Buying Guide
The Best Open-Back Gaming Headsets
Four headsets ranked on driver size and connection, where the ROG Kithara has the largest driver size; the H6Pro Open is the cheapest route in.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read4 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
Which of the 4 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
EPOS H6Pro Open AcousticThe lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the INZONE H6 Air.
Check price for EPOS H6Pro Open Acoustic on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Included Microphone
Sony INZONE H6 Air Open-BackAn included microphone.
Best for: Buyers who want an included microphone.
Check price for Sony INZONE H6 Air Open-Back on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Largest Drivers
ASUS ROG Kithara Planar Magnetic Gaming HeadphonesThe largest driver size here (100mm).
Best for: Players who favour a fuller low end.
Check price for ASUS ROG Kithara Planar Magnetic Gaming Headphones on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
beyerdynamic MMX 330 ProThe top of this price range, adding open-back staging.
Best for: Spending more than the ROG Kithara costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Check price for beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these headsets at the time of writing. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the INZONE H6 Air. | Check price for EPOS H6Pro Open Acoustic on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| An included microphone. | Buyers who want an included microphone. | Check price for Sony INZONE H6 Air Open-Back on Amazon (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 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding open-back staging. | Spending more than the ROG Kithara costs for the fullest feature set in this group. | Check price for beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
EPOS H6Pro Open Acoustic
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 than into the INZONE H6 Air.
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. It shares a wired 3.5mm connection with the MMX 330 Pro; the ROG Kithara goes with a wired connection. It shares an open-back design with the INZONE H6 Air and MMX 330 Pro; the ROG Kithara goes with an open-back planar magnetic design.
No other pick in this guide offers a detachable boom microphone; compare the MMX 330 Pro, which has a condenser 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.
Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. It cost the least of the 4 picks at the time of writing, with the INZONE H6 Air the next step up.
Key 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
The catch
There is no published driver size figure, whereas the ROG Kithara comes in at 100mm.
Included Microphone2 of 4
Sony INZONE H6 Air Open-Back
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 ways 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. Its 40mm driver size is the smallest in this group; the ROG Kithara leads at 100mm. Like the ROG Kithara, it has a wired connection, while the H6Pro Open uses a wired 3.5mm connection.
Like the H6Pro Open and MMX 330 Pro, it has an open-back design, while the ROG Kithara uses an open-back planar magnetic design. An included microphone is unique to it among these picks, while the H6Pro Open uses a detachable boom microphone. Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. Its price falls between the H6Pro Open and the ROG Kithara, based on our last check.
Key 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
- Driver size trails the ROG Kithara (100mm)
- Costs more than the H6Pro Open at the time of writing
The catch
If driver size is your priority, the ROG Kithara (100mm) is the stronger choice.
Largest Drivers3 of 4
ASUS ROG Kithara Planar Magnetic Gaming Headphones
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
The headband has eight adjustment levels with a metal frame and hinges, extra ear pads come in the box, and the mic covers 20Hz to 20kHz. Plugs include 4.4mm balanced, 3.5mm and 6.3mm, plus a USB-C adapter. On driver size it leads this guide at 100mm, ahead of the MMX 330 Pro (45mm).
It shares a wired connection with the INZONE H6 Air; the MMX 330 Pro 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 MMX 330 Pro, which has a condenser microphone.
Because it is open-back, other people in the room will hear it, and it will not block outside noise. It was priced above the INZONE H6 Air and below the MMX 330 Pro at the time of writing.
Key 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
Premium Pick4 of 4
beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro
The MMX 330 Pro stands out for open-back staging, and it adds a plug-in design with no software needed.
Best for
- Spending more than the ROG Kithara costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: open-back leaks sound both ways.
Why we like it
It also offers a 45mm driver size. Its 45mm driver size ranks second of 3 here, behind the ROG Kithara (100mm) and ahead of the INZONE H6 Air (40mm). Like the H6Pro Open, it has a wired 3.5mm connection, while the INZONE H6 Air uses a wired connection.
Like the H6Pro Open and INZONE H6 Air, it has an open-back design, while the ROG Kithara uses an open-back planar magnetic design. You get a condenser microphone here, which sets it apart from the INZONE H6 Air and its an included 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 was the highest-priced of the 4 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the ROG Kithara and the rest.
Key specs
- Driver size
- 45mm
- Connection
- Wired 3.5mm
- Design
- Open-back
- Microphone
- Condenser
Pros
- No charging or pairing needed
- Open-back for a wider soundstage
- Open-back staging
- Plug-in design with no software needed
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
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- What we compared
- We lined up four headsets on driver size, connection, design and microphone, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and driver size is missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the H6Pro Open to the MMX 330 Pro, 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 MMX 330 Pro ($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
Across these 3 picks driver size spans 40mm (the INZONE H6 Air) to 100mm (the ROG Kithara). If driver size is your first filter, the ROG Kithara sets the ceiling at 100mm. The H6Pro Open gives no driver size figure, so 3 of 4 picks are compared here.
Design
The H6Pro Open, the INZONE H6 Air and the MMX 330 Pro list open-back; the ROG Kithara lists open-back planar magnetic. Sort out design before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 3 and 1.
Headphones on a red stand next to an amplifier and bookshelf speakers Microphone
The H6Pro Open lists detachable boom; the INZONE H6 Air lists Included; the ROG Kithara lists On-cable MEMS boom mic; the MMX 330 Pro lists Condenser. Sort out microphone before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 1, 1, 1 and 1.
Extras that separate them
The INZONE H6 Air: a custom RPG and adventure equalizer. The ROG Kithara: a full-band MEMS boom microphone. The MMX 330 Pro: a plug-in design with no software needed.
Open-back headphones on a stand beside a headphone amplifier Where your budget lands
$50 to $100 buys the H6Pro Open; $150 to $250 buys the INZONE H6 Air; $250 to $500 buys the ROG Kithara and the MMX 330 Pro at our last check.
How to Choose an Open-Back Gaming Headset
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the INZONE H6 Air | 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) |
| Spending more than the ROG Kithara costs for the fullest feature set in this group | MMX 330 Pro | The top of this price range, adding open-back staging |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ROG Kithara leads on driver size at 100mm, ahead of the MMX 330 Pro at 45mm. "Not listed" marks driver size where the H6Pro Open leaves the 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 |
| MMX 330 Pro | 45mm | Wired 3.5mm | Open-back | Condenser |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The H6Pro Open was the lowest-priced pick ($50 to $100) and the MMX 330 Pro the highest ($250 to $500) 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, MMX 330 Pro |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ROG Kithara ahead of the MMX 330 Pro on driver size?
The ROG Kithara leads at 100mm, with the MMX 330 Pro at 45mm. The INZONE H6 Air closes the ranking at 40mm. No driver size figure is published for the H6Pro Open, which leaves 3 of 4 picks ranked here.
Why is the ROG Kithara our Largest Drivers pick?
The label rests on the largest driver size here (100mm). On driver size it leads the MMX 330 Pro, 100mm against 45mm, a 122% margin. The H6Pro Open, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who favours a fuller low end.
Do the H6Pro Open and the INZONE H6 Air differ on connection?
The H6Pro Open and the MMX 330 Pro use Wired 3.5mm; the INZONE H6 Air and the ROG Kithara use Wired.
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.
Who should choose the INZONE H6 Air?
The INZONE H6 Air carries our Included Microphone label for an included microphone. It ranks second of 4 here and sat in the $150 to $250 tier at our last price check; it suits anyone who wants an included microphone.
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 and the MMX 330 Pro for the top of this price range, adding open-back staging if those matter more to you.
Open-backs leak sound both ways, so they suit quiet rooms.
Related Guides
- Related guideThe Best Gaming Headsets Right Now
- Related guideThe Best Wireless Gaming Headsets Now
- Related guideThe Best Budget Gaming Headsets Under $50
- Lower budgetThe Best Cheap Gaming Headsets
- Similar guideThe Best Open-Back Gaming Headsets With Mics
- ExplainerHow to Choose a PC Headset
- ExplainerHeadset connection types for PC, PS5 and Xbox
- Also see: microphonesUSB vs XLR microphones: what each needs and what each gives you
- Similar guideThe Best Headsets for a Gaming PC
- Topic hubAll headsets and headphones guides
About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
View all articles