Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones provide the most extensive and precise listening experience. They're popular among audiophiles looking to enhance their listening experience.
Choosing the best headphones with planar magnetics depends on what you prioritize the most when it comes to the headphones you choose to purchase. It all boils down to clarity of the image, distinction, and clarity versus bass volume.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The original LCD-2 was the first planar magnetic headphones that really took off. It's so popular that it has become synonymous with the technology. It's still among the top headphones of its kind. Its sound is phenomenal particularly for a headphone that is priced at over $1,000. The bass goes all the way down to levels that are beyond human hearing and is awe-inspiring in clarity. The upper mids are warm but not too loud. Overall, there's plenty of detail in the sound, and very little distortion.
They are extremely comfortable to wear, too. The headband is soft and flexible, and the earpads are extremely soft. The headphones are light enough for long listening sessions without feeling fatigued. They don't encase the ears like some other open-back models, so you can hear what is happening around you. This isn't a problem for quiet environments but could be an issue in louder areas.
As far as quality of build In terms of build quality, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and made to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are made with crystal-infused nylon. This is a fantastic material for a headphones. It looks durable and is much lighter than wood rings used on other Audeze models.
The LCD-2 Classics do not feel like the same premium headphones. The LCD-2 Classics have a DIY feel with their visible screws and lack of finish. The headphones are still excellent but they might not be suitable for all.
If you're seeking a similar headphone that is less expensive, the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent option. These headphones feature the same technology as the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. The earcups are sealed better and they come with a carry case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the amazing bass extension and clarity that they boast. However the sound is incredible and should satisfy most audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio's affordable and innovative magnetic headphones with a planar design have made it an international brand. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the company's latest headphone. It builds on the success of the first generation model and features improved performance as well as new striped finishes for improved modularity.
The LIRIC comes with a full frequency response ranging from 4Hz to 92,000Hz. It delivers music with exceptional clarity, and a vast soundstage. Additionally the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively tames high-frequency peaks that can be fatiguing to the ears.
Created for high-quality listening while on the move, the headphones feature closed-back designs to block out any background noise. headphones shop feature an ovoid design that mimics the the 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, that features dual-shaped voice coils for improved ambience and sound imaging in spatial space. Dual voicing is the result of more than 30 years of development and research making it the most compact and light magnet driver available.
The LIRIC headphones have a pressure equalization technology that controls the pressure and airflow in the earcups to enhance the sound quality. This lets the listener hear the same sound quality regardless of whether they wear the headphones at work or on the plane.
The Meze LIRIC produced a smooth and balanced sound that I found very enjoyable to listen to for long periods. The treble is clear and clear, and the bass is punchy with excellent quality. The soundstage is wide and there's a good separation between vocals and instruments. I loved that there was no detail that was too small for the headphones to miss, from the sound of PJ Harvey’s 50ft Queenie to the individual guitar strings.
If you're looking for the top closed-back, magnetic headphones that cost $2000, the Meze LIRIC is an excellent choice. It's a strong rival to the Dan Clark Audio E3, but offers a slightly varying sound quality and is lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
In their quest to make a pair of headphones that are both stunning in appearance and sound quality, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have stepped up the game in recent years by introducing several flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's highest-end headphones to date. It replaces the Empyrean model, which was their flagship.
Like the Empyrean and the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back model with unique suspension wings design that improve their wearability. The wings are similar to the ones found on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they spread the weight of the Elite's larger than average driver over a larger surface area of your head, enhancing comfort while listening for long periods. They do work well and I've worn the Elite for long periods of time without any discomfort.
Sonically it is a great headphone. Elite is a reference headphone that comes with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver that has the ability to offer extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency range. It has an extremely sensitive sensitivity of 101 dB/mW, and an impedance 32 ohms. This means it can be driven by low-cost headphones or DAPs if they can be used with the standard jack.
The Elite diaphragm represents another significant upgrade over the Empyrean. Instead of using a specially-designed polymer, a low-mass semicrystalline film is engineered using biaxial lengthening in a sequential fashion. This allows the Elite to have a thin, yet robust diaphragm still ensuring outstanding resistance to stress cracking and fatigue.
The Elite's lower-mass diaphragm results in increased speed and resolution. It is now capable of competing with rivals like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a lower cost. In actual fact the Elite is perhaps more accurate than the LCD-2 and can sound extremely neutral while offering an impression of transparency, depth, top-end air, and transients that makes it an excellent choice for those who enjoy rock music and other genres where bass can be extremely significant.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most sought-after available. It's an excellent choice for audiophiles who want to make the switch to open-back headphones, and for those already familiar with the concept of planar magnets. It's equipped with HiFiMAN's Stealth Magnet design, which reduces wave diffraction and distortion to levels that are almost inaudible.
Although the HE400SE does not have quite the bass extension some other HiFiMAN models have however, it does provide solid low end performance for an open-back headphone. The HE400SE's bass is very deep and full but doesn't sound boomy or bass-heavy. The overall tone is neutral, but with trebles that are higher and forward midrange that many people will find pleasing.
The HE400SE offers a crystal clear sound. The HE400SE is an excellent choice for listening to acoustic and classical music. This is the best budget headphones to listen to this kind of music. If you're used closed-back headphones with bass-heavy tuning, the transition could be uncomfortable. It may take a few listening sessions to get the hang of it.
The HE400SE also has an impressive image. The HE400SE can produce a large, clear soundstage that allows musicians to feel well-positioned in the space. In the song Let's Go Crazy by Prince, the vocals and drums appear to be in front of your face. The guitar solo is very prominent and easily heard over the other instruments.
Lastly, the HE400SE has good treble extension and clarity. The treble is a bit warmth to it but it's not too harsh. It doesn't have that extra brightness that some other headphones with brighter treble can be, but it doesn't have the sibilance or fatiguing quality of some other cheaper open back headphones.
The HE400SE has an impedance of 25 O, meaning it will require a fairly powerful amplifier to reach its maximum SPL. It is compatible with all portable and smartphones, however, it will require an amplifier that has at minimum 0.5 W output power to reach its maximum SPL of 102 dB.