Open Back Headphones - Focal JM Labs
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.
For over 30 years, Focal designed and built hi-fi speakers and drivers that wowed music lovers and critics alike and set new standards for class performance. Focal combines passion, tradition and technology for ultimate listening.
Focal JM Labs was founded in the 1970’s by Jacques Mahul, a trained engineer and specialist in speaker drivers (hence the "JM" part of the brand name being his initials). Jacques started manufacturing drivers only under the "Focal" brand and thanks to their innovative design they were incredibly popular, and so he created the "JM Lab" brand to create his own range of loudspeakers to go with the drivers.
The brand revolutionised the bookshelf speaker segment of the market with the release of the famous DB13 which featured a dual voice coil that offered a similar level of sound and bass response as larger speakers.
From 1990 onward, Focal JM Lab enjoyed swift growth in both home audio, car audio, studio professional audio and headphone markets, and soon became France's leading loudspeaker brand. The 1990s also saw the brand establish itself overseas, especially in the rest of Europe, the Far East and North America - and now 70% of Focal speakers are sold to international owners.
In 2011, driven and united by their passion for exceptional sound quality Focal and Naim Audio merged, creating a new European leader in audio which promises to deliver exceptional products
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.
