Open Back vs Closed Back Headphones: Which is Better for Gaming?

• SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless Gaming Headset

  The most personal listening experience

  $286 $350 Save $64

  The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro represents the pinnacle of closed-back gaming headsets. Its secure-fitting earcups ensure effective passive noise cancellation. For the noisiest rooms, active noise cancellation neutralizes sounds that distract gamers. 360-degree spatial audio ensures that competitive gamers will always anticipate approaching danger. The Arctis Nova Pro can connect simultaneously to multiple sources with Bluetooth and a low-latency 2.4 Ghz wireless protocol. However, some gamers find its tight clamping force and leatherette earcups lead to aches and sweat buildup. Also, different versions are needed for console users, depending on which system they own.

  Pros

  • Effective passive and active noise cancellation
  • Spatial audio provides vital cues to competitive gamers
  • Connects to multiple sources simulatenously
  • Solid build quality

  Cons

  • Feels tight on some heads with body heat buildup
  • Soundstage not as wide as with open-back headsets

• 

  Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro

  Opening up a new world of sound

  Gamers not satisfied with the sound of closed-back headsets can expand their listening experience with the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro. With a relaxed yet secure fit and breathable earcups, escaping sound surrounds gamers with ultra-realistic layers of audio. The MMX 330 Pro offers extremely balanced lows, mids, and highs to hear games and music as producers intend. Microphone quality is top-notch, making studio-quality headphones more convenient for gamers. On the other hand, the MMX 330 Pro struggles with noise cancellation and demands a high asking price for a wired headset. 

  Pros

  • Perfectly balanced, natural sound
  • Doesn’t pinch ears or heads leading to long-lasting comfort
  • High quality microphone
  • Modular with replaceable parts

  Cons

  • Needs a quiet setting to maximize sound quality
  • Pricey for a wired gaming headset

Buyers who find gaming headsets too confining might not realize the advantages of open-back headphones. Traditionally used for mixing audio, these headphones are gradually establishing more of a presence in the gaming world. With attached microphones, open-back headsets are now practical options for gamers looking for improved sound quality and comfort.

Complicating matters, closed-back headsets aren’t without their own unique benefits. Budget and the importance of noise cancellation can affect buying decisions. Software and features that make gaming more enjoyable are also worth considering. A comparison in all these categories can help determine what type of headset best meets the needs of the average gamer. Readers will also find recommendations for the top gaming headsets with closed and open-back designs.

Comfort

One of the most common complaints about gaming headsets is that they feel too confining on ears and heads. That’s often the case with the more common closed-back variety of these peripherals, which attempts to seal gamers off from the outside world. Even though headsets like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless feature thick memory foam cushions, their clamping force can be extreme. The advantage is the improved passive noise cancellation, but that can come at the expense of comfort.

Open-back headsets, including the Turtle Beach Atlas Air, have a far looser fit. This Turtle Beach headset is perhaps an extreme example, but floating earcups make only light contact with earlobes. Likewise, its headband adjusts with velcro straps and puts minimal pressure on a head’s most sensitive points.

At just 301 grams, the wireless headset is more portable than most wired open-back competition, like the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro. The Atlas Air also addresses one of the main drawbacks of the beyerdynamic alternative by offering a detachable mic. Although this headset is only compatible with the Xbox using a cord, it easily connects to PlayStation consoles and PCs. Bluetooth functionality allows it to switch between a variety of other sources seamlessly.

The breathability of open-back headsets also has other benefits for intensive gaming hours. With exposed speaker grilles that allow more air to enter and escape the earcups, the Atlas Air’s porous nature makes competitive gaming less stressful.

Gamers shouldn’t assume that every closed-back headset will lack comfort. Some headsets are better suited for larger heads than others, so it’s important to research any potential purchase. The Arctis Nova Pro Wireless works for most gamers thanks to adjustable headband tension and ear cups with a generous height range. Regardless, open-back headsets score a clear victory in this category.

Sound Quality

Whether a gaming headset is open or closed back significantly affects the type of sound produced. Of course, sound quality is partially subjective, but many producers and professional mixers rely on open-back studio headphones. This design leads to a more natural representation of instruments and vocals. Closed-back headphones and headsets compress sound in earcups over a small area. With open-back headsets like the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro, some audio escapes through vents, creating a much more expansive soundscape.

Achieving a fine balance between low, mid, and high tones is often how high-end gaming headsets separate themselves from the pack. By surrounding listeners with different pitches of sound, an open-back headset has more space to define drums, vocals, and violins clearly. Story-driven single-player focused games, including Final Fantasy VII, tend to maximize this expanded soundscape blending in music and dialogue. Counter-Strike 2 is an example of a competitive FPS title with a more limited audio package focused on gunfire and explosions. However, it’s still critical to identify the subtle footsteps of enemies.

Just because a gaming headset is closed-back doesn’t mean it can’t output high-quality sound. Earlier this year, Game Rant reviewed the Audeze Maxwell and learned how 90 mm Planar drivers deliver gaming audio with exceptional clarity. Much larger than average, the drivers minimize distortion, using magnets to push against diaphragms with smooth and natural motions. They also excel at pumping out convincing bass, which makes the Maxwell popular with audiophiles who enjoy first-person shooters. Considering it’s wireless, the fact that the Maxwell achieves this level of sound quality is more impressive.

As capable as the Maxwell is, it still can’t compete with equally premium open-back competitors in ideal settings. For the latter, that’s either a soundproof studio or a quiet gaming room where minimal noise leaks into a headset. The much pricier Audeze LCD-GX shows how Planar drivers thrive with more breathable earcups. Even so, the reality is that most gamers don’t play in especially serene environments. Consequently, the winner of the sound quality battle isn’t as obvious as it may seem.

Spatial Audio

Spatial audio can immerse players in virtual worlds as they explore strange environments where danger lurks at every corner. Some closed-back headsets, like the JBL Quantum 910, take this concept to the extreme. Using head-tracking technology, the Quantum 910 will shift soundscapes when gamers look in one direction or another.

Manufacturers labeling spatial audio with terms like QuantumSound or SteelSeries Sonar makes it easy for gamers to get confused. Competitive gamers are attracted to these features because they claim to enhance vital audio cues that give players an advantage. Sony has its own approach to positional audio with Tempest 3D, which works with any PS5 headset with a stereo configuration. Adding to the dilemma, Dolby Atmos and DTS: Headphone X apps are compatible with many headsets.

However, many listeners are often disappointed with the effects of spatial audio in a closed-back headset. Limited by the small stature of an earcup, it’s difficult to fully appreciate more dynamic gaming audio. Surround sound speaker setups generally feel more immersive for movies and games, as positional audio reaches its potential in room-wide configurations.

With closed-back designs dominating gaming headsets, manufacturers don’t tend to stress spatial audio with their open-back counterparts. Still, that doesn’t mean the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro isn’t one of the best ways to experience precise multi-channel sound. Because it allows some audio to escape its earcups, listeners are almost fooled into thinking sound emanates from a 5.1 or 7.1 channel speaker array.

Closed-back headsets often have software with EQ profiles for specific titles that adjust spatial audio to make games more enjoyable. Their seal-offed fit also limits any chance of background distractions interrupting immersive gameplay. That gives closed-back contenders a slight edge for strictly gaming purposes. On the other hand, without apps manipulating a sound mix, open-back headsets present multi-channel audio in the most realistic manner possible. Open-back headsets are also excellent options for watching big-budget movies with surround sound.

Noise Cancellation

Gamers frequently shop for headsets because of the privacy they offer. Powerful soundbars and PC speakers output authentic positional audio, but roommates may not appreciate them at higher volumes. Noise-canceling headsets not only keep sounds from bothering bystanders but also filter out background conversations or the sound of traffic. The most effective noise-cancelling headsets are exclusively closed back since their tighter-fitting frames form a barrier against the outside world. With so much money at stake, the top esports pros always use some form of noise-cancelling earbuds or headsets during competition.

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pro is one of the most potent noise-blocking gaming headsets. While its leatherette earpads envelope earlobes like suction cups, what stands out about the headset is its active noise cancellation. The Stealth Pro generates sound waves that neutralize background interference, reducing noise levels by as much as 25 dBs. If looking for negatives, some gamers find its headband too stiff despite excellent build quality, lacking the low-pressure design of most open-back headsets.

Open-back headsets are a poor choice in this category when noise control is the priority. Their breathable earcups allow unwanted noises to interfere with gaming and music listening. Friends and family in close enough range may also hear the sources listeners are playing.

Budget

Buyers aren’t lacking options when it comes to feature-packed budget gaming headsets. Unfortunately, most open-back headsets are aimed at the higher-end market and cost well more than $100. That leads gamers to consider affordable closed-back models like the wired Razer BlackShark V2 X or the wireless Logitech G435.

The Logitech G435 provides decent sound quality, but its plastic-dominated construction makes some question its build quality. It’s also aimed at smaller and medium-sized heads, so the G435 is far more confining than an open-back headset with ample adjustability. Yet, its 165-gram weight and Bluetooth connectivity make it ideal for traveling.

Open-back headsets are typically modeled after expensive studio headphones. The wired Drop + Epsos PC38X still requires a significant investment but is one of the most affordable options in this category. Originally a product of a collaboration with another German audio giant, Sennheiser, the PC38X flexes its breathability with large exposed grilles on the device’s earcups.

Another open-back contender that’s a strong value, considering its cordless connectivity, is the Turtle Beach Atlas Air. Nearly all other breathable headsets are wired, but the Atlas Air pairs wirelessly with PCs, PlayStations, and Nintendo Switch consoles. This peripheral can also last up to 50 hours without recharging, negating some of the advantages of wired headsets.

Despite some reasonably priced targets, budget buyers will have difficulty finding a low-priced open-back headset. As a result, closed-back gaming headsets dominate the affordability comparison.

Verdict

As is often the case with gaming peripherals, deciding which type of headset is best for gamers is not straightforward. There is a much larger selection of closed-back gaming headsets to choose from, including budget-friendly options. Many of these headsets excel at passive and active noise cancellation and are ideal for hectic college dorms or public places. Closed-back models focus more on gaming-oriented features, while open-back alternatives prioritize the needs of professional audio mixers.

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro showcases the strengths of closed-back designs. With above-average noise cancellation, it filters out conversations and other noises that can disrupt immersive gaming. Its software tightly integrates the headset with shooters like Rainbow Six Siege, amplifying sounds that can make gamers more competitive.

For a similar price, gamers will find the fit of the beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro less restrictive. Memory foam cushions covered with velour lightly brush against ears without the extreme clamping force of some closed-back headsets. Its wider soundstage makes players believe they exist in the virtual world in which games are set. Sadly, open-back headsets do come with negatives like a higher cost and an absence of noise cancellation.

With different advantages, no single open or closed-back headset is the right choice for every gamer. If buyers can’t decide which route to take, some modular headsets, like the Astro A40 TR, offer the best of both worlds. As circumstances change, gamers can purchase a mod kit with alternate ear and headband cushions that improve noise isolation.

FAQ

Q: Are open-ear headphones and headsets healthier?

Open-ear headphones and headsets keep listeners more aware of their surroundings. This can be critical to avoiding dangers like traffic when outdoors. Even indoors, gamers and music fans can more easily hear if there is a phone call or emergency.

Q: Do closed-back headsets cause tinnitus?

Normally, closed-back headsets don’t cause tinnitus, but they can contribute to hearing loss if played at excessive volume. If concerned about hearing issues, open-back headsets have a looser fit and cause less trauma to eardrums.