The 18 Best Planar Magnetic Headphones

Flagship endgame statements and wallet-friendly gateways share the stage, from open-back giants to sealed contenders built by boutique makers and household names alike. Which one deserves the crown?

1. 1
   HiFiMan HE1000se

   HiFiMan's nanometer-diaphragm flagship prized for its airy, detailed and spacious presentation.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Audeze LCD-5

   Audeze's flagship open-back planar magnetic headphone, widely regarded as a reference-grade endgame set.
   744pts
3. 3
   Meze Elite

   A hand-assembled flagship with a Rinaro Isodynamic driver, prized for refinement and build.
   710pts
4. 4
   Meze Empyrean

   An isodynamic hybrid-array planar celebrated as much for its sculpted design as its sound.
   546pts
5. 5
   HiFiMan Sundara

   A mid-priced open-back planar renowned for punching far above its price in clarity and detail.
   473pts
6. 6
   Audeze LCD-X

   A reference planar with razor-sharp balance favored by both audiophiles and studio engineers.
   473pts
7. 7
   Audeze LCD-4

   Audeze's original ultra-flagship with double Fluxor magnets and a dense, authoritative signature.
   473pts
8. 8
   Abyss AB-1266 Phi TC

   A cost-no-object flagship planar famed for its vast soundstage and bass slam.
   387pts
9. 9
   Audeze LCD-2 Classic

   A beloved warm-sounding planar that made high-end Audeze tuning accessible at a reasonable price.
   387pts
10. 10
    Abyss Diana

    A compact, luxuriously built flagship planar known for detail, dynamics and comfort.
    387pts
11. 11
    Monoprice Monolith M1060

    A budget over-ear planar that brought large-driver planar sound to entry-level buyers.
    387pts
12. 12
    HiFiMan HE400se

    One of the cheapest entry points to planar magnetic sound, offering standout value under budget.
    387pts
13. 13
    HiFiMan HE-6

    A notoriously demanding classic planar legendary for its resolution when properly amplified.
    284pts
14. 14
    Audeze LCD-3

    A former Audeze flagship with a rich, full-bodied planar signature and wood earcups.
    284pts
15. 15
    HiFiMan Arya

    A former-flagship open-back planar celebrated as one of the best values in audiophile headphones.
    284pts
16. 16
    HiFiMan Ananda

    A comfortable open-back planar known for its neutral, detailed and easy-to-drive presentation.
    284pts
17. 17
    Dan Clark Audio Expanse

    A flagship open-back planar with Acoustic Metamaterial tuning and an expansive stage.
    158pts
18. 18
    Dan Clark Audio Aeon 2 Noire

    A genuinely high-end closed-back planar that delivers reference performance in a sealed design.
    158pts