Top Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones offer the most extensive and precise listening experience. Audiophiles looking to upgrade their listening experience love them.

The best planar magnetic headphone depends on your priorities. It all boils down to clarity, image structure, and distinction versus bass slam and punch.

1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic

The LCD-2 was one of the first planar magnet headphones to gain attention. It was so well-known that it is now synonymous with the technology, and it's still one of the best headphones available. The sound quality is exceptional particularly for a headset planar that costs over $1,000. The bass is so deep that it goes past the human hearing range and has an incredible amount of detail. The mids and upper treble are warm, but not in an unpleasant way. Overall, the sound is rich in detail and has very little distortion.

The earpads are comfortable. The headband and earpads have a soft, flexible feel. They're lightweight enough to wear for long listening sessions without getting exhausted. However, they don't offer a seal over the ears as some open-back headphones do, and this means that you can hear your surroundings. This isn't a problem for quiet areas, but it could be an issue in louder environments.

In terms of quality of build, 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 an excellent material for a headphones. It is durable and much lighter than wood rings that are used on other Audeze models.

The LCD-2 Classics how do planar magnetic headphones work not feel like the same premium headphones. They have a DIY feel to them with all the screws visible, and an absence of a polished look on the metal components. They are still a fantastic pair of headphones, but they may not be the best choice for everyone.

Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product for an affordable price. They feature the same planar technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. They also have an improved seal on the earcups and include a carry case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the impressive bass extension and clearness that they boast. However, the sound is still amazing and will please most audiophiles.

2. Meze LIRIC

Meze Audio's affordable and innovative magnetic headphones that are planar have helped make it an international brand. The latest headphone from the company model, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the first-generation model's success with improvements in performance and a brand new striped ebony finish to improve modularity and a long-lasting life.

The LIRIC boasts a full-frequency response that goes from 4Hz to 92kHz, providing stunningly detailed music with outstanding clarity and a wide soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone efficiently reduces high-frequency peaks that can be tiring to the ear.

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

The Meze LIRIC features the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver that has dual-shaped voice coils that improve the ambience and spatial sound imaging. Dual sound is the result of over 30 years of research and design, making it the most compact and light magnet driver on the market.

The LIRIC headphones have an equalization system that regulates the airflow and pressure inside the ear cup chambers to enhance the sound quality. This ensures that the user hears the same sound quality regardless of whether the headphones are worn in an office on a plane, in a hotel or commute to work.

The Meze LIRIC produced a smooth and balanced sound that I found very enjoyable to listen to over long periods. The bass is powerful and deep, with a crisp treble. The soundstage is huge with a good separation between instruments and vocals. I also appreciated the fact that no element of an album was too small to not attract the ears' attention from the decay and attack of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings of an electric guitar.

The Meze LIRIC is a great choice if you're looking for the best closed-back planar magnetic headphones for less than $2000. It's a good alternative to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but offers a slightly different sound and is lighter overall.

3. Meze Elite

In their search to create a pair of headphones that are both visually stunning and sounding great, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have increased their game in recent years with a number of flagship products. The Elite the latest product, is their most expensive headphone to date and an excellent replacement for the Empyrean as the company's flagship.

The Elite is also an open-back model, but with unique wings that improve wearability. These wings are similar to the ones found on Dan Clark, store HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they spread the weight of the Elite’s larger than average driver over a larger surface area of your head, enhancing comfort while listening for long durations. They work well, and I have worn the Elite for a long time without discomfort.

The Elite is a reference-style headphone that has an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It is capable of delivering extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency spectrum. It also has an extremely high sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW and an impedance of 32 ohms, which means it can be controlled easily by low-cost headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they support the standard headphone jack).

The Elite diaphragm is another significant improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of using a custom-developed polymer the film is a semicrystalline low-mass material that has been developed using biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This process allows the Elite to have a thin yet rigid diaphragm while still ensuring outstanding resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.

This shift to a lower-mass diaphragm can also result in increased speed and resolution and brings the Elite to the level of performance that is right up against competitors such as the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a lower price. The Elite is even more precise and neutral than the LCD-2, while still delivering an impression of clarity, depth air and transients.

4. Meze HE400SE

The HE400SE is among the most well-loved headphones with planar magnetic technology around. It's a great option for audiophiles looking to make the switch to open-back models, as well as for r.ess.aleoklop.atarget those already familiar with planar magnet technology. It's equipped with HiFiMAN's Stealth Magnet design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction to levels that are nearly unnoticeable.

The HE400SE is a good open-back headphone, however it doesn't have the same bass extension as some other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE has a very rich and deep bass, but it doesn't sound loud. The overall tone is neutral, but with elevated trebles and forward midrange that many people will find pleasing.

Vocals are crystal clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is an excellent choice when listening to acoustic and classical music. It's the most affordable headphone for this type of music. However, if you're used to closed-back headphones that have an emphasis on bass, the transition can be somewhat uncomfortable. It takes a couple of listening sessions to adjust to it.

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

Lastly, the HE400SE is a great treble extension and clarity. The treble is a little warm but not overly harsh. It's not like other open-back headphones with a more pronounced treble, but it does not sound as sibilant or fatigued.

The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means that it requires an amplifier that is powerful to achieve the maximum SPL. It is compatible with the majority of smartphones and portable music players, however it requires an amplifier that has a minimum of 0.5 W output to reach its maximum SPL.