OPPO Digital ( www.oppodigital.com ), a renowned manufacturer of high performance universal Blu-ray Disc players, introduced its family of planar magnetic headphones today.
The introduction of the new OPPO planar magnetic headphones is a result of many years of research and development led by a team of passionate audio and acoustics engineers, chemical and material scientists, and audiophiles. The technology encompasses a wide range of innovative solutions that deliver exceptional performance.
The OPPO PM-1 utilizes a unique and pioneering planar magnetic driver that sets it apart from the majority of headphones on the market. The OPPO PM-1 driver features a 7-layer diaphragm and an FEM-optimized high energy Neodymium magnet system. The diaphragm has a spiraling pattern of flat conductors etched on both sides, and the double-sided design allows twice as many conductors to be placed within the magnetic field, which leads to higher sensitivity, better damping, and even drive force. The magnetic field and conductor patterns are optimized for maximum driving force and consistency of the applied force over the radiating area, and its circumaural (over-the-ear), open back design provides the best in sound quality and comfort. These aspects of the OPPO PM-1’s design combine to provide high sensitivity and extremely low distortion, delivering a transparent, highly dynamic sound that exhibits well-balanced tonal qualities. The high sensitivity and low weight also allow the headphones to be used freely with portable devices without requiring additional amplification.
The PM-1 is constructed with the finest materials for the best in performance, reliability and comfort. Thanks to feedback from OPPO’s beta testing group, the design of the PM-1 was revised many times in order to meet OPPO’s high standards. OPPO is committed to ensuring that each pair of headphones is equally exceptional and will ramp up production slowly. The PM-1 is estimated to be available in limited quantities starting mid-April at a suggested retail price of $1099.
In order to allow more people to enjoy the benefit of OPPO’s planar magnetic headphone technologies, OPPO will release a PM-2 model which is the more affordable version of the premium PM-1. The PM-2 will maintain very similar performance to the PM-1 while reducing costs to the customer. It utilizes the same planar magnetic driver, the same acoustic design principles and tuning techniques, the same tight tolerances for quality control, and its lower price is achieved without sacrificing acoustic performance. Certain metal parts that require many hours of machining time and have relatively low yields in the PM-1 have been replaced by materials and processes that are more suitable for quantity production, and the luxurious hand-picked lambskin found on the headband and ear pads of the PM-1 has been replaced with synthetic leather that offers similar comfort and durability at a much lower cost. The PM-2 is estimated to be available in summer 2014 at a suggested retail price of $699.
OPPO states that the headphones are natural extensions of their product line into the personal audio field. Many users are already utilizing the headphone output of the OPPO BDP-105/105D audiophile Blu-ray players with great results. OPPO will also soon release a dedicated headphone amplifier HA-1. Together the OPPO Blu-ray player, headphone amplifier and headphones can deliver a complete system that communicates to listeners all nuances of their favorite music.
