Bass: planar versus dynamic

[JeroenNietDoen]

I own a Fidelio X2HR. I like V-shape / fun headphones, but I thought the X2HR's bass was a bit overdone. I don't need that V-shape to be extreme, just slightly. Last year I replaced it by an Edition XS, I got rid of that due to the comfort of the headband. Just didn't feel nice, lowest setting it was still too big and always felt if I'd swing my head or tilt my head it was loose, as if it could drop off easily.

So I'm on the lookout for a new headphone. My genres are techno, harddance, 90s hiphop. So I like the bassline to be punchy, slam, but it must be clean. Like the X2HR I always felt that bass wasn't clean. I always thought that planars had superior bass due to them have more extension in the low. However, I often see people mention dynamic driver bass is punchier, slams harder.

So I want to learn to understand what the differences really are, which is the better driver for what. What am I looking for. Should I prefer a planar or a dynamic for my genres.

I'm currently looking at the Meze 109 Pro.

Gear:
Schiit Magni heretic
Schiit Modi+

 

[mildmannered]

This is going to be a personal preference situation but there will be some things to keep in mind. For a planar to sound correct you will likely benefit from a higher power amp than you would need for a dynamic driver (obviously there is more nuance to this) particularly for the Meze 109 Pro. I've only heard 2 planars, the Meze Liric 2 and the DCA ÆON 2 Noire, and with my amp (RME ADI-2 DAC) they both sounded thin and weak. Maybe the bass reproduction was faster, but it wasn't what I wanted. The Meze 109 Pro has really good slam and impact for an open headphone and takes EQ pretty well, it's really an astonishing value imo.

I might push back on low extension, particularly for 90s hip hop. I really struggle to understand what folks are listening to that actually has prominence between 20-40hz which is really the only area I can think of that "low extension" on a planar could hypothetically, reliably do better than a dynamic. Otherwise, if what you're listening to is rarely under 40hz you don't actually need to worry too much about extension as most decent headphones can do that regardless of driver tech. Also punch and slam are not what I'd associate with low extension - I think of low extension as subbass. Punch and slam I think is low and mid-bass territory typically and I'd care more about the 40-200hz range than the 20-40hz range.

I'm not sure if harddance is similar to hardstyle but hardstyle rarely goes below 40hz at least for the stuff from the 2000s. Listening to Angerfist - 'Raise Your Fist' and looking at the frequency graph for it on my DAC, there is carryover activity below 40hz but the thumping bass effect is all created between 40hz-250hz.

James Blake - 'Limit To Your Love' is often used as a reference for subbass, the subbass effect is taking place between 30hz and 70hz. There is also activity down to 20hz, but that's more of a carryover effect from where the main activity is.

I personally would lean toward dynamics for your use-case and I think the Meze 109 Pro is a good place to start especially if you can demo it or get it with a return policy. You'd probably also enjoy a Denon 5200, 7200, or 9200. I think it's difficult for EU folks to get an EMu-Teak otherwise I'd recommend trying that too. I am also biased.

 

[JeroenNietDoen]

I might push back on low extension, particularly for 90s hip hop. I really struggle to understand what folks are listening to that actually has prominence between 20-40hz which is really the only area I can think of that "low extension" on a planar could hypothetically, reliably do better than a dynamic. Otherwise, if what you're listening to is rarely under 40hz you don't actually need to worry too much about extension as most decent headphones can do that regardless of driver tech.

Well, this is exactly what I was thinking. I would understand that when you listen sound tracks or watch movies with it, that extension could be great.

Also punch and slam are not what I'd associate with low extension - I think of low extension as subbass. Punch and slam I think is low and mid-bass territory typically and I'd care more about the 40-200hz range than the 20-40hz range.

Yes, exactly! The bass kicks I listen to are in the 40-200 range so that's exactly why I get confused when reviewers mention planar have good bass and are punchy and slam.

I'm not sure if harddance is similar to hardstyle but hardstyle rarely goes below 40hz at least for the stuff from the 2000s. Listening to Angerfist - 'Raise Your Fist' and looking at the frequency graph for it on my DAC, there is carryover activity below 40hz but the thumping bass effect is all created between 40hz-250hz.

Yes, with harddance I meant hardstyle and hardcore, exactly what you're mentioning. Hardstyle from 2000-2010, hardcore from the 90s and 2000s. And modern techno. I'm looking for a headphone that gets the best out of those while still being clean.

I personally would lean toward dynamics for your use-case and I think the Meze 109 Pro is a good place to start

Confirms the conclusion I came to. For what I listen to, I might need to look for dynamic driver headphones, and it's exactly why I came down to the Meze 109 Pro. I've read and watched a ton of reviews about it and it seems to tick all the boxes I want.

 

[InvisibleInk]

I own a Fidelio X2HR. I like V-shape / fun headphones, but I thought the X2HR's bass was a bit overdone. I don't need that V-shape to be extreme, just slightly. Last year I replaced it by an Edition XS, I got rid of that due to the comfort of the headband. Just didn't feel nice, lowest setting it was still too big and always felt if I'd swing my head or tilt my head it was loose, as if it could drop off easily.

So I'm on the lookout for a new headphone. My genres are techno, harddance, 90s hiphop. So I like the bassline to be punchy, slam, but it must be clean. Like the X2HR I always felt that bass wasn't clean. I always thought that planars had superior bass due to them have more extension in the low. However, I often see people mention dynamic driver bass is punchier, slams harder.

So I want to learn to understand what the differences really are, which is the better driver for what. What am I looking for. Should I prefer a planar or a dynamic for my genres.

I'm currently looking at the Meze 109 Pro.

Gear:
Schiit Magni heretic
Schiit Modi+

I would suggest the biocellulose dynamic EMU Teak. It is an affordable Fostex variant. It is difficult to imagine a more fun-sounding bass.

 

[JeroenNietDoen]

I would suggest the biocellulose dynamic EMU Teak. It is an affordable Fostex variant. It is difficult to imagine a more fun-sounding bass.

That's not available in Europe from what I can see so that's a no go.

 

[InvisibleInk]

That's not available in Europe from what I can see so that's a no go.

Next best, though more expensive, would be the Denon AH-D5200

 

[WorksUnit]

Hardstyle from 2000-2010, hardcore from the 90s and 2000s. And modern techno. I'm looking for a headphone that gets the best out of those while still being clean.

Such a production surge there that one headphone (let alone amplification) can`t get the best out of it
If the Edition XS bothered you that much for fit, try to get hands on with the Oppo Planars or the new Focals.

 

[dunring]

I use the Deva Pro wired and they're comfortable and equalizing the bass up sounds great. Price is right if you get it direct from Hifiman. The HE5XX is another I have, both terrific and just the headbands are different for the most part.

 

[dougms3]

If you're looking for punch and slam, dynamics are better at this. All of the planars I've heard under $1k don't hit anywhere near as hard as the dynamics.

Denon D7200 is probably the best bet. They're fairly cheap on the used market but expensive new.

They're one of the hardest hitting bass headphones, highs are not fatiguing. Its also one of the fastest dynamic driver headphones which would work well with the type of music you listen to.

 

[akburt]

Vlastním Fidelio X2HR. Líbí se mi sluchátka ve tvaru V / zábavná, ale zdálo se mi, že basy X2HR jsou trochu přehnané. Nepotřebuji, aby ten tvar V byl extrémní, jen mírně. Loni jsem ho nahradil Edition XS, toho jsem se zbavil kvůli pohodlí čelenky. Prostě mi to nepřišlo příjemné, nejnižší nastavení bylo stále příliš velké a vždy jsem cítil, že když kývu hlavou nebo zakloním hlavu, bylo to volné, jako by to mohlo snadno spadnout.

Takže hledám nová sluchátka. Moje žánry jsou techno, harddance, hiphop 90. let. Takže se mi líbí, že basová linka je průrazná, slam, ale musí být čistá. Stejně jako X2HR jsem měl vždy pocit, že basy nejsou čisté. Vždy jsem si myslel, že planary mají lepší basy, protože mají větší rozšíření v nízkých tónech. Často však vidím, že lidé zmiňují, že dynamické basy řidiče jsou údernější a tvrdší.

Takže se chci naučit chápat, jaké jsou ve skutečnosti rozdíly, který je pro co lepší ovladač. co hledám. Mám pro své žánry preferovat rovinný nebo dynamický.

Momentálně se dívám na Meze 109 Pro.

Ozubené kolo:
Schiit velký kacíř
Shiit Modi+

https://www.amazon.com/Protector-Installation-Compatible-Sennheiser-Headphones/dp/B0993NBFCR

 

[elektronik]

Planars definitely don't 'punch' as hard - and by punch I mean you can literally feel the pressure of the soundwaves coming out from the driver like in a dynamic - but I think planars are tactile in a different (and for my taste, more enjoyable) way. The bass is so "textured" and rumble the drivers in a really addictive way. Another benefit is that planars usually have much better sub-bass extension than dynamics. Even TOTL dynamics like Utopia have a sharp sub-bass rolloff that EQ doesn't really fix. This is pretty important if you listen to a lot of modern electronic music, imo!

 

[JeroenNietDoen]

I decided to go for a dynamic driver as I feel this fits better to the genres I mostly listen to.

 

[aaarr21]

I have both driver types IEMs, honestly I can tell the difference between the IEMs but I don’t think it’s because the drivers. I think it’s more about how the iem is tuned.