As we recently find ourselves forced to limit our social life, you may be start looking for the best open back headphones for gaming, handy for times you need to keep your mind busy. Or, you could be a gamer and you are looking for the best headphones to enhance your gaming experience. Either way, in this article we will check out few units and hopefully at the end of this article, you will find the best open back headphones for gaming. So, lets begin with the list.
1. Sennheiser HD 800 S
These headphones are perfect for critical listening and they work well in quiet rooms. The massive open-back ear cups and headband are reinforced with metal and high-grade plastic. Sadly, they don’t have a microphone but their audio quality is exceptional.
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The Sennheiser HD 800 S have an immensely wide, expansive and detailed soundstage, providing a 3D sound that’s better than what most surround-sound headsets can create. They are suitable for gamers who enjoy single-role games since they rely on both, game audio and ambient noise.
Sennheiser HD 800 S headphones are also very comfortable to wear. They are durable and sturdy but because they are open back headphones, they are not exactly the best headphones for outdoors. In addition, they’re wired so they’re not for those who love wireless options.
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are the company’s most expensive headphones you can buy, but they do deliver really good audio experience. These are fully open headphones, so there’s almost zero sound isolation by way of their design. They’re not meant to be used outdoors or in casual settings, but in any case, gamers don’t really game outdoors. Our opinion? This is one of the best open back headphones for gaming.
Because of their bulky design, Sennheiser HD 800 S headphones are not suitable for office use, and the long, thick 3m cable is yet another sign that they belong at home. Although they are fold-able, the space you save when folded is not noticeable. You can use the case they come with, but it’s still a bit bulky.
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- Huge audio reproduction
- Comfortable to wear
- Sturdy quality
- Excellent for long listening sessions
- No microphone or other active features
- Bulky
- Expensive
2. Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro
Astro Gaming is consistently producing high-quality gaming headset, and this one is not an exception. It has a light, comfortable fit and very strong audio performance. It’s made with matte black plastic around the ear-cups and headband, with aluminium struts on the sides connecting them and allowing for smooth vertical adjustment. They are wired but they come with a USB dock which has a lot of different connectivity options.
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The Astro A40 TR Headset offers a good sound experience and it is available for PC and Playstation 4, or PC and Xbox One. The microphone is removable, attaching to the back of the left earcup. The mic arm is very flexible, and can pivot a full 360 degrees.
These headphones show a minor lack in treble even though they are overall well balanced in frequency response. They are compatible with Astro Command Centre which allows you to EQ their sound profile and assign custom EQ pre-sets to their MixAmp.
Portability can be an issue with these headphones as they don’t fold into a more compact size. As expected from this type of headphones, they’re not meant to be used outdoors or for any sports activity, but they are definitely one of the best open back headphones for gaming.
The A40 MixAmp has good gaming controls. They also come with a remote that allows you to mute the microphone. There is also a switch in the back that enables you to switch between PC and console mode. This is another set of headphones we consider as the best open back headphones for gaming.
- Comfortable to wear
- Well-padded ear cups suitable for long gaming sessions
- Reasonable gaming controls
- Good microphone
- Not suitable for travelling
- Poor isolation
3. Audio Technica ATH-AD700X
Like any other headphones, these also have their small flaws. But, definitely these incredibly spacious and nicely detailed headphones are worth considering when you are shopping for the best open back headphones for gaming.
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The bass quality on these headphones might not be the best but they provide good clarity on midrange and high frequencies. The ATH-AD700Xs have decent dynamics and attack. Turn up the volume and enjoy their performance when listening to tracks at home. In addition, they offer a balanced output and are budget friendly. All in all, they are a pretty good choice for a gamer.
The ATH-AD700X headphones are fairly light which makes them pretty comfortable to wear. The over-ear design and their soft earpads are roomy and comfortable. That’s one of the most important things if you are a serious gamer or podcaster. The Audio Technica ATH-AD700X headphones are well suited for home use and online gaming.
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They feature 3D wing support which provides comfortable listening experience. The cable also has a ¼ inches long connector and also a detachable jack. That’s a perfect feature for those looking to be able to switch platforms by swapping cables. This also makes your range of motions better as it is less likely to unplug by accident.
- Very light
- Comfortable
- Great sound for gaming
- Bass response is bland
- Average build
4. Sennheiser HD 599
These headphones are not new on the market but that doesn’t mean they are falling behind from the newest models. In fact, they are one of the most balanced open back headphones available. Unfortunately, they’re not budget friendly.
The headband is extremely flexible and they are built to last. They are light to wear but feel solid. The ear cups are incredibly soft and plushy so you can easily wear them for long periods of time and not get tired. The design is pretty simple, functional and efficient for both gaming and podcasts.
The Sennheiser HD 599 headphones have a flat response with no excessive highs or lows. It doesn’t really focus on treble or bass so you’re getting the best of every world. The sound is well saturated with nice bass, a colorful midrange and a clear, but precise treble.
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One of the best features is the detachable cable. With a 50 ohm impedance, the Sennheiser HD headphones have a good potential for gaming. On the other hand, to have a powerful audio experience, you will need a really good audio setup. The more power you get into these headphones, the better.
- Good response on low, mids and highs
- Comfortable to wear
- Simple design
- No budget friendly
5. Sennheiser Game ONE Headset
The GAME ONE, is amongst the favourite headsets for gamers all over the world. The Sennheiser Game One looks great, but it doesn’t really do anything to justify its premium price.
The headband on this headset has a velvet cushion, and they sit firmly on your ears leaving no lose space around. The earcups are unnecessarily large, but other than that, it’s hard to find fault with the appearance. The microphone on its left ear cup is flexible, although a little too large, and can be muted by positioning it in the upright position.
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With an impedance of 50 ohms provides incredible audio experience. The microphone cancels out noise in the background which allows better voice clarity, clear and crisp, great for audio recordings and internet calls.
Sennheiser doesn’t put any enhancements on audio drivers, the emphasis is focused on fidelity. There’s no low-end boost, no treble enhancements which also means it’s has a well-balanced frequency response. The bass is pretty tight with good resolution and there is no distortion. The Game One also comes with two swappable 3.5-millimeter audio cables.
The Game One is a good headset overall, featuring strong, in-game sound, a quality mic and an eye-catching design
- Good frequency response
- Comfortable to wear
- Noise-reduction microphone
- Large microphone
6. Beyerdynamic DT 990
The DT 990 comes in three versions, 32 ohms, 250 ohms and 600 ohms. The 250 ohms are more suitable for gaming, 32-ohms is suitable for mobile use and the 600 ohms for high-end audio systems.
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These headphones are packed inside a leather-like pouch. In the pouch there is so much padding that will keep your headphones safe when travelling. The Beyerdynamic headphones feature aluminium support on each side of the unit. The headband is adjustable.
The ear cups are rather interesting. They have a grill design covering partially the interior driver, so the DT 990s are still considered to be open back. The driver is not totally exposed but as with any open design the headphones have noise leaking and no sound isolation. The cable is not removable but with a good length, about 3 meters. It connects through a ¼ of an inch adapter that is detachable.
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The ear cups are made out of microfiber. Their circular shape seal around your ears making the unit pressure-free. It’s also good for long gaming sessions.
- Well-built
- Comfortable to wear
- Reasonable bass quality
- Recessed mids
7. Sennheiser GSP 500 Headset
Comfort is one of the main features you need as a gamer. These headphones come with a padded headband in soft fabric. However, their padding isn’t that good in comparison to other headphones in this list.
However, the audio quality on these headphones is excellent. They have full and rich bass with good frequency response. This makes for a realistic gaming experience. This headset also comes with a noise-cancelling microphone which can be muted when in upright position.
Their impedance is 28 ohms, so they can be used for lower-powered devices, such as mobile phones. The Sennheiser 500s are also compatible with PS4, Xbox One and other devices.
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These are very durable headphones and if you are looking to get immersed into gaming, this is the right choice.
- Good bass
- Noise-cancelling microphone
- Compatible with different devices
- Not too comfortable
8. Grado Prestige Series SR80E
In terms of design, these headphones are rather unique. They have a retro look, something that would resemble headphones that came with the Sony Walkman from the 70s. Everything from the oversized ear cups to the thin vinyl headband makes them stand out from most modern headphones.
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Grado Prestige headphones are extremely light and comfortable. The ear cups can turn up to 360 degrees which makes them highly adjustable. The cable is a standard 3.5 mm stereo plug-in but it has a ¼ inch adapter.
While they lack in design, they make it up for the audio quality. The bass and treble are enhanced playing a support role to the mids. The drivers produce one of the cleanest mids.
- Good audio quality
- Replaceable ear pads
- Balanced sound
- Heavy duty cable
- Average build
9. Samson SR850
The Samson SR850 headphones came in a very basic box. This is not a surprise considering the low cost for these headphones. The offer a low impedance which means you don’t need an amplifier, it will be loud enough even for listening music on your phone.
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The SR850 may have great sounding treble and a full sounding bass, but it lacks the ‘depth’ that is found on many other headphones. This headset comes with a 50 mm driver which explains why they have such a good dynamic range. Frequencies range from 10 Hz to 30 Hz.
They have a very low impedance at 32 ohms, meaning it doesn’t require much power to drive them.
- Good frequency response
- Semi-open
- Compatible with multiple platforms
- Average audio quality
- Not comfortable
Conclusion
Hopefully this list will help with choosing the best open back headphones for gaming. Most open-back headphones don’t offer the best isolation and if this is your primary criteria for a good set of headphones, open-back headphones are not what you need. Also, keep in mind that good quality gaming headsets are coming with a high price tag, so if you are looking for the best quality, then expect to pay a little bit more.
