Where to Find the Best Open-Air Headphones in 2023

Where to Find the Best Open-Air Headphones in 2022

A good open-air headphone comes in handy when you are on vacation. Music lovers want to enjoy their music anywhere. The question is where to find the best open-air headphones in 2023 that match your taste and budget.

In this post, we will discuss some of the best open-air headphones in the market for any budget. We will narrow down your search for you so that you do not have to struggle with window shopping for the best audiophile headphones in 2023.

For music lovers, headphones are literal lifesavers. If you also want to focus while working, a good headphone can help you listen to calming sounds and music that captures your attention allowing for great productivity.

Unfortunately, when you want to listen to music outdoors, things spiral down quite fast. There are a lot of noises and wind blowing all across. If you do not have good open-air headphones, you will not enjoy your best tunes.

What Are Open-Air Headphones?

Open-air headphones are also referred to as open-back headphones. These headphones are perfect when you are on a run, or when you are riding a bike. They are safe and comfortable for outdoor use without sacrificing the quality of sound.

The open-air headphones are made in a way that they allow air to flow freely through the back of the ear cups. This ingenious design prevents the sound from being trapped inside the headphone thus creating a more natural sound.

best open-air headphones 2022

Professionals love these headphones because they provide a more accurate sound representation. Similarly so, music lovers love them because they offer a very immersive listening experience.

You can use open-air headphones for long hours without discomfort. They help your ears to “breathe” as you listen to your favorite music making them a must-have headphone for the music lover.

The question is, which are the best open-air headphones and where do you get them? Below is a list of our top picks that will guarantee a great listening experience.

best headphones for outdoor use

The Best Open-Air Headphones:

1. Sennheiser HD 800 S

PRICE: $1,599.95

The Sennheiser HD 800 S headphone tops our list of the best open-air headphones of 2023 and beyond. This is because this headphone offers the best most-immersive sound experience you would ever ask for. Bar none, this headset is the best open-air headset in the market.

One cool feature of this headset is that it has an improved transducer. This is a device that converts the audio signal’s energy into mechanical energy.

The headphone also has a damping material that helps to reduce reflections.

With the above features, you get to enjoy a more accurate sound that has minimal distortion.

The Sennheiser HD 800 S also comes with a detachable cable. This means that should the cable become unusable, you can easily replace it.

These amazing features from this German-made headphone make it worth every penny on its relatively high price tag. You will not regret paying that much for its quality.

2. HiFiMan Edition XS

PRICE: $500

HiFiMan Edition XS is another headphone to consider. The Edition XS expands with several essential upgrades that make it one of the best headphones this year.

Pros
  • One of its main advantages is its extremely low impedance, which makes it compatible with a wide range of amplifiers and audio sources. Unlike the sound waves created by a conventional magnet, HifiMan uses Stealth Magnets to enable the waves to pass through the magnets without generating interference. In addition, it has a lightweight headband that offers maximum comfort for hours of listening.
Cons
  • There are a few drawbacks to these headphones though. Edition XS is one of the more expensive models on the market. Alongside, its open-back design means that it will leak sound and is not suitable for use in noisy environments.

3. Philips Fidelio X2HR

PRICE: $202.52

If you love listening to music outdoors, the Philips Fidelio X2HR headphone is a must-have. This headphone outputs awesome sound that is of high quality. You can even watch movies with it comfortably.

Pros
  • The Philips Fidelio X2HR can be used to listen to a wide range of sounds due to its wide frequency response.
  • Again, due to their high-quality sound, you can enjoy quality music directly into your ears with these headphones.
  • Besides watching movies, you can also use these headphones for gaming.
  • Their ear cups are also perfect, fitting right onto your ears for comfortable listening.
  • Unlike most other headphones, the Philips Fidelio X2HR can be worn for long periods of time without any discomfort.
  • They are also very lightweight making them very comfortable to have on you all day long.
Cons
  • Unfortunately, these headphones allow sound to leak through. You will hear sounds from your environment easily. This can cause distractions if you are listening to some engaging audio.
  • Again, these headsets come with cables. You cannot use them wirelessly.are not wireless meaning that you will have to deal with cables when using them.

4. Astro A40 TR Headset + MixAmp Pro 2019

PRICE: $345.00

For gaming enthusiasts, the Astro A40 TR Headset is a dream headphone. It comes with MixAmp Pro 2019 giving the best of both worlds, quality sound and performance.

Pros
  • As mentioned above, this headset has a high-quality sound that is unmatched. No matter what you are listening to, these headphones will impress you.
  • Together with the superb sound also comes noise cancelation. This headphone has the ANC feature that keeps background noises away allowing you to focus on your audio.
  • You will also not experience the overheating around the ears that most other headphones give especially when used over long periods of time.
Cons
  • The price tag on these headphones is quite high. But it is worth every penny.
  • The headset also comes with cables with no wireless connectivity.

5. AKG Pro K712

PRICE: $400.00

If you are looking for good-quality headphones, the AKG Pro K712 is a great choice.

Pros
  • These headphones give out high-quality sound.
  • They are also comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time.
  • Their soft ear pads make them feel even more comfortable on your ears.
  • The weight of these headphones is also great. They are very lightweight. 
  • One cool feature is that they use a flat wire voice coil. This helps produce incredible impulse with a great treble response.
Cons
  • Unfortunately, these headphones do not fold when you want to store them. 
  • They also allow sound to escape meaning that it will be hard to listen to music if you are in a noisy place.

6. Sennheiser PC38X

PRICE: $180.00

The Sennheiser PC38X open-air headphone is a great choice headset for long hours-use. It gives you great sound quality with some of the best frequency responses.

Pros
  • The Sennheiser PC38X has a sound quality that is to die for. This is because of its high-end drivers.
  • These headphones are also very comfortable to have on even for long periods of time.
  • The Sennheiser open-air headphone is also easy to store thanks to their ear cups that you can swivel at 90 degrees.
  • The headphone comes with a great stereo, imaging, and location accuracy making them perfect for gaming.
  • Like most other headphones in this category, it also has noise-canceling capabilities.
Cons
  • The Sennheiser PC38X is a bit expensive compared to other open-air headphones in the market.
  • Again, unlike some other models, this headphone’s ear cups do not block out external noise. This can be a problem if you are in a chattering environment.

7. Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO

PRICE: $129.00

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO are among the most affordable quality headphones in the market today.

Pros
  • These headphones have a very good quality sound. They are great if you want to listen to immersive audio, and music or watch a movie.
  • They are also great for gaming.
  • The headphones last long even for someone who uses them regularly. 
  • They are also very ideal for editing, mixing, and mastering, among other studio applications. They will help you achieve the sound quality you need for proper production.
Cons
  • Again, like a few other quality headphones in this list, the Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO is not wireless. 
  • These headphones also do not have noise-canceling technology.

8. Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X

PRICE: $79.99

Last on the list is the Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X. It is one of the best open-back headphones you can buy in 2022.

Pros
  • ATH-AD500X is newly designed with 53 mm drivers and CCAW voice coils which help reproduce natural sound and outstanding vocal projection. These are open-air headphones that cause no pressure on the ears and give a natural sensation when using them. Above all, they are built with a comfortable, lightweight design that makes them easy to wear for long periods.
Cons
  • These headphones are not noise-canceling, so they won’t be ideal if you’re trying to block out ambient noise. They also don’t have a mic or remote, so they’re not great for gaming or making calls.

Audio-Technica ATH-AD500X is a great choice if you’re looking for a comfortable pair of headphones. However, if you need noise cancellation or a mic/remote, you’ll want to look elsewhere. It is also wired which can cause slight inconvenience when moving around. 

Takeaway

best open-air headsets

When it comes to enjoying music outdoors, you need quality headphone that has quality sound. Such a headphone should keep your ears relaxed while also letting you enjoy quality music.

Our top pick from the above list is the Sennheiser HD 800 S. It ticks all our features checkboxes for great open-air headphones. Although a bit expensive, this headphone is worth every penny.

However, if you are looking for great sound, style, and comfort but within budget, any of the above-listed headphones would be a great choice.

Hopefully, your search for where to Find the Best Open-Air Headphones in 2023 ends here. Let us know in the comments below which headphone tickles your imagination, and what your experience is with any of the above headphones.

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