Comfortable headphones for glasses wearers? Recommendations?

Creed_Clicks

Another headphone thread by me! From my research, open back over ear headphones would be the most comfortable for wearing for longs periods of time. e.g. for a few hours at a time.
Probably best to wait until Black Friday anyhow to see if I can get a deal. Budget ceiling would be around €100/£100. I would go under or over. I might even buy used if they are in good nick.
I will be using them for listening to music (I will revisit flat response recording headphones). Or would I be better off getting studio headphones and using them for music listening as well?
If I can get something without a 3 metre cable as well, I'll be happy!

rlw

Go to a proper shop and try them out.

stickyfiddle

BeyerDynamic DT990 - I could wear them all day

gretschthumper

Beyer DT series are the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used - I use closed dt770's for tracking and can wear them for hours no problem, also have dt880 (semi open) for checking mixes etc.

Creed_Clicks

rlw said:

Go to a proper shop and try them out.

Alas, easier said than done...and yes, it would be the most obvious way of finding out what works or not for me.

Creed_Clicks

stickyfiddle said:

BeyerDynamic DT990 - I could wear them all day

I had been looking at these ones lately based on some other recommendations. 

Creed_Clicks

gretschthumper said:

Beyer DT series are the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever used - I use closed dt770's for tracking and can wear them for hours no problem, also have dt880 (semi open) for checking mixes etc.

Seems to be what a lot of users say online (about comfort etc). As always, some great advice on The Fretboard!

fretmeister

Sony WH-1000XM3 are very comfortable with glasses. I much prefer them to my Beyers.

NF and the change lasts ages.

Ive had mine for a while, I think they are on XM5 now.

Creed_Clicks

Oh, I should also have said I would prefer wired!

duotone

What Hi-Fi have recently done their 2025 Awards, so might be worth a look.

https://www.whathifi.com/headphones/wired-headphones/best-wired-headphones-2025

They chose 

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X - Best wired over-ear headphones £150-£200

Austrian Audio Hi-X15 - Best wired over-ear headphones under £100

Rode NTH-100 - Best wired over-ear headphones £100-£150

Grado SR325x - Best wired over-ear headphones over £200

SoundMagic E11C - Best wired in-ear headphones under £100

Shure Aonic 3 - Best wired in-ear headphones over £100

Creed_Clicks

@duotone excellent. Nice one!

duotone

I crossed off the Grado SR325x as Grado are notoriously known for being uncomfortable, both with & without glasses…(ask @fretmeister )

Creed_Clicks

An update. I picked up a pair of AKG K702 reference headphones. Very comfortable but not good for listening to music. Very little bass, but they are reference headphones I suppose.
Now, I need to find a similar comfy pair but for listening to music! I'll start with the WhatHiFi list.

Sporky

Both my Shure SRH1540s and my Sony WH-1000MX2s are comfy with glasses. 

english_bob

duotone said:

What Hi-Fi have recently done their 2025 Awards, so might be worth a look.

https://www.whathifi.com/headphones/wired-headphones/best-wired-headphones-2025

They chose 

Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X - Best wired over-ear headphones £150-£200

Austrian Audio Hi-X15 - Best wired over-ear headphones under £100

Rode NTH-100 - Best wired over-ear headphones £100-£150

Grado SR325x - Best wired over-ear headphones over £200

SoundMagic E11C - Best wired in-ear headphones under £100

Shure Aonic 3 - Best wired in-ear headphones over £100

I have a pair of the Austrian Audio headphones. Really good sounding, and very comfortable to wear, although not particularly tight, so probably not suitable if you're going to be active while wearing them, or if you want to use them while lying down.

Or your head might be a different shape to mine and you won't have that problem...

Creed_Clicks

@english_bob they would be worn while sitting down really. I have a pair of in ear that can be used if I am on the move.

ICBM

Sennheiser HD414.

I finally bit the bullet and bought some genuine replacement pads for my old ones, and I've been pleased to find just how comfortable and good-sounding they are.

Creed_Clicks

ICBM said:

Sennheiser HD414.

I finally bit the bullet and bought some genuine replacement pads for my old ones, and I've been pleased to find just how comfortable and good-sounding they are.

Something small like that would be good! I'll check those out. The other HD ones look ok too. If I do have a pair of headphones on while I am out and about I don't want to look like a jetfighter pilot with a massive pair on my head. (I'm nearly 50, don't want to look like I am down with the kids!)

Stuckfast

If you go down the Austrian Audio route then the Hi-X 20 are much nicer than the piercingly bright Hi-X 15. Shout out for the ADAM H200 as well, those are great.

english_bob

Creed_Clicks said:

@english_bob they would be worn while sitting down really. I have a pair of in ear that can be used if I am on the move.

Ah. Just re-read your initial post. The Austrian Audio are closed back headphones, which isn't what you want.

Koss Porta Pro is meant to be a solid bargain for open back 'phones. If they're anything like the KSC75s I had years back they'll be excellent. Koss products do tend to look a bit weird though...

https://www.whathifi.com/koss/porta-pro/review

Sporky

I had some Koss Porta Pros. They were "OK".

I also missed the open back and budget bits... Sorry. I had some nice open-back Sennheiser but I can't remember the model. Hugely improved by switching yo velour earpiece.