Best Open Back Headphones – Reviews & Guide

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If you are looking for a nice pair of headphones with great sound quality, you probably came across some amazing open-back headphones. Let’s clear up a few things about what exactly these headphones are all about!

Talking about open-back headphones, are the ones where that allow the air to easily pass through the ear cups from the rear side of the speaker’s main driver. The majority of the costly high-end headphones are accompanied by the open-backs with which you will be able to get sound results that are clear and extra natural.

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Editor’s Choice
SENNHEISER-HD-660-S-Audiophile-Open-Back-Headphone
SENNHEISER HD 660 S Audiophile Open Back Headphone

Moreover, for regular utilization, open-back headphones are available in affordable models where they have immense capabilities to produce rich sound results.

As evident from the name, open-back headphones are physically different from any typical closed-back pair you have at home. The driver inside open-back headphones can easily be visible with your naked eye. These drivers are protected with aluminum mesh as touching them can cause damage.

Since the air that the driver has been pushing is not trapped inside the main ear cup, there are fewer chances of facing sound distortion.

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List of Top 5 Best Open Back Headphones 2024

Product ImageDetailsRatingPrice
Best for Music Production


Audeze-LCD-X-Over-Ear-Open-Back-Headphone
Audeze LCD-X Over Ear Open Back Headphone
4.9
/5
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Best for Gaming


HIFIMAN-Ananda-Magnetic-Open-Back-Headphones
HIFIMAN Ananda Magnetic Open-Back Headphones
4.5
/5
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Editor’s Choice


SENNHEISER-HD-660-S-Audiophile-Open-Back-Headphone
SENNHEISER HD 660 S Audiophile Open Back Headphone
5.0
/5
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Best Under 500


Audio-Technica-ATH-R70x-Professional-Open-Back-Headphones
Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Professional Open-Back Headphones
4.7
/5
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Budget Pick


Beyerdynamic-459038-DT-990-PRO-Open-Studio-Headphone
Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 PRO Open Studio Headphone
4.7
/5
Check Price

1. Best for Music Production: Audeze LCD-X Over Ear Open Back Headphone

“A great choice of open-back headphones for the music recorders with superior sound and comfortable fitting.”

Audeze-LCD-X-Over-Ear-Open-Back-Headphone

Our Rating:

What we liked:

  • Extremely comfortable
  • Powerful bass
  • Durable construction

What we didn’t like:

  • A bit bulky/heavy

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Audeze LCD-X over Ear Open Back Headphone is the first choice for people into a musician, recording engineers, or audiophiles alike. These best open-back headphones for music production have an efficiency of 103dB/1Mw with an impedance of 20 ohms which makes them perfect as reference quality headphones.

In addition, the headphone has the availability of large ultra-thin 106 mm diaphragms with Audeze’s proprietary Fazor elements and has double-sided magnetic arrays.

As a result, you will find the frequency response range from a maximum of 12Hz – 20kHz extended out to almost 50kHz. You will find the use of these headphones to be great in mixing the music and giving it superior quality effects.

Even if you wear it for long hours, you will find it superbly comfortable as the ear pad is designed with superior leather and has an ergonomic design. Such sophisticated and comfortable craftsmanship allows the LCD-X to offer the best possible audio.

Highlighted Features

  • This headphone works best for recording engineers, musicians, and audiophiles alike
  • It has an efficiency of around 103dB/1Mw with an impedance of 20 ohms for great sound quality
  • The frequency response is from 12Hz – 20kHz, which is extended out to 50kHz
  • Earpad designs are made from luxurious leather and have an ergonomic design for great comfort and sophistication

2. Best for Gaming: HIFIMAN Ananda Magnetic Open-Back Headphones

“Ultra-find headphones with amazing sound quality and low distortion for your daily use.”

HIFIMAN-Ananda-Magnetic-Open-Back-Headphones

Our Rating:

What we liked:

  • Maximum durability
  • High sensitivity
  • Comfortable for ears
  • Modern, sleek design

What we didn’t like:

  • Build quality is slightly poor

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Ananda is the result of lightweight, developed, and ultra-fine planar drivers with power sensitivity and unmatched agility. Hence, the high sensitivity lets the users use it virtually with any portable device or smartphone. Moreover, it grants amazing sound quality and low distortion.

Ultra-thin diaphragm for the lightning-fast response with uncanny detail and the Ultra-low distortion window shade grill design somehow reduces the sonic reflections for clearer sound.

We recommend them even for gaming entertainment. An asymmetrical ear cup will follow the natural shade of the human ear.

Fact: The hybrid headband design of the headphones is lightweight to offer incredible levels of long-term comfort.

Sleek and modern matte black finishing is fully combined with the metal construction for maximum durability. Another best thing about this amazing headphone is that it is available with the updated 3. 5mm headphone connectors, which grant maximum survivability and improved longevity!

These best open-back headphones for gaming have a frequency response of 8Hz – 55K Hz, and the level of sensitivity level is 103dB with an impedance of 25 Ohm.

Highlighted Features

  • Has high sensitivity to enable the user to use it portably with any device
  • Ultra-Thin Diaphragm for lightning-fast response with the uncanny detail
  • Available with Window Shade Grill design for reducing the sonic reflections
  • Asymmetrical Ear Cups offer great sound effects with long-term comfort

3. Editor’s Choice: SENNHEISER HD 660 S Audiophile Open Back Headphone

“Get a pure listening experience with this open-back headphone being strong and lightweight.”

SENNHEISER-HD-660-S-Audiophile-Open-Back-Headphone

Our Rating:

What we liked:

  • Accurate and transparent sound
  • Versatile connectivity
  • Superior comfortable

What we didn’t like:

  • Little heavy
  • Pricey but worth buying

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HD 660 S by SENNHEISER is our top choice, as it is specially designed for pure listening pleasure. It has an open-back architecture that is lightweight and strong. Hence, it allows airflow to the ears by giving you a cool and easy-going listening experience.

Large in size, elliptical ear cups have been shaped, following the anatomy of the ear. It features soft velour covering the ear cushions.

Moreover, it has thick headband padding that completes the comfort package to provide hours and hours of exceptional listening pleasure. You should buy it right now to give your music a better experience with the comfortable fitting of such headphones.

The HD 660 employs the newly designed transducers with lightweight aluminum voice coils. Furthermore, these best open-back headphones for ear transducers have been coupled with a diaphragm precision crafted from stainless steel fabric. This is how this whole combination results in an exceptional transient response with improved control of diaphragm movement.

Highlighted Features

  • A great and dynamic headphone with improved transducers for smoothly delivering low harmonic distortion
  • 150-ohm nominal impedance will permit a direct connection with the home and the mobile audio devices
  • Detachable cables with a reinforced nature will employ high-conductive OFC copper with low-handling noise
  • The frequency response is 10 to 41,000 Hz (10 dB) with an impedance of 150 ohms

4. Best Under 500: Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Professional Open-Back Headphones

“An improved headphone is offering superior sound quality for your daily professional use.”

Audio-Technica-ATH-R70x-Professional-Open-Back-Headphones

Our Rating:

What we liked:

  • Accurate and high-frequency sound
  • Comfortable fit for hours
  • Robust yet lightweight
  • Portable

What we didn’t like:

  • Pad cups are small

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Audio-Technica ATH-R70x Professional Open-Back Headphones have high-efficiency magnets with a pure alloy magnetic circuit design for reducing distortion. As a result, users will experience an extended and accurate high-frequency response.

The involvement of Carbon composite resin will improve the structural rigidity for providing a much more detailed sound transient response. It’s a complete spacious and natural open-back sound providing acoustically transparent and aluminum honeycomb-mesh housings.

Even if you wear it for prolonged hours, the fitting is extremely comfortable. Earp pads are feather lightweight and have breathable fabric for professional use. Thus, your ears will feel pain-free even after long hours.

These best open-back headphones under 500 are also available with the unique and dual-sided Detachable Locking Cable to ensure the proper stereo orientation. The box package is further included with the dual-sided straight cable and protective carrying pouch.

Highlighted Features

  • High-efficiency magnets with pure alloy magnetic circuit design reduce distortion and be an extended response with high high-frequency
  • Carbon composite resin helps to improve the structural rigidity for having a detailed transient response
  • Acoustically transparent with the aluminum honeycomb-mesh housing gives out a natural and extra spacious open-back quality of sound
  • Have breathable fabric ear-pads with durable wing support even at the long-wearing comfort

5. Budget Pick: Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 PRO Open Studio Headphone

“Amazing open-back headphones with outstanding tonal depth and mild bass effects.”

Beyerdynamic-459038-DT-990-PRO-Open-Studio-Headphone

Our Rating:

What we liked:

  • High wearing comfort
  • Impressive spaciousness
  • Great resolution
  • Affordable

What we didn’t like:

  • Not suitable for sensitive ear

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These amazing open-back studio headphones are hence a reliable tool for sound enthusiasts. Moreover, they have a wide stereo image with three-dimensional sound reproduction, making the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones a trustworthy companion for music producers.

These headphones have an outstanding tonal depth with which you can perceive some small changes at the time of mixing. You can even choose to make it call out as the circumaural headphone with the open-back design.

They offer exceptional spaciousness with detailed tonal depth. These headphones are the best budget open-back headphones to stay light in your pocket. You will be getting a pleasant sound experience with a treble boost and mild bass.

The bass is not yet fully overstated, but it is quite precise and will deliver sharp sound effects.

Headphones have single-sided cables with which you can comfortably put on or take off the set without any hassle. Moreover, it has adjustable and soft ear cups for extra comfort. The robust spring design of the steel headband hence ensures that the over-ear headphones are a secure fit.

Few Factors to Look for While Choosing the Best Open-back Headphones

Now let’s not waste time and look at a few of those important buying factors with which you can pick superior and best open-back headphones for mixing or for your daily use. Get down to the list below:

Purpose

This might sound weird, but it is important! Each one of the headphones is designed based on its specific purpose. So you should always ask yourself before shopping for what purpose you want to use the headphones. Well, this might help you to narrow down a few of the best choices.

Studio professionals should look for open-back headphones with flat frequency responses for prolonged use.

Sometimes the genre of music you are listening to also leaves a high impact. For example, for EDM lovers, bass-heavy headphones should be the first choice. Therefore, always try to choose the headphone set that goes in accordance with the reason you are using it. Go for it!

Price/Cost

This factor depends on your budget preferences! The price of the headphones will differ based on the brand, design, features, and comfort level it offers.

It would be hence best if you look for headphones that are reliable and affordable in your pocket. Keep this tip in mind to pick great quality headphones at an affordable cost.

Pick the right type

Never start shopping for the best entry-level open-back headphones if you have no clue about them. Instead, take some open suggestions and do a bit of research on open-back headphones.

Know what pros and cons they have and in what types they are available. Get in touch with friends who have already picked the best headphones on the basis of versatile styles.

Check the Range of Frequency

Frequency response is another important factor you need to be careful about. The normal range of best over-ear open-back wireless headphones is between 20 to 20,000 Hz to grant high-quality sound results. However, high-end headphones are always offering a large-scale range which is from 5 to 33,000 Hz.

High frequency does not mean that it will always provide better sound quality.

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Frequently Asked Questions {FAQs}

Q. Why you should choose open-back headphones for music purposes?

A. The reason to choose open-back headphones for music is that they are great for mastering and mixing purposes. However, they have audio leakage, which is higher as compared to the closed-back headsets.

Overall the sound quality turns out to be best with the open-back headphones as compared to the rest of the headphone types.

Q. What are semi-open back headphones?

A. Semi-open-back headphones are less closed-back, which is not closer to the speaker elements. Hence, these will allow the air to pass through between the main chambers, where they leak more sound and welcome greater noise. They are quite similar to open-back headphones.

Q. Do you need to have an amp to use open-back headphones?

A. Most of the headphones can work smoothly at 30 Ohm, but some work at the range of 50 Ohm. Suppose you can have music of the best quality with headphones with 50 Ohm or above. To have a set of headphones with high impedance levels, try to use an amplifier with it.

Our Verdict

Our top pick is SENNHEISER HD 660 S Open Back Headphone to woo your mind away. You will find this headphone set is equipped with improved transducers for offering low harmonic distortion. As a result, it provides a great balance of value, performance, and construction. Talking about the design, they are superbly comfortable to build with soft & thick padding.

 

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