Planars: Ok, I finally get it.

[droido256]

After having the t50rp, hifiman he400, Audeze El-8, isine 10, and LCD-2.... with the exception of the hd650, havnt looked back at dynamic.

 

[cactus_farmer]

Is there actually a general 'planar' or 'dynamic' sound signature?

I personally find that there is much more variation within different planars and dynamics than across planars vs dynamics. For example a bright Hifiman sounds nothing like a warm Audeze, whereas a warm Sennheiser dynamic sounds somewhat like a warm Audeze planar...?

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Is there actually a general 'planar' or 'dynamic' sound signature?

I personally find that there is much more variation within different planars and dynamics than across planars vs dynamics. For example a bright Hifiman sounds nothing like a warm Audeze, whereas a warm Sennheiser dynamic sounds somewhat like a warm Audeze planar...?

In term of frequency response, no, can't decide which type of driver is warmer, darker, brighter, etc.

However, from my point of view, generally planar sound less peaky (through all spectrum bass, mid, treble), and will perform blacker background at similar price range to dynamic driver headphone. However, generally dynamic driver will produce more airy feel and bigger soundstage (again, at similar price range to planar headphones).

Generally = not always*

 

[SilverEars]

Is there actually a general 'planar' or 'dynamic' sound signature?

I personally find that there is much more variation within different planars and dynamics than across planars vs dynamics. For example a bright Hifiman sounds nothing like a warm Audeze, whereas a warm Sennheiser dynamic sounds somewhat like a warm Audeze planar...?

these days, there are variations even among the driver types like materials and driver mechanisms. 30 years ago it would have been a different story.

I find planars generally flat in the mids with Audeze slight elevated right at the higher mids, and Hifiman with a more sudden dramatic rise in the upper-mids. Audeze generally has a pit or a valley in the lower-mid treble region (missing sounds), where as Hifimans generally have that area filled (but, could be a large rise for some). Hifiman measurements generally do look like a flat line from mids to all the way down to the subs, but Audeze on the other hand they have more of a variations among their models in the subs region. With this said, there's also potential variations from pad swappings.

Audeze generally sound more intimate compared to Hfimans that sound more open and airy. Same goes for MrSpeakers planars, they generally sound on the closed side. Among the planars, the drivers and the acoustics are designed differently, and it's reflected from the sound.

Even among dynamic drivers, there are more differences these days due to Focals being in the game. Their driver mechanisms are different from the tranditional and they have used more metallic driver coatings as well.

 

[WildStyle-R11]

Is there actually a general 'planar' or 'dynamic' sound signature?

I personally find that there is much more variation within different planars and dynamics than across planars vs dynamics. For example a bright Hifiman sounds nothing like a warm Audeze, whereas a warm Sennheiser dynamic sounds somewhat like a warm Audeze planar...?

Personally the one difference that I have noticed with every planar I have heard (Which isn't many) is this texture to the sound, no dynamic headphone I know of can recreate this. Granted I haven't heard many headphones, but that usually is the first thing that stands out to me when it comes to planar headphones.

 

[xRaptorxPunisher]

I found the M1060 is awful, if you like the sound of them you'll love a big Audeze or an old school Hifiman like the HE-500, HE-6.



I tend to find dynamic drivers to have a leaner, more immediate sound, bit thinner, grittier where as Planars tend to have this inherent lushness, almost like they smooth over everything giving a more pleasing sound more so than dynamics. It's hard to say, they just have a different timbre, like there's some sultriness.

 

[ADUHF]

I found the M1060 is awful, if you like the sound of them you'll love a big Audeze or an old school Hifiman like the HE-500, HE-6.

Which version of the M1060 did you try, xRaptorxPunisher... Open or closed?

 

[ThanatosVI]

I couldnt live without planar Bass.
So there is no other option for me.

 

[xRaptorxPunisher]

Which version of the M1060 did you try, xRaptorxPunisher... Open or closed?

Open, never tried to the closed as I don't like closed phones in general.

 

[The Third]

Welcome to the world of planars. I own the original HE-400 myself and it still amazes me from time to time with it's holographic presentation and transient attack.
The frequency response of the HE-400 is a bit of a gamble since it's a bit on the peaky side especially the lower mids and upper highs,
which is why I am hunting down a HE-500 this summer. It's a shame Hifiman isn't rereleasing those older double sided magnet planars, they have a body and fullness to the sound that the newer single sided magnet planars such as the Sundara can not match.

On the dynamic side of things, the E-MU Teak is as far as I think I will go. I did a review on it if you are interested.

 

[The Third]

Is there actually a general 'planar' or 'dynamic' sound signature?

I personally find that there is much more variation within different planars and dynamics than across planars vs dynamics. For example a bright Hifiman sounds nothing like a warm Audeze, whereas a warm Sennheiser dynamic sounds somewhat like a warm Audeze planar...?

That's a good point, but I have yet to hear the bass body of a dynamic on a planar. They might have that linear bass control and texture, but the body and impact is mostly absent. That's where semi open or closed dynamics come in. But then again, Planars tend to have lower distortions especially around the bass area.
Another inherent trademark of planars are that the linearity of the bass stays linear until the 1khz area. Around this area a lot of the times there is this small peak and then it caves in shortly after. Then this cave stays down for quite a while and depending on which planar, it mostly has a second climb at around the 9-10khz area. A third climb around the 15-17khz area is possible as well.

I think the HE-400 graph is a good extreme example of the aforementioned peaks:
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE400.pdf

But if you look at the planars, they exhibit similar peaks around those areas, to a certain degree in their graphs as well:
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE1000.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudezeLCD2sn53211704circa2012.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudezeLCD3Rev2sn2613375circa2012.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANSundara.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/OppoPM3.pdf

but there are exceptions, like the Fostex T50RP:

Ultimately to me Planars are for transient attack, linear bass and holographic layering. Dynamics are for bass impact, more texture in the mids and possibly better timbre in the mids. But there are always exceptions to the stereotypes, or shall I say binauraltypes

 

[ThanatosVI]

Welcome to the world of planars. I own the original HE-400 myself and it still amazes me from time to time with it's holographic presentation and transient attack.
The frequency response of the HE-400 is a bit of a gamble since it's a bit on the peaky side especially the lower mids and upper highs,
which is why I am hunting down a HE-500 this summer. It's a shame Hifiman isn't rereleasing those older double sided magnet planars, they have a body and fullness to the sound that the newer single sided magnet planars such as the Sundara can not match.

On the dynamic side of things, the E-MU Teak is as far as I think I will go. I did a review on it if you are interested.

Yeah even though I still own my He400, I'd really like a rerelease with the new headband and connectors.

The He 400 turned me into what I am today, even though I don't use it anymore I also can't bring myself to let it go

 

[SilverEars]

Can other planar companies compete with Hifiman in the lower price bracket? Is that to come someday? I guess we got Verum one.

That's a good point, but I have yet to hear the bass body of a dynamic on a planar. They might have that linear bass control and texture, but the body and impact is mostly absent. That's where semi open or closed dynamics come in. But then again, Planars tend to have lower distortions especially around the bass area.
Another inherent trademark of planars are that the linearity of the bass stays linear until the 1khz area. Around this area a lot of the times there is this small peak and then it caves in shortly after. Then this cave stays down for quite a while and depending on which planar, it mostly has a second climb at around the 9-10khz area. A third climb around the 15-17khz area is possible as well.

I think the HE-400 graph is a good extreme example of the aforementioned peaks:
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE400.pdf

But if you look at the planars, they exhibit similar peaks around those areas, to a certain degree in their graphs as well:
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANHE1000.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudezeLCD2sn53211704circa2012.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudezeLCD3Rev2sn2613375circa2012.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/HiFiMANSundara.pdf
https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/OppoPM3.pdf

but there are exceptions, like the Fostex T50RP:


Ultimately to me Planars are for transient attack, linear bass and holographic layering. Dynamics are for bass impact, more texture in the mids and possibly better timbre in the mids. But there are always exceptions to the stereotypes, or shall I say binauraltypes

I feel similarly regarding the differences, not one is better over the other. I do like dynamic bass with subs with closed (or other way of extending dynamic bass), but it's difficult to do open with dynamics. Perhaps one day. That's the strength of planar, bass extension with an open planar. There's a certain decay characteristics of dynamic drivers I prefer, but I do notice the layering and holography of planars (you probably mean Hifimans). I do not think either-or is perfect.

 

[bagwell359]

Welcome to the world of planars. I own the original HE-400 myself and it still amazes me from time to time with it's holographic presentation and transient attack.
The frequency response of the HE-400 is a bit of a gamble since it's a bit on the peaky side especially the lower mids and upper highs,
which is why I am hunting down a HE-500 this summer. It's a shame Hifiman isn't rereleasing those older double sided magnet planars, they have a body and fullness to the sound that the newer single sided magnet planars such as the Sundara can not match.

On the dynamic side of things, the E-MU Teak is as far as I think I will go. I did a review on it if you are interested.

HFM did re-release the HE-6se about 18-24 months ago that takes care of the 6. The only difference between the 6 and 500 is the traces: gold vs aluminum. I think the two sided one are much more expensive to make (hence the HE-5se, a pale one sided copy of its forebearers). So the 500 would be nearly as expensive to remake as the 6, but, it doesn't have the same cachet as the 6. A 500 at $1500 wouldn't sell well IMO. At $599 it would be big.

500 isn't perfect, but its not really challenged from any direction. Wouldn't give up my modded one for any reason.

 

[wwmhf]

I tried quite a few dynamic phones, but still looking. I have tried only two planar phones, but I already found one that can satisfy me as well as my more expensive dynamic phone. I am intrigued by this and I plan to explore more expensive planar phones to see what they can offer ...