Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones provide the most extensive and precise listening experience. Audiophiles looking to upgrade their listening experience love them.
The most effective planar magnetic headphones depend on your priorities. It all boils down to clarity, image structure and distinction in comparison to bass slam and punch.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The LCD-2 was one of the first planar magnetic headphones to gain popularity. It became so popular that it is now synonymous with the technology, and it's still one of the best headphones of its kind. The sound quality is amazing and especially for a headset that costs well over $1,000. The bass is deep enough to extend past the human hearing range and has an incredible amount of detail. The mids and upper Treble are warm but not in an obnoxious way. Overall, there's lots of clarity in the sound and very little distortion.
The earpads are comfortable. The headband and earpads are a soft, flexible feel. They're light enough to be worn for long listening sessions without getting tired. However, they don't offer a seal over the ears like some open-back headphones do. And this means you'll be able to hear the sounds around you. This isn't a problem for quiet environments, but it can be an issue in louder areas.
As far as quality of build in terms of build quality, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and built 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 the wood rings used on other Audeze models.
However, the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as premium as many other high-end headphones. They have an "artisanal" feel with all the screws visible, and a lack of finish on the metal components. These headphones are still fantastic however they may not be the best choice for everyone.
Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product at a lower price. These headphones feature the same technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower price. The earcups are more sealed and come with a carry case. The only thing missing is the impressive bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still offer an incredible sound that should satisfy most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for itself thanks to its affordable and innovative line of planar magnetic headphones. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the latest model from the company's headphone. It builds on the success of the first generation model with performance improvements and the new striped finish that allows for improved modularity.
The LIRIC features a full-frequency range that goes from 4Hz to 92kHz, delivering impressively detailed music with exceptional clarity and a large soundstage. Additionally, www.headphonesshop.uk QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively manages high-frequency spikes that can be exhausting to the ears.
Designed for high-fidelity listening on the go, the headphones have closed-back designs to block out background noise. The headphones have an ovoid design that mimics the shape of the human ear to provide direct connection to the source of sound.
The Meze LIRIC features the company's own proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid-Array Driver, which has dual-shaped voice coils designed to improve the ambience and spatial sound imaging. Dual voice coil is the result of more than 30 years of research and development, making it the most lightweight and advanced planar magnet driver available.
The LIRIC headphones come with a pressure equalization technology that controls the airflow and pressure in the earcup chambers to improve the sound quality. This ensures that the user gets the same sound quality whether the headphones are worn in an office or on a plane commute to work.
The Meze LIRIC has a smooth and balanced sound that I found enjoyable to listen to over long periods of time. The treble is clear and clear, and the bass is a roar with great clarity. The soundstage is wide and there is a good separation between the instruments and vocals. I also liked the fact that no element of a song was too small to avoid the attention of the headphones including the attack and decay of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings of an electric guitar.
If you're looking for the top closed-back magnetic headphones for $2000 The Meze LIRIC is an excellent option. It's a strong rival to the Dan Clark Audio E3, but has a slightly different tone and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been working to up their game in recent years, releasing various flagship products. The Elite, their latest product, is their most premium headphone yet and an excellent replacement for the Empyrean as the company's flagship.
Like the Empyrean and the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone with a unique suspension wings design that increase their wearability. The wings are like the ones on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they distribute the weight of the Elite’s larger than average driver over more of your head, increasing comfort when listening for long durations. They are effective, and I have worn the Elite for many hours without any discomfort.
Sonically the Elite is a reference-style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver that can provide extremely low harmonic distortion of less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency range. It also has a high sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW and an impedance of 32 ohms which means it can be controlled easily by budget headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they have the standard headphone jack).
The Elite diaphragm is a significant improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of using a custom-developed polymer semicrystalline film with a low mass is engineered using biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This process creates an Elite diaphragm which is strong and thin, as well as providing superior resistance to fatigue and cracking.
This change to a lower-mass diaphragm also results in improved speed and resolution which brings the Elite to the level of performance that puts it right against rivals like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a more affordable price. The Elite is also more clear and neutral than the LCD-2 but still offers a sense clarity, depth air, and transients.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE is among the most well-known headphones with planar magnetic technology around. It's a great option for audiophiles who want to make the switch to open-back headphones, or for those who are already comfortable with the technology of planar magnets. It comes with HiFiMAN's latest Stealth Magnet Design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction to almost unnoticeable levels.
The HE400SE is a fantastic open-back headphone, however it doesn't have the same bass extension that some other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE has a very rich and deep bass however it doesn't sound like a boomer. The overall tonality is neutral, with a hint of higher treble and a forward midrange that many listeners will appreciate.
Vocals are crystal clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is a great option for listening to acoustic music, but also classical and orchestral music. It's the most affordable headphones for this kind of music. However, if you're accustomed to closed-back headphones with more bass-focused tuning, the transition may be a bit uncomfortable. It takes a couple of listening sessions to adjust to it.
The HE400SE's image is impressive. The HE400SE can create a huge, detailed soundstage that allows the musicians to feel well-positioned in space. The vocals and the drums are prominent in Prince's Let's Go Crazy. The guitar solo is very prominent and can be easily heard over the rest of the instruments.
Lastly, the HE400SE is a great treble extension and clarity. The treble is a little warm, but not harsh at all. It doesn't have the extra brightness that other headphones with brighter treble can be, but it doesn't have the sibilance or fatiguing quality of other lower-priced open back headphones.
The HE400SE has an impedance of 25 O which means that it will require a powerful amplifier to reach its maximum SPL. It will work with most portable and smartphones, however, it will require an amplifier that has at least 0.5 W output power to achieve its maximum SPL of 102 dB.