What are open-air headphones and how good are they?

Headphones nowadays come in a wide variety of options when it comes to design. You can choose between in-ear headphones (ear buds), on-ear headphones (also called supra-aural) that sit on your ears and over-the-ear headphones (also called circumaural), which cover your ears. You can also opt for headphones that are open-back (also called open or open-air), closed-back headphones and semi-open headphones.

What are open-air headphones?

Open-air headphones, on their proper name, open-back headphones, are headphones that have an open-back, meaning the back of the earcups is not sealed. The drivers are exposed to the outside and the air can freely circulate through the ear cups. This design comes with a series of advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

One great thing about open-back headphones is the fact that they don’t allow pressure to build up, because of the unhindered air flow. That means that they will have a better sound quality than closed-back headphones. The sound will have a bigger soundstage, which will give you that ‘live concert’ feeling. Everything will sound clearer and more natural, which makes this type of headphones the choice of audiophiles, musicians, music producers, sound engineers and others working in studios, mixing and mastering music.

The fact that they have an open-back also makes more ventilated, as air can freely pass through. That means your ears won’t get heated as quickly and they won’t sweat as much as with closed-back headphones, which feel really tight and unventilated. With open-back headphones, your ears will “breath” more easily, because there’s enough space for the air to move around.

Open-air headphones are also lighter when it comes to weight.

Disadvantages

One disadvantage of the open-air headphones, and the biggest one in our opinion, is that these headphones leak sound. The fact that the drivers are exposed to the exterior and the back in not sealed, means that all the noise coming from your headphones will leak outside and vice versa. Others will be able to hear what you are listening to and you won’t be isolated from outside noises either.

That is why these headphones are not a good option for those who commute a lot, travel and want to use them in noisy environments such as airports, the subway, etc. They are not a good option for quiet places either, such as libraries or offices, because you risk disturbing the people around you. They can be a good option for home use, professional use and other applications that require a great sounding pair of headphones.

Another downside to open-air headphones is the fact that they are more prone to damage than closed-back headphones, as they are more fragile. The electronics inside the earcups are more exposed to moisture and other elements and are not as protected as it is the case with closed-back headphones, which have a completely sealed back.

In the end, choosing the best type of headphones is a matter of preference. The best thing is to know exactly what you need the headphones for before making a purchase, to help you make an easier decision.