7 Best Open Back Headphones Under $500 (2023)

7 Best Open Back Headphones Under $500 (2023)

Investing in fabulous open-back headphones is a challenge with so many available options. However, if you are searching for the best one, we’ve got you! Whether you’re a music lover or a professional producer. These headphones below are the top pick and have great soundstage, performance, and design. Significantly, they are the best open-back headphones that cost under $500!

1. beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro

The beyerdynamic DT-1990 Pro 250 Ohm is a high-quality, open-back circumaural studio headphone with a carrying case and extra ear pads. The quality earpads produce a balanced sound, while the leatherette pads provide an analytical sound. The 3m straight cable avoids tangling in front of your body, and a 5m coiled cable is also included for maximum studio movement.

Key Features

• Driver: 45 mm dynamic
• Cable: 3 meter
• Connection: wired
• Frequency response: 5Hz – 40,000 Hz
• Impedance: 25o Ω
• Sensitivity: 102 dB (1 V)
• Weight: 370g

Design:

• Earcups: provide a natural and remarkably spacious sound. The spatial sound makes them a dependable reference tool for mixing and mastering.
• Headbands: are crafted with exceptional attention to detail, making them quality and durability, which is truly eye-catching.
• Connectivity: the two cables: a 3-meter straight line and a coiled cable that stretches up to 5 meters. Both wires have a 3-pin mini XLR, a 3.5mm jack, and their own screw-on 1/4-inch adapter.

Performance:

• Sound quality: delivers breathtaking sound with an impressively wide stereo image and highly differentiated spatial resolution.
• Output quality: its output quality is convincing, offering excellent detail from the deepest bass to the finest resolution, a neutral mid-range, and silky highs.
• Highs: the highs may be slightly understated, but these headphones provide an enjoyable listening experience that will surely bring a smile to your face.
• Soundstage: the sound is incredibly smooth and peaceful, attributed to the subdued dynamics of the drum beats and other elements.

Pros:

• Super comfortable
• Breathable earcups
• Great soundstage

Cons:

• No noise isolation
• Leak the sound

Pricing:

Available in stock at the price of USD 499.00 at Amazon.

2. Monolith M1060 Best Open Back Headphones under $500

With the MonolithTM M1060 planar headphones, music enthusiasts will receive a high-quality listening experience. The 106mm planar drivers produce a well-defined soundstage, revealing all the finer details in recordings. Featuring balanced sound, low distortion, and impressive imaging, these headphones provide a genuinely immersive audiophile listening experience.

Key Features

• Driver: 106 mm dynamic
• Cable: 3 meter
• Connection: wired
• Frequency response: 10Hz – 50,000 Hz
• Impedance: 5o Ω
• Sensitivity: 130 dB (1 V)
• Weight: 500g

Design:

• Earcups: the open-back earcups offer a holographic listening experience, as opposed to the isolated “inside your head” sound of traditional closed-back headphones. They create a feeling of being in the middle of a live performance rather than being cut off from the world.
• Headband: constructed from a singular piece of metal and features only a thin layer of foam bumps to prevent any potential damage or discomfort to the head.
• Connectivity: use a 3.5mm plug to connect to your device or amplifier.

Performance:

• Sound quality: boasts the distinctive characteristics of planar drivers, producing more transparent and open sound than traditional dynamic drivers.
• Mids: in particular, felt grainy and indistinct, lacking the depth and richness often found in dynamic driver headphones in this price range.
• Bass sound: while the bass response was satisfactory and occasionally enjoyable, it lacked clarity and impact similar to the mids. The kick drums failed to deliver the anticipated punch, and the basslines left us underwhelmed.
• Treble: the highs have a nice sparkle, but the gritty sound can be improved by replacing the pads with Audeze Vegan pads.

Pros:

• Great entry to Planar headphones
• Eye-catching design
• Competitive price
• Value-for-money

Cons:

• Sound rough and unfinished with some issues
• Poor build quality and materials
• Lack of left/right indicators

Pricing:

Available in stock at the price of USD 264.59 at Amazon.

3. Sennheiser HD 599 headphones

Sennheiser HD 599 is designed for audiophiles who demand exceptional sound quality and a sleek and elegant appearance. They feature an over-ear design with open backs, providing a comfortable listening experience without pressure on the ears. The padded headband and luxurious velour ear pads make them perfect for extended listening sessions. The headphones offer a range of connectivity options, including a robust 3-meter detachable cable and a 6.3-millimeter jack and an additional 1.2-meter detachable cable with a 3.5-millimeter jack.

The timeless design cues include an ivory color, matte finish, brown headband stitching, and matte metallic detail, which convey quality at first glance. The premium components include Sennheiser-engineered transducers that use aluminum voice coils to deliver high efficiency, excellent dynamics, and extremely low distortion. These headphones use wired connectivity technology and do not require a battery for power.

Key Features

• Noise cancellation: No
• Transparency: Yes
• Driver: 38 mm dynamic
• Connection: 1/8″ (3.5 mm) mini Stereo, gold-plated
• Cable length: 3.0 m (9.8′)
• Frequency response: 12 Hz – 38,500 Hz
• Impedance: 50 Ω
• Sensitivity: 106 dB @ 1mW
• Weight: 250g

Design:

• Earpads: feature velour material that is soft, although not overly thick.
• Headband: crafted from premium leather, the material looks luxurious and offers comfort. It is adjustable to fit any head size comfortably, and the abundance of cushions inside the headband ensures no unnecessary pressure on the head while wearing it.
• Ear cushions: super soft cushion foam provide comfort to wear in long hours
• Connectivity: the cable length is 3 meters, long enough for your movement without losing connection. Also, they are replaceable.

Performance:

• Soundstage: expansive and open soundstage, creating a sensation of being within a music studio with multiple instruments.
• Imaging: the imaging is decent and precise as well. However, where these headphones truly excel is their exceptional mid-range, which is genuinely fantastic.
• Treble: the treble isn’t outstanding; it’s not excessively harsh or bothersome. However, the bass and sub-bass, which lie in the lower frequency range below 250 Hz, are slightly weaker.
• Lows: the low end is robust. While the detail is decent, in some tracks, the power of the low back can overpower the mids.
• Mids: the midrange is decent, occasionally bordering on remarkable. Though most of the frequency range is precise, there is some compression in the upper mids. Female vocals are relatively unaffected, but male vocals may sound constrained and heavy.
• Highs: the level of detail is exceptional, occasionally bordering on piercing, particularly when it comes to strings, although it never becomes unbearable. Despite this, the high end is not excessively bright, and everything is well-balanced.

Pros:

• Perfect passive soundstage
• Lightweight
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Bulky design
• No noise isolation

Pricing:

Available on Amazon at the price of USD 119.99

4. Sennheiser HD 650 Best Open Back Headphones under $500

This HD 650 is designed to provide high-performance and intimate detail sound. Moreover, most parts of the HD 650 are modular, soft, and comfortable ear pads and offer a great sound experience so you can enjoy music even more. The best open-back headphones under $500 on our list that you can consider!

Key Features

• Driver: 42 mm dynamic
• Cable: 3 meter
• Connection: wired
• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 41,000 Hz
• Impedance: 3oo Ω
• Sensitivity: 103 dB (1 V)
• Weight: 260g

Design:

• Style: open-back headphone
• Ear cushions: made of soft material foam, provide better comfort, and are breathable for your ears.
• Headband: has sponge under the headband, easy to wear, adjustable, and durable for a customized fit.
• Earcups: have vents for air to get in and out, provide a natural sound stage
• Connectivity: the cable length is 3 meters, long enough for your movement without losing connection.

Performance:

• Frequency response: 10 Hz – 41,000 Hz with warm and natural tonal balance
• Sound quality: exceptional sound quality provide clear, detailed, and accurate sound
• Bass Response: muted bass response, but for some reason, it’s average compared to other headphones.
• Soundstage: the vents on the earcups provide an expensive and immersive soundstage
• Input: suitable for various music genres and audio applications.
• Connectivity: The headphones can be driven by various sources, including smartphones, laptops, and portable music players, although they will benefit from a dedicated headphone amplifier.

Pros:

• Wide soundstage
• High-quality materials
• Compatible with high-end audio equipment

Cons:

• It may require a dedicated headphone amplifier to achieve optimal sound quality

Pricing:

Available in stock at the price of USD 399.95 at Amazon.

5. STAX SPIRIT S3

The Stax Spirit S3 boasts a lightweight black carbon fiber construction and foldable design that allows it to be easily stored in a semi-rigid carrying case. The headband and ear pads are made of genuine leather, and a second set of mesh-covered ear pads with cooling gel are also provided. Although it looks nice, the creaky hinges are not reassuring in terms of durability.

Despite this, it is very comfortable to wear for extended periods, especially with the cooling pads, and feels lightweight. However, the creaky plastic frame can be audible and potentially irritating when walking around unless masked by the music.

Key Features

• Noise cancellation: No
• Transparency: Yes
• Driver: 100mm Audeze planar magnetic driver
• Battery life: 80 hours
• Codec code:  SBC, AAC, Adaptive, aptX™
• Connection:Bluetooth® / Jack 3.5mm / USB-C®
• Frequency response: 15 Hz – 22,000 Hz
• Impedance: 8o Ω
• Sensitivity: 104 dB
• Weight: 350g

Design:

• Earpads: made of soft memory foam underneath, comfortable, suitable for summer
• Headband: the folding mechanism of the headphones results in a significant amount of plastic around the headband, which detracts from the otherwise sturdy steel construction and gives it a cheap feel.
• App: the “Classic” preset since it provides a natural and well-balanced sound. The other two presets, “Hi-Fi” and “Stax,” caused a reduction in the midrange and a spike in the treble, resulting in a less optimal listening experience.

Performance:

• Microphone: on top of both earcups additional mic assist in noise cancellation. These microphones can pick up audio even in noisy environments, enabling the user to speak at a regular volume.
• Bass sound: demonstrates impressive extension; the bass is fast and can keep up with busy tracks.
• Mids: is accurately balanced and produces no harsh or piercing sounds.
• Imaging: it has a clear separation between the left and proper channels. However, their ability to accurately position sound objects in the vertical and diagonal planes is not as precise.

Pros:

• Multipoint connection
• Fast and texture bass sound
• Great microphone

Cons:

• No EQ
• Average imaging

Pricing:

Available on Amazon at the price of USD 399.99

6. HIFIMAN Deva-Pro Open-Back Headphones

Pros:

• Super comfortable to wear
• Multi-device connection

Cons:

• Limit soundstage width and depth

Pricing:

Available on Amazon at the price of USD 269.00

7. HIFIMAN Edition XS 

The HIFIMAN Edition XS boasts a spacious soundstage, accurate positioning, and imaging. Its tonality is nearly authentic, comparable only to its pricier counterparts. Moreover, the HIFIMAN’s signature sound now features enhanced bass, a highly desired improvement among many readers. The best open-back headphones are under $500 on our list.

Key Features

• Driver: 42 mm dynamic
• Cable: 3 meter
• Connection: wired
• Frequency response: 8 Hz – 50,000 Hz
• Impedance: 18 Ω
• Sensitivity: 92 dB (1 V)
• Weight: 405g

Design:

• Earpads: made of memory foam, large enough to cover your ears, super comfortable and breathable for your ears, great to wear in long hours
• Earcups: made of lightweight aluminum material is present in the back grill, but the remaining components appear to be constructed from a durable polymer.
• Headband: made of quality materials, provide comfort, durability, and adjustable.
• Connectivity:

Performance:

• Sound quality: impressive low-frequency output delivers a significantly more pronounced and refined bass response, with tighter, deeper, and punchier tones defined with exceptional clarity.
• Mids: well-behaved, balanced, and consistently smooth, and the midrange exhibits a warm, spacious quality that manages to feel both expansive and intimate simultaneously.
• Treble has an intriguing trait: it can handle a significant boost in volume without distorting.
• Soundstage: is both expansive and intimate, striking a balance that I find preferable to an overly spacious or distant sound. It boasts ample 3D detail and micro placement, particularly in the higher frequency bands.

Pros:

• Great bass
• Good soundstage

Cons:

• No noise canceling
• Leak the sound

Pricing:

Available on Amazon at the price of USD 499.99

Summary

That concludes our comparison of the best open-back headphones under $500! Any headphones on this list will provide you with the best immersive experience for your preferred listening style. These headphones are excellent at performance and quality, especially the soundstage that you never experience before! Check it out and tell us what is your favorite brands.