If you've ever used a pair of over-ear or on-ear headphones, chances are they had a closed-back design. Unlike open-back headphones, which try to create a natural listening experience by letting outside noise in and audio leak out, closed-back headphones keep music close to the ear by blocking background noise and limiting audio leakage. These headphones are more versatile and better suited for commutes, outdoor strolls, and working with others around you. They also tend to have more bass than their open-back counterparts.
We've tested over 885 pairs of headphones, and below are our recommendations for the best headphones with a closed-back design to buy. For more, check out our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones and the best headphones.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Closed-Back Headphones
The Focal Azurys are the best closed-back headphones we've tested. These premium over-ears from the French audiophile brand come equipped with aluminum and magnesium drivers for a distortion-free listening experience with great driver matching. Their sound profile is on the warmer side, with a prominent bass response, balanced mids, and a recessed treble range that helps mitigate ear fatigue over long listening sessions. The frequency response doesn't deviate much from this warm sound profile, but you'll need to be careful when adjusting the fit, as it can be challenging to get consistent audio delivery.
As you'd expect at this price point, the Azurys have a good build quality. They're built from premium metals and soft memory foam padding. The latter contributes to their highly comfortable fit, providing plush padding for your ears that's malleable enough to be comfortable if you wear glasses. The closed-back design also provides a degree of passive attenuation, which can be handy if you use them for studio tracking. If you prefer planar magnetic designs, or if the Focal are unavailable in your region, consider the Audeze LCD-S20. The Audeze offer a similar sound profile to the Focal, and our unit had slightly better-matched left and right drivers. However, the Focal are a bit more comfortable over long listening sessions and come with an in-line microphone, which is relatively uncommon for wired designs. It's far from the best mic we've tested, but it's still nice to have.
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Best Mid-Range Closed-Back Headphones
If you're happy to compromise a little on build quality to keep costs down, the FIIO FT1 are a great pick. They stand out thanks to their natural wood ear cups, which are available in different shades. FIIO's portable amps and audio players have a reputation for punching above their price tag, and their headphones are no exception. With the FT1, you get a very comfortable fit, a luxurious zip-up case, and a selection of cables to cater to different listening needs. The sound profile serves up a healthy dollop of bass, injecting energy into dance-hall rhythms and techno beats, while the mid and treble ranges align well with our target, making for detailed vocals and nuanced cymbal hits.
Our unit featured well-balanced L/R drivers for an even stereo image, as well as a frequency response that mostly stayed true to the warm sound profile. Unfortunately, like the Focal Azurys, they're hampered by disappointing frequency response consistency. Those who wear glasses will be particularly affected by this, as the fussy fit can cause a drop in the bass response. The FIIO aren't as well-built as our more expensive picks, too: while initial construction issues have been resolved, the swiveling yokes still feel quite stiff. If build quality is a priority, you can check out the evergreen and highly durable Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO instead. They lack a bit of bass compared to the FIIO, though, and the sharp peak in their mid-treble can be fatiguing over long listening sessions.
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Best Budget Closed-Back Headphones
See all our test resultsPeaks/DipsBuild quality tends to take a big hit at the budget price point, and the Audio-Technica ATH-M20x are no exception. Their frame feels cheap, especially compared to the FIIO FT1. Their exposed audio cable also makes them more prone to damage over time. However, their warm sound profile is worth considering if you want audiophile-style headphones at a more digestible price.
Although they don't reproduce low-bass thump and rumble as well as the FIIO, their bass range has a bump in the mid to high bass that adds punch and warmth to your mix, and ensures sounds like disco basslines still feel full and groovy. That bump doesn't clutter or muddy the mid-range, so vocals and instruments remain clear, present, and detailed in your tracks. A big dip in the treble range means voices are pushed back slightly in the mix, and sibilants and cymbals are dulled. These over-ears also struggle to block background noise, which can be frustrating when listening to audio in a moderately noisy room.
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Best Premium Closed-Back Headphones
See all our test resultsPeaks/DipsThe Focal Stellia are the best closed-back headphones we've tested if you want to spare no expense. Their high cost hurts their appeal, but if you're looking for the best, these are worth checking out. Thanks to their leather and aluminum design, these luxury cans offer a build quality unmatched by others on this list, including our top pick, the Focal Azurys. Although heavy, the Stellia still feel comfortable enough for long listening sessions.
Their warm sound ensures your favorite techno tracks have plenty of boom. Vocals and instruments come across as clear and present in mixes, and highs don't fatigue your ears. However, their recessed treble diminishes vocal detail just a touch. They're also prone to inconsistencies in audio delivery, and you'll notice a drop in bass if you have thick hair or wear glasses, as this can break the seal the pads have on your head. That said, the audio they reproduce does feel like it's coming from inside your head. If you want a more open-sounding pair, try the Sennheiser HD 820. They're cheaper, though still high-end, and can create a wider, out-of-head audio experience. Unfortunately, their sound profile is a bit boxier, and vocals and instruments sound a bit harsher than they do on the Focal.
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Best Wireless Closed-Back Headphones
If you prefer wireless headphones, consider the Sennheiser HDB 630. These high-end over-ears offer an audiophile experience you can take on the go thanks to handy features like active noise cancelling (ANC), multi-device pairing, and a built-in mic. Since they're Bluetooth-compatible, they support aptX Adaptive, a codec designed to stream high-quality audio with low latency. They feature a remarkably balanced default sound profile that delivers tight, punchy kicks, detailed vocals, and a controlled high-end. Their sound is also incredibly customizable: the usual EQ presets are accompanied by graphic and parametric EQs, allowing for fine-grained tuning.
These comfortable, very well-built cans come with a hard carrying case to protect them from damage. They do a great job of blocking background noise like the rumble of bus engines and ambient chatter. With their ANC on, they last over 54 hours continuously, so they'll rarely need recharging. That said, they suffer from similar frequency response consistency issues to our other picks, meaning you'll need to take time adjusting the fit to ensure consistent audio delivery.
Notable Mentions
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RØDE NTH-100M:
The RØDE NTH-100M are closed-back headphones with a detachable mic, which is handy if you want to use them for gaming or streaming. Their sound isn't as flat as the FIIO FT1, and they don't feel particularly well-built.
See our review -
AKG K361:
The AKG K361 are lightweight, closed-back headphones with a mid-range price. While they're similarly well-built to the FIIO FT1 and have a similar sound profile, they aren't quite as comfortable and don't come with a carrying case.
See our review -
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless:
For the budget-conscious audiophile on the go, the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Wireless have a similar sound profile to the Sennheiser HDB 630. They have a dip in the mids and are lighter on the bass, but you can tweak the EQ with their app. However, their price shows in the comparatively plasticky build, and you don't get ANC like you do with the Sennheiser.
See our review -
Sony MDR-7506:
The Sony MDR-7506 are classic closed-back over-ears. They have a brighter sound than the FIIO FT1, which is good for identifying audio artifacts in professional use, but can be fatiguing over time. They deliver audio more consistently than the FIIO, though, regardless of your anatomy.
See our review
Recent Updates
May 26, 2026:
The Focal Azurys and Audeze LCD-S20 are floating around the same price right now, so we've shortened this list. The Focal are still our top pick, since they're a touch more comfortable and come with an in-line mic, which adds a little versatility. The Audeze are now an alternative for fans of planar magnetic designs. Finally, the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 PRO are getting hard to find online, so we've removed them from our Notable Mentions.
Feb 25, 2026:
We've overhauled this article, making major changes to our picks. We've added the Focal Azurys as the top pick, with the Audeze LCD-S20 as our upper mid-range choice. The FIIO FT1 are the new mid-range pick, while we've added the Sennheiser HDB 630 are the 'Best Wireless' option. We've also made changes throughout the text and to the Notable Mentions.
Apr 18, 2025:
We've added the AKG K361 to our Notable Mentions for their balanced sound, but they're not one of our top picks because their lighter clamping force means they don't deliver a consistent sound with each wear, especially if you have long hair or a larger head.
Jan 22, 2025:
We've updated this text to bring it into line with changes made as part of our Test Bench 1.8 update, but we haven't changed our picks.
Oct 25, 2024:
We checked that all our picks are up-to-date and in stock, but haven't changed them.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best headphones with a closed-back design to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you'd like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for closed-back headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.