The 7 Best Open-Back Headphones - Summer 2020
Reviews

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best open-back headphones we've tested so far. They feature an eye-catching design and feel very durable, with a metal and high-grade plastic construction. Thanks to their spacious ear cups, lined in a premium-feeling suede-like material, they deliver a very consistent listening experience, regardless of their wearer’s head shape.

Their sound profile is very neutral, with impressive treble accuracy and extremely even mids; vocals, lead-instruments, and any other higher-frequency sounds will be very clear. That said, fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop might prefer a little more thump and kick. Thankfully, they provide a very large, spacious, and natural soundstage.

Unfortunately, their very high price puts them out of reach for most. Their bulky design also means that listeners with smaller heads might find them a little too cumbersome to wear for extended periods. Finally, if you want to get the most from these headphones, you’ll need an amplifier. If none of that presents an issue, then these are an excellent pair of open-ear headphones, capable of providing an outstanding critical listening experience with excellent build quality.

The best open-back headphones for gaming we’ve tested so far are the Astro A40 TR + MixAmp Pro 2019. These comfortable open-back headphones come in both PS4 and Xbox One variants and are designed to give you an immersive gameplay experience, especially over long gaming sessions.

Their spacious, well-padded ear cups feel soft on the skin while their wired design helps to keep you in the game without worrying about battery life or lag. They also have a USB dock that offers a variety of connectivity options. Their added bass can also add more vibrancy to your gameplay as it can make gunshots and explosions sound boomier. If you like to shotcall while you play, the boom microphone is superb too, even in noisy environments.

While their sound profile lacks detail and presence because of their reduced treble, they luckily come with a companion software called the Astro Command Center, which makes it easy to EQ this sound to your liking. You can even assign custom EQ presets to the MixAmp. If you're looking for open-backed headphones to help immerse you in your game, these are a solid choice.

The best open-back headphones under $200 we’ve tested so far are the Philips Fidelio X2HR. These open-back headphones have a premium, stylish design and feel quite sturdy, thanks to their dense plastic construction. With large, spacious ear cups and generous amounts of padding, they’re comfortable enough to wear through the longest listening sessions.

Their sound profile is very well-balanced, with faithfully reproduced bass and treble. Mid accuracy is outstanding, ensuring clear, distinct vocals and lead instruments without any muddiness or clutter. They also have a very good passive soundstage, providing a large, spacious, and natural listening experience that successfully emulates an open speaker setup.

On the downside, they aren’t especially stable on the head, as even small head movements might cause them to slip. In addition, they only ship with a 10-foot TRS cable, which, while convenient for some setups, is not always manageable for traveling. Other than that, these are a great pair of open-back headphones, offering sturdy-feeling build quality and a very balanced sound profile at a relatively affordable price.

The best budget open-back headphones we've tested so far are the Philips SHP9500. Although the open-back design can be associated with a high price tag due to their audiophile features, these headphones offer good performance at an affordable price.

Even at their price point, these headphones deliver a great neutral sound that's spacious and well-balanced. They produce a surprisingly good soundstage that's open, although still somewhat small and narrow, and they're easy to drive so you don't need a fancy amp to get the best sound from them. Their comfortable, durable design also makes it easy to wear these headphones for long periods.

On the downside, these headphones lack in low-bass and they don't have a companion app to EQ for it. The fabric coating on the ear cups can also feel a bit rough to the touch and can bother users with sensitive skin. Still, their performance is impressive at this price point and they're a good option for those who want to try open-back headphones at a more affordable price.