Open Back Headphones: Explained!
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 มิ.ย. 2015
- Open back vs closed back headphones broken down!
Top 5 Headphones Under $200: • Top 5 Best Headphones ...
ATH-M50x (Closed): amzn.to/1Jje3JL
ATH-R70X (Open): amzn.to/1Gqygav
Sennheiser HD800: amzn.to/1HeGSa0
Grado headphones: www.gradolabs.com/
Dat shirt: shop.facets.la/
Video Gear I use: amzn.com/lm/R3B571T7PT4PWM?tag...
Intro Track: Deadmau5 - Slow Down, Start Over
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/ mkbhd
google.com/+MarquesBrownlee
/ marquesbrownlee
/ mkbhd
/ mkbhd - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Good explanation, buddy. Once you go open-back, you'll never go back.
You have mine too.
I said ŚTFU is a fucking gay!! (:
***** Do audio technica ATH-M50's need an external amp ??
Snazzy Labs I think you can only really use those at home or in a studio, so while you might not go "back", you will still use closed-back ones on the go
Snazzy Labs Once you go closed back, you never go back
So much crispy
MarCRISPY Brownlee?
***** TeamCrispy
***** tld please reply I am a huge fan of your videos. Would mean the world to me if you replied. Also #TeamCrispy all day every day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the info..FTW!
Liked and shared
I love this "explained" series you have going. I always learn something new. Keep it up!
Nicely explained, thanks Marques!
CANE DO VIDERO ABOUT DRM / WIDEVINE EXPLAINED
Duck you crud is mudd
Imma go with closed back cus I don't want my homies to know I like white girl music.
Yes No im hip
Yes No That's what earbuds are for.
***** no.
***** iggy is a horrible artist through and through. She just has a nice body..
TrueZtyleZ7 Or CIEMs :D
If you're playing video game, I suggest using open back especially for FPS where you will listen to surrounding even better. Don't fall for 5.1 or 7.1 "gaming" headsets.
Yusoff M rip, wish I knew this before I bought my nice headset a couple months ago...
Yusoff M Simulated 5.1/7.1 is nothing more than marketing and sound like absolute crap compared to open back headphones. I don't even understand why they were made in the first place.
TrueZtyleZ7 and some even try to put multiple drivers to make them look pro...
I dont know hat you use but i have a 7,1 surround headset from logitech and the surround is really really good, when you're playing a game and a zombie is behind you, you can hear the zombie from the back of your ears like it's really there, also with tne logitech gaming software you get full optimizing functions (you dont get that with open headphones) and they even include a surround test in the software and if you do the test you can hear a woman voice talking: "over hear is the right rear surround channel" and you really hear her talking from right rear its actually a bit scary. Also with that 7.1, the .1 (LFE channel) really works great to. If you but like a razer kraken pro you dont get that becouse razer is fake surround sound and razer headsets sou d like 2$ earbuds. So i don't agree with you on that
Johnny Campos Take away the mixamp and the Astro is nothing more than a stereo headset.
kobe Cornelis I can achieve a similar, if not the same, results with my Superlux 681-Evo for about half the price. Simulated/virtual 7.1 is nothing more than software to achieve an effect that any open-back headphones can naturally do.
after seeing the price it made me CLOSE BACK my wallet.
lol !!!!!!
Good one 🤣🤣🤣
Jokes aside, open-backs come in all budget ranges. The pair I own cost be only $54, and it is said to be the best open-back in the market under $150-$200 (I might be wrong). I own the Philips SHP9500S.
I mean if I had to choose between a pair of Sennheiser HD800's vs the newest IPhone XS Max which sells for around the same price I'd DEFINITELY pick the HD800s in a heartbeat lol at least the HD800s would actually last two decades or more.
a cheap $20 headphones, look closed back, but use them at the gym and you will hear everything around you.
Awesome video Marques, you always do a great job of breaking it down and explaining stuff really well!
the only thing I wish you'd have done, is give a demonstration of how bad the sound leaking is
if the other people in your room can hear it as clear as you do, then it's quite a leak
but if it's just a tiny bit, then I don't see too much of a problem
Nikolaj Lepka it is quite clear indeed...let's say you do not want those in a libray.
Nikolaj Lepka Let's just say if "sound leak" is even a concern in your use case scenario in any way, you won't even need to think about open-back headphones.
Nikolaj Lepka look up "UrAvgConsumer", he does a couple of those tests on various sets of headphones.
Nikolaj Lepka It's not that big of a deal. People will know that you're listening to music, and if they're sitting right next to you they might be able to distinguish what you're listening to if they focus.
I have some of both types, and It all boils down to where you'll want to use them. If it's at home, go open back; you get much better sound for the same amount of cash. If you want to use it at work or in public, go closed.
Nikolaj Lepka Have you never sit on the bus/train close to some careless person listening to rock wearing a headset? Yep, that's pretty fucking annoying okay. Closed back is the way to go if you're going to use them in public.
Beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, Grado, Shure, Audio Technica, Klipsch, AKG, Audeze, Hifiman, Stax, V-Moda etc.
For headphones/audio in general, if it isnt German, hard to pronounce or triggers spell check then its most likely not worth buying. There will always be exceptions though.
Noble Audio and Sony are just a few of those.
theBKLounge lol, that's actually pretty accurate.
No one cares about you speaking German.
theBKLounge Audez'e says hi
Richard Malivert Dude I want you to do a review on the iPad Pro that will come probably next three month.
theBKLounge Well, I'll have to disagree. There is a Chinese brand, Invotone (well, it is Invotone here in some European countries and Takstar internationally), and since I've bought my first Invotone headphone, the HD2000 a year and a half ago, I became their "fanboy", sort of. The HD2000 is amazingly cheap (I bought it for 8000HUF=28.8USD=25.7EUR), and the only thing I can complain about is isolation. Other than that, they are comfortable, they seem durable, and oh God, the sound is amazing. I can't find too many headphones that sound similar, in fact, I've only heard 2 so far: the "bigger brother", the Takstar Pro 80 and the Denon DN-HP500, which are both much more expensive than the HD2000.
Also, some other Chinese brands, Superlux and SoundMAGIC worth mentioning, but I don't like them as much as Takstar.
DUDE i love your t-shirt! Anyways, top notch explanation as always.
Great video, thanks for the explanation!
Anyone else heard the banging in this video? Might be a headboard
Tadooko someone is getting it on ;) I heard it too
Tadooko It's that open back computer you're using.
***** yeah... thats what we all say ;)
***** midtown life
Tadooko It's Casey Neistat on his hoverboard.
some extra details for those looking to buy some:
Closed back headphones are better for a Tailored listening experience, usually you get a stronger bass because you can trap the bass much easier in a closed chamber (people tend to enjoy that little bit of bass boost) however at the cost of high end sounding a bit shrill and weak at times
Open back headphones are mostly gonna be for professional use in a studio or at home and its a lot harder to trap the bass in an open chamber however they have a much wider sound and are able to produce higher quality top end noise, as well as noise further down sub bass
Semi-Open back headphones get the best and worst of both worlds, since they have that open back, the soundstage is relatively wide, however not as wide as full open backs. They also don't bleed like open backs, but they don't trap all the noise like closed backs. they have a much more detailed high end than closed backs but not quite as detailed as full open backs, the one thing they have that doesn't have a cavoite would be the bass, they have a very detailed bass and trap bass really well, the sound still bleeds like crazy but the bass can stay contained in semi open-backs pretty well
Entry Level recommendations for each category
Closed back: Sennheiser HD280
Semi-open back: Samson SR850
Open back: Philips SHP 9500
KEEP IN MIND:
having loud bass, and having a lot of bass are NOT the same thing. loud bass simply implies a bass boost, meaning the frequencies in the bass section are just louder. having a large bass means you get more of those frequencies in the bass section, its a wider sound, it giving you more noise in that bass section rather than just giving you a little bass and boosting the crap out of it. Ex. Meze Empyreans their graph is a straight line all the way down to sub bass, however it might not be as boomy and punchy as a set of closed back Sonys
Thank you for the comment mate. So helpfull 😊
Hey mate can you also suggest me a headphone with reasonable price so that I can mix as well as listen to music (bass trap music) with a detachable cable and if it has bluetooth too then perfect
@@arnavverma4507 I'm not sure of many mixing headphones that would be wireless, however the superlux HD 681s are probably the best bargain you can get on a pair of cans, they're openback and their frequency response are flat so they're ideal for mixing, as fox closed backs, I'd either recommend some Sennheisser HD280s or audio Technica ath m40s, but if you have more money to spend I'd say go for some Sennheiser HD 560s, if you do go for those they're about 120 ohms so you'll need an amp to run them
The empyreans bass is slightly overemphasized, its just not thats extreme, but its definetily not flat
Glad to see your channel grow! The videos are awesome and you do a great job critiquing the tech. Keep up the good work and I'll keep watching!
I love your Explained videos. I've learned a whole lot from them.
thanks brother always awesome to learn something
Came here expecting a mention of Grado SR80i, was not disappointed! Such a great headphones for the money and cheap spare parts to fix them very easily.
Isaac Alonzo Yes they are!
Snazzy Labs as my friends calls them "headphoneless" because he can't understand why sound leaks so much.
Been debating getting a pair of the SR80e or the SR225e for a while now
Isaac Alonzo yessir grado's are top notch. if you are in a quiet room by yourself, throw a pair of these on and go to heaven
Are the 225s worth the extra hundred from the 80s?
Since you graduated you're unstoppable! Thanks for this simple but very useful video Marques! Keep up the good work!
when you explain stuff, it always blows me away!
Great video Marques!
If you reply i will DIE
HOLLLLLY SHHIIIIIT
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
***** F
Liek if u cri evrytiem ;(
Rip Tech Freak
Tech Freak And then Teck Freak dies.
I love your videos. Your explanation of things is great and understandable. Keep it up.
Good video. I started noticing that the quality and quality increasing. Good job. Keep it up
No one is gonna talk about his awesome shirt?
Alexis Alexander everyone is talking about it
@@Samuelkings have yall seen the smiling monkey pics
Thanks, as always, ***** ! Your points of view are always very helpful.
Awesome, this dude has been doing straight to the point, high quality videos for soo long.
Yayyy! Another MKBHD video!
3:44 Grado also make a lot of high end headphones that cost a lot, granted in the audio world the price you pay for them and the quietly of the sound they output are seem in many peoples eyes as a bargain.
And with open back you lose the sensation of like, imprisonment. The sound has so much space to breathe that you can listen hours and hours and hours without any pain. The fact that most open backs are also neutral made me rediscover my music, because almost all consumer grade headphones are so bassy it eats up the rest of the spectrum. Open backs really made me rediscover music and now I love it even more than ever. I'm never going back from open backs
your videos are so well made!
great job!
I enjoyed this brief and informative video, thanks mete.
The most important aspect of open-backed headphone designs is that they will have a much more neutral and "true" sound, particularly for bass frequencies. Closed-backed headphones necessarily have to compensate for bass and thus have a distorted version of the audio, which is usually fine for people just enjoying music. However, for music producers and those who have to listen to mixes for reference, open-backed designs are a must as it's much closer to the actual frequencies in the audio file.
For most people, they may well find open-backed headphones less "exciting" than closed-backed designs, which can be a lot more bassy and with crisper high-end which makes the audio really "pop". They also don't have the intrusive leakage into your environment. Anyone making music or working with audio who needs to do intricate mix references to compliment their studio monitors should always invest in a good pair of open-backed cans however, as close-backed products will be compromising the sound stage and frequency response.
Of course, people in studios will also need close-backed 'phones for tracking so that leakage into the mic is reduced to acceptable levels.
+Sonny Williamson There are alot of more exciting open-backed headphones than closed actually. Most people might find open phones too "boring" because their first open back purchase is probably a Sennheiser 598 or 598. Sennheiser doesn't make fun headphones and especially not their flagship HD800.
@@717890098 define "fun" when you criticize Sennheiser
If you want a good, inexpensive pair of open backs, go w/ the Sennheiser HD 518's. I use them constantly and they are easily the best headphones I've ever used due to the soundstage Marques talks about and you can get them for anywhere from $50-$70.
Side note, most open-backs are exponentially better w/ an amp, so I recommend getting, at the very least, a cheap 20$ one on Amazon in conjunction w/ your headphones.
Ryan Moulton yep, you're right!
For that price range would also like to recommend the SHP 9500's.
meh, the HD 598's are often on sale at 100$
Very informative. Straight to the point. Good stuff.
Your videos are incredible. So helpful and well explained. Thank you very much
2:26 "And they can't hear your music"
2:44 "If someone's sitting next to you it'll sound like there's mini speakers on your head"
Just pointing it out. :) Love the breakdown either way!
HUH
Lol
Something's different in this video... You look sharper than usual? More handsome? Smarter maybe? Can't quite put my finger on it.... ;)
Justin Maller If you are making those tees man, I need one!!
Haha I see what you did there, your on about the 4k resolution........
Srikant Vijay Kumar halo
Gacstez not quite :)
Srikant Vijay Kumar shop.facets.la :)
yeaa that shot was definitely great! good stuff MKBHD
Clear, Concise. Perfect. Thanks mate!
If im using open back headphones, would the sound leak get picked up by a vocal mic?
depends on your mic and if you have special software for your mic.
I have a pair of Sennheiser 598s. Before them I had Sennheiser 555s for like 7 years. I prefer the spatial sense of sound and when I'm in public I just use earbuds.
the_TS same hear when i'm in public i use ear buds when I'm on my laptop at home i use my 558s and for my desktop i have a pair of 650s
I love the 598s
Great video as usual - I got the black m50x's because of your recommendations and I thank you greatly!
enjoyed it!
great explanation.
thanks MKBHD.
Soundstage: how wide the song sounds (spatial)
Imaging: direction the sound seem to be coming from (directional)
thus, soundstage≠imaging.
help so you are referring to open back? if so is this true? *they reproduce soundstage and imaging better..for instance, if you hear gunshots from your right, you can tell if it's 1feet away from you or 10 feet, you can't do that with closed, they keep the sound inside the the earcups, "open back" let the sound waves escape.* cuz i am planning to buy a hyperx cloud 2 but this is closed back but when i so that post i seems so confused
@@soybins6902 it applies to every headphone. Closed back headphones can have amazing sound stage and/or imaging
@@soybins6902 btw there are many types of headphones but they fall under open back or closed back.
Like there is planar magnetic, electrostatic, dynamic, armature, and bone conduction
Open back headphones are _perfect_ for gaming
Yea, but why?
Admin-i strator they reproduce soundstage and imaging better..for instance, if you hear gunshots from your right, you can tell if it's 1feet away from you or 10 feet, you can't do that with closed, they keep the sound inside the the earcups, "open back" let the sound waves escape..
help is this true? *they reproduce soundstage and imaging better..for instance, if you hear gunshots from your right, you can tell if it's 1feet away from you or 10 feet, you can't do that with closed, they keep the sound inside the the earcups, "open back" let the sound waves escape.* cuz i am planning to buy a hyperx cloud 2 but this is closed back but when i saw the post i seems to be so confused
yea, soundstage is where you can tell the difference between being 1 feet away from you or 10 feet. then you have imaging where you can tell if the sound is for example in the back right or front right rather than just to the right, but if you never experienced this before, you gotta train your ears, don't get dissapointed at first if you don't get the full experience, I had to "train my ears" also.
btw what budget $60 Open Back headphones do you recommend to me?
thank you for the video - great as always. Keep it up, looking forward to the next one.
Nice video! Love the t-shirt!
Would the Sennheiser HD 598 be a good choice? Heard they're one of th best.
Absolutely.
Yes, unless you like your headphones having a lot of bass.
Misx shp 9500 is much better for cheaper as well
Any Sennheiser would kill it. Or go with Audio Technica, or Bang & Olufsen. I personally prefer Sennheiser although I also have a pair of B&O and they are bloody amazing
HD800 review!!:)
Great job Marques. I'm not the most technology advanced person but I learn so much watching your videos. Thank you so much.
Been long since a headphone video came out. Thanks
"I'm not that much of a gamer"
wears a Master Chief T-Shirt
K MARKASS
open back. A pair of fidelio x2's will take you away. oh and the lower priced shp9500 are great as well.
Someone who knows their shit
Nicely done! Always informative!
Great video Marques, keep it up.
who cares about headphones whered you get that cool chief shirt
shay campbell they are shirts made by justin maller, if you follow marquez on instagram he has a link on his last pic
thankyou! weird asking a question on the internet and having someone politely answer it instead of getting harassed and death threats
Shirts Hub Stop advertising here...
shay campbell you too...
stankypitts WOA $50 bucks for chief shirt damn. thats with out postage
A review of the R70x and/or HD800 would be really nice...
You're best off trialing them yourself in a store.
***** Unfortunately I'm probably never going to get that chance
Ethan Alba
Why? AV shops aren't exactly hard to find.
+Jaw Ji
I just don't live near any of them
Ethan Alba
Where do you live?
your 'explained' videos are great and informing in a lot of ways
I love these "Explained" videos !!! Please do more of them !!!
listening to this video with my audeze lcd-2s!
Listening with my ATH-M50x's. These are badass
goo6 Headphone-bro
goo6 bruh
Just listening with my POS HD 650s
goo6 Well, you don't need this video! Audeze is awesome as hell!!
Get the Philips shp9500
Also I like this kind of videos. They have that instructive part for people who don't know a thing about it that I like and they're still having the great quality which your videos are distinguished for. Definitely thumbs up
Great explanation and solid videos, you have a new subscriber!
***** Dat Master Chief shirt though...
crispier than a fresh bag of lays
Awesome tutorial. I got all of the info that I was looking for from your video. Thank you.
You are a rockstar marques... Love your videos
I wonder what kind of comment I have to post to make MKBHD reply to it! ;)
Ninad Sachania a legit question, may be!
OMG THE REAL MKBHD OMG OMG OMG BIG FAN MATE BIG FAN!
Wow its the legit one.
Who did?
There never is for anyone for me *****
Many open-backed headphones are also incredibly comfy and able to be worn for many many hours.
Something like my ATH-M50s would get sweaty and uncomfortable past like 20-30 minutes, whereas the AD-700s I used to use I could literally forget I was even wearing them. The open back makes them nice and breathable.
Thank bro can't wait for your next video.
I like that shirt man! Good stuff.
I am surprised that you didn't mention that open backed headphones tend to not have as strong bass as closed back.
By the way, open back headphones are better for gaming (especially on FPS'es), as they, like you said earlier, give you immersion/a wide soundstage and tell you where the instruments are played and the same goes for knowing where people in your environment are shooting or walking.
So you say you can hear music and people talking but they can not hear your music, to just after that, say that they CAN hear your music. wich one?
2:20
People can definitely hear your music when you listen to open back headphones.
i know, it's just that he contradicted himself
Gerard Umbert I was thinking the same thing too. In fact I decided to bring my Sennheiser HD 598 to work one day and I was listening to music at about halfway volume level on a Samsung Galaxy S4 that I had a coworker come to my cubicle and say, "So this is where that noise is coming from." And on that day I decided to not bring them to work ever again...
Good info, thank you. Going to buy the m50x headphones based on your videos. You create amazing content. Thank you!
Ok your video quality is like the best👐🏾
Massdrop always sells openback headphones. I want to buy some but I'm always in public
who cares let them hear
ATH-M50x
Type Closed-back dynamic
Driver Diameter 45 mm
Magnet Neodymium
Voice Coil CCAW (Copper-clad aluminum wire)
Frequency Response 15 - 28,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power 1,600 mW at 1 kHz
Sensitivity 99 dB
Impedance 38 ohms
Weight 285 g (10 oz), without cable and connector
Cable Interchangeable cables: detachable 1.2 m - 3.0 m (3.9' - 9.8') coiled cable, detachable 3.0 m (9.8') straight cable and detachable 1.2 m (3.9') straight cable
Accessories Included Protective carrying pouch, 6.3 mm (1/4") screw-on adapter
ATH-R70X (Open) specification:
Type Open-back reference
Driver Diameter 45 mm
Frequency Response 5 - 40,000 Hz
Maximum Input Power 1,000 mW at 1 kHz
Sensitivity 99 dB
Impedance 470 ohms
Weight 210 g (7.4 oz), without cable and connector
Accessories Included Protective carrying pouch
The Chibi NEKO ???? uhh okay?
2 FPS WHAT!? YOU GOTTA PROBLEM!?
nvm
the ath r70x seems superior on their specs but require a real good amp. anything above 300 ohms require a legit good amp.
I like your videos, they are short and informative.
thanx for the great info
i enjoyed and learned alot of things
***** why aren't you posting like 2 videos in a week?
What about the superlux 668b? 50 dollars semi open and logan from tek syndicate recommends his face outta them
Kuramaz Ōtsutsuki They're fine for the price
Kuramaz Ōtsutsuki Check out the HD330 from Superlux, the sound has a Beyerdynamic vibe for a much lower price.
I have them and I really like! Especially for fps games, you can hear all those footsteps you feel like you're cheating :) Just change the pads to some velour ones and you're good to go.
For $50, the takstar 2050 is one of the best headphones you can get. The akg k240 @$75 is another great budget headphone
Wawaweewa Rice bought them for 35$
Great vid as always but that shirt is soooooo dope!
Cool video ***** , loved the info on the headphones!
BTW, where can one get that shirt?? Totally awesome!
It's a lot easier to design a very high-end open-back headphone than a sealed one. That's why really, really good sealed headphones are _massively_ expensive.
No, not quite right. All ultra high ends are open back.
Senheisser opeous
Grado ps1000
Audeze LCD3
Beyerdynamic T1
Abyss
Hifiman HE1000
Kam Chun Hong Most, not all. The Fostex TH-900 are sealed back and so was the legendary Sony MDR-R10, one of the most famous flagship headphones ever made. Most of the flagship Audio-Technicas, such as the woodies, are also closed-back.
All electrostatics are open-back because the design requires it.
Corinn Heathers The R10 is a one in a decade phoenix that never ressurrected even now... its true that a recipe of making a great headphones is all tiny parts of it, but even until now Sony still can't make one that can become a worthy successor... sad as headphone diaphragm as a life time limit.
Muhammad Kharismawan Sony just keeps swinging and missing. Their last few attempts at a flagship full-size headphone were both really miserable failures. :/
(I still do think the MDR-7550 is one of Sony's best-sounding headphones ever, but IEM, not full-size...)
Corinn Heathers
I really wan to try that... not a lot of place still sell Sony old line of IEM, but i found one selling the EX600... do you think it worth 200$ its selling at?
lisitning to this on my hd598 :)
I have them too, btw what amp/dac do you use.
Starkelite i have the hd 558
Do you need a dac for it ?
Ahmad Aburahma I think they’re pretty efficient so not exactly but if you want to get the most out of them then it’s best to get a Dac/Amp
Marques never disappoints another high quality vid from the tech king himself.
Awesome video and awesome shirt!
Watching it in 2021 and still the quality is just unbelievable
2019 ,and the joke (in comments) about the porn listening , is still alive..
R/nofap
That was an interesting video, I did learn something. Thanks for sharing!
Clear and concise, good job my man. Peace
Hd600 = best (relatively) low priced open back headphones IMO
Actually no, since you'll gonna need a more-than-beginner amplifier to drive it, and it COST.
Dude what is your hair lmao
It's called hair.
It’s like a fauxhawk fade or something
Thank you, that was well explained and very helpful while I am trying to learn about audio equipment.
Awesome vid, thanks Marques!
Not ideal for watching porn ._.
ಠ_ృ nah
ಠ_ృ Bruhhhhhhh
Right? That's what speakers are for, don't want to get tangled up on dem headphone cables.
R/nofap
@@SaltyMaud dunno about you mate, but I like to wrap cables around my rod.
Wait...There's headphones that don't isolate noise?!?
The more you know lol
thanks bro! have just ordered the ath-r70x
Thanks for the candid video