Headphones come in various shapes, sizes, and sound quality. If you are not the type who takes pairs of headphones seriously and enjoys listening to music whatever gear you’re using, then a simple pair of earbuds will do wonders for you. However, assuming that you’re here today reading this guide to find the best open-back headphones, you probably take your music listening very seriously.
For true audiophiles, every detail counts when choosing the right headphones, making sure that you pick something top-notch. You also know that it’s more than just the price difference when comparing a pair of Apple earbuds to a nice pair of Sennys rather than its price. You’re in luck because we’re here to help you sort out every detail you need to know to find the best open-back headphones for you.
In this guide, we will walk you through the best open-back headphones, what it’s used for and its difference from closed-back ones. We will also provide a detailed review of each pair of headphones and what to look for when buying a pair.
Open-Back vs Closed-Back Headphones: What’s the Difference?
Throughout our experience of reviewing different headphones, we have found various styles and functionalities, including open-back and closed-back headphones. Although you might already know the difference because you’re reading this guide, we’ll give you a quick rundown so you’ll be reminded of their differences.
Open-back headphones are a particular type of headphones as they allow air to pass through the ear cups to the speaker. Simply put, open-back ones don’t block the surrounding noise, providing you with an immersive sound experience. Thanks to a lack of pressure build-up, the sound tends to be more natural and high-quality.
Because of the design, people around you can hear what you’re listening to since they do leak sounds. If you’re only used to wearing closed-back ones that contain all the sound within the device, then open-back ones may not be as appealing to you. However, this type of headphones can give you an immersive sound experience that you won’t get from closed-back ones.
When using closed-back headphones, you will like you’re being confined in a studio booth whereas open-back ones give you an open-space, giving you an experience that the musicians are all sitting around you. This is one reason why open-back headphones are a popular choice for audiophiles who enjoy an immersive experience.
Comparing their durability, open-back headphones can be more susceptible to moisture and fragile than closed-back ones. If you’ve decided to get a pair, it is better to leave them at home or in the studio rather than bringing them with you. Nevertheless, they provide you with high-quality and natural sound, allowing you to experience the instruments more detailed than ever.
Closed-back headphones are very common, and you’ve probably used them at some point in your life. Unlike open-back headphones, they are sealed around the back, allowing the sound to travel into your ears directly. They provide a better “bass” experience, as open-backs usually struggle in the lows. Overall, these two types of headphones provide you with a different listening experience. It all depends on how you’d like to enjoy your music.
Top 5 Best Open Back Headphones Comparison
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Editor's Choice  |
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Runner- up  |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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Top 5 Best Open Back Headphones
Beyerdynamic DT-990
Key Features:
- Ideal for professional mixing, editing, and mastering
- Works wonders with studio applications because of their spacious, transparent, strong treble and bass sound
- Has soft, circumaural, and replaceable velour ear pads ensuring the best comfort
- 3.0m coiled cable, single-sided cable
Deciding the best open-back headphones took some time, but after careful observations, we are going with these pairs of Beyerdynamic headphones. Beyerdynamic DT-990 is on the top of our list as this provides one of the most accurate frequency ranges, and the detail they provide when mixing is definitely out of this world. We’re not overselling this, you can go ahead and check out various reviews, and you’ll surely see that Beyerdynamic DT-990 is also reigning overall in the headphones out in the market. Although it’s not the cheapest one available, it is undoubtedly the best open-back headphones, thanks to numerous excellent user reviews.
Let us start by telling you how comfortable their headband pad and ear cups are. To fully enjoy your listening experience, comfort should be on the top of your list, and this pair of Beyers indeed gives you the comfort you need. These headphones have a well-built design and can last for years with proper care. The most crucial feature that this pair of headphones has to offer is its well-rounded and flat frequency response as it won’t give you inflated bass and treble. When it comes to pricing, it surely is an expensive choice, but if you can afford it, don’t think twice and get your pair now. Its overall aesthetics looks slick and its earpads, its softness makes you feel like it’s a pillow. This pair of headphones is truly an investment, imagine your favorite band serenading you every day; this is how these open-back headphones feel like.
Sennheiser HD 600
Key Features:
- Have Neodymium ferrous magnets maintaining optimum sensitivity and dynamics
- Lightweight aluminum voice coils for excellent sound response
- Open metal-mesh earpiece cover
- Designed with sophistication and elegantly finished in black and gray colors
- Has detachable oxygen-free copper cable with 6.3mm headphone adapter plug
Another pair of open-back headphones on top of our list is these Sennheiser 600 HD headphones. Apart from them being an HD, they are among the most popular pairs of open-back ones in the audiophile community. What makes them just a runner-up compared to Beyerdynamic is its price. As you can see, they are at a higher price point, but these Senny’s headphones give you value for what you pay for. So if you can afford this pair, you won’t regret every penny you’ve spent. These Senny headphones have aluminum voice coils, provide a comfortable fit, clear and crisp frequencies on every level, a detachable cable, and a metal-mesh earpiece cover making them a beast when it comes to headphones.
If you want to try out the HD series by Sennheiser but don’t want to shed some cash, we suggest you browse other models as they offer various quality and types of headphones. The Sennheiser 600 HD provides the most transparent and natural presentations you can find in an audio experience. These open-back headphones provide a very balanced and neutral sound, with the bass and treble aligning nicely. You’ll surely cherish every moment you spend with this bad boy.
AKG K 701
Key Features:
- Uses revolutionary flat-wire voice
- Provide a theatrical sound that places musicians in their correct position with pinpoint accuracy
- Crisp and clean highs and mid
Compared to the previous Senny headphones, this pair may be a bit cheaper. So if you want to save a few bucks, but still get the best features you can find, AKG K 701 is the best one for you. According to the company, this pair of open-back headphones are “optimized for DJ’s” but if you’re not a DJ, don’t let it stop you from purchasing one. These headphones are perfect even for mixing in general. The design and build of these open-back headphones are solid, making them a wise investment, bringing you super clear and crisp sound, a well-balanced frequency response, and 3D form earpads that are great for a custom fit so you can easily adjust them.
Although this pair is still at a higher price point, it is still cheaper than Senny headphones. If you want something prestigious but don’t want to shed out some cash, this one’s for you. Not only that it provides a theatrical range of sounds, but it also comes from the world’s first manufacturer of flat-wire technology in headphones, AKG. Because of this, you are sure to get only quality headphones knowing it’s from a brand name that you can trust.
Philips SHP9500
- 50mm neodymium drivers
- Has a double layered headband cushion and breathable ear cushion perfect for long-wearing
- 1.5m cable giving you the freedom of movement when indoors
Are you on a tight budget and don’t want to compromise on sound quality? Philips SHP9500 HiFi headphones are the best pair for you. This pair of headphones is designed for perfection, providing you with 50 mm neodymium drivers and gold plated connectors. It’s frequency response range is quite generous, giving a max response of 35 kHz. With low impedance and high sensitivity, these open-back headphones are dedicated to providing their users with crisps highs and deep lows.
When it comes to comfort, this pair of headphones may be the most comfortable you can get from Philipps. It comes with a double-padded headband and highly breathable ear cushions making prolonged use of these headphones a walk in the park. This means that you can wear it for longer periods without the perry of feeling any discomfort. Apart from its sound quality and comfort, its long cable gives you the freedom to roam freely when indoors, allowing you to multitask while giving you the best sound experience you can imagine for the amount you pay.
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700
Key Features:
- 53mm drivers producing clear treble and midrange
- Has lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing with excellent acoustic properties
- Self-adjusting 3D Wing Support provides a comfortable listening experience
- Has total ear-fit design minimizing pressure when listening
- 3.5mm connector
If you are a true audiophile, you’re already familiar with Audio-Technica. This is one of the more popular brands when it comes to listening gears. We are obsessed with this device because of its aluminum honeycomb casing build that includes a self-adjusting wing system that you often see on gaming headsets. In terms of frequency distribution, the AD700 has excellent quality, and the driver is big (yes, we know bigger isn’t always better), but having a 53 mm driver won’t hurt.
The earpads are made of velvet, making it very comfortable on your head. Because of this, you can go on for hours and hours without any feeling of discomfort. Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 has been released for a few years now so you know that it’s a brand and model you can trust. Its price is still pretty cheap compared to other open-back headphones, making it a good choice for those who don’t want to spend yet want to get the best. Overall, it’s from Audio-Technica, so what’s not to love, right?
Best Open-Back Headphones Buying Guide
When choosing the best open-back headphones, here are some of the factors that you should consider.
Drivers
Drivers are the components that are responsible for producing the sound signals within the headphones. This means that the best open-back headphone should have excellent quality. Luckily, the headphones we just reviewed have some of the greatest drivers you can find. Since these are open-back ones, the drivers are not sealed, so they have to be sturdy and durable. Magnetic drivers are common for producing high-quality sounds.
If you want authentic and accurate sound reproduction, you should look for headphones with magnetic or planar drivers. The driver size plays a crucial part because it determines how well some of the frequencies will be reproduced. If you want effective low frequencies, a driver size of 40mm or above is required. But remember, bigger drivers doesn’t mean better.
Size
All the headphones we’ve reviewed are over-ear, but they still differ in size. While most open-back headphones are supra-aural, which means they cover the ears entirely, some of them can also be circumaural, which covers the ear partially. Size does not affect the quality of the sun and vocals; however, it does impact the overall comfort and experience.
Your headphones should have appropriate padding on their ear cups and headband, providing you with the utmost comfort for longer periods of use. While extra stuffed padding can be tempting to buy, it’s not always a good thing because it can increase your headphones’ weight.
Many users automatically assume that the heavier the headphones are, the more durable it is. This is not true in most cases, especially now that technological advancements have improved the overall design and ergonomics of headphones. You should always choose one that is comfortably soft and has minimal weight. Some headphones are designed with metal-meshes, which makes them lighter than other brands.
Remember, comfort should always be at the top of your list when choosing open-back headphones since you could be wearing them for hours. If they are even slightly uncomfortable, it may affect your concentration, making it hard to get your job done effectively and to the best of your ability.
Pricing
Prices of open-back headphones vary, and this means that you have a wide range of quality choices as well. Luckily, you can find quality headphones that are under $100. If you are on a budget, these headphones can still provide you with the quality experience you’re looking for in open-back headphones. But if you’re willing to spend several hundred or even thousands of dollars, some headphones are specifically designed for audiophiles. These headphones are best for professional studio mixing, and for those who’d like to listen to music in peace accurately. Pricing also depends on what brand you choose. However, several popular brands are affordable but still produce excellent sound quality.
Adapters and cords
Other factors that you should consider when buying open-back headphones are their cable and connectors. Some headphones come with various types of connectors and adapters, allowing you to connect them to different audio sources. Typically, they use adapters that are a quarter inch or ⅛ inch. Some headphones have longer cords because they are designed for studios where you may need to go over long distances. For most settings, 3 feet should be enough.
Budget
Before deciding which one to purchase, you should always check how much you’re willing to spend. Open-back headphones are available in every price group so before you go crazy on checking the specification, make sure to check your wallet and analyze your spending capacity. We recommend having an average budget because going too cheap might cause you trouble in the long run, and buying premium headphones could affect your balance.
Brand name
Many people have claimed that well-known brands can’t usually deliver good products within medium price ranges, but in reality, there are many mid-range options. While iconic headphone brands are indeed living up to this hype, they still make sure that they give value for what you pay for. Popular brands may charge you more, but you would not be disappointed with the consistency and quality they deliver.
Don’t get carried away by brand names because rising music companies can surely provide you with an excellent listening experience if you give them a chance. Just remember, no matter what brand you choose, a cheap product can’t promise to deliver excellent sound quality.
Which are the Best Open-Back Headphones?
These five headphones can surely provide you with the immersive listening experience you’re looking for, although they each excel slightly more in different fields. But one thing is for sure, all of these headphones provide you with an accurate sound that open-back headphones can produce. You won’t go wrong with picking any of these five headphones. While Sennheiser HD 600 sure gives the best sound, Beyerdynamic DT-990 is undoubtedly our favorite.
Click on these links to purchase the Beyerdynamic DT-990, Sennheiser HD 600, AKG K 701, Philips SHP900, and Audio-Technica ATH-AD700 on Amazon.
