10 Best Planar Magnetic Headphones – Better Alternative to Stereo Headphones

The Monolith 1060 are extremely light, over-the-ear planar magnetic headphones. They feature a 106mm driver incorporated into a simply designed exterior made from wood and light metal. The headphones produce an undistorted, clear sound that makes listening to music a refreshing experience.

As one of the best planar magnetic headphones under $500 available in the market, the Monolith 1060 differs from other headphones made by Monopriceby not just having a planar magnetic driver but by also having an open back design that makes you not totally shut out from external noise but also provides you with a real-time music experience. Using the headphones is comparable to enjoying your music while standing right in the middle of a live concert.

Why are we impressed?

• We love the over-ear and open-back design of the Monolith 1060 that makes it extra comfortable during long hours of use. Much more than that, we love how the headphones deliver nothing short of quality, providing deep bass, distinct mids, and sonorous highs, all in a perfectly balanced fashion. Amazingly, Monolith 1060 sells at a relatively low price when compared to other headphones with similar features and specifications.

What negatives must you be aware of?

• While reviewing these headphones, we discovered that the sound might turn out to be of pretty lower quality when connected to a computer system. Also, the connecting cable comes short and may limit reach when the headphones are being used. Truthfully, our periodic reviews of this product show how the manufacturing company has immensely improved it based on customer feedback. For every new batch released, the headphones only keep getting better and better.

Designed in black and silver colors that create a pristine outlook, HIFIMAN HE400S is created with a highly efficient planar magnetic technology that makes the headphones deliver more than the price paid. Each headphone comes with a 3.5mm Jack plug, a 6.35mm adapter, and one pair of earpads.

The headphones are compatible with most smartphones and audio devices with a 3.5mm Jack port. This makes it a ready companion for anyone who considers himself a music-lover. It is suitable for travel, office use and is very efficient as an everyday entertainment buddy.

Why did it make our list?

• If you are an audiophile, we are sure that you will not be able to stop listening to these headphones easily just like us. The exquisite design and the clear quality sound has made the headphone one we've come to love with. While many headphones may develop compatibility issues with iPhones and other Apple products, HIFIMAN HE400S perfectly excels in that field. For us, the sound and compatibility technology are top-notch.

What is not ideal about it?

• Although the headphones deliver quality sound, the Jack cables get frail quite easily. When not properly handled, they may bend, twist, or cut off in no time. Luckily, you can order a replacement from the manufacturing company. But then, everyone prefers to have an original product that lasts over time rather than one that keeps calling for periodic replacement of essential parts.

Not only are these headphones designed to produce uniform sound using planar magnetic technology, the audio produced is fully immersing. As a gaming headset, it is compatible for use with Xbox, PS4, and many other game sets. You may also choose to use it with your PC, smartphone, or other audio devices.

If you are a lover of games but want something other than conventional headphones with dynamic drivers, these headphones are for you. The planar magnetic drivers used will make sound resonate with your game smoothly, creating a 3D effect that places you right in the middle of the game. The effect is indeed amazing!

What makes it special?

• The manufacturing company was careful about making this headset very fit for gaming in that that it comes with head tracking technology. This makes your game very real as the headphones become very sensitive to every head movement and delivers sound commensurate to every move. The headphones also sit comfortably over your ear such that you could easily forget you have them on as you play your game. All of these features are what every gamer looks out for. We also think they make the product one of the best budget planar magnetic headphones in that regard.

What cons did we find?

• In our opinion, a gaming headset will do better as wireless than wired. Wireless headphones allow for greater freedom and movement while gaming. Although some people will prefer their headphones wired for certain reasons, we think the HyperX Cloud gaming headset will be more efficient as wireless headphones. An improvement could be making both wired and wireless options available so gamers can make their preferred choice from both.

There is something about Audeze ISINE headphones: you can’t deny their efficiency. The ISINE10 headset is designed in a very unique style and produces highly clear audio. It comes with a Cipher Lightning cable that Apple product users can use for integrated amp or DAC connection.

If you feel uncomfortable pretty fast when using over-the-ear headphones, Audeze’s ISINE10 will definitely work for you as they are in-ear headphones. The extremely thin diaphragms in each earphone allow sound to come out clear and balanced. When using an ISINE 10, the highs, mids, and lows, come nothing short of being realistic and genuine.

What do we love it for?

• We love many things about Audeze’s ISINE10. For example, the in-ear feature is an excellent choice for many who find over-the-ear headphones overbearing and uncomfortable. It leaves no weight on the external ear parts and will not cause pain even when used for long periods. We also love that the headphone allows for audio customization using the AudezeiOS app. You can even save up to two customized presets on the headphone so you can always listen to music just the way you like it best.

What were we disappointed with?

• As with many in-ear headphones, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to earbuds. Since ISINE10 headphones come with only one size of earbuds, they may turn out too small or too big to fit certain persons. While audio quality may be good, no one wants headphones whose earbuds won’t stay in the ears. We can only anticipate that the subsequent product release from Audeze will feature headphones with more than one earbud size.

A simply designed but up to the task headset like HIFIMAN Arya is nothing short of a premium pick. As far back as 2007, HIFIMAN has been producing headphones and the Arya planar remains one of their flagship models. The headphone uses the same working principle as any other planar magnetic headphone but the quality and carefulness of the design cannot be overlooked.

From the use of an extremely thin diaphragm to an advanced asymmetrical magnet circuit and an expertly designed open back system, the Arya planar is indeed an epitome of excellence for a headphone. If you love to make a subtle statement by appearing in an all-black, sophisticated headset, and if you are a genuine audiophile and have a knack for what quality sound is – we dare you to purchase one of these headphones.

What are our favorite features?

• Is there anything you can not love about HIFIMAN Arya planar headphones? The device is produced from quality materials, comes with a simple design, but much more delivers sound satisfaction. The audio produced by the headphone is very balanced and neutral. We also noted that the headphones would do well for sport and fitness activities as it is light and made from very durable materials.

What could be better?

• For a planar magnetic headphone of this caliber, we expected more customizable options than just a single preset function. However, the HIFIMAN Arya offered none of those. The headphone also had no control buttons of any sort. None for switching between call and music, for controlling certain music essentials, and so on. We believe this is because HIFIMAN assumed the single preset function should serve well at all times. Truth be told, the headset has always done that. However, certain audiophiles may just never be satisfied until they have made some tweaking to the original preset and have provided themselves with one or two customized sound outputs.

The HIFIMAN Deva qualifies as one of the best planar magnetic headphones under $500. It allows for both Bluetooth and wired connections and has a battery life of up to 8 hours when using Bluetooth. The sound produced by the headphone is detailed and allows for an extensive sound stage.

The HIFIMAN Deva has undergone very significant improvements since its initial production. The diaphragm in each headphone, referred to as NsD is now almost twice thinner than before. This triggers a fast response in audio delivery and makes the headphone far more detailed.

What stands out?

• One thing that attracted us at first sight to HIFIMAN Deva planar magnetic headphones: the brown color that gave it a chic look. The headphones are just so beautiful. It doesn't matter if you are male or female, young or adult, the finish of the headphone attracts so subtly you will always want to have it with you. One more thing that got us pretty fast is that you could connect to the headphones via Bluetooth if you do not wish to use the 3mm Jack cable.

What cons did we manage to find?

• The HIFIMAN Deva headphones come with no volume control buttons. It will also appear that the material used for the exterior of the headband makes the headset move out of place when used. You should therefore expect some shift here and there when you change position or bend. However, the ear pads fit very smartly over the ear and will not allow the headphones to fall off that easily.

The outlook of these headphones speaks nothing short of a device fit for professional use. The audio produced is clear, with very distinct bass. Moreso, the bass does not totally monopolize the sound quality as many headphones do. Although it does not come with its own microphone, it allows for external mic usage making the headset also fit for live streams, video conferences, or other office activities.

Most planar magnetic headphones are open back and therefore do not allow for reasonable sound isolation. If you are seeking headphones with high receiving speed, detailed sound, and all other features characteristic of planar magnetic headsets while also efficiently isolating noise, you will find a companion in the Monolith M565C.

Why is it special?

• For us, Monolith M565C qualifies are one of the best planar magnetic headphones for its amazing ability to combine noise isolating features with planar magnetic technology. The close back feature was created as an improvement from the M565, which are open-back headphones. We love the quality of sound produced by the device which is characteristic of noise isolating headphones. The music is greatly felt, it allows no disturbance, and the audio details are clearer than ever.

What are the flaws?

• From many of our planar magnetic headphones reviews, we identified that the Monolith M565C came with ports that make cables connect rather loosely. You may just find out that your music is interrupted when you move a bit or stops altogether until you have adjusted the cable again. The headband may also turn out to be too small for certain persons and therefore may press over the ear and apply greater pressure than normal.

The LCD series of the Audeze headphones are made with 103mm drivers that trigger excellent bass production, a needed quality for games, and sound mixing. The Audeze LCD-GX is a purely analog headset. It features a boom microphone that is detachable and adjustable to any desired angled through a flexible gooseneck.

If you are a hard and fast gamer, then this headphone is for you! No preambles, it just goes straight to business with booming bass, top-notch soundstage, and immersing audio that intensifies the 3D effect in your game.

What stands out?

• In our review of planar magnetic headphones, we find out that the LCD-GX was not rigidly manufactured to fit gaming purposes only. For example, the boom mic is detachable when not needed making the headset also fit for listening to music for the sake of entertainment. At other times, especially in the studio, the microphone proves useful and even expedient. It did not take much time for us to tag the Audeze LCD-GX to be the most versatile of all the best planar magnetic headphones reviewed.

What cons did we manage to find?

• We discovered certain cons in the LCD-GX headset. First, we absolutely relate to the manufacturer's idea of creating strictly analog headphones. However, the headset will serve better if it was usable with an audio app of some sort that allowed for tweaking of audio options and more customizations. Overall, these headphones are great, extremely lightweight, and very versatile.

The Fostex T50RP has one of the best studio monitoring features for a planar magnetic headphone under $500. The Proprietary Regular Phase (RP) Technology diaphragm is Fostex’s unique technology for providing very accurate sound needed in the studio at all times.

Hands down, the headset has it all when it comes to studio features. We recommend it for music artists, sound mixers, music critiques, and audiophiles generally.

What makes it stand out?

• Fostex's long-standing reputation as a manufacturer of sound and recording products comes to play in this headset. It was designed meticulously with brilliant features that make every single time in the studio worth it, such as the semi-open back idea, noise cancellation, polyimide film diaphragm driver, and the use of neodymium magnet. For all these characteristics, we can’t help but love the headphones. Thoughtfully, the headphone was designed for long use characteristic of studio sessions by having highly comfortable ear and head pads.

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• When heavily used, the Fostex T50RP might need replacements of earpads. Even though the earpads do well on the comfy side, we expect that they should also be durable enough to allow for all of those rigorous use in the studio. It may also become essential at some point that you order new headbands to continue using the headphones. In our opinion, the ear pads are too thin such that they wear out quickly. The elasticity of the headband should also be improved to reduce the slacking every now and then.

Although HIFIMAN SUNDARA appears last on our list, it does not make it like just one of those headphones. In fact, it rivals many other headphones in the market and even made it to our best planar magnetic headphone reviews. Like other HIFIMAN planar magnetic headphones, these are made using the NsD diaphragm technology for producing clear and undistorted sound. Each headset comes with a 15m 3.5mm headset Jack plug, a 6.35mm adapter, and a user guide.

The name SUNDARA in itself is the Sanskrit word for ‘beautiful’. Honestly, the HIFIMAN SUNDARA appears in an all-black classic beauty that is fitting for anyone. If you love to top your everyday office wear with some sleek-looking headphones, the SUNDARA matte black headset offers you that choice. Mind you, there is no need to go beyond your budget to get one.

Why are we impressed?

• Plainly, we love SUNDARA. The clean detail, comprising of distinct lows, mids, and highs, is satisfactory. The headset delivers trebles that are more warm than shrill. The audio sounds pleasant to the ears, and depending on what song you are listening to, you could have goosebumps! We like that SUNDARA’s technology makes it compatible with iPhones as most times, Apple users are usually left out of the joys of many of these headphones due to compatibility issues.

What negatives must you be aware of?

• Although SUNDARA overcomes the weird feeling of using noise-isolating headphones, it does not achieve the soundstage experience enough. However, you may not readily notice this as you are sure to be buried in the excellent sound quality the headphones give once you put them on.