A large or spacious soundstage is very important when using headphones. It makes headphones more immersive for critical listening or gaming. Headphones with a good soundstage make you feel like music is happening in front of you or the room you’re sitting in. Creating a spacious soundstage is harder with headphones.
However, in this article, we’ve reviewed some of the best headphones that have a spacious soundstage. These might not sound like speakers, but they have tried to mimic a speaker-like soundstage.
Soundstage Headphones Comparison Table
| HEADPHONE | IMPEDANCE | SENS** | DESIGN TYPE | DRIVER TYPE | WEIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sennheiser HD800S | 300 Ohms | 103 dB | Open-back, Over-ear | Dynamic | 300g |
| HiFiMan HE400SE | 25 Ohms | 91 dB | Open-back, Over-ear | Planar Magnetic | 390g |
| Philips SHP9500S | 32 Ohms | 101 dB | Open-back, Over-ear | Dynamic | 300g |
| AKG K702 | 62 Ohms | 105 dB | Open- back, Over-ear | Dynamic | 235g |
| Denon AH-D9200 | 24 Ohms | 105 dB | Closed-back, Over-ear | Dynamic | 375g |
| HiFiMan Ananda | 16 Ohms | 92 dB | Open-back, Over-ear | Planar Magnetic | 398g |
| Audeze LCD-X | 20 Ohms | 100 dB | Open-back, Over-ear | Planar Magnetic | 612g |
| HIFIMAN Arya | 32 Ohms | 94 dB | Open-back, Over-ear | Planar Magnetic | 430g |
| Audio Technica ATH-AD1000X | 40 Ohms | 102 dB | Closed-back, Over-ear | Dynamic | 265g |
Best Overall Soundstage Headphones
1. Sennheiser HD800S
- Impedance: 300 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 103 dB
- Design: Open-back, Over-ear
- What We Like: Spacious soundstage, Accurate imaging, Lightweight, Very comfortable, Build quality.
- What We Don't: Expensive
Even after its release 14 years ago, the Sennheiser HD 800 is one of the best headphones. In 2016, the HD800S, a successor of the HD800, was released with a modification to tame the 6k peak in the treble response. Let’s see how it performs.
For the design and build quality, the HD800S has a design like no other headphones around. The build quality is also exceptional and feels very good. Most of the headphone is constructed from plastics, but it does not feel cheap. The headband has a metal band, and its adjustment is very smooth. Overall, the design and build quality feel premium.
So how comfortable are they? Well, there is no question about this, HD800S is a very comfortable headphone. The headphones have big earpads that are deep enough so the ears sit inside without discomfort. The earpads and headband material are also very breathable and comfortable. The weight is not much, and because of the headband distribution, you won’t feel any fatigue, even for long sessions.
Now for the sound quality, the Sennheiser HD800S is in a class of its own. It is clear, vivid, neutral, well-separated, and more. Its tonality is flat and neutral, with a little bass and treble. The mids have superior detail retrieval, which is great for critical listening, movies, and games. The soundstage is, without a doubt, the best quality of the HD800S. It’s large and well separated, while the imaging is also excellent with pinpoint accuracy.
Best Budget Soundstage Headphones
2. HiFiMan HE400SE
- Impedance: 25 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 91 dB
- Design: Open-back, Over-ear
- What We Like: Good value planar headphones, Well balanced sound, Detail retrieval, Wide soundstage, Accurate imaging, comfort, minimalistic design
- What We Don't: Needs good amplification, Short cable.
For a budget pair of headphones with good soundstage and imaging, the HE400S is a good pick. It is also one of the cheapest planar magnetic headphones with great sound.
The Hifiman HE400SE looks very different from other Hifiman entry-level headphones, like the HE400i. It features a new headband design that is well-padded and feels comfortable. The overall design remains the same, and the build quality is good for the price. The earcups are made of plastic with metallic yokes extending to the headband. They have a decent fit and are covered with a soft pleather material.
The headphone is comfortable and can be worn for extended periods without any fatigue. It is light, and the materials in its design also enhance overall comfort. The headband and earpads are padded with memory foam and covered with a soft velour material that feels very good on the skin. The headband also extends to accommodate larger head sizes perfectly.
For the sound quality, the HE400S is a neutral-tuned headphone that leans slightly to the higher frequencies. The bass is present and has a good texture, while the mids don’t sound overly forward. Female and male vocals sound good, with female vocals having more energy. The treble response is very good for the price. The soundstage is wide and airy but lacks depth. The imaging is accurate with decent separation.
Considering this is an entry-level headphone, you get a well-rounded package that performs exceptionally. We highly recommend this headphone to anyone looking to try a planar magnetic headphone at a lower price.
Cheaper Soundstage Headphones Option
3. Philips SHP9500S
- Impedance: 32 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 101 dB
- Design: Open-back, Over-ear
- What We Like: Cheap, Lightweight design, Soundstage and Imaging, Easy to drive
- What We Don't: Lean bass, Shallow earpads, Short cable
The Philips SHP9500S tops our roundup list of the best budget audiophile headphones. Overall, it offers very good value for the price you get compared to even some high-end headphones.
It is an open-back headphone built mostly from plastics, making it very lightweight. The earcups are large, with huge pads covered by a mesh-like material. The headband also features a mesh-like material and is well-padded. The adjustment mechanism of the headband is good and extends quite well to fit even large head sizes. Overall, although the build quality is not very good, the design is still good for the price.
For comfort and fit, the Phillips SHP9500S is lightweight, which makes it comfortable for even long sessions. The earpads are big and fit perfectly over the ears. However, the depth of the earcups is a little shallow, so your ears will touch the drivers, making them a little uncomfortable. They are also a little thinner which also reduces their overall comfort. The earpads of the SHP9500S are by far its weakest aspect.
The overall sound of the Philips SHP9500S leans toward a balanced tuning. The bass is present but is anemic, while the high-end has a good amount of detail without getting sibilant. The midrange is the best aspect of the SHP9500S, with slightly emphasized vocals and instruments. The soundstage is wide, and the imaging gets the details just right. Read our in-depth review.
Soundstage Headphones Buying Guide
What is Soundstage in Headphones?
Soundstage is the perception that you are in the same space as the artist/band/orchestra. This gives you the sensation of a 3D-like appearance, which improves the overall immersion. Soundstage is described to be spacious if the perception created by your headphones is larger in depth, height, and width. Our best soundstage headphone, the Sennheiser HD800S, has one of the most expansive soundstage around.
The Sennheiser HD800S
When listening to music via headphones, soundstage makes it feel more immersive. You’ll enjoy your music and also feel in the moment. However, to enjoy the soundstage some of these headphones have to offer, you’ll also have to play quality recordings. Playing low-quality recordings will yield little in terms of soundstage.
Imaging Explained
Soundstage and imaging go hand-in-hand when they are usually used together. Imaging in audio refers to the separation of different instruments or sounds, which makes them easier to distinguish or point out where it’s coming from. With a pair of headphones or speakers with good imaging, you can be able to tell the direction and placement of different sounds and instruments.
Just Unboxed Philips SHP9500S
A good reproduction of audio imaging shows you the stage, instruments, and where the sound emanates from. This is usually useful for gamers, especially FPS gaming, to locate the sound of enemies before they attack. We’ve talked about this in more detail below.
Open-back vs. Closed-Back Headphones
Sound is the main difference between open-back and closed-back headphones. Open-back headphones have an expansive soundstage, which is a result of the open enclosure. Most audiophile headphones, including the ones we’ve reviewed on our list of best budget audiophile headphones, have an open-back design.
Apart from the soundstage, open-back headphones have an immersive audio profile. Open headphones are usually geared toward audiophiles and critical listeners who prefer a natural sound profile with as little coloration as possible. However, because of their open design, they are not great for loud and noisy environments.
Denon AH-D9200
Closed-back headphones are a popular design for casual listeners and can be used in both loud and quiet environments without disturbing anyone. The soundstage of closed-back headphones is not expansive but feels in your head. This is because the sound is enclosed inside the enclosure. To create a spacious soundstage effect, closed-back headphones, especially gaming ones, use software presets and multiple headphone drivers.
One part of the sound profile that stands out about closed-back headphones is their bass. Closed-back headphones cater to the needs of bass heads by delivering a punchy bass. If you’re a bass-head, get a closed-back headphone to quench your bass thirst.
If you want an expansive soundstage, open-back headphones are the go-to headphones. However, some closed-back headphones, like the likes of Denon AH-D9200, also have good soundstage reproduction.
Soundstage & Imaging in Gaming Explained
In competitive gaming, even a small improvement in sound quality could be the determining factor between winning and losing. With a good pair of headphones, you can easily pinpoint where your enemies are coming from and act faster. However, the soundstage is important, when gaming, the imaging of the headphone also plays an important part.
Soundstage in gaming will also create a higher level of immersion for an enjoyable gaming experience. However, if you’re into FPS gaming like CSGO, you should also pick a headphone with better imaging.
AKG K702
Audio imaging will help you quickly and easily locate the direction of sounds and other cues within a soundstage. The AKG K702, our best soundstage headphone for gaming, has decent imaging and is better for listening to footprints and different sounds during gaming.
How to Improve Headphone Soundstage
Now that you know what soundstage is and how it affects your music, gaming, and overall experience when using headphones, how can you improve it? For manufacturers, making the headphones more open and angling the headphone drivers improves the soundstage. However, you can also enhance the soundstage of your headphones.
Using a headphone amplifier is one of the ways you can improve the soundstage and the overall sound of your headphones. Apart from the soundstage, a headphone amp will enhance clarity, detail retrieval, dynamics, and imaging. It does not matter the headphone amplifier you use; as long as it sufficiently powers the headphones, you’re good to go.
Apart from using a headphone amp, you can also use apps and software presets that will help simulate a virtual soundstage. This is a common practice in gaming where virtual surround comes inbuilt into consoles such as Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphones for Xbox, MIXAMP PRO TR by Astrogaming, and 3D audio for PS5.
