7 Best Open-back Headphones

While other types of headphones may excel for isolation or bass response, open-back headphones are uniquely qualified to deliver a transparent listening experience. And whether it’s a natural soundstage or a relatively flat mix reference you’re trying to achieve, any of the following open-back and semi-open headphones can get you there. In this feature, we take a look at seven of the best open-back headphones available today.

AKG K240 Studio Semi-open HeadphonesBeyerdynamic DT 880 Pro Semi-open HeadphonesBeyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Open-back HeadphonesAKG K240 MKII Semi-open HeadphonesNeumann NDH 30 Open-back Studio HeadphonesShure SRH1840 Open-back HeadphonesBeyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open-back Headphones

Closed-back vs. Open-back Headphones — What’s the Difference?

In traditional closed-back headphones, the audio drivers are sealed off from the outside world. The advantage to this closed-back design is twofold: enhanced bass response and isolated listening. With closed-back headphones, reference audio stays in and ambient noise, such as travel noise and nearby conversation, stays out.

The disadvantage to closed-back headphones is that they can sound hyped, feel unnaturally “inside your head,” and be physically uncomfortable to some listeners since there is no flow of air and the air inside the earcups is trapped around your ears.

The alternative is open-back headphones. These headphones excel at delivering lifelike realism and creating a natural soundstage. Unlike closed-back styles, open-back headphones have no seal separating drivers from the outside world. This often translates to more natural bass and an airier sound that is truer and that better represents the program material. The drawback to open-back headphones is less isolation. Not only can ambient noise get in, but music you’re listening to tends to bleed out. And trust us: you’ll drive your nearby workers and loved ones crazy by listening to music through open-back headphones in close quarters at moderate levels.

The differences between closed-back and open-back headphones are similar to the differences between closed- and open-back guitar cabinets. Closed-back cabs generally give you more bass resonance and rear isolation, whereas open-back cabs tend to sound more open and are more representative of what the driver brings to the table.

Semi-open headphones split the difference between these two designs, offering some level of isolation while still delivering the natural response of true open-back headphones.

Open-back Headphones — What Are They Good For?

If you’re new to the concept, don’t worry. It can take some time to wrap your head around the differences between closed-back and open-back headphones. As with most things in the audio world, hearing is understanding. Here are scenarios where we at Sweetwater are quick to recommend (or not) open-back headphones and semi-open styles.

Home listening — Yes. From rock to classical, live to studio, open-back headphones can open up a soundstage like never before. In the best mixes, you can almost point to where sources are coming from in the stereo field, as if the players were onstage in front of you.

Studio mixing/mastering — Yes. If you’re looking for the flattest response and the best representation of how your music will sound on other playback systems, open-back headphones are our go-tos.

Monitoring from the soundboard — No. Loud bands will leave you fighting your headphone amp to get enough level to your ears, which can be dangerous to your ears’ health. Stick with a nice set of closed-back or isolation headphones.

Tracking in the studio — No. Not only will you struggle to get the separation you need to accurately monitor yourself while tracking, but you also run the risk of introducing bleed from the ‘phones into the mics. In this situation, these are not the best option.

Real-world music consumption — Maybe. This depends on the case. If you’re hiking or walking to work, then open-back headphones are great — not only because internal bleed will be minimal, but also because you’ll still be able to hear oncoming traffic and approaching cyclists. If you’re listening near the ocean or while commuting on a train, however, the noise floor will probably be too great for you to enjoy the music.

With that groundwork laid, here are our picks for the best open-back headphones.

Best Open-back Headphones:AKG K240 Studio Semi-open Headphones

AKG’s long-standing leader in semi-open headphones, the K240 Studios, are now available at a rock-bottom price. Don’t let the price tag deter you; we’ll pit our K240 Studios against just about any sub-$100 option in this category. Sweetwater customers consistently hail these headphones for being comfortable, accurate, and reliable over time. And, given their new, more affordable pricing, they’re great for gifts and for stocking up.

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Best Open-back Headphones:Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro Semi-open Headphones

The velour embrace and full, open response of the DT 880 Pros provide an unforgettable listening experience. We love these headphones for long mixing sessions outside the studio and for just enjoying music and movies at home. The semi-open design helps fight bleed inside and outside the listening stage. And, with their deep-reaching, 5Hz–35kHz 45mm drivers, these headphones can handily reproduce the deepest bass and the sweetest highs. As with the DT 990 Pros below, the irreplaceable coiled cable on these headphones is less than ideal but not a deal breaker.

Best Open-back Headphones:Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Open-back Headphones

Listeners who are looking for a true open-back response may want to consider Beyerdynamic’s DT 990 Pro open-back headphones. The DT 990s have been major players in the open-back-headphone space for decades. Producers, hobbyists, musicians, and mix engineers all have plenty of good to say about the quality and performance of these headphones. And, considering their value and serviceable parts, you don’t have to treat them too gently between mixing and listening sessions.

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Best Open-back Headphones:AKG K240 MKII Semi-open Headphones

The latest iteration of AKG’s best-selling semi-open headphones are the K240 MKIIs. Notable upgrades include sweat-resistant soft velour cups (versus the originals’ leatherette cups) and an additional detachable coiled cable (versus a single straight cable). And, apart from these few cosmetic upgrades — though, we’ll admit, the blue-on-black of the MKIIs gives these a look that is more on-brand with the rest of AKG’s headphones — you get the same drivers, frequency response, and self-adjusting comfort headband you’ve come to know and trust.

Best Open-back Headphones:Neumann NDH 30 Open-back Studio Headphones

When you’re making critical mix decisions, especially during the final phases of a mix, high-precision monitoring is crucial. Neumann’s NDH 30 open-back headphones were designed specifically for those situations, and they exhibit exceptional linearity and transient response, unmatched resolution, and solid stereo imaging. Long listening sessions are made more comfortable with circumaural memory foam ear pads. Plus, the NDH 30 headphones have a detachable, internally balanced cable with a 1/4-inch adapter, and they fold down for safe and easy transport. NDH 30s leverage their open-back design to deliver an impressive level of sonic accuracy, making them a great choice for producers, broadcast professionals, and mixing and mastering engineers.

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Best Open-back Headphones: Shure SRH1840 Open-back Headphones

Officially labeled as mastering headphones by Shure, the SRH1840s certainly deliver the goods in terms of accurate staging and frequency reproduction for critical-listening applications. But what the marketing won’t tell you is that these open-back headphones are really, really fun to listen to. We’ve found ourselves making playlists just to see what these headphones will reveal in familiar mixes. Both the earcups and the headband are rated for hours of comfort. And, paired with their large-format, lightweight 40mm neodymium drivers, the Shure SRH1840s are the kind of open-back headphones you’ll find yourself returning to year after year.

Best Open-back Headphones:Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Open-back Headphones

The feather in Beyerdynamic’s open-back cap has to be its DT 1990 Pros. These are true reference-grade headphones in a handsome open-back design. Each set is powered by Beyerdynamic’s 45mm Tesla neodymium drivers, which capably reproduce frequencies as low as 5Hz without weighing you down throughout a session. These are a great option for anyone who’s mixing, producing, and even mastering themselves away from the comforts of a control room and familiar studio monitors. The drivers sound refined and natural even prior to any burn-in period, and they continue to bloom and mature in sound after around a dozen hours of use. Factoring in a deluxe hardshell case and two premium cables, the DT 1990 Pros are the remote mixer’s dream come true.

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Looking for the Best Open-back Headphones? Try These.

Looking to enhance your setup with a great set of open-back headphones? You won’t regret giving any of these on our list a try. Reach out to your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700
if you want personalized recommendations.
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