15 Unquestionably Good Reasons To Be Loving Best Planar Magnetic Headphones
Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $1000
A planar magnetic set is a great option for those who are looking to upgrade their headphones. They can be costly.
There are plenty of alternatives available for headphones under the $1000 price range. In this article we will review the top budget planar headphones that will provide you with an unforgettable listening experience.
1. Beyerdynamic T1
Beyerdynamic is a cutting-edge German brand when it comes to headphone design. The Beyerdynamic T1 has a classic look and is crafted from top quality materials, making it an absolute pleasure to wear. The soft headband and replaceable earpads make them extremely comfortable. The earphones can initially feel rough, but they soon adapt to the shape of your head and ears. They allow for long listening sessions without discomfort.
The T1 has a very natural sound, with elevated but controlled bass and clear mids. The highs are sparkly and clear, but they can be too loud for those who prefer a softer sounding treble. They are a great pair of headphones for demanding listening and excel when played at medium to low volumes. They can keep their balance even when playing violent music such as death metal or black metal, and will not be overpowered by the crash of cymbals.
Another great feature is the T1's exceptional dynamic range. It can reproduce extreme differences in volume between more quiet and less loud parts with precision and clarity. This makes them an excellent option for musicians who wish to be able to perceive every nuance and detail of their instrument, and for audiophiles who appreciate the ability to distinguish between the various instruments that are played during a song.
A nice feature is the gold-plated connectors and the Beyerdynamic logo on the earcup. This is a sign and a guarantee of quality. The headphones are protected by a durable case when not in use. Included is a detachable cable and an adapter for quarter inches.
The Beyerdynamic T1 is not designed for portable use as it is a closed-back design. They aren't able to protect you from the everyday sounds like traffic jams and children's clocks, or even nagging spouses. They are not designed for sports like running around with them because the large ear cups can easily fall off your ears. The Beyerdynamic T5p also has an open-back design, however the cups are smaller. They could be more suitable for portable listening.
2. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano
The HIFIMAN Nano is the latest version of the popular open-back, mid-range headphones. The Nano makes an enormous leap forward from the initial Ananda model, with a new nanometer thickness diaphragm and clarity-enhancing stealth magnets that were also used on the ultra-high-end Susvara headphone. These features promise ultra-low distortion, lightning-fast transient response, and significantly improved quality and clarity.
The resulting soundstage is large and deep, allowing for excellent separation of instruments and vocals. The Nano also has a warm sound, with a peak in the upper mids that makes it ideal for rock, pop and hip-hop.
This emphasis on the upper mids does come with some disadvantages, however. This can result in a muddy sound in the higher registers, where some detail is lost. The Nano is not suitable for classical music because the lower mids are often overshadowed.
Bass is powerful and punchy and has good timbre in the low-end and great dynamics and slam. It's a little fuller than the original Ananda bass which is ideal for modern music such as pop, rock, and gaming. However, it still offers plenty of rumble for audiophiles that prefer a more natural sound to their bass.
As you would expect leakage is a problem for an open-back headphones. It can be a problem in noisy environments. The headphone does not have a mic, so it's not suitable to make calls from mobile phones.
The HIFIMAN Nano is a great option for those looking for a planar magnetic open-back headphone that costs less than $1000. It's a step up from the previous model and is worth checking out. The Ananda Nano comes with a travel bag, which is a great option for audiophiles who travel. The case is large enough to accommodate the Ananda Nano with its cable and a small DAC/player. In the box there is also an accessory pouch. The headphones are durable and well-made, and come with a 3-year warranty.
3. Hifiman Edition XS
HIFIMAN's Edition X created a lot of buzz in the audiophile world when it was first introduced. The company has since brought the same technology into a smaller, more affordable headphone, that fits between the Sundara and Ananda. The Edition XS uses the same aerodynamically-shaped stealth magnets and a thin "Neo Super-Nano Diaphragm" to guarantee fast response time with minimal distortion.
As with all HIFIMAN products, these headphones are extremely well-built. They are sturdy enough to withstand heavy use and are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. The cups are also made with an anti-resonant fabric to reduce the vibrations. A tangle-free cord with straight plug is included in the box, along with the headphone stand, which can also double as a portable storage case for the headphones.
The Edition XS is a very top planar magnetic headphone which has a high resolution in detail. You'll be able to hear the details in your music that you've never heard before. Or you may even notice flaws that you might not have noticed with other headphones. They feature a large soundstage and superior imaging that can fill the entire room with three-dimensional clarity.
They have a balanced and neutral sound profile, so they will suit any genre of music. They have great mids and reproduce vocals and lead instruments with precision, but they might lack some punch and rumble in their bass. Their high frequencies are crisp and precise, but they might sound a bit bright for certain listeners.
The HiFiman Edition XS is a great choice for anyone looking for an open-backed magnetic headphone that can be used in noisy environments, and doesn't require any power to operate. The low impedance (18O) allows it to be easy to drive almost all DAC, or headphone amplifier. However you'll have the best results if you're using an audio interface that has an inbuilt headphone amp. They're not the most portable headphones, and can be quite heavy to carry around, however they do come with a padded pouch that can be used for travel. They're a little more expensive than the other options, but they're worth the price for their features and high-end quality.
4. Audeze LCD-5
The Audeze LCD-5 planar magnetic headphones are the most recent flagship model from the company. It is an entirely new design that incorporates a brand-new driver and magnet structure. This is a significant upgrade to the previous headphone model and places the LCD-5 at the top of the personal audio market. The LCD-5's drivers comprise ultra-thin Nano-Scale Diaphragms that are paired with Parallel Uniforce voice coils as well as Fazor Waveguides. These new features work together to regulate the movement of the diaphragm and deliver a high level of resolution.
Additionally, the LCD-5's earpads are made to fit a greater range of heads. The pads are made of a more flexible material and the headband is smaller and lighter, so the LCD-5s will feel more comfortable on most ears than previous models. They clamp a little more than other Audeze headphones and may be a little tight on certain models, but this will resolve with use.
click to read has been a benchmark in planar magnetic headphone performance. The LCD-2 was the first high-fidelity headphone to be released in the series, then followed by LCD-3 and LCD-4. The LCD-5 continues this trend, offering improvements in every aspect of the headphones' sound signature and design.
The LCD-5 has more refined sound and a less aggressive presentation when compared to the LCD-2. This is due to their greater focus on midrange clarity, microdetail retrieval, and the surgical treble accuracy. The LCD-5s are an extremely powerful headphone, with the ability to easily provide a huge dynamic range and full-bodied bass. However, they're not as powerful as the models like the Abyss A-1266 or Hifiman HE1000SE. They will typically require EQ adjustments to make them sound the best.
Audeze LCD-5 headphones are outstanding with their amazing sound quality. They also boast an impressive build quality. They're not for everyone, but if you have the money and you want a premium headphone that will deliver a jaw-dropping listening experience, look no further than the LCD-5. It's worth every penny.