ArcTec Berlin AB 92 Planar magnetic field open back headphones

Product concept

Although ArcTec Berlin AB 92 is a headphone, it is a device that aims to be free from the headphone-like characteristics.

"AB" means AirBorne - floating in the air. As its name suggests, the AB 92 pursues playback in which the sound rises up into the space and spreads naturally, rather than pushing the sound out into the ear.

It was developed by Klaus Heinz, who founded ADAM Audio and HEDD Audio. Accurate sound creation cultivated in the world of studio monitors and rich expressive power that allows you to enjoy music long and deeply. Balancing this is the core idea of ​​AB 92.

The AirBorne structure, which has a completely open back, suppresses the feeling of occlusion and localization that sticks to your ears, which is common with ordinary headphones, and creates a wide, natural sound field as if you were listening to it with high-quality speakers. This is ArcTec Berlin's flagship model, which was unveiled for the first time in the world at Europe's largest audio show "High End Munich 2025" in May 2025.

ArcTec Berlin is a high-end headphone brand based in Berlin, Germany.

Founder Klaus Heinz is a leading expert in electroacoustic conversion technology, having led ADAM Audio, a prestigious manufacturer of professional studio monitors, and HEDD Audio, known for its unique AMT driver.

ArcTec Berlin's goal is not to create flashy sounds, but to produce natural reproduction with little coloration. outline of sound,holographic soundstage, we create a reliable listening environment that is less tiring even when listening for long periods of time by tracking the end of the sound with physical support.

AB 92 is designed, assembled, measured, and shipped entirely in-house in Berlin, with each unit individually tested before leaving the factory. While it is an industrial product, it is a headphone that clearly embodies the ideas of skilled acoustic designers.

• Diaphragm made with 99.99% pure silver:The diaphragm of the AB 92 uses 99.99% pure silver as the conductor. Silver has excellent conductivity among metals and is a material that balances lightness with electrical efficiency. The lightweight, precise, and highly responsive diaphragm produces clear yet smooth sound.
• Ultra-thin diaphragm less than 1.5μm:The thickness of the diaphragm is less than 1.5 μm. This membrane, about 1/50 the thickness of a human hair and thinner than food wrap, swiftly follows the subtle changes in the signal. This achieves a wide frequency response of 5 Hz to 46 kHz, carefully rendering not only the attack and decay of sounds but also the ambient sense of space.

• AirBorne fully open design:The back is completely open, adopting a grille structure curved outward. This suppresses muddiness from rear reflections and does not trap sound inside the headphones. As a result, the sound stage spreads out in an open, three-dimensional way, beyond the sensation of sound simply reaching the ears.
• High-rigidity aluminum housing:The housing uses a high-rigidity body mainly composed of aluminum. The black anodized treatment and glass bead blast finish balance the precision feel of professional equipment with a calm presence. This suppresses unnecessary resonance and brings out the intrinsic response of the diaphragm.

• Design for long-term use with repairability:All parts of the AB 92 are designed to be replaceable. By replacing worn components, it can be used for a long time, making it not a temporary product but an audio device that can be enjoyed over the long term.
• Comfortable wear that minimizes the perception of its 540g weight:The yoke moves in all directions, and the asymmetrical leather ear pads naturally fit the ear, distributing the weight. Despite the solid metal housing, it is designed to maintain comfort during long listening sessions.

The charm of the AB 92 is not merely high resolution. Rather than just finely dissecting the sound, it naturally portrays the overall flow of the music, the distance to the performers, and the reverberation lingering in the space.

Vocals aren't exaggerated, nor are the instruments overly defined. However, the sound rises quickly and the connection from low to high range is smooth. It has the precision of a studio monitor, but without being too analytical, it has a good balance that allows you to enjoy the music as music.

Among open headphones, this model is recommended for those who are looking for speaker-like spaciousness, those who don't like the feeling of pressure that comes with headphones, and those who want to listen carefully to differences in recording quality and amplifiers.

STEREO (Germany, February 2026 issue)
The authoritative German magazine STEREO featured it as a main feature and gave it a score of 92 out of 100.「holographic soundstageDynamic, tonally perfect.”I praised it.

Headfonia (April 2026)
Highly praised for its wide open sound field, neutral and natural tone, and unexaggerated vocal reproduction. It is introduced as a unit that demonstrates its capabilities the more it is combined with a high-quality amplifier. Rating by reader vote is 4.4/5.

LowBeats (Germany)
It is featured as a planar magnetic field headphone with a delicate and light tone.