Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers and Ribbon Tweeters

Planar magnetic drivers as well as ribbon tweeters and other dynamic speakers offer a number advantages. Their large diaphragms require only a small amount of movement (excursion) and allow them to produce the same sound quality as traditional speakers.

They also have dipolar radiation patterns meaning that they radiate equally in front and behind the speaker.

High-Resolution Sound

They are known for producing precise, clear sound effects. They are known for their high-resolution sound that reveals subtle nuances in music that other drivers aren't able to reproduce or show.

In addition to their impressive precision in sound reproduction, planar and ribbon drivers provide superior sound staging, allowing them to reproduce an expansive soundstage and exceptional clarity. Audiophiles as well as home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles will find them be an excellent option.

Planar and ribbon drivers can be distinguished by their dipole pattern. The pattern emitted equal amounts of energy in front and back in an inverted phase that creates an authentic soundstage. This, in conjunction with their wide dispersion, makes them suitable for large spaces, where they can fill the room with a broad and natural soundstage, without causing unwanted reflections off walls and furniture.

Planar magnetic drivers have a fast response time, which allows them to reproduce transients more precisely and quickly than cone drivers. This produces a clear and detailed sound, even at higher frequencies.

Another benefit of planar magnetic drivers is their low distortion. This is due to the fact that they do not employ the voice coil, but rather an electrostatic field. This allows the diaphragms to move without causing vibrations which could cause unwanted distortion.

A planar driver also has a larger space between the magnets than a cone speaker. This allows for a better bass performance and a greater frequency response even at low intensities.

Despite their many advantages, planar magnetic drivers have some limitations to take into consideration. For instance, they can be quite costly and require more power than other kinds of speakers. Additionally, they can be heavy and difficult to fit into some rooms. They are also sensitive to the acoustics of the room and require a thorough treatment of the room in order to achieve optimal performance. There are methods to reduce the problems. For instance you can include an attenuation resistance (provided with speakers) and set it in the attenuation settings. Also, you can apply a variety of room treatments.

Wide Dispersion

Similar to electrostatic speakers, planar magnetic speakers produce sound by regulating the electrical charge that travels through wires suspended between magnetic. They vibrate a flat, conductive membrane directly, rather than using an electrostatic charge. This results in an increased surface area and greater precision. This principle of operation also makes it possible to build them into smaller, more affordable speakers and headphones than electrostatic models.

Planar drivers aren't just capable of dispersing sound effectively they also offer higher quality image and clarity in higher frequencies. This is a huge benefit for audiophiles who enjoy watching movies or music on a large screen or in a large open space.

Moreover, planar drivers can also produce deep bass since they can be augmented by boxed woofers that are connected to or independent of the ribbon-like diaphragm. This is contrary to conventional cone-type speaker woofers, which are typically located at the bottom of the cabinet, which is a place that cannot reproduce bass frequencies due to the physical limitations of the enclosure for the woofer.

A planar driver has an extremely low distortion rate, which is directly proportional to the size and travel of the diaphragm. A planar speaker is able create a large volume of sound with no distortion. This is why the sound reproduction is clear and precise.

In comparison the dynamic drivers utilized in traditional headphones and speakers typically have significant distortion when driven to extreme excursion limits. In the end, dynamic drivers often create a booming or hollow sound.

Planar magnetic drivers are extremely efficient. They require less power to drive, resulting in a lower power usage and less environmental impact. Their diaphragms that are generally lighter than conventional speakers, also reduce the amount of energy required to propel them in order to produce a certain sound pressure.

Many audiophiles have heard of planar/ribbon speakers like those produced by Magnepan Infinity and Apogee Acoustics. However, there is a brand new on the market. New planar loudspeakers by manufacturers like Clarisys Audio and Diptyque, for instance, feature the latest advances in ribbon technology.

Low Distortion

Since planar magnetic speakers don't feature a cone- or dome shaped diaphragm they produce extremely low distortion. This is a direct result of their unique design which eliminates the voice coil inductance that is associated with traditional dynamic speakers (see U.S. Patent 6,353,560). This results in the diaphragm never being out of phase with its surrounding magnetic field, which results in a constant output level. Most often, distortion occurs when large amplitude waveforms are reproduced. With a single-ended planar magnetic planar driver, distortion is almost nonexistent at all frequencies above bass.

planar closed back headphones magnetic loudspeakers are extremely efficient and have low distortion. This means that the drive requires much less power than other types of speakers. This results in lower operating costs and a lower energy consumption.

Planar magnetic drivers also have a significantly lower distortion than conventional dynamic speakers and are even less than electrostatic speakers. This is due to the diaphragm, which is flat, of the planar magnetic driver has a conductor trace around it that allows it to react to magnetic fields created by the magnets that are on either side of it.

The two magnets have to be carefully placed to ensure that the voice element is properly located within the magnetic field at all times. This allows magnetic drivers with planar design to operate at a very linear level at all frequencies above bass.

While there are numerous benefits to planar magnetic drivers, the most notable is that they are able to be constructed to be either dipole (radiating equally and in opposing phases in front and back of the speaker similar to an ESL) or monopole (radiating forward, similar to an old-fashioned dynamic). This opens the door to a wide variety of potential designs, particularly when paired with a ribbon tweeter.

Many planar magnetic loudspeakers can be found today from manufacturers like Hifiman, Dan Clark, Audeze, and Fostex. Each manufacturer has their own unique sound, which is the result of their unique driver configurations and other engineering innovations. The commonality among these speakers is their astonishing quality, dynamic, and a controlled directivity.

High Power Handling

Planar magnetic drivers are capable of handling a lot of power without causing the audible strain or stress that can be induced by traditional dynamic speakers with moving coils. The "voice coil" is not squeezed into the narrow gap between the cones and baskets as in traditional dynamic drivers. Instead, it is spread across more of a large area. This gives the voice-coil a larger surface to dissipate any heat.

Another reason why planar magnetic drivers are able to handle such a large amount of power is because they have such a low mass compared to conventional drivers. Dynamic drivers use thick, heavy diaphragms that are orders of magnitude heavier and thicker than the diaphragms made of ultra-light and thin materials used in planar magnetic drives. Because of their mass, conventional diaphragms require a greater amount of force to move between them (a measure called excursion) to create a given level of sound pressure.

They can't be driven nearly as hard as a planar magnet driver, because the voice coil will start to create significant distortion. It's therefore important to buy loudspeakers rated for Planar Magnetic Speakers the amplifier you plan to use.

A planar magnetic driver's large excursion enables it to create more soundstages than conventional drivers. This is because the diaphragm itself vibrates to create an even, flat wavefront, rather than the more focused spherical wavefront that is common in traditional drivers. This larger soundstage also increases the precision and clarity of the speakers, allowing them to better reproduce nuances and complex sounds.

The disadvantage of the superior power handling capabilities of planar magnetic drivers is that they are typically more expensive to make and require stronger amplifiers in order to be driven at full capacity. They can also be heavy and large and can be difficult to install in some environments. They also have a low bass response, meaning that you may need to add a subwoofer your system in order to achieve satisfying results at lower frequencies.