Sennheiser makes my pick among open back headphones with microphone for exercise-adjacent home listening, thanks to its light frame and two cable options.
OneOdio is the runner-up if you want velour pads and included cable choices, but its 250-ohm impedance calls for an amplifier.
open back headphones with microphone at a Glance
• Sennheiser HD 400 — best for long home-studio sessions; pick this if you value a lightweight design, angled transducers and both coiled and straight cables.
• Audio-Technica ATH-R30X — best for home production and everyday detail listening; pick this if you want 40 mm drivers and a lightweight, open-back design.
• Audeze MM-100 — best for detailed production work; pick this if planar magnetic drivers, flexible cable placement and an 18-ohm impedance match your priorities.
The Sennheiser HD 400 PRO is an open-back, wired studio headphone built around neutral sound reproduction. Its design is aimed at mixing, production and focused listening, rather than blocking outside noise. The angled transducers are intended to create a spacious stereo image, which can help when judging where sounds sit in a mix.
At 240 g, the HD 400 PRO is a relatively light option for long sessions. Velour earpads and the lightweight construction are practical for extended desk work. The single-sided coiled cable gives some freedom to move around a workstation, while the included straight cable offers a less bulky setup when you are seated close to your equipment. Its impedance is 130 ohms, so buyers should consider whether their audio source can drive it appropriately.
This is my overall pick for someone who wants an open-back reference headphone for home listening and production, with useful cable flexibility and a comfort-minded build. But there is an important limitation for the target use case: the listed product features do not identify a built-in microphone. Open-back earcups also let sound travel in both directions, so they are a poor fit for noisy public exercise settings or situations where you need privacy. If you are searching for the best headset for exercise, I would not assume this model provides a microphone or stays isolated from its surroundings.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
The OneOdio Monitor 80 is an open-back wired studio headphone intended for mixing, mastering and monitoring. It has 40 mm drivers and a 250-ohm impedance. That high impedance is the key practical detail: OneOdio says it should be driven by an amplifier, so it is not the easiest choice for casual use from a phone or computer without suitable amplification.
Its velour earpads and adjustable headband are designed for a customizable fit during long studio sessions. Two detachable cable options are included: a 3.5 mm-to-3.5 mm cable and a coiled cable with a 6.35 mm connection. That gives it some flexibility for different desk equipment, though the sheet does not list an in-line microphone or a boom microphone.
I would consider the Monitor 80 for a stationary production setup where an amplifier is already part of the chain. The open-back design is intended to reduce internal resonance and support a natural presentation, but it will not keep outside sounds out or keep your audio private. Its main trade-off is the demanding 250-ohm load, especially for anyone hoping to use it as a straightforward exercise headset. It is also worth separating “headphones with microphone” from “studio headphones”: the listed features here do not specify a microphone.
The Audio-Technica ATH-R30X is an open-back reference headphone for home studios, multimedia creation and detailed everyday listening. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers are described as balancing lows, mids and highs, while the open cups allow a more spacious presentation. That combination makes it a sensible option for listening closely to a track or editing content in a quiet room.
At 210 g, it is the lightest model in this group by the listed weights. The adjustable headband and replaceable velour earpads are aimed at comfort over longer listening periods. Its 36-ohm impedance is lower than the Sennheiser and OneOdio figures, which makes it less demanding on paper than those two, though device compatibility still depends on the source. A 6.3 mm adapter is included.
For home listening, this is a practical pick if light weight and a natural, open sound matter more than isolation. Its central drawback for exercise is the open-back format: surrounding noise can intrude, and sound can leak outward. The product information does not list a microphone, so I would not recommend buying it on the assumption that it can handle calls or voice chat. It may fit a quiet desk routine, but it does not match the usual needs behind “best earphones for exercise.”
The Audeze MM-100 is an open-back wired headphone with planar magnetic drivers tuned for production work. Its 18-ohm impedance is comparatively low among these models, and Audeze describes the drivers as efficient across a variety of equipment. The cable can connect to either earcup, a useful arrangement when a particular side of a desk or instrument setup makes one cable route less awkward.
The chassis uses aluminum, magnesium and steel components. The headphone also folds flat and comes with a soft cover gig bag, which makes storage and transport more convenient. A 6.35 mm-to-3.5 mm adapter is included. The listed weight is 1.1 pounds, so it is heavier than the other three by their stated weights; that is worth considering if lightness is a priority for extended wear.
I would shortlist the MM-100 for someone focused on production accuracy, flexible cable placement and compatibility with different audio equipment. Its trade-off is that its construction is the heaviest in this comparison, and its open cups do not provide isolation. The listed features also do not identify a microphone. That makes it a mismatch for a shopper specifically seeking a microphone-equipped model for exercise, even if its cable arrangement and folding design seem travel-friendly.
We compared the published design, connectivity and audio specifications for these four open-back models.
The order is my independent editorial opinion based on their stated features and likely use cases; no brand paid for placement.
The product details provided for these four models do not specify a built-in or boom microphone. If microphone use is essential, confirm that feature in the full product specifications before choosing.
Generally, they are better suited to quiet spaces than busy gyms or outdoor routes because their open cups allow surrounding sound in and audio out. They also do not provide the isolation many people want for exercise.
The Audio-Technica ATH-R30X is listed at 210 g, followed by the Sennheiser HD 400 PRO at 240 g. The published weights for the other two are higher.
OneOdio says the Monitor 80 should be driven by an amplifier. That makes the choice of audio source especially important if you plan to connect it directly to a phone, computer or other device.
For exercise, I recommend choosing a purpose-built headset that explicitly lists a microphone and suits your setting, rather than relying on these studio headphones to meet those needs. Among these four, I would choose the Sennheiser HD 400 PRO for quiet home listening and production, not as an exercise headset.
• BASN Metalen 4 vs Kinboofi KZ ZA12: In Ear Headphones
• MARLALL Liquid Silicone Swimming vs RR SPORTS IP68
• SOL REPUBLIC Shadow Fusion vs MMWOWARTS Hybrid Active Noise
• our razer vs hyperx headset pick
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.