What are Planar Magnetic Headphones?

In dynamic headphones, the sound is produced when what is called the diaphragm vibrates because of electric current. Planar headphones, on the other hand, transmit more powerful vibrations using magnetic energy. They also have extremely thin diaphragms compared to dynamic headsets. When impacted by energy, the thin nature of the diaphragms makes them oscillate faster and evenly, thereby producing very distinct and balanced sound.
Planar magnetic technology has always been existing but was never employed in producing headphones until very recently. Today, planar magnetic headphones are increasing in popularity and becoming more demanded. They are known to deliver natural and accurate sound that is devoid of unnecessary fluctuations. Because the diaphragms in these headphones are thinner, they move faster and therefore respond very quickly to sound signals.
Who Needs Planar Magnetic Headphones?
If you love music to the point where you want sound delivered to you in the best quality there is, then you need a planar magnetic headphone! Anyone can, and everyone should get a planar headphone to appreciate the effect of music better. Although some headphones may be created to be more compatible for certain activities, the compatibility feature is usually not a function of whether the headphones being planar or not. Such compatibility features are usually in the design, connectivity, form feature, and so on.
Since music artists, sound technicians, and music critiques have better ears for music, they readily want to grab headphones that promise them more outstanding sound quality than what they’ve always had. But hey, you should desire something better than what you’ve always had, shouldn’t you?
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do: as long as you love making use of headphones, you can lay your hand on a planar magnetic headphone too.
Why Are Planar Magnetic Headphones Better than Any Other?

Planar magnetic headphones may not be at the peak of the pyramid when it comes to headphones, they are, however, very close to the top. Compared to the regular headphones on the market that use the dynamic driver system, they stand out distinctively. From the way the system works, planar headphones pick sound signals faster and allow for little or no fluctuations. Except if the music itself is bad, the audio comes out smooth always.
Expect a very high bass response when using planar headphones. The absence of fluctuations also makes sound come natural, there are no huffs and puffs, tingles, and muffled intonations that are typical for conventional headphones. The most effective way to notice the difference in planar magnetic headphones is to pick up one and practically compare the audio quality delivered with a traditional stereo headset.
Features to Consider Before You Buy Planar Headphones
Before you buy headphones, there are certain factors you should pay attention to and specific features you look out for. The features to look out for rely heavily on your reason for buying a headphone first of all.
For example, you may need a headphone for gaming or you may need one for accessing audio in the studio. On the other hand, you may need headphones just to serve your love for music and desire one that will be fit for home or office use. You may also be cautious about your headphones making a fashion statement and willing to go for chic looking ones.
Below, we have highlighted the most important features you should watch out for in headphones. Most planar headphones usually have these features. However, they only turn out to be more pronounced in specific models, this is why knowing what you want a headset for can help you to decide how significant each feature is.
Connectivity format
Most planar magnetic headphones currently available on the market are wired. Some, such as the Audeze ISINE10 and the HIFIMAN Deva allow for both wired and Bluetooth connection. To prevent clumsiness, especially if you will be moving around a lot while using your headphones, you should consider headphones that allow wireless connection.
Some headphones also allow wireless pairing with specific devices such as Alexa and Siri. The Audeze ISINE10 again offers us this feature as it can be used to connect to Siri devices.
If you use your headphones in the studio or while gaming, a wired headphone may work just fine. Most of the headphones we reviewed are wired, which has not hindered their efficiency in any way.
Accessories
Usually, headphones come with certain accessories such as Jack cables, adapter, Bluetooth connecting device, charger, etc. Therefore, you should look for essential things in such accessories such as connection port type, compatibility with your devices, cable length, strength and durability of the cord e.t.c.
Many times, the first damage to a headset is from the cord. While you may easily get a replacement, be sure to check for the fragility of a cable before buying the headphones.
Sound suppression

The sound suppression or sound isolating feature of planar headphones is usually determined by whether they are open back or close back. The way the cups close over the ear can also affect how external sound leaks in.
Many people love the idea of shutting out external sound when listening to music. Some, however, prefer to have their headphones open back to give that natural center stage feeling.
Generally, closed-back headphones are better for outdoor purposes to prevent too much noise interference. On the other hand, an open back headphone will make you appreciate the beauty of your music when you are in an enclosed environment such as your room or the studio.
Some headphones, such as the Fostex T50RP, are semi-open, leaving you with a bridge feature between both options.
Sound quality
Sound quality is dependent on a myriad of other factors. These include sensitivity, frequency response, and impedance. Most manufacturing companies provide the details of their headphones for these features though they may appear too technical to the layman. It might be essential to listen to headphones first before buying them.
Suppose you are buying online and don’t have a pre-test option. In that case, you can have an idea of the sound quality of headphones by checking customer reviews as well as other professional reviews available for the product.
All ten headphones we have reviewed have top-notch sound quality for their average price range. Truth is, no two different headphones will sound the same, so you may experience a slight decline or improvement in audio quality when using headphones for the first time. After frequent use, your ears get accustomed to the headphones that you no longer notice the subtle differences from previous ones you’ve used.
Bass
The feel of the bass is very important in a song that the beauty of music is lost when the bass quality is poor. Planar magnetic headphones are generally known to provide quality bass than headphones with dynamic drivers.
Some planar headphones have gone the extra mile to improve the bass quality their headset offers. For example, the Audeze LCD-GX has the most prominent bass response among all headphones we have reviewed. The Fostex T50RP also boasts impressive bass quality.
However, you should be careful when buying headphones, as some are produced with overly dominating highs, that the full beauty of the song is lost.
Mids and highs
Just as harmony is fundamental in music, your headphones should be able to enhance the quality of the mids and highs in music. Unfortunately, some headphones with trebles turn out to sound too shrill and noisy. If you can check the sound quality of headphones before buying, you should watch out for those and avoid them.
Durability

You want your headphones to last as long as possible, so you have to go for the quality. From our observations, planar magnetic headphones are more durable than dynamic headphones. It is not always about the drivers, though, as there are other parts that make up a headset.
Before buying headphones, check the material used for the headband. Examine the joints, hinges, and ports. As mentioned earlier, check the quality of the cables and other accessories too.
Metal headbands are expected to last longer than those made from plastic. Depending on the metal or plastic used, some headbands are prone to slacking faster. You may not be able to determine all of these at the point of buying, but previous customers’ reviews given for the same product can provide you with all you need to know regarding durability.
There are certain features that are either present or absent in headphones, such as microphones and Bluetooth connection. If you must have any of such features in your headphone, always remember to look out for them before buying. You can also go for headphones that provide the option of using or not using a feature. For example, Audeze LCD-GX comes with microphones, but they are detachable. Also, some headphones allow for both wired and Bluetooth connections.
Other features you should look out for when buying headphones are comfort, brand quality, form feature, closed-back or open-ear feature, and price.