The truth is that most people don’t even know that there are open ear headphones or why they are different from closed back headphones. So, before we start taking a look at the best open back headphones, we should probably explain what they are and why you should consider them.
Most of us like to use headphones to listen to our favorite songs. It doesn’t matter if you do it at home, when you are traveling, or when you are exercising. The reality is that more and more people think headphones are a great way to relax. So, what makes the difference between open ear headphones and closed back headphones?
The main difference between open back headphones and closed back headphones is that the first ones are not noise cancelling. When you are wearing closed back headphones, they also serve to block out all the surrounding noise allowing you to simply listen to your favorite songs without no one bothering you. However, the best open back headphones are open at the back meaning that you won’t ever be isolated from the external noise around you. Even though they can, in fact, block some noise, the truth is that they don’t completely block it.
Discover the best headphones for you in 2021
So, why should you choose the best open back headphones? The reality is that on some occasions, it’s better not to be completely isolated from what’s happening around you. Just think about when you are walking in the street. You need to listen to the cars passing by you as well as someone may call out for you.
What should you look for in the best open back headphones?
The truth is that there are many factors to consider including your budget, the design, the comfort, the audio quality, among so many others. However, and ultimately, it’s about your personal preferences.
So, here are the 11 best open back headphones in 2021:
#1: Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone
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When you are looking for the best open back headphones, you absolutely need to consider Sennheiser. After all, you know that this brand is known for their high-quality products. And the Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone is no different.
One of the things that we really like about the Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone is their sound quality. The truth is that the Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone features a relaxing, full, and rich sound that is absolutely amazing.
The Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone features a lightweight aluminum voice coils to make sure that you get a better transient response. In addition, it comes with neodymium ferrous magnets to guarantee an excellent dynamics and an optimum sensitivity.
The Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphone doesn’t only provide you with a good audio quality as it is also very elegant and beautiful. These headphones include some open metal-mesh earpiece covers and they also come with a Kevlar-reinforced copper cable that is detachable.
#2: Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones
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In case you have a small budget but you want to make sure that you get the best open back headphones, then one of the best options that you have is the Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones.
In terms of the sound provided by the Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones, you couldn’t really expect any more. The truth is that the Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones feature a heavy treble, and they tend to emphasize some instruments like the acoustic guitar and cymbals, besides allowing you to notice the piano upper notes.
In terms of the design, the Grado SR80e Prestige Series Headphones are lightweight and they include some large ear cushions to make sure that you are comfortable when you are wearing them. Besides, the headband is made of a soft vinyl and is adjustable to make sure that they perfectly fit your head.
One of the things that we really like to see upgraded is the material used to cover the earpads. The truth is that you won’t have problems if you only wear them for an hour or so. However, if you’re like most people, you will be wearing them for many hours straight and the material will tend to wear out very easily.
#3: Hifiman HE400S Full-Size Planar Headphone
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When you are looking for good open ear headphones, one of the best choices that you have in 2021 is the Hifiman HE400S Full-Size Planar Headphone. The truth is that the Hifiman HE400S Full-Size Planar Headphone has a great sound quality that doesn’t boost any particular part of the treble, midrange, and the bass. And this is very rare to occur. The audio quality is really natural and it seems that you are living an incredible experience. And this is also, in part, due to the fact that the sound is not too bassy and it really is natural and spacious.
While some open ear headphones tend to produce a better sound when you plug them into a special amp, the truth is that you can also plug the Hifiman HE400S Full-Size Planar Headphone straight into a smartphone. And this is a big plus.
The Hifiman HE400S Full-Size Planar Headphone is incredibly lightweight and it features an innovative headband as well as some specially designed ear pads to increase the comfort.
The fact that the Hifiman HE400S Full-Size Planar Headphone is a planar headphone also ensures that you get the best audio quality.
#4: Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones
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The truth is that not everyone has a high budget to spend on the best open back headphones. If this is your case, then you will glad to know that the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones are a great option.
While there are better open ear headphones in terms of design, the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones look a bit fragile a bit cheap. However, the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones also include an adjustable headband, as well as the earpieces rotate on pivots at the sides. Besides, the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones are very comfortable and they don’t cause any kind of irritation even if you wear them for many hours straight.
One of the things that we really like about the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones is the natural sound they provide. You will listen to the higher and mid tones, and the bass is dampened. However, the stronger bass and lower tones don’t come out as much. So, the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones are perfect to listen to classical music, indie music, metal, and rock.
The Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones also comes with a 10-feet cord that allows you to easily connect the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones to your computer, for example. However, you can also use the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones with your tablet or smartphone as well.
Overall, the Beyerdynamic DTX 910 Stereo Headphones are one of the best entries to the open back headphones. They are very affordable and they don’t disappoint in any way. Quite the opposite.
#5: AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones
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One of the things that made us include the AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones on this list was its design. While most other open ear headphones on this list tend to be black, the AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones come in white. However, they don’t get dirty quickly. The truth is that the AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones are very resilient to the dirt, opposite to what you may be thinking. Besides, we really love the fact that the AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones feature soft and deep ear cups that are made of leather. This ensures that you will always be comfortable no matter if you’re planning on wearing the AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones for one hour or multiple hours a day. While the headband doesn’t include any padding, the truth is that it’s adjustable and they overall fit well on most heads.
The AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones also include a cord with 10-feet and is detachable.
Even though the AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones drivers are only 30mm (smaller than average), they are more than enough.
In terms of the sound quality, the AKG 2015 M220 Pro Stylist Over-Ear Studio Headphones are also very good. The bass and higher tones are the better part, followed closely by the mid tones.
#6: Superlux HD668B Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones
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When you are looking for professional open back headphones but you don’t have a very big budget, the Superlux HD668B Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones is one of the best options that you can consider.
One of the things that we really like about the Superlux HD668B Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones is their ability to edit and do voice reproduction. Even though there are better open back headphones for gaming, you can also use them. Even though they have some bass, it’s not really amazing. However, it will do the trick just fine.
When you first look at the Superlux HD668B Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones, you will most probably like the design. After all, the materials are smooth and look good and they are lightweight. Besides, you can easily adjust the head straps as well as they will probably fit most heads since they come with two separate cushions.
The cups of the Superlux HD668B Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones are also comfortable. Inside, they are made of a soft foam and they are then covered with leather.
One of the things that you will like about the Superlux HD668B Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones is that they come with two different cords that are detachable – one shorter and another one longer.
#7: Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones
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If there is something that immediately attracts most users to the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones is their design. The truth is that they are very beautiful and they are not extremely light that they seem fragile as they are not too heavy. Made of a material that seems to be very durable, the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones are mostly made of plastic. However, the headband features some side skirts instead of a traditional and main headband. Even though they make the difference in terms of design and looks, they are not very practical. The truth is that they don’t hold the headphones as they should and they tend to become loose.
In terms of the sound quality, the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones offer some decent high and mid tones. However, the lower tones and the bass could definitely be improved. The Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones tend to work best with audio layering and vocals since they are well balanced. In addition, the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones are also great for gaming.
The cups of the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones are well made and very comfortable. After all, they are really deep and soft meaning that you can wear these open ear headphones for many hours without any problems.
#8: Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones
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When you are looking for the best open back headphones, one of the headphones that you should definitely consider is the Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones.
While the Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones are not perfect, they are very close to it.
One of the things that you will immediately notice is the Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones design. The truth is that these open ear headphones are simply beautiful. The reality is that they seem to be a lot smaller in the pictures that they really are. However, this isn’t a bad thing. Quite the opposite. The truth is that the Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones offer you the comfort you need to wear them for hours if you want besides the fact that they look a lot more expensive than they really are. The Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones are quite robust without sacrificing any elegance. And this isn’t something easy to achieve. In addition, the headband that comes with a floating strap between also adds more cushioning.
In terms of the sound, we can definitely say that the Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-ear Headphones provide you with a wonderful experience. The vocals are incredibly clear, the high and mid tones are excellent, and the bass is also there.
#9: AKG K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones
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We just had to include the AKG K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones in this best open back headphones in 2021 list for several reasons. The truth is that they are beautiful, durable, and the audio is superb. In addition, even if you have a small budget, you will still be able to get them.
The AKG K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones design is beautiful. Even though they are mainly made of plastic, the truth is that it seems durable. In addition, they are extremely comfortable even though the headband doesn’t come with any padding. One of the reasons that lead to this is that the AKG K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones are lightweight enough to provide you the comfort you want but they are not that light that you need to keep adjusting them all the time or that will make them break easily.
In what relates to the sound quality, the AKG K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones are able to create you the right environment for listening to your favorite songs. While there are better options for gaming, for listening to music they will suit you pretty well.
#10: AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones
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While it may seem strange to add some more AKG headphones here, we just had to make an exception for the AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones.
The truth is that the AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones are not new. In fact, they have been around for quite some time already and they have never lost their charm. Users keep buying them because of their looks, their price, their sound quality, and their durability.
One of the things that we really like about the AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones is the comfort they provide. They don’t put that extra pressure on your ears but they are still lightweight enough for you to wear them for many hours. The AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones also comes with an auto-adjusting strap to make sure they fit all heads. Even though they are mainly made of plastic, this is a different kind of plastic since it feels smooth and soft. In addition, the cups have a great depth preventing any kind of irritation.
In terms of the sound quality, the AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones don’t disappoint either. The truth is that the AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones are perfect in case you like to listen to acoustic or metal music.
Is an open back headphone what you really need?
#11: Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones
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Last but not least, you also have the Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones as a great option for open ear headphones.
Sennheiser isn’t probably a new brand for you. And if you know the company, you know they make their headphones beautiful and providing a great audio. And the Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones aren’t the exception.
The Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones build quality seems remarkable as the materials used seemed to be not only expensive and well crafted. They also include a lot of padding and the cups are deep enough to make sure that they can accommodate even users with big ears.
One of the things that you will like to know is that besides the fact that the cups of the Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones rotate, you can also remove them and wash them.
In what concerns with the sound quality, the Sennheiser HD 558 Headphones don’t disappoint in any way. The truth is that they include some high and mid tones that are exceptional, as well as the vocals, can also be listened to with full clarity. While they have some bass, the truth is that it’s not overwhelming.
