Summary
Mostheadphonesandheadsetsyou have listened to have probably used dynamic drivers. Now, with more niche audiophile products becoming available to the mainstream, planar magnetic headphones are quickly making their way onto the scene. Planar magnetic headphones in the past were expensive and were super hard to drive with standard devices, so they haven’t really made a presence outside of the audiophile community. But now, with headphones like the HiFiMan Sundara and the Sony Inzone H9 gaming headset, gamers are able to see what these drivers are all about.
For those who have been looking back and forth between the two different driver types, look no further. Game Rant has put together this guide to make choosing which is right for you much more straightforward.
HiFiMan Sundara
The HiFiMan Sundara are premium sounding and stylish-looking open-back headphones. They feature planar magnetic drivers that include a NEO “supernano” Diaphragm (NsD) which is significantly thinner than the previous generation. They use a detachable 3.5mm cable for connectivity.
Sennheiser HD 600
The HD 600 is the audio purist’s choice for reference playback. An instrument of Sennheiser’s passion for perfect sound, it is globally recognized as the standard for analytical high-fidelity listening - even 20-plus years after its release. The velour HD 600 padding is supple to the touch for extended listening, and everything on the headphones feels extremely well-built, making the HD600 a pair of headphones that can last for years to come.
Driver Design
Dynamic Drivers
Dynamic drivers have been the norm since headphones became a mass market product. Essentially, a magnet creates a magnetic field around a coil that reacts to the electric signals sent from the audio source. These reactions are in the form of vibrations and create sound waves that we can hear. Unlike dynamic speakers, which have multiple drivers for the high and low frequencies, headphones typically only have one and handle all the frequencies across the range they can produce.
Planar Magnetic Drivers
Using a similar core concept to dynamic drivers, planar magnetic drivers also use a magnetic field and electrical impulses from the audio source to create audible sound. However, instead of relying on a coil to produce the sound, planar magnetic drivers use an array of conductors applied to a very thin film. This film is placed between two magnets to create a push and pull when audio signals are sent through it. Because this film is so thin and spread out, planar magnetic headphones tend to be larger than their dynamic driver counterparts.
Bass Response
The bass response is essential for an excellent gaming experience, as you don’t want too much bass. Otherwise, the mix can get very muddy, but you still want a powerful bass response that creates an immersive sound.
When comparing two headphones of similar performance levels and budgets, planar magnetic drivers typically have a better bass response than dynamic driver headphones. Because of the thinner diaphragm in planar magnetic drivers, they don’t have to move as much to create a robust bass response, plus they can react to low frequencies much quicker, creating a tighter bass sound. This gives them a punchy bass response in all the best ways. Even in intense firefights, the bass frequencies won’t overpower the mids or highs, but they are still very present.
However, because dynamic drivers have been the industry standard for so long, there are many more options to choose from regarding driver size and bass response. This allows you to select the bass response that sounds the best to you and at the budget that works best for you.
Winner:Planar Magnetic
Soundstage and Imaging
While the bass response makes you feel present in action scenes, the soundstage of headphones brings you into the world of the game you are playing the rest of the way. Imaging, in the same vein as soundstage, is the accuracy of the stereo balance and accurate reproduction of the location from which sounds are coming.
Soundstage highly depends on how the sound interacts and enters the ear canal; a larger audio source will create a more expansive and immersive sound stage. Instead of feeling the audio from one point in your ears, larger drivers feel like a sound wave is crashing over you, bathing you in sound. Because more planar magnetic driver headphones have larger driver sizes than most dynamic driver headphones, planar magnetic drivers typically run away with better soundstage quality, but that’s not to say dynamic drivers can’t create an immersive soundstage.
However, dynamic drivers are typically way better at imaging, creating accurate and equal stereo representation. This is not necessarily because dynamic drivers are better equipped for stereo imaging but due to the fact that they are easier and more affordable to produce than planar magnetic drivers. Because planar magnetic drivers are still reasonably new and expensive to produce, there is more chance for manufacturing variance from driver to driver.
Winner: Draw
Sound Leakage
Sound leakage is inevitable with open-back headphones, regardless of what drivers they use inside. While it’s typically not a huge deal for most gamers, sound leakage is something you want to be aware of if you are gaming near other people or using these headphones in public.
When comparing two open-back headphones from both camps, planar magnetic drivers create more leakage because of the bidirectional movement of the drivers and the fact that planar magnetic drivers rarely have any damping material on the outside to quiet down the sound leakage a bit. Both dynamic drivers and planar magnetic drivers have options with closed-back designs, but a majority of planar magnetic headphones come with open-back designs, so if you want an isolated gaming experience, it is going to be easier with a pair of dynamic driver headphones.
Winner:Dynamic Drivers
Which Is Better For Gaming?
With so much variation from headphone to headphone, it is hard to guarantee one headphone using a dynamic driver compared to another planar magnetic driver is automatically going to be better. Both driver types offer a ton of excellent options that provide stellar gaming performance across the board. At the end of the day, it ultimately comes down to personal preference.
However, if you are still stuck between the two options, you probably have experienced dynamic driver headphones before, but there is a good chance you have never used planar magnetic headphones. Planar magnetic headphones are worth trying out at least once. Despite using the same basic concept to produce sound, they deliver a sound experience that is hard to replicate with other headphones. But if you want the safe bet that has been tried and true for decades, a nice pair of dynamic driver headphones will still deliver an immersive gaming experience.
FAQ
Q: Do you need to break in planar magnetic headphones?
Despite what some audiophiles say, you do not need to break in headphones for the best audio performance, regardless of whether they are dynamic or planar magnetic drivers. Headphones seem to get better with age because you are using them more and your ears are getting used to the sound quality they produce; it’s not because the material of the drivers has loosened up.
Q: Do planar headphones have bass?
Most planar headphones have a pretty flat bass response, but compared to similarly tuned dynamic drivers, planar magnetic headphones deliver a punchier bass response that goes lower into the sub-bass frequencies than most dynamic driver headphones.
