The open-back headphone market is still in its infancy, with brands possessing strong acoustic research and development capabilities being relatively scarce. This has led many crossover brands and internet-famous brands to flood in, but these brands often lack maturity in the technical application of open-back headphones, merely applying traditional headphone acoustic solutions without in-depth optimization for the open-back structure.
The result is that consumers pay a considerable price but receive less than half the sound quality experience of traditional headphones, leading to poor cost-performance ratios. Especially in the mid-to-high price range, many products suffer from severe sound leakage, bland sound quality, and even distortion, with over 80% of users expressing dissatisfaction with their actual usage experience.
As a long-time enthusiast of open-back headphones, I recently conducted systematic evaluations of over 30 products. Next, I will share several outstanding models, hoping to provide valuable references for your purchasing decisions.
Faced with numerous open-back headphones on the market, many consumers easily fall into confusion when selecting. To help everyone find the right headphones more accurately, here are seven practical purchasing tips.
1: Brand Selection—Avoid Internet Famous Brands, Established Brands Offer More Assurance
When purchasing open-back headphones, it is recommended to prioritize mature brands with strong technical capabilities and stable reputations. Such large brands typically have strong R&D capabilities and strict quality control, ensuring the sound performance and durability of the headphones while providing comprehensive after-sales service. In contrast, some emerging small brands may not yet be mature in technology and service guarantees, posing certain risks. Therefore, choosing well-known brands in the industry like Bose, Nanka, JBL, Sony, and Philips often leads to a more stable and satisfying user experience.
2: Sound Quality Experience—Pursue Reality, Avoid Empty Talk, Prefer Brands with Patent Technology Support.
Sound quality is the core performance indicator of headphones. The size of the driver unit directly affects the width of the sound field and the sense of sound layering. Generally speaking, driver units larger than 15mm can present richer and fuller sound effects. At the same time, the brand’s sound tuning technology is also crucial; some brands can precisely optimize sound frequency bands through self-developed patented technology, making the sound quality closer to true restoration. Therefore, when purchasing, one should comprehensively consider the size of the driver unit and the brand’s tuning strength to ensure an ideal auditory experience.
3: Wearing Comfort—Reject Complicated Designs, The Lighter, The Better
Comfortable wearing experience is an important guarantee for long-term use of headphones. Lightweight design can effectively reduce the burden on the ears, while soft and skin-friendly materials can reduce friction and pressure. In addition, ergonomic design can ensure that the headphones fit snugly against the ears, avoiding slipping or discomfort during wear. When purchasing, attention should be paid to the weight, material, and structural design of the headphones to ensure that they not only have excellent sound quality but also provide comfortable and natural wear.
4: Durability—Must Have Anti-Aging Performance Design
As frequently used electronic products, the durability of headphones cannot be ignored. Quality brands often invest heavily in the design of core components and internal structures to ensure that headphones can maintain stable performance even after long-term use, avoiding sound quality degradation or frequent failures. This anti-aging design not only extends the lifespan of the headphones but also reduces the extra expenses incurred by users due to frequent replacements, ensuring a long-term usage experience.
5: Bluetooth Connection—Choose Headphones with Higher Bluetooth Versions
The connection quality of wireless headphones mainly relies on Bluetooth technology. Newer Bluetooth versions usually bring faster transmission speeds, longer connection distances, and lower power consumption. For example, Bluetooth 5.4 has significant improvements in connection stability, latency control, and energy consumption optimization compared to older versions, greatly reducing signal interruptions and audio-video synchronization issues, thus enhancing the overall user experience. Therefore, choosing headphones that support the latest Bluetooth technology is key to ensuring smooth wireless connections.
6: Sound Leakage Situation
Due to the structural characteristics of open-back headphones, sound is prone to leakage, which can be troublesome when used in public places. Some brands have incorporated anti-leakage technology into their product designs, effectively reducing sound leakage, but the effectiveness of this technology varies depending on the brand’s investment and R&D level. When purchasing, it is advisable to prioritize well-known brands that continuously enhance anti-leakage performance, which can better protect privacy and ensure a quiet usage environment, providing users with a more private and high-quality listening experience.
7: Beware of Over-Promotion by Brands
Many brands attract attention and enhance their visibility through sponsorships, celebrity endorsements, and various certifications. However, these marketing tactics do not necessarily equate to improved product quality. Excessive promotional costs often end up being passed on to the selling price, increasing the burden on consumers. When purchasing, one should base their decisions on the actual performance of the product and user reviews, avoiding being misled by flashy advertisements and rationally selecting headphones with better cost-performance ratios.
Faced with numerous choices of open-back headphones, which one is more suitable? As an editor who has long focused on the headphone field, I have a certain understanding of various models and functions of headphones. Next, I will introduce several currently popular open-back headphones.
1: Nanka OE MIX
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: Super Sound OS Acoustic System 2.0
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: A flagship product priced at around 100 yuan, offering performance comparable to products priced at 1000 yuan.
When it comes to the best brand in open-back headphones, the professional and established Nanka definitely ranks at the top! The brand originated as a solution provider for acoustic technology and has provided data for many international headphone brands, and is recognized as the most professional brand in the industry! It has consistently topped the reputation and sales rankings in the mid-to-high-end market!
Nanka, as a professional old brand, is meticulous about every detail, and to elevate the sound quality of open-back headphones, it has collaborated with over 100 acoustic engineers and more than 20 headphone enthusiasts to develop the Super Sound OS acoustic system, which can dynamically adjust specific frequencies of the sound spectrum and intelligently compensate the sound quality curve, achieving 98.6% high fidelity. The headphone speaker unit features an innovative Super Bass 3.0 track-type high-performance sound unit, with a speaker size over 50% larger than traditional headphones, resulting in rich overall sound details, natural spaciousness, and transparency. Whether it’s the brightness of high frequencies, the pleasantness of mid frequencies, or the richness of low frequencies, everything can be heard more clearly and distinctly. Therefore, it has received multiple certifications from global professional institutions and high recognition from over 500 digital bloggers, making it truly unique in the open-back headphone industry.
Nanka uses aviation-grade materials, having scoured over thirty suppliers worldwide, investing heavily in the wires, diaphragms, and units. Moreover, the manufacturing process of Nanka OE MIX is exceptionally high, rivaling that of international big-name headphones. The testing process alone involves over 80 high-intensity tests, such as high-strength rolling tests, water immersion tests, and salt corrosion tests, ensuring that the headphones maintain less than 5% performance degradation after two years of use.
Nanka, as a leader in the open-back headphone field, has an undeniable comprehensive strength, making it one of the best products currently available. In terms of configuration, this model is also very luxurious, using the latest Bluetooth 5.4 chip, which offers a qualitative improvement in performance compared to ordinary Bluetooth chips. It also boasts an 8+16H ultra-long battery life, easily lasting a whole day, and has an IPX5 waterproof rating, making it resistant to sweat during exercise. The dual-microphone ENC call noise reduction function, with a built-in high-performance microphone and ENC call noise reduction system, captures environmental noise and human voices in real-time, processing noise reduction and enhancing clarity, making calls as clear as face-to-face conversations. In terms of configuration, it is quite comprehensive, comparable to products priced at 1000 yuan.
2: JBL SoundGear Sense
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: Directional Audio Technology
Sound Fidelity: Medium
Wearing Experience: Stable and Comfortable
Product Highlights: Achieves balanced three-frequency sound and enhances spatial perception, making music richer and more realistic.
JBL SoundGear Sense is an open-back ear-hook headphone with a design that has a certain technological feel. The ear hook and sound chamber are connected with a 3D rotating joint, supporting multi-angle adjustments, which can better adapt to different ear shapes, making it fit well and not easily loosen. Even when walking or doing light exercise, it generally does not fall off. However, for some users with smaller or softer ear shapes, there may be a slight foreign body sensation when wearing, especially after prolonged use, which can lead to ear fatigue.
In terms of sound quality, this headphone is equipped with a 16.2mm dynamic driver, providing a substantial low-frequency presence, natural mid-frequency transitions, and clear high-frequency performance, resulting in a good overall balance suitable for pop and light music genres. The DSP digital sound enhancement improves bass performance, but for some users who prefer natural sound, the bass may feel slightly heavy. Although it employs open-field directional technology to reduce sound leakage, there is still some sound leakage in quiet indoor environments, especially at higher volumes, which can affect those around.
The battery life is average, with the headphone itself providing about 6 hours of continuous playback, and with the charging case, it can reach up to 24 hours. While it meets daily usage needs, it is considered average in the current market and does not support higher power fast charging, which may be slightly inadequate in emergency situations. Overall, JBL SoundGear Sense is more suitable for users who have certain requirements for sound quality and wearing stability, making it ideal for daily commuting or light exercise, but not suitable for long-term wear or in situations sensitive to sound leakage.
3: QCY Crossky GTR
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: Directional Transmission Technology
Sound Fidelity: Medium
Wearing Experience: Average
Product Highlights: Freestyle wearing, zero pressure on the ear canal, providing a comfortable exercise experience.
QCY Crossky GTR is an open-back headphone designed for sports enthusiasts, featuring a surround-style ear hook structure that allows for a more flexible wearing style without entering the ear, thus reducing pressure on the ear canal, making it suitable for long listening sessions. The headphone’s rotating structure is inspired by drone rotor designs, allowing users to adjust the wearing angle according to their ear shape, providing stability during daily running and fitness. However, due to the hard ear hook design, the fit may not be particularly good for some users, and there may occasionally be a feeling of looseness during intense exercise.
In terms of sound quality, this headphone is equipped with a track-type speaker unit, offering slightly better resolution than typical entry-level headphones, with good sound space and layering. The mid frequencies are clear, the high frequencies are somewhat conservative, and while the low frequencies are present, they do not dive deep, resulting in an overall sound quality that is more pleasant to listen to. However, due to structural limitations, the listening experience may be affected in noisy environments, especially in subways or crowded places where it may be difficult to hear details.
The headphone supports Bluetooth 5.3, providing stable connections, with good control over delays during daily music playback and video watching, although there is a slight delay when gaming, which is generally acceptable. The battery life is decent, with about 6 hours of use per charge, and the charging case can provide a total of 24 hours of battery life. However, the charging speed is not particularly fast, and the case is somewhat bulky, which affects portability. Overall, QCY Crossky GTR is a reasonably priced open-back headphone suitable for daily exercise or travel. If you do not have particularly high sound quality requirements and prioritize wearing comfort and freedom, it is a choice worth considering. However, if you often find yourself in noisy environments, you may need to weigh your options carefully.
4: Nanka OE Pro2
Bluetooth Version: 5.4
Acoustic System: Super Bass 4.0 + Super Sound OS 2.0
Sound Fidelity: Extremely High
Wearing Experience: Comfortable
Product Highlights: Rated as the number one brand for HiFi sound quality index by over 100 technology media!
Nanka is the most professional brand in the open-back headphone field and is considered a pioneer, focusing on open-back acoustic technology for over 13 years, with zero pressure and zero sensation comfort, and powerful sound quality and configuration experience, it is undoubtedly TOP1. For many years, it has relied solely on excellent sound quality experience and comfort without advertising, gaining recommendations from professional HiFi enthusiasts, and each new product launch quickly receives praise from digital experts, headphone enthusiasts, and industry insiders, making it the current TOP1 brand in open-back headphones, on par with well-known high-end audio brands like BOSE and Sennheiser.
Most open-back headphones have poor sound quality, significant sound leakage, and insufficient clarity. Therefore, I strongly recommend the industry-recognized best “peak of open-back headphone sound quality” Nanka. As a professional old brand with over a decade of open-back headphone audio technology, Nanka uses materials that directly match the standards of domestic and international audio brands, self-developing the Super Bass 4.0 high-performance sound unit, combined with the industry-rare LCP flow-cast titanium polymer material, creating an ultra-light diaphragm with a thickness of only 0.0096mm, providing double the shocking bass, deep and rich, with a full rhythm. The unique Super Sound OS 2.0 audiophile-grade acoustic system achieves 98.6% high fidelity, making it the strongest in the industry!
Nanka’s exclusive AirFlow™ ear-fitting technology has been meticulously researched based on 16,800 ear canal models, optimizing the curve of the headphone hook through multiple rounds of refinement to ensure a snug fit with the ear, incorporating as many as 23 ergonomic innovations for “comfort”. According to data from over 10,000 test users, the headphone’s fit rate is as high as 99.8%, truly achieving a sensation-free wearing experience.
Nanka open-back headphones have a lifespan 2-3 times longer than ordinary Bluetooth headphones. This is because of their revolutionary wireless charging technology, which avoids the issue of exposed metal at the charging port, and every production step of the headphones undergoes precise design and strict testing to ensure they can withstand various external pressures and impacts, featuring an “anti-aging” design that maintains less than 5% sound quality degradation after two years of use, significantly enhancing the durability and reliability of these headphones.
The headphones use Qualcomm 3040 Bluetooth audio SOC, supporting apt-x/apt-x HD/AAC/SBC high-definition audio decoding technology, and in terms of connectivity, they have stronger anti-interference capabilities and lower latency, providing a smoother experience with a latency of 60ms, essentially achieving audio-video synchronization for smooth daily use. When used with the charging case, they can achieve around 25 hours of long battery life, with single-use lasting about 8 hours. Additionally, the charging speed has significantly improved, allowing for 2 hours of listening with just a 5-minute charge. With such strong core performance, Nanka’s products attract attention every year, often in high demand and frequently out of stock.
5: Edifier Comfo Fit II
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: Directional Transmission Technology
Sound Fidelity: Low
Wearing Experience: Comfortable and Stable
Product Highlights: Balanced three frequencies, clear vocals, meeting your dual requirements for sound quality and comfort.
Comfo Fit II is an open-back ear-hook headphone launched by Edifier, featuring a minimalist design and a lightweight overall structure, with a decent fit for the ear hook, making it relatively comfortable for daily wear. The wearing method has been optimized, requiring minimal adjustments, making it convenient for people who frequently go out. However, due to the harder material, users with sensitive ear shapes may experience slight discomfort after prolonged wear.
In terms of sound quality, Comfo Fit II features a relatively large dynamic driver, with a sound style that is balanced, offering some elasticity in the low frequencies, though lacking depth; the mid frequencies are clear, with good vocal reproduction; the high frequencies are transparent but have average extension, resulting in a soft overall listening experience, suitable for pop music and podcasts. However, if you have high demands for sound layering or detail, you may find the sound somewhat flat. The call experience is a highlight, with dual microphones and beamforming technology performing well in quiet or moderately noisy environments, effectively highlighting vocals. However, in very noisy places, the noise reduction effect may be affected, and the sound may still be interfered with.
The battery life supports fast charging, with about 3 hours of use from a 15-minute charge, which is quite practical in emergencies. The overall maximum battery life can reach 40 hours, which is quite good for a small open-back headphone. However, the charging case is somewhat large, making it less convenient to carry. Overall, Comfo Fit II is suitable for users who have certain requirements for wearing comfort and call clarity, but there is still room for improvement in sound quality performance and detail refinement.
6: Philips TAA6708
Bluetooth Version: 5.2
Acoustic System: Air Conduction Audio Technology
Sound Fidelity: Medium
Wearing Experience: Lightweight and Fitting
Product Highlights: Classic brand, excellent sound quality, comfortable experience.
The Philips TAA6708 is an open-back sports headphone that uses air conduction technology, which avoids the strong bone conduction sensation compared to traditional bone conduction, providing a more natural and gentle listening experience. In terms of wearing, it is lightweight and fits well, making it suitable for long-term use. However, for some ear shapes, the ear hook may feel slightly loose, making it less stable during vigorous exercise.
In terms of sound quality, this headphone features a 14.2mm dynamic driver, with overall sound performance being average. The low frequencies have some thickness but are not deep, the mid frequencies are acceptable, and the high frequencies are clear but lack delicacy. Due to the open-back structure, sound quality may be affected in outdoor or noisy environments, especially in buses or crowded places where details may be hard to hear. The directional acoustic design reduces some sound leakage, but in quiet indoor environments, the sound may still be heard by others at higher volumes. In terms of call functionality, the TAA6708 features dual microphones and AI noise reduction processing, performing well in normal environments, but in windy or noisy areas, the AI noise reduction may not be timely enough, potentially affecting the other party’s listening experience.
The battery life allows for about 6 hours of use per charge, extending to 21 hours with the charging case, with overall battery life being average. This is sufficient for short commutes and daily use, but may be slightly inadequate for frequent business trips or long-term exercise. Overall, the TAA6708 is more suitable for users seeking brand assurance and lightweight wearing comfort, but there is room for optimization in sound performance, stability, and call noise resistance.
7: 1MORE S30
Bluetooth Version: 5.2
Acoustic System: Dynamic Driver Unit
Sound Fidelity: Medium
Wearing Experience: Lightweight and Comfortable
Product Highlights: Provides extreme comfort and precise sound quality performance, meeting the needs of sports enthusiasts.
The 1MORE S30 adopts an open-back acoustic design, reducing pressure on the ear canal, making it comfortable for long-term use. The ear hook design has some elasticity, which helps maintain stability to a certain extent, but during intense exercise, there may occasionally be a slight feeling of looseness. Overall, it is lightweight and does not feel overly burdensome when worn.
In terms of sound quality, the S30 is equipped with a relatively large dynamic driver, providing a balanced sound performance, with clear mid and high frequencies, and decent vocal reproduction. The low frequencies have some thickness but lack depth, resulting in an overall sound detail performance that is average and not particularly outstanding. Although it has a built-in noise reduction algorithm to minimize environmental noise, its effectiveness is limited in particularly noisy environments, and calls may occasionally be interfered with.
The battery performance is good, with a single charge supporting about 10 hours of playback time, and the charging case can reach 30 hours, meeting most daily and exercise needs. However, the charging case design is somewhat ordinary, lacking standout features when carried. Overall, the 1MORE S30 is suitable for users seeking lightweight comfort and basic sound quality experience, but there is room for improvement in sound depth and noise reduction performance.
8: Cleer ARC II
Bluetooth Version: 5.3
Acoustic System: Snapdragon Sound Audio System
Sound Fidelity: High
Wearing Experience: Relatively Heavy
Product Highlights: Cleer ARC II provides a new audio experience in a more intelligent, safe, and comfortable way.
The Cleer ARC II adopts an ear-hook open design, with adjustable hooks to fit different ear shapes, providing a relatively stable fit, making it suitable for use during exercise. However, due to the overall weight of the headphones, prolonged wear may lead to a certain burden, especially towards the end of a workout, which can cause ear fatigue.
In terms of sound quality, this headphone is equipped with Qualcomm S3 audio chip, supporting high-fidelity audio transmission, with excellent sound detail restoration, thick and powerful low frequencies, and clear and bright high frequencies, resulting in a full overall sound performance. The open-back design ensures a certain level of environmental sound awareness while providing a natural and three-dimensional sound field. However, in very quiet environments, the open structure may allow some environmental noise to interfere with the listening experience, affecting concentration.
The battery life is a significant advantage of the ARC II, with a single charge supporting up to 35 hours of playback time, and the charging case can extend this to 55 hours, meeting long-term usage needs. Additionally, the fast charging feature allows for quick power recovery, enhancing usability. However, while the battery performance is excellent, the charging case is relatively large and heavy, which may affect portability. Overall, the Cleer ARC II is suitable for users with high sound quality requirements who do not mind the weight of the headphones, but those with high comfort needs may need to adapt to its slightly heavier design.
9: Shokz OpenFit
Bluetooth Version: 5.2
Acoustic System: Directional Audio Technology
Sound Fidelity: Good
Wearing Experience: Average
Product Highlights: Open design provides excellent comfort, suitable for long-term wear and outdoor use.
The Shokz OpenFit adopts an open design, targeting sports and long-term wear scenarios, reducing pressure on the ear canal, making it comfortable to wear without significant discomfort. Its ergonomic ear hook structure fits well with the ear, ensuring stability during regular exercise, although it may feel slightly loose during very intense activities, indicating room for improvement in stability.
In terms of sound quality, the OpenFit uses Shokz’s directional audio technology, providing balanced overall sound, with thick but slightly lacking low frequencies, and clear high frequencies, resulting in a natural listening experience without being overly exaggerated. The open acoustic system creates a wide sound field while allowing external sounds to enter, which is beneficial for outdoor safety. However, due to the open design, sound quality performance is limited in noisy environments, as music details can be overshadowed by ambient noise.
In terms of connectivity, the Bluetooth 5.2 version ensures stable transmission and low latency, although there may occasionally be signal interference in complex environments, leading to audio dropouts. The battery performance is decent, with about 7 hours of use per charge, and the charging case can extend this to 28 hours, suitable for daily use. The fast charging feature enhances usability, although the charging time is slightly longer compared to some similar products. Overall, the OpenFit is suitable for users who prioritize wearing comfort and daily use, but those with high demands for sound quality and stability may find it somewhat lacking.
10: Kaish OpenRock Pro
Bluetooth Version: 5.2
Acoustic System: TubeBass Low Frequency Enhancement Technology
Sound Fidelity: Above Average
Wearing Experience: Ear Pressure
Product Highlights: Achieves extreme comfort, sound quality performance, and functionality.
The Kaish OpenRock Pro features a three-segment adjustable structure that can adapt to various ear shapes, striving for a snug fit to ensure stability during wear. Although the headphone structure is solid, some users may experience ear pressure due to the design being close to the ear, resulting in average comfort levels, making it less suitable for prolonged continuous wear.
In terms of sound quality, the OpenRock Pro is equipped with a large 16.2mm dynamic driver and utilizes its own TubeBass technology, providing prominent low-frequency performance with clear layers and rich overall sound. It features Qualcomm’s flagship audio chip and aptX high-definition decoding, ensuring stable audio transmission and pure sound quality. Notably, the headphone’s directional sound transmission technology effectively reduces sound leakage, protecting privacy, although it may sometimes hinder the perception of external environmental sounds, which could be a drawback for users needing to balance environmental awareness.
The battery life is impressive, supporting about 19 hours of playback on a single charge, and the total battery life can reach 46 hours with the charging case, making it suitable for long-term outdoor use. The fast charging feature allows for quick power replenishment, although the charging interface design is somewhat ordinary, resulting in an average overall charging experience. In summary, the OpenRock Pro performs well in sound quality and battery life, making it suitable for users who prioritize sound effects and long battery life, but there are shortcomings in wearing comfort and environmental sound perception, requiring users to weigh their choices based on personal needs.