Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming

Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming
Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming (Image: © Headphone Output)

If you’re a passionate and hardcore gamer, you might know the importance of the right accessories for gaming. The right pair of accessories, especially headphones, gives you an immersive gaming experience. Open-back headphones are considered the best headphones for gaming because you’ll feel like you’re within the game while wearing these headphones. Best open back headphones for gaming produce a natural environmental sound around you, so you don’t feel like you’re in your head.

Open Back headphones produce natural sound quality so you can hear your surroundings. This is the main thing that every gamer wants, and that’s why they’re trendy among gamers. I have been a gamer since I was in 4th class, so I better know which headphones are good.

For now, Open Back headphones are more like a necessity than an option. They provide an excellent sound experience and give you an edge over your competitors. Most of the Open Back headphones have a noise isolation feature that lets you focus on your enemies behind the wall. Whether playing with your friends or in combat mode with competitors, Open Back headphones should be your first priority.

What are Open Back headphones?

Open back headphones are designed to have ear cups open and allow air to pass through the ear cups. The ear cups of the open back headphones expose to the environment, which gives you an excellent stereo and natural sound quality.

They also let you be aware of the noisy environment’s surroundings while playing games. These headphones are beneficial for those people who want to be mindful of their surroundings in the ambient noise. The often use of open back headphones is in-studio settings where the production team produces unique and accurate sound. However, they’re also used for gaming or daily life music listening.

There are different types of open back headphones for gaming available in the market. But two of them closed-back and semi-open-back designs, are most popular among the people. Semi-open are partially open from the backside of the ear cups, while the closed back headphones have completely closed ear drivers and fully cover the ears.

Semi-open headphones allow some chunks of sound to pass out from the ear cups. This is a helpful feature for those who want to listen to what’s happening there.

What’s the difference between Open Back and Closed Back headphones?

There are different types of headphones available in the market, such as Open Back & Closed Back. These two Open Back & Closed Back are the primary headphones designs available. Closed back headphones completely seal your ears and block all the ambient noise. On the other hand, open back headphones allow air to pass through the ear drivers. This is the significant difference between open back and closed back headphones, and It has a massive impact on the sound quality, comfort, and noise cancellation features of the headphones.

Closed back headphones are comparatively better than open back headphones in noise cancellation. These headphones are perfect for blocking the outside world and making the ideal isolation environment for you. Closed back headphones are excellent to wear on Train stations, Bus stations, and Airports where the amount of noise is much more enormous than in other places.

These headphones are also good at producing strong bass responses, which are suitable for gaming and watching movies. However, you may feel uncomfortable If you wear closed back headphones for a long time because It will heat your ears. The sound quality is not so impressive as compared to open back headphones.

Open back headphones are suitable for producing high-quality sound. With these headphones, you can listen to the surrounding. These headphones are an excellent option for outdoor activities and public transportation. They create a more accurate, balanced, and crystal clear sound with less bass.

However, open back headphones for gaming are not good at canceling the noise compared to closed back headphones because of open ear drivers. Open back headphones might be an issue for people with large ears.

Are Open Back headphones useful for gaming?

Open back headphones should be your first priority if you’re looking for the best headphones for gaming. They’re comparatively better than closed back headphones because they allow you to hear the surrounding sounds while playing games or watching movies. The edge of open back headphones on closed back headphones is that you’ll feel game sound effects around you. These headphones are perfect for hardcore gamers who are always looking forward to defeating their competitors.

Benefits of Open Back Headphones

Open back headphones have a lot of benefits and advantages over closed back headphones, especially in gaming. They’re best at producing natural and clear sound as well as they also take care of the sound positioning and placement in your ears. The significant benefit of these headphones is that they’ll give you a natural sound of the game, and you’ll feel like you’re in the game.

Despite these great features, there are a lot of other benefits of open back headphones.

Excellent Sound Quality

The design of open back headphones is really great in producing good quality sound. Open back headphones' sound quality is better than other headphones available on the market. They’re very comfortable to wear for an extended time.

Protect Your Ears

The best thing about these headphones is that they’ll protect your ears from heating. Best open back headphones for gaming are breathable enough to prevent your ears from sweating. If you play games the whole day and wear headphones for the entire day, these headphones should be your first choice. You don’t need to take off your headphones and wipe your ears with open back headphones every hour.

These headphones allow air to pass through the ear drivers and dry your ears. With this cooling technique, you can enjoy long gaming sessions with your friends.

Light Weight

If you wear headphones for a long time, you might feel a headache or burden on your head. Open back headphones are the perfect solution because they’re lightweight. Ligh weight frame with excellent sound quality, this is the ideal pair of headphones you might be looking for.

They’re also very comfortable to use, and they won’t tire out your ears.

More Ear Cups Designs Options

If you’ve decided to go with the open back headphones, few choices are for you. Open back headphones are available in a few different designs. Whether you go with full open back or semi-open-back headphones depends on your requirements. Every headphone has its own specification so keep in mind that you’ll not find all the qualities in the single headphones.

However, open back headphones have sleek and elegant designs and a robust control system. These headphones can fulfill all your needs.

We tested 10 different Open Back Headphones for Gaming and found the Sennheiser G4ME ONE to be The Best Open Back Headphones for Gaming.

Our Top 3 Recommendations

Best Pick Sennheiser G4ME ONE Open Back Acoustic Gaming Headphones Sennheiser G4ME ONE

Special Transducer Technology

Noise Canceling Microphone

Lightweight Material

Most Popular Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 Premium Over-Ear Gaming Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1

Large & Super Comfortable Ear Cups

High Quality Flexible Microphone

Lightweight & Highly Durable

Budget Pick Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile On-Ear Wired Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X

Crystal Clear Sound Quality

Lightweight & Comfortable

Adjustable Body Parts

Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming Summary

Award Image Model Price
Best Premium Open Back Headphones For Gaming Sennheiser G4ME ONE Open Back Acoustic Gaming Headphones Sennheiser G4ME ONE See on Amazon
Best Mid Range Open Back Headphones For Gaming Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 Premium Over-Ear Gaming Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 See on Amazon
Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming Under $200 Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile On-Ear Wired Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X See on Amazon
Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming And Music Sennheiser HD 599 Premium Wired Open Back On-Ear Headphones Sennheiser HD 599 See on Amazon
Best Open Back Headphones With Mic For Gaming Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X Gaming Open Back Headphones Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X See on Amazon
Best Open Back Headsets For Gaming ASTRO Gaming A40 TR X-Edition Open Ear Gaming Headphones ASTRO Gaming A40 TR X-Edition See on Amazon
Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming Under $100 Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X See on Amazon
Most Comfortable Open Back Headphones For Gaming Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO On-Ear Studio Wired Headphones Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO See on Amazon
Best Wireless Open Back Headphones For Gaming Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Headphones With Microphone Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR See on Amazon
Best Budget Open Back Headphones For Gaming Philips SHP9500 Hifi Wired Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones Philips SHP9500 Hifi See on Amazon

Our Recommendations for Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming

Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming Reviews

Sennheiser G4ME ONE Open Back Acoustic Gaming Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

Sennheiser G4ME ONE Open Back Acoustic Gaming Headphones

Best Premium Open Back Headphones For Gaming

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: Over Ear | Weight: 1.38 lbs | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 50MM | Microphone: Yes | Cable Length: 3M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 50 Ohms

REASONS TO BUY

Special Transducer Technology

Noise Canceling Microphone

Lightweight Material

Multiple Connectivity

REASONS TO AVOID

Little Bit Tight Headband

Sennheiser G4me One is the best premium open back headphones for gaming with excellent sound quality. These headphones have all the advanced features that every gamer needs. 50-ohm transducer technology is used in Sennheiser g4me headphones for crystal clear sound quality. The headband and the ear cups of the headphones are padded with a soft microfiber material which makes it super comfortable.

Sennheiser G4me One headphones come with advanced technology to control the features of the headphones. Mute switch and volume dial features are embedded in the movement of the microphone. It means you’ll need to rotate the microphone to increase/decrease the volume. However, there are no visible volume dial notches to set the volume on a specific level. It means that If you would like to limit the volume to 50%, you can’t do it.

They’re highly compatible and available in the wired mode, so If you want to connect these headphones with a gaming console such as Playstation or Xbox. Or, If you would like to connect them with Mac, PC, Tablet, or Smartphone, you can connect them with Sennheiser g4me headphones easily. They have large cups that are incredibly comfortable and made with breathable material. The design of the Sennheiser G4me One headphones is really great

Despite all these great features, these headphones are not suitable for athletes. By chance, If you bought them and used them during a hard workout, you’ll feel uncomfortable. However, these headphones are excellent for gaming and daily music listening.

However, these headphones are perfect for long online sessions and gaming. They produce natural gaming sound with the help of a neutral frequency response. Sennheiser G4me One headphone has a high-quality noise-canceling microphone for clear communication with your teammates. So, If you’re looking for premium open back headphones for gaming, these headphones are best.

Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 Premium Over-Ear Gaming Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 Premium Over-Ear Gaming Headphones

Best Mid Range Open Back Headphones For Gaming

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: Over Ear | Weight: 0.49 lbs | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 40MM | Microphone: Yes | Cable Length: 1.2M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 39 Ohm

REASONS TO BUY

Large & Super Comfortable Ear Cups

High Quality Flexible Microphone

Lightweight & Highly Durable

Three Different Connectivity Cables

REASONS TO AVOID

Omni-Directional Microphone

Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 headphones are budget-friendly headphones. They come with high-quality sound production qualities, but they also have a sleek and elegant design. These headphones can be good for gamers who play games for hours and want natural sound with highly long-lasting comfort. However, most of the bodies of Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 headphones are built with plastic. But the metal screws and mounting assure that the headphones are strong enough.

These headphones come with an adjustable headband which makes them suitable for various head sizes. Almost all the open back gaming headphones are highly compatible, and It means they can be easily connected with PlayStation, Xbox or PC. Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 headphones come with a 1.2mm mobile cable, flexible microphone, in-line sound controls, and a 2m split-audio PC cable to make your long gaming sessions easier.

A jack can be easily connected to a gaming console and PC. The double excel size larger ear cups, lightweight body, and honeycomb aluminum body make these headphones perfect for gamers. The large ear cups produce a natural, spacious sound and relax your ears during intense gameplay. These headphones are suitable for long gaming sessions; they’ll not make your ears press down and heat up. They don’t snuggle your ears as other headphones do.

Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 headphones ear cups and headbands are padded with a soft material to provide extra comfort, and you don’t feel pressure on your head. Audio-Technica is a world-renowned headphones brand for premium quality gaming headphones. Their gaming headphones are top-rated among people. Audio Technica headphones come with their unique open back styles, and they have considered the best mid range open back headphones for gaming to produce good quality natural and accurate sound. However, you’ll feel sound leakage because of the open back.

Audio-Technica ATH-PDG1 comes with a built-in microphone that is useful during gaming. Despite these great features, these headphones don’t support noise isolation features, so you’ll hear the background noise of the wind and the keyboard. The best way to use these headphones is to use them in a quiet environment. However, you’re buying headphones for gaming. That’s why this is justified.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile On-Ear Wired Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X Audiophile On-Ear Wired Headphones

Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming Under $200

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: Over Ear | Weight: 1.25 lbs | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 53MM | Microphone: No | Cable Length: 3M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 45 Ohm

REASONS TO BUY

Crystal Clear Sound Quality

Lightweight & Comfortable

Adjustable Body Parts

Open Air Design

REASONS TO AVOID

Low Bass Response

Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X are the best open back headphones for gaming under $200. They provide an average level of sound quality and superb comfort. These headphones can be an excellent option for gamers who are looking for fabulous comfort headphones with natural sound. These headphones have 53 mm large, extremely comfortable ear cups that produce good treble sound.

You can wear these headphones for hours without feeling pressure on your head and ears. They’re very lightweight, and the fabric used in the headphones' earpads is a soft material. Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X is suitable for those people who spend their whole day sitting in front of their gaming setup. These headphones are designed to provide comfort to the gamers with a good listening experience.

However, these headphones are not as good as many higher-end open-back gaming headphones, but they produce a reasonable average level of sound quality, which is enough for gaming. This might not work perfectly for you if you listen to a loud volume. The design of Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X is good in Its way, and they have an average-looking design. They have a unique adjustable headband style compared to all other headphones available in the market.

These headphones have self-adjusting paddles on the headband so you can adjust the headband according to your skull size. Audio-Technica ATH-AD700X ear cups are well padded with a soft material to provide you an ultra comfort. These headphones have individual body parts, and you can move all of them according to your preferences.

The body is fully open from all sides, allowing the air to pass through it and produce natural sound. These headphones are excellent to wear for long sessions without feeling pain in your ears & head. They’re suitable for all the activities, including home listening and intense gameplays.

However, apart from all these features, they don’t provide noise isolation because of their fully hollow body. So, they leak a lot of audio.

Sennheiser HD 599 Premium Wired Open Back On-Ear Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

Sennheiser HD 599 Premium Wired Open Back On-Ear Headphones

Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming And Music

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: Over Ear | Weight: 0.55 lbs | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 45MM | Microphone: No | Cable Length: 3M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 50 Ohm

REASONS TO BUY

Super Comfortable & Robust Design

Dual Connectivity

Open Acoustic Design

Premium Sound Quality

REASONS TO AVOID

Little Bit Distortion Beyond 50% Volume

Sennheiser HD 599 headphones use high-quality transducers for lossless sound quality and crystal clear communication. These transducers are used in headphones to control the audio distortion and improve sound deliverability. Sennheiser HD 599 are best open back headphones for gaming and music specially built for audiophiles who are enthusiastic about high-fidelity sound reproduction. Sennheiser HD 599 headphones are actually a predecessor of Sennheiser HD 598 with many improved and new features.

The significant difference in Sennheiser HD 599 is their ear cups. These headphones ear cups are well-padded with soft cushions, and the body of the ear cups is made of plastic grilles with metals around them. These headphones have an acoustic open-back design to provide a natural and realistic gaming sound. They produce a smooth and clear sound with a lead of instruments and vocals.

Sennheiser HD 599 open back design provides a spacious-seeming soundstage. They also have a solid frequency response to offer you a stable connection even when you’re away from your headphones. However, they have a solid treble and bass response that doesn’t vary on external factors like headphone fit and positioning. However, they don’t have their app to set up the personalized EQ. So, unfortunately, there’s no personalization option.

They’re available in only one Ivory color, which looks attractive to others. Moreover, if the ear pads are damaged by chance, you can easily replace them by yourself. With the premium sound quality and superb comfort, they’re one of the best open back headphones for gaming. The headband and ear cups are well padded with a breathable velour cushion material which makes them comfortable to wear for extended gaming.

Like other open back headphones for gaming, they prevent your ears from heating. Sennheiser HD 599 are good headphones with an impressive look and good quality sound.

Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X Gaming Open Back Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X Gaming Open Back Headphones

Best Open Back Headphones With Mic For Gaming

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: Over Ear | Weight: 0.66 lbs | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 45MM | Microphone: Yes | Cable Length: 3M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 50 Ohm

REASONS TO BUY

Excellent Natural Sound Quality

Special Volume Controller

Easy and Lightweight Design

High Frequency Response

REASONS TO AVOID

Not Suitable For Music

Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X is one of the most attractive best open back headphones with mic for gaming. Sennheiser is a brand with a lot of premium quality gaming headphones. That’s why in this article, you’ll find a lot of Sennheiser headphones. They’re famous for their realistic and natural sound quality for gaming. Sennheiser is also renowned for making premium open back studio headphones with a well-balanced sound system.

Like other Sennheiser headphones listed above, Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X are premium quality headphones with a detachable microphone, excellent sound quality and many other features. No doubt, they’re exceptional audio quality headphones. The design of these headphones is aesthetic, which can attract any buyer’s attention. However, these headphones don’t have the flashy angular designs and colored LEDs that many other headphones have.

It’s a gaming headset with a matte black color body that looks attractive with a gaming setup. Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X comes with an adjustable headband that is good to set up if you’ve multiple headphones users. The headband will be flexible for every person. They have large ear cups made of velvet that provide a smooth and comfortable fit.

These headphones don’t have a traditional button or touch system to control the features. They have fast wheels to tweak to adjust the volume of the headphones. However, according to your level, there are no proper indicators to control the headphone’s volume. The headband and most of the body of these headphones are made of plastic. Headband and ear cups are correctly padded with soft material of thick velour cushion.

They are best open back headphones for gaming with a lightweight frame, so heat and weight will not be an issue for you. If you play games on gaming consoles such as PS4 and PS5, you can easily connect Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X with a PCV 05 headset adapter. The primary use of the PCV 05 headset adapter is to convert the headphone’s two terminations into a single jack. With the PCV 05 headset adapter, you can connect your headphones with Mac, PC, Gaming consoles, and Nintendo.

However, you’ll need to buy an Xbox Stereo Headset adapter for an Xbox connection. The ear cup size of Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X is same as Sennheiser HD 600 & HD 598. Both of these models were super popular with audiophiles after their launch.

These headphones are designed in a way to help you in the natural sound reproduction and give more clarity to the tunes. The specially positioned ear cups and the open back designs make you aware of the surroundings. The accurate sound will help you to beat your competitors. One of the best features of Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X headphones is their noise-canceling microphone that blocks all the ambient background noise and provides crystal clear communication.

ASTRO Gaming A40 TR X-Edition Open Ear Gaming Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

ASTRO Gaming A40 TR X-Edition Open Ear Gaming Headphones

Best Open Back Headsets For Gaming

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: Over Ear | Weight: N/A | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 50MM | Microphone: Yes | Cable Length: N/A | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: N/A

REASONS TO BUY

Extremely Comfortable For Gaming

Designed For Professional Gamers

Wireless Connectivity

Removable Microphone

REASONS TO AVOID

Low Frequency Response

ASTRO Gaming A40 headphones have the most attractive and rugged design. They are the best open back headsets for gaming because of their gaming look and premium comfort. The ear cups of these headphones are made of soft fabric material. They are comfortably snug on your ears. While wearing these headphones, you won’t feel any pressure—the body of ASTRO Gaming A40 headphones.

There’s a sturdy plastic chassis placed to fit your head on the headband. The adjustable headband ensures that the headphones should perfectly fit. You don’t need to worry about the headphones falling from your head or headset dent. The best thing about these headphones is Their swappable and removable parts that make them different from all the other headphones listed above.

You can remove ear cups, microphones, speaker tags, or other parts if you want to remove them quickly. The design and manufacturing of ASTRO Gaming A40 TR X-Edition are exemplary. All of the components are held with each other with magnets and jacks, which are easily removable.

These headphones featured a 3.5 mm long cord to connect these headphones with external audio devices. They also have a 3.5 mm extended splitter to connect with PCs and separate audio and microphone parts. ASTRO Gaming A40 TR X-Edition headphones are perfect headphones for gaming because they were developed and tested under the supervision of game developers and professional gamers.

A gamer can understand the feelings and concerns of another gamer. That’s why we’re forced to say these headphones are best. If you play in events and competitive gaming with your friends, you’ll have an edge on the ASTRO Gaming A40 headset. They come with a built-in microphone that is highly sensitive for smooth voice pick-up and clear voice calls. As we’ve mentioned above, the microphone can be removed easily.

ASTRO Gaming A40 TR X-Edition provides detailed, balanced and realistic sound in gaming. These headphones are perfect for First-person Shooter (FPS) and adventure games on PC and PS4. Moreover, you can also change the headphone’s design to closed back or open back. These headphones are best to win gaming tournaments.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X Audiophile Open-Air Headphones

Best Open Back Headphones For Gaming Under $100

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: Over Ear | Weight: 0.52 lbs | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 53MM | Microphone: No | Cable Length: 3M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 48 Ohm

REASONS TO BUY

Good Sound Quality

Direction Audio Response

Self Adjustable for Comfy Fit

Strong Cord

REASONS TO AVOID

High Treble and Low Bass

Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X is the best budget-friendly best open back headphones for gaming under $100. They’re very comfortable to wear for long gaming sessions with your friends or competitors. They have large ear cups that produce a natural and clear sound. The body frame of these headphones is built with a lightweight and flexible material, making it very durable enough to work for months. The ear cups and the headband are made with a good fabric material.

They provide you with ultimate comfort while you’re playing games for hours. They prevent your ears and head from being sweaty during hard gameplays. Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X headphones produce accurate, natural gaming sound with rich bass. The crystal clear sound will bring your game to real life. They’re available in only one mode, which is wired.

The wire of Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X headphones is made with oxygen-free copper. And the cable is durable enough to handle the tangling. These headphones come with a 3,5 mm gold-plated stereo connector and a 6.3 mm adapter. The best and most noticeable thing about these headphones is Their directional sound which allows gamers to improve their gaming. CCAW voice coils provide you with a vital edge over your competitors.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO On-Ear Studio Wired Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO On-Ear Studio Wired Headphones

Most Comfortable Open Back Headphones For Gaming

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: Over Ear | Weight: 0.55 lbs | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: N/A | Microphone: No | Cable Length: 3M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 250 Ohm

REASONS TO BUY

High Durability & Comfy Design

Strong Spring Steel Headband

Good For Audiophiles & Gamers

Single Sided Cable

REASONS TO AVOID

Not Wireless Connectivity

If you’re looking for budget-friendly and most comfortable open back headphones for gaming, you should once check the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones. These headphones can be an excellent choice for audiophiles, gamers, or studio managers. These Beyerdynamic headphones have super soft, well-padded ear cups among all the other headphones listed above. They’re also breathable to prevent your ears from heating and sweating.

However, the headband of these headphones is very rigid, which will make the headphones tight on your head. You might feel uncomfortable after a few hours of gaming. This can be a cause of headaches and ear swelling. These headphones come with a 3.0 mm connectivity cable to connect these headphones with any sound device. These headphones produce incredible and natural gaming sound.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones are made with a high quality, highly durable material that makes them strong enough to last for years. The overall body frame of these headphones is built with metal. The parts of these headphones are detachable according to their design.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO headphones reproduce an excellent sound; however, the open back design is not recommended for daily life use. It means you can’t use these headphones while running or working out. Moreover, due to the open back design, they leak sound.

Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Headphones With Microphone (Image credit: Amazon)

Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR Over-Ear Headphones With Microphone

Best Wireless Open Back Headphones For Gaming

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: On Ear | Weight: 0.83 lbs | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 50MM | Microphone: No | Cable Length: 3.5M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 30 Ohm

REASONS TO BUY

Large Comfy Ear Cups

Budget Friendly

Neodymium Magnets Ear Cups

Good Durability

REASONS TO AVOID

No Microphone

Philips is one of the world’s most popular headphones brands. They have led the headphones industry for many years and have been in the market for the last 50 years. Their headphones are consistently excellent in sound and reasonable in price. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR headphones show the accurate picture of Philips headphones. Their unique iconic design and detailed sound range are still popular with people.

They’re the best wireless open back headphones for gaming by architecture and perfect for home listening. They come with double-layered ear cups for extra comfort and a smooth listening experience. The design of Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR has an elegant and attractive look. The headband of these headphones is made with dual metal cubes covered by a soft leather material to provide comfort to the user.

The material used in these headphones is excellent, and the durability of these headphones is high. So you don’t need to worry about the headphones being damaged soon. With 50mm large ear cups and good frequency response, these headphones should be an excellent choice for you. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR headphones might be a perfect addition to your gaming setup,

They’re good to use with consoles such as PlayStation4 or 5. These headphones come with a precise and natural sound and good bass response.

Philips SHP9500 Hifi Wired Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones (Image credit: Amazon)

Philips SHP9500 Hifi Wired Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones

Best Budget Open Back Headphones For Gaming

SPECIFICATIONS

Design: On Ear | Weight: N/A | Connectivity: Wired | Driver Size: 50MM | Microphone: No | Cable Length: 1.5M | Noise Control: Yes | Impedance: 32 Ohm

REASONS TO BUY

Large 50mm Ear Cups

Acoustic Open-Back Design

Self-Adjusting Headband

Breathable Ear Cups Material

REASONS TO AVOID

Sharp Treble

Philips SHP9500 is the best budget open back headphones for gaming. If you’re looking for good-quality headphones at a low price, these headphones are perfect for you. They come with 50mm larger neodymium ear cups that help to produce full-spectrum sound for gaming.

Like other open back gaming headphones, Philips SHP9500 are not wireless headphones. But they have a 1.5m longest ever detachable headphones cable that is great to connect them with gaming PCs or consoles. These are over-ear headphones, and they have an adjustable headband to fit your ears and head. You’ll definitely feel comfortable while using them during gaming.

The frequency response is 12-35,000hz, which is relatively better in this price range because the other headphones in the same price range don’t offer this frequency. This is good for solid connectivity. If you’re looking for budget-friendly headphones with good quality sound, Philips SHP9500 might be a good choice for you. Again, It depends on you whatever you’ll choose.

Don’t just look at the price while buying headphones because, in the end, you’ll feel disappointed.

How to choose the best over-ear headphones for working out?

We guess you very well know about the benefits of over-ear headphones for gaming. So, there are a few essential things that many people forget to check in the open back headphones. Before buying open back headphones for you, make sure that the headphones have all these features because they’re essential, and they’ll definitely improve your gaming.

Frequency Range

The frequency range is the first thing you should check while buying the best open back headphones for gaming. It determines how much you can move away from your audio device while listening to music. The frequency range has been calculated in Hertz (Hz), and the frequency range depends on the quality of the headphones. Expensive headphones definitely have a wide range of frequencies.

The range of frequency is between 20 Hz – 20 000 Hz. An extensive frequency range ensures that you can listen to the bass and sound clearly while away from your device. The excellent frequency in headphones is 12 000 Hz, so If the headphones have a frequency range of 12 000 Hz, It means they are good headphones to choose from.

Design

As we’ve mentioned earlier, the open back headphones have two designs, Classic and Semi-open. The class style of open back headphones comes with grills on the ear drivers on the back of the ear cups. On the other hand, the semi-open back headphones also have a grill on the ear cups of the headphones, but they’ve also a panel covering the ear drivers. The panel increases Its durability.

The back panel of the semi-open back headphones is handy to control the sound leakage, especially If you’re playing games or listening to music in your office or library room. However, as shown by its name, the open back headphones are designed to letting out some noise. So, It’s better to use them at home.

Material

Material is another essential thing to check while buying headphones. Because many headphones manufacturers use low-quality cheap plastic in manufacturing that’s why the headphones break within two to three months.

Good material increases the durability of any product, and the material also plays a massive role in the performance of the headphones. Low-quality material can lead to sound leakage and distortion in sound, so that’s why the headphones should be made from high-quality and durable material.

Price

Price plays a considerable role when buying anything, so It’s important to check the cost of the headphones. Best open back headphones for gaming are a bit expensive, but If you’re looking for a premium product with all the features, then the price should not be an issue. However, the high price can’t guarantee the excellent performance of the headphones.

But keep in mind that don’t choose cheap headphones because they’ll last no more than 3 months and the sound quality will also be unsatisfactory.

Ear Cups Size

Expensive headphones usually have large ear cups to maximize comfort while wearing headphones. However, there are a few other options are also available such as 1-inch headphones models. The size of the ear cups plays an essential role in producing the accurate sound quality and how loud you want to listen to music. So, that’s why It is really important to check the ear cups size.

If you want to use these headphones for gaming or at home, then the 40 mm cup size headphones would be ideal.

Mic Quality

The microphone is very important in team combat games. While you’re playing with your friends in a team, you can call them via microphone to protect you so you can apply a first aid kit.

The good-quality microphone has noise isolation, flip-up, and auto-mute features. These are things you should check in the microphone of the headphones.

Comfort

Comfort is the first thing you should check If you’re buying headphones for gaming. Because you may wear them for an extended time, open back headphones usually fit snugly on your ears and head. They don’t move around while you’re moving, and you might feel uncomfortable after wearing them for a long time.

It’s really important to find the perfect pair of headphones that are comfortable to wear for hours and easily fit on your head. Choose the best open back headphones for gaming that are comfortable to wear and don’t fall off your head.

Final Words

We hope that this article will help you choose the best open back headphones for gaming. However, selecting headphones for gaming depends on every individual gamer’s preferences. With all the information, we conclude that open back headphones are an excellent choice for gamers. Those gamers who want comfort, heat prevention, and a natural environmental sound while playing games. They should choose open back headphones.

Moreover, open back headphones for gaming come in two different styles, so It depends on you what style you choose. Before purchasing headphones, the essential things you must check are frequency range, comfort, material, and price. Keep in mind that you want something that properly fits on your head, comfortable to wear, and durable for extended use. Your ultimate goal is to find a pair of headphones that gives you a next-level gaming experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are open back headphones excellent for gaming?

The answer could be yes or no because people have their own interests. It depends on you what type of headphones you prefer. Both open back and closed back headphones have their pros and cons. Closed back headphones give you complete isolation because they block all the distractive background noise and don’t leak any sound. Some gamers say closed back headphones are better for gaming because they’ll block all the noise and you’ll only hear the game sound.

While on the other hand, open back headphones come in two different styles open back and semi-open-back. Open back headphones produce more natural and realistic sound and you don’t feel like you’re in your head. Open back headphones leaks the sound and semi-open back headphones leak less sound. However, they both produce accurate sound, and they protect your ears from heat and sweat. They’re breathable and comfortable to use for long gaming sessions.

How open back headphones better for gaming?

The open back headphones are best for gaming because of their soundstage. Again, everyone has their different music tastes. Some people love to listen to high bass music, even boomy bass music, while some like balanced and accurate classical music with a soft touch of electrical instruments. Overall, open back headphones produce a more natural and precise sound that audiophiles love. Most people like bassy sounds.

Despite that, In gaming, you need accurate and natural sound effects that allow you to compete with your competitors. That’s why you should choose open back headphones for gaming.

Open Back or Closed Back headphones: Which one should I use?

As we’ve mentioned earlier, both the headphones types have advantages and disadvantageous. It entirely depends on your preferences and conditions. You should keep in mind what kind of headphones you need and in which state you’re going to use them. Open back headphones are specially designed for gaming sessions. They might not be an excellent choice for traveling.

Is it essential to buy headphones with a mic?

Suppose you play games in a group or you’re a professional gamer who participates in gaming tournaments, then you should choose headphones with a microphone because you’ll need to communicate with your teammates during combat. The microphone is a necessity for in-gaming voice chats. However, If you play games alone, you can ignore the microphone feature while purchasing headphones.

Hamza Bhatti
Hamza Bhatti is a tech enthusiast, hardcore gamer, and music lover since childhood. He loves to explore and review new gadgets and technologies. He is graduated from one of the most reputable universities in Pakistan. In his spare time, Hamza loves to play games, travel, and watch the cinema.
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