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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Pushing that concept even further, this year Audeze has released a pair
of planar magnetic on - ear
headphones, the SINE.
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.
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.
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.
I went back and forth between Clear and Oppo's PM - 2 open - back
planar magnetic headphones several times as a point
of reference.
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).
The iSine 20 that I'm reviewing today are ostensibly in - ear
headphones, but they also use
planar magnetic technology from over-ear cans, and they're roughly the size
of on - ear models.
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).
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.
HiFiMAN today announced the introduction
of a new,
planar magnetic flagship
headphone called SUSVARA.
The introduction
of the new OPPO
planar magnetic headphones is a result
of many years
of research and development led by a team
of passionate audio and acoustics engineers, chemical and material scientists, and audiophiles.
Many enthusiasts recognise Oppo Digital as a manufacturer
of overachieving universal disc players, high performance
planar magnetic headphones, and related personal audio electronics.
The OPPO PM - 1 utilizes a unique and pioneering
planar magnetic driver that sets it apart from the majority
of headphones on the market.
We have teamed up with the innovative folks at Final to bring an exciting competition with the chance to win a fantastic pair
of D8000
planar magnetic headphones.
Most
of my listening has been using full - size
planar magnetic headphones, primarily HiFiMan and MrSpeakers.
2017 New Product Release: HiFiMAN today announced the introduction
of a new,
planar magnetic flagship
headphone called SUSVARA.
I first met Fang Bian (now Dr Fang Bian), the founder and President
of HiFiMAN, a number
of years ago and our interactions at the time centred on the firm's early - generation HE - 5LE
planar magnetic headphones.
With physical media dying a slow death, Oppo is looking to venture into new product categories with the release
of a new
headphone amplifier and
planar magnetic headphones.
We've reviewed only a handful
of planar magnetic driver - based
headphones thus far, like the Blue Ella and the in - ear Audeze iSine20.
Enjoy the Music.com's review here with the Oppo PM - 1
planar magnetic headphone is but one example
of many.
For those unfamiliar with
planar magnetic headphones, the design uses a thin membrane excited by a magnet to create sound (as opposed to the cone and coil design
of most
headphones), making them notorious power hounds.
Long revered by audiophiles as a producer
of top - quality
planar magnetic headphones, China - based HiFiMan exudes an aura
of sonic quality.