Whats your preferred headphone, Planar Magnets or Dynamic?

[Jasonovich]

I think a discussion about the pros and cons of Planar magnets and dynamic headphones is worth starting.

Would be absolutely fab to have your feedback and commentary.

From my own experience using the Hifiman Edition XS, I find the sound is very open. The presentation is both delicate and energetic.

Here’s some of the advantages of Planar Magnetic Headphones:

• The planar magnet drivers can exhibit fast transients when it receives variations of the audio signal, and this results in augmentation of detail and clarity.
• Planar Magnets can relay exceptional detail and accuracy across the entire frequency range.
• From a wide palette of frequencies, planar magnets can produce from deep bass to airy treble.
• At high volumes planar magnets have very low distortion, this is because the magnetic force distribution and low mass diaphragm result in minimal distortion due to the unified magnet force.

Some of the disadvantages, from my personal observation, the planar magnets tend to be bulkier than their dynamic counterparts and need additional power requirements that allows them to operate to their optimum, Planar magnets are less efficient and potentially necessitating a dedicated headphone amplifier.


Advantages of Dynamic Driver Headphones:

• Dynamic headphones much more efficient than planar magnets and don’t generally require a dedicated headphone amplifier.
• The ubiquitous dynamic headphones are more plentiful and affordable and have the advantage of portability.
• Dynamic driver headphones are likely to work best with tube amplifiers, this results in a warmer engaging soundstage.

The main disadvantages of dynamics are distortion at higher volume levels, particularly in the lower frequency ranges. Dynamics tend not to match the planer’s wide frequency response.

Below; so tempted but have to pass! Just burnt a lot of plastic on my recent Audio Video upgrade in the lounge.

HIFIMAN Arya Full-Size Over Ear Planar Magnetic Audiophile Adjustable Headphone Stealth Magnets Version - AliExpress

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Next year if Scan is selling the Hifiman HE1000 V2 Stealth Planar Open Back Headphones at even lower price, I just might be tempted!

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/hifiman-he1000-v2-stealth-planar-open-back-headphones-ultra-thin-diaphragm-window-shade-grille-desig?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq-u9BhCjARIsANLj-s3fR81BRa3O8og_c9NUGJTQ38iPmDuCpeGbrm95nmF6Zh4coFkSKxIaAp-kEALw_wcB

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[DougK1]

I could be interested Jason if the they weren't so fugly

 

[RTHerringbone]

I'm interested in a headphone switch as my next upgrade. I've currently got some inherited Audio Technica ATH-ANC7B and I guess they're fine - I've nothing to compare them to. They're comfortable but the noise cancelling is an irrelevance to me. They do feel a bit blurred to me - the mid-range is pretty busy and bleeds into itself.

What I really want is a superior set of cans to take advantage of the fact that maybe 50% of all my Hi-Fi use is through headphones, plus my hearing isn't top tier so anything that puts a higher quality closer to my dodgy lugs seems logical. I'm sceptical that I can make tangible gains by upgrading my WiiM Mini (totally happy to be proven wrong ), so the headphones seem the next port of call.

All I (believe) I know is that I want wired, open-backed jobs, so I'll see where this thread goes.

 

[Jasonovich]

I could be interested Jason if the they weren't so fugly

Fugly? What ya' talking about Doug!🤣🤣
Have you not seen the Meze Poet planar magnet, it's a work of art.
You do have a point , one man's meat is another man's poison.

 

[nopiano]

Pssstt! Don’t mention Stax electrostatics! 🤫🤐

I always enjoyed dynamic drivers from Sennheiser and Grado. But Oppo PM3, hard to find once discontinued, were a great joy - and of course are planar.

Being ancient, I remember the first planars, the Wharfedale Isodynamic, which was kind of relaunched as a Quad ERA1 a few years ago, without much acclaim. Are they still making them?

 

[DougK1]

Fugly? What ya' talking about Doug!🤣🤣
Have you not seen the Meze Poet planar magnet, it's a work of art.
You do have a point , one man's meat is another man's poison.

Hmm, slightly less fugly

 

[DougK1]

Pssstt! Don’t mention Stax electrostatics! 🤫🤐

Yeah, please don't. Some of their models look like toasters

 

[Jasonovich]

Hmm, slightly less fugly

The mesh look, I think more aesthetically pleasing to the eye than the shark grill.

POET

Featuring the top-of-the-line diaphragm technology found in our ELITE model, POET is a compact planar-magnetic open-back headphone that excels on all fronts. POET caresses your audio palate with lush, airy vocals and precise bass impact for a balanced low-end, its natural tonality delicately...

mezeaudio.com

Unlike planars, dynamic headphones come in so many shapes and sizes.
My former Focal Elegias were so blingy but I loved it.
Wearing them on the train got so many looks. ☺️

 

[nopiano]

Yeah, please don't. Some of their models look like toasters

Ha, ha, yes they do a bit. But have you ever heard them? They’re seductive!

Who remembers Jecklin Floats? Very comfortable until the foam headband disintegrated. And huge electrostatic drivers.

Jecklin Float electrostatic headphones

These are some of the most lusciously transparent-sounding headphones we've ever put on our ears, but we doubt that they will every enjoy much commercial success, for a couple of reasons.

www.stereophile.com

 

[DougK1]

Ha, ha, yes they do a bit. But have you ever heard them? They’re seductive!

Who remembers Jecklin Floats? Very comfortable until the foam headband disintegrated. And huge electrostatic drivers.

Jecklin Float electrostatic headphones

These are some of the most lusciously transparent-sounding headphones we've ever put on our ears, but we doubt that they will every enjoy much commercial success, for a couple of reasons.

www.stereophile.com

They'd need to be very seductive indeed for me to wear two toaster's on my head

As for the Jecklin Floats I know it's all about sound quality but I have 'some' aesthetic standards which kit should at least attempt to achieve