While headphones offer a convenient way to listen to music without disrupting the peace of people around you, they can totally isolate you from the environment. As such, all of your conscience will be in the “world of music” to the extent that you will not know what is going in your environment. This is quite dangerous, especially if you are walking on a busy street. Luckily, you can conveniently avoid the downsides of ordinary headphones by going for open back headphones.
Unlike ordinary headphones, open back headphones have a wide soundstage to give you the impression of listening to a quality speaker set up in a desirable room. They reduce the level of isolation between you and your surrounding while delivering an immersive listening experience.
Should you be looking for one, this buyer’s guide on how to find the best open back headphone is for you. Let’s get started.
- The Sound Quality: What matters most in an open back headphone is the sound quality. That being said, an open back headphone with poor sound quality is as good as useless. Therefore, be sure to go for a headphone that has great bass as well as clear and crisp highs and mids. Well, you can achieve that by checking the quality of neodymium drivers and other features that improve sound quality.
- Comfort & Fit: The headphone you go for should be comfortable. On that note, consider headphones with leatherette headbands. Also, the headphone you go for should be able to allow air to circulate properly while you are using it. That aside, your headband should be adjustable, so it can fit your head perfectly. This is because headbands that are not adjustable are likely to fit too tight or loose, thereby, compromising comfort.
- Durability: No one enjoys buying an open back headphone only to use it a few days and then it breaks. Therefore, ensure the headphone you go for is made of strong materials like ABS construction. Such materials give headphones whopping durability, thereby, making them reliable and, to some extent, economical.
We have also provided the top 10 best open back headphones reviews in 2021 with the hope that you will come out of this compilation satisfied.
Table of Contents
- 10. Ghostek Black Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
- 9. Monoprice 116050 Monolith M1060 Headphones
- 8. Koss UR40 Collapsible Over-Ear Headphones
- 7. HIFIMAN HE-400I Planar Magnetic Headphones
- 6. Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Headphone
- 5. AKG Green Q701 On-Ear Headphones
- 4. Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones
- 3. Sennheiser HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone
- 2. Philips Black Over-ear Headphones (SHP9500S)
- 1. Sennheiser HD 598 SR Open-Back Headphone
10. Ghostek Black Wireless Bluetooth Headphones
These headphones are all about quality. Their headband is made of premium quality leather to give you the much-needed comfort. The headband also features mesh, which helps wick away moisture to literally keep your head cool. In addition, these headphones are equipped with Bluetooth technology to allow for wireless connection. They also come with a 3.5mm auxiliary audio line cable for connecting them to non-Bluetooth devices. The ear cups of these headphones are foldable, so you can easily store them when they are not in use. The headphones are backed by a 1-year warranty for great buying.
| PROS | CONS |
| Comes in a nice, quality box | Has a few quality control issues, but works great |
| Extremely comfortable for long hours of use | |
| Delivers crisp and clear sound | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
9. Monoprice 116050 Monolith M1060 Headphones
Ask us and we’ll tell you that one of the best ways to experience your music collection is to use these headphones. They not only produce a detailed aural landscape but also resolve all the sonic detail from the best recordings. And that is down to the fact that they are equipped with a 106mm planar driver. Also, these headphones have perfectly balanced sound, incredible imaging, and low distortion to give you amazing results every time you use them. Apart from delivering quality performance, the headphones are built with comfort in mind. That being said, they have comfy ear pads that are made of faux leather.
| PROS | CONS |
| Build quality and sound quality are unrivaled | Comfort could be better |
| Beautifully made and presented | |
| The bass is accurate and detailed | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
8. Koss UR40 Collapsible Over-Ear Headphones
If you have problems finding headphones that fit you perfectly, the Koss UR40 Collapsible Headphones may be the right product to put your money on. Their headband is adjustable, and this enables them to perfectly fit different head sizes and shapes. Additionally, these headphones have closed leatherette ear cushions that form a light seal around the ears to further give you comfort. And when it comes to sound, their titanium-coated and high-polymer diaphragms do everything to improve sound accuracy. It is beyond doubts that these are the best quality headphones you are yet to come across.
| PROS | CONS |
| The price is affordable | Not made of the strongest ABS, but will definitely last longer with proper care |
| Very comfortable and light | |
| Nice bass and good mids and highs | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
7. HIFIMAN HE-400I Planar Magnetic Headphones
In order to enable these planar magnetic headphones to deliver critical listening for studio and home, HIFIMAN has focused on equipping them with premium quality features only. For instance, the manufacturer has made the headphones with ABS polymer ear cups to make them incredibly durable. They have also increased the efficiency of 93dB to allow these headphones to be driven with a small amplifier or even be used with a smartphone or portable audio player. These headphones are slightly over 12 ounces; hence, they are 30-percent lighter than most planar magnetic headphones.
| PROS | CONS |
| Very comfortable for long hours of listening | The headband is a little tight |
| The sound quality is amazing | |
| The transient response is fast | |
| The open back design gives a broader soundstage | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
6. Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Headphone
What makes this open back headphone one of the best are the lightweight aluminum voice coils, which enable it to deliver a transient response. Also, there are neodymium ferrous magnets that maintain excellent dynamics and optimum sensitivity. To further improve the performance of the headphone, Sennheiser has gone an extra mile to equip the unit with a sophisticated design. Plus they have elegantly finished the headphone in gray and black to enhance its aesthetics. Ideally, you will find the earpiece covers of this headphone a bonus.
| PROS | CONS |
| The sound is neutral and crystal clear | Does not give much bass |
| The construction is quality for maximum performance | |
| Fits comfortably to allow for long hours of listening | |
| Works great for the price | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
5. AKG Green Q701 On-Ear Headphones
Sparkling harmonics, unequaled realism, and incredible low distortion are what make these headphones the best sounding headphones ever. The headphones also have evolutionary flat-wire voice coil technology that ensures superb transient sound as well as extremely accurate sound. Additionally, they are equipped with patented varimotion 2-layer diaphragm, which contributes to accurate bass response and sparkling highs. About comfort; the headphones have 3-d-form ear pads, which fit perfectly. Besides, these headphones boast an open-back design to further provide comfort. They work great and we believe they have everything you want.
| PROS | CONS |
| Very lightweight and works flawlessly | The manufacturer should improve the longevity |
| Durable and offers great sound quality | |
| The soundstage is very full | |
| Well balanced and very comfortable | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
4. Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones
To enhance the overall detail, the Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones offer an enhanced bass resonance. The headphones have also been designed to give superb sound quality, so you can enjoy listening to your favorite music. They come with a mini stereo plug that has a ¼-inch adaptor to ensure maximum convenience. What’s more, their driver design has been upgraded to make sure their performance is at par. The headband is made of soft vinyl for comfort and is adjustable to give a perfect fit. In addition, these headphones have large ear cushions to promote comfort as well.
| PROS | CONS |
| The price is within an affordable range | The durability of the construction is below par |
| The headband fits well | |
| The sound quality is good | |
| The bass is very solid and not boomy | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
3. Sennheiser HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone
Because Sennheiser is a trustworthy brand, they have backed the headphone with a 2-year warranty to give you peace of mind when making a purchase. However, Sennheiser understands that a warranty only does not make a headphone the best. So, they have gone an extra mile to equip the headphone with neodymium ferrous magnet systems to allow for excellent dynamic response and optimum sensitivity. They have also designed the headphone to be directly connected to stationary Hi-Fi components of the best quality. Well, some of these components include SACD, CD, and DVD-A players.
| PROS | CONS |
| Delivers warm sound with pleasant soundstage and great extension | It may be a little uncomfortable at first |
| Very comfortable after getting used to it | |
| Solidly built and looks great | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
2. Philips Black Over-ear Headphones (SHP9500S)
The quality of Philips brands is undoubtedly the best. That’s why it is no surprise that these headphones are the second on our list. In our opinion, they are the best studio headphones one can buy. This is because they come equipped with 50mm neodymium drivers that offer a full spectrum of sound. Their frequency response is from 12 – 35,000Hz, and this enables them to give the best results. Additionally, these headphones are incredibly comfortable with their double layered headband cushion and breathable ear cushion. Because of the comfort, expect to listen to your favorite songs for a pretty long time.
| PROS | CONS |
| Gives great sound and fit | Headphones are a little loose around the ears |
| The price is a bargain | |
| Great for music and gaming | |
| Ear pads are very comfortable | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
1. Sennheiser HD 598 SR Open-Back Headphone
We complete our reviews for the best products with the Sennheiser HD 598 SR Open-Back Headphone. It is a premium quality headphone that is lightweight and ergonomically designed to give you maximum comfort. Its headband is made of padded leatherette, while its luxurious velour ear pads are covered. The headphone also comes with two cables where one has an inline single button remote with microphone for taking calls. It is made with precision, so it can deliver connoisseur quality sound for optimum enjoyment.
| PROS | CONS |
| Very comfortable and delivers quality sound | The bass is a bit weak, but that is nothing |
| The open back design improves comfort | |
| The price will not break the bank | |
| Light and snug for convenience | |
| Highs and mids are crisp and clear with detail | |
| Buy on Amazon | More Information |
Conclusion
Open back headphones are worth considering if you are looking to make your listening experience more immersive than ever before. They are great for gaming and, of course, listening to music. Since they leak a lot, open back headphones are not the best gadget for outdoor use. Nevertheless, that is minor, considering their performance. So, go ahead and grab one from the brands we have reviewed.
