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.
For $ 600, the Acoustic Research AR - H1 delivers on the promise
of planar magnetic drivers, and it looks and feels good doing it.
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.
The latter is a first from Audeze, stretching the physical limitations
of its planar magnetic drivers.
That's where the Mobius» secret weapon — a pair
of planar magnetic drivers — comes into play.
We've reviewed only a handful
of planar magnetic driver - based headphones thus far, like the Blue Ella and the in - ear Audeze iSine20.
Not exact matches
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The $ 299.99 over-ear cans feature
planar magnetic drivers, and are the result
of a collaboration with pro-audio manufacturer Fostex.
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.
Unlike the conventional piston - style
drivers we see so often in home speakers and traditional headphones,
planar magnetics use ultra-thin sheets
of transparent film with very flat wires running through them.
The OPPO PM - 1 utilizes a unique and pioneering
planar magnetic driver that sets it apart from the majority
of headphones on the market.
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.
Chiefly,
planar magnetic drivers come with a wealth
of inherent benefits; offering more precise transience, lower distortion and a more natural interaction
of sound with the outer ear.
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.