We've reviewed only a handful
of planar magnetic driver - based headphones thus far, like the Blue Ella and the in - ear Audeze iSine20.
The advantages
of planar magnetic technology are based on the fact that in a planar driver, sound is generated by a very thin and light diaphragm that is driven evenly over the entire radiating area.
The very design
of planar magnetic drivers, which use a thin membrane excited by a magnetic coil to produce sound, is part of why they're generally so big.
According to HiFiMAN Founder and President, Dr. Fang Bian, «When people who know HiFiMAN reflect on our brand, they often think first
of our planar magnetic headphones.
If you're looking to spend a bit less on a still - accurate - sounding circumaural pair, consider the Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro and Sony MDR - 1A — both offer excellent audio experiences, though not
of the planar magnetic variety.
As we've come to expect from a refined pair
of planar magnetic headphones, Blue's Ella offer a vivid expression of clean and clear sound wrought with detailed reproduction of instrumental textures, a wide and well - balanced soundstage, and the kind of fluidity and presence in the upper register that traditional dynamic drivers struggle to achieve.
For $ 600, the Acoustic Research AR - H1 delivers on the promise
of planar magnetic drivers, and it looks and feels good doing it.
We also compared the headphones to several different high - end models, including two pairs
of planar magnetic cans from Audeze (the $ 800 EL - 8 open - back headphones, and the $ 500 closed - back Sine on - ear), as well as a pair of Massdrop x Sennheiser open - back HD 6XX headphones (a custom facelift of the $ 350 HD 650).
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.
Regardless
of the planar magnetic drivers referenced above, the PM - 3 have a relatively dark flavor to their sound, especially in the lower midrange.
The sound embodies the very best qualities available from the thin membranes
of planar magnetic drivers, carving out every secret, each lonesome detail, and every rushing burst of form and color from your most complex music, stretched across a sprawling soundstage.
Building on the foundation
of its planar magnetic drivers, the company has created a headset that can deliver 3D audio and sound localization that enhance video games as well as music, videos and phone calls.
And when Oppo revealed its first take would be a line
of planar magnetic headphones — perhaps the most coveted headphone driver tech out there — just about everyone in the industry got a case of whiplash.
Both headphones are lightning - quick in their response and suffer no distortion even at dangerously loud volumes — this degree of precision is the big advantage
of planar magnetic cans — but the Sine has the extra low - end punch that the PM3 seems too idealistic to want to provide.
If the design of the Monoprice Monolith M300 looks familiar, that's because they're a clone of the Audeze iSine series
of planar magnetic headphones.
The latter is a first from Audeze, stretching the physical limitations
of its planar magnetic drivers.
Though there are a growing number
of planar magnetic headphones in its price range, the PM - 3 are more functional in everyday environments than many other options.
While planar magnetic drivers help the audio sound more lifelike in its reproduction, it's the combination
of the planar magnetic tech and the 3D software that help the Mobius to create an experience closer to a live concert.
That's where the Mobius» secret weapon — a pair
of planar magnetic drivers — comes into play.
Pushing that concept even further, this year Audeze has released a pair
of planar magnetic on - ear headphones, the SINE.
That said, a price of $ 500 for a pair
of planar magnetic headphones is still fairly reasonable considering the quality.
We tend to like the sound
of planar magnetic headphones; our pick for the best under - $ 400 closed - back headphones, the Oppo Digital PM - 3, also uses them, as do the Fostex T50RP mk3 and T20RP mk3 headphones we recommend in this guide.
A «budget» set
of planar magnetic in - ears, the Audeze iSine LX makes super high - end audio a little more accessible.
Soon, Final will be releasing a pair
of planar magnetic headphones, which I tried out at CanJam London last month and was blown away by.
The release of these cans levels a shot across the bow
of planar magnetic headphones up to $ 1,200, as they can go toe to toe with anything in that segment of the market for $ 299.99.
Not exact matches
Stacking up two «atomic sandwiches» yields coupled excited charge states across the
planar interface with the
magnetic direction or «spin state» becoming aligned for a large population
of electrons.
The impedance
of a
planar coil suspended on a torsion beam and placed in a strong
magnetic field is analyzed.
2017 New Product Release: HiFiMAN today announced the introduction
of a new,
planar magnetic flagship headphone called...
The Monolith M1060 is a beast
of a set
of headphones, weighing in at 1.1 lbs (500g) with enormous ear cups, mostly - metal and wood construction, and 106 mm
planar magnetic drivers.
Can you please update the list and also feature
planar magnetic headphones, they are one
of the best technology headphones in the market.
These are top
of the line
planar magnetic headphones and has been taking full advantage
of the Lightning port on the iPhone for a while now.
As the name implies, these use tiny 30 mm
planar magnetic drivers to produce sound which is pretty impressive for a pair
of in - ears.
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.
If you're undeterred, experimenting with your first open - back
planar magnetic cans, or simply trying to eke more power out
of a reliable studio workhorse, know that our top picks here are capable
of driving almost any exotic headphones you own — or might buy.
As more consumer - oriented headphones, they're probably not going to tick all the boxes that HiFiMan's legendary
planar magnetic cans do for audiophiles — but at $ 250 they definitely punch out
of their class against the competition from Beats and Bose.
The Oppo PM - 3 has recently been released as the first portable
planar magnetic headphone, and has received a lot
of praise.
If you want a detailed explanation
of how
planar magnetic headphones work, check out Tyll Hertsens's illustrated explanation.
The
planar magnetic diaphragm is rated to deliver frequency response
of 20Hz to 20kHz — pretty much the entire range
of human hearing.
The company says that Ella combines Blue's
planar magnetic technology with an on - board amp and large, high - capacity cabinets to deliver a perfect blend
of accuracy and impact.
While the Sine's
planar magnetic drivers and proprietary technologies contribute to the bulk
of the sound quality, the headphones» closed - back design is also a big deal.
The headphones feature several
of Audeze's proprietary technologies with 80 x 70 - millimeter
planar magnetic drivers.
Like Oppo, whose PM - 3 over-ears also make our best -
of list, Audeze has helped push
planar magnetic headphone tech by leaps and bounds in recent years, letting you take a highly sophisticated mechanism out
of the audio lab and into the real world, and the Sine are the company's tour de force on this front.
Blue Microphones is showing off a pair
of new premium headphones at CES in Las Vegas: A
planar -
magnetic model dubbed Ella, and a more conventional set
of cans called Sadie, which Blue is positioning as a «next - generation» high - fidelity headphone.
Oppo's (more) affordable adaptation
of its amazing $ 1,100 PM - 1 headphones bring
planar magnetic technology to the masses, offering some
of the clearest sound and the flattest response
of any headphones in their price category and above.
I went back and forth between Clear and Oppo's PM - 2 open - back
planar magnetic headphones several times as a point
of reference.
In a
planar magnetic setup, the part that actually creates sound is an electrostatic - style thin, flexible material sandwiched between the outer layers
of the mechanism.
Even so, a technology called «
planar magnetic drivers» is making its way into cheaper and more accessible headphones as
of late, promising audio fidelity much greater than conventional cans.
To put it simply,
planar magnetic headphones have a very even, precise sound, even without the aid
of headphone amplifiers (though some audiophiles will still want to use them).
When the iSine in - ear model was announced, we got rather excited at the prospect
of the first ever
planar magnetic in - ears.
The Oppo PM3s, which also use
planar magnetic tech like the iSines, are the perfect example
of that.