Closed-back headphones suit most listeners due to their versatility. They are comfortable and offer a well-isolated listening experience in both noisy and quiet environments. Closed headphones have sufficient noise isolation to not let too much ambient noise seep into your audio. They also don’t leak as much as open headphones, so they’re not distracting to the people around you. Finally, closed headphones cater a bit more to fans of bass.

So far, we've tested 151 closed-back headphones and below are our recommendations for the best ones to buy in the spring of 2018.

• Best Closed-Back Headphones: Bose QuietComfort 35 II

  

  Bose QuietComfort 35 II

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com
  Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

  ✕

  Test Benches: test

  • 1.2: Winter 2018
  • 1.1: Summer 2017
  • 1.0: Winter 2017
  • 0.9: Winter 2016

  See changelog and how ratings work

  7.5

  Mixed Usage

  ✕

  What it is This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.

  Score components:

  • 25% Critical Listening
  • 25% Office
  • 25% Commute/Travel
  • 10% Sports/Fitness
  • 9% Gaming
  • 6% Home Theater

  Score distribution:

  7.9

  Critical Listening

  ✕

  What it is The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

  Score components:

  • 80% Sound
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 7% Comfort
  • 3% Breathability

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  7.8

  Commute/Travel

  ✕

  What it is How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.

  Score components:

  • 24% Noise Isolation
  • 14% Sound
  • 11% Portability
  • 10% Comfort
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 10% Battery
  • 6% Wireless Range
  • 4% Controls
  • 4% Breathability
  • 4% Leakage
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 1% NFC

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  7.2

  Sports/Fitness

  ✕

  What it is How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.

  Score components:

  • 24% Stability
  • 23% Portability
  • 11% Sound
  • 10% Breathability
  • 8% Comfort
  • 6% Wireless Range
  • 5% Controls
  • 5% Battery
  • 4% Noise Isolation
  • 4% Leakage

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  7.8

  Office

  ✕

  What it is How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.

  Score components:

  • 24% Comfort
  • 21% Sound
  • 16% Noise Isolation
  • 8% Leakage
  • 7% Battery
  • 7% Wireless Range
  • 5% Breathability
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Controls
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 0% USB
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Latency
  • 0% Analog
  • 0% Line In
  • 0% USB Input
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Power Supply
  • 0% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  6.0

  Home Theater

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 23% Sound
  • 17% Comfort
  • 15% Default Latency
  • 10% Wireless Range
  • 5% Build Quality
  • 5% Breathability
  • 4% Optical Input
  • 4% Battery
  • 3% Analog
  • 3% Leakage
  • 3% Noise Isolation
  • 2% RCA Input
  • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 2% Line In
  • 2% Line Out
  • 2% Power Supply
  • 2% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  5.6

  Gaming

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 21% Sound
  • 21% Default Latency
  • 15% Comfort
  • 12% Microphone
  • 5% Breathability
  • 5% Battery
  • 5% Base/Dock
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Wireless Range
  • 3% Microphone Control
  • 3% Channel Mixing
  • 3% Wired
  • 2% Volume Control
  • 2% App Support
  • 1% Bluetooth

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations
  Type : Over-ear
  Enclosure : Closed-Back
  Wireless : Yes
  Noise-Cancelling : Yes
  Mic : Yes
  Transducer : Dynamic

  The best closed-back headphones we've tested so far are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. They're super comfortable and easy-to-use Bluetooth headphones with one of the best noise-cancellation on the market. 

  They're a slight upgrade to Bose QuietComfort 35 with more control over their noise cancellation feature and a dedicated button to trigger Google Assistant. They have a decent battery life and a well-balanced sound and they're versatile enough for most environments and use cases. 

  Overall, they're a slightly better option than the Sony WH-1000XM2 and the Bowers & Wilkins PX for casual everyday use even if they do not look as premium and are not built as well. 

  See our review

• Alternative for More Customization Options: Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless

  

  Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com

  Type : Over-ear

  Enclosure : Closed-Back

  Wireless : Yes

  Noise-Cancelling : Yes

  Mic : Yes

  Transducer : Dynamic

  If you like to customize and EQ your headphones to match your mood, then get the Sennheiser PXC 550 Wireless instead. They won't be as comfortable as the Bose QC35 II and their noise canceling is not as strong as the Sony WH-1000XM2. On the other hand, they have an excellent companion app that allows you to control more options and settings than both the Sony and the Bose. They're a lightweight wireless noise-canceling headset with great battery life and range and a comfortable over-ear fit. They have a well-balanced sound that you can customize and multiple connection options, so you can use them with most of your devices and even your console controllers. They will also provide audio and mic support via their USB cable when connecting to your PC. They're stable enough for sports and are a great headphone overall for most use cases.

  See our review

• Best Mid-Range Closed-Back Headphones: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

  

  Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com
  Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

  ✕

  Test Benches: test

  • 1.2: Winter 2018
  • 1.1: Summer 2017
  • 1.0: Winter 2017
  • 0.9: Winter 2016

  See changelog and how ratings work

  7.3

  Mixed Usage

  ✕

  What it is This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.

  Score components:

  • 25% Critical Listening
  • 25% Office
  • 25% Commute/Travel
  • 10% Sports/Fitness
  • 9% Gaming
  • 6% Home Theater

  Score distribution:

  7.7

  Critical Listening

  ✕

  What it is The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

  Score components:

  • 80% Sound
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 7% Comfort
  • 3% Breathability

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  7.4

  Commute/Travel

  ✕

  What it is How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.

  Score components:

  • 24% Noise Isolation
  • 14% Sound
  • 11% Portability
  • 10% Comfort
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 10% Battery
  • 6% Wireless Range
  • 4% Controls
  • 4% Breathability
  • 4% Leakage
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 1% NFC

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  7.1

  Sports/Fitness

  ✕

  What it is How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.

  Score components:

  • 24% Stability
  • 23% Portability
  • 11% Sound
  • 10% Breathability
  • 8% Comfort
  • 6% Wireless Range
  • 5% Controls
  • 5% Battery
  • 4% Noise Isolation
  • 4% Leakage

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  7.5

  Office

  ✕

  What it is How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.

  Score components:

  • 24% Comfort
  • 21% Sound
  • 16% Noise Isolation
  • 8% Leakage
  • 7% Battery
  • 7% Wireless Range
  • 5% Breathability
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Controls
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 0% USB
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Latency
  • 0% Analog
  • 0% Line In
  • 0% USB Input
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Power Supply
  • 0% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  6.2

  Home Theater

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 23% Sound
  • 17% Comfort
  • 15% Default Latency
  • 10% Wireless Range
  • 5% Build Quality
  • 5% Breathability
  • 4% Optical Input
  • 4% Battery
  • 3% Analog
  • 3% Leakage
  • 3% Noise Isolation
  • 2% RCA Input
  • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 2% Line In
  • 2% Line Out
  • 2% Power Supply
  • 2% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  5.9

  Gaming

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 21% Sound
  • 21% Default Latency
  • 15% Comfort
  • 12% Microphone
  • 5% Breathability
  • 5% Battery
  • 5% Base/Dock
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Wireless Range
  • 3% Microphone Control
  • 3% Channel Mixing
  • 3% Wired
  • 2% Volume Control
  • 2% App Support
  • 1% Bluetooth

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations
  Type : Over-ear
  Enclosure : Closed-Back
  Wireless : Yes
  Noise-Cancelling : Yes
  Mic : Yes
  Transducer : Dynamic

  If you like noise cancelling over-ears like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II and the Sony WH-1000xm2 but find them a bit too expensive, then get the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 instead. They offer the best value for their mid-range price although they will not be the most isolating headphones since their noise canceling is not as good as the Bose or the Sonys. They also do not come with a very customizable app.

  On the upside, what they lack in isolation they more than make up for with their exciting bass-rich sound, excellent wireless range and battery life and an ergonomic and easy-to-use design that's well built and durable. They even support aptx-LL (a low latency codec) which makes them more suitable than most of the headphones on this list for watching movies as long as you have the right transmitter dongle.

  If you're looking for a mid-range option that delivers great value for your money, then you can't go wrong with Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2.

  See our review

• More Portable Alternative: Samsung Gear IconX

  

  Samsung Gear IconX

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com

  Type : In-ear

  Enclosure : Closed-Back

  Wireless : Truly Wireless

  Noise-Cancelling : No

  Mic : Yes

  Transducer : Dynamic

  If you need a more portable design than the over-ears on this list, the Samsung Gear IconX will be the best option for your money. They only isolate passively so they won't be as good as the Bose QC35 II in loud environments. They also won't have the battery life or range of the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 and won't be as easy to use. On the upside, they're a decently affordable truly wireless in-ear with a lot of features. They have a decent sound quality, a customizable app that offers great health tracking features and a compact and stable design that you can use for running and will easily fit into most pockets. They also have up to 4 gigs of onboard storage so you do not have to carry your phone around to listen to your tunes if you don't want to. This makes them a great option for sports but they're also a versatile option for most uses cases if you want to go truly wireless.

  See our review

  Critical listening alternative: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

  

  Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com

  Type : Over-ear

  Enclosure : Closed-Back

  Wireless : No

  Noise-Cancelling : No

  Mic : No

  Transducer : Dynamic

  If sound quality is what matters most for you and you also want a pair of audiophile-level headphones that you can also use outdoors, then get the Audio-Technica M50x. They won't have the convenient range of the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2. They also do worse in loud environments since they are not noise-canceling headphones. On the upside, they have a well-balanced sound that packs a good and exciting bass, a well-balanced mid-range and a good reproduction of the higher frequencies that's not too sharp or recessed. They also have a durable build quality that will last you years of regular use, and they're comfortable enough to wear for long listening sessions. They're one of the better options if you're looking for a headphone for just listening to music, but they also have the benefit of a closed-back design so you can use them outside with your phone.

  See our review

• Best Budget Closed-Back Headphones: Skullcandy Grind

  

  Skullcandy Grind

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com
  Usage Ratings - Version 1.2

  ✕

  Test Benches: test

  • 1.2: Winter 2018
  • 1.1: Summer 2017
  • 1.0: Winter 2017
  • 0.9: Winter 2016

  See changelog and how ratings work

  6.5

  Mixed Usage

  ✕

  What it is This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.

  Score components:

  • 25% Critical Listening
  • 25% Office
  • 25% Commute/Travel
  • 10% Sports/Fitness
  • 9% Gaming
  • 6% Home Theater

  Score distribution:

  7.2

  Critical Listening

  ✕

  What it is The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.

  Score components:

  • 80% Sound
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 7% Comfort
  • 3% Breathability

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  6.2

  Commute/Travel

  ✕

  What it is How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.

  Score components:

  • 24% Noise Isolation
  • 14% Sound
  • 11% Portability
  • 10% Comfort
  • 10% Build Quality
  • 10% Battery
  • 6% Wireless Range
  • 4% Controls
  • 4% Breathability
  • 4% Leakage
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 1% NFC

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  6.8

  Sports/Fitness

  ✕

  What it is How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.

  Score components:

  • 24% Stability
  • 23% Portability
  • 11% Sound
  • 10% Breathability
  • 8% Comfort
  • 6% Wireless Range
  • 5% Controls
  • 5% Battery
  • 4% Noise Isolation
  • 4% Leakage

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  6.6

  Office

  ✕

  What it is How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.

  Score components:

  • 24% Comfort
  • 21% Sound
  • 16% Noise Isolation
  • 8% Leakage
  • 7% Battery
  • 7% Wireless Range
  • 5% Breathability
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Microphone
  • 1% Controls
  • 1% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 0% USB
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Latency
  • 0% Analog
  • 0% Line In
  • 0% USB Input
  • 0% PC Compatible
  • 0% Power Supply
  • 0% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  5.8

  Home Theater

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 23% Sound
  • 17% Comfort
  • 15% Default Latency
  • 10% Wireless Range
  • 5% Build Quality
  • 5% Breathability
  • 4% Optical Input
  • 4% Battery
  • 3% Analog
  • 3% Leakage
  • 3% Noise Isolation
  • 2% RCA Input
  • 2% Multi-Device Pairing
  • 2% Line In
  • 2% Line Out
  • 2% Power Supply
  • 2% Dock Charging

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations

  5.6

  Gaming

  ✕

  Score components:

  • 21% Sound
  • 21% Default Latency
  • 15% Comfort
  • 12% Microphone
  • 5% Breathability
  • 5% Battery
  • 5% Base/Dock
  • 3% Build Quality
  • 3% Wireless Range
  • 3% Microphone Control
  • 3% Channel Mixing
  • 3% Wired
  • 2% Volume Control
  • 2% App Support
  • 1% Bluetooth

  Score distribution:

  See our best recommendations
  Type : On-ear
  Enclosure : Closed-Back
  Wireless : Yes
  Noise-Cancelling : No
  Mic : Yes
  Transducer : Dynamic

  If you want a budget wireless headset, then the Skullcandy Grind are one of the best options we've tested so far below $50. They do not have active noise cancelling so they won't be the best option for very noisy environments and commutes. They also have an on-ear design that doesn't fold and isn't as portable as most on-ear headphones.

  On the upside, they are a lot more comfortable than most of the on-ear headsets we've reviewed. They also have a well-balanced sound that caters well to most genres and a good build quality that feels sturdy and durable especially at their price range.  They have an easy-to-use control scheme and design. 

  The Skullcandy grind are a good choice if you're looking for a budget wireless headset and like on-ears. The Bluedio T4 and Cowin E7 are noise canceling headphones that will provide a bit more isolation for your noisy commutes but will not be as comfortable or as portable.

  See our review

• A gaming alternative: Logitech G433

  

  Logitech G433

  SEE PRICE

  Amazon.com

  Type : Over-ear

  Enclosure : Closed-Back

  Wireless : No

  Noise-Cancelling : No

  Mic : Yes

  Transducer : Dynamic

  If you do not mind wired gaming headsets to use with your console controllers and for gaming on PC, then get the Logitech G433. They're not wireless like the Skullcandy Grind so their range is limited to their relatively short audio cables. On the upside, they are gaming headphones with a casual design that you can use outside. They're lightweight and comfortable over-ears that come with a couple of accessories including replaceable ear cup pads and an excellent, detachable boom mic that's great for multiplayer games. Better yet, they have a well-balanced audio reproduction that sounds surprisingly neutral for their price range, so they will cater well to all genres and games. You can also slightly tweak their sound profile thanks to the Logitech gaming software on PC. The HyperX Cloud II and Cloud Alpha are better built and more comfortable alternatives to the G433, but they do not benefit from a customizable app and their sound quality is not as well-balanced.

  See our review