How a Planar Magnetic Diaphragm Headphone Driver Works

Typically, dynamic drivers comprise a voice coil attached to the middle of the conical diaphragm. When electrical signal passes through the voice coil, it causes the diaphragm to move.

The force is only applied to a small part of the diaphragm, and it's difficult to move several points simultaneously. This can lead to breakup patterns that can cause distortion.

Sound Detail

Many audiophiles seek to get an accurate sound from their headphones. One way to achieve this is by using a planar magnetic diaphragm. This type of headphone operates in a similar manner to dynamic cone drivers, but with more advanced technology.

A planar diaphragm has an elongated structure that is built into the headphone's frame and made from a thin, lightweight film-like material. It's designed to be as flat and uniform as possible. This enables an even distribution of pressure across the entire surface.

The flat design allows for a better soundstage. A more focused wavefront leads to better sound staging which helps you locate the exact location of an instrument or vocal on the track. This is an important advantage over the more spherical wavefront typical of dynamic drivers.

A planar diaphragm differs from the traditional dynamic drivers that employ a voice-coil that is anchored to the cone's central point made of paper or plastic. Instead, it employs a series of magnets on each side of its flat surface. The electrical current flowing through the voice coil interacts with these magnets to drive the diaphragm to vibrate and produce sound. The entire diaphragm can be controlled simultaneously. This eliminates breakup modes mechanical filters, transmission delays and local resonances that could have a negative impact on the sound quality.

A diaphragm that is flat and uniform can also be accelerated faster than the thicker and heavier ones that are used in dynamic drivers. According to the laws of physics force is proportional to mass and acceleration. This means that the more quickly a driver's diaphragm moves the more force they exert. This results in planar magnet drivers having better response to bass and superior detail retrieval.

Of course, the advantages of a planar magnetic driver don't come without a price. They're more expensive than dynamic drivers due to the fact that they feature a huge diaphragm and a complicated motor. They also require a more powerful amplifier to function properly. Many planar magnetic headphone makers are able to take advantage of their technology and design premium headphones at competitive prices. Audeze LCD-4, hifiman he400se: premium open-back headphones with planar magnetic technology Susvara are just a few examples.

High Sensitivity

Planar drivers differ from moving coil drivers used in most headphones or IEMs in that they employ a flat membrane instead of the conventional cone or dome membrane. As an electrical signal passes through, it interacts with the magnets on both sides of the diaphragm and creates sound waves by vibrating the diaphragm. The diaphragm that is flat is able to respond quickly to sound and it can produce a wide spectrum of frequencies from lows to highs.

A key benefit of a planar magnetic design is that it's much more sensitive than other types of headphone driver, which utilizes a diaphragm that is up to several times more powerful than a typical headphone. This creates an incredible quantity of clarity and dynamic range that allows you to hear every tiniest detail that music can provide.

Additionally, planar magnetic planar headphones drivers produce an extremely uniform force across the entire diaphragm that eliminates breakup points and produces an uncluttered sound that is free of distortion. This is especially important for high-frequency sounds, where the presence of breakups can be extremely audible and distracting. In the FT5 the way this is achieved is by utilizing a highly advanced material called polyimide. It is extremely light and robust, as well as a sophisticated conductor pattern that blocks inductance related intermodulation distortion.

The OPPO's planar magnetic driver also have much better phase coherence, meaning that when a wavefront strikes the ear canal, it has a perfectly flat and unaltered shape. Dynamic drivers have a spherical wavefront, which disrupts the coherence of the signal and result in less-than-perfect reconstructions high-frequency signals, particularly at higher frequency. This is another reason that the OPPO headphones sound so real and natural, as well as incredibly accurate.

Wide Frequency Response

Planar magnetic diaphragms are able to reproduce sounds at much higher frequencies than traditional drivers. This is because their diaphragm is thin and light in weight. moves very precisely. This allows them to provide an excellent transient response. This makes them an exceptional choice for audiophiles that require rapid response from their speakers and headphones to reproduce the finest detail in music.

This flat design also provides them with a more even soundstage than regular headphones with coiled dynamic drivers. Additionally they are less prone to leakage, HIFIMAN HE400SE: Premium Open-Back Headphones with Planar Magnetic Technology which is the sound that escapes the headphone cups and into the environment around you. In some instances, this can be a problem as it can distract the listener and cause them lose their focus while listening to music. In some cases, this can be a problem since it can distract listeners and alter their concentration when listening to music.

Instead of using a coil that is placed behind a cone-shaped diaphragm planar headphones are made up of an array of conductors printed on the extremely thin diaphragm itself. This conductor is then suspended in between two magnets and when an electrical signal is applied to the array, it turns into electromagnetic, causing the magnetic forces on the opposite side of the diaphragm to interact with each other. This is what causes the diaphragm to vibrate and produce the sound wave.

The low distortion is due to the uniform motion of the thin, lightweight diaphragm and the fact that force is evenly dispersed across its surface. This is an improvement over traditional dynamic drivers, which are known to cause distortion at very high levels of listening.

Some high-end headphones use the old school moving coil design, however the majority of HiFi audio enthusiasts are now using a technology that was long forgotten and a new generation of incredible sounding planar magnetic headphones. Some of these models are extremely expensive and require a high-end amplifier to provide power however, for those with the money they offer an amazing experience that is unmatched by any other headphone. They offer a full and clear sound without the distortion you get with other kinds of headphones.

Minimal Inertia

Because of their construction they can move faster and are lighter than traditional drivers. This means they can reproduce audio signals with greater precision and are tuned for a wider range of frequencies. They also give more natural sound and have less distortion than traditional dynamic speakers.

The two rows of magnets inside a planar earphone magnetic driver generate equal and uniform magnetic forces across the entire diaphragm's surface. This reduces unnecessary and unwanted distortion. Because the force on the diaphragm's light weight is evenly distributed and evenly, it can be controlled more precisely. This permits the diaphragm to move in a precise pistonic motion, leading to smooth and accurate music reproduction.

They are also capable of achieving extremely high levels of performance with minimal weight. This makes them ideal for portable headphone. They can also be made to produce a wide range in frequencies, ranging from low-frequency sounds to high-frequency ones. Audio professionals appreciate them for their large frequency response and precise sound.

In contrast to dynamic drivers, which utilize coils to push against the diaphragm the planar magnetic driver has no mechanical parts that can meet with each with each other, causing distortion. This is due to the fact that the conductors' flat surface rests directly on the diaphragm rather than being enclosed in a coil behind.

In contrast the slim and light diaphragm in a planar driver can be driven by an extremely powerful magnetic field with no loss of energy. The diaphragm, which is an extremely thin and lightweight membrane, is driven by an electric field that creates an unchanging pressure. This prevents it from deforming or causing distortion.

The moment of inertia is an important property that defines an object's resistance to rotation. The formula I = mr2 may be used to calculate it. An object's shape affects its minimum moment of inertia with thinner and longer objects having lower moments of inertia compared to bigger and more robust ones.