Best Closed-Back Headphones
Top closed-back headphones ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Sony MDR-7506
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Industry-standard for decades
- Foldable portable design
- Replaceable ear pads and cable
Cons
- Non-removable coiled cable
- Ear pads deteriorate and flake
Don't buy this if…
- The stock pleather ear pads are known to flake and deteriorate after 1-2 years and should be replaced with aftermarket pads.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Three detachable cables included
- 90-degree swiveling ear cups
- Widely acclaimed sound quality
Cons
- Clamping force can be tight initially
- Soundstage is narrow for mixing
Don't buy this if…
- New units have strong clamping force that can cause discomfort and may need stretching over a box for a few days to loosen.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Exceptional comfort with velour pads
- Excellent passive noise isolation
- Made in Germany quality
Cons
- Non-detachable cable
- Treble peak can be sharp
Don't buy this if…
- The signature Beyerdynamic treble peak around 8kHz can sound harsh with sibilant recordings or for treble-sensitive listeners.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- 32dB passive noise attenuation
- Collapsible and portable
- Very affordable professional option
Cons
- Sound is functional not exciting
- Earpads can cause heat buildup
Don't buy this if…
- The tight clamping force needed for 32dB isolation can cause jaw fatigue during extended recording sessions.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Stunning walnut wood construction
- Warm musical sound signature
- Self-adjusting headband comfort
Cons
- Bass is boosted and warm
- Wood may not survive drops
Don't buy this if…
- The real walnut wood ear cups are beautiful but fragile and should be stored in the included hard case to prevent damage.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Scientifically tuned Harman curve
- Foldable portable design
- Detachable cable included
Cons
- Plastic build feels less premium
- Headband padding is thin
Don't buy this if…
- The thin headband padding can create a pressure point on the top of the head during listening sessions over two hours.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Accurate studio monitoring
- Detachable cable design
- Improved comfort over predecessor
Cons
- Bass-light compared to consumer cans
- Build is mostly plastic
Don't buy this if…
- These are tuned flat for studio monitoring so bass-heavy music lovers may find the low end underwhelming compared to consumer headphones.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Portable folding planar magnetic
- Tuning filter customization system
- NiTinol memory headband
Cons
- Very premium price point
- Requires quality amplification
Don't buy this if…
- The included tuning filters dramatically change the sound signature so experiment with all options before settling on your preference.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
Change Log
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