British audio equipment manufacturer RHA on Thursday announced the CL2 Planar, its latest pair of headphones that will retail at $889.95 but promises to make that ultra-premium price tag worth it by leveraging a variety of unprecedented technologies. The main selling point of the gadget is its use of planar magnetic technology which is far from new but has never before been implemented in a pair of wireless earbuds. The solution itself has already been introduced by Yamaha as an “orthodynamic” setup over 40 years ago and remains a niche offering in the world of audio. While the diaphragm concept still applies here, planar magnetic tech delivers better-quality audio by mixing it with thin wires which form an isodynamic magnetic field which makes the electrical current flow consistent, thus delivering a more harmonic sound.
Never before has a planar magnetic audio setup been delivered with a 10mm driver used in the CL2 Planar, RHA claims, adding that its new technology also works well over a conventional wired connection, which is why the new wireless headphones will also feature a 3.5mm adapter and ship with a compatible cable. The earbuds themselves are made of zirconium dioxide and are described as “near-indestructible,” having been envisioned as the ultimate solution for audophiles that aren’t willing to compromise on portability. The housings weigh 9g, with the manufacturer estimating consumers will get twelve hours of use on a single charge. With a (wired) frequency range of 16-45,000Hz, Bluetooth 4.1, aptX, AAC, and SBC support, the RHA CL2 Planar are promising to deliver the most luxurious wireless audio experience on the planet, at least as far as in-ear headphones are concerned. The gadget charges over a USB Type-C cable and needs around 90 minutes to fully replenish and entirely depleted battery.
The RHA CL2 Planar will be showcased at IFA, an annual Berlin, Germany-based trade show whose latest edition is starting next Friday, August 31. In the meantime, the headphones will be available for pre-orders later today directly from RHA, though their actual global release is scheduled for September 12. The device will be sold in the United Kingdom, United States, and a number of other markets around the world.
