Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers and Ribbon Tweeters

Planar magnetic drivers such as ribbon tweeters, and other speakers with dynamic characteristics have a number advantages. Their large diaphragms only require the slightest amount of movement (excursion), allowing them to create the same sound quality as an ordinary speaker.

They also have a dipolar radiation pattern which means they radiate equally to the front and rear of the speaker.

High-Resolution Sound

They are known for their precise, detailed sound effects. They are known for their high-resolution and reveal subtle nuances in the music that other drivers can't reproduce or show.

In addition to their impressive accuracy in sound reproduction, planar and ribbon drivers have superior soundstages which allows them to recreate an expansive soundstage with exceptional clarity. This makes them an excellent option for audiophiles and home theatre enthusiasts who wish to enjoy music to the highest level possible.

The most notable feature of ribbon and planar drivers is their dipole radiation pattern, which radiates equal energy front and rear with inverted phase to create a natural and spacious soundstage. Their wide dispersion and dipole radiation pattern make them ideal for large spaces, where they are able to create a natural and spacious soundstage.

Planar magnetic drivers have a rapid response time, which allows them to reproduce transients more precisely and faster than cone drivers. This produces a clear and blue Tooth detailed sound, even at high frequencies.

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

A planar driver also has a much larger space between the magnets than cone speakers. This results in a better bass performance and a greater frequency response at low levels of amplitude.

Despite their many advantages, planar magnetic speakers have a few limitations to consider. For instance, they could be expensive and require more power than other types of speakers. Also, they can be heavy and difficult to install in some rooms. Additionally, they are sensitive to the sound of the room and require extensive room treatment to ensure the best performance. There are methods to reduce the effects. For instance, you can add an attenuation resistance (provided with speakers) and place it in the attenuation mode. You can also apply a variety of room treatment.

Wide Dispersion

Planar magnetic speakers also generate sound by regulating electrical currents that travel through wires suspended in between magnets. They vibrate a flat membrane directly, not using an electrostatic charge. This gives them a larger surface area and better precision. This allows them to be built into smaller and more affordable headsets and speakers as opposed to electrostatic models.

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

Furthermore the planar drivers can produce extremely deep bass since they can be enhanced by boxed woofers that are connected to or separate from the ribbon-like diaphragm. This is in contrast to traditional cone-type speaker woofers which are typically located in the bottom of the cabinet, which is a place which is unable to reproduce bass frequencies because of the physical constraints of the enclosure for the woofer.

Another advantage of a planar driver is its exceptionally low distortion which is directly linked to the size and length of the ribbon-like diaphragm. A planar speaker is able to produce a huge volume of sound with no distortion. This is why the sound reproduction is so clear and precise.

Dynamic drivers in standard Premium Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Headphones - Black and speakers typically show significant distortion when they are driven to their maximum limit of excursion. As a result, dynamic drivers typically produce a boomy or hollow sound.

Planar magnetic drivers are extremely efficient. They are less energy-intensive to drive, which results in a lower power consumption and environmental impact. Their diaphragms that are generally lighter than conventional speakers, also reduce the energy required to propel them to produce a specific sound pressure.

Many audiophiles have heard of speakers made of ribbon and Blue tooth planar, such as those made by Magnepan Infinity and Apogee Acoustics. However, an entirely new brand is on the market. New planar loudspeakers by manufacturers such as Clarisys Audio and Diptyque, for example, incorporate the latest advances in ribbon technology.

Low Distortion

Planar magnetic speakers exhibit extremely low distortion because they don't use a traditional dome-shaped diaphragm or cone. This is due to their unique design which eliminates voice coil inductance that is associated with dynamic driver drivers for speakers. (See U.S. patent 6,353,560). This means that the diaphragm is never being out of phase with the surrounding magnetic field, resulting in the output level remains constant. Distortion is usually only present when large waveforms are being reproduced. With a single-ended planar magnet driver, distortion is virtually absent in all frequencies that go beyond the bass.

Planar magnetic loudspeakers can be very efficient and have a very low distortion. This enables the drive to operate with a lesser amount of power than would otherwise be required for other speaker technologies. This translates into lower costs of ownership and lower energy consumption.

The distortion of planar magnetic drivers is also significantly lower than traditional dynamic speakers, and even more than electrostatic speakers. This is because the diaphragm that is flat in the planar magnetic driver has a conductor trace around it which allows it to respond to magnetic fields created by the magnets that are on the opposite side of it.

The two magnets have to be placed in a way that the voice element is in the magnetic field optimally throughout the time. 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 they offer, but the main advantage is that they can be built as either dipoles (radiating in opposite directions and equally behind and in front of the speaker similar to an ESL) or monopoles (radiating in the forward direction and more like traditional dynamic speakers). This opens the door for many different possible designs, especially when combined with the ribbon tweeter.

A variety of planar magnetic loudspeakers can be found today from companies like Hifiman, Dan Clark, Audeze and Fostex. Each company has their own signature sound that results from their patented design of drivers and other technological innovations. These speakers are characterized by their stunning clarity and their dynamic, as well as controlled directionality.

High Power Handling

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

Planar drivers can handle so much power because they are so light in comparison to conventional drivers. Dynamic drivers utilize diaphragms with heavy, thick diaphragms that are a tenth of a pound larger and heavier than the diaphragms that are ultra-light and thin used in planar magnetic drivers. Because of their mass, these conventional diaphragms require a much larger amount of force to move back and forth (a measure called excursion) in order to produce a given level of sound pressure.

They aren't able to be driven nearly as hard as a planar magnetic driver, since the voice coil will begin to produce significant distortion. This is why it's important to buy only speakers that are designed for the amplifier you're planning to drive them with.

The high frequency of an acoustic driver also enables it to create a larger soundstage than conventional drivers. This is because the entire diaphragm vibrates to create a flat, even wavefront rather than the more centered spherical wavefront found in traditional drivers. This wider soundstage increases the accuracy and clarity of the speakers and allows them to reproduce subtle nuances and complex sound effects.

The downside of the superior power handling that is offered by planar magnetic drives is that they tend to be more expensive to produce and require stronger amplifiers to run them at their full capacity. They can be huge and heavy, making it difficult to install them in certain environments. They also tend to have a lower bass response, so you may need to add a subwoofer to your system in order to get a satisfying result at lower frequencies.