What Open-Back Headphones do I personally use?

As with any of these best headphone lists, I always get many questions about the headphones I use. So, I have a few of the headphones listed below and a few that aren’t. These are mainly headphones that I have fallen in and out of love with over the past few years. In this section, I will tell you about the open-back headphones in my current rotation.

As of September 2025, Headphones in Rotation are:

• Sennheiser HD800s – All round listening and gaming

• Focal Utopia – My endgame headphones that make everything sound great I had the original and now updated to the latest version. No regrets as despite the price nothing comes close in performance.

• Koss Porta Pro – My Travel Headphones for casual listening (Super cheap and sound great)

Benefits of Open-Back Headphones

Open-back headphones offer several benefits. Firstly, they provide a more natural sound as they allow air and sound to flow freely through the ear cups, which creates a more realistic and spacious soundstage.

Secondly, open-back headphones tend to be more comfortable for extended listening sessions as they are designed to reduce heat buildup around the ears.

Thirdly, open-back headphones typically have a more accurate and detailed sound signature than their closed-back counterparts, making them an excellent choice for critical listening and music production.

Finally, because open-back headphones do not isolate the listener from their surroundings, they are a safer option for use in public situations such as commuting or jogging, where awareness of your surroundings is essential for safety. The benefits of open-back headphones make them an excellent choice for music lovers who value natural sound, comfort, accuracy, and situational awareness.

More Useful Headphone Articles

I know things can get confusing in the audio hobby. Discussing different technologies and qualities is relatively simple once you get familiar with the hobby. To help clarify the differences between other headphones and help you find what may be best for you, we have written many articles that might be useful in your search for the perfect set.