Whether you’re looking for serious headphones, and seriousness means you’re wearing them in brilliant awe at home-or just over-ear headphones for your daily commute. Whether you’re looking for a pair, you’ll probably find yourself pondering the relative benefits of closed-back and open-back headphone designs. The difference can actually be quite serious.
Open-back headphones tend to create an airy and natural listening experience. It’s easy to wear for long periods of time, but there are important caveats.
Closed-back headphones, on the other hand, sound more intimate and provide excellent sound insulation. The model choices are enormous. Making decisions between them can be a headache.
If you’re in the upgrade market, it makes sense to decide when and where to use your new headphones the most.
99% of all headphone buyers listen to music on the move (that’s the point, you might wisely argue). It happens that a good pair of headphones is also an alternative to the Kick Ass Home Hi-Fi system.
Closed Back Headphones and Open Back Headphones: Purchasing Advice
The important thing is pretty clear if you’re shortlisting your headphones primarily to use them up. Battery life, general convenience, and perhaps noise canceling.
Home headphones are another fish kettle. Audio quality is probably the most important here, driver size and quality, as well as design and style.
Suppose you’re buying headphones because you don’t have the space to accommodate a pair of physical speakers, or because you don’t want to disturb your fictitious friends or family. Perhaps you have a compact bluetooth speaker for general use, but imagine a pair of premium headphones with a dedicated amplifier for important listening?
Inevitably, such headphones offer a different listening experience than large cabinet speakers. When AC / DC Angus Young delivers a monster, you can’t get the same physical reaction Back in black It’s a riff, but if you choose a can, you may get closer to the stage than you imagined.
So which style is best suited for Amon Amarth’s daily dose, open or closed?
Closed back headphones and open back headphones: difference
Open-back headphones are as described. The ear cups are not completely sealed. This does not mean that there are donut-like holes, but there are holes in the shell so that the headphone driver can interact with the environment. In a very literal sense, headphones can breathe.
This has obvious implications. For one thing, the isolation characteristics of open-back (sometimes called open-ear) headphones and closed-back (closed-ear) models are completely different.
With the open back model, you can pick up the atmosphere of the room. If you own a cockatiel, that’s bad news. The closed-back model provides better sound separation. When you crank up Rammstein, you can’t hear the squak from the parrot.
Open back headphones are especially popular in studio environments and are often worn by mix engineers.
Some describe the sound as more open and transparent. You don’t tend to get a sense of such head pressure. This makes it comfortable for long hours of listening.
Don’t think open-back headphones also need to be expensive. Many headphones are available at a reasonable price.
However, there are obvious caveats. Not only do they let in the noise of the surrounding room, but they also leak audio, which can be annoying to others in the room. This makes it completely unsuitable for outdoor use.
Not surprisingly, closed ear headphones come with a completely sealed ear cup. In many respects, this makes them the most practical choice. Ambient noise is effectively minimized without the need for a dedicated noise canceling feature.
Another typical feature of closed-back over-ear headphones is improved bass response. Some music fans really like this and, if not overcooked, it provides a visceral gut sound that works well with heavy rock.
be careful! But your ears get warmer faster – and it has nothing to do with the music you’re listening to.
Closed back headphones are also much more common and can be found on new and other wireless noise canceling models. Sony WH-1000XM5 (Opens in a new tab) – And wired audio fan headphones Meze Audio 99 Classics (Opens in a new tab)From budget to premium, in all price ranges.
If you’re interested in a spatial music mix, a closed over-ear is best. 360RealityAudio and Dolby Atmos Music are available on some of the best music streaming services, so you can deliver an immersive binaural listening experience with its controlled headspace.An increasing number of albums mixed with Dolby Atmos, including Def Leppard’s latest album Diamond Star Haros – This could be a clincher if you haven’t decided yet.
Closed-back and open-back headphones: the best closed-back
The Sony WH-1000XM5 (Opens in a new tab) The latest version of Sony’s best-selling noise canceling XM series headphones. These models feature a radically different design and an upgraded noise-cancelling engine, but retain all the smart AI features of the previous model.
in the meantime, Apple AirPods Max (Opens in a new tab) It boasts a gorgeous design, but carries high ticket prices. That said, these closed-back over-ear headphones are great, but you need to be an iPhone user to get the most out of them.
Finally, we are great Bowers & Wilkins PX7 (Opens in a new tab).. These headphones feature a chunky 46.3mm full-range driver, providing deep bass and pristine clarity for these wireless overears, and synthetic leather ear cushions keep you comfortable.
Closed-back and open-back headphones: the best open-back
Let’s take a look at the selection of the best open back headphones around.Initially Grado SR325x (Opens in a new tab) – Excellent wired high-end choice. Thanks to the sleek new 44mm driver and audio fan grade cables, we offer all the clean, clear sound at a really great price.
Next impressive Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X (Opens in a new tab).. These studio-grade wired headphones offer the benefits of an open-back design at an unexpected price.There is also Focal Clear MG (Opens in a new tab).. If you want to make a big investment in headphones, these premium focals are a serious temptation. Beautifully made with precision electronic equipment.
Finally, we are very impressive Philips Fidelio X3 (Opens in a new tab).. Featuring a velor ear cushion and a thick 50mm screwdriver, these smart looking wired headphones disguise the open back with Kvadrat fabric.
Closed Back Headphones and Open Back Headphones: Verdict
As long as you know what you’re working on, you’ll rarely be disappointed in choosing one or the other headphone camp. Ultimately, all headphone preferences are summarized in taste … or should I say music?
Personally, I like the open back model for important music listening and casual use at home. Great for wearing when working from home. However, there is no doubt that the closed-back design is quite practical. With a wide selection of wired audio fans and wireless models, there is always a big buy.
It’s also probably the most promising option, given the rise of 3D audio.