Top Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones provide a wide and detailed listening experience. Audiophiles looking to upgrade their listening experience will love these.

Choosing the most suitable headphones for planar magnetics is based on what you want most in a headphone. It all comes down to clarity of the image and distinction, as well as clarity as well as bass volume.

1. Audeze LCD-2 Classic

The original LCD-2 was the first of the planar magnetic closed back headphones magnetic headphones to really take off. It's so popular that it has become synonymous with the technology. It's still among the top headphones in its class. Its sound is phenomenal particularly for a headphone that can cost more than $1,000. The bass extends all the way down to levels that are beyond human hearing, and it offers a remarkable level of detail. The upper mids are warm but not too loud. Overall, the sound is full of detail and has 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 to wear for long listening sessions, without feeling fatigued. They don't have an airtight seal around your ears as some open-back headphones do, and this means that you can hear the sounds around you. This isn't a problem for quiet environments, but it can be a problem in louder ones.

In terms of build quality goes In terms of build quality, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and built to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are made with a crystal-infused nylon. This is a fantastic material for a headphones. It appears robust and long-lasting, and is lighter than the wood rings used on some other Audeze models.

However, the LCD-2 Classics don't feel quite as premium as many other premium 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 at less cost. These headphones feature the same planar technology of the LCD-2 Classics but at a lower cost. The earcups are better sealed and they come with a carry case. The only thing that's missing is the impressive bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still provide an incredible sound that should please the majority of audiophiles.

2. Meze LIRIC

Meze Audio's unique and affordable planar magnetic headphones have made it a household name. The company's newest headphone model, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first generation model with improvements in performance and a brand new striped ebony finish for improved modularity and a long, durable life.

The LIRIC features a full frequency response ranging from 4Hz up to 92,000 Hz. This provides music with incredible clarity and a wide soundstage. The QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Ressonator Mask) of the headphone efficiently reduces high-frequency peaks, which can be a strain on the ear.

Created for high-quality listening while on the go, the headphones have a closed-back design to block out any background noise. They also have an oval-shaped design that fits the natural shape of the human ear to provide a clearer channel to the sound source.

The Meze LIRIC comes with the company's proprietary Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver with dual-shaped voice coils that enhance ambience and spatial sound imaging. Dual voicing technology is the result of more than 30 years of research and development, making it one of the tiniest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers on the market.

The LIRIC headphones feature an equalization system that controls the airflow and pressure inside the earcups to improve the sound quality. This lets the listener enjoy the same quality of sound regardless of whether they wear the headphones in an office or on the plane.

In my tests, the Meze LIRIC produced a stunningly balanced and smooth sound that's extremely enjoyable to listen to for long periods of time. The treble is crystal clear, and the bass is powerful with excellent depth. The soundstage is wide and there is a good separation between the instruments and vocals. I liked that no detail was too small for the headphones to miss, from the roar of PJ Harvey's 50ft Queenie to the individual guitar strings.

If you're looking for the top $2000 closed-back planar magnetic headphones The Meze LIRIC is a great option. It's a great competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3, however it has a slightly different timbre and lighter overall.

3. Meze Elite

Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been working to up their game in recent years with the release of a number flagship products. The Elite, their latest model, is their highest premium headphone yet, and closed-back planar magnetic headphones an excellent replacement for the Empyrean as Meze's flagship.

The Elite is also an open-back model, but with unique wings that increase wearability. These wings are similar to those on Dan Clark, HiFIMan or Sendy headphones in that they distribute the weight of the Elite's larger than average driver over more of your head, improving the comfort of listening for long periods. They are effective, and I have worn the Elite for a long time without any discomfort.

Sonically the Elite is a reference-style headphone that has an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver that has the ability to provide extremely low harmonic distortion of less than 0.1 percent across its entire frequency range. It also has the highest sensitivity rating of 101 dB/mW, and an impedance of 32 Ohms which means it can be powered easily by low-cost headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they support the standard headphone jack).

The diaphragm of the Elite is a significant improvement over the Empyrean and is moving away from the polymer that was developed by a custom-made company to utilize a low-mass semi-crystalline film that was engineered by biaxial lengthening that is sequential. This process allows the Elite to have an extremely thin, yet robust diaphragm still ensuring an excellent resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.

This shift to a lower-mass diaphragm also leads to improved speed and resolution which brings the Elite to the level of performance that puts it up against competitors such as the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a more affordable price. The Elite is even more precise and neutral than the LCD-2 and still provides the feeling of clarity, depth air and transients.

4. Meze HE400SE

The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most sought-after on the market. It's a great option for audiophiles who want to make the switch to open-back models, as well as for those already familiar with planar magnetic technology magnet technology. It comes with HiFiMAN's latest Stealth Magnet design that reduces distortion and wave diffraction to levels that are nearly unnoticeable.

The HE400SE is a good open-back headphone, but it does not have the same bass extension as other HiFiMAN headphones. The HE400SE's low end is very full and deep, yet it doesn't sound boomy or bass-heavy. The general tone is neutral but with trebles that are higher and forward midrange which many listeners will find pleasing.

The HE400SE has a very clear sound. The HE400SE is an excellent option for listening to acoustic and also classical and orchestral music. This is the best budget headphones to listen to this type of music. If you're using closed-back headphones that have a bass-heavy tuning, the transition may be uncomfortable. It may take several listening sessions to get used to it.

The HE400SE also has impressive imaging. The HE400SE creates a huge and detailed soundstage that lets musicians feel as if they are in the right spot. The drums and vocals are prominent in Prince's Let's Go Crazy. The guitar solo is very prominent and can easily be heard over the rest of the instruments.

Lastly, the HE400SE has good treble extension and clarity. The treble has a slight warmth but it's not too harsh. It's not as bright as some other open-back headphones with a brighter treble, but it isn't as sibilant and fatigued either.

The HE400SE is an 25 O impedance device, which means that it will need a powerful amplifier to reach the maximum SPL. It is compatible with the majority of smartphones and portable music players, however it will require an amplifier that has a minimum of 0.5 W output to achieve its maximum SPL.