Open-back headphones can make listening to music feel completely different. Instead of sealing the drivers inside closed earcups, open-back headphones allow air and sound to move through the back of the earcups. The result is usually a wider, more natural presentation that can make music feel less like it’s trapped inside your head.
That’s why open-back headphones are so popular with audiophiles, music producers, mixing engineers, and gamers.
There is a downside.
Open-back headphones leak sound, and they don’t provide much isolation from the world around you. They’re usually a terrible choice for airplanes, commuting, offices, and recording vocals next to a sensitive microphone.
But in a quiet room, they can be fantastic.
For most serious listeners, the Sennheiser HD 600 remains my favorite overall choice because of its balanced presentation, comfortable design, and proven reputation for critical listening. The Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X is an excellent choice for studio work, while the HIFIMAN Edition XS provides a spacious planar-magnetic alternative.
What is the Best Open-Back Headphones?
Here are eight of the best open-back headphones to consider.
1. Sennheiser HD 600 – Best Open-Back Headphones Overall
The Sennheiser HD 600 is almost impossible to ignore when discussing open-back headphones. It has been a reference point for serious headphone listening for years.
The HD 600 uses dynamic drivers and a fully open circumaural design. Sennheiser specifies a frequency response of 12 Hz to 40,500 Hz and an impedance of 300 ohms.
It weighs about 260 grams without the cable, which is relatively light for a full-size audiophile headphone.
But specifications aren’t the main reason people continue using the HD 600. Its biggest strength is balance.
The HD 600 isn’t designed around enormous bass or exaggerated treble. Instead, it aims for a natural presentation that works especially well with vocals and acoustic instruments. That also makes it useful for critical listening.
The biggest consideration is its 300-ohm impedance. While you may get sound from many devices, the HD 600 is better suited to a proper headphone amplifier or audio interface with a capable headphone output.
If you want one pair of open headphones for serious music listening, the HD 600 remains an easy recommendation.
2. Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X – Best for Mixing
The Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X is designed specifically for critical listening, mixing, and mastering. It uses Beyerdynamic’s STELLAR.45 driver and has an impedance of just 48 ohms.
That relatively low impedance makes the DT 900 PRO X easier to use with a wide variety of equipment than high-impedance studio headphones.
Beyerdynamic specifies a frequency response of 5 Hz to 40,000 Hz. The headphones also use soft velour ear pads and weigh approximately 345 grams without the cable.
One particularly useful feature is the detachable cable.
You get a mini-XLR connection on the headphone side, making cable replacement much easier than it is with headphones that use permanently attached cables. For producers who spend hours editing and mixing, comfort and replaceable parts matter.
The open design also provides the spacious presentation many engineers prefer when making detailed mixing decisions.
3. HIFIMAN Edition XS – Best Planar Magnetic Open-Back Headphones
Most headphones use dynamic drivers. The HIFIMAN Edition XS takes a different approach. It uses planar-magnetic driver technology.
Planar headphones use a thin diaphragm driven across a larger surface area, and they’re popular among audiophiles for their speed, detail, and bass control.
The Edition XS has an open-back design and a frequency response of 8 Hz to 50 kHz. HIFIMAN specifies an impedance of only 18 ohms and sensitivity of 92 dB. The headphones weigh approximately 405 grams.
That’s noticeably heavier than the Sennheiser HD 600, so comfort may depend more heavily on your head size and personal preference.
The Edition XS is particularly interesting if you want a large, spacious presentation.
It can make orchestral music, movie scores, acoustic recordings, and well-produced electronic music feel impressively expansive.
4. Sennheiser HD 650 – Best for Relaxed Listening
The HD 650 is closely related to the HD 600. Both have become extremely popular among serious music listeners. The difference is mostly about presentation.
The HD 650 is often preferred by listeners who want something smooth and easy to listen to for long periods.
This makes it especially attractive for vocals, jazz, classical music, and acoustic recordings. Like the HD 600, it is a high-impedance headphone and benefits from appropriate amplification.
If you’re deciding between the two, don’t obsess over which one is technically “better.” Think about what kind of presentation you prefer.
If you want something neutral and reference-oriented, start with the HD 600. If you want something slightly warmer and more relaxed, the HD 650 may suit you better.
5. Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO – Best Budget Studio Open-Back Headphones
The DT 990 PRO has been a popular studio headphone for years. It’s an open-back model designed for critical listening and studio work.
One of its biggest strengths is comfort. Beyerdynamic’s velour ear pads are soft and breathable, which becomes important when you’re wearing headphones for several hours.
The DT 990 PRO is available in different impedance versions, so you need to pay attention when buying.
Higher-impedance models may require more powerful amplification. Its sound is also more energetic in the treble than something like the Sennheiser HD 600.
Some listeners love that extra sense of detail. Others may find it bright during long listening sessions.
If you want an affordable entry into open-back studio headphones, however, the DT 990 PRO remains worth considering.
6. Philips SHP9600 – Best Budget Open-Back Headphones
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to experience open-back headphones. The Philips SHP9600 is a more affordable way to get started.
It’s designed primarily for home listening and provides the spacious presentation associated with open-back headphones without requiring a high-end audiophile budget.
This is the type of headphone I’d recommend to someone who is curious about open-back listening but isn’t ready to spend serious money. It’s also relatively easy to integrate into an ordinary home setup.
You don’t necessarily need to build an expensive stack of headphone amplifiers and DACs before you can enjoy it.
7. Audio-Technica ATH-R70x – Best for Professional Monitoring
Audio-Technica’s ATH-R70x is another open-back headphone designed with professional monitoring in mind.
It’s particularly attractive to people who want a lightweight headphone for long sessions. That matters more than many buyers realize.
A headphone can sound amazing for ten minutes and become uncomfortable after two hours. If you’re mixing an album, editing a podcast, or working on sound design, you’re probably going to wear your headphones for a long time.
The ATH-R70x is designed around that type of professional use. Its open-back construction provides the spacious presentation needed for critical listening while its lightweight approach helps reduce fatigue.
Like several audiophile-oriented headphones, however, it benefits from a capable headphone output.
Final Thoughts
For most people who prioritize balanced sound, choose the Sennheiser HD 600.For music production and mixing, choose the Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X.
For planar magnetic sound and a large presentation, choose the HIFIMAN Edition XS. For beginners, consider something more affordable such as the Philips SHP9600.
And if you’re recording rather than mixing, remember that open-back headphones probably aren’t the right tool. Their sound leakage makes closed-back headphones much more practical around microphones.