Why You Should Be Working With This How Do Planar Magnetic Headphones Work
How Do Planar Magnetic Headphones Work?
In comparison to dynamic drivers planar magnetic headphones have lower distortion. This is because they vibrate the whole diaphragm and not just the part that is attached to the voice coil.
They also have a bigger soundstage, with better separation and differentiation capabilities. They leak more, and require isolation to stop disrupting the people nearby.
The diaphragm
The diaphragm plays an essential function in nearly all sound transducers (headphones and loudspeakers, as well as microphones) that are used to move air in order to produce sound. In headphones, a flat piece is suspended between two magnets, and generates an electromagnetic field upon activation by audio signals. In planar headphones the electric current that comes emanating from the headphone's source is transferred to the diaphragm via an electric coil that creates magnetic force, which causes it to vibrate.
The sound is transferred to your ear via the diaphragm's suspension. It is usually made of an artificial material like titanium or neodymium. The diaphragm will then resonate with your ear using various frequencies. Planar magnetic headphones are able to deliver high SPLs, without sounding like they are distorted.
In addition to being able to reproduce high SPLs, planar magnetic headphones also provide a better soundstage. The reason for this is that the flat diaphragm produces an asymmetrical sound wavefront rather than the narrow spherical wavefront that is found in many dynamic drivers. The headphones produce an overall soundstage that is more natural, which is easier to pinpoint.
Another benefit of the planar magnetic headphones is their excellent transient response. This is due to the capability of headphones with planar magnetics to reproduce short-lived peaks such as cymbal hits and kick drum hits. The diaphragm has a large diameter and is evenly distributed across the surface, which means there is no distortion when peaks are reached.
Planar magnetic headphones have some disadvantages you should take into account when selecting a set. One of them is that they generally cost more than their dynamic counterparts. This is mostly due to the design of their drivers that can be complicated, as well as the history of the company behind them.
Fortunately, there are excellent, affordable planar magnetic headphones that can be purchased at less than $100. In addition to their exceptional performance, these headphones come with closed-back and open-back designs, so you can choose which one fits your preferences for listening. The HIFIMAN Arya Stealth Magnets Edition and Audeze LCD-2 Classics are some of the top choices available.
The voice coil
Planar magnetic headphones provide exceptional clarity and precision across all frequencies. This is largely due to their flat, How Do Planar Magnetic Headphones Work thin diaphragm which is sandwiched between two arrays magnets. When an electrical signal is sent from your audio source, the conductive material windings within the voice coil react with the magnetic field, causing the diaphragm's surface to vibrate, producing sound waves.
The planar-type driver benefits from the fact that every vibration occurs at the same frequency and is uniform, no matter the position of the diaphragm within the magnetic field. This ensures a stable sound quality, with less distortion and an even wavefront that is easier on the ears. Contrary to this dynamic drivers tend to create more of a spherical soundwavefront which is less uniform and could be distracting.
Planar magnetic drivers due to the way they operate, require a stronger amplifying system. They also tend to be larger and heavier because they must accommodate the larger, more flexible diaphragm. They require an external amplifier or DAC in order to drive them.
Additionally, planar magnetic drivers are much more expensive than their dynamic counterparts since they're typically made from high-quality materials. Nevertheless, a few specialized HiFi audio headphone manufacturers have begun to revive this technology in recent years. As a result, we're witnessing a myriad of new headphones featuring planar magnetic drivers that offer an incredible listening experience.
The choice between dynamic and planar headphones is a matter of personal preference and budget. The headphones with a magnetic design have a somewhat larger sound stage than dynamic models and are renowned for their incredible quality and precision. Dynamic headphones are more expensive, but they offer a more powerful bass and a warmer sounding signature.
The headphones that are made for dynamic drivers tend to have more punch and slam, however this difference is not often noticed by listeners. They are also better at capturing structure and distinction. There are exceptions to the general rule. A variety of excellent planar-magnetic headphones can be bought at affordable prices.
The magnets
In a typical headphone with a dynamic driver the electrical impulses generated by your audio source travel through a coil of conductory material which interacts with the magnetic fields in the driver. These are used to manipulate the diaphragm's flatness and generate sound waves. Planar magnetic headphones however make use of a thin layer of conductive material sandwiched between two powerful magnets. They're more difficult to make and are the reason they're more expensive.
They also tend to be bigger and heavier because of their design which means they require more space around the drivers. They also use more power than their more dynamic counterparts, which means they'll require a dedicated headphone amplifier to fully utilize their potential. While this isn't always a issue, it's something to keep in mind when considering these headphones.
Although this isn't the case for all headphones, How Do Planar Magnetic Headphones Work many of the top magnetic headphones that are planar will have an open and airy sound than their dynamic counterparts. They also provide an airy feel that is quite appealing to some listeners. They also have a bigger soundstage, which is helpful when listening to music with other people.
The open-back design is a popular option for a variety of designer headphone brands, including the likes of HiFiMAN and Audeze. Although they're not as well-known as closed-back models, they're an excellent way to experience the strengths of planar magnetic technology. The HiFiMAN Sundara, for example is a great opportunity to test the speed, accuracy and detail of these headphones.
The housing
If you're an audiophile or simply someone who loves music, odds are you've heard of magnetic headphones that planar. They sport a unique appearance, featuring flat diaphragms that are embedded into the headphone planar. They are available in both open-back and over-ear designs. In addition to the unique design, these headphones use different working principles that are different from dynamic drivers.
Planar magnetic headphones, in contrast to traditional moving coil drivers, which use the voice coil to produce sound waves, employ array magnets to move the diaphragm to produce sound. Depending on the layout, these arrays could be situated on either or both sides of the diaphragm. The magnets are activated by an electrical signal that passes through the voice coil, causing it to vibrate. The vibrations then create magnetic fields that interact with magnets on either side of the diaphragm. The magnetic fields cause the diaphragms push and pull. This creates sound waves that are the audio signal.
Due to this, planar magnetic headphones typically sound more resonant and have better bass extension capabilities. The large, flat diaphragm responds faster to changes in input signals, which means they can respond quicker to bass response, and are less susceptible to distortion. This results in a more controlled, tight sound quality that some audiophiles like.
However, while these headphones might be capable of reproducing higher frequencies, they lack the punch or slam of modern high-end dynamic driver headphones. They can be difficult to hear for those who want to listen to hard or metal rock music.
Planar magnetic headphones are costly due to their unique design. They also require a separate amplifier and digital audio converters to supply the drivers with power. Some consumers may find that the price of these headphones is higher, but they think it's worth it. There are a variety of headphones for those who do not wish to spend too much.