Top Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones offer an immersive and spacious listening experience. They're popular among audiophiles looking to enhance their listening experience.

Choosing the best headphones for planar magnetics is based on the features you value the most when it comes to the headphones you choose to purchase. It all comes down to clarity of the image and distinction, as well as clarity versus bass impact.

1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic

The original LCD-2 was the first planar magnetic headphones to truly take off. It is so popular that it has become synonymous with the technology. It's still among the top headphones of its kind. The quality of its sound is incredible especially for a device that costs more than $1,000. The bass is so deep that it goes past the human hearing range, and is bursting with a lot of detail. The upper mids are warm, but not too loud. Overall the sound is clear and precise and has very little distortion.

The earpads are comfortable. The headband is soft and flexible and the earpads are extremely comfortable. They're also light enough to be worn for long listening sessions without becoming tired. They don't completely seal the ear canals like other open-back headphones, which means you can hear what's happening around you. This isn't a problem in quiet areas, but it could be a problem in louder ones.

As far as quality of construction, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and made to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are constructed of crystal-infused nylon. This is a fantastic material for headphones. It appears robust and durable, and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings used on some other Audeze models.

The LCD-2 Classics do not feel as luxurious as other high-end headphones. The LCD-2 Classics sport a DIY-like feel, with visible screws and lack of finish. They're still a great pair of headphones, but they may not be the best choice for everyone.

If you're seeking a similar headphone planar that is less expensive then the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent choice. These headphones feature the same technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. The earcups are better sealed and come with a carry case. The only thing missing is the impressive bass extension and Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still provide an incredible sound that should please the majority of audiophiles.

2. Meze LIRIC

Meze Audio's unique and affordable magnetic headphones with a planar design have helped make it an international brand. The latest headphone from the company model, closed-back planar magnetic headphones the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first-generation model with performance enhancements and a brand new striped ebony finish for improved modularity and a long, sustainable life.

The LIRIC boasts a full-frequency response that ranges from 4Hz to 92kHz, providing stunningly detailed music with outstanding clarity and a large soundstage. In addition, the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively reduces high-frequency peaking that can be a strain to the ears.

The headphones are designed to block out background noise and allow for high-fidelity listening while on the move. The headphones sport an ovoid shape that resembles the shape of the human ear for an immediate connection to the source of sound.

The Meze LIRIC includes the company's own proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver that has dual shaped voice coils to enhance ambience and spatial sound imaging. This dual voicing is the result of more than 30 years of research and design making it the lightest and most advanced planar magnet driver on the market.

The LIRIC headphones have a pressure equalization technology which regulates airflow and pressure inside the earcups to improve the sound quality. This ensures that the listener receives the same quality sound regardless of whether the headphones are worn in an office on a plane, in a hotel or commute to work.

The Meze LIRIC produced an incredibly smooth and balanced sound that I found enjoyable to listen to for long periods. The bass is booming and deep, with a sharp treble. The soundstage is huge with a good separation between vocals and instruments. I was impressed by the fact that no detail was too small for the headphones to miss, from the sound of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie to the individual guitar strings.

If you're searching for the best $2000 closed-back planar magnetic headphones The Meze LIRIC is an excellent option. It's a good alternative to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but has a different timbre and is lighter overall.

3. Meze Elite

In their quest to make a pair of headphones that are both visually stunning and sonically excellent, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have increased their game recently with various flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most expensive headphone to date, and replaces the Empyrean, which was previously their flagship.

The Elite is also an open-back design, but with unique wings that improve wearability. These wings are similar to the design of Dan Clark, HiFIMan, or Sendy headphones, in that they distribute the weight of the heavier than average driver over a larger area of your head to improve the comfort of listening for long periods. They do work well, and I have worn the Elite for a long time without discomfort.

The Elite is a reference headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It can deliver extremely low harmonic distortion, averaging less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency spectrum. It also has a high sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW and an impedance of 32 ohms which means it can be powered easily by cheap headphone amplifiers and DAPs (assuming they can accept the standard headphone jack).

The Elite diaphragm is another significant upgrade over the Empyrean. Instead of using a specially-designed polymer semicrystalline film with a low mass has been developed using biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This permits an Elite diaphragm which is strong and thin, while providing outstanding resistance to stress and fatigue cracking.

The Elite's lower-mass diaphragm result in a higher speed and resolution. It's now capable of competing with rivals like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a slightly cheaper price. The Elite is even more precise and neutral than the LCD-2, while still delivering an impression of depth, transparency air and transients.

4. Meze HE400SE

The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most well-known available. It's an excellent choice for any audiophile looking to transition into open back headphones and is also a great entry-level model for anyone already familiar with planar magnetic technology. It's equipped with HiFiMAN's Stealth Magnet design that reduces distortion and wave diffraction to nearly inaudible levels.

The HE400SE is a great open-back model, but it doesn't have the same bass extension as some other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE's low end is full and deep, yet it doesn't sound loud or bass-heavy. The overall tone is neutral but with elevated trebles and forward midrange which many listeners will find pleasing.

The HE400SE offers a crystal clear sound. The HE400SE is an excellent choice when listening to classical and acoustic music. This is the most affordable headphone to listen to this type of music. However, if you're used to closed-back headphones which have a more bass-emphasized tuning the transition may be a bit uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to adjust to it.

The HE400SE also has impressive imaging. The HE400SE can produce a large and clear soundstage that allows musicians to feel comfortable in space. The vocals and the drums are very prominent in Prince's Let's Go Crazy. The guitar solo is also very prominent and can easily be heard over the other instruments.

The HE400SE is a good treble extension, with good clarity. The treble is a bit warmth but it's not too harsh. It doesn't have the extra brightness that some other headphones with brighter treble can have but it also doesn't have the sibilance or a fatty quality of other lower-priced open-back headphones.

The HE400SE has an impedance of 25 O, meaning it will require a powerful amplifier to achieve its maximum SPL. It works with the majority of smartphones and portable music players, however it will require an amplifier that has at least 0.5 W output to achieve its maximum SPL.