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Best Open Back Studio Headphones of 2026

Hayden Bryant Avatar
Hayden Bryant

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Open back studio headphones are a type of high-quality headphones that are designed for professional use in recording studios, broadcasting, and music production. They are designed to deliver accurate and natural sound reproduction, which makes them ideal for mixing, mastering, and critical listening. Unlike closed-back headphones, open-back headphones allow sound to escape through the back of the ear cups, which creates a more spacious and natural soundstage. This makes them suitable for long listening sessions as they reduce ear fatigue. The headphones come in different models and brands, each with its unique features and specifications.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Top 5 Open Back Studio Headphones

#TOP 1

beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Studio Headphones

beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Studio Headphones Cover

beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Over-Ear Studio Monitor Headphones - Open-Back Stereo Construction, Wired (80 Ohm, Grey)

The DT 990 PRO Headphones are an excellent choice for professional mixing, mastering, and editing. With their open over-ear design, you can enjoy a transparent and spacious sound that enhances your listening experience. The strong bass and treble ensure that every detail is clear, making them perfect for both studio applications and home use. Additionally, the soft velour ear pads provide exceptional comfort, allowing you to wear them for extended periods without discomfort.

9.8
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Transparent, spacious sound
  • High wearing comfort
  • Durable and robust design
  • Great for various applications

Sennheiser HD 560S Open Back Headphones

Sennheiser HD 560S Open Back Headphones Cover

Sennheiser HD 560S, Open back reference-grade headphones for audio enthusiasts, Over Ear , Black

The Sennheiser HD 560S headphones offer a clean and natural sound that enhances your listening experience, revealing intricate details in your music. Their open-back design allows sound waves to expand naturally, providing depth and realism. With E.A.R technology, the angled transducers ensure you enjoy an ideal listening position every time you wear them. The headphones also deliver excellent detail with a fast and clear low-frequency range, making them perfect for discerning audio enthusiasts.

9.7
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Natural sound quality
  • Comfortable ergonomic design
  • Excellent low-frequency response
  • Wide frequency range

beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Open-Back Headphones

beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Open-Back Headphones Cover

Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO Limited Black Edition Open-Back Studio Headphones 80 Ohm

The DT 990 Pro Headphones are designed for professional use, making them perfect for mixing, mastering, and editing. Their open over-ear design provides a transparent and spacious sound, allowing you to hear every detail. You will appreciate the strong bass and treble, which enhance your listening experience, whether at home or in the studio. With soft, replaceable velour ear pads, comfort is prioritised, ensuring you can wear them for extended periods without discomfort.

9.5
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Exceptional sound quality
  • Comfortable velour ear pads
  • Durable and robust construction
  • Ideal for studio applications
#TOP 4

Sony MDR-MV1 Open-Back Studio Headphones

  • Sony
  • MDR-MV1
  • Black
  • One Size
Sony MDR-MV1 Open-Back Studio Headphones Cover

Sony MDR-MV1 Studio Monitor Open Back Headphones - Wired for Mixing & Mastering, Precise Neutral Sound at 5Hz-80kHz, Spatial & Stereo Sound, Detachable Screw-Fit Cable, Superior Comfort, Black

The Sony MDR-MV1 Headphones are expertly designed for mixing and mastering, providing you with studio monitor sound that captures every detail. With a frequency range of 5Hz to 80kHz, you'll experience high-resolution audio that enhances your creative output. The open-back acoustic structure offers precise spatial sound positioning, making it easier for you to identify different elements in your mixes. Additionally, the headphones are crafted in collaboration with sound engineers, ensuring that they reproduce your artistic intent accurately in both spatial and stereo sound.

9.4
FTB Score

What We Like

  • High-resolution audio quality
  • Lightweight and comfortable design
  • Open-back for spatial sound
  • Replaceable earpads
  • Detachable cable for convenience

AKG K702 Open-Back Studio Headphones

  • AKG
  • K702
  • Black
  • K702
AKG K702 Open-Back Studio Headphones Cover

AKG K702 Open-Back Over-Ear Premium Studio Headphones, Reference Grade Sound, Airy and Spacious Soundstage, Precision Crafted

The AKG K702 Headphones deliver reference-quality sound, ensuring you experience phenomenal clarity and precision whether you're in a studio or enjoying music at home. The open earpieces create an incredibly wide and airy soundstage, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in your audio. You’ll appreciate the ultra-comfortable design with specially shaped 3D earpads that prevent fatigue during long listening sessions. With a broad audio bandwidth of 10 Hz to 39.8 kHz, these headphones faithfully reproduce the original sound, making them a top choice for both professionals and audiophiles.

9.4
FTB Score

What We Like

  • Exceptional sound clarity
  • Comfortable for long use
  • Wide, airy soundstage
  • True to original sound
  • Ideal for professionals

Editor's Notes

During our open back studio headphones research, we found 114 open back studio headphones products and shortlisted 5 quality products. We collected and analyzed 280,367 customer reviews through our big data system to write the open back studio headphones list. We found that most customers choose open back studio headphones with an average price of £112.45.

The open back studio headphones are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of open back studio headphones, including beyerdynamic, Sennheiser, Sony, AKG.

Written by

Hayden Bryant Avatar

Hayden Bryant

Hayden was born in Liverpool, and he never left his hometown until university. In his freshman year at the University of Manchester, Hayden was the group leader of a popular music group. Hayden is responsible for the popularity of his music, and this is because of his natural ability to play with keys and strings. He graduated with BFA in 2016 and returned in 2018 as a lecturing staff in the School of Music.