What are Headphone Drivers? Planar Magnetic vs Dynamic vs Ribbon vs Electrostatic
TL;DR: This guide explores the differences between four main types of headphone drivers — planar magnetic, dynamic, ribbon, and electrostatic — explaining each type's technology, sound quality, advantages, and ideal music genres to help listeners choose the right one.
- Planar Magnetic Drivers: Excellent clarity and detail, suitable for audiophile listening; ideal for jazz and classical.
- Dynamic Drivers: Versatile with strong bass, great for casual listening; suited for pop, hip-hop, and rock.
- Ribbon Drivers: Superior high-frequency response, fragile; best for vocal-centric genres like folk and blues.
- Electrostatic Drivers: Exceptional clarity and detail with low distortion; ideal for orchestral and ambient music in high-end setups.
You might think dynamic drivers are your only option for achieving peak audio quality. In fact, there are a range of configurations. Each one changes the way the magnetic field moves through the diaphragm of your headphones and into your ears. These include planar, dynamic, ribbon, and electrostatic drivers.
The question is: What’s the difference between these driver configurations, and how do you choose the one that’s right for your setup?
In this guide, we’ll compare planar magnetic vs dynamic drivers. Plus, we’ll give you the details about other common driver types. You’ll learn about the tech behind each one, plus their unique advantages and disadvantages. We’ll even cover which music genres sound best with each type of driver.
Keep reading to find the driver configuration that will transform the way you hear your favorite music.
What Are Drivers in Headphones?
Each ear cup in a pair of headphones contains a driver, which is like a very small speaker. Their role is to turn electrical signals into audible sound waves. They essentially “drive” the audio, be it music, a podcast, or video game audio, directly to your ears.
The average headphone driver contains three basic parts:
- A magnet. Creates a stable magnetic field that interacts with the voice coil, enabling the diaphragm's movement to produce sound.
- A diaphragm. Vibrates in response to the movement of the voice coil, converting electrical signals into sound waves that are heard.
- Voice coils. When energized by an audio signal, they create a magnetic field that interacts with the fixed magnet. It moves the diaphragm to generate sound.
All speakers, including drivers, work by transforming electrical energy into sound waves by vibrating an internal diaphragm. The process begins when the magnet creates a magnetic field as an electrical signal passes through a conductor. When the conductor reacts with the magnet, it creates movement.
It’s the movement that vibrates the diaphragm, creating the sound waves you hear. This is true across many different types of speakers, drivers, and audio devices like IEMs.
While all drivers fundamentally work the same, their configurations, materials, and mechanisms differ. For example, when comparing planar magnetic vs dynamic drivers, the difference is the number of internal magnets. These differences can impact everything from the distortion level to the price point.
So, which is the best type of headphone driver? How do you choose the driver type that’s right for you?
Choosing Between Different Types of Headphone Drivers
We frequently tell audiophiles that, when choosing a high-quality pair of headphones, identifying the “best” is relative. It’s more important that you choose a pair that is best suited for the specific function you need. An avid orchestral music fan’s “best” will often differ from an audio engineer’s “best.”
The driver you choose is just one factor in that decision.
That’s because different types of headphone drivers don’t all produce the same sound quality. Each type translates sound using a unique mechanism, which affects the final acoustic output. That makes certain drivers better for enjoying specific genres of music. Likewise, some drivers can be ideal for a particular listening style.
The result? Each type of driver produces variations in clarity that impact exactly what you hear. That’s why many audiophiles express a preference for one of the four types of drivers we’ll discuss today:
- Planar magnetic drivers. These drivers use a thin, flexible diaphragm sandwiched between magnetic fields. They provide fast, detailed sound with minimal distortion.
- Dynamic drivers. The most common type, these drivers use a coil attached to a diaphragm within a magnetic field to produce sound. Dynamic drivers offer a balanced range and strong bass response.
- Ribbon drivers. Ribbon drivers use an ultra-thin, lightweight ribbon diaphragm within a magnetic field. They deliver natural sound and high fidelity but are more fragile and less common.
- Electrostatic drivers. Electrostatic drivers use a charged diaphragm between two metal plates. These drivers produce exceptionally clear and accurate sound. However, they require dedicated amplifiers and tend to be costlier.
Driver type alone does not determine the quality of the audio output, however. The size of your drivers is another consideration. Larger drivers tend to produce louder (though not necessarily clearer) audio. In contrast, smaller drivers might be preferable for audio that includes sound at higher frequencies.
Other factors might play a role in sound quality, too. Consider the design and materials used to make your headphones. Other factors include the way they’re tuned and other unique technical specifications.
The 4 Different Types of Headphone Drivers: An Overview
1. Planar Magnetic Drivers
A planar magnetic driver produces sound when, as the name suggests, magnets act on a flat plane.
In essence, the diaphragm in this type of driver sits in between two arrays of magnets. The magnets are equally spaced, creating a magnetic field.
The magnets, not the voice coil, move the diaphragm. They have a larger surface area and stronger magnetic force than other types of drivers. Dynamic drivers tend to have low distortion as a result of the even sound distribution.
Advantages of Choosing Planar Magnetic Headphones:
- Excellent sound clarity and detail.
- Low distortion levels.
- Good bass performance.
- Better soundstage.
- Easy to drive from an amp.
Disadvantages of Choosing Planar Magnetic Headphones:
- Heavier and less portable.
- Require more power to drive peak performance.
Best Uses of Planar Magnetic Headphones:
- Audiophile listening.
- Critical music analysis.
Our picks for the best planar headphones for audiophiles are the following:
2. Dynamic Drivers
Dynamic drivers are the most common driver type and tend to be less expensive than more complex drivers. They require less energy and amplification to drive. You might hear them referred to as “moving coil drivers.”
In dynamic drivers, there is only one magnet with a copper coil surrounding it. It’s the coil that creates the magnetic field, which moves a small, cone-shaped diaphragm. As the diaphragm displaces the air in the driver, it creates an acoustic signal.
The result is a full range of frequencies with an exceptional bass response. Most audiophiles describe a warmer sound signature. However, they may not perform as well at higher frequencies. The higher the frequency, the more likely you are to experience distortion.
In some cases, planar headphones can be heavier due to design and brand type but this will depend heavily on the specific headphones.
Advantages of Choosing Dynamic Headphones:
- Versatile and affordable.
- Good bass response and sensitivity.
- Suitable for a wide range of music genres.
- Easy to drive.
Disadvantages of Choosing Dynamic Headphones:
- Can suffer from distortion at high volumes and frequencies.
- Less detail and clarity compared to planar drivers.
- Physically heavy and can cause fatigue.
Best Uses of Dynamic Headphones:
- Everyday listening.
- Studio monitoring.
- Live performance monitoring.
- Genres like pop, hip-hop, EDM, and rock.
The Best Dynamic Headphones:
Our picks for the top dynamic driver headphones for audiophiles are:
3. Ribbon Drivers
Ribbon drivers are more commonly found in traditional speakers as opposed to headphones. That’s because they’re fragile and more sensitive to movement than heartier drivers. They tend to operate best in open environments and aren’t portable like traditional headphones. Their larger diaphragms mean they’re less compact, which also impacts portability.
Even so, there are headphones with ribbon drivers out there and valid reasons for choosing them for home use.
The “ribbon” in a ribbon driver is actually its thin, flexible diaphragm. It sits suspended between two powerful magnets. When amplified, the ribbon moves smoothly over the magnetic field.
Because they’re so light, they have an incredibly high and sensitive response level. Ribbon drivers tend to reproduce high frequencies with fidelity, with a more limited bass response.
Even so, some audiophiles swear by the unmatched clarity and sensitivity of these unique cans. As long as you don’t need to travel, they’re fine for transportive at-home listening. They are also ideal for studio monitoring.
Advantages of Choosing Ribbon Headphones:
- Superior transient response.
- Very low distortion.
- Great for high-frequency reproduction.
- Expansive soundstage.
- Incredible imaging.
- Unmatched specificity of detail.
Disadvantages of Choosing Ribbon Headphones:
- Delicate and fragile.
- Limited bass response.
- Difficult to transport.
- Expensive and less common.
- Little to no sound isolation.
- Requires a converter box or a dedicated ribbon amplifier.
- Low, difficult-to-control impedance.
Best Uses of Ribbon Headphones:
- High-frequency instruments.
- Enjoying classic rock, jazz, R&B, and folk music.
- At-home listening.
- Professional studio monitoring.
The Best Ribbon Headphones:
The best ribbon headphones come from RAAL Requisite, one of the few manufacturers of audiophile-quality ribbon drivers.
4. Electrostatic Drivers
Electrostatic drivers are one of the most high-end driver styles available. That’s reflected in their premium price point, but also in their audio quality.
The biggest difference in electrostatic vs planar headphones is how they produce sound. The electrostatic driver is unique in that it uses static electricity instead of a magnetic field. It’s static electricity that moves the diaphragm to create sound.
Each driver contains one plate with a positive charge and one with a negative charge. In between is a very thin, charged membrane, which serves as the diaphragm.
When a signal hits the plates, they alternate their charges, causing movement in the diaphragm. The movement of the nearly weightless diaphragm allows for highly detailed sound with little to no distortion. Fans of electrostatic headphones rave about the wide frequency response.
Advantages of Choosing Electrostatic Headphones:
- Exceptional detail and clarity.
- Extremely low distortion.
- High-frequency extension.
- Wide frequency response.
- Small and lightweight for extended listening.
Disadvantages of Choosing Electrostatic Headphones:
- Premium price point.
- Require special amplifiers.
- Bulky and not typically portable.
Best Uses of Electrostatic Headphones:
- High-end critical, audiophile listening.
- Professional studio work.
- Acoustic, Americana, and Jazz enjoyment.
The Best Electrostatic Headphones:
Our picks for the top electrostatic headphones and amplifiers include:
Comparing Planar Magnetic vs Dynamic vs Ribbon vs Electrostatic Drivers
Here is a quick, at-a-glance comparison between the different types of drivers. We’ve broken them down based on qualities most audiophiles find important.
Planar Magnetic Drivers at a Glance
Audio Quality: Highly detailed, natural sound with minimal distortion. Audiophiles can expect exceptional clarity and separation, especially in the mid and high frequencies.
Bass Response: They offer a deep, controlled bass response that is accurate and well-defined.
Environmental Suitability: Best for quiet, controlled environments.
Ideal Musical Genres: Jazz, classical, acoustic, or genres where precise detail, instrument separation, and a balanced soundstage are essential.
Dynamic Drivers at a Glance
Audio Quality: Balanced and powerful sound. They often have less detail in higher frequencies compared to other drivers. They produce a warm, engaging audio experience well-suited to a wide variety of music genres.
Bass Response: Dynamic drivers offer a good bass response.
Environmental Suitability: Versatile for any environment.
Ideal Musical Genres: Bass-heavy genres like rock, hip-hop, and electronic music.
Ribbon Drivers at a Glance
Audio Quality: Smooth and natural sound with incredible high-frequency detail and clarity. They are most ideal for high-fidelity audio.
Bass Response: They can lack strong bass.
Environmental Suitability: Strictly home or studio environments, due to their delicacy.
Ideal Musical Genres: Vocal-centric genres such as folk, blues, and some classical.
Electrostatic drivers at a Glance
Audio Quality: Incredibly clear, accurate sound and near-zero distortion. The result is a transparent listening experience with outstanding detail across all frequencies.
Bass Response: They are typically less bass-intensive than dynamic or planar magnetic drivers.
Environmental Suitability: Audiophile-grade listening setups.
Ideal Musical Genres: High-fidelity listening for orchestral, choral, and ambient music.
The Ideal Driver for Every Type of Listener
However, you listen, we have the driver that’s ideal for your needs. Compare headphones and shop by style, fit, application, DAC type, AMP type, and more at Moon Audio.
Everything You Need to Know About Headphone Drivers | Moon Audio
