Best All Round
- Sennheiser Consumer Audio HD 599 SE Around Ear Open Back Headphone - Black
- High-quality materials
- Incredible sound
- Lightweight
- Looks nice
- $149.95
Professional sound
- beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 ohm Over-Ear Studio Headphones For Mixing, Mastering, and Editing
- Professional sound
- Exceptionally comfortable
- Amazing value for money
- $179.99
Sounds exactly right
- Philips Audio SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones (Black)
- Sounds exactly right
- Ridiculously cheap!
- Steel is quite durable
- $79.99
Lightweight aluminum casing
- Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones Black
- Lightweight aluminum casing
- Comfortable for long hours
- Very affordable
- $119.72
Premium sound quality
- AKG Pro Audio K712 PRO Over-Ear, Open-Back, Flat-Wire, Reference Studio Headphones
- Premium sound quality
- Audiophiles approved
- Improved low-end performance
- Includes professional mini XLR connector and coiled cable
- $327.00
The Best Open-Back Headphones for Gaming
Gaming is not about playing a game; it is about living in the game. If you are here, it means you get what we are saying. The key to living the experience is hearing the content, and only the content.
Imagine being in the middle of a COD mission, only to have your neighbor’s kids’ yelling ruin your focus. Only the best Open Back headphones for gaming can help you achieve gamer-zen.
They are not just headphones; Open Back are the headphones when it comes to gaming. Their sound transports you from the security of your home smack-dab in the middle of your game so that all you can hear and see is your game.
It sounds like gamer heaven, right?
Top 5 Open-Back Headphones for Gaming on the Market
Because we know how you do not want to waste any time not playing the game, we have made your hunt for the ultimate Open Back headphones easier. We have narrowed down the list of headphones worthy of consideration to 5 of the best Open Back headphones on the market.
Sennheiser HD 599
These headphones are for audiophiles. Sennheiser HD 599 is designed for music-lovers, which means they got down the details, which is fantastic for gaming.
The 50 Ohm transducers offer crisp, dynamic sound with unique details. Thanks to the aluminum voice coils, distortion is kept to the minimum.
The Sennheiser HD 599 is another headphone set that has nailed the angle thing with the sounds shooting straight to your canal, meaning that you will be able to hear every sound in your game, maybe even more sounds than you have heard before!
The over-ear cups are an excellent fit for anyone. Comfort is a guarantee, thanks to the velour ear pads. Gaming for hours will not be a problem with this one. Do not worry; the pads are replaceable!
What We Like
- ✓ High-quality materials
- ✓ Incredible sound
- ✓ Lightweight
- ✓ Looks nice
-
- ✗ Pricey
- ✗ Bass can be a bit much for some people
Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 PRO
- Open over-ear headphones, ideal for professional mixing,...
- Perfect for studio applications thanks to their transparent,...
- The soft, circumaural and replaceable velour ear pads ensure high...
- Hard-wearing, durable and robust workmanship - Made in Germany
- Practical single-sided cable (3.0m coiled cable)
It is no surprise that Beyerdynamic 459038 DT 990 PRO is at the top of our list. It is an exceptional product!
Not only is it for the audiophiles, but it is also for the professional music creators. Both the treble and bass are boosted to sound-perfection, not too strong but with a definite kick. These headphones take sound to a whole new level, making them ideal for mixing and editing music.
Padded headband, good over-ear fit, comfortable ear cushions, replaceable pads, double-check!
What We Like
- ✓ Professional sound
- ✓ Exceptionally comfortable
- ✓ Amazing value for money
-
- ✗ Plastic is of low quality
Philips Audio Philips SHP9500
We are not exaggerating when we say that Philips SHP9500 is one of Philips’s best headphones, which by default makes it one of the best headphones out there. Precision is its forte.
When it comes to sound, its clarity is incredible. It is something about 50mm drivers and neodymium magnets being high power; I will spare you its technicalities. Long story short, Philips know what they are doing.
Anyone who knows anything about headphones knows that angles can make or break headphones. Philips made use of this, and they angled their drivers so that sound hits your ear right into your canal.
Durability is another plus with these headphones. Thanks to the thick steel headband, you do not need to worry about accidentally breaking them.
Gaming is not something that is over quickly, which is why these cups are perfect. The cushion is breathable, which means that your ears will be well taken care of and cozy in there.
What We Like
- ✓ Sounds exactly right
- ✓ Ridiculously cheap!
- ✓ Steel is quite durable
-
- ✗ Headband lining is thin
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X
- 53 mm drivers reproduce clear treble and midrange. Connectivity...
- Bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils for superior power handling....
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW . Full open-air type headphones produce no...
- Lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing with excellent acoustic...
- Self-adjusting 3D Wing Support provides a comfortable listening...
- Frequency Response - 20 – 20, 000 Hz and Impedance - 45 ohms
- Connector Type: 3.5mm
- Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Included Components: Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X headphone,...
Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X is another impressive option.
Audio-Technica’s sound quality does not require any introduction. Everyone knows how high-quality their sound is. How can it not be when this one features 53 mm drivers that produce natural treble and midrange sounds?
When it comes to design, these headphones are well-designed. Their 3D Wing Support means that your ear will not be subjected to pressure while they are on. It is also self-adjusting, so you do not have to fiddle with them every couple of minutes.
What We Like
- ✓ Lightweight aluminum casing
- ✓ Comfortable for long hours
- ✓ Very affordable
-
- ✗ Might break down quickly
- ✗ Weak bass
AKG Pro Audio K712 PRO
AKG Pro Audio K712 PRO is one of AKG’s best Open Back headphones and is built just for you; its sound quality is stunning.
This headphone pays attention to detail. Thanks to its transducers, you will hear sounds you never knew existed in your game!
One of the most important things about the K712 Pro is its treble. It is perfectly tuned and kicked up just enough for maximum enjoyment. The flat-wire voice coils are what give such excellent treble responses.
Let us take a minute to talk about the cups. They are over-ear, designed so that they fit everyone’s heads and to surround ears.
The pads, however, are a different story. The velour ear pads cushion the ears with the comfort you can rarely find in headphones. You can have it on for hours on top of hours, and your ears will not be uncomfortable, not one bit.
What We Like
- ✓ Premium sound quality
- ✓ Audiophiles approved
- ✓ Improved low-end performance
- ✓ Includes professional mini XLR connector and coiled cable
-
- ✗ The headband is too low so that it might be uncomfortable for some
- ✗ The bass could be better
- ✗ Might be out of budget
What to Consider to Find the Best Pair of Open-Back Headphones for Gaming
What Exactly Are Open Back Headphones?
If you want just any pair of headphones and think Open Back headphones are just like any other, you are mistaken.
Unlike most headphones, Open Back s allow sound outside of your ears not just inside them. The cups are open on both the outside and inside, not unlike regular speakers.
How Open Back Headphones Work
Think of Open Back headphones as breathable ones; they let air and sound in and out, and there is no pressure to alter the sound of your music, giving you a more precise, filtered sound.
Contrary to popular belief, headphones produce sounds in two directions, not one. Whilst the sound is focused towards your ears, some sounds will be emitted away from you.
Open Back headphones allow that sound to exit your headphones through the open back, giving you a more resonant sound. It seems as though it is everywhere and not just inside your ears with the music literally around you.
We have a full article dedicated to what are Open Back Headphones if you want more.
When Should You Choose Open-Back Headphones?
We all know how immersed we can get when we start a game; it is like the rest of the world does not exist. But what if it does? What if you can be in both worlds at once?
Open Back headphones allow the best of both worlds. Meaning, you can play your game; however long you want and hear your phone when it rings. We all know the consequences of missing a call from a loved one or even a boss! Yikes.
Go for Open Back if you do not wish to be completely isolated from the world. Sounds from the outside world can bleed into your headphones, making it sound even more real.
This way, you can enjoy your game and not have that fight about never hearing what anyone says to you.
The Difference Between Open-Back and Closed-back Headphones
Open Back headphones immerse you into the music’s atmosphere by using the world outside your headphones to its advantage, so that the sound surrounds you.
However, closed-back headphones isolate you from the outside world. They work on disconnecting you from anything else by blocking out any ambient noise, making the sound coming out of them the only thing you can hear.
Sound Distribution
Sound distribution is what makes open-back headphones the best for gaming. The clarity and openness of these headphones allow gamers to better hear in-game sounds. This is especially true for those who are playing online games. This way, they can detect other players before they hear them or see them. Professional E-Sports team Fnatic is well known for using open-back gaming headsets.
“We’ve found that the open-back design of our headsets assists us in being able to hear every nuance of the game, including footsteps, which is crucial for any FPS (First Person Shooter) player. Being able to hear enemies before they hear you can be the difference between winning and losing,” says Patrik Sättermon, Fnatic’s Chief Gaming Officer. So if you’re looking for a new gaming headset, remember that open-back headphones are the best option for those who want to be the last one standing.
Ear heat
Open-back headphones are also called “Semi-open headphones”, because they don’t close off completely in the back. That means they allow some sound to seep out from the ear cups, and it also allows some ambient sound to seep in. This way, your ears won’t get too hot. This is a common problem with closed-back headphones. When gaming for long hours, you don’t want to have hot ears.
Open-back headphones are the preferred choice for gaming because they offer all the benefits of a traditional closed-back headset, with the added benefit of keeping your ears cool. The open design keeps your ears from overheating, so you can wear them for those marathon online gaming sessions without worrying about discomfort.
If you’re looking for a new pair of headphones that will allow you to game for hours on end without the discomfort of heat and sweating ears, then open-back headphones are the perfect choice!
Soundstage
Open-back headphones are also known for their excellent soundstage. The soundstage is the space that is perceived between the individual instruments in a recording. It’s a sense of physical space in which music exists, and it can be felt as well as heard. Open-back headphones provide a much larger and realistic soundstage than closed-back headphones do. When you listen to your favorite tunes on open-back headphones, you’ll notice that there are more distinct sounds coming from different directions, including behind you.
Open-back headphones give you the freedom to move around and still enjoy your music. When you have a large soundstage, you can turn your head from side to side and still hear the full range of sounds that are coming from the headphones. This is a great alternative to walking around with earbuds when you’re on the go and want to enjoy your music.
This is not only brilliant for music, but also for intense battles in your favourite online game. When playing a game such as Call of Duty: Black Ops, you need a sense of space to be able to protect yourself from the opposite team. Open-back headphones will allow you to listen more carefully to the sounds around you, so you can protect yourself from those lurking in the shadows.
Open-back headphones are the best choice for gaming and for music. They provide a soundstage that is impossible to achieve with closed-back headphones, and they also allow you to hear in-game sounds more clearly.
FAQs
Here are some questions that might be on your mind.
Are Open Back headphones the best for gaming?
They are better because they make you feel more immersed in the game. Open Back headphones also mean you will know if someone in the house is calling for you and will keep you in tune with your surroundings.
However, they are not the ultimate choice if you live with many people and wish for some quiet while gaming. It means that you will still be taking some of this noise with you to the game.
Do Open Back headphones sound better?
Technically speaking, yes, they do sound better. Do you know what it is like when you are in the movie theater, and the sounds come from all sorts of directions? That is basically what Open Back headphones are like but on a smaller scale.
Which is better Open Back or closed-back headphones?
Picking between the two is an opinion question. It depends on your needs and preferences.
If you want headphones that sound realistic and will make you feel as though you are immersed in the sound, then Open Back is your fit.
However, if you had instead just shut out the outside world and prevent anything from coming between you and your audio, then closed back might be better for you.
Are Open Back headphones noise canceling?
No. Open Back headphones are like a two-way road; sounds can enter as quickly as some music leaves the headphones.
Are Open Back and closed back the only types of headphones?
There are also semi-Open Back headphones offering the best and worst of both worlds. They are mostly closed except for some parts. While the open parts usually are not large, they are enough to allow for some air and sound to pass.
Semi-Open Back headphones are generally ideal for listening at home, but they are not recommended for anything professional or heavy-duty listening.
Can other people hear your music through your Open Back headphones?
Yes. Since open-back headphones work by emitting some sound, other people can hear your music if they are close enough.
Game Over
Now, let us wrap this up. You want headphones; we are here to get you some headphones. Open Back headphones are the way to go if you are a gamer and want to live the game.
From our review, the best open-back headphones for gaming are the Sennheiser HD 599. They have the best of everything. Warning, they might teleport you to a warzone or a football stadium depending on your game preferences.
Are you looking to keep to a strict budget? We have got your back! Philips Audio Philips SHP9500 is perfect for someone who is searching for something low-priced. Please do not feel bad; its teleportation abilities will astound you!
After a long gaming session, you probably want to get some exercise. Swimming is a great way to do this, but swimming can be boring, but with our Best Headphones for Swimming review you will be able to keep yourself in the zone whilst keeping healthy.
Now stop wasting time, hit the buy button, and go back to your games!