Closed-back headphones have solid ear cups: they keep the sound in and outside noise out. Open-back headphones have grilles on the back of the cups: they let sound flow in and out, which gives a wider, more natural sound but leaks to the room and blocks almost no noise. Use closed headphones for recording, for DJing and anywhere noisy; use open headphones for mixing, critical listening and long sessions in a quiet room.
Among studio headphones at Thomann in October 2026, open-back models had a median price of $505 and closed-back models $165. The gap says more about who buys them than about quality: open-backs are mostly bought for mixing and listening, where people spend more.
Open back vs closed back at a glance
| Closed back | Open back | |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation from outside noise | Good | Almost none |
| Sound leaking out | Very little | A lot |
| Soundstage | Narrower, "in the head" | Wider, more natural |
| Bass | Often stronger | More accurate, less punchy |
| Comfort over hours | Warmer ears | Cooler, lighter |
| Best for | Recording, DJing, commuting, noisy rooms | Mixing, listening, gaming at home |
| Median studio model at Thomann | $165 | $505 |
When you need closed-back headphones
In a recording, the headphones are a few inches from a sensitive microphone. Open headphones leak the click track and backing music straight into it, closed ones don't. The same goes for drummers, DJs and anyone listening on the train.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50XWH, $185
The closed studio classic with 45 mm drivers and swiveling ear cups, at home in both the studio and the DJ booth. #6 of 105 studio headphones.
beyerdynamic DT-770 Pro 80 Ohm, $167
Closed, comfortable for hours, and the low 80-ohm version runs well from a laptop or interface. #13 of 105 studio headphones.
When open-back headphones are better
When nobody else needs quiet and you need to judge a mix, open headphones present the music more like speakers in a room: instruments sit around you rather than inside your head, and bass is less exaggerated.
beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro 250 Ohm, $166
Open-back studio headphones with a wide frequency range; the 250-ohm version wants an interface or headphone amp with some power. #1 of 105 studio headphones.
Sennheiser HD 650, $406
A reference open-back headphone for mixing and listening, known for a smooth, natural sound. #9 of 94 hifi headphones.
Somewhere in between: semi-open
AKG K-240 Studio, $76
Semi-open headphones leak a little and isolate a little, a good all-rounder for a home studio on a budget. #1 of 105 studio headphones.
Questions
Are open-back headphones better for mixing?
Usually, yes: their wider, more natural sound makes it easier to judge panning, depth and bass.
Can I record vocals with open-back headphones?
It's not a good idea. The sound leaks into the microphone. Use closed headphones when recording.
Are open-back headphones good for gaming?
At home, yes: the wide soundstage helps you hear where sounds come from. Just not in a shared room.
How we measured. Median prices: studio headphones Thomann listed as in stock on October 18, 2026, grouped as open (33) or closed (82) by their product description. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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