10 Best Open-Back Headphones with Spacious Sound in 2024

Here are the best open-back headphones at different prices.

These are perfect for home listening, studio work, and mixing with open, spacious Hi-Fi sound.

What are open-back headphones? A quick explanation

Open-back headphones are physically different from the typical closed-back headphones by having the headphone’s drivers open to the environment, giving the sound more room to “breathe.

But you’ll also hear ambient noise coming in, so these are only suitable for critical listening at home.

In many cases, the drivers inside are visible to the naked eye. They’re usually protected with an aluminum mesh because touching them can cause damage. Read more here.

Are open-air headphones similar?

No, open-air or open-ear headphones are different from open-back. The open-air headphones leave ears completely open to the environment. Earcups don’t cover the ears; they look much different and are best suited for activity. Find the top models here.

Their benefits

Open-back headphones have many advantages over closed-back models. Because the air the drivers push around isn’t trapped inside the earcup, there is:

1. Less sound distortion at high volumes, which results in more sonic details.
2. Bigger, spacious soundstage. They can portray a massive soundscape that feels very natural, especially if you like to listen to live recordings or classical music. It benefits all music genres.
3. They’re less sweaty. Most open-back models have velour earpads (that’s not always the case). With the combination of textile pads and no barricade behind the driver, your ears sweat considerably less than with closed leather pads.
4. The sound is airier. Without enclosure, the audio feels less congested and is easier to listen to.

Because of all these benefits, many of the most expensive high-end audiophile headphones have an open-back design. But you can get them even under $100. See our list.

The 10 Best Open-Back Headphones

1. Sennheiser HD 800 S

Sennheiser HD 800 S are overall the best open-back headphones with accurate audio reproduction for true audiophiles.

These are the best open-back over-ear headphones from Sennheiser.

Sennheiser hit the right frequency response with HD 800 S. Nothing sticks too far out to cause sibilance or distortion. While dynamic drivers do have their physical limitations, this is definitely their best headphone implementation.

Sennheiser is known for designing out-of-this-world-beautiful headphones. HD 800 S are a clear example of that. Thanks to the headphone design, they’re shaped to ensure a perfect fit for human ears. Dense earpads with soft fabric provide fantastic comfort when wearing headphones for hours.

Their exceptional build quality is top-notch, with a quality plastic body, aluminum cups, and removable cables. With good care, these can last for years if not decades.

For a long time, these are still a gold standard for excellent imaging and acoustic performance.

2. Philips Fidelio X2HR

Philips Fidelio X2HR are the best open-back headphones under $200.

If you’re looking for the best $200 open-back headphones, Fidelio X2HR are your top choice.

These are notorious for lacking low-end, but Philips somehow managed to make these quite bassy.

Thankfully, the lower frequencies don’t bleed into the middle range or treble, where you can still find tons of details. Furthermore, you get a good sense of the soundstage, making them suitable for gaming too.

Fidelio X2HR are built incredibly well. There is very little plastic on them, providing a premium-feeling experience when you hold them in your hands. Compared to other audiophile models, these are also very easy to drive from a phone.

Once they’re on your head, you can feel the exquisite comfort level provided by generous padding inside the velour pads. Since the dirt gets built up quite fast, check how to keep them clean.

Because of that, your ears don’t sweat at all, ticking another box under the “great comfort” section.

3. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro are the top open-back headphones for mixing.

If you need a trusted pair of headphones to reveal all the flaws in your studio mix, you should check the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro.

Bass delivers a good punch and attack, not disturbing the midrange, which is incredibly detailed and accurate. The same goes for the upper mids and lower treble, which are boosted to add clarity, although, at times, it can be sibilant.

All studio monitors from Beyerdynamic are made in Germany, which ensures a greater level of quality control. They’re built like a tank, with robust hard plastic ear cups and a metal frame dressed in padded leather.

DT 990 Pro open-backs come with velour earpads with thick padding. They really feel comfortable, like wearing a pillow on your head, as long as you get used to the headband pressure on top of the head.

For slightly more than $150 (or less), you’re getting a fantastic mixing and mastering tool that you can genuinely rely on.

Here are similar options:

• Best headphones for mixing
• Best audiophile headphones
• Best headphones under $100

4. Sennheiser HD 660 S

Sennheiser HD 660 S are the best headphones with an open back under $500.

Another fantastic open-back headphone from this German brand that provides an amazing audio experience.

HD 660 S combines everything good from HD 600/650 and makes it a little better.

Bass has a better impact and control, the midrange is a bit more detailed, and the treble range shows slightly more resolution.

Overall a well-balanced performance worthy of a reference headphone title.

These share an almost identical design compared to HD 600/650. The good thing about them is their durability and detachable dual-exit cables.

You can easily rock these over-ears for decades since the spare parts are always available. The cool thing is that you not only get replaceable cables, but you can also replace the earpads and headband padding.

Earcups are huge, providing a comfortable fit for extended periods, even for the most gigantic ear size. They come with velour memory foam earpads, which feel incredibly on your skin, and can also prevent sweating.

5. Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X

If you want to hear all the footsteps before your enemy, the Audio-Technica ATH-AD900X are the best open-back headphones for competitive gaming.

While you probably know Audio-Technica because of their M50x model, these are typical-looking headphones from this brand. The 3D Wing design might look weird, but the audio is incredible.

They lack a bit of bass response, but they make up with a superb mid-range and treble. They’re incredibly resolving in those frequencies, which is why most people use them for gaming since you can hear enemies long before seeing them.

These are the most unique-looking headphones on this list. While that 3D self-adjusting wing system looks flimsy, they’re doing a good job keeping the AD900X in their place.

They have big and perfectly round earcups with velour earpads that sit gently on your ears. Ear cups are large enough to go around your ears nicely.

These over-ears offer excellent breathability, with drivers so thin you can actually see through them. They come with a 6.3mm adapter if you want to connect them to Hi-Fi equipment.

6. Philips SHP9500

Philips SHP9500 the best open-back headphones for $75.

A budget-friendly open-back alternative to Fidelio X2HR, with similar sonic capabilities.

Like the Fidelio model, these offer wide frequency response, a well-balanced sound signature, and a massive sound stage.

They are an excellent option for a gaming headset and listening to music, especially if you want the faintest details in your music.

The earpads’ fabric is extremely breathable, preventing them from getting too sweaty after extended listening sessions. They’re also generously padded, providing a cloud-like sensation when you wear them.

Their solid build quality is exceptional, considering their low price tag. Drivers are covered with a metallic mesh, on which you can also see big imprinted L/R letters. 1.5m copper cable with gold-plated connectors is replaceable.

SHP9500 used to be more expensive, costing above $100, making them a steal at their current $75. They’re top-notch audiophile headphones for an affordable price.

P.S. Sometimes, they’re not available at the MSRP price, it’s best to wait for it to drop or get a competitor.

7. Grado GW100 v2

Grado GW100 v2 are the best wireless open-back headphones with an on-ear design.

They look like someone brought them from the previous century, but they sound amazing.

Grado’s are known for their airy sound with an open soundstage. The bass is a bit lacking, but that’s something to be expected from an open-back design.

The design is classic Grado, with on-ear fit and foam earpads. They are comfortable headphones, even for long periods, thanks to light clamping force.

Since they’re geared towards audiophiles, they use high-quality Bluetooth codecs like aptX. That also ensures minimal latency for watching videos.

The battery life is pretty impressive, lasting for around 40 hours on a single charge. Just be aware that the microphone quality is nothing to brag about.

8. Sennheiser HD 560 S

Sennheiser HD 560 S are extremely well-balanced open-back headphones for natural sound.

Sennheiser nailed it with the HD 560 S, giving you a comfortable pair with exceptional neutrality for the price as well as a spacious soundstage.

A welcoming new addition to the Sennheiser HD lineup, the HD 560S headphones provide an excellent neutral listening experience under $200.

You get a very neutral sound, albeit slightly warm, and with plenty of detail retrieval in the treble. They’re the new audiophile’s choice on a “budget.”

The design is similar to other models in the HD lineup. They’re lightweight and have comfortable earpads, making them a great choice for hours of extended use.

Their open-back design ensures breathability and also widens up the soundstage. With a detailed treble, you can easily use the HD 560 S for gaming.

Also, the cable is quickly detachable if you need to upgrade it.

For incredibly natural sound, consider these.

9. RAPTGO x HBB HOOK-X

RAPTGO x HBB HOOK-X are fantastic open-back in-ear monitors we’ve tested. These are great for detail-rich sound on the go.

RAPTGO x HBB HOOK-X review

The latest RAPTGO IEMs (in collab HBB) output excellent audio quality with tons of details and control across the entire frequency response.

Hear the RAPTGO x HBB HOOK-X A/B Sound Test:

If you seek small details in your music for around $200, then HOOK x HBB should be on your radar. They’re slightly V-shaped but very controlled, thanks to planar magnetic and piezoelectric drivers.

Furthermore, they’re comfortable and stable thanks to the over-the-ear cable design.

Speaking of the cable, it’s thick and braided for extra protection. It uses 3.5mm unbalanced and 2.5mm & 4.4mm balanced interchangeable connectors.

The housing is also beautiful to look at, with all metal construction and open-back mesh that shows a little bit of that planar magnetic driver inside.

You can easily drive the IEMs using a smartphone, but you must use the grey ear tips to get the best sound quality.

If you’re looking for amazing audio from open-ear earphones for a reasonable price, check out the RAPTGO x HBB HOOK-X.

10. Samson SR850

If you prefer a cheap pair, the Samson SR850 are the best cheap open-back headphones we’ve tested with a well-balanced sound.

Samson SR850 review

These might not be drop-dead gorgeous, but if you seek the best price-to-performance ratio, Samson SR850 are your best budget option.

In this price category, the audio fidelity is outright fantastic. While you can get similar performance from other best cheap headphones like Superlux HD668B, Samson’s neodymium drivers are more balanced, with more bass and controlled treble.

Supposedly, these use the same drivers as much more expensive headphones. To cut down the cost, build quality feels very cheap.

They’re entirely plastic, which can be a good thing. This makes the budget cans very lightweight for their size. Comfort is decent, especially if you don’t wear glasses.

SR850 are also quite sturdy, despite lacking high-quality materials. We have had them for years now, and the only thing that feels slightly loose is the spring for the self-adjusting headband.

Honorable Mentions to Consider

CCA Trio

AKG K240 Studio

Sennheiser HD 600/650

Audio-Technica ATH-R70x

HIFIMAN Ananda

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro

Open-Back Headphones are Good for:

Studio work: If you work in a music studio, you know how important it is to listen to your mix with neutral headphones. Since closed-back models tend to have slightly colorized audio due to bass boost, open-back headphones more easily achieve perfect neutrality. This makes them great for mixing and mastering in a studio environment.

Home listening: Because open-back headphones leak music while also letting in a lot of background noise, the best place to listen to them is at home. In a quiet environment, in a room where no one bothers you. So you can enjoy your favorite music in peace. With enhanced details and a big soundstage, your music will reach a whole new dimension.

They’re not good for:

• Open headphones aren’t suitable for monitoring because the sound leak is audible in the microphone.
• Bad at blocking out background noise because they have little noise isolation.
• Unsuitable for listening in loud environments, like public places, streets, and on a commute; they let in all sounds.

How to Pick the Best Open-Back Headphones for You?

Open-back models aren’t limited to premium prices. You can get an excellent pair for as much as $40. However, we know it can be tricky to find yourself a perfect headphone without trying them upfront. Ask yourself this:

What do you intend to use them for?

First, you need to know why you need them. Is it for:

• Casually listening to music
• Watching movies
• Playing games
• Professional work

Knowing these things is important when looking for a new pair.

For instance, if you need something for a studio, you should probably look for options with a flat sound. If you need them for movies, you’re better off with bassier headphones.

For single-player gaming in a quiet room, open-ears are great, but if playing with friends, the microphone might pick up the sound leakage from open drivers and annoy your friends.

What’s your budget?

Give yourself a budget. Everyone wants the latest and greatest, but you can quickly find yourself browsing through more expensive headphones than you can afford.

It’s easier to set a limit, for example, under $100, and then search.

This is the best way to find the best price-to-performance headphones for a given price range.

Check out reviews and forums

Read reviews based on testing. There are many that favor a specific brand, giving a false product image. Look for reviews that are honest and point out the bad things. No headphones are perfect, and there should be no perfect scores.

Forums are also helpful when trying to decide if you want to buy a specific model or not. However, people tend to like different things, and while some might love a particular model, you might end up hating it entirely.

How We Test

We test headphones on 9 key decision-making categories, which you can read all about here: Our testing and scoring methodology.

We take into account different use cases and types of headphones. In this case, most of them are wired over-ear models. By comparing their performance in different categories, we pick the best performers we can confidently recommend.

How did we choose the models?

We primarily focused on 1 key decision-making category, and that is audio quality. With comfort being secondary and other categories tertiary.

We chose from 193 tested headphones and those we tried and have hands-on experience with. Admittedly, we didn’t take all the measurements for all models yet. Many of these were only available to us on Hi-Fi headphone events. Then we ranked them for different user needs and prices: from general to specific and cheaper towards the bottom.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions