I Tried the Weirdest “Open” Headphones
Headphones. They let you hear audio without others hearing it. You put them on—boom, mission accomplished. But open-back headphones are a different breed. They allow air to pass through, meaning you can still hear your surroundings.
What Are Open-Back Headphones?
A normal pair of open-back headphones looks something like this—my daily drivers, the Sennheiser HD 650s. I use them at my desk, for editing, for work. If someone in the studio wants my attention, they don’t need to tap me on the shoulder; they can just say something, and I’ll hear them.
That’s how open-back headphones typically function. But over the past few weeks, my inbox has been flooded with emails about strange-looking open-back headphones. I was intrigued—this isn’t a common headphone type, so why were so many companies suddenly making them? Naturally, I said yes to all of them, and one by one, they started arriving. And yeah, they were just as weird as I expected.
Sony LinkBuds Open
First up, Sony LinkBuds Open. These have been around for a while, but this is the latest version. They’re open-back earbuds, and they achieve this by using a ring-shaped speaker with a hole in the middle.
The wingtip helps them stay in place, and once inserted, they sit slightly inside the ear. The hole allows ambient sound to pass through while still playing music, which creates a pretty trippy listening experience.
These were the first non-traditional open-back headphones to land in my inbox. Since their release in 2022, I’ve had time to get used to them. They work like regular earbuds—there’s an app, touch controls on the bulb, and a USB-C charging case that looks like a tiny sandwich.
From a distance, you wouldn’t even notice someone wearing them. Yet, even with them in, I could hear everything around me, as if I wasn’t wearing headphones at all. That’s a huge plus for transparency.
However, there’s a trade-off. Open-back headphones never create the same seal as closed-back ones, so they lack bass response. Fortunately, Sony’s app includes a feature where you can blind-test EQ settings and pick what sounds best. Naturally, I chose a setting with more bass to compensate.
Final verdict:
- Sound Quality: 3/5
- Transparency: 4/5
- Comfort for long listening sessions: Not the best
Bose Ultra Open
Now, things get weirder. Meet the Bose Ultra Open. At first glance, they look like regular earbuds, but when you pull them out of the case, it’s clear something is different.
Instead of sitting in your ear, they hook around the ear, with the actual speaker resting against the side of your head. The back portion contains the battery, microphone, and buttons. If you have upper ear piercings, these won’t fit properly.
The fit is super light—after a few minutes, I forgot I was wearing them. They don’t squeeze or put pressure on the ear, and they’re secure enough that I could shake my head without them flying off. For long-term comfort, these were the best.
The Bose app provides an EQ adjustment and immersive spatial audio, letting you move your head while the sound stays “fixed” in place. However, they lack multi-point Bluetooth, which is absurd given the price.
Final verdict:
- Sound Quality: 3/5
- Transparency: 5/5
- Comfort: Best in the group
Nothing Ear (2) Open
Next up, the Nothing Ear (2) Open. These look different from traditional earbuds. They feature a hook design that wraps behind the ear, leaving a noticeable air gap between the ear and the speaker.
The transparent aesthetic makes them stand out, though the white color contrasts sharply against darker skin tones. The main issue? They don’t feel secure. They move around a lot, and I always had the feeling they were about to fall off.
The on-bud controls work well—you can squeeze the stem to pause music or answer calls. The Nothing X app offers an advanced EQ with detailed frequency control, but these still leak a ton of sound.
Final verdict:
- Sound Quality: 4/5
- Transparency: 4/5
- Comfort: Least secure
NWM Open-Back Headphones
Shifting away from earbuds, these are actual headphones, possibly the most open-back design possible.
They sit lightly on the head with minimal cushioning, making them the lightest pair I’ve ever worn. The speakers don’t seal at all, meaning everything around you remains audible—it almost feels like there’s a floating speaker next to your head.
They also have a pivoting feature that tilts the drivers away from your ears. I’m not entirely sure why, but I assume it’s for quick conversations.
However, they feel cheaply built, and the lack of a proper carrying case is disappointing. Still, they’re super light and extremely transparent.
Final verdict:
- Sound Quality: 4/5
- Transparency: 5/5
- Build Quality: Feels a bit cheap
MoveEngine UM600
Finally, the MoveEngine UM600. These aren’t officially out yet, but I got my hands on an early unit. They resemble normal headphones but feature a ring design with a hole in the middle.
They aim to balance transparency and sound quality, but the problem is how the sound is projected. Unlike the NWM headphones, which point directly into your ears, these have a cavity around the ear, making sound feel muffled. The result? They actually sound worse.
There’s no app, no EQ adjustment, and the sound is just bad. They feel more like a 3D-printed prototype than a finished product.
Final verdict:
- Sound Quality: 2/5
- Transparency: 2/5
- Potential: Needs serious refinement
The Bigger Picture:
Modern headphones have already tackled transparency mode with built-in microphones that let you hear your surroundings. Some even automatically lower loud noises or function as hearing aids (like Apple’s AirPods Pro 2).
This means today’s earbuds can act as both noise-canceling headphones and open-back headphones—something none of these can do. However, transparency mode isn’t perfect. Some models introduce delay, muffled audio, or unnatural sound processing.
So if you want pure transparency, nothing beats actual open-back headphones. If transparency mode is like a VR headset, then open-back headphones are like AR glasses—they let you experience the real world, but with an added audio layer.
That’s why these products still exist. And honestly? They’re pretty fun.