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Full-Size Headphones

Full-sized headphones have earcups that surround your ears without resting directly on the earlobes. This type of headphone is more properly called a "circumaural" (around the ear) headphone, but we don’t like using the word as we have to explain it every darn time.

Full-size headphones fall into two major categories: sealed/closed, and open. Sealed full-size headphones isolate you from the distracting noise of the outside world, but the enclosed earcup chamber can cause odd sonic resonances which degrade the sound, especially in less expensive models. Open headphones do not have a sealed chamber -- the earcups are vented to the outside world -- and thus allow you to easily hear the environment around you (provided you're not turned up too loud!) Since there is no enclosed, highly resonant earcup chamber, it becomes feasible to design a significantly better-sounding headphone using an open earcup style than one with a closed earcup design.

Because open headphones are better for general use around the home where it’s nice & quiet while sealed headphones are better for use outside (or in noisy listening environments), we’ll talk about those two types separately. Let’s start with the sealed/closed cans.

Sealed Headphones

Under $100

Great-sounding sealed headphones are not a breeze to design. Poorly manufactured sealed cans can be 'honky' or peaky-sounding, kind of like talking through a megaphone. The low-midrange and bass response can also be unnaturally emphasized or "boxy" in cheapie sealed headphones. So, you are not going to find many awesome full-sized sealed cans priced significantly under $100 bucks. In fact, we’ve really only found a few we like to talk about: the Sennheiser HD201 is one ---and it’s WAY under $100, heck it’s under $25! We quite enjoy this headphone when mated with any dedicated head-amp, and while it doesn’t seal/ isolate all that well, it does sound impressive considering how dang inexpensive it is. And although they're not quite "full-size" designs, the mid-sized beyerdynamic DT231, and Sennheiser EH250 are well worth considering when seeking excellent sealed-category headphones under $100. Moving up to the magic $100 mark is a superb sealed headphone in our humble opinion, the Sennheiser 280Pro. This workhorse sealed/closed headphone does a very good job of attenuating ambient sounds plus the earcups fold up & inward toward the headband for easy travel. They're an impressively smooth and buttery-sounding set of sealed cans... Pretty much nothing like it at the price!

Sealed Headphones, $100-$200

As we go up further in cost, the beyerdynamic 250-80 is a classic sealed headphone favorite for many. Though slightly warm and mellow-sounding, these headphones are nevertheless well-balanced and really fun to hear & to wear all day around the home or office. A somewhat similar but slightly more oversize sealed candidate (though just a tiny bit unevenly-toned in our opinion) is the Ultrasone HFI-550; it's a bit bulkier than the beyer and maybe not quite as ergonomic. We especially like all three of the above headphones for location recording, field mixing, DJ, and professional studio use as they are durable as a block of oak, offer quality sound at the pricepoint, and do a respectable job of providing good ambient noise isolation.

Sealed Headphones, $200+

As we hit the upscale $200 mark, we find the AKG K271 Studio headphone. The only major complaint we have with these cans is a modestly lean bass response, but the remaining midrange/treble audio performance of this headphone is pretty much about the best of the full-sized sealed headphone category. Therefore, heavy rock/ hiphop/ trance/ big bass lovers should probably shy away, but those who are looking for midrange liquidity and airy, silky highs from their sealed headphone will likely love them. As we go even higher up the price point ladder, we encounter a whole array of German-made Ultrasone sealed headphones. Some of the previously mentioned headphones tend to outperform Ultrasones in overall sonic accuracy and clarity, but there is definitely one thing that the Ultrasones get rippingly right and that is punchy, high-impact bass. It’s perhaps bigger than it ought to be, but it sure is a ton o' fun with some kinds of music. Out of the entire Ultrasone line, we like the Ultrasone DJ1 Pro and, especially, the HFI 700, which may just be the ultimate DJ can. Arguably, the very best full-size sealed audiophile-grade headphone could be the beyerdynamic DT770. They have an amazingly seamless, lively presentation and a full & honest sound throughout the entire frequency range. GREAT sealed headphone choice for demanding audiophiles, equally at home with an excellent home stereo system or a nice portable headphone amp!

Full-Size Open Headphones

So much for the full-size sealed/closed headphones; let’s go back down to the bottom of the price scale and discuss full-sized OPEN cans now. The only headphone that really jumps out at us at this lower pricepoint is the Sennheiser HD485. This large, lightweight 'economy' headphone is designed for soon-to-be or newcomer audiophiles who want their music right between their ears. It hits the nail squarely on the head -- for the price. These open cans have a fairly big bass response but still retain good tonal balance throughout the entire frequency range. Oh heck, even the classical longhair on a budget could potentially love these with a nice HeadRoom headphone amplifier maximizing the HD485's sonic performance! (Also, consider researching earpad headphones for some great options under $100.)

Open Headphones $100-$200

At around $125 or less, the Sennheiser HD555 and -- just over $200 -- the AKG K601 are really great headphones at their given pricepoints. The AKG K601 has taken over the roost as a nice well-priced alternative to the more expensive Sennheiser models. Sennheiser has head-dived into this wild 'n wooly mid-priced fray with the above-mentioned HD555, which is less expensive and a lot easier to power properly compared to the MUCH better-detailed but rather inefficient HD600 model. The HD555 remains a great full-size open headphone choice for starter audiophiles using portable audio players like laptop computers, MP3s, and iPods. One nice note: the AKG601 has the unique trait (for a headphone of this size) to be a pleasantly cool-on-the-head wearing experience. If you’re prone to major overheating in full-sized headphones, this may be a great choice for you.

Open Headphones, $200 and up

Enter $220-$350 bucks headphone territory and you've suddenly climbed into lovely & rarified “Top Shelf” terrain. There are a number of close contenders in this category, the Sennheiser HD600, HD595, and the aforementioned AKG K601 among them. These headphones are great with the Sennheiser HD600 and HD595 holding down the polar ends of the sonic spectrum with, respectively, slightly 'warm' and lively/quick tonal signatures. The AKG K601 maintains a punchy & dynamic sound pitched right down the middle; perhaps just a smidgeon more neutral than the Sennheisers.

Perched right at the very topmost of the heap, we place the AKG K701, Sennheiser HD650, and beyerdynamic DT880. If you’re looking for nuanced detail resolution, refined musical authority and uber-expansive dynamic range, the beyerdynamic DT880 is lightning-quick without losing hardly any midrange clarity or focused bottom-end punch in the process. The Sennheiser HD650 is a seamlessly warm, organic, sophisticated and refined-sounding can with plenty of smooth and well-detailed lushness all around. Great soundstage image too. And the AKG K701 neatly splits the difference with a punchy, supremely dynamic sound that really does all things well but offers especially amazing instrumental texture and an expansive, authentic sense of musical space with a slightly leaner, more tightly focused bass response versus the HD650. All three of these cans are truly world-class, reference-grade headphones. They do have some serious audio competition from headphones of other types -- like the Shure SE530 in-ear earphones or the custom-only Ultimate Ears UE10Pro ear canal headphones (ECHs), for example -- but in the crowded full-sized open headphone category, these three are clearly THE top shelf.

One final aside: We highly recommend headphone cable replacements / upgrades for all high-end headphones intended for seriously demanding audiophiles. High-quality aftermarket headphone cables will greatly improve the audio performance of any of these reference-grade headphones! Cardas Audio in Oregon manufactures superb Sennheiser, AKG, and beyerdynamic replacement cabling that is well-worth its rather hefty price tag!

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