[ilovetaylors]

I know the differences between close back and semi back....
 
close back sound won't leak unlike a semi back...
 
but what are the pro's and cons? 
 
is it true that semi back sounds better? is that why people are against it?
 
(some people swear by semi's over closed) 
 
do I need a headphone amp to play my music on the go? 

 

[OrionPax]

Closed back headphones don't leak any sound out, that is true. But my big problem with them is that it feels like they compress the sound, or at least the audio becomes compressed in order to be more noise cancelling. Open back headphones have this (for a lack of a better term) open, airy quality to them that allows for the drivers to produce quality music without a sense of compression. For a lot of people, open headphones are by-far superior because they sound better due to their airy, uncompressed, full bodied sound.
 
As for the headphone amp question, it is going to depend on the amp, some headphones have a higher impedance than others and require an amp, where some headphones may only sound slightly better if used with an amp. The HD 555s (open back) are able to be driven by just an ipod, but with the addition of an amp, they have a better sound quality. 

 

[ilovetaylors]

do people wear open back headphones on the trains? 
 
seems like it would annoy alot of people...

 

[LDme]

i prefer semi back.
they have more air as usual, bass is more "right" & first of all i can hear a little bit what is going on around me

 

[meltie]

 
Quote:

do people wear open back headphones on the trains? 
 
seems like it would annoy alot of people...

Some do, but it is clearly impolite and very annoying.