Top Planar Magnetic Headphones
Planar magnetic headphones give a detailed and wide listening experience. Audiophiles looking to upgrade their listening experience will love these.
Choosing the best planar magnetic headphones depends on what you prioritize the most when it comes to the headphone. It comes down to clarity, image structure and distinction, as well as bass punch and slam.
1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic
The LCD-2 was one of the first planar magnet headphones to gain a lot of attention. It's so popular, it has become synonymous with the technology. It's still one of the top headphones in its class. Its sound quality is amazing especially for a device that is priced at more than $1,000. The bass goes all the way down past human hearing and is awe-inspiring in clarity. The upper mids are warm but not too loud. Overall the sound is clear and precise and has 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. Unfortunately, they don't provide a seal over the ears as some open-back models do, and this means that you will hear your surroundings. This isn't an issue in quiet environments, but it can be a problem in louder ones.
The LCD-2 Classics have a very solid construction and are made to last. The earcups are made from crystal-infused nylon which is an excellent material for headphones. It looks robust and long-lasting, and is significantly lighter than the wooden rings that are used on other Audeze models.
However, the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as premium as many other high-end headphones. The LCD-2 Classics have a DIY-like feel due to their visible screws and lack of finish. These headphones are still fantastic but they might not be the best choice for everyone.
If you're looking for a similar pair of headphones that is cheaper and less expensive, the Monoprice Monolith M1060 is an excellent option. These headphones feature the same great technology of the LCD-2 Classics, but they are priced at a lower price. They also have a better seal on the earcups, and include a carry case. The LCD-2 Classics are missing the impressive bass extension and clearness that they boast. However the sound quality is impressive and should please the majority of audiophiles.
2. Meze LIRIC
Meze Audio has made a name for itself with its unique and affordable range of planar magnetic headphones. The LIRIC 2nd Generation is the company's latest headphone. It builds on the success of the previous model, with improved performance and a new striped finish to increase the modularity.
The LIRIC has a full-frequency response that goes from 4Hz to 92kHz, delivering stunningly detailed music with outstanding clarity and a broad soundstage. Additionally, the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively tames high-frequency peaking that can be a strain to the ears.
For high-fidelity listening while on the go, the headphones have a closed-back design to block out background noise. linked here have an ovoid-shaped design that fits the natural shape of the human ear for a better direct connection to the source of the sound.
The Meze LIRIC comes with the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid array driver, which has dual-shaped voice coils that provide better ambience and spatial sound imaging. Dual voicing technology is the result of more than 30 years of research and development which makes it one of the lightest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers on the market.
To enhance their audio quality, the LIRIC headphones come with an equalization system that precisely regulates airflow and the pressure of the earcup chamber. This lets the listener enjoy the same quality of sound, whether they are wearing the headphones in a workplace or on the plane.
In my tests during my testing, the Meze LIRIC sounded a fantastically well-balanced and smooth sound that is highly enjoyable to listen to for long sessions. The bass is punchy and deep, with a sharp treble. The soundstage is wide and there is good separation between instruments and vocals. I also appreciated the fact that nothing of a song was too small to avoid the attention of the headphones including 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 $2000 closed-back planar magnetic headphones, the Meze LIRIC is an excellent choice. It's a good alternative to the Dan Clark Audio E3 but offers a slightly different timbre and is a bit lighter overall.
3. Meze Elite
In their search to create headphones that are stunning in appearance and sound quality, Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio have stepped up the game recently with a number of flagship products. The Elite, their latest model, is their highest premium headphone yet and a worthy replacement for the Empyrean as the company's flagship.
Similar to the Empyrean and the Empyrean, the Elite is an open-back headphone with a unique suspension design that helps improve their wearability. The wings function similar to the design used on Dan Clark, HiFIMan, or Sendy headphones in that they spread the weight of the heavier than average driver over a greater area of your head to improve comfort while listening for long durations. In my experience, they do actually work well and the Elite can be worn for hours without discomfort.
Sonically the Elite is a reference-style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver that has the ability to offer extremely low harmonic distortion, less than 0.1% across its entire frequency range. It also has a high sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW and an impedance of 32 ohms which means it can be controlled very easily by even low-cost headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they have the standard headphone jack).
The Elite diaphragm represents another significant improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of using a specially-designed polymer, a low-mass semicrystalline film has been developed using biaxial lengthening in a sequential fashion. This allows the Elite to be a slim yet strong diaphragm, while still offering an excellent resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.
The Elite's lower-mass diaphragm results in a higher speed and resolution. It is now able to compete with competitors like the Audeze LCD-2 Classic at a slightly cheaper price. In actual fact the Elite is possibly more detailed than the LCD-2 and can be very neutral, while offering an impression of depth, transparency, high-end air and transients. This makes it an excellent option for those who love rock music and other genres where bass is quite significant.
4. Meze HE400SE
The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most sought-after on the market. It's a great choice for audiophiles looking to make the switch to open-back headphones, or for those already familiar with the concept of planar magnets. It is equipped with HiFiMAN's Stealth Magnet Design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction to nearly unnoticeable levels.
Although the HE400SE does not have quite the bass extension that some other HiFiMAN models have but it still provides solid low end performance for an open-back headphone. The HE400SE's lower end is very rich and full, but it does not sound squeaky or bass heavy. The general tone is neutral but with trebles that are higher and forward midrange that many listeners will find pleasing.
Vocals are crystal clear on the HE400SE. The HE400SE is a fantastic option for listening to acoustic and also orchestral and classical music. It's the most affordable headphone for listening to this type of music. However, if you're used to closed-back headphones that have more bass-focused tuning, the transition may be a bit uncomfortable. It takes some time to get used to it.
The HE400SE's image is impressive. The HE400SE can produce a large and rich soundstage that allows musicians to feel comfortable in space. On Prince's Let's Go Crazy the drums and vocals feel up front and in your face. The guitar solo is extremely prominent and can be easily heard over the other instruments.
The HE400SE is a great treble extension, with good clarity. The treble has a slight warmth, but is not 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 a fatty quality of other lower-priced open-back headphones.
The HE400SE is a 25 O impedance device, which means it will require a powerful amplifier to reach the maximum SPL. It is compatible with all smartphones and portable players but will require an amp with at least 0.5 W output power to reach its maximum SPL of 102 decibels.