EQ to get the most optimal 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 have the money and want a premium headphone that will give you a dazzling listening experience Look no further than the LCD-5. It's worth every cent.