Here’s your one-stop guide for picking headphones that won’t pinch larger ears.
| Name | Ear Cup | Ear Pad Dimensions | Fit & Adjustability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Best Overall | Circumaural | ~58 mm diameter; ~22 mm depth | Extendable headband; tilting ear cups | BUY |
| Bose QuietComfort 45 Strong Runner-up | Oval | ~60 mm height; ~40 mm width; ~18 mm-28 mm depth | Extendable headband; rotating ear cups; low clamping force | BUY |
| AKG K92 Best Budget Pick #1 | Circumaural | ~70 mm diameter; ~20 mm depth | Self-adjusting leather headband; low clamping force | BUY |
| Philips SHP9600 Wired Best Budget Pick #2 | Oval | N/A | Extendable headband; rotating and tilting ear cups; low clamping force | BUY |
| Bose 700 Best Noise Cancellation | Oval | ~70 mm height; ~56 mm width; ~24 mm depth | Sliding and rotating ear cups (tilted by 15 degrees to mirror the anatomy of the human head and ears) | BUY |
| Sennheiser HD800S Best Premium | Circumaural | N/A | Extendable headband; rotating and tilting ear cups; very low clamping force | BUY |
| Drop + Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X Most Comfortable | D-shaped | ~1 inch depth | Self-adjusting leather headband; tilting ear cups | BUY |
| Corsair Void RGB Elite Best for Gaming | Polygon-shaped | N/A | Extendable headband; rotating ear cups; very low clamping force | BUY |
| Shokz OpenRun Pro Best for Active Lifestyles | N/A | N/A | N/A | BUY |
| HiFiMAN Edition XS Best Sound Quality | Oval | ~65 mm diameter; ~10-12 mm depth | Extendable headband; rotating and tilting ear cups; low clamping force | BUY |
How to Choose Headphones for Big Ears?
Finding headphones that fit comfortably can be difficult if you have prominent ears. As such, it may be easier to go for the largest headphones you can find on Amazon.
Unfortunately, size isn’t the only thing you should consider. And simply going for the biggest model can result in unbearably bad headphones that you can only stand to wear for a short time.
Fortunately, there are factors you can use to gauge whether a pair of headphones will comfortably fit if you have big ears. We’ll cover all that in this article, plus our top ten recommendations. So, keep reading!
Which form factor should you choose?
While there are many types of headphones, your choices are likely limited to only two form factors if you have big ears. Let’s discuss each:
- Over-ear: Over-ear headphones have large ear cups that completely enclose the ears. The larger circumference means your ears don’t feel squished or cramped. They also form a seal around your ears, blocking external noise and preventing audio leakage. This results in a better perceived sound quality from your headphones.
- Bone conduction: These headphones have conduction pads that sit just outside the ear canal, leaving your ears completely open. This means there’s no need to worry about the size of your ears or the ear cups. The downside, however, is that bone conduction headphones generally have lower audio quality than other headphones.
How big are the headphones’ ear pads?
Human ears continue growing throughout our lifetime, as per a study by Niemitz et al. Genetics also play a role in the differences in ear proportions. As such, human ear measurements vary greatly.
Despite the variations, it’s safe to say the average size range for adult ears is 55-65 mm for ear height and 15-21 mm for ear projection. So, if your ear measurements fall outside of this range, you have scientifically ‘big’ ears.
Here are a couple more factors to consider when gauging how comfortable headphones are:
Ear pad shapes
Several different shapes of ear pads suit big ears. If your ears are generally more prominent on all sides, the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro‘s round ear pads can fit them just fine. But if you have slightly ‘taller’ ears, the elongated form of the Bose QC45’s oval ear pads will feel more comfortable.
On the other hand, the D-shaped and polygon-shaped ear pads mimic the natural shape of our ears, providing a more roomy and ergonomic fit. If that’s what you prefer, the D-shaped ear cups on the Drop Aeon Closed X or the polygon-shaped ear pads on the Corsair Void are ideal.
Ear pad sizes
Ear pads come in different measurements, depending on the brand. The sizes of ear pads vary greatly from one pair of headphones to another. But if you have larger ears, it’s best to look for ear pads with the following dimensions:
- Height: 58-70 mm
- Width: 40-70 mm
- Depth/thickness: 18-25 mm
Bigger ear pads are typically more comfortable since there’s ample space between your ears and the edges of the ear cups. Thicker ear pads also mean your ears won’t touch the drivers. Ultimately, you have more room for air to circulate inside, leading to slower warmth and moisture build-up.
How comfortable are the headphones?
Even if the ear cups are big enough for your ears, you should also consider how they feel on your head. Since that can be difficult when shopping online, you can gauge the headphones’ comfort level based on two factors:
Padding materials
The padding materials determine how long you can keep wearing your headphones without feeling fatigued. Velour ear pads are incredibly plushy and comfortable. They conform to your head’s anatomy better, meaning less pressure on your head.
Additionally, the soft feeling from the velour means you won’t get skin irritation as easily as with other materials.
But if your ears get warm quickly, fabric mesh earpads are more breathable, which results in a slower temperature build-up.
Weight
The weight of headphones can significantly affect comfort, particularly after extended use. The heavier your headphones are, the shorter you can wear them. As such, you’ll want to go for headphones that aren’t too heavy.
Heavy headphones often contain more robust materials like metal, resulting in a sturdier and more durable build. However, some can cause discomfort and fatigue when worn for a prolonged period.
On the other hand, lightweight headphones can feel less tiring to wear for long periods. But they’re made mostly from lighter materials like polycarbonate, which tend to feel flimsy or creaky when handled.
How well do the headphones fit?
The fit of headphones is crucial in determining their overall comfort while wearing them.
A good fit ensures the headphones sit securely on your head without exerting too much clamping force. On the other hand, an improper fit can lead to many problems, including soreness and the headphones sliding around as you move.
You can determine the fit quality of headphones by looking at these two factors:
- Adjustability: Extendable headbands and swiveling ear cups let you adjust and customize the headphones’ fit to accommodate the unique proportions of your head and ears. Overall, they give the headphones more flexibility, making them more accessible to people of all sizes.
- Clamping force: Clamping force is the pressure exerted by the headphones on your head. Excessive clamping force can cause a headache or pain around your ears, which you definitely don’t want. As such, go for headphones that are tight enough to fit securely without causing too much pressure.
Do the headphones have a good build and durability?
Investing in headphones with a robust build and excellent durability often means reaching deeper into your pocket. However, that can be the difference between headphones that last six months or ten years.
To gauge headphones’ durability, you can look at several factors:
- IP rating: If you want your headphones that last longer, you should pick models with water and dust resistance – which is determined by IP rating. If you plan on using them outdoors, go for headphones with at least IP55, which protects them from dust and low-pressure water jets from any direction.
- Warranty: Free repairs and unit replacements are great. However, it would help if you also go for headphones with extended warranties, which reflect the manufacturer’s confidence in their product. For example, more established brands like beyerdynamic offer a 2-year warranty for most products.
- Replaceable parts: This is especially important when your headphones break outside their warranty period. Having replaceable parts means you can avoid replacing the entire headphones, leading to reduced waste while saving a few hundred dollars.
- Quality of materials: Build quality is often overlooked since they often translate to a more premium price. Details like a stainless steel headband, Gold-plated connectors, braided cords, and metal hinges are critically important for the headphones’ longevity.
Do the headphones sound good?
Even though you’re choosing headphones primarily for big ears, that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice sound quality. Headphones are a tool for entertainment and communication, and bad audio quality will negatively affect both purposes.
To ensure you enjoy your experience while wearing your headphones, you can check for these factors:
- Active noise cancellation: Headphones with ANC suppress ambient noise, which means you can hear clearer audio due to the lack of distracting sounds. While it doesn’t translate to obvious benefits for people with big ears, ANC is worth considering if audio quality is important to you.
- Audio-enhancing features: Depending on your use case, you can benefit from audio-enhancing features. Gamers, for example, can get a more immersive experience with headphones that support Dolby Atmos or Windows Sonic. If you’re a bass-head, headphones with bass-boosting features will tickle your fancy.
- Customizable audio features: The ability to tailor your headphones’ sound to your preference is also worth considering. If you prefer certain types of signatures, look for headphones with customizable EQs.
10 Best Headphones for Big Ears 2023
beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cup shape: Circumaural
- Ear pad size: ~58 mm diameter; ~22 mm depth
- Weight: 270 grams
- Connectivity: Wired (3.5 mm and 6.35 mm)
- Sound quality features: 45 mm drivers; studio-grade quality
- Warranty: 2 years
The DT 770 Pro headphones, a timeless favorite from beyerdynamic, snatch the top spot for the best headphones for big ears. They’ve been around since 1985, which proves their all-around quality – but especially their comfort and sound quality.
Thanks to their lightweight build and ample 58 mm ear cups, these headphones are super comfortable, especially for bigger ears. The combination of the adjustable headband, tilting ear cups, and plush memory foam ear pads distributes the clamping force evenly. I barely felt any discomfort wearing these, which is impressive considering I have pretty big ears.
As for sound quality, the DT 770 PRO are top-tier, as expected from beyerdynamic. They have a well-balanced sound signature with slightly emphasized highs. They sound excellent when plugged into my PC setup (no amp or DAC). However, the addition of a proper AMP/DAC setup significantly improved volume and details.
The closed-back design also means a good seal, which translates to responsive lows. But don’t expect them to have thumpy bass, as these headphones are somewhat lacking in that department. So, if you’re used to household brands like Beats or Sony, the DT 770 PROs may not be for you.
The DT 770 PRO have three impedance variants: 32 ohms, 80 ohms, and 250 ohms. These have different power requirements, so you should pick the correct variant depending on the device you use. You can use our Headphones Power Calculator to check for compatible devices.
Bose QuietComfort 45
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cup shape: Oval
- Ear pad size: ~60 mm height; ~40 mm width; ~18-28 mm depth
- Weight: 240 grams
- Connectivity: Wired (3.5 mm to 2.5 mm); Bluetooth 5.1
- Sound quality features: 45 mm drivers; Hi-Fi audio; adjustable EQ; ANC
- Warranty: 1 year
The Bose QC 45 are a near-perfect pair for your large ears. They come with fantastic noise cancellation and sound quality, plus soft foam and leather ear pads that feel premium while providing better sound isolation. Unfortunately, due to a heavier build, shorter warranty, and higher price point, they remain our strong runner-up pick.
The earpads are quite large at 60 mm in height and 40 mm in width, allowing those with bigger ears to wear the QC 45 comfortably. Additionally, the oval shape ensures they perfectly wrap around the ears, resulting in a more natural fit if you have ‘taller’ ears.
If you wear headphones for most of the day, the QC 45 will fit right up your alley. They’re only 240 grams with a light clamping force. I could easily wear these for hours without feeling soreness or fatigue. The expandable headband and rotating ear cups are also helpful in creating a more comfortable fit.
Being one of Bose’s flagship consumer headphones, the QC45 offer one of the best ANC performances on the market – only slightly behind the Bose 700. You can switch between Quiet and Aware modes, and control the strength of ANC in the Bose Connect app.
They also have aptX codec support, which delivers high-resolution sound quality on compatible devices. The beam-forming mics on the QC45 also sound excellent for phone calls, even in loud environments. But if the default sound isn’t your cup of tea, you can use the Bose Music app to build a custom EQ preset.
AKG K92
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cup shape: Circumaural
- Ear pad size: ~70 mm diameter; ~20 mm depth
- Weight: 200 grams
- Connectivity: Wired (3.5 mm and 6.35 mm)
- Sound quality features: 40 mm drivers; professional-grade sound quality
- Warranty: 2 years
If you’re an aspiring audiophile, you can’t go wrong with the AKG K92. These headphones offer studio-level audio performance and excellent comfort at a ridiculously low price. As such, they’re worthy of the best budget pick for folks with larger ears.
The ear pads on the K92 are made of soft leatherette material with plush padding that feels super comfortable on the skin. They’re 70 mm wide and 20 mm thick, meaning they’re large and thick enough to cover most ear sizes comfortably.
AKG equipped the K92 with an adjustable headband and swiveling earcups to help them fit different head shapes. They’re also considerably light at only 200 grams. Even after watching the entire extended cut of The Lord of the Rings with these, I barely felt any fatigue or soreness.
With the right setup, the K92 can deliver excellent audio quality that trumps others in the same price range. They have a balanced sound signature, clear and crisp highs, well-defined mids, and punchy bass. Despite being closed back, the K92 headphones still have a decent soundstage, making them a great choice for entry-level audiophiles or audio engineers.
Despite being budget headphones, the K92 are quite well-built. They have gold-plated connectors and a sturdy self-adjusting headband made from polished metal. While the ear cups are mostly plastic, they have a premium-looking matte finish. Overall, they showed no sign of fragile creaking during our bend test.
Philips SHP9600 Wired
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cup shape: Oval
- Weight: 292 grams
- Connectivity: Wired (3.5 mm and 6.35 mm)
- Sound quality features: 50 mm drivers; neutral sound signature
- Warranty: 1 year
The Philips SHP9600 are another pair of excellent budget headphones for those with big ears. These headphones have solid audio quality and have oval-shaped, breathable velour ear pads that wrap perfectly around large ears to improve sound isolation.
Regarding comfort and adjustability, the SHP9600 are outstanding in many ways. They’re quite lightweight at 292 grams, and the self-adjusting headband and swiveling ear cups do a good job of matching the contours of my head and ears.
Despite being slightly heavier, the SHP9600 have a remarkably light clamping force. There’s barely any discomfort or fatigue, even after wearing them for a few hours. So, you can’t go wrong with these if you plan on listening to music for hours at your desk.
The older SHP9500 have a more flexible headband, translating to an even lower clamping force than the SHP9600. They also have an ‘airier’ sound than the SHP9600, which also means a lower overall bass response.
These headphones have a balanced sound with a bit of an emphasis on the lows, giving them a slightly warmer sound than most other balanced headphones. The sound signature makes them perfect for listening to slow jazz or ballad songs. Despite being budget open-back headphones, they have a relatively wide soundstage that music lovers will enjoy.
Bose 700
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cup shape: Circumaural
- Ear pad size: ~70 mm height; ~56 mm width; ~24 mm depth
- Weight: 254 grams
- Connectivity: Wired (3.5 mm & 2.5 mm); Bluetooth 5
- Sound quality features: ANC; transparency mode; custom EQ
- Warranty: 1 year
If ANC is a must-have for you, nothing beats the Bose 700. These headphones’ ANC feature is arguably one of the most customizable and efficient on the market. Furthermore, it has impressive sound quality and a premium build that accommodates the natural anatomy of the ears.
The Bose 700 have ten levels of ANC, with level 10 being the strongest. They also have three transparency modes (High, Medium, and Full Transparency), which you can access in the Bose Music app.
As for comfort, this is where the Bose 700 stand out. The oval ear cups are large enough to cover most ear shapes completely. And coupled with the gel-like foam padding, you get a tight seal that heightens sound isolation, further complementing the already superb ANC. The silicone-padded headband also feels exceptionally comfortable around my head.
Another nice detail is that the swiveling ear cups are slightly angled, allowing for a more natural fit for big ears.
The Bose 700 also shine in sound quality. They have finely tuned drivers with a balanced sound signature and a slight emphasis on the lows. The bass on these headphones is super responsive and doesn’t bleed into other frequencies. However, although they’re great for casual listening, they’re not detailed enough for studio needs.
These headphones can easily last an entire day, thanks to the 20-hour battery. But even when I forgot to charge them, a 15-minute quick charge gives me about 1 hour of listening time. They charge via USB-C, so I don’t have to carry an extra cable since most phones use USB-C these days.
Sennheiser HD800S
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cup shape: Circumaural
- Weight: 330 grams
- Connectivity: Wired (4.4 mm and 6.35 mm)
- Sound quality features: 56 mm drivers; reference-class quality
- Warranty: 2 years
If you want headphones that best fit your ears and taste for hi-fi music, the Sennheiser HD 800S are the way to go. Not only do they have huge ear cups, but they also deliver exceptional reference-grade sound.
The HD800S are heavily regarded as having one of the best soundstages, even in the high-end headphones market. They also have a balanced signature with a slight emphasis on the mids and highs.
The life-like soundstage and crystal-clear details make listening to HD800S feel like listening to a live concert. You can also get a super immersive gaming experience out of these cans. How clear directional audio cues sound almost feels like cheating in competitive shooter games.
The HD800s are designed to feel comfortable for prolonged listening or mixing sessions at your desk. Most of the headphones’ build consists of plastic, contributing to their relatively lightweight build. So, despite being massive, they are comfortable to wear for hours on end.
Drop + Dan Clark Audio Aeon Closed X
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cup shape: D-shaped
- Ear cup size: ~1 inch depth
- Weight: 326 grams
- Connectivity: Wired (DUMMER 4-pin; 3.5 mm to 6.35 mm)
- Sound quality features: Planar magnetic drivers
- Warranty: 2 years
If absolute comfort is what you’re after, you won’t regret buying the Drop + Dan Clarke Aeon Closed X. These headphones have D-shaped tilting ear cups that mimic the shape of the ears. This design helps evenly distribute the pressure and weight, making them our most comfortable pick for people with big ears.
The Aeon Closed X use a magnesium chassis that’s lightweight but also durable, which is why they only weigh 326 grams despite having large ear cups. Additionally, the NiTinol memory metal headband and memory foam ear pads provide great flexibility, improving their overall comfort.
But comfort isn’t all there is to these headphones, and the makers of Aeon Closed X have made sure of that. These headphones have a pair of planar magnetic drivers with incredibly crisp, clear, and detailed sound across all frequencies.
They sound well-balanced across the board, but what stood out to me was the pleasantly rich and punchy bass. More impressive is that the bass doesn’t bleed into the middle or higher frequency, which is often the case with closed-back headphones.
Another plus point is that the soundstage is relatively wide, despite being a closed-back model. The passive sound isolation is excellent at blocking out outside noises, making them a great choice for offices, coffee shops, and other mildly noisy environments.
Corsair Void RGB Elite
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cups shape: Polygon-shaped
- Ear cups size: 60 mm wide; 18 mm deep
- Weight: 390 grams
- Connectivity: Wireless (2.4 GHz)
- Sound quality features: 50 mm drivers, custom EQ; 7.1 surround
- Warranty: 2 years
The Corsair Void RGB Elite are the perfect product for gamers who also find smaller headphones uncomfortable due to their big ears. The comfortable polygon ear cups, customizable EQ, and 7.1 surround sound combine nicely into headphones you can wear for long gaming sessions.
Despite being bulky at 390 grams, the Void RGB Elite are very comfortable to wear thanks to the low clamping force and extendable headband. Of course, the microfiber mesh ear pads also help distribute the pressure evenly across the sides of my head while improving breathability.
The ear cups also swivel, so I can rest them flat around my neck when I’m not listening to anything. It’s also nice that getting up and moving around is no problem since they have a 2.4 Ghz wireless connection with 12 meters (40 feet) of effective range.
Even though the body is primarily plastic, the Void RGB Elite feel robust to the touch. However, the headband and hinges are all metal, so there’s no need to worry about them snapping off.
Designed for gamers, the Void RGB Elite features 7.1 surround sound for an immersive experience. But if you’re not a fan of sound virtualization, you can configure it in the ICUE app. The app also supports a customizable EQ to adjust the default V-shaped sound signature.
Shokz OpenRun Pro
Key features
- Form factor: Bone conduction
- Weight: 29 grams
- Connectivity: Wireless (Bluetooth 5.1)
- Sound quality features: 9th-generation bone conduction technology; bass enhancers
- Warranty: 2 years
The Shokz OpenRun Pro are the perfect headphones for those with active lifestyles, but even more so if you have big ears. These headphones have a secure fit on the head, wireless connectivity, and excellent durability. But most importantly, you don’t need to worry about the ear cups being too small.
Since these are bone conduction headphones, the ‘ear cups’ sit just in front of your ears – on your jaw and cheekbones, to be precise. This means the Shokz OpenRun Pro will fit your head and ears just fine, no matter how big your ears are.
With an IP55 rating, the OpenRun Pro can endure most water and dust exposure cases except complete submersion. I’ve worn them during many workouts and morning runs, and they’re still holding strong. Additionally, the flexible titanium frame ensures they won’t break if they fall off your head – although the chances of that happening aren’t very high.
These headphones use Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, lasting up to 10 hours on a single charge. If you run out of battery, a quick 10-minute charge will give you 1.5 hours of playback.
HiFiMAN Edition XS
Key features
- Form factor: Over-ear
- Ear cups shape: Oval
- Ear cups size: ~65 mm diameter; 10-12 mm depth
- Weight: 405 grams
- Connectivity: Wired (3.5 mm)
- Sound quality features: Planar magnetic drivers; NEO “supernano” diaphragms
- Warranty: 1 year
The HIFIMAN Edition XS are an excellent choice if you want the best-sounding headphones to fit your big ears. They have huge ear cups with ample padding and crystal-clear details, resulting in a sweet combination of comfort and sound quality.
These headphones have a balanced sound and clear separation between lows, mids, and highs. They also provide a good emphasis on lows and highs, making them ideal for monitoring. Listening to instrumentally complex songs like Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” shows just how capable the planar magnetic drivers are.
Their open-backed design also gives the Edition XS a more expansive soundstage than others in the same price bracket. Not only that, these headphones also make it easy for me to pinpoint where each instrument is supposed to be in the stereo imaging.
These are an upgrade from the HIFIMAN Edition X, which came out in 2017. The Edition XS are miles ahead in terms of sound detail, thanks to the ‘supernano’ diaphragms. These diaphragms are 75% thinner, which means they have a faster response and a better separation between frequencies in your audio.
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