Best Planar Magnetic Headphones Under $1000
A planar magnetic set is an excellent alternative for music lovers who wish to upgrade their headphones. However, they can be quite costly.
Fortunately, there are some excellent options that are less than the $1000 mark. In this article we will review the top budget headphones that will give you an unforgettable listening experience.
1. Beyerdynamic T1
Beyerdynamic is a German brand which doesn't compromise when it comes to premium headphone design. The Beyerdynamic T1 is made from top quality materials and features an elegant design. It's a pleasure to wear. They are extremely comfortable and feature a soft headband with richly-padded removable ear pads. They may feel rough on the skin initially but they quickly meld into the head and ears and offer long listening sessions without any discomfort.
The T1 has a natural sound with elevated but controlled bass and clear mids. The highs can be extremely sharp and detailed, but they may be too much for those who prefer a more gentle sounding treble. They are an excellent pair of headphones for serious listening, and perform best at medium to low volumes. They are able to maintain their balance when playing aggressive music like blackmetal or death metal and won't be smothered by cymbal crashes.
The T1 has a wide dynamic range. It can reproduce the most extreme contrasts between louder and quieter songs with crystal clear clarity and precision. They are a great choice for musicians who wish to be able to hear every nuance and detail of their instrument as well as audiophiles who enjoy the ability to differentiate between different instruments within a song.
The gold-plated connectors on the earcup and the Beyerdynamic Logo are a nice addition. This is a symbol and guarantee of quality. They come with a hard-case case that will protect the headphones when not in use. Included is a detachable cable and a quarter inch adapter.
The Beyerdynamic T1 has a closed back design and is not portable. They won't keep you safe from everyday noises like traffic jams, children's clocks or nagging spouses. The earcups are not designed for physical activities such as running, because they can easily fall off your ears. The Beyerdynamic T5p also has an open-back design, but the cups are smaller. They may be better for portable listening.
2. HIFIMAN Ananda Nano
The HIFIMAN Ananda Nano is the most recent version of HIFIMAN's popular mid-range open-back headphones. The Nano is a quantum leap ahead of the original Ananda, featuring a new nanometer-thick diaphragm with a stealth magnet for enhanced clarity. These features were also included on the ultra-high-end Susvara headphones. These features promise ultra low distortion, lightning speed transient response, and clearly enhanced clarity and dynamics.
The resulting soundstage is large and deep, with great separation of instruments and vocals. The Nano also has a warm tone to its sound, with a high point in the upper mids which is ideal for rock, pop and hip-hop.
This emphasis on the upper mids comes with some downsides. It results in an unnaturally muffled sound particularly in the higher registers, where some details is lost. This also means that the Nano isn't the best choice for classical music, as the lower mids tend to get obscured by the bass.
Bass is powerful and punchy and has good timbre in the lower reaches and excellent bass and dynamics. It's a bit more full than the original Ananda bass and is perfect for modern music like pop, rock, and gaming. However, it has plenty of rumble for audiophiles who prefer more natural sound to their bass.
Leakage is quite bad and is not expected from an open-back headset, and it can be a problem in loud environments. The headphone is not equipped with a mic, so it cannot be used for mobile phone calls.
The HIFIMAN Ananda Nano has lot to offer, and it is a highly recommended option for anyone seeking an open-back planar magnetic headphone for less than $1000. It's an upgrade over the previous model, and is worth checking out. The Ananda Nano is available with an accessory case for travel, which is a must-have for audiophiles looking to listen to their music wherever they go. The case has ample space to store the Ananda Nano, its cable and a small DAC or player. In the box, you will also find a carrying pouch. The headphones are well-made and durable, and come with a three-year warranty.
3. Hifiman Edition XS
When HIFIMAN introduced the Edition X, it created quite an uproar within the audiophile world. Now, the company has brought the same technology to the smaller, more affordable headphone that sits right 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.
As with all HIFIMAN products, these headphones are extremely sturdy and well-constructed. They are sturdy enough to stand up to heavy use and are comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. The cups are also constructed with an anti-resonant fabric to reduce vibrations. The box comes with a cord that is tangle-free and has a straight plug, as well as an earphone holder that can be used to store 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 specifics in your music that you wouldn't have heard before. You may also find flaws you would not have seen in other headphones. They're incredibly clear and have an impressive soundstage that can fill a large space with crystal clear, 3D detail.
These headphones are balanced and neutral, so they can be used with any kind of music. They have excellent mids and reproduce vocals as well as lead instruments accurately, although they might lack a bit of energy and rumble in their bass. They have crisp precise high frequencies, however they can sound too bright to some listeners.
The HIFIMAN EditionXS could be a great option for those looking for a planar magnetic open-backed headphone that can handle noisy environments, but doesn't need much power. The low impedance (18O) is what makes it easy to drive almost any DAC, or headphone amplifier. However it is best to get the best results if you have an audio interface with a built-in headphone amp. The headphones are not the most compact and can be bulky however, they come with a padded travel pouch. They're a little more expensive than other choices but they're well worth the price for their features and high-end quality.
4. Audeze LCD-5
The Audeze LCD-5 is the company's most recent flagship magnetic headphones that are planar. The design is entirely new, with a brand-new driver and magnetic structure. This is a major upgrade to the 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 a brand new Parallel Uniforce voice coil technology and Fazor waveguides. These new features work together to control the movement of the diaphragm and provide a superior level of resolution.
The earpads on the LCD-5 have been designed to accommodate a larger range of heads. The pads are constructed of a more flexible material and the headband is smaller and lighter, so the LCD-5s will feel more comfortable on all ears than past models. They do clamp slightly more than other Audeze headphones and may be a bit tight for some, but this may be able to be resolved with time.
Audeze's LCD series has been a benchmark in planar magnetic headphone performance. Their flagship LCD-2 brought in the new era of high-fidelity audio, followed by the LCD-3 and LCD-4. The LCD-5 is a continuation of this trend and offers improvements in every aspect of the headphones' sound quality and design.
The LCD-5 has more refined sound and a more mellow presentation than the LCD-2. This is due to the increased emphasis on midrange detail retrieval surgical treble precision, and microdetail retrieval. The LCD-5s can still deliver huge dynamic range with a full-bodied bass. They're not as powerful as an Abyss AB-1266, or Hifiman HE1000SE. You'll need to EQ them to achieve the most optimal sound.
Audeze LCD-5 headphones are outstanding with their incredible sound quality. They also boast an outstanding build quality. The LCD-5 isn't a good choice for all. If you're willing to invest the money, and you want a headphone that delivers an amazing listening experience Look for it. It's worth every cent.