Sineaptic SE-1 Ribbon Wireless Headphones Review

mmorpg.com:

Sineaptic is a new brand debuting with a bang. Its first pair of headphones, the Sineaptic SE-1 is a wireless ribbon driver headphone. If you’ve never heard of ribbon drivers, you’re not alone. In the world of headphones, they’re rare, expensive, and usually require an external power source — if you can find them at all. But as the technology has advanced, Sineaptic has managed to squeeze this boutique tech into a pair of wireless Bluetooth headphones for the affordable price of only $199.

They’re not perfect, but at $199, these headphones deliver a unique sound and one of the most detailed, spacious listening experiences you’ll find among Bluetooth headphones at the price. 

Current Price: $199 ( Sineaptic ) 

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Ribbon drivers are boutique and more than a little rare. I test headphones for a living and the SE-1 is my very first experience with them. So let’s start with the basics. What is a ribbon driver?

Unlike conical dynamic drivers, ribbon drivers have more in common with a planar magnetic or air motion transformer driver. Rather than use a combination of magnet, voice coil, and diaphragm, ribbon drivers use a thin metal ribbon that’s held in a strong magnetic field. As electricity is applied, the ribbon moves and generates sound. These drivers are very sensitive and need special power equipment in order to function. As of this writing, the biggest brand making popular ribbon headphones is RAAL and they retail for $2,250 . 

So it’s more than a little surprising to see the SE-1 debut at only $199, but also presents a unique opportunity for more people to experience this driver type. It has a unique sound and presentation, especially in the bass, but Sineaptic’s implementation is also very crisp and