Top Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones offer a detailed and wide listening experience. They're popular with audiophiles who want to enhance their listening experience.

Choosing the most suitable headphones for planar magnetics is based on what you want the most in the headphone. It's all about image structure, clarity and distinction, as well as bass slam and punch.

1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic

The original LCD-2 was the first planar magnetic headphones that really took off. It is so popular, it has become synonymous with technology. It's still among the best headphones of its kind. Its sound quality is amazing particularly for a headset that is priced at more than $1,000. The bass extends all the way down past human hearing and is awe-inspiring in detail. The upper mids and lower treble are warm, but not in an obnoxious way. Overall, there's plenty of detail in the sound, and very little distortion.

The earpads are also comfortable. The headband and earpads have an incredibly soft and flexible feel. The headphones are light enough to wear for long listening sessions without feeling tired. They don't seal the ears like some other open-back headphones, which means you can hear what's going on around you. This isn't a problem for quiet environments but could be an issue in louder environments.

As far as quality of build In terms of build quality, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and built to last. The earcups are made of crystal-infused nylon which is a fantastic material for closed-back planar magnetic headphones a headphone. It appears sturdy and durable, and it's significantly lighter than the wooden rings used on other Audeze models.

However the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as high-end as some high-end headphones. The LCD-2 Classics sport a DIY-like feel due to their visible screws and lack of finishing. They're still great headphones but they might not be for everyone.

Monoprice Monolith M1060 offers a similar product for less cost. They feature the same planar technology of the LCD-2 Classics but at a cheaper price. They also have a more secure seal on the earcups, and include a carry case. The only thing missing is the amazing bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still provide an incredible sound that should satisfy most audiophiles.

2. Meze LIRIC

Meze Audio has made a name for itself thanks to its unique and affordable line of planar magnetic headphones. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the company's latest headphone. It builds on the success of the previous model with performance improvements and new striped finishes for improved modularity.

The LIRIC has a full-frequency response that ranges from 4Hz to 92kHz, providing amazingly detailed music that has exceptional clarity and a large soundstage. In addition the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively manages high-frequency spikes that can be exhausting to the ears.

Designed for high-fidelity listening while on the on the go, these headphones feature closed-back designs to block out ambient noise. The headphones feature an ovoid design that is reminiscent of the shape of human ear to provide direct connection to the source of sound.

The Meze LIRIC is equipped with the company's exclusive Isodynamic Hybrid array driver, which features dual-shaped voice coils that provide better audio quality and spatial sound. Dual voicing is the result of more than 30 years of research and development which makes it one of the tiniest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers on the market.

To enhance their sound quality, the LIRIC headphones come with 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, whether they are wearing the headphones in a workplace or on the plane.

In my tests during my testing, the Meze LIRIC delivered a superbly well-balanced and smooth sound that is very enjoyable to listen for long periods of time. The treble is clear and clear, and the bass is a roar with excellent quality. The soundstage is wide and there is a good separation between vocals and instruments. I also appreciated the fact that every element of the song was too small to not attract the attention of headphones from the decay and attack of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie down to the individual strings on an electric guitar.

If you're searching for the best planar magnetic iem $2000 closed-back planar magnetic headphones The Meze LIRIC is a fantastic choice. It's a formidable competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3, however it has a slightly different tone and is lighter overall.

3. Meze Elite

In their quest to create a pair of headphones that are both visually stunning and sonically excellent, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have stepped up the game in recent years with various flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most expensive headphones to date. It replaces the Empyrean model, which was their most popular.

Similar to the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone with a unique suspension design that helps increase their wearability. These wings work much like the design used on Dan Clark, HiFIMan, or Sendy headphones in that they distribute the weight of the Elite's heavier than average driver over a greater area of your head to increase comfort while listening for long periods. Based on my experience, they indeed work very well and the Elite can be worn for hours without discomfort.

The Elite is a reference-style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic driver. It can deliver extremely low harmonic distortion, averaging less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency spectrum. It also has the highest sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW, and an impedance of 32 Ohms which means it can be controlled easily by low-cost headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they can accept the standard headphone jack).

The Elite's diaphragm is another important improvement over the Empyrean, moving away from the polymer that was developed by a custom-made company to a semi-crystalline low-mass film that was engineered by biaxial lengthening in a sequential manner. This process permits an Elite diaphragm that is strong and thin, while also providing outstanding resistance to stress and fatigue cracking.

The switch to a lower mass diaphragm also results in improved speed and resolution, bringing the Elite to the level of performance that is right with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a more affordable price. In actual fact, the Elite is possibly more accurate than the LCD-2 and it has the ability to sound very neutral while still providing the impression of depth, transparency, top-end air, and transients. This makes it an excellent choice for those who enjoy rock music as well as other genres where bass can be extremely significant.

4. Meze HE400SE

The HE400SE is one of the most popular planar magnetic headphones around. It's a great choice for closed-back planar magnetic headphones anyone who wants to transition into open-back headphones. It's is also a great entry-level headphone for those who are already comfortable with the use of planar magnetic technology. It is equipped with HiFiMAN's Stealth Magnet Design, which minimizes distortion and wave diffraction to nearly inaudible levels.

The HE400SE is a fantastic open-back headphone, but it doesn't have the same bass extension as other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE's bass is deep and full but doesn't sound boomy or bass-heavy. Overall, the tone is neutral, but there's some elevated treble and forward midrange which many listeners will find pleasing.

Vocals are incredibly clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is an excellent choice for listening to acoustic and classical music. This is the best budget headphones to listen to this type of music. However, if you're accustomed to closed-back headphones with an emphasis on bass, the transition may be a bit uncomfortable. It takes a couple of listening sessions to adjust to it.

The HE400SE's sound quality is impressive. The HE400SE can create a huge soundstage with a detailed soundstage that allows the musicians to feel comfortable in space. The vocals and the drums are very prominent in Prince's Let's Go Crazy. The guitar solo is very prominent and can be easily heard over the rest of the instruments.

The HE400SE is a good extension of the treble, with excellent clarity. The treble is a little warm but not overly harsh. It's not as bright as other open-back headphones that have a brighter treble. However, it isn't as sibilant and fatigued either.

The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means that it requires an amp with a high power to reach the maximum SPL. It can be used with the majority of smartphones and portable devices, however, it will require an amplifier that has at minimum 0.5 W output power to achieve its maximum SPL of 102 decibels.