7 Best Headphones for Big Heads in 2023 (Expert Picks)

Last updated on February 4th, 2024

If you have a large head, finding comfortable headphones with high quality sound is not always an easy task. Smaller products may feel confining and apply a lot of pressure to your ears if you wear them for a prolonged time.

Usually, the best headphones in that case are those with a weak clamping force and large ear cups. An adjustable headband is also desirable; As well as ear cup pads made out of a breathable material.

Of course, these are not the only factors you must consider while shopping for over ear headphones for big heads. Depending on your use case, a product will perform better than another. A unit great for gaming won’t be the best for critical listening, for example.

This article will present you with 7 options for the best headphones for big heads. We included many different categories of products such as corded, wireless headphones, units with active noise cancellation, etc. Keep reading to learn more.

Also Read: Best Studio Headphones article. 

Among 7 Products, We Found the AKG K240 MKII to Be the Best Studio Headphones for Big Heads

The Bose 700 Bluetooth was our Top Casual Listening Choice

Best Headphones for Big Heads – In-Depth Review

Table of Contents

1. AKG K240 MKII
2. Audio-Technica ATH-M70X
3. Shure SRH840
4. beyerdynamic DT990 Pro
5. Bose 700 Bluetooth
6. Philips SHP9600
7. HyperX Cloud II

1. AKG K240 MKII

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The AKG K240 MKII, in our opinion, is one of the best headphones to create music and for critical listening on a budget. They’re excellent if you’re a beginner music producer. I own one of those and I use them for monitoring and referencing mixes all the time.

Product Specifications

• Over Ear Headphones
• Wired
• Semi-Open Back
• Includes Two Cables and One Adapter
• Two Foam Pads
• Rated Impedance: 55 Ohms

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• These budget headphones are pretty affordable and offer a great value for the price.
• The AKG K240 MKII comes with two foam pads.
• The clamping force of that headphone is not that strong so it’s a great fit for big heads. It is also designed to mold over your head shape.
• We can’t deny the fact that the overall design looks pretty good.
• These headphones are excellent for monitoring purposes and music production.

Cons

• Since these headphones have a semi-open back design, they’re best used in a quiet environment to prevent sound leaks.
• Lacks a bit in the low-end.

Conclusion

The AKG K240 MKII is an excellent option for the beginner music creator who wants a quality pair of headphones at an affordable price. It is very comfortable for prolonged use even if you have a big head.

However, these headphones aren’t meant to be used in noisy environments or on the go since they have a semi-open back design and therefore are not noise cancelling. They’re best suited for the studio. Also, make sure your laptop or audio interface can drive this product correctly.

Best For

• Music Production
• Referencing
• Monitoring

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2. Audio-Technica ATH-M70X

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Audio-Technica is a very reputable brand among music makers and enthusiasts so the ATH-M70X excellence can be trusted. These over ear, closed back headphones provide a great deal of audio quality and noise isolation.

Product Specifications

• Over Ear Headphones
• Wired
• Closed Back
• Includes Three Cables and an Adapter
• Carrying Case
• Rated Impedance: 35 Ohms

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• These are closed back headphones, meaning they are going to perform well even in noisy environments.
• The Audio-Technica ATH-M70X is a very versatile pair, it can be used anywhere, from the studio to the subway.
• The swiveling earcups can rotate 90 degrees. This makes it easier to store these headphones and also it’s a great feature for DJs.
• The frequency range of these headphones is pretty impressive.
• The ear cups are big and accommodate large ears nicely.
• Can be used with mobile devices due to its low impedance.
• Cushioned headbands.

Cons

• High price.

Conclusion

The Audio-Technica ATH-M70X is amazing at what it proposes. The headband cushion and the large ear pads are two of the best features of this pair of headphones. It is also very versatile, as it can be used both in the studio and on the go. We would definitely recommend this if you want an all-around product.

Best For

• Music Production
• Referencing
• Monitoring
• Music Listening

– – –

3. Shure SRH840

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Shure is synonymous with quality. The manufacturer has multiple industry-standard products on its catalog. The SRH840 is a versatile pair. Comfortable for large heads, it delivers crystal clear sound.

Product Specifications

• Over Ear Headphones
• Wired
• Closed Back
• Includes Two Cables and an Adapter
• Two Ear Pads
• Carrying Case
• Rated Impedance: 44 Ohms

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• Regarding sound quality, this is one of the best options on the list. The frequency response is pretty reasonable.
• The headband is cushioned for improved comfort.
• These headphones can be easily folded and stored.
• The memory foam ear cups are thicker than other models on the list, providing extra comfort.
• It comes with a carrying case for optimal portability.
• Can be used in pretty much all scenarios, including studio and listening situations.

Cons

• Heavier than other headphones.

Conclusion

The Shure SRH840 has optimal sound quality and a reasonable frequency response. These headphones are a nice fit for casual listening purposes and studio recording monitoring due to their closed-back design. We wouldn’t recommend it for critical listening though, as they are not the most neutral-sounding pair.

The only drawback we found is that the Shure SRH840 is heavier than most other options on this list. This, however, is compensated by their thick foam pads and cushioned headband.

Best For

• Casual Sound Listening
• Studio Monitoring

– – –

4. Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro

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The Beyerdynamic DT990 is a legendary pair in the music production world. They provide excellent sound and are among the most neutral-sounding headphones in the market. Their best quality is probably the rich bass this product can provide.

Product Specifications

• Over Ear Headphones
• Wired
• Open Back
• Rated Impedance: 250 Ohm

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• Like mentioned before, these are neutral and transparent sounding headphones, so they are most suitable for studio purposes and critical listening.
• The open-back design provides an organic sound that doesn’t feel too confined.
• The ear pads and the headband are thickly cushioned for optimal comfort, especially on long listening sessions.
• The ear cups are one of the largest on the list.
• The velour pads provide extra comfort.

Cons

• Only suitable for the studio due to their open-back design.
• No detachable cables.

Conclusion

The beyerdynamic DT990 Pro are premium headphones. The response is extremely well balanced and provides the user with a great critical listening experience. You could even use this pair for mixing purposes if you don’t have studio monitors. Keep in mind though that these are not the best pair for casual listening, and they usually need a preamp to function correctly.

Best For

• Music Production
• Mixing
• Mastering
• Referencing

– – –

5. Bose 700 Bluetooth

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Stepping out a bit from the studio models, we have the Bose 700 Bluetooth. The Bose 700 Bluetooth headphones are made for an improved listening experience. It also has a built-in microphone for audio and video calls.

Product Specifications

• Over Ear Headphones
• Bluetooth
• Closed Back
• Active Noise Cancelling
• 20 Hours Battery Life

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• Will work with most bluetooth devices such as iOS and Android smartphones.
• The Bose 700 has 11 levels of active noise cancelling so they are perfect for use in a noisy environment.
• The design of these headphones looks pretty great.
• Optimal audio quality for casual listening purposes.
• Touch controls on the earcup. These can be used to control a variety of apps such as music, navigation and weather.
• The battery lasts up to 20 hours.
• Built-in microphone for audio and video calls.

Cons

• High price.

Conclusion

The Bose 700 Bluetooth is one of the best Bluetooth headphones on the market. They offer high quality audio and a few functions to make your life easier such as the touch controls on the earcups. Not to mention that these large on ear headphones will be comfortable for big heads. The price, however, is quite high.

Best For

• Casual Music Listening
• Audio and Video Calls

– – –

6. Philips SHP9600

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Upon first glance, you can see that the Philips SHP9600 looks comfortable, particularly due to its big design, the large over ear earpads, and the adjustable headband. Another great feature of this pair is the fact that it is very lightweight.

Product Specifications

• Over Ear Headphones
• Wired
• Open Back
• Audio Adapter Included
• Rated Impedance: 32 Ohm

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• Even though these headphones are open back, they have better noise cancelling than most other pairs in the same category.
• They are one of the most comfortable pairs on the list.
• Despite their large design, these are lightweight headphones, so can be used for prolonged periods of time comfortably.
• The low impedance will ensure that the Philips SHP9600 works with most mobile devices.

Cons

• None particularly concerning.

Conclusion

This large on-ear headphone pair has great sound quality and a design that prioritizes comfort. The headband and the ear pads are probably the most cushioned ones on this list. The Philips SHP9600 ended up being our runner-up for best headphone for big heads – studio use.

Best For

• Music Production
• Referencing
• Monitoring

– – –

7. HyperX Cloud II

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The last product on our list is a headphone intended for gamers. If you play FPS games you know that a pair that sounds great while at the same time feels comfortable for extended playing sessions is a must. The HyperX Cloud II has all those features plus a built-in microphone for online calls.

Product Specifications

• Over Ear Headphones
• Wired
• Closed Back

Advantages & Disadvantages

Pros

• Best sound quality for gaming and immersion while playing with 7.1 virtual surround sound compatibility.
• A great pair if you work in front of the computer and wear headphones for prolonged periods of time too.
• The HyperX Cloud II has a built-in high quality microphone for online calls and game sessions.
• Available in two colors: gun metal and red.
• The ear pads and headband are extremely well-cushioned. They gently hug your head but without applying too much pressure to it.
• Lightweight despite its physical size.
• Works with game consoles.

Cons

• None that we found.

Conclusion

The HyperX Cloud II gaming headset is excellent at what it proposes. It has a good sound quality for gaming purposes and a built-in microphone for live calls. We liked the fact that it has 7.1 virtual surround sound compatibility, this gives a lot of immersion while gaming. This is a very casual headphone and we wouldn’t recommend it for studio purposes though.

Best For

• Gaming
• Audio and Video Calls

– – –

Conclusion

In our best headphones for big heads article, we reviewed 7 products and prioritized two factors: sound quality and comfort. All of the products on the list are great choices if you have a large head, but each one of them is the best for a particular use case.

For example, while our studio top pick AKG K240 MKII is great for studio usage and music production, we wouldn’t recommend it for casual listening. Similarly, a Bluetooth or gaming headset is not the best to be used professionally. Here are our top picks:

AKG K240 MKII – Best Headphones for Big Heads – Studio Usage

The AKG K240 MKII has great sound quality and will fit large heads comfortably. On top of all, they are affordable. We recommend this pair for music producers and creators.

Bose 700 Bluetooth – Best Headphones for Big Heads – Casual Listening

Even though it has a high price, the Bose 700 Bluetooth is one of the most premium headphones ever made. Apart from quality and comfort, there are built-in controls on the ear pad and a built-in microphone, for day-to-day usage.

How to Buy

If you’re interested in any particular model of headphones on the list, you can find the Amazon product page for these pairs on their respective titles on the list. Research extensively before you make your choice. Happy listening!