Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones provide a wide and detailed listening experience. They're a favorite among audiophiles seeking to upgrade their listening experience.
Choosing the best headphones for planar magnetics is based on what you prioritize the most in the headphones you choose to purchase. It all boils down to image quality, clarity, and distinction versus bass slam and punch.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The original LCD-2 was the first pair of planar magnetic headphones to really take off. It was so popular that it is now synonymous with the technology, and it's still one of the top headphones of its kind. The sound quality is amazing particularly for a headphone that is priced at over $1,000. The bass extends all the way to the point of hearing, and it is awe-inspiring in clarity. The upper mids and lower the treble are warm, but not in a snooty way. Overall, the sound is full of detail and has very little distortion.
The earpads are also very comfortable. The headband is soft and flexible, and the earpads are very plush. They're lightweight enough to be worn for long listening sessions without becoming too fatigued. However, they don't offer an airtight seal around your ears like some open-back headphones do. And this means that you will hear the sounds around you. This isn't a problem in quiet areas, but it could be a problem in louder ones.
As far as build quality goes, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and made to last. The earcups are made from crystal-infused nylon which is an excellent material for headphones. It looks tough and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings used in other Audeze models.
The LCD-2 Classics do not feel as luxurious as other high-end headphones. They have a bit of an industrial feel with all the screws visible and a lack of finish on the metal components. They're still a great pair of headphones, however they may not be suitable for everyone.
If you're looking for a similar headphone that is less expensive then the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent choice. They feature the same planar technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower price. They also have a more secure seal on the earcups and come with a carrying case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the incredible bass extension and clarity that they have. However the sound is amazing and will please most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for itself with its innovative and affordable line of planar magnetic headphones. The latest headphone from the company model, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first-generation model with improvements in performance and a new striped ebony finish to improve modularity and a long, sustainable life.
The LIRIC features a full-frequency range that ranges from 4Hz to 92kHz, delivering amazingly detailed music that has exceptional clarity and a broad soundstage. In planar magnetic headphones audeze QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively reduces high-frequency spikes that can be exhausting to the ears.
The headphones are designed to block out background noise and allow for high-fidelity listening on the move. The headphones sport an ovoid shape that resembles the shape of human ear to provide a direct connection to the source of the sound.
The Meze LIRIC comes with the company's exclusive Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver with dual shaped voice coils to improve the ambience and spatial sound imaging. This dual voicing technology is the result of more than 30 years of research and development, making it one of the lightest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers available on the market.
To improve the sound quality, LIRIC headphones feature a pressure equalization mechanism that precisely regulates airflow and the pressure in the ear cup chamber. This allows the listener to hear the same sound quality regardless of whether they're wearing the headphones in a workplace or on a plane.
In my tests in my tests, the Meze LIRIC sounded a fantastically smooth and balanced sound that's highly enjoyable to listen to for long sessions. The bass is punchy and deep, with a sharp treble. The soundstage is huge with a good separation between vocals and instruments. I also liked the fact that no element of an album was too small to not attract the ears' attention including the attack and decay of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings on an electric guitar.
If you're looking for the best closed-back magnetic headphones for $2000 The Meze LIRIC is a fantastic option. It's a solid competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but has a slightly different timbre and is a bit lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been stepping up their game in recent years by releasing a number flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most expensive headphones to date. It replaces the Empyrean, which was previously their flagship.
Like the Empyrean model, the Elite is an open-back headphone with a unique suspension design that helps enhance their wearability. The wings are similar to those on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they distribute the weight of the Elite's heavier than average driver across a larger surface area of your head, increasing comfort while listening for long durations. They work well, and I have worn the Elite for a long time without any discomfort.
The Elite is a reference style headphone that features an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It is capable of delivering extremely low harmonic distortion, averaging less than 0.1% over the entire frequency spectrum. It has an excellent frequency sensitivity of 101 dB/mW and an impedance of 32 ohms. This means that it can be driven by budget headphone amplifiers or DAPs as long as they can be used with the standard jack.
The Elite diaphragm is a important improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of using a specially-designed polymer the film is a semicrystalline low-mass material that has been engineered by biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This creates an Elite diaphragm that is both rigid and thin, while providing excellent resistance to stress and fatigue cracking.
The Elite's diaphragm with a lower mass results in higher resolution and speed. It's now capable of competing with other models like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a less expensive price. In fact the Elite is perhaps more detailed than the LCD-2 and it can sound very neutral while still offering an impression of depth, transparency, top-end air, and transients, making it a superb choice for fans of rock music as well as other genres where bass is quite noticeable.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE is among the most well-known headphones made of planar magnetic material around. It's a great option for audiophiles who want to make the switch to open-back headphones, and for those who are already familiar with the concept of planar magnets. It is equipped with HiFiMAN's Stealth Magnet Design, which minimizes distortion and wave diffraction to nearly unnoticeable levels.
The HE400SE is a fantastic open-back headphone, but it doesn't have the same bass extension as some other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE is very deep and full low end however it doesn't sound loud. Overall, the tone is neutral, but there's some forward-looking midrange and an elevated treble which many listeners will find pleasing.
The HE400SE has a very clear sound. The HE400SE is a fantastic option for listening to classical and acoustic music. It's the best budget headphones for this kind of music. However, if you're used to closed-back headphones which have a more bass-emphasized tuning the transition can be uncomfortable. It takes a few listening sessions to get used to it.
The HE400SE's sound quality is impressive. The HE400SE can produce a large, detailed soundstage that allows the musicians to feel comfortable in space. In the song Let's Go Crazy by Prince the drums and vocals feel up front and in your face. The guitar solo is also very prominent and easily heard over the rest of the instruments.
The HE400SE is a good extension of the treble, with excellent clarity. The treble has a little warmth, but is not harsh. It doesn't sound as bright as some other open-back headphones with a brighter treble, but it isn't as sibilant and tired either.
The HE400SE has an impedance of 25 O which means that it will require a powerful amplifier to achieve its maximum SPL. It can be used with the majority of smartphones and portable players however, it will require an amplifier that has at least 0.5 W output power to reach its maximum SPL of 102 dB.