The 5 Best Closed-Back Headphones - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best closed-back headphones with a wireless connection that we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. These Bluetooth over-ears are one of the most comfortable we've ever tested thanks to their very lightweight design and well-padded ear cups and headband. They have easy to use physical controls, look and feel premium and durable, and have great 20-hour battery life.

Their sound profile is very well-balanced and will be well-suited for a very wide variety of genres and content. While they have a tiny bit of extra bass, it isn't overpowering or boomy and adds a nice amount of kick to all genres. Unfortunately, their dedicated companion app doesn't offer any EQ presets or customization, so you can't change the way they sound if you prefer a more unnatural sound profile.

They have an excellent active noise cancelling (ANC) feature that does an outstanding job at blocking out background chatter and the high-pitched noises of an AC unit or fan, though they aren't as good at blocking out engine rumbles. They also support multi-device pairing so you can easily switch between your phone and a PC, making them a great choice for the office. Overall, these are a good pair for most uses and are the best headphones we've tested.

The Razer Opus are the best closed-back headphones under $200 that we’ve tested so far. They offer a premium design, all-day comfort, and an intuitive control scheme with physical buttons for volume, calls, and ANC activation. They also feel quite well-built, with dense plastic construction, and offer a stable enough fit to be used while running. Their excellent ANC system effectively blocks out everything from the rumble of construction equipment to the high-pitched hum of AC units.

Their sound profile is well-balanced, making them well-suited for listening to a wide variety of content. They deliver outstanding mid accuracy and very neutral bass, although the latter is a little underemphasized out-of-the-box. Thankfully, if you want a little more thump and kick, their sound profile can be customized to your liking via presets or a graphic EQ in the dedicated Razer Opus app. Continuous battery life is excellent, offering nearly 33 hours of continuous playback with ANC enabled on a single charge.

Unfortunately, they don’t support multi-device pairing, which might present a bit of a hassle if you constantly switch between listening to your phone and computer. Their integrated microphone also only does a mediocre job of isolating your voice from background noise, so they’re not the best choice for making calls in crowded or loud environments. With that said, they deliver excellent value, with an extremely balanced sound profile, solid-feeling build quality, and an ANC system that outperforms anything else at this price point.

The best closed-back headphones for audiophiles that we've tested so far are the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x. These popular wired over-ears are very well-known amongst audio enthusiasts and sound engineers and are the best studio headphones we've tested. They're comfortable thanks to their large ear cups that easily accommodate any ear size, and they don't feel too tight on the head. They're made from dense plastic and look and feel very durable and premium, with a detachable audio cable that can easily be replaced if damaged.

Their sound profile is expertly tuned and is well-balanced and natural, but with a tiny amount of extra kick. Their response consistency is decent, though they may need some readjusting to experience their treble response the same way every time. Their soundstage isn't nearly as open and wide as open-back headphones like the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee, though this is expected. On the plus side, this makes them much more versatile and more suitable for use during your daily commute or in the office.

As they're more designed for use in a studio or while at home, they lack many active features in comparison to the most popular Bluetooth options. Their audio cable doesn't feature a microphone or in-line remote, so they don't have any controls or the ability to take phone calls. On the bright side, their wired design means you don't have to worry about battery or latency issues, though you may need an adapter to use them with newer phones without a headphone jack.

The best budget closed-back headphones that we've tested so far are the Mpow H10. These comfortable over-ears have a versatile performance that can please many everyday casual listeners. With an over 23-hour continuous battery life, you won't have to worry about recharging these headphones daily, which is convenient.

Overall, they have a fairly neutral sound profile that's suitable for a wide variety of music genres. There's extra thump and boom in the bass range, which can please fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. Also, their ANC feature does an impressive job blocking out background noise, so you can enjoy your favorite tunes without interruption during your commute or while working in a noisy office.

Unfortunately, they leak a bit of noise, which may be annoying for the people around you. They don't have a very premium look or feel either and they don't have the most stable on-ear fit. That said, they're pretty versatile and offer a good price-to-performance ratio.