How much can you hear through open backed headphones

[howardc1951]

The normal complaint about open backed headphones is that everyone else in the room can hear your music. My problem is the opposite. When I'm listening with my closed back headphones I can't hear the phone ring even when it's right next to me. So I'm curious to know how much of the outside noise would I be able to hear if I had some open backed phones.
Thanks for any advice.
Howard

[sparrow]

I use open backs and cant hear a thing at all going on around me when listening...

[howardc1951]

Thanks John,
Doesn't sound as if buying a pair of open backs for use when I'm at home on my own will solve the phone problem.
Howard

[johnwhit]

Thanks John,
Doesn't sound as if buying a pair of open backs for use when I'm at home on my own will solve the phone problem.
Howard

How about a phone with a flashing LED, I must admit I never hear the phone with headphones on.

John

[Rare Bird]

I prefer open backed.

[howardc1951]

"How about a phone with a flashing LED, I must admit I never hear the phone with headphones on"

Tried that! Bought one of those phones with flashing red lights and extra loud ring. Hence trying to come up with new ideas.

[Macca]

If it's important they'll call back...

[Stratmangler]

How loud are you playing through your headphones?
It seems to me that you're playing far too loud, and if you were subjected to that kind of level at work then your employer would be legally bound to provide you with adequate hearing protection.

[Markiii]

if your home alone, why do you need to use headphones?

[howardc1951]

I use headphones because at the moment my hifi system consists of a QLS wav player and headphones.

[Theotherlarryb]

I have had open backed Grados and HiFiMan cans, i could hear pretty much everything going on around me. Including a baby.

Beyer DT880s are "semi closed back" but I still heard a lot

Now I have AKG k550s...they drown everyting out :lol:

[goraman]

Get an answer ing machine.

[alan47]

I mostly use open backs,but i always hear the phone and most of what the wife says.I only use closed back when she is home and can answer the phone.:D

[WOStantonCS100]

I use planar open backs. I can hear way too much other stuff when using them, for my liking. The trade off is they sound fantastic late at night when the house is quiet and everyone else is asleep which is the only practical time to use them. But, I have to turn off everything including the water cooler... in the kitchen. I even ended up tearing the humming doorbell transformer out of the wall. Obviously, I only turn the volume up as loud as necessary to hear everything. At night, with most external noise squelched, that's not very high at all.

I probably wouldn't hear my phone if it rang more so because, subconsciously, I'm trying to ignore it. ;)