
The benefit of open-back headphones is that they don’t block outside world like closed-backs do. This is a big reason why many studio-based mix engineers work on monitors. Without hearing other sound to reference against your mix, it can be easy to lose perspective without taking occasional breaks.

By being cut off from the outside world, it’s very easy to get trapped in your head, especially during long sessions. The main upside of closed-back headphones is also its main downside. “In your head” isn’t always a good thing.While having headphones with a flat frequency response and an accurate sound is most important, it doesn’t hurt to have headphones that make listening to music enjoyable. This can be helpful for hyper-detailed work, now that there is less background bleed.Īlso, some people simply prefer the “in your head” sound of closed-back headphones.

With minimal background noise, audio playing through your headphones will be more in the foreground of your overall listening experience. If you work somewhere that you need to be quiet, closed back headphones will allow you to listen to your music at a louder level without bothering people around you. Just as closed-back headphones allow minimal sound in, they also allow minimal sound out. This is helpful for those who work in noisy environments or like to work on-the-go. This makes sense for the average person on the subway who just wants to listen to their music.įor the same reason, closed-back headphones are great for mixing engineers who want to minimize sound pollution while working. With the solid cup, they are designed to cut the listening experience off from the outside world. It’s no wonder why the average person prefers closed-back headphones. Even if you have an expensive pair of closed-backs, this will be more similar to the average listener’s headphones than open-backs will be. Being able to have a listening experience similar to that of your audience can help your mix translate to more people. This is one of the main benefits of closed-back headphones. Most consumer headphones (for listening, not necessarily mixing) have closed backs. However, it’s also important to realize that most listeners won’t be using super expensive audio engineering headphones. It’s important to have quality headphones that allow you to hear details in the mix.
