For pc gaming, my pick among open back headphones for pc gaming is the HIFIMAN Ananda Nano, for its planar design and stated focus on precise imaging.
Moondrop is my runner-up: its on-ear fit, detachable construction, and interchangeable cable make it a more compact, adaptable alternative.
• HIFIMAN Ananda Nano Open-Back — best for games where positional detail matters; pick this if you want planar magnetic drivers, asymmetrical over-ear cups, and a 5Hz–55kHz frequency range.
• Moondrop Old Fashioned 40mm — best for a modular on-ear setup; pick this if you want a wired 3.5mm connection, detachable parts, and an interchangeable 0.78mm 2-pin cable.
• SUNGDOGIN 2025 — best for staying aware of your surroundings while listening; pick this if you want open-ear bone conduction, Bluetooth 5.4, a built-in microphone, and an IP55 rating.
• Linsoul Kiwi Ears Altruva — best for balanced wired listening across games and media; pick this if you want a 50mm dynamic driver and an open-back design with a studio-monitor-like tuning approach.
The Ananda Nano is an over-ear wired headphone built around planar magnetic drivers. Its stated strengths—low distortion, fast response, and detailed spatial reproduction—make it my pick for PC players who care about separating sounds in a busy game. The product information describes a wide sound field and precise imaging, qualities that are relevant when you want to distinguish effects around you rather than hear everything as one dense mix.
Its 5Hz–55kHz frequency range is broad, though that specification alone does not guarantee how a game will sound. More practically, the 14-ohm impedance and 94dB sensitivity are listed alongside a claim that it can work with portable audio devices. It uses a 3.5mm connection, so it is a wired option rather than a wireless gaming headset. The published details do not specify a boom microphone or gaming controls, so plan on a separate mic if you need voice chat.
The physical design is also worth considering. The asymmetrical ear cups are shaped to follow the ear, while the hybrid headband spreads weight across a strap. At 419g, it is not a lightweight headset, so the fit and weight may matter over a long session. The metal earcup holders and replaceable 3.5mm connection suggest a design focused on durable, long-term use, but it is still a substantial over-ear headphone.
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-10 · 8 min read · Independent comparison
I recommend the Ananda Nano for a PC setup where wired listening and detailed spatial cues take priority over an integrated mic, wireless convenience, or low weight. Its main trade-off is that its listed features are about audio reproduction, not a complete gaming-headset package. You will need to decide separately how to handle communication and whether a 419g headphone suits your routine.
The Old Fashioned is a wired, open-back on-ear headphone with a 40mm dynamic driver. Its smaller on-ear format distinguishes it from the two over-ear wired models here. If you want an open-back listening option that does not cover the whole ear, this design may suit your preferences, though on-ear fit is personal and the product details do not establish how it will feel during extended play.
A 3.5mm plug connects it to a PC or other compatible source. Moondrop also specifies a detachable 0.78mm 2-pin cable, along with detachable earcups and headband. That modular construction gives you more flexibility around cable replacement and the headphone’s components. The headband adjusts telescopically, and multi-axis swiveling hinges are intended to adapt the fit. Those are useful practical details for a headphone you might wear at a desk for games, calls, or general listening.
The listed effective frequency response is 20Hz–20kHz, with a wider stated response range of 20Hz–32kHz under a different measurement specification. The driver is a three-layer rigid-flex composite diaphragm, and the published sensitivity is 109dB/Vrms. Those numbers describe the design; they do not tell you exactly how game sound will be tuned or how clearly you will hear positional cues. The listing also does not specify a microphone, so voice chat may require a separate solution.
In my opinion, the Moondrop is the most appealing choice here for someone who prefers on-ear headphones and values replaceable, detachable parts. Its main compromise is that it may not fit shoppers seeking the enveloping feel of over-ear cups or an all-in-one gaming headset. If a lighter, more compact-feeling format matters more to you than over-ear coverage, its modular design is a sensible reason to consider it.
The SUNGDOGIN 2025 is not a conventional open-back over-ear headphone. It is a wireless open-ear bone-conduction headset that sends sound through contact at the cheekbones, leaving the ears uncovered. That makes it a different kind of option for PC use: I would consider it when awareness of nearby sounds matters, not as a direct substitute for a wired headphone designed around immersive listening.
For gaming, the uncovered-ear design has a clear benefit and a clear limit. It lets you remain more aware of people and sounds around you, but it does not enclose the ears like the wired over-ear options. The listing does not provide a 3.5mm jack, and Bluetooth is the only stated connection. It also does not provide a gaming-specific latency figure, so I would not assume it is the right fit for timing-sensitive PC play.
I recommend this model for someone who values wireless freedom and environmental awareness, or who wants one headset for calls and movement around the home. Its main trade-off is that bone conduction and open-ear listening serve a different purpose from conventional open-back gaming headphones. If your priority is an enveloping sound presentation for games, the HIFIMAN or Linsoul is a closer match to that goal.
Linsoul Kiwi Ears Altruva
The Kiwi Ears Altruva is a wired, over-ear open-back headphone with a 50mm dynamic driver. Linsoul describes its tuning as studio-monitor-like: firm, quick bass, balanced mids, and clear treble. For gaming, that profile may appeal if you want one headphone for dialogue, effects, music, and general listening rather than a model built around a microphone or wireless features.
The open-back construction is described as allowing airflow and supporting soundstage and imaging. That makes the Altruva relevant for players who want a more spacious presentation from a wired PC setup. It connects through a 3.5mm jack, and the published specs list 32 ohms, 98dB sensitivity, and a 20Hz–40kHz frequency range. The product details do not specify a microphone, so you will need another option for voice chat.
Its materials include PVD-coated steel, wood, and faux leather. Those choices give the design a different character from the lighter-feeling on-ear Moondrop, while the listing does not provide a weight to compare directly. The Altruva’s stated tuning and large dynamic driver make it a straightforward choice for someone who prefers a conventional wired over-ear format and wants to use the same pair beyond gaming.
In my opinion, this is the best alternative to the Ananda Nano if you want an open-back wired headphone with a stated emphasis on balanced monitoring-style sound. The main trade-off is the same practical one found with the other wired models: no built-in microphone is specified, and an open-back design is not described as isolating you from your surroundings. Choose it for its driver and tuning approach, not for headset-style communication features.
We compared the published design, connection, driver, and comfort-related specifications for each model, focusing on how they may fit different PC gaming setups.
The ranking is our independent editorial opinion, based on those features and trade-offs.
No brand paid for placement.
FAQ
They can suit players who want an open presentation and do not need strong isolation from nearby sounds. The wired HIFIMAN and Linsoul models are the closest fits here for conventional over-ear listening.
The SUNGDOGIN listing specifies a built-in microphone. The HIFIMAN, Moondrop, and Linsoul product details do not specify one, so check your chat setup before choosing them.
The SUNGDOGIN combines Bluetooth 5.4 with a built-in microphone, so it is the clearest fit in this group for calls. The wired models may suit listening at a desk, but a microphone is not listed for them.
The Moondrop is the only on-ear model here, but the product details do not describe it as a gym headphone. None of these is specified as a noise-cancelling kids headphone; SUNGDOGIN is an open-ear adult headset, not an over-ear noise-isolating design.
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