When it comes to gaming, audio plays a major role in almost all games. To get the best experience out of your gaming setup, having good quality headphones are necessary. From the enemy’s footsteps to scary jump scares, a gaming-focused open-back headphone will help you feel each such moment. In this post, check out
our researched and tested list: best open back headphones for gaming.
But what is an open back headphone? For those readers who don’t know
Open Back Headphones
Headphones are generally available in two designs: open back and closed back. We are just going to discuss the first design here. Open-back headphones allow the air to pass through them giving the user a beautiful audio experience which also keeps you conscious of surrounding noises. This also causes a sound leakage issue which makes it unusable outside.
For most gamers that isn’t a big issue when compared. But if it’s a problem for you then maybe choose one with less sound leakage or go with a closed-back headphone.
Why are Open Back Headphones good for gaming?
Open back headphones are largely preferred by gamers. With these headphones, in FPS games you can exactly pinpoint where the enemy’s footsteps and gunshots are coming from.
Also if you’re one of those gamers who play for long hours, then you must know how uncomfortable it feels to wear headphones for so long as it gets sweaty and starts feeling hot. This doesn’t happen in an open back headphone. Thus, making them ideal for long hours of gaming.
So if you’re serious about gaming, open back headphones are worth the investment. A good set of headphones will improve your in-game performance.
Now you have an idea about open back headphones but there’s still confusion about which headphone you should because of so many headphones available. Let us help you with the deciding part, below we have our recommendation list: Best Open Back Headphones for gaming.
Best Open Back Headphones for Gaming
Getting an open back headphone for gaming isn’t cheap. So you should decide and select a good one-time investment. But, with so many options available, it is not easy to do that.
Check out our recommendation list for best open back headphones for gaming with their pros and cons and choose what suits you best.
- Sennheiser GAME ONE Gaming Headset
GAME ONE from Sennheiser ranks first on our recommendation list. Sennheiser GAME ONE is one of the best open back headphones available. It comes with a standard design, not something very fancy looking, with a comfortable padded headband over the ears. Earpads are of XXL size and feel very comfortable.
With these, you will get an amazing sound experience due to Sennheiser’s high-tech sound hardware. It is engineered for incredibly natural, accurate and high fidelity sound output. It also comes with a good quality noise-cancelling microphone.
GAME ONE supports many different platforms such as PC, Mac, consoles, mobiles and tablets due to its exchangeable cables feature. You can change the volume level directly from headphones but you cannot take it to the max or zero volume using the volume controls on the right ear cup.
It comes with separate inputs for both mic and audio so if you don’t have both you will need a splitter. Since it’s an open back headset the audio will leak out which can be good and bad since you can hear the outside voices when you’re out and others will also be able to hear what you’re listening to.
It deserves the first spot on our list Best open back headphones for gaming.
- Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1X
Next on our list, we have Audio-Technica ATH-ADG1X which is not exactly a cheap one but worth the price. The audio experience compared to other open back headsets is just at another level due to its advanced 53 mm drivers which works amazingly in FPS games.
Like most headsets, Audio-Technica focuses on their audio output and doesn’t give unnecessary features. You will get to experience a beautiful audio experience while playing games. The improved 3D wing Wing Support gives you comfort in your long gaming sessions.
The main con in this product is its price. It’s just way too costly when compared to the other products on this list.
- Sennheiser HD 599 SE
Sennheiser HD 599 SE is another product from Sennheiser on our list. The HD 599 SE is a premium, audiophile-grade over the ear open back headphone. It is fairly lightweight compared to other headphones It is compatible with all types of audio devices such as phones, tablets, PCs etc.
You get two different jacks one is 6.3mm while another one is 3.5mm, the first is for studio uses while the other one is meant for casual use for playing games, watching movies or listening to songs maybe.
The Sennheiser HD 599 SE is good but not special enough. You also don’t get a microphone. This is okay-ish for casual gamers only not well suited for professionals. Also, the bass is mediocre.
- Astro Gaming A40 TR X-Edition
A40 TR X-Edition is a premium and stylish looking headset from Astro Gaming. This model has been developed and designed with pro gamers and game designers to implement their suggestions and insights. Due to this, A40 TR X-Edition works great in FPS games and helps you get an edge over your enemies.
You get a removable, swappable microphone with this model. Also, the sound is fine-tuned specifically for gaming. Though, the microphone isn’t of good quality and reportedly stops working.
- Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is an allrounder headphone perfect for gaming, listening to music or even making music. It is available in two variants: 80 OHM and 250 OHM. For gaming, the 250 OHM variant is the better option.
It comes with a standard ¼” connector and a screw-on 3.5mm jack. It is made with high-quality materials making it a good choice in a long run. You will feed comfort while wearing it because of soft ear pads. Since it is mainly focused on music producers, it doesn’t have a mic. Still a great option for gaming.
- Audio Technica ATH-AD700X
Audio Technica ATH-AD700X is available at a justifiable price. It comes with the powerful 53 mm drivers to provide audio at good quality. The output is still average. The mids and highs are clear enough to let you pinpoint gunshots and enemies. The bass is little more than just mediocre.
You get self-adjustable 3D wing support and comes with a standard 3.5mm connector (and a 6.3mm adapter included as well). Considering its price and features just like other available headphones, it’s worth getting.
- Audio Technica ATH-AD500X
If you want a cheaper alternative to Audio Technica ATH-AD700X or just wanna save some bucks, buy the ATH-AD500X instead. You get all the features from AD700X at a cheaper price.
When compared to other headphones, this one is among the cheapest. It also comes with the 53mm drivers and is lightweight as well. This is one of the cheapest headphones on the list Best Open Back Headphones for gaming.
- Philips SHP9500S
This is another budget headphones on our list. So, for our budget viewers, Philips SHP9500S is another mid range option. It comes with 50mm drivers which are capable of delivering a clear and balanced sound quality. Despite its cost you get a nice build quality.
The earpads are extremely comfortable to let you enjoy long hours of gaming without getting your ears heavy. It comes with a steel headband making it more durable. It has an impedance of 32 OHM and frequency range of 12-35,000 Hz which is good at this price.
- Sennheiser HD 599
This is one of the Sennheiser’s premium headphones and is costly compared to other headphones on the list. But it stands up to its price. Sennheiser HD 599 is a premium, around-ear, open back headphone. It is part of Sennheiser’s famous 500 series. The ivory colour and soft cushion pads make it beautiful and premium.
Its sound quality is rich and performance is of high quality as well. You will have two cables: one with a 6.3mm jack and another with 35mm jack. Despite its price, there are still flaws. Sometimes sound starts getting distorted after increasing your volume above 50%.
- Massdrop X Sennheiser PC37X
The PC37X is an over-ear gaming headset from Sennheiser. Like their top gaming headsets, PC37X uses the same audio technology. PC37X is a premium headphone aimed at gamers.
The Angled Audio drivers help provide a realistic gaming experience helping you feel the sound as if it’s coming right from the corner of your room. With these drivers, you get an advantage over your enemies easily. The microphone is pretty decent as well. Sennheiser understands how important mic is and takes input sounds clearly. It comes with 3.5mm (both headphone and mic) plugs.
That’s our recommendation list for best open back headphones for gaming.
Final Words
If budget isn’t an issue, then the GAME ONE, PC37X and ATH-ADG1X are worth going for and if you’re on a tight budget go with either ATH-AD500X or SHP9500s. They all work amazing in gaming and have some minor issues mostly. Hope the post helped you in deciding.
Happy Gaming!
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