A planar magnetic driver including a radiating surface having a trace-free central region is described. The driver has a magnet defining an acoustic opening on a central axis. A diaphragm of the planar magnetic driver is held by mounts having a mounting profile around the central axis, and the diaphragm includes a radiating surface facing the acoustic opening. An innermost conductive trace on the diaphragm extends around a central region of the radiating surface within a magnetic flux of the magnet such that no conductive traces are on the central region. A radial distance between the innermost conductive trace and the mounting profile is less than another radial distance between the innermost conductive trace and the central axis. Accordingly, an excursion range of the diaphragm along the central axis is greater than a gap distance between the conductive trace and the magnet. Other aspects are also described and claimed.