How many fit
Only 10 of the 60 models checked meet every need here: “Alone in a quiet room is how I listen” and “I do not want something else to charge”.
10 models fit, out of 60 checkedPicked for one job
The best headphones for listening in a quiet room
Top pick
Sennheiser HD 600
If you listen from a chair near a headphone amplifier, Sennheiser HD 600 is the place to start. It pairs a 260 g listed weight with a detachable 3 m cable. HD 560S is the pick for a desk with a shorter cable run, and HD 490 PRO is the pick when attaching the cable to either earcup would clear your workspace.
Why it suits this job
- A quiet room in which sound leakage is fine
- Cable long enough to reach the listening chair
- The catch
- Conversations and household noise will still reach you.
- Go with Sennheiser HD 560S if
- Your source sits on the desk, and the current 1.8 m cable is enough for the shorter route.
More reasons we picked it
- An output that suits the headphone
- Comfort given your head shape and glasses
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An open, wired headphone suits a quiet room. The HD 600, HD 560S, HD 490 PRO and Edition XS are compared on cable reach, weight and your listening setup.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the headphones we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Alone in a quiet room is how I listen” and “I do not want something else to charge”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser HD 600 |
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| Sennheiser HD 560S |
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| Sennheiser HD 490 PRO |
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| HIFIMAN Edition XS |
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Decision guide
How to choose for this job
Open-back headphones are a starting point only when the room is quiet and nobody nearby needs silence. After that, match cable reach and the source connection.
Picking open headphones is not a decision about noise control
Sound gets in from outside and playback leaks out with the open designs here. A television in the same room can undo the reason you bought a listening headphone. If someone else is working next to you, move to a closed model such as HD 620S instead of expecting an open headphone to deliver isolation it was never designed for.
Cable length can dictate where you sit
HD 600 comes with 3 m of cable, whereas the current HD 560S and standard HD 490 PRO packages have 1.8 m. Edition XS gives you 1.5 m. A source on a side table may work with all four. A source across the room might not. Measure the path the cable will take around furniture and not only the straight-line distance to your chair.
Keep physical fit apart from any sound-quality ranking
Both HD 600 and HD 490 PRO are listed at 260 g, and Edition XS at 405 g. That makes Edition XS 145 g heavier, or 55.8% more than 260 g. Comfort also depends on headband shape and clamping. Its planar driver is a reason to audition it and not proof that it will sound better to you. In the same way, the 300 ohms on the HD 600 doesn’t tell you by itself which amplifier to buy.
What this page can’t tell you
- Listening to the headphones and trying their fit cannot be replaced by these recommendations.
- The endpoints of a manufacturer frequency range say nothing definite about tonal accuracy, detail or preference.
4 options
The top pick and the alternatives
Sennheiser, HD 600
HD 600
A wired open-back pair for a listening spot that stays put. Its 3 m cable stretches to a nearby hi-fi system, so the amp does not have to sit on your lap.
Top pick ifSitting quietly in a chair close to a headphone amp
Key facts
- Without a battery or wireless radio, the manufacturer lists 260 g.
- A detachable cable of 3 m is supplied.
The catch
Conversations and household noise will still reach you.
Sennheiser, HD 560S
HD 560S
An open, wired pair meant for a quiet desk, with a 3.5 mm plug and a cable you can replace. Leave it at home if other people sit nearby.
Pick this instead ifYour source sits on the desk, and the current 1.8 m cable is enough for the shorter route.
Key facts
- A 1.8 m cable and a 6.3 mm adapter are what the current US package lists.
- A 120-ohm dynamic driver is what the manufacturer specifies.
The catch
Music leaks out of open cups, and room noise gets in.
Sennheiser, HD 490 PRO
HD 490 PRO
This studio-focused open-back pair lets you plug the cable into either earcup and includes two sets of pads. Choose whichever side keeps the cable away from your mouse hand.
Pick this instead ifYou like being able to attach the cable on either side, and two supplied pad sets, for a working desk.
Key facts
- A 1.8 m cable comes with the standard HD 490 PRO.
- Without the cable, the weight is 260 g, and the impedance is 130 ohms.
The catch
Beside a live vocal microphone, open cups are a poor choice.
HIFIMAN, Edition XS
Edition XS
This full-size open planar headphone has a detachable 1.5 m cable. Expect to sit somewhere quiet, and try the fit before you commit to a pair that weighs 405 g.
Pick this instead ifYou are set on trying a planar headphone and can accept its 405 g weight and 1.5 m lead.
Key facts
- Listed at 405 g with an 18-ohm impedance, per the manufacturer.
- A 1.5 m cable, with a 3.5 mm plug and a 6.35 mm adapter, is included according to the manual.
The catch
Its 405 g outweighs the wired Sennheiser models here.
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Top pick for this job
Sennheiser HD 600
A quiet room in which sound leakage is fine
See price & reviews on AmazonPick this instead if
Sennheiser HD 560S
Your source sits on the desk, and the current 1.8 m cable is enough for the shorter route.
See price & reviews on AmazonWe may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money