Noise-canceling headphones are great for people who are always on the move, but what about when you want to game in peace? Open-back headphones allow you to hear your surroundings without taking away from the audio. If you’re looking for a good pair of open-back gaming headphones, here are my top 7 picks.
Open-Back Headphones are a must-have accessory for any gamer. Not only do they provide the best audio experience, but also give you an edge over your competition by giving you noise isolation and letting in ambient sound to keep you aware of your surroundings.
Whether it be for competitive gaming or just playing with friends, investing in these top 7 best open-back headphones is one of the smartest decisions that can be made.
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What are Open Back Headphones?
Open-back headphones are headphones that have the ear cups open, exposing the drivers to the environment. This allows for sound to escape from the headphones, which gives an improved stereo image and a more natural sound.
It also lets in ambient noise, which can be helpful for people who need to be aware of their surroundings while listening to audio. Open-back headphones are typically used in studio settings, where accurate sound reproduction is important, but they can also be used for gaming and general listening.
There are a few different types of open-back headphones, but the two most common designs are the closed-back and semi-open-back designs. The closed-back design has ear cups that completely cover the ears, while the semi-open back design has ear cups that are partially open.
This allows for some sound to leak out of the headphones, which can be helpful for people who need to be aware of their surroundings while they’re listening to audio.
What’s the Difference Between Closed and Open Headphones?
When it comes to headphones, there are two main designs: closed and open. Closed headphones seal off your ears from the outside world, while open headphones do not. This difference has a big impact on sound quality, comfort, and noise isolation.
Closed headphones are better at blocking out external noise, making them ideal for noisy environments like airports or train stations. They also produce a stronger bass response, which is great for gaming and watching movies. However, closed headphones can be quite uncomfortable if you wear them for long periods of time, and they often don’t sound as good as open headphones.
Open headphones allow you to hear more of your surroundings, making them a better choice for outdoor activities and public transportation. They also produce a more balanced sound, with less emphasis on the bass. However, open headphones are not as good at blocking out noise as closed headphones, and they can be uncomfortable for people with large ears.
Are Open Back Headphones Good for Gaming?
Open-back headphones are perfect for gaming because they allow you to hear your surroundings without taking away from the audio. This is important for competitive gamers who need to be aware of their surroundings, and it can also help you avoid any accidents while you’re playing.
Additionally, open-back headphones provide an improved stereo image and a more natural sound, which also helps for competitive gaming.
Now that we’ve discussed what open-back headphones are and what the difference is between them and closed-back headphones, let’s dive into our picks for the top 7 best open-back headphones for gaming.
1. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Headphones — Best Overall
Philips Audio has more than 50 years of combined experience in the field of headphone sound quality. The Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR could be the right choice for you if you want excellent sound quality from a well-established but reasonably priced brand.
These headphones have a high-resolution audio certification and a wide frequency response. They have speaker trays that are tilted at an angle of 15 degrees to fit the natural look of your ear, as well as a self-adjustable hammock.
The headphones have also been structured with double-layered ear shells that minimize resonance and vibration while providing you with a crystal-clear audio experience.
Why Are These the Best Open-Back Headphones for Gaming?
Philips Fidelio X2HR is a wonderful pair of wired open-back headphones for listening to neutral sound. Its sound profile is extremely well-balanced, making it suited for a variety of genres and contents.
They are extremely comfortable to use, even for lengthy periods of time, thanks to their spacious, well-padded ear cups and automatically-adjustable headband.
2. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Premium Edition — Runner Up
In addition to being incredibly adaptable, the Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO open-back headphones provide exceptional sound quality. This open-back headset produces a very natural sound with a surprising amount of bass. Another great feature of the DT990 is that it produces a three-dimensional sound, which is exactly what it sounds like — an immersive 3D listening experience.
These headphones can provide you with a one-of-a-kind listening experience. With an extremely soft headband and low headband pressure, these headphones are a fantastic match for anyone, including those who have suffered from head injuries, which makes them extremely pleasant to use for prolonged periods of time.
What defines this company from others? Professional mixers and studio monitors benefit from its unrivaled tonal depth, which allows them to discern even the smallest changes and dimensions in audio throughout their listening sessions.
3. Sennheiser GAME ONE Gaming Headset — Budget Pick
Designed for casual gaming, the Sennheiser Game One is a basic and comfy headset that delivers excellent sound quality. Since they are wired, they have a limited range. However, they have virtually no latency, which makes them appropriate for both gaming and viewing movies at home.
They also have open ear pads, which is a feature that is rather uncommon in gaming headphones. This improves the soundstage, but it also makes them less ideal for usage in noisy surroundings or outdoors. However, when matched to other gaming headphones in their budget range, they are lacking in a few active features.
The Sennheiser Game One has excellent quality sound, a comfortable design, reduced latency, and a superb microphone that filters out a great deal of background noise and background noise.
Since they have an open-back design, they produce a significantly wider soundstage than some other gaming headsets. Also, since they are breathable, you would be able to wear them for a longer period of time; yet, they are much less isolating. However, they are lacking in terms of software support and modification possibilities.
4. Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile
You can’t really go wrong with the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X for regular use. These headphones are another wonderful option for individuals just starting to take gaming more seriously, albeit it lacks technical detail.
The ATH-AD700X is developed to provide a comfortable listening atmosphere. They have a slight mid-range overabundance and aren’t as well-balanced as most of the other higher-end open-back headphones. However, they reproduce recordings with above-average quality. They also produce a pleasing soundstage that is suitable for neutral listening.
At this price point, the detail retrieval of these headphones is unrivaled. If you listen to orchestral music while wearing these headphones, you’ll notice that each orchestral instrument sounded fantastic, and you will be able to tell the difference between stringed and percussion and brass instruments with ease.
While the treble on these headphones is irresistible, they can be quite tiring at times and users may not be able to wear them for an extended period of time.
Overall, these headphones are really bright and clear. For those who have a large head, these headphones are comfortable to wear. You won didn’t feel the need to change the stock pads because they feel like cushions. Look no further than the Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X if you’re searching for accurate headphones for your game battles sessions.
5. Sennheiser HD 599
Given that Sennheiser was the company that pioneered the open-back headphone, it should come as no surprise that Sennheiser HD 599 has equal parts, excellent sound, and exceptional build quality.
Sennheiser’s focus on comfort is one of the things gamers love about them. You will easily forget that you are wearing headphones thanks to the comfortable headband, spacious ear cup, and changeable earpad cushions.
If you’re a true audiophile and don’t mind paying the top dollar, you will love this set of matching special edition headphones for Sennheiser’s 75th anniversary in the audio industry. However, only 650 pairs of these headphones are available worldwide, making them extremely limited in availability.
The 599’s construction is almost completely made of plastic. Many people may be concerned that the all-plastic build will make them overly delicate, and this may be a problematic issue for them.
However, to most people’s surprise, the Sennheiser HD 599 headphones are exceptionally well-built and long-lasting despite their low price tag and all-plastic construction. They are extremely durable and adaptable in all directions.
Thanks to the robust plastic structure and thick leather, the headphones provide a high level of durability and quality. In addition, the Sennheiser HD 599 is really comfortable to wear.
When paired with the 250-gram weight of the shoe, there is virtually no discomfort, even after extended hours of usage. The interior has good deep padding too. The headband adjuster has a wide range of motion and should be able to accommodate heads of virtually any size.
6. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Open-Air Headphone
The Philips Audio FidelioX2 comes with 50mm dynamic drivers that are of high quality and performance. Being one of the best open-air headphones on the market, the Audio FidelioX2 meets the exacting criteria in both quality and practical performance.
These headphones are high-resolution audio players created specifically for gaming and music. Acoustic music aficionados who want to create high-quality music would benefit from these headphones.
By eliminating air pressure build-up behind the speaker and allowing for enough diaphragm movement, with this intuitive design, audio transparency is greatly improved, and extended frequencies are toned down.
Wearing them for extended periods of time while listening to or composing music is extremely comfortable, thanks to the handcrafted design and the soft foam cushions used to create them. Designed for over-the-ear wear, the earpads have a punchy, comfortable texture.
7. Samson SR850 Headphones
The Samson SR850 headphones are manufactured in a basic, inexpensive, and unappealing way. The build quality isn’t spectacular, but it’s adequate and feels strong and sturdy when worn and held in the hands. They’re quite lightweight, which is uncommon for a pair of headphones with this degree of quality and endurance.
The headphones feel a little tight when you first put them on. Though the strain on your ears will gradually subside, if you wish to speed up the process, you can twist the metal plate gently to lessen the burden on your ears. To create a comfortable and tight grip behind your ears, adjust the height of the headband with the leather strap provided.
The Samson SR850 is a semi-open back design that is a mix of closed and open-back headphones. This means they prevent some ambient sound, but not quite more than closed-back headphones.
How to Choose the Best Open Back Headphones for Gaming in 2022?
Frequency Response Range
This is the range between the lowest and highest frequencies reproduced by your headphones in Hertz (Hz). The most common range for human beings is 20 Hz – 20 000 Hz. Having a larger frequency response range ensures that you’ll be able to hear even the faintest sound clearly when using your device. A good headphone should have at least 12 000 Hz because it allows you to hear even bass sounds properly.
Style
Open-back headphones come in two styles: Classic and Semi-open. The classic style has open grilles on the back of each ear cup, while the semi-open style has a grille but also includes a panel that covers the back of the driver. This panel is designed to prevent sound leakage, which is important if you’re using them in a quiet environment like an office or library. However, it’s not as important if you plan on using them while gaming or listening to music at home because they’ll already be letting out some noise.
Construction
The build quality of your headphones plays a role in how well they perform. Poor construction can lead to sound leakage and distortion, so it’s important to choose headphones that are made of high-quality and durable materials. Unfortunately, most open-back headphones are expensive, so you may have to shop around until you find a pair that’s well-made without being too pricey.
Price
The best open-back headphones are costly, but money doesn’t necessarily guarantee superior performance. There are plenty of affordable options that produce high-quality sound if you know what to look for. However, be careful not to choose a cheap product because it may not last very long or provide satisfactory sound quality.
Driver Size
More expensive headphones have larger drivers, but there are some affordable 1-inch models available as well. It’s important to consider the driver size when shopping around because it determines how loud your device can get and how accurate the sound quality will be. If you plan on using your headphones exclusively at home, then you won’t need any more than 40 mm of driver space.
Comfort Level
Most open-back headphones fit snugly on your ears, so they won’t move around even if you’re moving around. However, some people find that they can be a bit uncomfortable after wearing them for an extended period of time. It’s important to find a pair that’s both comfortable and secure so you can wear them for hours without having to worry about them falling off.
Final Thoughts
In this article, we’ve shown you the top 7 best open-back headphones for gaming in 2022. It’s important to know what your range of frequency is before buying a pair. You also want something that will fit on your head and be comfortable and durable enough to last a long time with regular use. We hope our list has helped make things easier for you when it comes down to picking out the perfect headphone set!
