What's inside? Planar IEMs. (featuring KZ PR1 and Kinera SPD) Brief History, theory of operation...

Today I share a small portion of the history of micro planar drivers used in IEMs, I talk a little about the lineage, theory of operation, planars newest cousin, and I take apart the KZ PR1 HIFI.
Take a journey with me on this long, overly rambling video.
If you would like to contribute toward my future teardown's or you just enjoy what I do and would like to donate:
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#diy #inearmonitor #iem #hifi #hifiaudio #chifi #teardown #whatsinside #planar #earphones #headphones

[@TomTom-gx1sm]

Very nice to see the insides!

[@geneharry]

After reading your review, I'm going straight to the order!

[@tatotosi]

This was very informative, thanks!

[@viderethevaccinatorfromhol7536]

Awesome video. Thank you so much.

[@tey7689]

Finally, update video 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@JtwasLuck]

This was very insightful, hope to see more! You should open up the Raptgo Hook-X next, it is the only "open back" planar IEM that I am aware of. It also has a PZT driver AND a bone conduction portion so it would very interesting to see those mechanisms up close.

[@JeanClaudeVanDabs]

HBB opened up the Hook-X (but didn't fillm it)... it has the same driver as the S12, Timeless, & Wu Zetian.

[@Cujobob]

@@JeanClaudeVanDabs he also said the driver in this KZ is nearly identical in one of his videos. He thinks they all come from the same OEM and may be exactly identical instead of being different variants.

[@Radugazon]

Very interesting ! The secret aspects of these tiny things are not enough dispalyed as you do.

[@florencemiller3967]

A nice video! Useful to know the internal structure of a planner driver headphone.

[@huyhoangdang3754]

Nice video. Thanks.

[@martincorrales4846]

Woow bro, it's great that you make videos of this type doing internal revisions to "in ear", fabulous video! I am a consumer of kz, I have the "KZ ZSX TERMINATOR DE 12 DRIVERS" AND "YANYIN CANON". I would love to see your review of the KZ ZSX, greetings from Argentina 🇦🇷🤙

[@JaviGomezLozano-jk2wk]

Zsx Vs canon? 🧐🥺👉👈

[@shreyanshvalentino]

Thank you so much!

[@garciaclark-ve4jx]

thanks for the video.

[@zaq9339]

Every chi-fi enthusiast should watch this for their planar iem 101. Better educated consumers help the market grow in the right direction.

[@hi-friaudioman]

Thank you. 🙏

[@JonesBrown-hy8cs]

I bought a pair after watching your KZbin video.

[@kostas898997]

How do they sound?

[@jimawhitaker]

You remind me of the me I used to be. That's the only way you really learn is by disassembling stuff. I started doing that when I was about 2 years old. People use to bring me broken things for me to tear apart as a toddler. The only issue is black boxes eventually disappear...

[@LISTEDGames]

This is fascinating. How do the tri i3 pro drivers work together? which driver do what part of the spectrum? its a really interesting combo, ba , planar and dd , I hope they do work together properly but you let me know Thanks in advance

[@valerioamato3761]

deserve a double thumb up

[@hameedn.b7004]

Neat

[@hcho8164]

Thinking out loud, if you scoped an audio time domain signal, I suspect all frequencies coexist in super position, in theory. So where the electrical signal converts to sound pressure depends on the surface's capability to move back and forth. And middle of the diaphragm can move more than the edges. Therefore I suspect that if you put more traces in the middle you will make a bass head happy.

[@microwave311]

Please stop theorizing. There is much more that goes into it.

[@jimawhitaker]

I always considered a planar just a linear magnet dynamic speaker. The differences between a planar and a dynamic are far fewer than their similarities.

[@hariramv7764]

This is very interesting...I never thought will watch full 1hr video...but I did. Facinating to see tech inside so small makes big sound which we enjoy. Thanks for destroying drives for knowledge

[@tonyerdal2533]

Thanks for that! I have a question, I've been looking for true open back iems (on the cheap), but I can't seem to find anything. Any suggestions? Thanks all!

[@realaudioreviews]

Dope video, what are your thoughts on lithium drivers, used by ikko oh5. Seems to be the first of its kind.

[@hi-friaudioman]

Oh thank you. No this is actually my second time hearing about it, first time my friend mentioned that it must be some composite material as lithium is somewhat toxic and not ideal for deposition? But I haven't looked into them yet. Another interesting dd is in the new moondrop Alice TWS iem. They call it "ultra linear" or something of the sort. There are a lot of interesting drivers coming out but I'm not yet allowed to talk about them.

[@realaudioreviews]

@@hi-friaudioman Yea lithium is a soft material. I have to do more research on it, seems like they used some sort of magnesium housing for it. I don’t buy it being 100% lithium, because if it’s limitations but who knows. One thing to look out for is MEMS technology, you probably heard of it. Seems to be the next big thing if it pans out.

[@zhanurdos]

@@hi-friaudioman moondrop wlice is kato driver

[@jeeewhyyypheee]

So does using less magnet but little bigger size or more magnet with smaller size affect to the driver behaveour?

[@user-pr2my9sm3x]

спасибо за обзор.

[@McLOVIN.....]

De nada

[@ThompsonHarris-ud7dq]

I'm more focused on the bass part, well done.

[@dixter1652]

interesting... thanks for putting this out ..... the material could actually be chromium instead of silver... silver will corrode.... to make these its the same methods used in semiconductor manufacturing.... at the size of the driver its an easy process for semiconductor tools...

[@patipataszon4570]

Good this is no KZ Drama

[@jasongibson3574]

KZ will eventually nail the tuning and take over the $100 market

[@hi-friaudioman]

I hope so. They seem to love that V shape. Lol

[@DipJyotiDeka]

And now we have the pr1 pro

[@eduardofs5191]

​@@hi-friaudioman kz pr1 pro vs kz zar

[@adityasaputratok]

PR2 !!!

[@user-zx8ee8ez4g]

It sounded really as crisp as the Heart Mirror

[@ANiCKiN]

👍

[@illitero]

Do metalized plastic housings have the same condensation issue as full-metal housings? It bothers the bajeezus outta me to the point where I have to set a timer to make sure I'm not listening for too long to cause obstruction and potential damage.

[@RaWActi0N]

Which IEM has that metal cased, with circular grill planar (the larger one) ?

[@hi-friaudioman]

It was out of a prototype unit I was sent from a company but I suspect it is being used in the timeless or some other equivalent iem. the bass quality is really good for a planar which is what makes me lean towar timeless but I could be wrong. S12 I've seen inside and I could swear it uses the other rectangle driver but I could be wrong as they were from photos that were not mine.

[@RaWActi0N]

@@hi-friaudioman Thanks for the reply, and for the very informative exposition.

[@shreyanshvalentino]

Let us know if and when that prototype makes to market. Would def like that one

[@AJGaS]

"Little short video" -over 1 hour long -hehehe. Thank you though, good video!

[@cesarcarranza42]

are these better than the as16 pro from KZ suppousedly?

[@Sonic_Storm]

The new KZ PR2 has wider soundstage but the bass decreased

[@Qimchiy]

Pretty sure the KZ ZAX is an "open back" IEM.

[@chrisvinicombe9947]

Thanks for the dive into micro planars 😀 I suspect they are using chemical etching with aluminum foil and mylar film for the drivers. As this will be the cheapest and easiest way to mass produce them. They can print several hundered on one sheet of mylar that way at a time. The glossy coating on the front is likely a sealant glue sprayed onto the sheet after etching and initial inspection. Assembly could be automated but I expect it's some poor smuck doing it all by hand.

[@jparker818]

spot on brother

[@hesher.]

In the item card they say it is silver planar

[@Smzxe]

is that a real planar driver or just a different shaped dynamic driver in kz?

[@hi-friaudioman]

Oh no, it is most definitely REAL planar driver. No doubt about it. :-)

[@Smzxe]

@@hi-friaudioman KZ uses fake drivers that's why I asked they have fooled public with fake non work ba drivers or fake speakers

[@alvincaesar-jv6tu]

How do the Moondrop Chu compare to these?

[@edi4ever1]

which one lasts longer, planar or dynamic?

[@hi-friaudioman]

Planar is more susceptible to damage from debris and moisture, also if there is a flaw in the deposited or etched conductors they could go open circuit with high power, also I'm not sure the conducting material on the dd but it looks like a composite material which may oxidize or corrode with moisture.

[@sushiplayzz674]

are the pros have fake vants as well?

[@gilangax]

54:34 😅

[@juhan9117]

Hi, where can I reach to purchase iem from you?

[@hi-friaudioman]

Hi, thank you for your interest. you can find me on Facebook under the name Hi Fri.

[@jimawhitaker]

I'll bet those fingers have been cut a lot! 😜

[@shoony_comics]

Is it audeze isine10

[@hi-friaudioman]

Yeah, I think that's the one. Thank you! It's definitely audeze for sure although I'm not sure which model came first.

[@shoony_comics]

@@hi-friaudioman yeah, but the tuning tho, is absolute GARBACCIO, they didn't even tried

[@matusjurcik6974]

37:25 whose pipi? 😅

[@kuuhgle]

You're playing 4D mind chess to say the Kinera driver is not just a dynamic driver with a flat and square membrane lmao

[@hi-friaudioman]

What dynamic driver has magnets on either side of the diaphragm with no perpendicular voice coil? If anything it's more like a micro-planar driver. Look up the patents if you're able to they're pretty neat. I'll try to show a picture in a later video.

[@kuuhgle]

@@hi-friaudioman Membrane is wayyyy too thick for a planar mate. The benefits from a planar stem from the membrane being super light with superlight traces on it. This one has a metal membrane with copper spool glued on. Much closer to a DD, sluggish movement. Its a flat DD with magnets in front

[@eduardofs5191]

kz pr1 pro vs kz zar

[@BPArBATbl]

fake open headphones?)

[@lesgrossman834]

1,5x speed is good enough. Author is kinda slowpoke.