open-back

open-back (comparative more open-back, superlative most open-back)

1. Of headphones: only partially covering the ear, so that there is airflow to the wearer's ears.

   Synonyms: open-ear, open-eared

   Antonym: closed-back

   • 2015 July 2, Kate Murphy, “The Difference Between Listening Up and Tuning Out”, in The New York Times‎, archived from the original on 2022-06-28:

     For listening in quiet, isolated environments like your home, "open-back" earphones, usually over- or on-ear, are your best bet.

   • 2020 September 24, Mark Sparrow, “Sennheiser Makes Open-Back Headphones More Affordable With The Brand New HD 560S”, in Forbes‎, archived from the original on 2022-02-01:

     If you ask any audiophile what headphone type they prefer to use for an extended listening session, I can almost guarantee they will say that open-back headphones are the better choice. Open-back headphones enable air to circulate around the ears and allow heat and sound to escape so that music sounds so much better, even for extended listening sessions. Open-back headphones just feel more natural and comfortable.

   • 2022 August 17, Cameron Faulkner, “Logitech's Chorus open-back headphones slide onto the Quest 2”, in The Verge‎, archived from the original on 2023-02-28:

     Sometimes, they provide warmer, more life-like sound quality, and the open-back design could be a safer way to play VR for you.