We’ve all been there – searching for that perfect pair of headphones that can transport us into the heart of our favorite music. Open back headphones have become a game-changer for audiophiles and music lovers alike, offering a spacious soundstage and natural audio reproduction. As we dive into 2024, the world of open back headphones continues to evolve, bringing us closer to audio nirvana than ever before.
In this article, we’ll explore the cream of the crop when it comes to open back headphones. From the legendary Sennheiser HD 800 S to the budget-friendly Grado SR80x, we’ve got you covered. We’ll take a closer look at what makes these headphones stand out, comparing their sound signatures, build quality, and overall value. Whether you’re a seasoned audiophile or just starting your journey into high-fidelity audio, we’re here to help you find the perfect pair to elevate your listening experience.
Sennheiser HD 800 S
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the Sennheiser HD 800 S, and let me tell you, these headphones are a game-changer. They combine the care of a handcrafted instrument with modern manufacturing precision, allowing us to explore our music collection from the inside out.
HD 800 S Sound Quality
The heart of these headphones is the 56mm Ring Radiator transducer, delivering a natural, balanced sound with minimal resonance. The soundstage is mesmerizing, transporting us into the recording environment. While the bass might not be the strongest suit, the midrange shines with exceptional clarity and vocal intelligibility.
HD 800 S Design
The HD 800 S boasts a vibration-dampening chassis and inert headband insert, ensuring stability in audio reproduction. The build quality is impressive, featuring a mix of high-grade plastic and metal that creates a striking visual contrast.
HD 800 S Comfort
Weighing just 330 grams, these headphones are surprisingly lightweight. The large, spacious ear cups with plush, microfiber padding make for a luxurious and immersive listening experience. I found I could wear them for hours without discomfort.
HiFiMan Arya
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the HiFiMan Arya, and I must say, it’s a game-changer in the world of open-back headphones. These planar magnetic headphones offer a unique combination of technical prowess and musical immersion that’s hard to beat.
Arya Sound Performance
The Arya delivers a sound that’s close to an “analytical” version of the Harman target. It has less sub-bass, a leaner mid-range, and more treble extension compared to the target. Despite this, the bass digs deep, conveying material in the 30Hz region with clarity. The midrange is neutral and refined, with only minor quibbles in the 1-2kHz and 4-5kHz ranges. The treble is smooth but slightly emphasized, with peaks around 13-14kHz that add air and sparkle to the sound.
Arya Build Quality
The Arya boasts impressive build quality, featuring a vibration-dampening chassis and a “Window Shade” arrangement on the outside of the grilles. This design allows you to see through the driver and cups, showcasing the intricate engineering within. The headphones are surprisingly lightweight at just 330 grams, making them comfortable for extended listening sessions.
Arya Planar Magnetic Technology
At the heart of the Arya is HiFiMan’s acclaimed planar-magnetic technology. It uses a “Nanometre Thickness Diaphragm” that’s less than 0.001mm thick! This incredibly thin membrane, coupled with the new “Stealth Magnet” design, allows for exceptional driver movement and reduced distortion. The result is a headphone that delivers outstanding clarity, detail retrieval, and a spacious soundstage that’s hard to match at this price point.
Focal Utopia
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the Focal Utopia 2022, and it’s truly a game-changer in the world of open-back headphones. These flagship cans, priced at $4999, offer an unparalleled listening experience that’s hard to match.
Utopia Audio Fidelity
The sound quality is simply breathtaking. With its 40mm pure beryllium ‘M’-shaped dome drivers, the Utopia delivers a smooth, clean, and detailed sound across the entire frequency range. The midrange is a thing of beauty, offering harmonic complexity without being overbearing. The bass is quick and clean, while the highs are detailed and extended without being harsh.
Utopia Premium Materials
Handcrafted in France, the Utopia 2022 screams premium from every angle. The headphones feature forged recycled carbon fiber yokes, genuine leather, and aluminum components. The honeycomb grills not only look striking but also contribute to a more open sound.
Utopia Comfort and Fit
Despite weighing 490g, I found the Utopia surprisingly comfortable for extended listening sessions. The perforated lambskin memory foam ear pads and genuine leather headband provide excellent comfort. The clamping force is well-balanced, ensuring a secure fit without causing discomfort.
Audeze LCD-X
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the Audeze LCD-X, and it’s a powerhouse in the world of open-back headphones. These planar magnetic cans offer a unique blend of technical prowess and sonic performance that’s hard to ignore.
LCD-X Sound Signature
The LCD-X delivers a hyper-detailed midrange that’s simply breathtaking. It’s like peeling back layers of your favorite tracks, revealing nuances you’ve never heard before. The treble is phenomenally fast and resolving, making cymbals sound incredibly natural. With EQ, the imaging becomes the best I’ve encountered, placing you right in the heart of the music.
LCD-X Build and Design
Built like a tank, the LCD-X boasts a matte black metal and leather design that’s visually striking. However, at 610 grams, they’re the heaviest headphones I’ve tried. While the comfort is excellent, the weight can cause some discomfort during extended listening sessions. The cable is a real treat – flexible, understated, and kink-free.
LCD-X Planar Magnetic Drivers
Audeze’s planar magnetic technology shines in the LCD-X. The drivers produce a uniform driving force across the entire diaphragm, resulting in low distortion across the frequency spectrum. The large, flexible diaphragms move substantial volumes of air, delivering clean, deep bass that outperforms many competitors. This technology also contributes to the LCD-X’s lightning-fast transient response and wide, accurate frequency range.
Grado SR80x
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the Grado SR80x, and I must say, these headphones are a true gem in the world of open-back designs. With a rich history dating back to 1991, the SR80x has become a legend in its own right.
SR80x Sound Profile
The SR80x boasts a unique sound signature that’s hard to forget. Its 44mm dynamic drivers deliver a treble-forward presentation, revealing new details in familiar tracks. I found the midrange to be world-renowned, offering full-bodied vocals and excellent dynamics. While the bass might not be the strongest, the overall clarity and wide range more than make up for it.
SR80x Retro Design
The SR80x’s design is a nod to Grado’s Brooklyn roots. I love its brutalist, almost steampunk esthetic. The on-ear design is surprisingly comfortable, weighing just 240g. The open-back construction, showcased by a honeycomb-like metal mesh, contributes to its airy soundstage.
SR80x Value for Money
For the price, the SR80x offers exceptional value. Hand-built in Brooklyn, these headphones bring studio-quality sound to your ears. While they lack modern features like ANC, their pure audio performance is hard to beat in this price range.
HiFiMan Sundara
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the HiFiMan Sundara, and I must say, it’s a game-changer in the world of open-back headphones. These planar magnetic cans offer a unique blend of technical prowess and sonic performance that’s hard to ignore.
Sundara Audio Performance
The Sundara’s sound signature is best described as “crisp.” Its frequency response is phenomenal, with a midrange tuning that’s close to neutral. The bass is special, offering a weight that’s enveloping and fun. The treble extends impressively, adding air and sparkle to the sound. What truly sets the Sundara apart is its soundstage – wider and taller than normal headphones, creating an engaging listening experience.
Sundara Comfort
Weighing just 372g, the Sundara is surprisingly lightweight for planar magnetic headphones. The updated ear pads, introduced in 2020, are angled for a better fit and made of cloth material, making them comfortable even for glasses wearers. The suspension band helps distribute weight evenly across your head, ensuring comfort during extended listening sessions.
Sundara Planar Magnetic Technology
At the heart of the Sundara is HiFiMan’s planar magnetic technology. The Neo supernano diaphragm is 80% thinner than common headphone diaphragms, resulting in faster response and better detail. The Stealth Magnets significantly reduce reflection and diffraction, dramatically improving sonic output. This technology contributes to the Sundara’s exceptional clarity, detail retrieval, and spacious soundstage.
Sennheiser HD 660 S2
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the Sennheiser HD 660 S2, and I must say, it’s a game-changer in the world of open-back headphones. These cans offer a unique blend of technical prowess and sonic performance that’s hard to ignore.
HD 660 S2 Sound Quality
The HD 660 S2’s sound signature is truly impressive. I found the center frequency balance to be nearly flat, maintaining the reference-quality sound of its predecessor. The mids are neutral, presenting vocals, guitars, and drums with exceptional clarity. However, the treble response is more aggressive, adding extra character to hand claps and hi-hats.
HD 660 S2 Improved Bass Response
The bass response on the HD 660 S2 is where it really shines. I noticed a significant improvement in the sub and mid-bass extension. The lows sound more natural and don’t congest the mid-high bass. There’s a more prominent rumble that I could feel through the velour earpads, enhancing the overall listening experience without compromising the headphone’s reference status.
HD 660 S2 Comfort
Weighing just 260 grams, the HD 660 S2 is incredibly light. I barely felt them on top of my head during extended listening sessions. The ear pads are comfortable, even when wearing glasses. However, the clamping force is still noticeable, but you can gently stretch the headband to adjust it to your preference.
Philips Fidelio X2HR
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the Philips Fidelio X2HR, and I must say, these open-back headphones offer an impressive blend of performance and comfort. They’ve become a favorite in my collection for their well-balanced sound and premium feel.
Fidelio X2HR Sound Signature
The X2HR delivers a well-balanced sound profile that’s suitable for a wide range of genres. I found the bass to be punchy and robust, with impressive low-end depth for open-back headphones. The midrange is slightly recessed but warm, enhancing the soundstage and giving vocals a cozy presentation. While the treble can be inconsistent, it generally offers crisp details without harshness.
Fidelio X2HR Build Quality
These headphones boast a solid construction with a mix of metal and minimal plastic. I appreciate the durability – there’s no creaking from the frame, and the ear cups swivel up and down for adjustment. The detachable cable is a nice touch, making it easy to replace if needed.
Fidelio X2HR Comfort
Comfort is where the X2HR truly shines. The large ear cups are well-padded with velour-covered memory foam, ensuring my ears don’t touch the drivers. The self-adjusting headband conforms to my head shape, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. Despite being substantial, they remain comfortable during long listening sessions.
HiFiMan Edition XS
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the HiFiMan Edition XS, and I must say, these open-back planar magnetic headphones are a game-changer. They offer a unique blend of performance and comfort that’s hard to ignore.
HiFiMan XS Sound Performance
The Edition XS delivers a fairly neutral sound profile with present, bright vocals and lead instruments. I found the bass to be punchy and robust, with impressive low-end depth for open-back headphones. The midrange is slightly recessed but warm, enhancing the soundstage. The treble offers crisp details without harshness, though it can be slightly overemphasized in the upper range.
HiFiMan XS Design
Comfort is where the Edition XS truly shines. The large, oval ear cups are well-padded, ensuring my ears don’t touch the drivers. The headband is comfortable, though it feels heavier than other HiFiMan models. The addition of cup swivel is a welcome improvement over its predecessors. Despite being substantial, they remain comfortable during long listening sessions.
HiFiMan XS Value Proposition
Priced moderately compared to other planar magnetic models, the Edition XS offers considerable value for money. It provides a balanced combination of sound quality, comfort, and practicality, making it a compelling choice for those seeking high-end audio fidelity without breaking the bank. The Edition XS successfully bridges the gap between premium sound and everyday usability.
Conclusion
The world of open-back headphones continues to evolve, offering music lovers an array of options to suit different preferences and budgets. From the high-end Sennheiser HD 800 S and Focal Utopia to more affordable choices like the Grado SR80x and Philips Fidelio X2HR, there’s something for everyone. These headphones have a profound impact on how we experience music, providing expansive soundstages and natural audio reproduction that can transform our listening sessions.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that open-back headphones will keep pushing the boundaries of audio fidelity. Whether you’re an audiophile seeking the ultimate in sound quality or a casual listener wanting to upgrade your audio experience, the options highlighted in this article offer a great starting point to explore. Remember, the best headphones are the ones that make your favorite music come alive, so take the time to find the pair that speaks to you.
FAQs
What are the most popular headphones currently available?
The most sought-after headphones on the market include:
- Sony WH-1000XM4, available at Walmart.
- Sony WH-CH520, available at Walmart.
- Cambridge Audio Melomania P100, available at Crutchfield.
- Technics EAH-AZ80, available at Amazon.
- Nothing Ear (a), available at Amazon.
- JLab Go Air Pop, available at Amazon.
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, available at Amazon.
- Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, available at Bose.com US.
Which brand of headphones is known for the best sound quality?
The brands recognized for superior sound quality in headphones and earbuds as of summer 2024 include:
- Bose, particularly the QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless 53.
- Sony, notably the WH-1000XM4 Wireless 11.
- Apple, especially the AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Truly Wireless 22.
- Sennheiser, with the HD 800 S 2.
- Audio-Technica, such as the ATH-M50x 2.
- JBL, Beats, and Jabra also make the list.
Are open-back headphones a good investment?
Open-back headphones are generally considered a superior choice if your main concern is music listening and sound quality. Unlike closed-back headphones, which reflect sound off the back of the driver, open-back headphones allow for more precision and texture in the audio output.
Do open-back headphones provide a better soundstage?
Yes, open-back headphones are known for offering an expansive soundstage. This means the audio seems to emanate from beyond your head, creating a more immersive and lifelike listening experience.
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