How a Planar Magnetic Diaphragm Headphone Driver Works
In the past, dynamic drivers had an attached voice coil at the center of a conical dialephragm. When electrical signal passes through the voice coil, it causes the diaphragm to move.
However, the force applied is limited to a small area, and it's hard for various points on the diaphragms to move at the same at the same time. This can cause distortions caused by breakup patterns.
Sound Detail
Many audiophiles want an accurate sound through their headphones. A great method to achieve this is by using a planar magnetic diaphragm. This kind of headphone driver functions in a similar way to cone drivers with dynamic characteristics however with more advanced technology behind it.
A planar diaphragm is a flat piece of material that is embedded within the headphone's frame and constructed of a light, light material. It's designed to be as homogeneous as possible, and its flat surface permits an uniform distribution of pressure across the entire surface which, in turn, improves sound clarity.
The flat design of a planar diaphragm magnetic diaphragm allows for a more controlled soundstage. A more focused wavefront can result in better sound staging that can help locate the exact location of an instrument or vocal on the track. headset planar is an advantage over the more spherical waves typical of dynamic drivers.
Unlike traditional dynamic drivers, which use a voice coil that's placed near the center of a plastic or paper cone, a planar diaphragm makes use of magnets that are placed on its flat face. The electrical current passing through the voice coil interacts with the magnets to cause the diaphragm and produce sound. Since the entire diaphragm is driven at once, there are no breakup modes, mechanical filtering, transmission delay or local resonances that can negatively impact sound quality.
A flat and uniform diaphragm is also capable of accelerating faster than the thicker and more heavy ones used in dynamic drivers. The laws of physics state that force is proportional to acceleration and mass so the faster a diaphragm can move, the more force it exerts. This gives planar magnetic drivers more precise bass response as well as greater detail retrieval.
Of course, the advantages of a planar magnetic driver don't come without a price. Because they have a complicated motor system and large diaphragm, they typically cost more than dynamic drivers, are heavier and require a stronger amplifier to work properly. Many manufacturers of planar magnetic headphones are able to take advantage of their technology and design high-performance headphones at a price that is competitive. Examples include the Audeze LCD-4 and HiFiMAN Susvara.
High Sensitivity
Planar drivers differ from the moving coil drivers used in most headphones or IEMs in that they utilize a flat membrane instead of the traditional dome or cone shaped membrane. When an electrical signal travels through, it interacts both with the magnets and diaphragm, generating sound waves. The flat nature of the diaphragm enables it to react very quickly to sound and generate many different frequencies, from lows to highs.
One of the main advantages of a planar magnetic design is that it's more sensitive than other types of headphone drivers. They may utilize a diaphragm that is up to a few times more powerful than a standard planar headphone. This lets you be able to hear every detail in your music.
Planar magnetic drivers also produce an extremely consistent driving force that is evenly distributed throughout the diaphragm. This prevents breakup and produces an undistorted, smooth sound. This is particularly crucial for high-frequency sounds where breakup can be audible and distracting. In the FT5 the way this is achieved is by utilizing a highly advanced material called polyimide. It is extremely light and robust, as well as a specialized conductor pattern that eliminates the inductance associated intermodulation distortion.
OPPO's planar magnetic drivers also have better phase coherence, which means that when a wavefront strikes our ear canal, it is an unaltered and flat shape. Dynamic drivers have a spherical wavefront, which disrupts the coherence of the signal and results in less-than-perfect reconstructions of the highest frequencies, particularly when they are playing at high frequency. This is another reason for why the OPPO headphones sound so real and natural, and incredibly accurate.
Wide Frequency Response
Planar magnetic diaphragms are able to reproduce sounds at higher frequencies than traditional dynamic drivers. This is because their diaphragms are thin and light. moves extremely precisely. This allows them to provide excellent transient response, which makes them an exceptional option for audiophiles who need quick responses from their speakers and headphones to reproduce the finest details in music.
The flat structure also allows them to have an even soundstage than normal headphones with coiled dynamic drivers. They are also less prone to leakage - sound that escapes from the headphone cups into the surrounding environment. In some cases this can be a problem since it can distract the listener and make them lose their focus while listening to music. In other instances it can be beneficial because it allows listeners to enjoy music in public areas without worrying about disturbing people nearby.
Rather than using a coil behind a cone-shaped diaphragm planar headphones are made up of conductors arranged on the thin diaphragm. The conductor is then suspended between two magnets, and when an electrical signal is applied to this array it becomes electromagnetic, causing the magnetic forces that are on either side of the diaphragm to interact with each other. This is what causes the diaphragm to vibrate, creating an audio wave.
The uniform motion of the diaphragm that is light and the fact that force is evenly distributed across its surface which means distortion is incredibly low. This is a major improvement over traditional dynamic drivers which have been known to cause distortion at very high levels of listening.
Some high-end headphones use the old school moving coil design, but most HiFi audio enthusiasts are now adopting a long-forgotten technology and a new generation of amazing sounding planar magnetic headphones. Some of these headphones are extremely expensive and require a premium amplifier to power them however, for those with the money, they provide an incredible experience that is unlike any other headphone. They offer a rich and detailed sound that is free from the distortion inherent in other headphone models.
Minimal Inertia
Due to their construction they can move faster and are lighter than conventional drivers. This means they can reproduce audio signals more precisely and can be tuned to greater frequency ranges. They also provide more natural sound and have less distortion than traditional dynamic speakers.
The two rows of magnets in a planar magnetic driver generate equal and uniform magnetic forces across the entire surface of the diaphragm. This will eliminate any unnecessary and unwanted distortion. Since the force exerted on the diaphragm's lightweight is evenly distributed, it can be controlled more precisely. This allows the diaphragm vibrate in an exact pistonic motion.
They also have the capability of achieving high levels of performance while carrying very little weight. This makes them perfect for use as a portable headphone. They are also able to produce a range in frequencies, ranging from low-frequency sounds to high-frequency ones. The large frequency response and precise sound reproduction make them a favorite among audio professionals.
Unlike dynamic drivers, which make use of coils to push against the diaphragm, planar magnetic drivers have no mechanical parts that can meet with each the other and cause distortion. This is because the flat array is placed directly on the diaphragm's surface, rather than in the form of a coil that is behind.
In contrast the slim and light diaphragm of a planar magnetic driver may be driven by an extremely powerful magnetic field without any loss of energy. This means that the diaphragm is driven by an even pressure, preventing it from bending and causing distortion.
The moment of inertia is an important property that defines the resistance of an object to rotation. It is calculated using the formula I = mr2. The shape of the object influences its minimum moment of inertia with longer and thinner objects have less inertia moments than larger and thicker objects.