The Facts

Closed back (or sealed) headphones are designed to reduce the effect of external noise on your listening and also to keep the noise made by the headphone drivers from leaking out and disturbing people around you.

Typical applications for the closed back headphone design are DJ and studio monitoring. Closed back headphones are also useful in situations where the listener needs to prevent noise leakage, for example in an office or travelling.

A full size closed back design (often called circumaural) seals the ears from external noise with semi air tight earcups that enclose the ear, which gives excellent isolation from outside noise. A smaller ear pad closed design that sits on top of the ear will often sound more like traditional open back headphones because the sound can leak in and out.

The trade-off for the benefits of isolation from external noise with the close back design is that the ear cups reflect and resonate the sound made by the headphone drivers. The reflection of sound waves can cause closed back headphones to sound ‘boxy' and enclosed (especially on cheaper models), although headphone manufacturers choose the materials on the back of ear cups to reduce this. In contrast a good set of open back headphones is often described as having a wide soundstage and offering a more natural sound.

Our Opinion

For applications where sound isolation is important closed back headphones are ideal. DJs and studio engineers who need to be able to focus on the sound coming through the headphones without distraction will find closed back headphones essential.

If you have the advantage of being able to listen in peace and quiet with nobody to disturb then you may want to consider a pair of open back headphones instead.

Those who enjoy heavy weight bass may enjoy the sound closed back headphones provide. The closed ear cups prevent bass leakage and can give a full bottom end character to music.