Open-back headphones let you enjoy your music in a whole new way. Their open-ear design allows air and sound to pass through the ear cups at the rear of the speaker driver, resulting in a more natural sound output. Since the surrounding sounds are incorporated into the audio, it creates a more immersive experience, as if the sound were being presented in a live setting.
Best Open-back Headphones Overall: Sivga Luan
It’s tough to find a pair of open-back headphones that nail every frequency, but it’s not impossible. The Sivga Luan is more than happy to show off its performance in this regard.
Although balanced in its soundstage, the Sivga Luan’s lows and mids cozy up to the highs, which are exceptionally distinct. It lets the treble really cut loose without drowning out the rest of the mix. It also stands out due to the surprisingly good bass, enough to enrich any media, from music to games.
Performance aside, the Sivga Luan is a knockout in terms of build quality. The aluminum is both strong and lightweight, and the genuine wood is a really nice touch. It’s the kind of aesthetic that looks, feels, and is luxurious without being over the top.
Sivga Luan
Best Overall
From build quality to performance, the Sivga Luan is a champion of sound and aesthetics. As natural and balanced as its soundstage is, there’s a richness to its treble that’s backed up by its deep bass.
- Balanced soundstage with distinct highs
- Large earpad shape fits all sizes
- Soft velvet on the headband and earpads
- Beautiful aesthetic
- Respectable bass, but not quite enough if you?re a bass head
Best Budget Open-back Headphones: HIFIMAN HE400SE
You can definitely find quality open-ear headphones that won’t break the bank, like the HIFIMAN HE400SE. These magnetic headphones have been crafted to enable soundwaves to pass through them without causing interference, offering you an open-back performance for a closed-back price.
These planar headphones utilize conductive layers to cover almost all the diaphragm, giving you dramatically lower levels of distortion compared to more conventional dynamic headphones. They have a lightweight design, provide a decent level of comfort, and shouldn’t make your ears feel too hot, even after extended sessions.
However, you may be disappointed if you like your music dripping with bass. For the price, though, it’s very hard to argue with what’s on offer. If you’re shopping with a more modest budget, the HIFIMAN HE400SE offers a great balance between performance and value.
HIFIMAN HE400SE Stealth Magnets Open-Back Headphones
Best Budget
$99 $149 Save $50
Enjoy immersive, superior sound without breaking the bank with the HIFIMAN HE400SE open-back headphones. These planar headphones offer dramatically reduced levels of distortion, allowing you to concentrate on the music and experience truly impressive sound quality.
- More affordable option
- Reduced levels of distortion
- Good overall sound balance
- Lightweight
- Sub-bass tones lack depth
Developers put a lot of thought into sound mixing, so if you appreciate immersion, the Corsair Virtuoso PRO is built to deliver. The headset delivers a rich soundstage with an emphasis on highs and a good kick from the bass. It’s an excellent experience if you tend to unwind with single-player games.
For multiplayer experiences, the Corsair Virtuoso PRO comes with a detachable uni-directional microphone that narrows the recording pattern and is less susceptible to picking up background noise.
The Corsair Virtuoso PRO can be worn comfortably for long gaming sessions. Not only is the fabric soft and plush, but its open-back design lets air naturally flow through, cooling your ears at the same time.
Corsair Virtuoso Pro
Best for Gaming
$150 $200 Save $50
For an immersive experience, the Corsair Virtuoso PRO is designed to bring those unheard sounds to the forefront with its rich, detailed, and clear soundstage.
- Remain cool and comfortable over long periods of time
- Detachable uni-directional microphone
- Plays nicely with Elgato Wave Link software
- 50mm graphene drivers
- Lacks built-in controls, like a volume wheel
The Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X provides great bass, midrange, and treble, with a good soundstage for mixing and mastering. The entire frequency spectrum is well represented here, and they deliver excellent spatial, transparent sound.
The STELLAR.45 sound transducer provides you with a consistently reliable sound stage that doesn’t suffer from distortion, even at high-pressure levels. With studio-quality sound, you can enjoy a granular level of detail listening to music or gaming, picking out every detail with impressive clarity. They’re comfortable to wear and reasonably lightweight too, making them suitable for longer sessions.
Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X
Best for Mixing
$235 $269 Save $34
Stay on track in the studio with the Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X Open-Back Headphones. Their STELLAR.45 sound transducer delivers unrivaled performance in the studio headphone class, letting you hear every aspect with pinpoint precision.
- Studio quality sound
- Minimal distortion
- Robust design
- Ideal for mixing
- Clunky looking design
- Lacking a bit in terms of comfort
Best Open-back Headphones for Audiophiles: Sennheiser HD 800 S
The Sennheiser HD 800 S is the audio equivalent of stepping out of the dark into piercing bright light. Boasting twin 56-millimeter ring radiator transducers and innovative absorber technology, these premium headphones are for serious music lovers.
Their unique earcup design angles soundwaves to create a deep and satisfying spatial audio experience that picks out every nuance in your music. There’s a vibration-damping chassis built from aerospace-grade materials to eliminate sound distortion. And the hyper-fast response from the transducers provides incredible detail across all frequencies.
Sound separation is excellent, bringing out the best in every instrument and effect, and handmade microfiber ear pads provide plenty of comfort to complement the sound quality.
Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System
Best for Audiophiles
$1350 $1700 Save $350
If you’re serious about getting the most out of your music, the Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphones are for you. An audiophile’s dream, these open-back headphones deliver on every level. Enjoy sumptuous sounds like never before with these premium headphones.
- Breathtaking sound quality
- Vibration damping
- Incredible comfort
- Hyper fast response
FAQ
Q: Why would I use open-back headphones?
Because of the way open-back headphones are designed—air passing through the ear cups, mainly—the soundstage has a much more natural flair to it. When listening to music, it’ll sound like the song is being played around you rather than directly in your ears. This is fantastic for creating a more immersive experience!
Q: Does sound leak out of open-back headphones?
Yes. Between open-back and closed-back headphones, open-back headphones tend to leak out sound. While it varies between headphones, it’s unavoidable due to the nature of the design.
Q: How do I know if my open-back headphones are too loud?
Here’s a handy trick for gauging the volume of your open-back headphones: have the headphones straddle your thigh. That way, you can adjust the volume and immediately know if your headphones are too loud. This works with other headphones, too, and not just open-back.