20 Fun Infographics About Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers
Planar Magnetic Loudspeakers and Ribbon Tweeters Planar magnetic drivers as well as ribbon tweeters and other speakers with dynamic characteristics have many advantages. Their diaphragms are comparatively large and require only a tiny amount of movement (excursion) to reproduce the same volume as a traditional driver, thus producing very low distortion. They also have a dipolar radiation pattern, meaning they radiate equally to the rear and front of the speaker. High-Resolution Sound They are known for producing accurate, detailed sound effects. They are known for their high-resolution sound and reveal subtle nuances in music that other drivers can't reproduce or show. In addition to their impressive accuracy in sound reproduction, planar and ribbon drivers provide superior sound staging, allowing them to reproduce an expansive soundstage with outstanding clarity. Audiophiles as well as home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles will find them be a fantastic choice. The most notable feature of ribbon and planar drivers is their dipole radiation pattern, which emits equal energy both front and rear with inverted phase to create an authentic and spacious soundstage. Their broad dispersion and dipole radiation pattern makes them ideal for large spaces, where they are able to create a natural and spacious soundstage. Planar magnetic drivers also have a rapid response time, which enables them reproduce transients with greater precision and speed than conventional cone drivers. This results in a clear and detailed sound even at high frequencies. Another benefit of planar magnetic drivers is their low distortion. This is because they do not employ the voice coil, but rather an electrostatic field. This allows the diaphragms to move without creating vibrations that can cause distortion that is not desirable. A planar driver also has a greater distance between the magnets than cone speakers. This provides a higher bass performance and a greater frequency response at low intensities. While the benefits of planar magnetic drivers appeal to you, they do have some limitations that need to be thought about. For instance, they could be quite expensive and may require more power than other kinds of speakers. They can also be heavy and make it difficult to fit in certain areas. They can also be sensitive to the room acoustics and require a thorough treatment of the room to get the best performance. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce these issues for example, by putting an attenuation resistor (provided by your speakers) in the attenuation position, or using some form of room treatment. Wide Dispersion Planar magnetic speakers also generate sound by controlling electrical currents that travel through wires that are suspended between magnets. However they directly move a flat diaphragm instead than an electrostatic charge, which gives them a larger surface area and greater precision. This principle of operation also allows them to be built them into smaller, more affordable speakers and headphones than electrostatic models. Planar drivers aren't just capable of dispersing sound effectively and efficiently, but also provide higher quality image and clarity at higher frequencies. This is a huge benefit for audiophiles that enjoy watching music or films on a large screen or in a large open space. Additionally, planar drivers are capable of producing very deep bass since they can be augmented with boxed woofers which are attached to or separate from the diaphragm that resembles a ribbon. This is contrary to conventional cone-type speaker woofers that are usually placed at the bottom of the cabinet, which is a place which is unable to reproduce bass frequencies due to the physical constraints of the enclosure that houses the woofer. A planar driver has an extremely low distortion rate, which is directly proportional to the size and movement of the diaphragm. As a result, the planar speaker can deliver an extremely high volume of sound with very little distortion, which is why it produces such crisp and precise reproduction. In contrast, the dynamic drivers used in standard headphones and speakers typically have significant distortion when driven to extreme excursion limits. Dynamic drivers can give an unnatural or booming sound. Additionally, planar magnetic drivers are also extremely efficient. They require less power to drive, resulting in a lower power usage and a less environmental impact. Their diaphragms that are generally smaller than traditional speakers, also decrease the energy required to propel them in order to create a certain sound pressure. Many audiophiles are familiar with planar/ribbon loudspeakers – particularly those produced by Magnepan, Infinity, and Apogee Acoustics – a new generation of brands is making their debut. New planar loudspeakers made by companies like Clarisys Audio and Diptyque, for instance, are incorporating the latest advancements in ribbon technology. Low Distortion Because planar magnetic speakers don't have a conventional cone or dome shaped diaphragm, they produce extremely low distortion. This is due to their unique design, which eliminates the voice coil inductance which is common to dynamic driver drivers for speakers. (See U.S. patent 6,353,560). This means that the diaphragm is never being out of phase with its surrounding magnetic field, which results in a constant output level. Distortion is generally only noticeable when large waveforms are reproduced. With a planar magnetic single-ended driver, distortion is virtually impossible at all frequencies that are above the bass. Planar magnetic loudspeakers can be very efficient and have a low distortion. This lets the drive use much less power than other speaker technologies. This results in lower costs of ownership and a lower energy consumption. The distortion of planar magnetic drivers is significantly less than that of traditional dynamic speakers, and even more so for electrostatic speakers. This is due to the fact that a planar magnet driver's flat diaphragm features a conductor trace that lets it to react to magnetic fields that are generated on either side. The two magnets need to be carefully placed to ensure that the voice element is optimally positioned within the magnetic field at all times. This allows magnetic drivers that are planar to function at a very consistent level at all frequencies above bass. Planar magnetic drivers come with a myriad of other advantages they offer, but the main advantage is that they can be constructed as dipoles (radiating in opposite directions and equally behind and in front of the speaker like an ESL) or Monopoles (radiating in the direction of forward similar to traditional dynamic speakers). This opens the door for a wide variety of potential designs, especially when combined with the ribbon tweeter. There are a myriad of planar magnetic loudspeakers on the market today, from brands like Hifiman Dan Clark Audeze and Fostex. Each brand has its own distinctive sound that comes of their unique design of drivers and other technological innovations. The commonality of these speakers is their incredible clarity, dynamics and controlled control of directivity. High Power Handling Planar magnetic speakers can handle more power than traditional dynamic moving coil drivers, without the tension and strain they may cause. This is because the “voice coil” is spread out across a large area instead of being squeezed into a tiny gap between the basket and cone as in traditional dynamic drivers. This provides the voice coil with an increased surface area to absorb heat efficiently. Another reason why planar drivers are able to handle so much power is because they have an extremely low mass when compared to conventional drivers. best magnetic planar headphones have diaphragms with heavy, thick diaphragms that are orders of magnitude thicker and heavier than the ultra-light diaphragms found in planar magnetic drives. Due to their massive mass, conventional diaphragms require a much larger amount of force to move back and forth (a measure referred to as excursion) to create a given level of sound pressure. Therefore they aren't able to be used by the same force as a planar magnetic driver can because the voice coil will begin to produce significant amounts of distortion. This is the reason it's essential to buy only speakers that are rated for the amplifier you're planning to drive them with. The high excursion of a planar magnetic driver enables it to create a larger soundstage than traditional drivers. This is due to the diaphragm's vibration in a uniform and flat way to create an asymmetrical wavefront, not the spherical wavefront that is common with conventional drivers. The wider soundstage also improves the clarity and accuracy of the speakers which allows them to better reproduce variations and complex sounds. The disadvantage of the superior power handling offered by planar magnetic drives is that they tend to be more expensive to produce and require larger amplifiers to run them to their maximum capacity. They can also be quite heavy and large and can be difficult to install in some environments. You may also have to install a separate subwoofer in order to achieve satisfactory results at lower frequencies.