Best Open Back Headphones In 2022

If you’re looking for the best open-back headphones for under $100, you found them. The Phillips SHP9500 headphones are one of the best value, best-sounding headphones on the market, and you don’t need a bank loan to buy them. The sound is provided by 50mm neodymium drivers that provide a full spectrum of sound. So, whether you’re listening to some bass-driven R&B or a classical symphony, it’s going to sound great.

It’s got a long 1.5m cable to let you move freely around your studio or room. Plus, inside the headphone is a double-layered headband cushion that’s designed to be breathable, so you don’t get sweaty ears. Overall, these headphones are a great option for anyone, all the way from someone listening to music in their bedroom, right up to a professional audio engineer. You can combine this with one of the best headphone amplifiers from our list.

The Audio-Technica ATHAD700X is a step up from the Phillips headphones we featured first. They’re more expensive, but they also provide better soundscape.  Audio-Technica has included their newly-designed 53mm drivers with bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils, which are focused on accurately reproducing the treble and midrange frequencies.

Like all good audiophile headphones, they are designed to put minimal pressure on the ears. They also have flexible raised-fabric earpads that make them comfortable for long listening sessions. You could wear these headphones for a week, without getting uncomfortable. They don’t say exactly how long the cord is, but it’s highly-conductive, single-sided, and has an elastic TPE sheath to stop it from getting tangled. There have been some reports that the bass isn’t very good on these headphones, but that’s because of a misunderstanding for what these headphones are for. They offer a full range of frequencies, instead of providing a lot of bass like cheaper over-ear headphones. Be sure to also check out our list of the best swimming earphones for more great items like this.

Beyerdynamic is one of the oldest and most respected audio companies in the world. So, we had to check out their open-back headphones when we were researching this Buying Guide. The Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro headphones are one of the best on this list. They’re designed specifically for professional mixing, mastering, and editing music. Beyerdynamic doesn’t talk much about the technical details of their headphones, so we don’t know much about the drivers or other components. What we do know, is that they use extremely high-quality materials and components in all their headphones.

They provide a spacious and transparent sound with strong bass and treble response. The comfort is provided by soft velour ear pads that can be replaced if they get worn. However, they shouldn’t wear too easily because they’re designed to be durable and robust. Our handy guide to the best bluetooth earpieces features more great products like this.

Sennheiser is another one of those huge audio brands that keep cropping up on these lists. That’s simply because they make some of the best quality headphones. The Sennheiser HD600 headphones are towards the high end of their range and they have a price to match. These headphones are for people who really want to hear every little detail of the music they’re listening to.

The technology inside is the best of the best. They have lightweight, aluminum voice coils to make sure you get an excellent transient response. The magnets are made from neodymium. And, they have a Kevlar-reinforced oxygen-free-copper cable that can be completely detached. They’re as comfortable as any of the headphones on this list, thanks to the plush earpads that are covered in open metal-mesh earpiece covers. Love this product? Check out our review of the best running earphones for our top picks.

It’s difficult to find a really respectable budget open back headset. The problem is that the technology needed to make a pair of audiophile headphones is expensive itself. So, the Superlux HD681 headphones seem too good to be true. And, to an extent, they are. If you’ve come to this list because you’re looking for a really high-quality pair of headphones, you should move on to the next pair. But, if you want the best pair of headphones for under $50, keep reading.

They have similar drivers to the Phillips headphones we featured as our Best Choice. They’re 50mm neodymium, circumaural, drivers that provide a decent full range of frequencies. Like most cheap headphones, the bass is a little too powerful to make up for the lack of quality in the middle and treble frequencies. But, on the whole, the sound is okay. They have a self-adjusting headband, and a lightweight and comfortable fit, to make them suitable for longer listening sessions. Find more great products like this by checking out our guide to the best gaming headsets.

AKG is another audio brand that you’ll keep coming across in professional studios. They make some of the best microphones, headphones, and other audio equipment out there. The AKG K702 headphones, like the Sennheiser HD 600s, are designed to be used by professional audio engineers and musicians. They have sophisticated open technology that provides a spacious and airy sound because the drivers have room to breathe.

Inside they have flat-wire voice coils that provide improved treble response and impulse. Plus, they have AKG’s patented Varimotion two-layer diaphragm, which gives you a better high-frequency range and impressive low frequencies. All of the products on this list are comfortable headphones, but these go a step further with their 3D-foam ear pads that are shaped for the perfect fit. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best workout headphones.

The Koss Porta Pro KTC headphones are the other budget option on this list. They’re slightly more expensive than the Superlux HD 681 headphones, which is why we didn’t choose them as our Best Value product, but they have a few features that you might like. Like we said before, the sound quality on a pair of cheaper headphones like these is never going to be as good. It will be better than cheap earphones, but you can’t expect studio quality for this price.

The best thing about these headphones is that they know what they are. They know that people are going to use them with their smartphones, tablets, and other devices. So, they’ve included a microphone and control buttons to make it easier. Plus, the headband is adjustable, and it comes with a carrying case. If you love music, make sure you also check our guide to the best noise cancelling headphones.

The Sennheiser HD800S headphones are a completely different animal to the other headphones on this list. The first clue that they’re different is the price. At well over $1000, you could buy about 30 pairs of the last headphones for the price of one set of HD800 S headphones. So, why are they so expensive? Well, for starters they’re designed for professionals who really need to hear everything perfectly. Everything inside these headphones is designed to provide a perfectly balanced sound.

The sound comes from the large 56mm drivers that fire the sound at an angle instead of directly into the ear. This gives you a bigger sense of space in the soundscape. We could talk for hours about all the intricate details in the design of these headphones. But instead, we’ll just say: if money’s no problem, buy these headphones. Our selection of the best wireless TV headphones offers more great items like this so check it out.

The Shure SRH1840 headphones are also super high-quality headphones. They’re much more affordable than the Sennheiser HD800S headphones, but you still get an awesome quality of sound. The drivers are nowhere near as big, at 40mm, but they are individually matched and made from neodymium, to provide awesome acoustic performance. The bass frequencies are accurate without being too powerful, and the high-end is extended and cuts through the noise.

Like all expensive open-back headphones, the whole construction is designed to make them sound better. They have a circumaural design, to give a wide stereo image and increased depth of field. Plus, the steel driver frame and vented center pole make the sound performance more consistent. This is a great open back headphone set if you’ve got around $500 to spend. Our guide to the best bone conduction headphones offers more great products so check it out.

Hifiman is one of the newer players on the audio scene. They’ve been around since 2005 and are successfully competing with the audio brands that have been around for decades. That’s because they make some pretty impressive equipment. The Hifiman Ananda headphones are the second most expensive on this list, so they’d better be good.

The sound quality that these headphones provide has never been disputed. They have an ultra-thin diaphragm that provides an amazingly fast and detailed response without compromising on the musicality of the sound. Plus, they have asymmetrical ear cups that follow the natural shape of the human ear and window-shade grills that reduce sonic reflections and give you a clearer sound.