Planar magnetic drivers as well as ribbon tweeters and other dynamic speakers have several advantages. Their diaphragms are comparatively large and require very little movement (excursion) to reproduce the same sound level as a conventional driver, thus producing very low distortion.
They also have a dipolar radiation pattern, meaning they radiate equally to the front and back of the speaker.
High-Resolution Sound
Planar and ribbon magnetic speakers are renowned for their ability to create precise, detailed sound. They are renowned for their ability to produce high-resolution and reveal subtle nuances in the music that other drivers can't reproduce or show.
In addition to their impressive precision, ribbon and planar drivers provide superior sound staging that allow them to create an expansive soundstage and exceptional clarity. Audiophiles as well as home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles will find them be a fantastic option.
A key feature of planar and ribbon drivers is their dipole radiation pattern which radiates equal energy front and back, inverted phase to create a natural and spacious soundstage. Their large dispersion and dipole radiation pattern makes them ideal for large spaces, where they can create an authentic and spacious soundstage.
Planar magnetic drivers also have a quick response time, which helps them reproduce transients with more precision and speed than traditional cone drivers. This results in a detailed and crisp sound, even at very high frequencies.
Another benefit of planar magnetic drivers is their low distortion. This is because they don't utilize a voice-coil instead, but an electrostatic field. This allows the diaphragms to move without causing vibrations which could cause distortion.
Additionally, the distance between the magnets in a planar driver is much larger than that of a traditional cone speaker. This results in a better frequency response and lower distortion at low amplitudes, and still provides high-quality bass.
Although many of the advantages of planar magnetic drivers appeal to you however, they have some limitations that must be considered. For instance, they can be quite expensive and may require more power than other kinds of speakers. They can also be heavy, making it difficult to fit them into specific areas. Finally, they can be sensitive to the acoustics of the room and require extensive room treatments to ensure optimal performance. There are ways to minimize the problems. For example you can add an attenuation resistance (provided with speakers) and put it in the attenuation settings. Or, you can use a variety of room treatments.
Wide Dispersion
Like electrostatic speakers, planar magnetic speakers produce sound by controlling the electrical current passing through wires suspended between magnets. However they directly vibrate a flat diaphragm rather than an electrostatic charge which gives them a larger surface area and more accuracy. This allows them to be incorporated into smaller and more affordable headsets and speakers as opposed to electrostatic models.
Planar drivers aren't just capable of dispersing sound effectively they also offer superior imaging and clarity in the higher frequencies. This is a great benefit for audiophiles who love watching music or films on large screens or in an open space.
Planar drivers can also produce an extremely deep bass since they can be augmented by boxed subwoofers that are connected to or separated from the ribbon-like membrane. This is in contrast with traditional cone-shaped speakers that contain woofers at the bottom, which are unable to reproduce bass frequencies because of the physical constraints of woofer enclosures.
Another advantage of the planar driver is its extremely low distortion which is directly linked to the size and the excursion of the ribbon-like diaphragm. As a result, the planar speaker can deliver an enormous amount of sound with little distortion, which is why it can produce such clear and detailed reproduction.
In contrast the dynamic drivers that are used in conventional speakers and headphones typically exhibit significant amounts of distortion when they are driven to the limit of extreme excursion. Dynamic drivers can create a hollow or boomy sound.
Planar magnetic drivers are extremely efficient. They consume less energy to drive, which results in a lower energy consumption and a less negative impact on the environment. Additionally, their diaphragms are typically composed of lighter materials than standard speakers, which further decreases the amount of energy required to propel them to create the desired 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 now coming onto the market. For example new planar loudspeakers coming from manufacturers like Diptyque and Clarisys Audio are incorporating the most recent advancements in ribbon technology.
Low Distortion
Planar magnetic speakers have extremely low distortion due to the fact that they don't use the conventional dome-shaped diaphragm or cone. This is the direct result of their unique design which eliminates the voice coil inductance associated with conventional dynamic speakers (see U.S. headset planar ). This guarantees that the diaphragm is always in phase with the magnetic field surrounding it, resulting in a constant output. Distortion is usually only present when large waveforms are being reproduced. With a single-ended planar magnetic driver distortion is virtually absent in all frequencies that go beyond the bass.
In addition to their ultra-low distortion they also offer extremely high efficiency. This enables the drive to operate with a lesser amount of power than would otherwise be required for other speaker technologies. This translates into lower costs of ownership as well as less energy consumption.
The distortion of planar magnetic drivers is significantly lower than traditional dynamic speakers, and even more than electrostatic speakers. This is due to the fact that the flat diaphragm is equipped with a conductor trace that lets it to react to magnetic fields that are generated on either side.
The two magnets have to be placed with care to ensure that the voice element is properly positioned within the magnetic field at all times. This is what enables the extremely linear performance of planar magnetic drivers at all frequencies above the bass.
There are many other benefits of planar magnetic drivers, the most significant is that they can to be constructed to be dipole (radiating equally and in opposing phases both in front and back of the speaker like an ESL) or monopole (radiating forward, much like a traditional dynamic). This permits a wide range of designs, especially when paired with using a ribbon-tweeter.
Many planar magnetic loudspeakers are on the market today from manufacturers like Hifiman, Dan Clark, Audeze, and Fostex. Each company has their own signature sound, which is a result of their unique design of drivers and other technological innovations. The commonality of these speakers is their amazing detail, dynamics, and controlled directivity.
High Power Handling
Planar magnetic speakers can handle a lot more power than traditional moving coil dynamic drivers, without the strain and strain that they can cause. This is because the "voice coil" is distributed over a large area instead of being squeezed into a small gap between the cone and basket as in traditional dynamic drivers. This gives the voice coil a larger surface area to absorb heat efficiently.
Planar drivers can handle such a large amount of power because they are light in comparison to conventional drivers. Dynamic drivers utilize thick, heavy diaphragms that are orders of magnitude larger and heavier than the diaphragms that are ultra-light and thin used in planar magnetic drivers. Because of their high mass, these diaphragms require a much larger amount of force to move back and forth (a measure known as excursion) to produce an equal amount of sound pressure.
They aren't able to be driven nearly as effectively as a planar magnet driver, since the voice coil will start to produce significant distortion. This is why it's crucial to only purchase loudspeakers that are rated for the type of amplifier you're planning to drive them with.
The high excitation of a planar magnetic driver enables it to generate a much larger soundstage than traditional drivers. This is because the entire diaphragm vibrates to create an even, flat wavefront instead of the more focused spherical wavefront common in traditional drivers. This wider soundstage increases the accuracy and details of the speakers and allows them to reproduce subtle nuances and complex sound effects.
The downside to the superior power handling capabilities of planar magnetic drivers is that they tend to be more expensive to manufacture and require higher-powered amplifiers to operate at full capacity. They can be large and heavy, which makes it difficult to install them in certain environments. They also have a lower bass response, which means you may have to add a subwoofer your system to get a satisfying result at lower frequencies.
