open-back

comparative more open-back · superlative most open-back

1. Of headphones: only partially covering the ear, so that there is airflow to the wearer's ears.

   Sometimes, they provide warmer, more life-like sound quality, and the open-back design could be a safer way to play VR for you.

   2022 August 17, Cameron Faulkner, “Logitech's Chorus open-back headphones slide onto the Quest 2”, in The Verge, archived from the original on 28 Feb 2023

   2 more examples

   For listening in quiet, isolated environments like your home, "open-back" earphones, usually over- or on-ear, are your best bet.

   2015 July 2, Kate Murphy, “The Difference Between Listening Up and Tuning Out”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 28 Jun 2022

   If you ask any audiophile what headphone type they prefer to use for an extended listening session, I can almost guarantee they will say that open-back headphones are the better choice. Open-back headphones enable air to circulate around the ears and allow heat and sound to escape so that music sounds so much better, even for extended listening sessions. Open-back headphones just feel more natural and comfortable.

   2020 September 24, Mark Sparrow, “Sennheiser Makes Open-Back Headphones More Affordable With The Brand New HD 560S”, in Forbes, archived from the original on 01 Feb 2022

   Synonyms: open-ear, open-eared · Antonyms: closed-back