Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $1000

A Headset Planar magnetic set is an excellent option for those who want to upgrade their headphones. They can be expensive.

There are a variety of great alternatives available for headphones below the $1000 price point. In this article, we will review the top budget headphones that will give you an unforgettable listening experience.

1. Beyerdynamic T1

Beyerdynamic is a German brand that isn't a flimsy when it comes to premium headphone design. The Beyerdynamic T1 is made from premium materials and has an elegant design. It's a delight to wear. They are very comfortable and have a soft headband with richly-padded, replaceable ear pads. They may feel rough on the skin initially but they soon meld into the ears and head and offer long listening sessions without any discomfort.

The T1 has a very natural sound, with a soaring, but controlled bass and clean mids. The highs are bright and clear, but they can be too loud for those who prefer a more smooth bass. These headphones are great for critical listening and excel at medium and low volumes. They are able to maintain their balance even when playing abrasive music, such as black metal or death metal, and won't be overwhelmed by crash of cymbals.

Another outstanding feature is T1's excellent dynamic range. It is able to reproduce the most extreme contrasts between louder and quieter passages with perfect clarity and precision. This makes them an excellent option for musicians who want to be able to perceive every detail and nuance of their instrument, and for audiophiles who appreciate being able to distinguish between different instruments in songs.

The gold-plated connectors on the ear cup and the Beyerdynamic Logo are a nice feature. This is a proof and a guarantee of quality. They come with a hard case that will protect the headphone when not in use. Included is a detachable cord and a quarter inch adapter.

The Beyerdynamic T1 has a closed back design, and isn't portable. They won't adequately shield you from the noises of daily life such as rush hour traffic and alarm clocks for children or irritating partners. They are not designed for sports like running with them since the large ear cups can easily fall off your ears. The Beyerdynamic T5p comes with a similar open-back design with Ear cups that are slightly smaller, so they might be a better choice for listening on the on the go.

2. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano

The HIFIMAN Nano is the latest version of HIFIMAN's popular mid-range, open-back headphones. The Nano is a quantum leap ahead of the original Ananda, featuring a new nanometer-thick diaphragm that has a stealth magnet that provides greater clarity. These features were also present on the ultra-high-end Susvara headphones. These features promise ultra low distortion, lightning speed transient response, and clearly enhanced quality and clarity.

The resulting soundstage is large and deep, with excellent separation of vocals and instruments. The Nano also has a warm tone to its sound, with a high point in the upper mids which is ideal for rock, pop and hip-hop.

This focus on the upper mids comes with certain disadvantages. This can result in a muddy sound in the higher frequencies, where certain details are lost. This also means that the Nano isn't as suitable for classical music, where the lower mids are often shadowed by the bass.

The bass is raunchy, powerful and dynamic with a nice texture at the low end. It's a little more full than the original Ananda bass which is ideal for modern music like rock, pop, and gaming. However, it has plenty of rumble for audiophiles that prefer a more natural sound to their bass.

As one would expect leakage is not a good thing for headphones with an open back. It could be a problem in noisy environments. The headphone is not equipped with microphone, which means it cannot be used to make calls from mobile phones.

The HIFIMAN Nano is a great choice to anyone looking for Headset Planar an open-back magnetic planar headphone that's priced under $1000. It's an excellent upgrade from the previous model, and it's worth a look. The Ananda Nano comes with a travel bag, which is an excellent addition for audiophiles traveling. The case is large enough to accommodate the Ananda Nano, its cable and a small DAC or player. Inside the case there is also the carrying case. The headphones are durable and well-made and come with a 3-year warranty.

3. Hifiman Edition XS

When HIFIMAN launched the Edition X, it created quite an uproar in the audiophile space. The company has applied the same technology to the smaller, more affordable headphone that sits right between the Sundara and the Ananda. The Edition XS uses the same aerodynamically-shaped stealth magnets and a thin "Neo Super-Nano Diaphragm" to guarantee fast response time with minimal distortion.

The headphones are built to an extremely high standard similar to all HIFIMAN's products. They are sturdy enough to withstand heavy usage and are comfortable to wear during long listening sessions. The cups are made with an anti-resonant fabric to minimize the sound. A tangle-free cable with straight plug is included in the package, together with a headphone stand that can double as a portable storage case for the headphones.

The Edition XS is a very good planar magnetic headphone that has a high resolution in detail. You'll be able to detect specifics in your music that you've never heard before. Or you may even be able to spot flaws that you may not have seen in other headphones. They offer stunning imaging and an impressive soundstage that can fill a large space with clear, three-dimensional detail.

These headphones are balanced and neutral, so they can be used with any type of music. They have excellent mids and reproduce vocals as well as lead instruments precisely, however they may lack some punch and rumble in their bass. Their high frequencies are crisp and precise, but they may sound a little bright for some listeners.

The HiFiman Edition XS is a good option for those who want an open-backed planar magnetic headphone that can be used in noisy environments and Headset Planar doesn't need much power to drive. The low impedance (18O) makes it easy to drive with virtually every DAC or headphone amplifier, but you'll probably have the best results using an audio interface that has a built-in headphone amplifier. The headphones aren't the most compact and can be heavy however they come with a cushioned travel pouch. These headphones are more expensive than the other options, but they're worth it for their features and quality.

4. Audeze LCD-5

The Audeze LCD-5 planar magnetic headphones are the latest flagship model from the company. The design is completely new and includes a brand-new driver and magnetic structure. This is a significant upgrade over the previous models of headphone and puts the LCD-5 solidly in the high-end of the market for personal audio. The LCD-5's drivers are ultra-thin Nano-Scale diaphragms that are paired with new Parallel Uniforce voice coil technology and Fazor waveguides. These new features work in conjunction to control the diaphragm's motion and deliver a high-resolution.

The earpads of the LCD-5 have been designed to accommodate more heads. The LCD-5s are more comfortable than the previous models due to the pads are made from more flexible materials, and the headband is also lighter and tinier. They do clamp slightly more than other Audeze headphones however, and they could be a little tight on some, but this may resolve with use.

Audeze LCD series has been the benchmark in planar magnetic headphones for years. Their flagship LCD-2 introduced the modern time of high-fidelity audio. It was followed by the LCD-3 and LCD-4. The LCD-5 continues this trend, with improvements in every aspect of the headphones' sound quality and design.

Compared to the LCD-2, the LCD-5's sound is more refined and less aggressive in its presentation. This is due to their increased focus on midrange clarity, microdetail retrieval and precise surgical treble. The LCD-5s still have an enormous dynamic range and a full-bodied bass. But they're not as powerful as the likes of an Abyss AB-1266 or Hifiman HE1000SE. They will typically require some EQ to get the best sound.

Overall, the Audeze LCD-5 is an outstanding set of headphones that has outstanding sound quality and impressive build quality. They're not for everyone, but if you have the money and you want a premium headphone that will give you a dazzling listening experience, look no further than the LCD-5. It's worth every penny.