Buying Guide
The Best Open-Back Gaming Headsets
Three headsets ranked on driver size and connection; the H6Pro Open is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Open-back headsets give a wider soundstage, which helps place sounds in games. Every pick is open-back with a mic, ordered from the lowest price.
The order reflects driver size, connection and design from maker specifications; a missing driver size is flagged, not filled in rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
EPOS H6Pro Open Acoustic
The lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Our take Check price for EPOS H6Pro Open Acoustic (opens in a new tab)
Included Microphone
Sony INZONE H6 Air Open-Back
An included microphone.
Best for: Buyers who want an included microphone.
Our take Check price for Sony INZONE H6 Air Open-Back (opens in a new tab)
Largest Drivers
ASUS ROG Kithara Planar Magnetic Gaming Headphones
The largest driver size here (100mm).
Best for: Players who favour a fuller low end.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Kithara Planar Magnetic Gaming Headphones (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build. | Check price for EPOS H6Pro Open Acoustic (opens in a new tab) |
| An included microphone. | Buyers who want an included microphone. | Check price for Sony INZONE H6 Air Open-Back (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest driver size here (100mm). | Players who favour a fuller low end. | Check price for ASUS ROG Kithara Planar Magnetic Gaming Headphones (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
EPOS H6Pro Open Acoustic on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
EPOS's H6Pro Open is an open acoustic gaming headset with a slim boom mic that detaches.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: open-back leaks sound both ways.
Why we like it
It pairs an open soundstage with a built-in mic. You get a wired 3.5mm connection here, which sets it apart from the ROG Kithara and its a wired connection. It shares an open-back design with the INZONE H6 Air; the ROG Kithara goes with an open-back planar magnetic design.
No other pick in this guide offers a detachable boom microphone; compare the INZONE H6 Air, which has an included microphone. You also get a detachable mic for use with a separate microphone. A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter.
It cost the least of the 3 picks at the time of writing, with the INZONE H6 Air the next step up. There is no published driver size figure, whereas the ROG Kithara comes in at 100mm.
Key dimensions & specs
- Connection: Wired 3.5mm
- Design: Open-back
- Microphone: Detachable boom
Pros
- No charging or pairing needed
- Open-back for a wider soundstage
- Open acoustic design
- Slimmer boom mic
Cons
- Open-back leaks sound both ways
- No published driver size
Included Microphone2 of 3
Sony INZONE H6 Air Open-Back on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The INZONE H6 Air is the lightest headset here at 199g and the only open-back gaming headset in the group.
Best for
- Buyers who want an included microphone.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when open-back leaks sound both way is a problem.
Why we like it
Sony adapted its drivers from studio monitor headphones and adds a custom equalizer for RPG and adventure games. Like the ROG Kithara, it has a wired connection, while the H6Pro Open uses a wired 3.5mm connection. An included microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the ROG Kithara uses an on-cable MEMS boom mic microphone.
Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. Another plus is light 199g build. It also brings no charging or pairing needed. Its price falls between the H6Pro Open and the ROG Kithara, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Driver size: 40mm
- Weight: 199g
- Connection: Wired
- Design: Open-back
- Microphone: Included
Pros
- Light 199g build
- No charging or pairing needed
- Open-back for a wider soundstage
- Drivers adapted from studio monitor headphones
Cons
- Open-back leaks sound both ways
- Costs more than the H6Pro Open at the time of writing
Largest Drivers3 of 3
ASUS ROG Kithara Planar Magnetic Gaming Headphones on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the ROG Kithara brings to the table is 100mm HIFIMAN planar drivers tuned by ROG, plus a full-band MEMS boom microphone.
Best for
- Players who favour a fuller low end.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: open-back leaks sound both ways.
Why we like it
It shares a wired connection with the INZONE H6 Air; the H6Pro Open goes with a wired 3.5mm connection. An open-back planar magnetic design is unique to it among these picks, while the INZONE H6 Air uses an open-back design. No other pick in this guide offers an on-cable MEMS boom mic microphone; compare the H6Pro Open, which has a detachable boom microphone.
Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. Only the INZONE H6 Air came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- Driver size: 100mm
- Connection: Wired
- Design: Open-back planar magnetic
- Microphone: On-cable MEMS boom mic
Pros
- 100mm drivers
- No charging or pairing needed
- Open-back for a wider soundstage
- 100mm HIFIMAN planar drivers tuned by ROG
Cons
- Open-back leaks sound both ways
- Costs more than the H6Pro Open at the time of writing
How We Chose These Open-Back Gaming Headsets
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up three headsets on driver size, connection, design and microphone, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the H6Pro Open to the ROG Kithara, state connection, design and microphone.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The H6Pro Open gives no driver size.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the H6Pro Open ($50 to $100) to the ROG Kithara ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in an Open-Back Gaming Headset
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Driver size across these picks
Here driver size runs from 40mm on the INZONE H6 Air to 100mm on the ROG Kithara. Start with the ROG Kithara if driver size decides it. No figure for the H6Pro Open.
Design
The H6Pro Open and the INZONE H6 Air list open-back; the ROG Kithara lists open-back planar magnetic. Rule out the mismatches before looking at price.
Microphone
The H6Pro Open lists detachable boom; the INZONE H6 Air lists Included; the ROG Kithara lists On-cable MEMS boom mic. Rule out the mismatches before looking at price.
Fit and compatibility
A 3.5mm plug means it works with a controller or front-panel jack; on PC, a separate mic and headphone jack may need a splitter. Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise.
Extras that separate them
The H6Pro Open: a slimmer boom mic. The INZONE H6 Air: a custom RPG and adventure equalizer. The ROG Kithara: a full-band MEMS boom microphone.
Virtual surround is software
7.1 and spatial audio labels usually describe software processing, not extra drivers. They can help locate sounds in some games and hurt music in others.
Make sure you can switch it off in the headset's software.
How to Choose an Open-Back Gaming Headset
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build | H6Pro Open | The lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want an included microphone | INZONE H6 Air | An included microphone |
| Players who favour a fuller low end | ROG Kithara | The largest driver size here (100mm) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ROG Kithara leads on driver size at 100mm, ahead of the INZONE H6 Air at 40mm. "Not listed" means the maker leaves that figure out.
| Headset | Driver size | Connection | Design | Microphone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H6Pro Open | Not listed | Wired 3.5mm | Open-back | Detachable boom |
| INZONE H6 Air | 40mm | Wired | Open-back | Included |
| ROG Kithara | 100mm | Wired | Open-back planar magnetic | On-cable MEMS boom mic |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The H6Pro Open was the lowest-priced pick and the ROG Kithara the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Headsets |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | H6Pro Open |
| About $150 to $250 | INZONE H6 Air |
| About $250 to $500 | ROG Kithara |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ROG Kithara ahead of the INZONE H6 Air on driver size?
The ROG Kithara leads at 100mm, with the INZONE H6 Air at 40mm. The H6Pro Open doesn't state a figure, so it sits outside this comparison.
Why is the ROG Kithara our Largest Drivers pick?
It earns the label for the largest driver size here (100mm). It suits players who favour a fuller low end.
Do the H6Pro Open and the INZONE H6 Air differ on connection?
The H6Pro Open uses Wired 3.5mm; the INZONE H6 Air and the ROG Kithara use Wired.
Will the ROG Kithara work with my setup?
Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Largest Drivers pick.
What extras do the H6Pro Open and the INZONE H6 Air include?
The H6Pro Open: an open acoustic design. The INZONE H6 Air: drivers adapted from studio monitor headphones. The ROG Kithara: 100mm HIFIMAN planar drivers tuned by ROG.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the H6Pro Open, chosen for the lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing. Look at the INZONE H6 Air for an included microphone if those matter more to you.
Open-backs leak sound both ways, so they suit quiet rooms.