Help explain the differences between Open/Closed Headphones and why you prefer one over the other?

[AdamG]

I’m not entirely new to headphones. However, there seems to be quite a few Headphone aficionados/experts here at ASR and I am really interested in the conversation about this topic. I am currently shopping for a new set of cans and I am looking for input about how to filter through the massive list of available cans.

I do have significant hearing loss. In both ears, but much more on one side. Also loath cans that get hot and sweaty. Mostly intend to use these at home alone. Music is one of the very few activities left that I am able to enjoy. Much like everyone else, I want the best for nothing . Don’t really have a budget but for conversation sake want to focus on Cans below a grand.

Thank you all kindly for your input and suggestions.

 

[Aerith Gainsborough]

I find closed cans to be great when out and about but at home I can't stand them. I hate not being able to hear my own voice properly when talking in teamspeak etc. during online gaming and in general I dislike being unable to hear what happens in my room.

Since I live alone, sound leakage is not an issue.

 

[highpurityusbcable]

Something tells me that custom in-ear monitors will probably help you to perceive the sound better, especially considering your hearing loss. Better seal, less diffusion.

 

[devopsprodude]

From what I understand, open cans have better soundstage, but at the cost of bass. Headphones are an exercise in compromise. There are no perfect headphones at any price. So you choose the things you really want, like comfort, soundstage, and overall sound quality, find the headphones at your budget that best meet your requirements and live with the things it doesn't do as well. For me, the Hifiman Sundara headphones fit the stated requirements, and while the bass isn't the best, with EQ it's still pretty frickin' good.

 

[Vini darko]

Closed cans seal out outside noise but have the sea shell effect. Open cans let in the majority of outside noise but have way less sea shell effect.

 

[Cahudson42]

With your hearing loss, it may be just as important to have PEQ capability with your new cans. Personally, I might start with a less expensive set of headphones if necessary, in order to have PEQ for them..

If a PC is going to be your source, then a free software solution will be available. If not, it will need to be included in your DAC/amp string. The RME ADI-2 is unfortunately expensive, but well thought of around here. So is the $110 Qudelix 5K. While no ADI-2, the Qudelix, particularly when headphones use it's 2.5mm balanced output, is sufficient for many HP. If not, you can add a. $100 Heresy or other amp..

I like open style HP. Just don't feel as hot and sticky to me as my closed K371.

Maybe start with a modest Planar - learn what you like and dislike, adjusting with PEQ, then you will be in a knowledgeable position to upgrade..

Maybe an HE400i (2016) for about $180.. Or a step up - the $350 Sundara.

 

[AdamG]

With your hearing loss, it may be just as important to have PEQ capability with your new cans. Personally, I might start with a less expensive set of headphones if necessary, in order to have PEQ for them..

If a PC is going to be your source, then a free software solution will be available. If not, it will need to be included in your DAC/amp string. The RME ADI-2 is unfortunately expensive, but well thought of around here. So is the $110 Qudelix 5K. While no ADI-2, the Qudelix, particularly when headphones use it's 2.5mm balanced output, is sufficient for many HP. If not, you can add a. $100 Heresy or other amp..

I like open style HP. Just don't feel as hot and sticky to me as my closed K371.

Maybe start with a modest Planar - learn what you like and dislike, adjusting with PEQ, then you will be in a knowledgeable position to upgrade..

Maybe an HE400i (2016) for about $180.. Or a step up - the $350 Sundara.

To be honest, I have zero knowledge about EQing headphones? I don’t use a laptop to listen. I use an IPad Pro with dongle DAC/Amp and never figured out how to do EQ with an iPad. I stream 100% of my music. Days of loading CD’s are behind me. Slightly mobility impaired. Could add mentally impaired to that! Thank you very much for your reply.

Thanks to everyone for replying. Am in absorb mode….Danger Will Robinson!!!

 

[devopsprodude]

To be honest, I have zero knowledge about EQing headphones? I don’t use a laptop to listen. I use an IPad Pro with dongle DAC/Amp and never figured out how to do EQ with an iPad. I stream 100% of my music. Days of loading CD’s are behind me. Slightly mobility impaired. Could add mentally impaired to that! Thank you very much for your reply.

Thanks to everyone for replying. Am in absorb mode….Danger Will Robinson!!!

You pretty much need an outboard hardware solution to EQ iOS/iPadOS devices, since Apple doesn't allow device level EQ apps.

https://www.amazon.com/EarStudio-ES100-24bit-High-Resolution-Bluetooth-Unbalanced/dp/B078H4YD2L? is one option

 

[Sukie]

For me it's a open headphone. I don't have substantial hearing loss, but do have issues with my eustachian tubes and sinuses - this can lead to funny sensations when using headphones.

I find equalising, along with crossfeed, to be extremely useful in achieving the sound that I want. Roon takes care of everything for me, but it's not an easy thing to set up.

 

[Blake Klondike]

For me it's a open headphone. I don't have substantial hearing loss, but do have issues with my eustachian tubes and sinuses - this can lead to funny sensations when using headphones.

I find equalising, along with crossfeed, to be extremely useful in achieving the sound that I want. Roon takes care of everything for me, but it's not an easy thing to set up.

I have a headroom amp with crossfeed but can't hear a difference when it is on-- what is the advantage to your ears?

 

[Blake Klondike]

+1 for open-back headphones. I find the bass to be overwhelming in closed-back phones, whether they cost $100 or $4000.

 

[Sukie]

I have a headroom amp with crossfeed but can't hear a difference when it is on-- what is the advantage to your ears?

It's hard to explain, other threads on here might explain things better than I can. For me it helps create a balance between left and right channels. Without crossfeed I can feel different pressures/sensations on each channel. Crossfeed, by definition, mitigates against this. I do need to increase the overall volume to overcome a slight "muddiness" when using crossfeed.

On the specifics of your amp, I don't know what the settings/configuration are. With Roon I find the Chu Moy setting suits my tastes.

 

[AdamG]

You pretty much need an outboard hardware solution to EQ iOS/iPadOS devices, since Apple doesn't allow device level EQ apps.

https://www.amazon.com/EarStudio-ES100-24bit-High-Resolution-Bluetooth-Unbalanced/dp/B078H4YD2L? is one option

devopsprodude,

Thanks for the tip. I did not know this existed. Can this device work as a PEQ device for any music streaming service? I use mostly Qobuz, Amazon and tidal. Yes I have accounts for each. Tidal gives Retired Military a big 40% discount so that helps. Thanks again for your help.

 

[devopsprodude]

devopsprodude,

Thanks for the tip. I did not know this existed. Can this device work as a PEQ device for any music streaming service? I use mostly Qobuz, Amazon and tidal. Yes I have accounts for each. Tidal gives Retired Military a big 40% discount so that helps. Thanks again for your help.

I found it via the AutoEQ pages. According to this https://hometheaterreview.com/earstudio-es100mk2-wireless-headphone-amplifier-and-dac-reviewed/ it works with Tidal, but that review is the sort of awful BS that ASR is fighting against, so fair warning. From the Amazon page it looks like you may be limited to 16 bit audio.

 

[AdamG]

I found it via the AutoEQ pages. According to this https://hometheaterreview.com/earstudio-es100mk2-wireless-headphone-amplifier-and-dac-reviewed/ it works with Tidal, but that review is the sort of awful BS that ASR is fighting against, so fair warning. From the Amazon page it looks like you may be limited to 16 bit audio.

Ah excellent catch and warning. Why is this so damned complicated? Everything Audiophile is just so exhausting to get your brain around. But still learning. The Sennheiser hd 650 looks like a well reviewed set. Now to find a DAC/Amp that can be loaded with Amir’s EQ? Or enable some level of eq.

 

[Jimbob54]

Ah excellent catch and warning. Why is this so damned complicated? Everything Audiophile is just so exhausting to get your brain around. But still learning. The Sennheiser hd 650 looks like a well reviewed set. Now to find a DAC/Amp that can be loaded with Amir’s EQ? Or enable some level of eq.

You could think about the qudelix https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...bluetooth-dac-headphone-amp.17386/post-563178

It's Bluetooth so connectivity with iOS shouldn't be a problem (if you don't mind Bluetooth of course) and has a 10 band equaliser. See amir's listening comments on the HD650.

PS, how do you overcome the imbalance in your hearing? It's possible though I haven't looked that the qudelix might allow some l/r fine tuning.

 

[solderdude]

I have heard excellent and well extended sound from both closed and open headphones.
Some open headphones can sound 'hollow' and 'closed in' while some closed headphones can sound very 'open' without a hint of 'closed-in' sound.

It is much more difficult to make a good sounding closed headphone than it is to make a good sounding open headphone.

Closed headphones: when you want to keep outside noises out. When you don't want others to be bothered by music you play.
Open headphones: when you want to be aware of outside noises. When you don't mind others can hear what you are playing.

You can use EQ for both types of headphones.
Open and closed headphones can be equally 'warm' on the ears. Mostly a pad issue. Cloth or velour pads can be less 'sticky/sweaty'.

 

[Patrick1958]

PS, how do you overcome the imbalance in your hearing? It's possible though I haven't looked that the qudelix might allow some l/r fine tuning.

The trick here is two separate equalizers.
Had a bacterial meningitis back in 2004 and left with damage to my hearing on the right side. Some years ago went to a hearing/ear specialist for measuring the damage to my right ear, this was plotted in a frequency chart.
In JRiver there are two PEQs. One is used to compensate for my right hearing, the second one for headphone corrections. Works wonderful.
This combined with subtle crossfeed made music back enjoyable for me.

 

[Jimbob54]

The trick here is two separate equalizers.
Had a bacterial meningitis back in 2004 and left with damage to my hearing on the right side. Some years ago went to a hearing/ear specialist for measuring the damage to my right ear, this was plotted in a frequency chart.
In JRiver there are two PEQs. One is used to compensate for my right hearing, the second one for headphone corrections. Works wonderful.
This combined with subtle crossfeed made music back enjoyable for me.

Ah- got you. I have (undiagnosed) just enough loss in my right to mean everything sounds ever so slightly off to the left in headphones (multiple sets, so not a driver imbalance) but I use Roon and have added a very small balance adjustment in their DSP, as well as the overall tonal EQ and it works a treat. Your Jriver will be very similar. Good stuff. I can do similar on my (android) phone using dongle DACs and USB audio player pro app which has similar EQ functionality.

 

[Aerith Gainsborough]

The trick here is two separate equalizers.
Had a bacterial meningitis back in 2004 and left with damage to my hearing on the right side. Some years ago went to a hearing/ear specialist for measuring the damage to my right ear, this was plotted in a frequency chart.

Hm... this sounds interesting.
My ears have varying sensitivity too (one can hear the fridge, the other cannot).
Maybe I have a look into this, once this whole Covid madness subsides.