closedback

Closed-back, or closed-back headphones, refer to a design in which the driver is housed inside a rigid, sealed enclosure within the earcup. This construction minimizes sound leakage to the outside and provides a degree of passive noise isolation by blocking external ambient sound. The term is sometimes written as closedback or closed back in product listings, and it is commonly used to distinguish this design from open-back headphones, which have perforated enclosures that allow sound to radiate both inward and outward.

Construction and characteristics are driven by the sealed internal volume and damping materials used inside the cup. The sealed environment tends to produce stronger, more controlled bass and reduced bleed, making closed-back models popular for studio monitoring, live sound applications, and use in noisy environments where privacy or isolation is important. However, the enclosure can limit soundstage width and imaging compared with open-back designs, and some users may experience early driver resonances if the damping is not well implemented.

Applications and examples: Closed-back headphones are widely used in professional and consumer contexts, including recording studios, field work, and commuting. They come in various driver types, including dynamic and planar magnetic designs. Well-known models include the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro, Sennheiser HD 280 Pro, Sony MDR-7506, and Audio-Technica ATH-M50x, among others. Some models employ slight venting or selective damping to balance isolation with a more spacious sound.