The difference was noticeable when I compared the Wave 5 to Oppo's far more
expensive planar magnetic PM - 2 headphones, which did a far better job.
Not exact matches
Monoprice Monolith M565 — Our panelists thought the sound of this relatively small
planar magnetic headphone beat out the more
expensive M1060, but all considered the sound of our top pick clearer and more natural.
That's why I'm a big fan of
planar magnetic headphones, like Audeze's Sine headphones or Oppo's PM - 3, which use fancy,
expensive drivers and other internal components for incredible precision that more accurately re-creates what engineers hear in the studio.
However, the company's massive
planar magnetic headphones, such as the LCD - 3, are well known not only for their vivid sound and achingly accurate instrumental reproduction, but also for being a bit cumbersome — not to mention prohibitively
expensive for the average listener.