Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $1000
A planar magnetic set is a great option for music lovers who are looking to upgrade their headphones. They can be costly.
There are plenty of great options below the $1000 mark. In this article we will review the top budget planar headphones to give you an unforgettable listening experience.
1. Beyerdynamic T1
Beyerdynamic is a German brand that doesn't play around when it comes to premium headphone design. The Beyerdynamic T1 has a classic look and is crafted from premium materials, making it an absolute pleasure to wear. They are extremely comfortable and have a soft headband that is padded with, replaceable ear pads. The earphones may initially feel rough, but they will adjust to the ears and head. They allow for long listening sessions with no discomfort.
The T1 has a very natural sound, with a controlled, yet elevated bass and clear mids. The highs can be very sharp and detailed, but they might be too loud for those who prefer a softer sounding treble. They are a great pair of headphones for critical listening, and perform best at medium to low volumes. They will hold their balance even when playing violent music such as blackmetal or death metal, and won't be smothered by cymbal crashes.
The T1 has a great dynamic range. It is able to reproduce extreme differences in volume between more quiet and less loud parts with clarity and precision. They are an excellent option for musicians who want to listen to every detail and nuance of their instrument, as well as audiophiles who appreciate the ability to distinguish between different instruments in a song.
A nice addition is the gold-plated connectors as well as the Beyerdynamic logo on the earcup. This is a mark of quality and is a guarantee that you're getting a top quality product. They are supplied with a hard case that protects the headphone even 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 has a closed-back design. They are not able to adequately shield you from the noises of daily life such as rush hour traffic or children's alarm clocks, as well as annoying partners. The earcups are not designed for vigorous activities such as running, as they could easily fall off your ears. The Beyerdynamic T5p also has an open-back design. However, the cup sizes are smaller. They may be better for listening at the go.
2. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano
The HIFIMAN Nano is the newest version of HIFIMAN's popular open-back, mid-range headphones. The Nano is an enormous leap over the original Ananda, featuring a new nanometer-thick diaphragm and a stealth magnet that provides greater clarity. These features were included on the ultra-high-end Susvara headphones. These features promise ultra-low distortion and lightning-fast transient responses, and significantly improved quality and clarity.
The result is a broad and deep soundstage with great separation between instruments and vocals. The Nano has a warm, rich sound with a high point in the upper mids, which makes it ideal for hip-hop, pop, and rock.
More hints in the upper mids does come with some disadvantages, however. It results in an unnaturally muffled sound especially in the higher registers, where some of the detail is lost. This also means that the Nano isn't suitable for classical music since the lower mids tend to get overshadowed by the bass.
The bass is powerful dynamic, powerful and lively with a nice sound quality at the bottom. It's a bit more full than the original Ananda bass and is perfect for modern music such as rock, pop and gaming. However, it still has plenty of rumble for audiophiles that prefer a more natural sound to their bass.
As expected, leakage is bad for an open-back headphones. It could be a problem in noisy environments. The headphone doesn't have microphone, which means it cannot be used to make calls on mobile phones.
The HIFIMAN Nano is an excellent choice for anyone searching for a planar magnetic open-back headphone that costs less than $1000. It's an excellent upgrade over the previous model, and it's worth a look. The Ananda Nano is available with a travel case, which is an important addition for audiophiles looking to listen to music while on the move. The case is spacious enough to store the Ananda Nano, its cable as well as a compact DAC or player. A carry-on pouch is included in the case. The headphones are sturdy and well-made and come with a 3-year warranty.
3. Hifiman Editions XS
HIFIMAN's Edition X created a lot of buzz in the audiophile world when it was launched. Now, the company has brought the same technology to a smaller, more affordable headphone that fits right in between the Sundara and the 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.
These headphones are built to a high standard as all HIFIMAN's products. The headphones are durable enough to stand up to heavy use and are comfortable to wear during long listening sessions. The cups are also constructed with an anti-resonant fabric to minimize the sound. The box includes an untangled cord with a straight plug, as well as an earphone holder that can be used to store the headphones.
The Edition XS planar magnetic headphones offer excellent detail resolution. This means you'll hear things in your music that weren't evident before, or perhaps notice flaws in your recordings that you would have otherwise missed using a different set of headphones. They offer stunning imaging and an expansive soundstage that will fill a large room with clear, three-dimensional detail.
They have an even and neutral sound quality, which means they are suitable for any genre of music. They are great at reproducing vocals and lead instrument accurately. However, they might lack some punch and rumble in terms of bass. They have crisp, precise high frequencies but they may sound too bright to some listeners.
The HIFIMAN EditionXS could be a great option for those looking for an open-backed planar magnetic headphone that can be used in noisy environments, but doesn't require any power. The low impedance (18O) makes it easy to drive using almost every DAC or headphone amplifier, but you'll have the best results using an audio interface that has a built-in headphone amp. They're not the most compact headphones, and they aren't the most compact to carry around, but they come with a protective pouch that can be used for travel. These headphones are more expensive than other options, but they're worth the price for their features and quality.
4. Audeze LCD-5
The Audeze LCD-5 is the company's latest flagship magnetic headphones in a planar design. The design is completely brand new and includes a brand-new driver and magnetic structure. This is a significant upgrade to their previous headphone model and places the LCD-5 at the top of the personal audio market. The LCD-5's drivers are ultra-thin Nano-Scale diaphragms that are paired with the latest technology for voice coils called Parallel Uniforce and Fazor waveguides. These new features work in conjunction to regulate the movement of the diaphragm and provide a high level of resolution.
The earpads of the LCD-5 have been designed to fit a larger range of heads. The LCD-5s are more comfortable than previous models because the pads are made from more flexible materials, and the headband is also lighter and smaller. They clamp a little more than other Audeze headphones and may be a bit tight on some, but this will be able to be resolved with time.
Audeze's LCD series has long been a benchmark for audio quality using planar magnetic headphones. Their flagship LCD-2 introduced the modern age of high-fidelity audio, followed by the LCD-3 and LCD-4. The LCD-5 continues the trend by making enhancements to every aspect of the headphones' sound quality and design.
In comparison to the LCD-2 The LCD-5's sound is more refined and less abrasive in its presentation. This is a result of their greater focus on midrange clarity, microdetail retrieval, and surgical treble precision. The LCD-5s are still a powerful headphone with the capability to provide a huge dynamic range and full-bodied bass. However, they aren't as powerful as the likes of the Abyss AB-1266 or Hifiman HE1000SE, and often need a bit of EQing to make them sound the best.
Audeze LCD-5 headphones are outstanding with their incredible sound quality. They also have an amazing build quality. They're not for everyone, but if you have the money and desire an excellent headphone that will deliver a jaw-dropping listening experience take a look at the LCD-5. It's worth every cent.