The Best Open Back Headphones: Reviews – Buyer’s Guide in 2023

Top Picks

• Best Overall: HIFIMAN Edition XS Full-Size Over-Ear 

After extensive testing, we found the HiFiMan Edition XS to be the finest open-back headphones in the middle-price category. Check out these over-ears if you're on a budget yet still value a planar magnetic design. They aren't as sturdy as the HiFiMan Arya, but their overall sound is warmer, which may be preferable to certain listeners. The vocals and main instruments are prominent and clear, creating a well-rounded sound.

• Best Comfortable: Philips Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Open-Air Headphone 50mm Drivers 

The Philips Fidelio X2HR are the finest open-back headphones we've tested for the lower midrange. Over-ear headphones designed for audiophiles often suffer in terms of construction when reduced to this price range, but not these. They're largely plastic, but they feature metal reinforcements that make them more sturdy. Passive soundstage performance is negatively impacted by the X2HR's architecture, while dynamic drivers are more prevalent at this price. While they do a great job in general, the HiFiMan Edition XS creates a more expansive and engaging soundstage.

• Best Budget-Friendly: Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones 

We found the Philips SHP9500 to be the highest-quality open-back headphones within our testing budget. When designing headphones at a lower price point, manufacturers often use cheaper materials, making the headphones seem cheap and easily broken. However, the SHP9500's cloth cushioning and swiveling ear cups might rip or shatter under modest force, despite the headphones' otherwise solid construction. With their roomy ear cups, they're still a good choice for marathon listening sessions.

• Best for Play Station 5: ASTRO Gaming A40 TR Wired Headset 

In our testing, the Astro A40 TR with the MixAmp Pro 2019 performed as the finest open-back gaming headphones. They're open-back headphones, but their boom mic makes them ideal for multiplayer video games. The passive soundstage of these headphones is also impressively broad, natural, and roomy, which may further enhance your sense of immersion during games. In addition, its MixAmp stands out for the convenience with which it places essential features such as volume, chat mixing, and EQ settings at the user's fingertips.

• Best Sound: Philips Fidelio X3 Wired Over-Ear Open-Back Headphones 

After years of development, the Philips Fidelio X series has culminated in the X3s, a pair of audiophile open-backs that don't need a hefty investment but nevertheless provide high-quality sound. The Scottish Muirhead leather headband, the acoustically transparent speaker cloth on the exterior of the ear cups, and the velvet-covered memory foam on the ear pad cushions all contribute to the high-end aesthetic and feel of these headphones.