| Headphones come in only a few basic varieties. The most common one is the dynamic, which is a sort of a traditional speaker, small in size, but essentially a piston that pushes sound. The next variety, known as electrostatic, is esoteric and often pricey, and uses a special transformer to charge a metallic film in the headphones. In recent years we have seen the rise in popularity of a headphone that use a plastic film usually with metallic traces on it and surrounded by powerful magnets, this design is known as a planar magnetic. Oppo Digital, the respected manufacturer of Blu-ray decks, has entered the fray with a new line of personal audio products, and has recently introduced the PM-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones. The first mention of these set the audiophile world aflame. How good are these new models? Read our review to find out! Harris Fogel, with additional reporting by Nancy Burlan, posted 6/10/2014 |
