Video summary

BEST Open Back Headphones Tier List 2025 - What To Buy and What Not To

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product(s) reviewed

This video is a tier-list of open-back headphones for 2025. It ranks many models largely by value for money and overall performance, with notes on sound signature, imaging/soundstage, comfort, power requirements, and sound leakage. No single model is reviewed in isolation—each entry is compared against expectations for its price tier.

Key points / unique claims mentioned (by model)

Sennheiser HD 650 (Tier: Good tier S)

  • Strengths: excellent opening sound; outstanding mid-range accuracy; natural vocals; great comfort (velour pads)
  • Sound traits: incredibly neutral/flat; ideal for critical listening / studio work
  • Cons: significant sound leakage (typical for open backs); lacks sub-bass (may disappoint bass-heavy listeners)
  • Verdict: great all-purpose neutral studio/critical option.

Sennheiser HD 800S (Tier: God tier)

  • Strengths: “pinnacle of analytical listening”; breathtaking / very wide immersive soundstage
  • Tech claims: 56 mm driver for high detail retrieval, imaging, and “holographic” stage
  • Cons: very analytical for some; needs good setup/amping to shine; hefty price
  • Verdict: reference-grade for analytical listeners; may be fatiguing/not fun for casual use.

Sennheiser HD 660S2 (Tier: Great tier)

  • Strengths vs predecessor: improved thump/rumble bass; warm signature; exceptionally neutral mids with natural vocals/instruments
  • Cons: slight dip affecting low-end detail/clarity
  • Power: 300 ohm impedance—requires proper driving (good amp)
  • Verdict: strong performance balance; great when powered well.

Sennheiser HD 560S (Tier: Great tier)

  • Strengths: “ruthlessly revealing” neutral reference sound; wide soundstage
  • Value: excellent technical performance for price
  • Cons: plasticky build feel; can be less exciting for casual listening
  • Verdict: strong value studio/analytical pick.

HiFiMan H400 SE (Tier: Average tier)

  • Strengths: planar magnetic; great value; fairly neutral profile; immersive soundstage
  • Cons: lagging/limited thump & rumble; dip in high-mids causing vocals to sound distant
  • Power & practicality: described as power hungry (~1,000 mW needed); not great for commuting/office
  • Leakage: leaks sound a lot
  • Verdict: usable at home but notable limitations for the full experience.

Beyerdynamic / likely Beyer DT 13? gen / “DT 13 gen” (unclear name) (Tier: Average tier)

  • Strengths: clean presentation; excellent build (alcantara headband + velour pads)
  • Power improvement: 32 ohm impedance makes it easier to drive than prior versions
  • Soundstage: impressive; crisp/clear vocals; handles “all jars”
  • Cons: “not versatile enough for the price”—doesn’t justify premium positioning
  • Verdict: well-made but pricing/value doesn’t land.

High-end HiFiMan “AR A” (Tier: Good tier)

  • Strengths: neutral sound with slight brightness; incredibly wide soundstage
  • Comfort: earcups described as spacious; however weight noted
  • Cons: 460 g heavy; needs strong power (linked to 94 dB sensitivity needing an amp); not portable/suitable for noisy environments
  • Verdict: strong genre performance but not travel-friendly.

HiFiMan “Sonura” (Tier: Great tier)

  • Strengths: excellent value; balanced solid with smooth flat mids + enough treble brightness for clarity
  • Driving: easy to drive from most sources with 32 ohm, though benefits from an amp
  • Soundstage: wide/spacious and immersive; “makes music come alive”
  • Verdict: strong “ridiculous” value statement.

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro (Tier: Great tier)

  • Strengths: excited + open sound; exceptional build quality
  • Customization: mentions analytical and balanced earpads to tune sound
  • Cons: piercing treble can be painful on bright tracks → not for everyone
  • Verdict: excellent pro/critical listening, but treble sharpness is the tradeoff.

Sennheiser HD 6XX (Tier: Great here / Great tier)

  • Strengths: neutral balance; vocals/instruments shine; amazing clarity/detail
  • Soundstage: natural but not super wide
  • Build: metal headband solid; mostly plastic components
  • Cons: low bass a bit lagging; not great portable use
  • Price/performance: called incredible
  • Verdict: audiophile-favorite neutral all-rounder.

Audeze LCD-2 (Tier: God tier)

  • Strengths: “absolute beast” sound quality; warm rich signature
  • Imaging: standout imaging + wide soundstage for immersive listening
  • Comfort: surprisingly good for long sessions despite being heavy/bulky
  • Cons: weight/bulk
  • Verdict: premium sound; weight is the main downside.

Sennheiser HD 490 Pro (Tier: Great here)

  • Strengths: serious studio/mixing capability; two different pad options
  • Bass: remarkable extension for open backs
  • Mids: balanced; slight lack of detail in upper mids
  • Use-case: performs consistently even with glasses
  • Soundstage: depth good (not at top “ultra” audiophile level)
  • Verdict: versatile pro studio choice.

Audio-Technica ATH-R70x (Tier: Good tier)

  • Strengths: precise imaging; cohesive soundstage presentation
  • Soundstage width: not very wide, but fills in-between ears well
  • Sound signature: warm fullness
  • Cons: needs an amp; some “somewhat limited Sound Stage”
  • Verdict: great for critical listening + gaming when amped.

K702 (AKG K702) (Tier: Average tier)

  • Strengths: huge/spacious soundstage “almost too wide”; vibrant/detailed mids; very clear treble without fatigue
  • Cons: bass not strong/lean; build quality feels lacking for price
  • Use-case: good analytical listening in quiet environments but not versatile for everyday
  • Verdict: impressive soundstage, but limitations reduce overall utility.

R70? / SR-88x (likely Grado SR88x) (Tier: Average tier)

  • Strengths: good detail for price; surprisingly good soundstage for an “open design”
  • Comfort: can be an issue
  • Tech: braided cable and improved headband padding noted
  • Cons: significant leakage; near-zero isolation
  • Verdict: good but not competing with “big boys.”

HiFiMan Edition XS (Tier: God tier)

  • Strengths: phenomenal value; massive soundstage while keeping vocals intimate
  • Drivers: planar magnetic
  • Bass: punchy textured bass + incredible detail retrieval
  • Comparison: said to be nearly on par with a much more expensive Ananda
  • Cons: bass is “its weakest attribute” (still present)
  • Price included: $500
  • Verdict: flagship-level performance at mid-tier price.

Dynamic DT 300R (Tier: Average tier)

  • Positioning: “smoothed out DT990 Pro” with better soundstage but slightly less detail
  • Strengths: gaming focus; lightweight; good imaging
  • Cons: mid-bass bloat; may not suit people wanting flatter response
  • Volume: output surprisingly low vs other gaming headsets → issue in loud environments
  • Verdict: decent for gaming, not best overall.

Grado SR325x (Tier: Great tier)

  • Strengths: punchy and lively; ridiculously fast transients
  • Bass: surprisingly robust for Grado
  • Treble: extends beautifully without harshness/sharpness
  • Performance/value: fluidity described as like headphones costing twice as much
  • Verdict: standout all-rounder that punches above its weight.

Common pros/cons across the list (themes)

Pros emphasized repeatedly

  • Strong soundstage and imaging (wide/immersive stages especially on HD800S/Edition XS/K702)
  • Neutral/accurate mids and natural vocals (HD650, HD6XX, HD660S2)
  • Good comfort for several models (HD650 noted; Edition XS good session comfort; LCD-2 surprisingly comfy)
  • Value winners called out (Edition XS at ~$500; Edition XS compared to higher-priced Ananda; HD560S price/perf)

Cons emphasized repeatedly

  • Sound leakage is a major issue for open backs (called out on multiple models)
  • Bass limitations or tuning tradeoffs (HD650/HD6XX low bass lag; K702 lean bass; Edition XS bass weakness)
  • Power/amp requirements (notably H400 SE power hungry; HD660S2 300 ohm; high-sensitivity demanding models mentioned)
  • Treble sharpness/analytical fatigue (DT1990 Pro piercing treble; HD800S too analytical; others less fatiguing but still noted)

Comparisons made

  • Edition XS vs Ananda: Edition XS described as nearly as good as the more expensive Ananda.
  • DT300R vs DT990 Pro: DT300R described as a smoothed-out DT990 Pro (better stage, slightly less detail).
  • Several models positioned as “reference/analytical” vs “casual/versatility,” with HD800S/HD560S/R70x/Edition XS leaning analytical, and some others criticized for being insufficiently versatile for price.

Overall verdict / recommendation

  • Best value “flagship-level” pick: HiFiMan Edition XS (God tier, $500, compared favorably to higher-priced Ananda).
  • Best analytical/reference experience: Sennheiser HD 800S (God tier).
  • Best neutral studio/critical listening value: Sennheiser HD 560S and HD 6XX (both strong “great” value neutral picks).
  • Avoid/only if it matches your priorities:
    • K702 if you want bass or everyday versatility (lean bass; build/value concerns).
    • HiFiMan H400 SE if you don’t have the power/amp and want strong bass impact (power hungry; high-mid dip; limited sub-bass/thump).
    • DT1990 Pro if you’re sensitive to treble (can be painful on bright tracks).

Speakers/views (as far as subtitles show)

  • The video appears to be one main presenter doing most ranking statements.
  • Notes like “I tested…” and tier placements are from the same narration style; no clearly distinct additional speaker is identified in the subtitles beyond the main host.

Original video