"The Planar Magnetic Headphones Awards: The Best Worst And The Most Bizarre Things We ve Seen

The Best Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones (also known as orthodynamic headphones) utilize a thin conductive diaphragm sandwiched between multiple magnets to produce sound. They offer a clear and controlled audio experience that can capture all the edges of vocals and instruments for incredible musical accuracy.

They typically require a headphone amplifier in order to ensure that the drivers are properly powered. This is a small cost to pay for a pair of headphones that can reveal new nuances and nuances that you never knew existed in your music.

1. Dekoni Blue HE400SE

The Blue is a new version of the T50RP MK3 and aims for an energizing, neutral sound for the home. It's not as neutral as the Philips FidelioX2HR but it's an excellent option for people who prefer natural, warm sounding headphone and don't like too much bass. Vocals sound feminine and smooth (listen to Feel Good by Dominique Fils-Aime). It's got a great balance between low and high frequencies, which makes it a good choice for long listening sessions.

The planar magnetic structure helps to ensure accurate sound positioning, clarity, and a vast soundstage. This lets music breathe, giving you the feeling like you are in a concert. The treble is clear and detailed and has a clear, non-fatiguing sound.

Its bass is also very impressive for a headphone that is priced at a bargain. It's tight and punchy but doesn't distort even when you listen to a lot of music. Its fidelity is also top-notch, with good midrange and detail retrieval.

2. Audeze LCD-2

Nearly everyone who's heard of Audeze headphones is aware their top-of-the-line open-back design and powerful sound. These headphones are also hefty and bulky, and do not provide a good isolation. They're not suitable for everyone. They're an excellent choice for those who want a headphone with a dynamic peak.

Featuring a large custom-designed planar closed back headphones magnetic driver (read this blog article from notabug.org) magnet inside the ear cups, these headphones deliver pristine distortion-free sound. They can even reach low frequencies that traditional dynamic drivers struggle with. This is one of the most popular audiophile planar magnet headphones.

Audeze's LCD-2 was their first headphone. It is the most complete sound quality in its class. It has a full bass, full-bodied sound with real transparency and almost zero distortion beyond 10Hz. It also has a natural sounding treble, with the right levels for sibilant tone, and it dips at about 9khz to account for concha interactions.

The LCD 2 Classics are a great alternative to the original LCD-2. They have the same iconic design and sound quality, but at a much lower price. They're a great pairing with tube amps, and they have a higher impedance than most other open-back headphones, so you'll need to use a headphone amplifier. These headphones aren't particularly breathable and may cause your ears to become hot after wearing them for long periods of time.

3. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano

The HIFIMAN Nano brings the egg-shaped design of the past and open back window shade of its predecessor to date, accompanied by a variety of remarkable technological improvements. The Ananda Nano comes with a new NEO ultranano diaphragm which is 75% thinner than its predecessor's. It also features stealth magnets to provide greater clarity.

The midrange is airy and spacious, with plenty of resolution and a natural tone to it that will amaze listeners with its clarity. It's also a bright headphone, with a bit of an edge to its sound that makes it stand out and add some personality. But, it's not abrasive in any way and does not suffer from excess or bloating.

HIFIMAN's low-end is thin in its texture, but it doesn't sacrifice the power or dynamics in any way and the treble sounds clear and crisp without being too bright or harsh. Unlike some headphones that can sound thin and closed-in, the Ananda Nano's treble has an impressive extension and can give a sense of space and clarity even at high volumes.

The headphone is simple to use and the acoustic transparency of its drivers will allow you get the most from your favorite music sources. Don't believe the urban myth that these headphones require a lot of power or current. I've worn them for two work days lasting seven hours and long gaming sessions, and they are still comfortable.

4. Audio Technica ATH-M1070

The cost of planar headphones can make them out of reach of a lot of music lovers especially those with other priorities in their life. However, if you're willing spend a bit of time looking for the right pair, it is possible to find a great pair that won't break the bank. This is the case with the Monolith by Monoprice 1070C, a closed-back model that utilizes planar magnetic technology and is priced competitively at $299 USD.

While the Monolith by Monoprice 1070C may not come with the features you'd expect from a higher-end pair of headphones, that does not mean it isn't lacking in quality or performance. These headphones are impressive and can be adjusted to your liking by a few tweaks to the audio source that you connect to them.

Like many over-ear headphones, the Monolith by Monoprice 1070C come with an extremely high impedance and will require some help from your DAC or portable music player to get their sound to work properly. Fortunately, the company offers various cord options inside the box that come with the headphones, including a three-meter Coiled cable that has a threaded 1/4 inch adapter and two straight cables.

The 106mm planar driver of the Monolith by Monoprice 1070C creates a full soundstage that is full of detail and has a sense depth. On tracks like Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight, the headphones are able to provide the impression like you're in the back of an orchestra. The treble is crisp and clear, while the mid-range is warm and smooth without being too bassy.

5. Audio Technica ATH-M50X

The Audio Technica ATH-50X headphones are closed-back headphones that come with an ear cup with a large dimension. They are comfortable over your ears. They're made to be an ideal studio headphone for recording, mixing, and critical listening, which is why they have a full, rich bass that pleases the most discerning of listeners and provides clarity that's useful to discern the subtle aspects of your music.

The ear cups are encased with a soft faux-leather that is comfortable on your head and ears, and they seal tightly enough to block out the sound of outside. They come with a headband that is padded that wraps around your head for comfort, but it could be a bit rigid and place pressure on the top of your head, which some listeners were uncomfortable. They offer a large soundstage and a good amount of isolation, though some of the high-end details can get lost in their high-end bass response.

These headphones feature an exciting sound profile, which is perfect for electronic music or other genres based on a pulse. They provide a boost to the bass that makes kick drums punchy and strong, and planar Magnetic Driver an intense brightness in the treble that highlights each note in a guitar or vocal melody.

The ATH M50X is a favored headphone among musicians and audiophiles. However, it's not suitable for all situations. It doesn't have the flat frequency response or even the same articulation as premium headphones such as the Beyerdynamics DT 990 Pro, and can be a bit too warm in the lower range for some.

6. Audeze LCD-XC

The LCD-XC, the very first closed-back magnetic planar headphone made by Audeze, is a fully closed-back headphone that is planar. It is large and heavy with full wooden earcups and a the metal frame around. It is the most heavy headphone on this list and one of the largest closed back models in the world.

The Audeze LCD XC has quickly earned a reputation as the ultimate tool among recording musicians, engineers and audiophiles because of its transparency and neutrality. The closed-back design of Audeze LCDXC gives you all the advantages magnetic headphones with a planar design, such as increased isolation and reduced ambient noise. This gives you an intimate listening experience. Your music of choice will explode from the quiet background taking on a life of its own.

They feature a unique innovative planar magnetic design that makes use of space-age materials and an ultra-thin diaphragms that are 4 times larger than normal headphones to provide rapid response times, drastically reduced distortion and better resolution. Their unique driver design shifts the driver's large, ultra-thin design between the arrays of magnets to provide great air movement, creating their signature powerful bass and natural, extended treble. The LCD-XC is an uncompromising, reference grade headphone designed for professional mixing, tracking mastering, high-resolution listening for personal use when connected to the portable source device or a premium amplifier.

The treble is an spacious and clear sound without artificial coloring or coloration. Vocals sound fantastic with a rich deep midrange, a full and deep bass, and a natural, clear, and clean treble.