(First off, I do use head*sets*, but since they include head*phones*, I will go ahead and ask)

I just got the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 (its headphones are similar to the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro), which are closed-end. Today is practically the first day I am wearing them.

For the past 6 years, I've been using the Sennheiser G4me One (which are like Sennheiser 558's or 598's, I've heard), which are open-end. They always sounded great to me.

I never had a problem with permanently wearing the open-end G4me One (558/598) during my entire PC sessions, even while no sound was playing at all.

But now that I'm using the MMX 300 (DT 770 Pro), my hearing feels weird when I wear them while no sound is being played.

I would describe it as a phenomenon resembling "sensory deprivation". My ears feel like they're under pressure, like under a blanket. That kind of feeling you get when you're on a roadtrip or an airplane and you need to yawn to "free your ears". Except yawning does not help, of course.

Here are my questions:

Is this normal? Have you yourself noticed this phenomenon?
Is this something you get used to after a while?
...or you usually *take off* closed-end headphones while no sound is playing?
Can this be harmful to your hearing?

Otherwise, I love them. The sound seems to be great, it just sounds a little strange and different than what I'm used to, but I think that might be because I'm used to open-end. I think these headphones are better than the ones I had and I might just need some time to get used to it. Can you recommend soundtracks that will bring out the quality of these headphones?

Comments

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Green_cost_green t1_j2evrmp wrote on December 31, 2022 at 7:21 PM

It’s really just passive sound isolation. A good quality headphone will clamp around your ears to create a seal where no air can escape, therefore, no sound leakage in or out. Because that happens, the ambient noises you’re used to with open backs, have been cut out and now it’s closer to a “silence”. Since you were so used to ambient/background noise leaking in with the open headphones, it can be a bit strange to hear “nothing” now that you have a seal around your ears!

Fearless-Physics OP t1_j2ew268 wrote on December 31, 2022 at 7:23 PM

Thanks very much!

In case you use closed-end headphones: Do you typically take them off while not listening to anything? Or does that silence not bother you at all?

Green_cost_green t1_j2ewlv4 wrote on December 31, 2022 at 7:27 PM

It really depends on what I’m doin! If I’m at my computer or something I’ll just keep them on. I’ve gotten used to the lack of sound over the years. It was really jarring the first time I used Active Noise cancelling so the passive of closed backs really worked for me whenever I needed quick isolation.

sshoihet t1_j2fvsna wrote on December 31, 2022 at 11:46 PM

I wear earplugs all day in the shop at work and ANC headphones/earbuds in the office, even when I'm not listening to music. I like the quiet, it's shocking just how noisy the office is even when no one else is there, with the sound if the lights, HVAC and computers. Even at home there's a lot of noise that I can hear through my open backs at low volume.

sorbuss t1_j2eqazq wrote on December 31, 2022 at 6:43 PM

Have you ever worn hearing protection earmuffs?

Fearless-Physics OP t1_j2et7l9 wrote on December 31, 2022 at 7:03 PM

Nope, but I imagine the feeling is similar to this but even much stronger isolation.