Top Planar Magnetic Headphones

Planar magnetic headphones offer a detailed and wide listening experience. Audiophiles who want to upgrade their listening experience will love these.

The most effective planar magnetic headphones depend on the priorities you set. It all boils down to image structure, clarity 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 popularity. It's so popular, it has become synonymous with technology. It's still among the top headphones of its kind. Its sound is incredible particularly for a headphone that is priced at over $1,000. The bass extends all the way down to levels that are beyond human hearing and has an incredible level of detail. The mids and upper treble are warm, but not in an unpleasant way. Overall the sound is full of detail and has very little distortion.

The earpads are also very comfortable. The headband is soft and flexible and the earpads are extremely comfortable. They're also light enough to wear for long listening sessions without becoming exhausted. They don't completely seal the ear like other open-back headphones, which means you can hear what is going on around you. This isn't an issue in quiet areas, but it could be a problem in noisy environments.

In terms of quality of build, the LCD-2 Classics are very solid and constructed to last. The earcups of the LCD-2 Classics are constructed with crystal-infused nylon. This is an excellent material for a headphones. It's sturdy and long-lasting, and is lighter than the wood rings 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 sport a DIY-like feel, with visible screws and lack of finish. The headphones are still excellent but they might not be for all.

If you're seeking a similar headphone 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 come at a more affordable cost. The earcups are more sealed and they come with a carrying case. The only thing missing is the amazing bass extension and clarity that the LCD-2 Classics have, but they still have an amazing sound that should satisfy most audiophiles.

2. Meze LIRIC

Meze Audio has made a name for itself with its innovative and affordable line of magnetic headphones that planar. The latest model from the company model, the LIRIC 2nd Generation, builds on the success of the first-generation model with improvements in performance and a new striped ebony finish to improve modularity and a long, durable life.

The LIRIC boasts a full-frequency response that spans from 4Hz up to 92kHz. It delivers stunningly detailed music with outstanding clarity and a large soundstage. In addition, the headphone's QWRM (Quarter Wavelength Resonator Mask) effectively manages high-frequency peaking that can be a strain to the ears.

Created for high-quality listening while on the go, the headphones have a closed-back design that blocks out any background noise. They also feature an ovoid-shaped design that resembles 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, that features dual-shaped voice coils to improve ambience and sound imaging in spatial space. This dual voicing technology is the result of more than 30 years of research and development, making it one of the lightest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers available on the market.

The LIRIC headphones come with a technology for equalizing pressure that regulates the pressure and airflow in the ear cup chambers to improve the sound quality. This ensures that the user gets the same sound quality regardless of whether the headphones are worn in a workplace, on a plane or commute to work.

In my tests during my testing, the Meze LIRIC sounded a fantastically balanced and smooth sound that's very enjoyable to listen for long sessions. The bass is punchy and deep, with a sharp treble. The soundstage is incredibly expansive with good separation between 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 closed-back, magnetic headphones that cost $2000, the Meze LIRIC is a fantastic option. It's a great competitor to the Dan Clark Audio E3, but has a slightly different tone and is lighter overall.

3. Meze Elite

Meze Audio, a Romanian manufacturer, has been working to up their game in recent years with the release of various flagship products. The Elite is Meze Audio's most expensive headphone to date and replaces the Empyrean model, which was their flagship.

The Elite is also an open-back model, however, it has unique wings that improve wearability. These wings work much like the design used on Dan Clark, HiFIMan, or Sendy headphones in that they spread the weight of the Elite's more powerful than average driver over a larger area of Elevate Your Audio Experience with Era-1 Quad Planar Magnetic Headphones head, enhancing the comfort of listening for long periods. They work well, and I have worn the Elite for a long time without any discomfort.

Sonically, the Elite is a reference-style headphone with an upgraded hybrid isodynamic array driver that has the ability to deliver exceptionally low harmonic distortion of less than 0.1% 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 driven very easily by even low-cost headphone amplifiers or DAPs (assuming they have the standard headphone jack).

The Elite diaphragm is a important improvement over the Empyrean. Instead of utilizing a polymer that has been developed specifically for the Elite, a low-mass semicrystalline film has been engineered by biaxial lengthening in a sequential fashion. This process allows the Elite to be a thin, yet robust diaphragm still providing outstanding resistance to fatigue and stress cracking.

The switch to a lower mass diaphragm can also result in increased speed and resolution and brings the Elite to an level of performance that puts it right up against competitors such as the Audeze LCD-2 Classic, albeit at a lower price. The Elite is also more clear and neutral than the LCD-2 but still offers the feeling of clarity, depth air and transients.

4. Meze HE400SE

The HE400SE planar magnetic headphones are among the most well-known on the market. It's a great choice for any audiophile looking to transition into open-back headphones. It's also an excellent entry-level headphone for those who are already familiar with planar magnetic technology. It's equipped with HiFiMAN's Stealth Magnet design, which reduces distortion and wave diffraction to levels that are almost inaudible.

While the HE400SE doesn't have the bass extension that some other HiFiMAN models do but it still provides excellent 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 has a very clear sound. The HE400SE is a fantastic choice for listening to acoustic and classical music. This is the best planar headphones budget headphones to listen to this kind of music. If you're used closed-back headphones with bass-heavy tuning, the transition may be uncomfortable. It takes a couple of listening sessions to get used to it.

The HE400SE's imaging is also impressive. The HE400SE produces a wide and detailed soundstage that allows musicians to feel like they are in the right place. In the song Let's Go Crazy by Prince, the vocals and drums are in front of your face. The guitar solo is also very prominent and can easily be heard over the rest of the instruments.

Finally, the HE400SE has a good extension of the treble and elevate your Audio experience with Era-1 quad Planar magnetic headphones clarity. The treble is a little warm, but not overly harsh. It doesn't sound like other open-back headphones with brighter treble. However, it isn't as sibilant and tired either.

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