Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers and Ribbon Tweeters

Planar magnetic drivers and ribbon tweeters have numerous advantages over traditional dynamic speakers. Their comparatively large diaphragms require only a small amount of movement (excursion) to reproduce the same sound level like a conventional driver, which results in extremely low distortion.

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

High-Resolution Sound

Planar and ribbon magnetic speakers are renowned for their ability to deliver precise, detailed sound. They are known to deliver high-resolution and reveal subtle nuances in the music that other drivers cannot reproduce or reveal.

In addition to their incredible precision, ribbon and planar drivers have superior soundstages that allow them to create an expansive soundstage with exceptional clarity. This makes them a fantastic option for audiophiles and home audiophiles who want to enjoy their music to the fullest extent possible.

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

Planar magnetic drivers have a rapid response time that allows them to reproduce transients more precisely and more quickly than cone drivers. This results in a clear and precise sound, even at extremely high frequencies.

Another benefit of planar magnetic drivers is their low distortion. This is due to the fact that they don't use a voice-coil, but an electrostatic field. This allows the diaphragms to move without creating vibrations that could cause unwanted distortion.

A planar driver also has a larger gap between the magnets than a cone speaker. This results in a better frequency response and lower distortion at lower amplitudes, and planar magnetic Drivers still provides high-quality bass.

Despite their many benefits, planar magnetic speakers have a few limitations to be aware of. For instance, they could be quite costly and require more power than other kinds of speakers. They can also be bulky which makes difficult to fit into specific spaces. They are also sensitive to the acoustics in the room, and require extensive treatment of the room to get the best performance. There are solutions to lessen the effects. For example, you can add an attenuation resistance (provided by speakers) and place it in the attenuation mode. Or, you can perform some type of room treatment.

Wide Dispersion

Planar magnetic speakers also create sound by controlling the flow of electrical currents through wires that are suspended between magnets. However they directly vibrate a flat diaphragm rather than an electrostatic charge which gives them a larger surface area and more precision. This is why they can be built into smaller and more affordable speakers and headsets than electrostatic models.

In addition to offering broad dispersion, planar drivers deliver superior imaging and clarity of soundstages, particularly in the upper frequencies where they excel. This is an enormous benefit for audiophiles who enjoy listening to their movies or music in the living room of a large size or Planar magnetic Drivers any other open space.

Moreover the planar drivers can produce extremely deep bass because they can be augmented with boxed woofers that are connected to or independent of the diaphragm that resembles a ribbon. This is in contrast with traditional cone-shaped speakers that have woofers located at the bottom, which are unable to reproduce bass frequencies due to the physical constraints of woofer enclosures.

Another advantage of the planar driver is that it has extremely low distortion which is directly linked to the size and excursion of the diaphragm that resembles a ribbon. A planar speaker can produce a huge volume of sound without distortion. This is why the sound quality is so clear and detailed.

In contrast the dynamic drivers that are used in standard headphones and speakers typically have significant distortion when driven to extreme excursion limits. This is why dynamic drivers usually 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. Furthermore, their diaphragms typically comprised of lighter materials than standard speakers, which further decreases the amount of energy needed for them to generate an appropriate sound pressure.

While many audiophiles are acquainted with planar/ribbon loudspeakers, particularly those made by Magnepan, Infinity, and Apogee Acoustics - a new generation of brands is now making their debut. New planar loudspeakers from manufacturers such as Clarisys Audio and Diptyque, for instance, are incorporating the most recent advancements in ribbon technology.

Low Distortion

Planar magnetic speakers have very low distortion because they don't employ the traditional dome-shaped diaphragm or cone. This is due to their unique design, which eliminates voice coil inductance that is common to dynamic speaker drivers. (See U.S. patent 6,353,560). This guarantees that the diaphragm is not out of phase with the magnetic field that surrounds it, resulting in an output that is constant. The distortion is typically only evident when large waveforms are reproduced. With a single-ended planar magnet driver, distortion is virtually nonexistent in all frequencies above the bass.

In addition to their low distortion they also offer extremely high efficiency. This lets the drive use much less energy than other technologies for speakers. This in turn translates to lower cost of ownership and lower energy consumption.

Planar magnetic drivers also have a significantly lower distortion than conventional dynamic speakers, and even less for electrostatic speakers. This is due to the fact that the planar magnet driver's flat diaphragm has a conductor trace that allows it react to magnetic fields generated on either side.

The two magnets need to be placed with care to ensure that the voice element is located within the magnetic field at all times. This is what allows magnetic drivers that are planar to function at a very consistent level at all frequencies above bass.

While there are numerous other advantages of planar magnetic drivers, the most significant is that they can to be designed to be either dipole (radiating equally and in opposite phases in the front and back of the speaker similar to an ESL) or monopole (radiating forward, more like a traditional dynamic). This allows for a wide variety of potential designs, particularly when paired with the ribbon tweeter.

A variety of planar magnetic loudspeakers can be found today from companies such as 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. The commonality of these speakers is their astonishing quality, dynamic, and a controlled directionality.

High Power Handling

Planar magnetic speakers can handle a lot more power than traditional moving coil dynamic drivers, without the strain and strain that they may cause. The "voice coil" is not squeezed into the narrow gap between cones and baskets as in traditional dynamic drivers. Instead it is spread over an area larger. This gives the voice coil an increased surface area to disperse any heat.

Planar drivers can handle so much power because they are so lightweight compared to conventional drivers. Dynamic drivers utilize diaphragms with heavy, thick diaphragms that are a tenth of a pound larger and thicker than diaphragms that are ultra-light and thin used in planar magnetic drivers. Because of their mass, conventional diaphragms require a greater amount of force to move forward and backwards (a measurement referred to as excursion) to create an appropriate level of sound pressure.

They're not able to be driven as hard as a planar magnetic driver, since the voice coil can begin to create significant distortion. It's therefore important to buy loudspeakers rated for the amplifier you intend to use.

The high excursion allows it to create a wider soundstage than conventional drivers. This is because the diaphragm vibrates uniformly and flat to form waves, instead of the spherical wavefront that is common with traditional drivers. This wider soundstage increases the precision and detail of the speakers and allows them to reproduce subtle nuances and more complex sounds.

The drawback to the superior power handling of how do planar magnetic headphones work magnetic drivers is that they tend to be more expensive to make and require more powerful amplifiers in order to be driven at full capacity. They can also be quite heavy and large and can be difficult to install in certain locations. They also tend to have a low bass response, meaning that you may have to add a subwoofer to your system to get the best results at lower frequencies.