Open Back Headphones - Final Audio
Open back headphones, one of two main types of headphone design, differ from closed back headphones by leaving the back of the ear cup open, which permits some sound to escape – creating the impression of spaciousness and a wider soundstage. By allowing more air to flow, the resonance present in closed back design headphones is reduced, which creates a more natural and spacious sound. Open back design headphones are considered to be ideal for home listening and environments where there is little ambient noise. Most models perform better with a dedicated headphone amp.
This can be at the expense of bass performance – which is notably less pronounced than in closed-design headphones. Another thing to consider with open headphones is that the design means that sound is able to escape. We have a large range of open back headphones available to purchase online, as well as numerous demonstration models in store. We are always happy to arrange a demo or offer advice. All in stock items come with free UK next day delivery as standard.
Final Audio makes high quality earphones and hi-fi headphones. They set themselves the goal of attaining the status of a mechanical wristwatch by focusing as much on design and build as on sound quality.
Final Audio was founded in 1974 by Kanemori Takai and their first product released was a groundbreaking cartridge featuring a figure eight air-core coil and a cantilever cut from a one-carat diamond. Following this, it created original products such as amps and speakers, and sold everything from the cartridge to amps and speakers as a whole system directly to the customer.
Financed by a large company, Japan Molex LLC that developed connectors, Takai helped develop Sony’s professional acoustic equipment. In 2009, they acquired a Japanese headphone and earphone factory and began the manufacture and sales of Final earphones in conjunction with the beginning of an earphone and headphone OEM business. Within 2 years, sales had began overseas focused in Europe and Asia and the first headphones under the final brand were released onto the market.
The current management team acquired the company in 2014 and Kanemori Takai transferred the business to the new CEO Mitsuru Hosoo. The Final high-end audio manufacturer and earphone/headphone design division were integrated with a revamped logo and the brand name simplified to 'Final'. This lead to the joint development of LAB I, the first earphones with a titanium housing created using a 3D printer with NTT Data Engineering.
Final Audio uses their own factory as they believe that to accomplish things not usually possible, it is neccessary to have an environment with feedback from both the design and production department as well as a facility and the tools for the trial and error process. There, they develop and manufacture the drivers used in final products, as well as assembling high-end earphones and headphones. Production staff do not just perform the tasks they are instructed to carry out; they actively make suggestions for improvements and carry out their duties with the pride of the true craftsperson.
Today, the simple brand concept remains unchanged since inception; 'The comprehensive pursuit of things that are fundamentally right.' In pursuit of this, they have actively adopted advanced technologies like 3D printers. Their unique approach to good sound quality and design has garnered much attention filling a niche both in Japan and abroad. Final Audio is not only sold at high-end audio shops, in Europe it has established a firm market in high-quality department stores and famous lifestyle shops such as Paris’ Colette.
Unlike closed back headphones, the open back design is better suited to the home environment. As they are partly open, they permit ambient sound to enter the ear cup, which may affect the overall sound in noisier environments. They are also susceptible to leaking sound, meaning that others around you will hear your music as well.
This is what gives open back headphones their distinctly natural and airy sound stage, and the reason they are often favoured over other headphones. However, it means that they are generally unsuitable for use in public spaces or when commuting, as you may disturb others due to the sound escaping from your headphones.
In purely sonic terms, open back headphones tend to offer a better sound than similarly priced closed back headphones. Bass frequencies are not emphasised, they typically offer more accuracy and neutrality and soundstage is larger. However, it is important to remember the limitations of open back headphones.
They are only really suitable for home use due to leaking sound and disturbing others around you. Most models use a circumauaral design, meaning that they fit directly over the ear, and form a seal with the side of the head, except for where the ear cup is open. This makes them slightly more comfortable than on-ear models, and thus more suitable for longer listening sessions.
Headphones tend to sound better when used with dedicated headphone amplifier. As they need more power to counteract ambient noise and the open design, these headphones are typically harder to drive than their closed back counterparts. Therefore pairing open back headphones requires a little more consideration than other types of headphones.
Just like loudspeakers, the impedance determines the relative ease of driving a pair of headphones. The higher the rating, the more power is required to effectively drive them. Headphones vary wildly in impedances, but open back headphones are typically a little harder to drive than their closed back counterparts.
