Picture an awkward situation when you’re commuting and enjoying some music on your headphones. You may be bopping to your music loudly when a stranger suddenly taps on your shoulder to let you know that your music is disturbing other commuters. Does this seem like a situation you’ve been in before? So How Loud are Closed-Back Headphones?
Very often, these situations happen because many people have the misconception that nobody can hear what’s happening through their headphones. These situations are more evident when you own a pair of open-back headphones with sound leaks, so you’re probably considering changing to a pair of closed-back headphones instead. But how loud are closed-back headphones anyway? Let’s find out.
Closed-back headphones are headphones that feature a solid exterior shell. In many cases, closed-back headphones can provide you with an isolating music experience without disrupting anyone around you as there isn’t space for the music to escape. So, how loud are closed-back headphones? Well, the answer is simple because closed-back headphones are only loud to you so that you can enjoy your music worry-free.
Closed-back headphones are also fabulous when you’re commuting as it can help isolate the exterior noises from intruding your music experience. While the sounds are not as natural as open-back headphones, closed-back headphones provide great bass notes for you to enjoy your music to the fullest.
Are closed-back headphones right for me?
Unfortunately, closed-back headphones may not be an excellent pick for everyone. Like enjoying great food, the preference for closed-back headphones may vary from person to person. In some cases, you’ll also want to review why you’re considering a pair of closed-back headphones in the first place. Is it because you’re commuting, and you’re worried about disturbing the people around you? Or perhaps you’re thinking about using these closed-back headphones for gaming? These are factors that can affect whether a pair of closed-back headphones are for you.
Subsequently, it’s worth noting that closed-back headphones can be uncomfortable if worn for a long time, due to the lack of ventilation for your ears, making it stuffy and warm on hot days. If you’re not used to wearing closed-back headphones, you may also feel the weight of the headphones constricting your ears. These are considerable trade-offs that you must put into consideration when deciding whether a pair of closed-back headphones are right for you.
How to pick the best closed-back headphones?
If you’re still interested in a pair of closed-back headphones, here are some tips on how to pick the best ones for yourself:
- Check your budget: Many types of closed-back headphones are available in the market today. When looking for your headphones of choice, it’s essential to establish how much you’re willing to spend to help narrow down the closed-back headphones you should choose. Remember that cheaper options may also result in excellent sound quality, and it’s all about your personal preference.
- Battery life: If you’d like to purchase a pair of wireless closed-back earphones, it’s essential also to watch out the battery life. The worse thing that can happen is to have a pair of dead closed-back headphones when you’re commuting. While some headphones also come with a spare AUX cable, it may be a hassle if you’ll have to bring it with you daily.
- Compare, test, and decide: Finally, you’ll want to be able to compare and test the closed-back headphones of your choice. Visiting your local audio store is the best way to have this done. Subsequently, you may also lookup reviews on the best closed-back headphones online.
How Loud are Closed-Back Headphones – Frequently asked questions
I have a pair of expensive closed-back headphones. Does that mean my headphones won’t disturb the people around me?
Depending on the volume of your music, owning a pair of closed-back headphones should mean that you won’t disturb the people around you. Often you can enjoy your music to the fullest, although expensive closed-back headphones don’t equate to soundproofing. It may be a good idea to ask your friends or loved ones who are around you to test it out with you, so you’ll know how loud you can go with your closed-back headphones.
How do I tell if I have closed-back headphones or open-back headphones?
Generally, closed-back headphones are made with a solid exterior shell. These headphones have no perforation on the sides or cover to help trap most of the music inside. On the other hand, you’ll often notice perforation slits on open-back headphones and is a tell-tale sign that you have a pair of open-back headphones that may potentially disturb the people around you if your music is playing too loud.
Are closed-back headphones better than open-back headphones?
Picking between a pair of closed-back headphones or open-back headphones is often left to your preference. They each feature excellent pros and cons against each other, and it will depend on your usage style to decide which is the better headphone choice. If you’re looking for a pair of headphones that can provide you with good sound isolation from exterior interruptions, then a pair of closed-back headphones will perform better than an open-back headphone. Do bear in mind, however, that open-back headphones often deliver more natural sounds, so if you’re picky on your music quality, then you may want to consider the latter instead.
What is noise cancellation, and do all closed-back headphones have them?
Noise cancellation is a considerably new feature in some closed-back headphones in the market today. Unlike regular headphones, the noise cancellation functionality can successfully block off all exterior noises that are going on around you, allowing you to immerse yourself in your music experience altogether. While it’s a good-to-have feature, not all closed-back headphones are fitted with noise cancellation, so you’ll want to closely inspect your closed-back headphones of choice on whether noise cancellation is included.
Conclusion
So, we hope this has helped you find out how loud are closed-back headphones and whether they’re the right pick for you. If you need further thoughts on closed-back headphones, do consider looking through some of the best closed-back headphones today to find out which headphones fit your lifestyle best.
Still unsure? Take a look at this comparison video.