Headphones for practicing: Open vs Closed

[slagbass]

i use semi-open-back for everything just because i have multiple sets of them (AKG k240) and they're affordable reference phones. but for practice, IME/IMO, just about anything works...it's practice!

 

[JRA]

 

[J_Bass]

If you were to drop big money on a set of headphones for both listening to music and practicing/learning bass lines from recordings, would you go with open vs closed headphones? Please explain the rationale for your decision.

I did. I bought the Sennheiser HD 650, exactly for practicing and listening to music.

Excellent buy.

I wanted open headphones for 2 reasons.

1. Close headphones become uncomfortable after an hour or so (to me).

2. I don't want to be isolated from what is going on around me. I use them a lot at night and I want to be able to notice if something is going on in the house. I have 3 kids.

 

[Killing Floor]

Closed are less safe for your hearing. And you can’t hear background noise which has its own set of risks. I use opens.

 

[G On Bass]

I had ATHM-50s, which were great (closed) until they wore out (kid using them), AKG K240's which I did not care for (semi-open) and eventually ended up with Beyerdynamic DT990 Pros, which are open back. They sound great and I'm not tracking vocals. Primarily I need to be able to hear what is going on in the house with the kids so....

 

[Rip Van Dan]

If you were to drop big money on a set of headphones for both listening to music and practicing/learning bass lines from recordings, would you go with open vs closed headphones? Please explain the rationale for your decision.

I wore out a pair of Bose closed-back headphones that my wife got for me after many years of use. Was really bummed because I didn't have the money to buy new ones. Then, for Christmas that year, she bought me a pair of Sennheiser headphones that were on sale for about $150 at the time. They were over the ear but were open back. Was nice because I could hear the music just fine and also hear my wife when she called. With the Bose, unless she was close by and speaking really loudly to me (OK, shouting at me), I couldn't hear her. But my wife was constantly telling me, "put your headphones on" even though I was already wearing them at the time. With those open-back headphones, she could hear everything I could hear and it was annoyingly distracting.

So, then I contacted Bose to see if they could fix my old ones. They said they didn't support those anymore but offered me a great price on their replacement, which at the time were their AE2's. So I bought those for less than half price and have used them ever since. I have had to replace the ear cups once on them because I wore them out. My only option of listening to music or practicing my bass at our small place is to use headphones. Our landlord lives above us, so not amp use in the house. When she was considering buying some headphones herself I gave her those Sennheiser headphones on the condition that she does no use them in the living room when anyone is in there. So, for me, open-back headphones are a no-go.

I think the Sennheiser's and the Bose had similar sound quality but the closed-back Bose are my preference because no one else hears them when I'm using them. Nor do I hear what's going on in either the Kitchen, which is behind me, or the living room, which is the on other side of the bookshelves to my left. I've had no trouble wearing either of those for hours on end, but I prefer the Bose close-backed headphones.

 

[Deleted member 132197]

I used/use these as well as my spares for practicing or tracking. They’re not as comfortable for long stretches as my Senns are but they are every bit as useful!

I'm using the M-40's, and replaced the pads with some lambs leather ones, waaaaaaaay more comfy.

 

[SteveBassJr]

I might be in the minority but, I really like these
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[bassdeal]

Agreeing with most of this. I’ve got a set of Sennheiser 280 (closed) and Grado 125 (open). The isolation of the closed is nice for focus, particularly in noisy environments, but it can feel a little artificial and fatiguing. The open Grado are easier to listen to for longer times. The open design feels more natural, like you’re playing in a room. However, if they get a little “off center” the accuracy of the low end is compromised. In that sense, they aren’t great for dialing in a sound or mixing unless you are mindful.

Overall, in my apartment I find myself doing more with the open.

I am quite interested in what you mean by "off center" and how this happens. I have a very old set of Kenwood KPM-610 headphones, which are open-back, that I have used for many years, mostly for listening to recorded music but for the last few years while practicing. I have noticed in the last few months both my Fender Jazz and P-Bass sound horrible through them, although it was not until today I narrowed it down to the headphones. The bass frequencies are greatly diminished. On a Mackie 1604 mixer, I need to set the channel EQ to 3, 9, 9 (o'clock: bass, mid, treble) to get close to reasonable. With my Tascam TH-200X closed-back and bass-heavy headphone, an EQ setting of 10, 1, 1 (o'clock: bass, mid, treble) gives me a good sound.

Could the KPM-610s just be worn-out?

As others have commented, open-back headphones seem to be very comfortable for long listening periods. I used the KPMs for many many multi-hour listening sessions and were always comfortable.

 

[monsterthompson]

I am quite interested in what you mean by "off center" and how this happens.

I mean that the closed-back designs essentially self-center the driver over your ear each time and you get a consistent placement. With my Grado open back the driver can end up in a few different positions the ear, and some change the perception of the output, like tilting a cabinet toward your ears vs. knees. It can be subtle or drastic, and it can be asymmetric when the left driver lands in "the usual spot" but the right one doesn't (or vice versa).

 

[bassdeal]

I mean that the closed-back designs essentially self-center the driver over your ear each time and you get a consistent placement. With my Grado open back the driver can end up in a few different positions the ear, and some change the perception of the output, like tilting a cabinet toward your ears vs. knees. It can be subtle or drastic, and it can be asymmetric when the left driver lands in "the usual spot" but the right one doesn't (or vice versa).

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[micguy]

Closed are less safe for your hearing.

I've designed audio gear for over 40 years, and this is the first I've heard of this theory. Guess I'm learning something new every day. ;-)

 

[monsterthompson]

Thanks for the explanation!

Glad to help.
It’s more of an on-ear vs over-ear design thing. I’m sure there are probably some over-ear open-back designs. There are certainly semi-open over-ear designs, which I’ve considered trying but haven’t gotten to yet.

 

[JW56789]

I only use closed-back (me too on the AT 50's) as I prefer the isolation from surrounding noise, it's just easier for me to concentrate and listen. The AT's have a bump in the deep end response, and I prefer it that way, I'm listening out for bass parts, so I'll take the extra help.

Also something I found out the hard way: The quoted ohm-resistance for headphones is a way to decide relative loudness from the same source. In other words, most 'phones for digital devices tend to run out in the 30 to 60-ohm range, which will be louder than say a studio-standard AKG 240 with a 600-ohm resistance. This is why I use a Mackie 1202VLZ mixer as my practice hub, the headphone send is LOUD enough to power anything. A lot of these little battery-powered 'rehearsal toys' often won't push good headphones, or break up into distortion trying to.

 

[Killing Floor]

I've designed audio gear for over 40 years, and this is the first I've heard of this theory. Guess I'm learning something new every day. ;-)

As a consumer of headphones and having spent a lot of hours behind a console I'd be curious whether I have ever used any of your headphone designs.
And FWIW I use open back for practicing, daily listening and closed for mixing applications.

 

[jerry]

Closed, because the same as when I was a kid, I want the world to go away.

 

[micguy]

As a consumer of headphones and having spent a lot of hours behind a console I'd be curious whether I have ever used any of your headphone designs.
And FWIW I use open back for practicing, daily listening and closed for mixing applications.

Headphones, maybe. Microphones, definitely.

 

[Lowendtech]

I bought the AKG K240 mkII semi open and hated them. No to little bass response and needed a headphone amp when jamming online through a Scarlett 2i2. Sent them back for a set of Audio Technica ATH M50X and am way happier. The difference was night and day.
I initially though the semi open back would be good for my situation but the closed backs are just fine. A little warmer but more comfortable otherwise. They are not isolating in the true sense but if I want that, I’ll use my Westone in ears. But I find the in ears more tiring after a while.
One day I’ll pick up another set of open backs but I’m no longer in a rush.

 

[BAG]

Just for practice? No need for closed backs. If you think you want them to double as tracking phones at some point, you're going to want closed. I have two pairs of headphones for this reason.

What he said ^^

If you think you may at some point want to do some recording you'll want closed back, over ear phones.

 

[knight of ni]

I use the same set of headphones, and I fully subscribe to what equill said.

Personally, I find open-backed headphones easier to wear and listen to over longer stretches of time, compared to closed-back headphones, or in-ears without custom molds. But they don’t isolate much, so if you practice in a noisy environment, or the other way round really really don’t want to anybody else hear what you’re hearing, they might not be the best idea.

I have an AKG702 (the 701 with a replaceable cable) and also agree on what @Sascha Erni and @equill said. I love these headphones, very precise, not too bassy and compare well with my HiFi speakers. I can wear them for hours without fatigue.