There are different types of headphones available in the market, and closed-back headphones are a popular option among them. So, If you are somebody who is a fan of closed-back headphones, then we can assure you that once you finish reading this post, you will understand everything about the closed-back headphone models that are being sold in the market.
Without wasting more time, let us read the guide for closed-back headphones.
What is closed-back headphone?
A closed-back headphone is a model that is designed such that it is sealed around your earcups. That is because their earcups are quite large and massive, hence they can retain the sound inside only for your ears to listen.
Why are they called closed-back headphones?
They are called closed-back headphones because of their design. These headphones come with large earcups that are shaped like closed-back. That means, you won’t have any ventilation around your ears, which can be a problem if you wear them for a lengthy period of time.
However, the sound does not escape from the headphone, unless if you are using a high volume to listen to the music. Moreover, the people who are seated beside you on the bus or the train do not get disturbed.
What is the benefit of having it?
The closed-back headphone is extremely helpful when you want to listen to eloquent music. Besides, you do not want to disturb those sitting around you. It could be in the office, on the plane, or even during a bus journey, and in your room.
These models do a better job of controlling sound leakage. It provides you with more ambient noise to combine with the audio that you are listening to. Moreover, you can make or answer calls with immense clarity.
Who should buy them?
The closed-back headphones are most ideal for those of you who are focused more on the noise quality. When you want no sound leakage, then this model can be useful. Yes, this is a personal choice.
Besides, they do not allow external noises to interfere with your listening abilities. It could be listening to music, watching videos, playing games, and attending calls. They come quite handy for these purposes.
You can also make use of them outdoors without any hassle. Today, you can find models that come with a noise-canceling feature in them. Once you press that button, the outside noise is turned off.
These models offer you with intense bass range and noise isolation for both quiet and loud environments. We feel that this model could be helpful for musicians, gamers, casual listeners, and regular users.
A word of caution. Do not go beyond the 80% range because others might be able to hear what you are listening to. Moreover, it can cause hearing loss. The sound as it is gets retained inside your ears, so, around 50% or 70% volume should be sufficient.
What are the factors to consider before buying them?
There are a few factors that you must consider before getting them. We have provided them to you below. We have discussed them briefly.
Wireless connectivity
Wireless connectivity is the first thing to consider when choosing this model. Wireless connectivity is a technology that allows you to use closed-back headphones without wires for a certain distance from the device.
Besides, they are ideal for traveling. You can take them with you when you are traveling often or commute on a regular basis. You can also make use of the model from your TV or PC without having to lose the audio signal.
However, when using the wireless connection, you might notice a small dip in the quality of the audio. That may be due to the signal quality. If you are living in an apartment or moving around in a crowded area, then you can face this issue.
You have to also charge the battery of the headphone to make sure that it works at the time. Of course, the model can be used with devices that can provide you with audio wirelessly. This happens usually through Bluetooth connectivity.
Noise cancellation
We felt that the noise canceling feature for a closed-back headphone makes a lot of sense. In today’s noise-filled world, we can find extreme sound outside and on the inside. This is when you may consider using a noise-canceling model.
We felt that the Bose QuietComfort series and Sony WH1000-MX4 models are ideal examples of the noise-canceling feature. You can go about listening to your music or doing your thing using the model, without a care in the world.
Frequency response
The frequency response of the closed-back headphone is another factor that you would want to check for. This feature comes useful in the music studio if you own one or are part of it. The measure of how accurately the model’s speakers can produce opulent audio is something good.
It must be able to produce audio across a wide range of frequencies that are typically from 20Hz – 20KHz. Many models can enhance the low-end and also the high-end to find out how well the speakers get to your ears.
Moreover, they should be able to provide you with decent sound quality to provide a nice listening experience. You may not be able to get the truly flat curve, but you need to know the response of your unit when you are playing many frequencies.
Headphone impedance
Another feature you would want to keep in mind in the closed-back headphone is impedance. These models have a low impedance value of 32 ohms which means they do not require that much amplification power to make a heavy sound.
You can see that other headphones traveling to several hundred ohms may need some kind of a professional-grade sound interface or powered amplifier to provide the same level. You would want to know that it can be hard to use outside your home or studio.
Comfort and cost
Finally, we have the comfort & cost of the closed-back headphone. These models are comfortable no doubt. You can wear them for some time without feeling any pain or fatigue. Besides, comfort can depend on the person.
If you have a large head or ears, then you might want to get a larger model. Likewise, when you have a small head or ears, then you can adjust the model. When you are somebody who wears headphones for several hours, then please make sure that they fit your head well.
The price of the headphone is another deciding feature for you to choose the right kind of headphones. You may want to consider a model that fits inside your budget, how you might want to use them, and for what.
Pros and cons
PROS
- More comfort: The closed-back headphones provide you with immense comfort and fitting levels. They can be worn for several hours, without feeling any fatigue or strain on your head or ears. But that does not mean we suggest you wear them for a long time.
- Good build quality: These models come with the good build quality. It can last you for several years at least. Some popular brands are Apple, Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony.
- Better noise isolation: They offer you with better noise isolation. It means you can listen to natural-sounding music that is similar to the open-back models. The model can provide you with good-quality of audio.
- Wireless connectivity: The model can also provide you with wireless connectivity. It depends on the strength of the signal. This feature can be useful when you want to move around without wires.
- Proper rate: The pricing of the closed-back headphones is not very high. You can get a decent phone for a good price from $50 to $500. You would want to choose it according to your budget.
CONS
- Causes hearing loss: Sadly, using closed-back models for a long period of time can cause hearing loss. So, please always make use of a low volume or under 50%. That should suffice.
- Better for gaming: We felt that the open-back headphones are more suitable for gaming than the closed-back models. If you are a professional gamer, then you may not enjoy the experience with this model.
Final thoughts on closed-back headphones
We have come to the end of the closed-back headphone post. We hope that you found it useful and were able to understand more about this model. We have provided everything that you need about these units.
If you still have doubts about the model, then please read through our buying guide or factors to consider. That should clear things up. It is quite popular among users of all ages. Why not? They come with everything that you can ask for.
It comes with a sublime design that can provide you with a low or nil sound leakage. So, when you are somebody who wants to get the proper sound quality, then this unit might be it. Moreover, we noticed that they do not cause distractions to those who are seated around you.
However, ventilation and hearing loss are two issues that you may want to keep an eye on before selecting this unit. Apart from that, they are ideal for using during listening to music, watching movies, and gaming.
How did you find our guide for closed-back headphones? Did we miss out on something, then please do write to us in the comments section, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.