Finding the best open back headphones can be a difficult task. There are so many models out there, and they vary in price and quality. The good news is that you don't have to go through this process alone! This article will give you 6 of the best choices for your consideration, as well as some pros and cons associated with each one.
Open-back headphones can provide an immersive listening experience, thanks to their unique design. You'll get a wider and more spacious soundstage that feels less like you're wearing something in your ears than hearing from speakers in the room around you- unfortunately, they also leak quite a lot of sound even if you listen to levels people might find reasonable, which will only distract those nearby on crowded buses or trains.
Finding the right pair of headphones for you can be a daunting task. They're not cheap, and if your budget is tight or you need something that will work across multiple different use cases like closed-back options are designed to do, it's hard to find one set in particular that ticks all those boxes at once. But there are lots out there worth considering - we've tested over 580 pairs after all! Below we list our recommendations for some of the best open-back models on offer today so take a look below before making up your mind about what type is going to suit you best.
Best Open Back Headphones: Sennheiser HD 800S
Type: Over-ear, Enclosure: Open-Back, Wireless: No, Noise Cancelling: No, Mic: No, Transducer: Dynamic
The Sennheiser HD 800s are the best headphones we've ever tested. These well-built speakers have a neutral sound that's perfect for studio mixing or long listening sessions without fatigue. They're also impressively comfortable, which means you'll be able to wear them longer and listen all day long!
These headphones have a very unique sound profile that is suitable for listening to all types of audio content. Thanks to their open-back design, you'll feel immersed in your favorite music thanks to the outstanding passive soundstage performance. These wireless-only headphones are also perfect because they don't run out of battery during long listening sessions and there's no need for cables getting tangled up around you!
Like many open-back headphones, they struggle to reproduce a thumpy low-bass. If you love bass-heavy music like EDM then this might be disappointing but if you want an immersive soundstage and don't need the best quality for audio input or phone calls these are good choices.
Planar Magnetic Alternative: hifiman arya
Type: Over-ear, Enclosure: Open-Back, Wireless: No, Noise Cancelling: No, Mic: No, Transducer: Planar Magnetic
Open-back headphones provide an immersive listening experience through their unique design. As they lower the isolation level between you and your surroundings, they can produce a wide soundstage that will feel like speakers are in the room rather than something coming from your ears. Unfortunately, because of this leaky nature, these types of headphones have to contend with, especially when listened at louder volumes - people around you might be distracted by what's playing even if it is music played at reasonable levels.
The Sennheiser headphones are great if you're looking for something that has a premium build quality and extra accessories like the carrying pouch. However, if you want to get more low-bass out of your headphones then HiFiMan Arya is perfect with its design which reproduces just enough bass without being overpowering in sound reproduction.
Headphones For Gaming: Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019
Type Over-ear, Enclosure Open-Back, Wireless No, Noise Cancelling No, Mic Yes, Transducer Dynamic
Gaming enthusiasts who are looking for the best gaming headphones in 2019 should consider purchasing the Astro A40 TR and MixAmp Pro. These headphones offer an open soundstage that will provide a more immersive experience than closed-back models, as well as great stereo imaging performance that is perfect for gamers to pinpoint game sounds. The cups and headband have plenty of padding so they're comfortable even after many hours playing your favorite games!
These over-ears come in PC/PS4 and Xbox One compatible variants, so you can find a model to suit your needs. Their MixAmp controller is a hugely convenient addition for gamers, as it allows you to adjust volume and chat mixing on the fly. The boom microphone makes your voice sound clear without background noise even when playing at high volumes or with lots of other noises around.
The Astro A40 TR Gaming Headset delivers a solid sound profile, with one exception. Thankfully, you can compensate for this flaw via the graphic EQ or audio presets found in their companion software. If you're looking to immerse yourself fully into your game while still getting access to an array of customization options and features that will suit any need as well as interests (including gaming), these are just what you've been waiting for!
Best Sound Quality: Philips Fidelio X2HR
Type Over-ear, Enclosure Open-Back, Wireless No, Noise Cancelling No, Mic No, Transducer Dynamic
The Philips Fidelio X2HR are the best headphones with an open-back design under $200 that we've tested. These expensive hi-fi cans have a sleek, metal finish and detachable cables - but they're not just all about looks! They also provide excellent sound quality thanks to their 40mm drivers and come in four different colors: White & Silver, Black & Gold (the review model), Ivory Marble Chrome; or Steel Blue Crystalline.
These headphones are great for mixing because their sound profile is very accurate. They also have neutral bass that sounds good on most genres of music and a spacious soundstage which adds to the natural experience with these headphones.
Unfortunately, they're prone to inconsistent treble delivery so you may need to take time adjusting their fit and positioning for a consistent sound each time. They aren't the most versatile either as they don't isolate ambient noise well nor do they seal off almost any of that audio from leaking out; still if you are looking for more affordable open-back headphones then these will be suitable enough.
BETTER-BUILT ALTERNATIVE: BEYERDYNAMIC DT 990 PRO
Type Over-ear, Enclosure Open-Back, Wireless No, Noise Cancelling No, Mic No, Transducer Dynamic
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones are perfect for audiophiles who prefer an open-back design. They offer a solid build and lightweight construction that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also comfortable to wear over long periods of time, although their bass response can be overwhelming at times.
Best Budget Open-Back Headphones: Philips SHP9500
Type Over-ear, Enclosure Open-Back, Wireless No, Noise Cancelling No, Mic No, Transducer Dynamic
The Philips SHP9500 are the best headphones for those looking to spend as little on their new pair of open-back earphones. They're very comfortable, thanks in part to the spacious and well-padded ears cups that make them so lightweight you won't even notice they're there! While these headphones may not be fancy or flashy like some others, it is obvious that this product was designed with quality sound performance in mind because they provide a neutral response from low frequencies all the way up into high ones without any distortion whatsoever.
This is a solid pair of best open back headphones that are well-balanced and suitable for all types of excellent audio quality. They have an impressive sound profile with neutral mid range vocals, making them great for vocalists or lead instruments like guitars. These cans also produce a spacious and immersive experience because their soundstage has excellent depth in the middle to lend you more space outside your head as if it's coming from out front.
These earphones, despite their budget price point, provide excellent value. They are light and portable with a color-matching cable to prevent tangling when not in use. This audio quality is also superb for the cost of these inexpensive headphones - they produce crisp bass tones that can be adjusted as needed thanks to an inline remote on your mobile device or mp3 player!
FAQs
What are open-back headphones?
There are two types of headphones: open-back and closed-backed. Both share a few features, but the design puts them in different lanes.
The closed-back headphones are perfect for people who want to block out their surroundings but still be able to hear a bit of what's going on around them. The open-back designs allow the listener more freedom and offer an engaging listening experience.
The headphone design is just one factor that can influence how your music sounds - find out about other ways in our blog post!
You might be wondering if open-back headphones are worth the investment. One of their best features is that they allow more airflow than closed-backed models, which results in natural and accurate sound production. The bouncing around effect created by closed-backed designs can't happen to open backs with all this extra air passing through them!
Do you want sound isolation, or do you prefer a complete package? On the whole, these products come with an open ear cup design that promises natural wide accurate sounds.
What are closed-back headphones?
There are many different types of headphones available for you to use, but a closed back design is one that’s very common and will probably sound familiar. This type of headphone completely seals the backs around your ears so all audio can travel directly into them without being heard by others or leaking out.
The benefit here is having private listening experiences with minimal outside noise interference because it's sealed off from the environment and any ambient sounds at home like traffic on nearby streets in neighborhoods near busy roads may be blocked out as well if you have good enough quality headphones.
How do you choose the most suitable open-back headphones?
The term “suitable” means that anything, which is right or appropriate for a particular person. There are many of these headphones available in the market but choosing the right one can be difficult if you don't know what to focus on while purchasing them according to your personal needs and preferences.
Below we'll highlight three important features when deciding between different models: type of sound frequency range, impedance (ability), and sensitivity level with regards to how well they handle noise levels like low frequencies from machinery such as lawnmowers or high-pitched sounds caused by screeching brakes at intersections.
1) Type Of Sound Frequency Range - The first thing you should take into consideration before making any purchase is whether their headphones have a wide.
A well-balanced sound system is always a popular choice for any event. A balanced audio setup will allow your guests to enjoy the music without feeling overwhelmed or underwhelmed, which makes it perfect not only as part of an exciting party but also in other more professional contexts such as conferences and lectures.