There are quite a few open-back headphones available, but choosing one specifically for gaming allows for better comfort in longer gaming sessions and excellent sound.
Below we review different open-back headphone models, and we list some of the best open-back headphones for gaming in 2021.
In a hurry? Here are 3 of our best open back headphones for gaming:
Top 7 Best Open Back Headphones for Gaming 2021
1. Audio-Technica ATH-AD700x
- 53 mm drivers reproduce clear treble and midrange. Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils for superior power handling. Impedance: 38 ohms
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW . Full open-air type headphones produce no sense of pressure on the ears,...
- Lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing with excellent acoustic properties
- Self-adjusting 3D Wing Support provides a comfortable listening experience; total ear-fit design...
Audio Technica is one of the top companies in making good headphones, and the very first best open-back headphones for gaming you can consider is ATH-AD700X.
The Audio Technica ATH-AD700X delivers detailed, accurate, and high-frequency audio. It is lightweight, and breathable fabric earpads makes it very comfortable for longer gameplays.
It has a very sleek industrial look and robust build quality, which is constructed with rugged aluminum honeycomb mesh and carbon composite resins that deliver a detailed transient response. The ATH-AD700X has a 3d wing system headband that offers automatic adjustment.
It is a wired headphone that comes with two 3 meter long straight detachable cables with 3.5 mm jacks, which is fully compatible with PC and gaming consoles.
The audio of the ATH-AD700X is impressive as well. It is especially designed for editing, mixing, and mastering work. High-efficiency magnets and 5-40,000hz frequency response could be an ideal choice for gaming as well. The open-back design offers very detailed and natural sound. 15 – 30KHz frequency response delivers clear low and treble. The 42mm drives covered with mesh grill covered distortion very well, and 54 ohms impedance allows gamers to play on almost all devices.
The ATH-AD700X is great for playing video games, and audio and video editing.
What we liked
- Natural, accurate, and very detailed sound
- Two straight detachable cables with lock mechanism
- 3d wing system headband and breathable fabric ear pads
- Robust build quality and lightweight
What we didn’t like
- Not for all budgets
- 53 mm drivers reproduce clear treble and midrange. Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils for superior power handling. Impedance: 38 ohms
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW . Full open-air type headphones produce no sense of pressure on the ears,...
- Lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing with excellent acoustic properties
- Self-adjusting 3D Wing Support provides a comfortable listening experience; total ear-fit design...
2. Shure SRH1840
- Individually matched 40 mm neodymium drivers for unparalleled acoustic performance with smooth,...
- Open-back, circumaural design for exceptionally natural sound, wide stereo image, and increased...
- Lightweight construction featuring aircraft-grade aluminum alloy yoke and stainless steel grilles...
- Steel driver frame with vented center pole piece improves linearity and eliminates internal...
- Ergonomic dual-frame, padded headband is lightweight and fully adjustable for hours of listening...
The Shure SRH1840 are superb headphones that offer premium comfort, sound quality, and build quality.
SRH1840 is exceptionally lightweight and comfortable. In the box, you’ll get a beautiful and sturdy carrying case that includes the headphones, extra ear cup and audio cable, and a threaded adapter.
The design and the build quality of SRH1840 are beautiful and durable.
Let’s start with the headband. The adjustable and dual-frame headband has metal wrapped in soft and comfortable leather that allows you to wear it for a long time. Shure SRH1840 also has soft, replaceable, and comfortable ear pads made of a velour material. The advantage of having velour ear pads is that they don’t get warm during long-wearing and gaming sessions, and they offer much better comfort than leather ear pads.
The ear cups are moveable and have an open back over-ear design. Like Audio Technica ATH R70x and LyxPro OEH-10, these are wired headphones. You can connect it using an audio cable with all 3.5mm standard jack devices, and also you’ll get an extra adapter. Using the additional adapter, you can connect them with any amp device.
The cable is Dual-exit, and you’ll get a spare cable in the box as well. Also, aircraft-grade aluminum alloy yoke and stainless steel grilles make their build quality 2x better than a regular headset.
SRH1840 is perhaps one of the top headphones that provide excellent sound for gamers. Shure SRH1840 reproduce 10 Hz to 30 kHz frequency response and 40 mm neodymium drivers and deliver accurate bass, smooth and extended high. In short, they provide acoustic performance.
Open back, and circumaural designs increase sound accuracy and increase the wide stereo image that helps to listen to different sound stages and enemy footsteps more clearly.
Pros
- Natural and accurate sound
- Very comfortable for wear during longer games sessions
- Extra ear pads and cables
- lightweight design and extra comfortable ear pads
Cons
- Expensive
- Individually matched 40 mm neodymium drivers for unparalleled acoustic performance with smooth,...
- Open-back, circumaural design for exceptionally natural sound, wide stereo image, and increased...
- Lightweight construction featuring aircraft-grade aluminum alloy yoke and stainless steel grilles...
- Steel driver frame with vented center pole piece improves linearity and eliminates internal...
- Ergonomic dual-frame, padded headband is lightweight and fully adjustable for hours of listening...
3. AKG K240 STUDIO – Semi-Open Over-Ear Professional Studio Headphones
- Professional studio headphones
- Semi-open
- 3 m replaceable cable
- Audio Interface type: Stereo plug – 3.5mm (1/8-inch) with 6.3 mm (1/4”) screw-on adapter
Another good semi open-back headphone for gaming is the AKG K250.
Other headphones perform well for gaming and offer a better gaming experience, but if you want to get headphones that you can use for the audio or video studio, this is the best choice.
The design of AKG K240 is beautiful, and it is available in black. The build quality and quality of the material is also excellent. Headband, ear pads are wrapped in soft leather that provides the maximum comfort. Also, you can replace the headband and ear cups padding.
These are wired headphones and compatible with PC and gaming consoles. The cable is 3 meters long and made of 99.99% oxygen-free copper, and on both ends has gold plated plugs. The cable is detachable, so if the cable breaks, you can order a new one. Overall the build quality is robust and offers excellent comfort at a very affordable price.
The AKG K240 have a very wide frequency response between 15 Hz to 25,000, so low frequencies sound good. Furthermore, 55-ohm impedance delivers very accurate and high volume sound. They have a semi-open design, which means they will leak sound but not like the open back design.
Pros
- Lightweight and flexible
- Excellent sound quality
- Comfortable for longer gaming sessions
Cons
- Sound leakage by design
- Professional studio headphones
- Semi-open
- 3 m replaceable cable
- Audio Interface type: Stereo plug – 3.5mm (1/8-inch) with 6.3 mm (1/4”) screw-on adapter
4. Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR
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Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR is also one of the best open-back headphones for gaming; even you can use it for First Person Shooter games.
The sound and build quality of Fidelio X2HR is mind-blowing. It is the best gaming headphone in the price range of $150 and $200.
The X2HR is an open back headphone that comes with 5hz to 40 kHz frequency response and 50mm drivers.
It has a gorgeous design and premium build quality. When looking at the headband, it has steel tubes that are covered in real leather and breathable mesh padding. Ear cups have an over-ear design, and outer dia is 107mm, and inner dia is 55mm. The X2HR has soft deluxe memory foam ear-pads that provide excellent comfort. Also, ear pads have a breathable velour finishing that prevents them from getting warm.
The cable of Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR is detachable and 10 feet long. Also, cable has a 3.5mm jack, which is compatible with gaming consoles.
In other cases, if you want to add a mic and want to talk during the game, I suggest you get a V-MODA Boom Pro X Microphone. It has a built-in mic and controller system.
- Essential for in-game communication, the BoomPro X is compatible with a number of gaming consoles...
- Compatible with all smartphones, tablets, PCs, notebooks and gaming consoles via 3.5mm 1/8" plug and...
- Compatible with Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and other remote team collaboration softwares
- Detachable for maximum compatibility and usage; flexible and adjustable for ideal mic positioning
- Built to last with a durable and reinforced cable, gold plated plug and adjustable boom arm
The sound of Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR is identical, smooth, in short, like soft butter. They deliver clear lows, balanced bass, and treble. These headphones offer excellent sound for listening and gaming. Due to solid sound stages, they provide unique sound in a single-player shooting and multiplayer as well. Sound of guns, cars, footsteps, and more are clear.
Overall, Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR is the best open-back headphones for gaming and music under $150.
Pros
- Premium build quality
- Smooth, natural and Identical sound
- Very comfortable
- Detachable cable
Cons
- No carrying case
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5. AKG Pro Audio K612 PRO
- Open-back design
- Patented varimotion™ diaphragm technology
- 120 ohm impedance, 12 hz - 39 Khz responce
- 101 dB SPL/V
- Only 238 g in weight
The PRO Audio K612 PRO is an inexpensive model offered by AKG. The features that make these headphones ideal for gaming include only 238 grams weight, sophisticated open technology, patented Varimotion diaphragm technology, a genuine self-adjusting leather headband, and computer-optimized neodymium magnets.
The patented Varimotion diaphragm technology offers high-quality imaging and sound that enhance the gaming experience.
The headband of K612 PRO is self-adjusting so there’s need to adjust it. It fits according to head size and wrapped in comfortable and soft leather allows wearing them for long gaming sessions.
The K612 PRO is not very comfortable for bigger heads, but for average and smaller heads they provide excellent comfort. Ear cups have soft, comfortable ear pads, and also they’re deep and large to cover the whole ear.
The only thing that AKG needs to improve is the cable. The cable is 10 feet long, reliable, and durable, albeit non-detachable. Overall it has an excellent build quality, and it is very comfortable because of its light weight, its soft headband, and its ear pads.
The sound quality of the AKG K612 PRO is impressive. It has a crisp sound, and mids and highs are impressive.
The impedance of K612 PRO is 120 ohms, which means if you want to use it with mobile devices, you need to attach an extra amp for high-quality sound. For gaming consoles, it offers natural and balanced sound. Also, 12 Hz to 39 Khz frequency response deliver very wide sound stages.
Like other headphones, they have an open-back design, and it is one of the best budget open-back headphones for gaming that you can get between $100 to $150.
Pros
- Pretty impressive mids and highs
- Strong build quality
- 10 feet long cord with 3.5mm jack
- Natural and high imaging sound
Cons
- Non removable cable
- Open-back design
- Patented varimotion™ diaphragm technology
- 120 ohm impedance, 12 hz - 39 Khz responce
- 101 dB SPL/V
- Only 238 g in weight
6. Samson Technologies SR850
- Professional studio Reference semi-open headphones designed for tracking, mixing, mastering and...
- Proprietary large 50mm drivers with rare earth magnets deliver an extended frequency response and...
- Circumaural, over-ear, design with velour cushioning provides outstanding comfort for long listening...
- Self-adjusting headband for optimal fit
- 1/4" Stereo Adapter included
Samson Technologies manage to produce an inexpensive headphone, which is an SR850 semi-open back. SR850 is a studio headphone, but the natural and clear sound they provide allows us to use them for gaming as well.
They have 50mm neodymium drivers and 32-ohm impedance that makes them compatible with low and high power devices. Samson SR850 is compatible with PC and consoles, including Xbox, PS4.
Their high-frequency response between 10Hz and 30KHz and clear sound quality helps players understand opponent footstep movement and directions. They have a semi-open design, which means they’ll leak sound and allow external air to let in. It will prevent air fatigue and getting ear pads warm.
They don’t sound as good as the Audio Technica ATH R70x and the Philips Audio Fidelio X2HR, but they sound pretty acceptable for less than $50.
Their comfort level and build quality are also impressive. Soft, comfortable, and velour cushioning on headband and ear pads make them comfortable. The headband is automatically adjustable like AKG PRO Audio K612. The clamping force is good and not hurt your head or ear.
The cord is strong, 8.5 feet long, and non-detachable, but in $30, you cannot grumble.
Overall in this price range, they sound good, their performance and build quality are impressive, and Samson SR850 is the cheapest semi-open back over-ear headphones for gaming in this list.
Pros
- Very affordable price
- Excellent sound quality and performance in gaming and music
- Compatible with low and high power devices
- Lightweight and comfortable
Cons
- Not the most durable build
- Professional studio Reference semi-open headphones designed for tracking, mixing, mastering and...
- Proprietary large 50mm drivers with rare earth magnets deliver an extended frequency response and...
- Circumaural, over-ear, design with velour cushioning provides outstanding comfort for long listening...
- Self-adjusting headband for optimal fit
- 1/4" Stereo Adapter included
7. Sony WH-XB900N
- Feel the power of extra bass
- Next-level digital noise cancelling technology
- Enjoy the convenience of hands-free calling thanks to the integrated microphone and Bluetooth...
- Get up to 30 hours of battery life
- Touch Sensor controls to pause play skip tracks control volume activate your voice assistant and...
The last but not least open back gaming headphone you can get is Sony WH-XB900N. The headphone delivers excellent bass and sound quality. Also, the build quality and battery life are impressive.
It is available in blue and black colours and provides premium feels. They are made of plastic material and weigh 254 g. Sony WH-XB900N is foldable, ear cups rotatable to the 90 degrees, and hinges are rotateable, which provides great portability.
The headband and ear cups have soft padding and enough clamping force that does not hurt and perfectly fits head and ear. These are Bluetooth pairs of headphones, but you can connect them through 3.5jack as well. All control buttons are placed on the left ear cup. Left ear cups include a power button, 3.5mm audio cable port, and USB C type charging port.
On the left ear cup instead of buttons, they make it touched. Using touch sensor wearer can control music such as playing/pausing, increase/decrease volume, google assistant, etc. The battery life of the Sony WH-XB900N is 30 hours, which is enough for gamers.
Sony WH-XB900N also has Noice cancelling technology that prevents all ambient noises, and you can focus on games and music.
Along with noise-cancelling, they offer excellent sound quality and extra bass. Frequency response between 2 Hz to 20,000 Hz provides clear lows, balanced mids, and good highs. You can customize bass, mids, highs, and other setting using the sony app.
It is the best wireless headphones for gaming that you can get in less than $250.
- Feel the power of extra bass
- Next-level digital noise cancelling technology
- Enjoy the convenience of hands-free calling thanks to the integrated microphone and Bluetooth...
- Get up to 30 hours of battery life
- Touch Sensor controls to pause play skip tracks control volume activate your voice assistant and...
Gaming Headphones Vs Normal Headphones?
The major difference between gaming headphones and normal headphones is that mostly gaming headset came with a mic, attractive, and stylish design. You can use the mic to communicate with other gamers in multiplayer games.
I do not recommend you to pick a headphone because it has a mic or labelled as gaming.
Ensure it provides you with good sound quality and comfort, and you can also use it as a multi-use device; for playing games, recording and mixing audio, and recording and mixing videos.
Are Gaming Headsets Good for Music?
You can listen to music using gaming headsets, but they don’t deliver natural and balanced audio.
Gaming headsets are specially designed to boost the audio experience of players.
In good gaming headphones, you can hear the footsteps of enemies, rain, exposure sounds, etc. These are all because of surround system technology, which is not suitable and available in studio headphones or music headphones.
Audio-Technica ATH-R70x is one of the best open-back headphones you can use for gaming, music listening, and music production.
- 53 mm drivers reproduce clear treble and midrange. Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils for superior power handling. Impedance: 38 ohms
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW . Full open-air type headphones produce no sense of pressure on the ears,...
- Lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing with excellent acoustic properties
- Self-adjusting 3D Wing Support provides a comfortable listening experience; total ear-fit design...
Why are Open Back Headphones a Better Option for Gaming?
Audio plays a key role in games, and open back headphones provide much better, effective, and natural sound vs closed back.
If you don’t want to leak sound, then closed-back headphones do a better job.
On the other hand, if you’re okay with sound leakage and isolation, then definitely choose open-back headphones because they provide detailed, natural, and acoustic sound than closed-back headphones.
Earcups of closed-back headphones have exposed the backside that let air and sound in and out. The advantage of this is your ears will not warm, feel pressure or fatigue. Also, in open-back headphones, you’ll feel all sound effects.
A gamer headphone with natural sound and better comfort is a priority, and open-back headphones provide better sound and comfort, but the open-back design is not good with sound isolation and leakage.
Things to Consider While Choosing the Best Open Back Headphones for Gaming
- Comfort: Nowadays, game playing and developing becomes a passion and profession. Gamers sometimes spend hours playing. So, the headphones you will buy must provide you with excellent comfort that does not hurt or cause any pain. The size of ear cups should be enough that cover your ears very well, and the advantage of the open-back design is the sound leaks and does not cause ear fatigue.
- Sound: Comfort and sound are two essentials things in a headphone. For gaming, you need to get a headphone that offers clear, rich, and detailed sound.
- Durability: Durability refers to how strong a headphone is. Choose a headphone which is lightweight and has strong material.
- Don’t buy headphones labeled for gaming: Not only gaming headphones can provide high-quality sound for games. You can use Audiophile quality headphones such as the Audio Technica ATH-AD700X for gaming. You can also use them for listening and producing sounds.
- 53 mm drivers reproduce clear treble and midrange. Connectivity Technology: Wired
- Bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils for superior power handling. Impedance: 38 ohms
- Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW . Full open-air type headphones produce no sense of pressure on the ears,...
- Lightweight aluminum honeycomb casing with excellent acoustic properties
- Self-adjusting 3D Wing Support provides a comfortable listening experience; total ear-fit design...
Don’t forget to read: Best Headphones For Gaming Under $100
Conclusion
All the open-back headphones that I mention are suitable for gaming. It’s up to you how much budget you have and which type of headphone like but these are the best open-back headphones for gaming that you can get. I hope this guide and recommendation helps you to make a better decision.
Last update on 2023-02-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
