To get all the information from a sound, you will need to buy yourself a pair of good planar magnetic headphones. Please, read our article on the best planar magnetic headphones to find out about the most valuable headphones currently for sale.
1. Audeze LCD-4 Over-Ear Headphones
- Spacious sound
- Great diaphragm
- A doubled magnetic driving force
- Very little distortion
- Great build quality
- Very expensive
The Audeze LCD-4 over-ear headphones are one of the best planar headphones you could buy. When it comes to their design, features, and performance, these planar headphones are very sophisticated. The design of the headphones features a frame made of ebony wood and metal. The ebony wood gives the headphones a classy feel, while the metal grills provide for a great flow of air through the earcups. The headphones are very comfortable, and they have a padding made of leather.
To say that the features of these headphones are amazing is an understatement. The Audeze LCD-4 feature a great diaphragm that is very thin and almost weightless. The design of the diaphragm makes for a fast response and very little distortion. The technology used for the making of the diaphragm also prevents any unwanted resonance and makes for an accurate imaging.
Aside from the diaphragm, the Audeze LCD-4 feature the double fluxor magnet arrays. These arrays improve the function of the diaphragm by doubling the magnetic driving force implied on it. Furthermore, the patented fazor elements enhance the accuracy of the form of the waves inside the headphones planar. Like the diaphragm, this technology also minimizes the resonance that is created.
All the features of the Audeze LCD-4 make for a great overall performance of the headphones. These headphones will let you hear sounds that are clear, natural, and detailed. The crossover from the bass to the mids and from the mids to the treble will be almost unnoticeable. You will also be able to clearly hear all the elements in a music piece. Because these magnetic planar headphone feature an open-back design, the sound that they’ll project will be spacious.
On the negative side, this pair of headphones is very expensive. However, there is undoubtedly a huge bang for the huge buck.
2. Audeze LCD-2
- Great quality of sound
- Large and thin diaphragms
- Very little distortion
- Great build quality
- Comfortable
- Very expensive
The Audeze LCD-2 is a pair of headphones that fall on the high-end of the headphone spectrum. These headphones look fantastic, with elegant rosewood rings around their earcups and an ergonomic headband. They will last long and feel comfortable on your scull with the help of certain technologies.
These headphones have a leather padding over the earcups, and there’s acoustic foam underneath the leather. The design of the headphones allows them to sit on your head gently without implying any pressure on it.
The features of the Audeze LCD-2 are there to deal with all the problems related to sound and optimize the sound quality. These headphones have very large and very thin diaphragms that project the sound very accurately. The diaphragms sit between two neodymium magnets and they help the diaphragms in the reduction of resonance and distortion. The drivers that the Audeze LCD 2 have furthermore improve the headphones’ response and imaging. Finally, the openback planar magnetic headphones design of the earcups allows for a very natural sound.
The overall performance of the headphones is amazing. The headphones can project every sound with extreme precision and clarity. They’ll capture every nuance regardless of it belonging to a vocal or an instrumental sound source. The mids on these headphones sound clear, the bass is very accurate, and the treble is smooth and non-invasive.
The Audeze LCD-2 is a pair of headphones that every audiophile would like to have, but they are pretty expensive. The value over money ratio is very obvious here, but not everyone can afford them. If you are, however, able to buy them, you will certainly not regret your decision.
3. Monolith M1060
- 106mm planar drivers
- Really wide frequency response ranging from 10Hz to 50kHz
- Open-back design
- Comfortable
- Durable
- Sharp higher frequencies
The Monolith M1060 planar magnetic headphones look like a cheaper alternative to the Audize LCD-4. These headphones are designed with a metal stripe over the padded headband and have earcups made of wood. The earcups are open for the purpose of a more natural sound. The overall design of the headphones looks very rich even though the headphones come at a more affordable price. Leather ear comfort is not an issue with this headphones because their cups are covered with synthetic leather.
Once you start discovering the features that these headphones have to offer you will be pleasantly surprised. The Monolith M1060 features planar magnetic drivers with a size of 106mm. The drivers greatly decrease any distortion, improve the imaging of the headphones, and provide for an accurate response. The frequency response of the headphones is quite large and it frequency ranges from 10Hz to 50kHz.
The quality of sound of the Monolith M1060 is close to being great. The projected sounds are clear, transparent, and overall pretty detailed. The sound headphones is also very spacious due to the open-back design. With this headphones, distortion is not an option even at a higher volume, so don’t be afraid to turn the volume up.
There are, however, some issues with the headphones’ higher frequencies. The higher mid range of the Monolith M1060 sounds a bit sharp, and so do the high frequencies. These frequencies are also not as detailed as the bass and the lower midrange. However, this is not that obvious, and noticing it will require a great focus on the highest of frequencies in the headphones’ range. Therefore, you will probably enjoy using these headphones planar magnetic a lot.
4. Fostex T50RP MK3
- Good quality of sound
- Good drivers
- Semiopen-back
- Good build quality
- Comfortable
- A bit of a sharp treble
The Fostex T50RP MK3 are a pair of planar magnetic headphones which you can use in your professional studio. The headphones are mostly made of plastic, but this plastic is of very good quality hence the headphones’ durability. The headband is attached to the ear cup with the help of metal strips, and this structure increases the headphones’ flexibility. The headphones have padded earcups and headband so that you feel comfortable when wearing the Fostex T50RP MK3.
The Fostex T50RP MK3 come with some nice features. These headphones have very good and unique drivers that emhpasize the presence of the overall sound. The drivers furthermore make sure that the sound waves are not distorted even at a greater volume.
The semiopen-back design of the headphones allows for a sound that is warm, but quite spacious at the same time. The headphones have a frequency response that ranges from 15Hz to 35kHz and their response is flat.
The Fostex T50RD MK3 planar magnetic headphones sound detailed, accurate, and clear. The extended frequency response goes a long way to help the headphones project some very low and very high frequencies. The mid range of these headphones sound exceptionally good and strong, while the bass is authentic and clean.
It seems like the Fostex T50RD MK3 have everything working in their advantage, except for the treble. These headphones have a nice treble overall, but it sometimes becomes a bit sharp to listen to. This can happen when you turn the volume of your headphones to maximum. However, this doesn’t happen that often, and it’s barely noticeable when it does happen. Also, we cannot complain about this since the headphones come at a very affordable price.
5. HIFIMAN HE400S
- Nice quality of sound
- Extended bass
- Open-back headphones
- Comfortable
- Lightweight
- Plastic connectable hinges
The Hifiman HE400S are a pair of planar magnetic headphones that are pretty affordable and overall decent. The headphones are constructed of good and durable materials, and they are very flexible. You will feel comfortable while wearing them since they have a nice padding on their ear cups. The headband is not padded, but it still feels comfortable, even after a longer time. These headphones have an open-back design and are very lightweight.
The Hifiman HE400S are pretty simple when it comes to their features. However, these features do make for a nice quality of sound. The headphones have a good frequency response range and are decently sensitive. Their drivers work properly and project a sound with low distortion. The headphones have an impedance level suitable for your smartphone and they’re very easy to drive. You’ll easily connect them to your device with the help of the 1.5m cable that comes shipped with the headphones.
In terms of sound quality of the Hifiman HE400S, the key word is again ‘decent.’ The headphones have an extended bass, pretty present mid frequencies, and a nice treble. Their treble might not be that strong, but it is still there and it will definitely not hurt your ears. The overall reproduced sound is decently spacious, but it’s not the spacious sound that a pair of headphones can offer. However, the headphones offer more sound quality than many other headphones that come in this price range.
Something that is not that appealing about the Hifiman HE400S is the material of which their hinges are made. Even though these headphone are pretty durable, the hinges are made of plastic and look a bit unreliable. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the hinges will break. It’s just that they feel a bit iffy in comparison to the rest of the body of the headphones.
6. OPPO PM-3
- Good quality of sound
- Good noise isolation
- Well-padded
- Lightweight
- Durable
- The ear pads can’t be replaced
The Oppo PM-3 planar magnetic headphones are a bit pricier, but there’s a good reason for that. These headphones come in various different colors to meet the need for style of everyone. They look very elegant and soft, and that is because they are well-padded with protein leather.
The headband of these headphones is made of plastic and the earcups have both metal and plastic parts. This improves the protection of the drivers that are inside the cups and makes sure they always project good-quality sounds. The back of the cups is closed and is very effective in reducing the noise that comes from the outside.
Being made from the mentioned materials, the headphones are very durable and damage-resistant. You can also decide on whether you’d like them to be shipped with a cable for iPhone or for an android device.
The features of the Oppo PM-3 have to do with its level of sensitivity and accuracy in projecting different frequencies. These headphones have a sensitivity of 102dB and a very wide frequency response range that extends from 10Hz to 50kHz. They are very sensitive and do well in producing sounds with low, medium, and high frequencies.
Listening to music is easy with this headphones because they come with the ability to offer very clear sounds. They can accurately project vocals and instruments thanks to the properties that make for the flat bass, present mids, and nice highs. Overall, these headphones produce natural sounds with little noise and little distortion.
There are no headphones that come with no weaker side, and in the case of the Oppo PM-3 that would be their ear pads. The ear pads on these headphones can’t be replaced. However, Oppo will definitely be able to do something about the damaged pads, so don’t worry that much.
What to look for in planar magnetic headphones
Quality of sound
Mind the quality of sound of the headphones you want to buy. A wide frequency response range, a nice impedance and sensitivity levels, and the ability to reduce noise and distortion make for good-quality headphones.
Open or closed-back
Decide whether you want to buy open or a closed-back headphones. Know that open-back headphones make for a more spacious sound, while the closed-back ones are better at cancelling noise.
Durability and comfort
Pick a pair of headphones that are made of good-quality materials (quality plastic, metal, wood), and have a nice padding. This way, you’ll enjoy using them and they will have a long lifespan.
Conclusion
Whichever headphones you decide to go for, always remember what to look for in them. We hope that you found some of the headphones on our list to be interesting and appealing. You may also be interested to learn more about headphones under $100.
