🎧 Planar Crinkle

❓ What is this?

Planar Crinkle (crackling, rustling) — is a characteristic sound similar to plastic rustling or crackling that appears in planar magnetic headphones when:

✓ Putting on or taking off headphones quickly
✓ Making sudden head movements
✓ Pressing on the ear cup
✓ Changing air pressure in the sealed space

This is NOT a defect — it’s a normal physical phenomenon inherent to planar magnetic driver design.

⚡ Physics of the Process

Why does this happen?

Planar magnetic headphones use an ultra-thin diaphragm (just a few microns thick — thinner than a human hair):

✓ Diaphragm Tension

Stretched between magnetic arrays with high tension for optimal sound quality

✓ Conductive Coil Tracks

Contains conductive coil tracks, creating an electromagnetic field

✓ Natural Wrinkles

Has wrinkles and folds — an inevitable consequence of the material and manufacturing

✓ Air Movement

Head movement creates air pressure changes, causing diaphragm flexing

Two Operating States

🔇 Idle State (No Signal)

When the music is not playing, the membrane is relaxed and hangs between the magnetic arrays. Since it is polymer, it behaves like a candy wrapper — some changes in air pressure or movement cause rustling or crunching. This is what you hear — the crinkle of the relaxed membrane.

Sometimes there may not be a crinkle on new headphones, but it will appear over time, in the process of natural use with a systematic stretching of the membrane. The appearance will occur randomly from the left or right, or from both sides at once.

🎵 Operating State (Music Playing)

As soon as a signal is applied to the membrane, the electromagnetic field is activated and the membrane is strained — it stands like a stake in the magnetic field, completely under its control. In this state, there is NO crinkle. The membrane is tense and working with perfect precision.

Key understanding: If you ONLY hear the crunch when the headphones are at rest (no music playing), it’s totally OK. The membrane is relaxed and any change in pressure can create a rustle. However, if this happens with the music on, it becomes a constant rattle — this is a reason to contact the warranty service.

Why is tension critical?

Tension Level	Result
❌ Too Low	Bad sound, vibrations, rustling even when playing
✅ Optimal	Best sound + crinkle only at rest
⚠️ Too High	The low frequencies disappear, and the membrane rings like a taut string.

This is a trade-off between sound quality and physical phenomena.Manufacturers must choose: optimal tension for sound OR elimination of all mechanical phenomena. You cannot have both simultaneously.

🔍 When is this a problem?

✅ Normal (no repair needed):

✓ Light rustling when putting on/taking off headphones
✓ Crackling when pressing on the cup
✓ Sounds with quick head movements
✓ Crunching at rest during jaw movements
✓ There is no effect on the quality of the sound being played in the playback state

❌ Requires repair:

✗ Rattling while playing music
✗ Significant deterioration in sound quality at certain frequencies (rattling when working with a sine from 50 to 100 Hz)
✗ Visible tears or membrane delamination

🏆 How do other manufacturers feel about this?

✅ Honest approach (explains physics)

Audeze

“Wrinkles on planars are not a defect and can occur with any planar. Excessive wrinkles/punctures, and or obvious crinkle sounds that are audible above your audio playback however are.”

Conclusion: Acknowledges it as a normal phenomenon with clear boundaries.

Dan Clark Audio (Aeon, Ether, Stealth)

“The crinkles you hear is the drivers reacting to the pressure change when you press the cups in. Totally normal. Many planar headphones do this.”

Conclusion: They explain in detail the physics of what is happening. They are trying to offset this using their V-Planar technology.

⚠️ Avoidant approach (rarely mentions)

Hifiman

They admit it in tech support, but they don’t cover it very actively. There are a lot of complaints about crunching on the forums, but there is no official detailed explanation.

Meze Audio

Minimally mentions in documentation. Focuses on positive design aspects.

ZMF

They rarely mention it in tech support. They focus on the sound quality in the working condition of the membrane.

❌ Contradictory approach

Abyss

Has made contradictory statements. First: “normal for older models”, then: “new models don’t have this”. Creates confusion.

Final Audio

Prefers not to comment. Focuses on their own technology (Air Film Damping System).

📊 Manufacturer Comparison

Manufacturer	Popular Model	Average Price Range	User Complaints	Official Response	Approach
Audeze	LCD / MM-500	$800-$4500	Frequent	Clear explanation	✓ Honest
Hifiman	Arya V2 / XS	$1000-$8000	Many	Minimal comments	⚠️ Avoidant
Dan Clark Audio	Aeon 2 / Stealth	$500-$4000	Rare	Complete explanation	✓ Honest
Abyss	Diana V2 / 1266	$3000-$9000	Significant	Contradictory	✗ Contradictory
Final Audio	D8000 Pro / D7000	$3500-$4500	Rare	No mention	⚠️ Silent
ZMF	Atrium Pro / Auteur	$3500-$3900	Minimal	Rarely mentioned	⚠️ Silent
Meze	Empyrean / Liric	$2000-$4000	Rare	No mention	⚠️ Silent

💡 Usage Guidelines & Care

⚠️ IMPORTANT

The membrane of our isodynamic headphones is made of a polymer about 6-8 microns thick. This is an extremely fragile element. You must understand this and treat it with appropriate care.

Three Critical Vulnerabilities:

🔴 Mechanical Vulnerability

Any pressure (squeezing with fingers, hitting the cup against the cup with medium force, cups against the head) or dropping headphones can cause irreversible deformation.

🔴 Thermodynamic Sensitivity

Avoid rapid temperature fluctuations.

🔴 Acoustic Fragility

Exceeding the maximum recommended power (3W) can increase the amplitude of diaphragm movement, causing damage.

Power & Amplification Requirements

⚠️ Connecting headphones directly to weak signal sources (smartphones, laptops, DACs, audio cards) without an external amplifier will result in insufficient volume and detail. The diaphragm requires high magnetic field power for high resolution sound.
✓ Minimum acceptable sound: 400mW amplification
✓ Operating power: 1W and above

✅ How to Properly Use Your Neuropunk Headphones

✓ Put on and take off headphones on your head carefully, supporting the cups with your hands without sudden movements
✓ Do not make a quick habitual throwing of headphones on your head — this will create an air shock
✓ Do not clap the cups together for the same reason
✓ Do not drop the headphones
✓ Avoid mechanical pressure on the cups and diaphragms
✓ Keep fingers away from inside the cups
✓ Keep the internal cavity of the cup clean — any hair on the diaphragm can cause unpleasant resonances
✓ Store headphones on a stand when possible

❌ What NOT to Do

✗ Do not subject the headphones to temperatures above +45°C
✗ Avoid humidity above 80%
✗ Do not use alcohol-based cleaning products on leather elements
✗ Do not disassemble or repair the magnetic-diaphragm system yourself
✗ Do not allow cable twisting or sharp angle bending

💡 Additional Recommendations

✓ Do not adjust the headband while wearing the headphones — remove them first
✓ For a tighter fit to match your head shape, carefully twist both cups inward or outward gently and simultaneously
✓ Movable joints can be lubricated with a small amount of silicone or grease lubricant

✨ Conclusion

Planar crinkle is a normal physical phenomenon, not a manufacturing defect.

It happens with all planar magnetic headphones: from budget models to flagships, from every manufacturer without exception. It’s a result of using ultra-thin diaphragms for excellent sound.

✅ If you hear light rustling during movement — this is normal.

⚠️ If this affects the sound of the music in working condition, contact the service.

Choosing planar headphones is choosing sound quality. With proper care, you’ll enjoy years of exceptional audio performance.

📋 Warranty Terms & Support

Warranty Period: 12 months from date of purchase

✓ What’s Covered:

Defects in materials and manufacturing
Electronics and wiring problems under normal use
Diaphragm failure during normal operation

✗ Not Covered:

Mechanical damage due to user mishandling
Damage from improper use or unauthorized repairs
Natural wear of ear pads and cosmetic elements
The natural crinkle of the membrane at rest

How to Get Support

📧 Email Support (Warranty Claims)

Subject line: “Warranty”

Include: order number and problem description. We’ll contact you with shipping instructions for repair or replacement.

💬 Live Chat Support

Telegram: @neuropunkgear

For urgent questions and quick assistance

The guide is based on an analysis of official manufacturer responses, technical documentation, and user feedback from the international audiophile community, which are publicly available.

Blog