What are open back headphones and how good are they?

Even without being an audiophile, purchasing quality headphones is still a priority for most. A crucial part of the day, after all, is to listen to music and enjoy it privately. They are portable and convenient to use.

Many types and designs of headphones can be seen on the market. Headphones come in different sizes and specs. This article will serve as your guide in separating three types of headphones to see which best suits your listening needs.

Open back headphones

The open back headphones are the ones that are designed to have drivers exposed to the outside world. This means that audio can also be heard by those beside you if you set your headphones to higher volumes.

These headphones are favoured by those who want a better listening experience. Given that the audio can travel to a wider range and with more space, the sound will be better when heard. It is comparable to a “soundstage” experience that lets you hear every part of the song you are listening to (highs, mids, bass). This is why this type of headphones is preferred by those who want to listen casually and for those who will use the headphones at their homes.

Because of their design, they also allow the user to listen to music for a longer duration. Sweating is lessened while wearing them.

These headphones are also favoured by sound engineers because of how they are able to play back almost any sound in a track.

The problem with these headphones, however, is the fact that the sounds they produce can be heard outside. This makes it harder to listen to music in public spaces like the library and the office. And this does not only work one-way. If people from outside can hear you, you can also hear them back. This means that honking in streets, loud conversations, and glasses clinking can be heard even if you are wearing these headphones. This is why it is generally favourable to listen to music using these while at home.

Pros:

• They can play almost all parts of a song without problems
• They are more comfortable to wear for longer periods of listening

Cons:

• The music leaks when played in public
• Some exterior noise can be heard by the user

Closed back headphones

As its name implies, these headphones have a structure that is closed from any exterior noise. Most of the audio comes from the speaker and immediately travels through your ear, blocking off any sound that may mix with your music. This is why these headphones are favoured by people who listen in noisy places like the streets and on the train. Some sound engineers may also use them to prevent the music they are playing to be picked up by the microphone.

A good feature of these headphones is their capability of drowning music from inside the gadget. Wearing these headphones is the best way to prevent people around you to be distracted. They are great for listening to music while commuting or being in an office.

A disadvantage for this, however, is that some sound frequencies may be drowned out or be muffled out. This is especially true for the lowest bass notes which sometimes don’t make the cut to be crystal clear when played. Aside from this, using these headphones may also be a bit uncomfortable if the design of the product is bad. They may result to sweaty and warm ears as not only sound but also air is blocked out.

Pros:

• They are a good use for those listening in noisy places
• They don’t leak noise

Cons:

• They can be a bit uncomfortable if worn for long periods
• They miss some frequencies

Semi-open back headphones

These headphones, as their name implies, are open-back headphones that are slightly closed at the back. The speaker elements aren’t essentially as muffled as in closed-back headphones. This allows some air to enter. This also allows the audio of the headphone to be better in comparison to a totally closed-back headphone.

Pros:

• The quality of the sound is good
• They are comfortable to wear for longer periods

Cons:

• They can still leak some noise from outside
• If you play at maximum volume, those beside you may hear your music