10 Best Open Back Headphones 2021

For those interested in buying a pair of best open back headphones this year, you will need to be informed about this type of headphone, and which one to buy. Owning a pair of open-back headphones has its advantages. When you listen to music, the headphones allow air and noise to move freely inside and outside the ear cups. This effect of noise and air moving in and out tends to make the music listening process sound more natural and well-balanced. In addition, open-back headphones are great to have when you are outside as you are able to listen to music while hearing the environment around you. It keeps you safe as you are more alert of upcoming vehicles as well as pedestrians. In an office setting, open-back headphones are also advantageous as you are able to work on your computer while being able to interact with colleagues and supervisors in the office space. When deciding on a good pair of open-back headphones, here are 10 that you may want to consider getting.

1. Audio Technica AUD ATHAD500X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones – The Best Bang for your Buck

Audio Technica is one of the most experienced and well-known providers of audio technology in the world. Their extremely affordable AUD ATHAD500X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones are available under $80 and delivers high-quality audio sound with a good amount of low frequency. These headphones feature a 53 millimeter driver and a lot of other features that you would find in a more expensive headset. Some notable features are:

These headphones take being lightweight to whole new level as they only weigh 260 grams. Performance-wise, the AUD ATHAD500X performs decently with a frequency response of 10,000 to 30,000 Hertz. Its aluminum honey-combed grills add an aesthetically pleasing look that should appeal to all headphone users.

As the AUD ATHAD500X definitely delivers more bang for the buck, it still has its pros and cons. These are:

Overall, the AUD ATHAD500X is a very decent set of open back headphones that perform amazingly and are comfortable to use. It delivers a lot of value for the money you spend and even offers durability that should last many years of use.

2. Audio Technica ATH AD700X Audiophile Headphones – Ideal for Music Recording

Audio Technica is definitely one of the world’s foremost audio pioneers and their ATH-AD700X Audiophile Headphones is their second entry on this list. Available under $200, these headphones are very affordable and allow users to perfectly hear the outside world as they are using the headphones to listen to music. Specs-wise, the ATH-AD700X offers a ton of features. Among these are:

With its 38ohms Impedance, the ATH-AD700X is perfect to be used for tablets and smartphones. It also offers a lot of comfort to users coming in at only 265 grams in weight. Performance-wise, these headphones are very decent but still have some pros and cons. These are:

Over-all, the ATH-AD700X are well-balanced open back headphones that bring out the best in audio layering and vocal recordings. They are also very ideal to use when listening to classical music as you are able to hear every instrument as well as any and all chord progressions.

3. Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 Professional Acoustically Open Headphones – Ideal for Mixing Vocals

Like the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X, the Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 is available under $200. It is truly one of the more comfortable open-air headphones available today. It has velour padded ear cups that allow you to listen to music for a long time without feeling the need to take them off. It also has a well-built frame that consists of aluminum headband and frame. Some other features of these headphones are:

Performance-wise, the Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 produces some very natural sounding tones with great resolution. It seems that everything across the low mids to highs sound very well-balanced and pleasing to listen to. It does; however, lack in the bass department, which many consider extremely important, especially those who mix music professionally. There are some pros and cons when using the Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250. These are:

Over-all, the Beyerdynamic DT-990-Pro-250 is well-worth its price. It is masterfully designed and is perhaps one of the top 5 most comfortable open back headphones on the market today. Those who mix music may find these headphones most useful for mixing and mastering vocals.

4. Superlux HD668B Dynamic Semi-Open Headphones – Affordable Gaming Headphones 

In the past, owning a decent audio file headphone meant having to spend an arm and a leg especially for those who mixed music professionally. This is simply no longer the case as the Superlux HD668B is available under $50. These headphones are semi-open back headphones which leak sound as you use them, giving you a more open listening environment that is excellent for gaming. Aside from gaming, these headphones are also ideal for listening to music on an iPod, smart phone, iPhone, and any mobile device. It offers many nice features such as:

Performance-wise, the Superlux HD668B is extremely lightweight and delivers excellent bass sounds. Its mids and highs are also so incredibly well-balanced that it delivers crystal-clear tones allowing listeners to hear sounds that they would not otherwise hear with stock headphones.

Over-all, the Superlux HD668B may just be the best open back headphones under $50 as it is able to deliver crystal-clear sounds that other more expensive headphones offer. For those who love playing games on consoles or computers, these are the headphones that will take your gaming experience to a whole new dimension.

5. Sennheiser HD 600 Open Back Professional Headphones – World Class Headphones Used by many Amplifier Developers 

The Sennheiser HD 600 is considered a world-class open-air headphone by many because it has been used by various amplifier developers to tune and benchmark their amps. These headphones are also extremely comfortable as it has an adjustable feature that is ideal to any head shape or size. It also has a ton of cool features such as:

Analyzing the performance of the Sennheiser HD 600, it is easy to see why many consider these headphones to be well worth its price of over $300. It produces excellent sound quality that is smooth and well balanced with excellent mids and highs. Its bass sound, however, could use some work.

Over-all, the Sennheiser HD 600 makes its price level seem like a total bargain to pay for. It offers an amazing soundstage that is wide and accurate, making it ideal for use in a professional studio environment.

6. Samson SR850 Professional Studio Reference Headphones – Perhaps the Best Budget-Friendly Headphone 

Another set of headphones under $50 to make this list is the Samson SR850 Professional Studio Reference Headphones. These headphones are semi open-ear headphones that are suitable for sound monitoring and ambient listening, which means that these are meant for professional recording. The Samson SR850 comes with many nice features. Some of these are as follows:

The Samson SR850 performs incredibly and offers an excellent soundstage that allows listeners to hear music and all its nuances. The headphones are ideal when listening to classical orchestra and even sound amazing for techno music. They also offer an industrial design that is aesthetically pleasing. Some pros and cons of the SR850 are:

There is a reason why many consider the SR850 as the best open back headphone under $50. For those who like listening to modern music genres such as EDM, Hip-Hop, and Pop, these are the headphones to own. They simply stack up with other headphones that are twice or thrice its price range.

7. Sennheiser HD 439 Headphones Black 

The HD 439 Headphones Black is the second entry from Sennheiser to make this list and for good reason. These headphones look incredible with its industrial design and plastic construction that make them very durable. It has a headband that contains padding to enhance comfort and ear cups with the same padding to truly enhance comfort. In terms of affordability, the HD 439 Headphones are priced mid-level coming in under $150 and offer cool features such as:

The Sennheiser HD 439 produces excellent audio quality that is clear and comparable to headphones twice its price range. It produces a bass sound that is extremely low and punchy and its mid to high ranges are very bright and crisp. What makes this headphone a good investment is its amazing equalization which yields a truly well-balanced sound. Like any headphone, the HD 439 has its pros and cons. These are:

Over-all, the Sennheiser HD 439 headphones do not really have any weaknesses. It produces clear and well-balanced sound quality. Its amazing equalization prevents any sound from being too muddy or over-pronounced. Finally, it is very affordable.

8. Grado Prestige Series SR80e Headphones – For Music Aficionados 

The simple reason why the Prestige Series SR80e headphones make this list is because Time Magazine recognizes Grado Labs as one of the best headphone brands in the market today. To make matters even better these headphones fall under the very affordable category of headphones under $100. The SR80e headphones come with a single accessory. This accessory is a ¼ inch adapter for the headphone’s cord. It does however, have some very cool features such as:

As the Grado Prestige Series SR80e Headphones may lack in terms of design and portability, they more than make up for it with sound quality, which can be compared to the best of the best headphones in the market today. Its open-back design provides a wide soundstage comparable to closed-back headphones. With these, you will notice your music sounding more clear and vibrant as the bass and treble mix incredibly well with the mids. This results in a listening experience the way it is supposed to be heard according to studio producers.

Over-all, if you are really into music and take sound quality seriously, the Grado Prestige Series SR80e Headphones is the ideal set of headphones for you.

9. AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones – Simply Ideal for Studio Use 

When it comes to durable headphones, the AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones definitely step up to the plate. These headphones have a wired frame on top of its headband which provides strength and flexibility. The headband consists of leather and connects directly to the ear cups, which are large in design. The interior of each ear cup contains padding that makes wearing these headphones extremely comfortable. The AKG K 240 has many fine features such as:

The AKG K 240 is truly ideal for studio use as they produce warm and neutral tones. These headphones equalize tones really well as the highs are not too harsh and lows are not too muddy. In addition, it produces bright mid-range tones that make it very suitable for studio use. Aside from performing well, the AKG K 240 has its pros and cons. These are:

Over-all, the AKG K 240 is the type of headphones that you can wear the entire day. Their semi-open nature gives you the best of closed and open back headphones, which makes studio recording a truly easier and fun experience. Best of all, they cost a little bit over $50, which is very affordable.

10. Sennheiser HD 598 Over-Ear Headphones – One of the Best Headphones Under $200 

As many would agree that $200 is a lot to pay for headphones, the Sennheiser HD 598 Over-Ear Headphones are definitely worth it. There are many reasons why these headphones far exceed their price. One of them is the headphones are amazingly designed with sturdy material such as thick plastic and metal ear cups. The ear cups also provide a lot of comfort as they contain velour padding that allows you to wear this for long periods. Additionally, the headphones have a headband that is also padded to provide extra comfort. Another reason why these headphones are worth their price is its features, which are:

Yet another reason that the Sennheiser HD 598 is well worth its price is because of its amazing performance. These headphones are open-back in design, which allow a wider, more complete soundstage that consists of equally balanced lows, mids, and highs. With this capability, the HD 598 lets you listen to music exactly how it was recorded. Some pros and cons of the headphones are:

All-in-all, the Sennheiser HD 598 delivers what truly matters in Over-Ear Headphones. It offers excellent sound quality, comfort, durability, and all other aspects that really define good quality headphones.