Looking for a nice pair of over-ear headphones for glasses wearers can be a little bit tricky. As a result of this pain point, we’ve compiled a list of the best headphones for glasses available on the market right now. We compiled our list using a handful of different ranking factors. These factors include audio quality, comfort whilst wearing headphones, build quality, and more.
If you’re not interested in any of the headphones below, you can consult with the buyer’s guide we’ve also compiled at the bottom of our article. This provides a deep dive into the specific factors we like to look into when we’re researching products to purchase and review.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Best Headphones for Glasses Wearers
1. Sennheiser HD 660 S (Overall Winner)
Undeniably the best headphones on our entire list. Featuring superb sound quality and unbeatable comfort.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth:Â Fully wired
- Type:Â Over-ear
- Enclosure:Â Open back
- Wireless:Â No wireless available
- Noise Canceling:Â Fully acoustic
- Charging:Â Mains operated
- Mic and Controls: Neither available
- Transducer:Â Hand Selected
- Colors:Â Fully Black
- Waterproof:Â Not Available
- Weight:Â 9.3 oz
- Battery Life:Â Infinite (mains)
- Price: Under 500$, although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
These over the ear headphones provide an incredibly massive frequency response, beautiful bass tones, and overall great audio quality. They only really fall short when being used to play video games – in which they can sound muffled. They have a wider range of frequencies than most of the other competitors on this list such as the beyerdynamic dt pro 770 or the bose quiet comfort. Unfortunately, they lack a wireless capability – but if you’re using these professionally that won’t matter.
Pros
- Incredible sound quality
- Hand-selected transducers for unbeatable stereo
- Huge frequency response (10Hz-41kHz)
- Dynamic range of volume (can go super loud if needed)
- Useful as a studio monitor
- Well priced for professional use
Cons
- Fairly pricy for non-professional use
- Not ideal for video game use
Our Rating:
9.7 / 10
This awesome headset features unbeatable sound for a sub 500 dollar headset. It’s an absolute bargain.
2. Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (Runner Up)
Excellent glasses friendly headphones with soft ear cups and a super comfortable headband.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth:Â Exclusively Wired
- Type:Â Over-ear
- Enclosure:Â Cl0sed back
- Wireless:Â Exclusively Wired
- Noise Canceling:Â Fully Acoustic
- Charging:Â Mains Operated
- Mic and Controls:Â Not Available
- Transducer: Multiple Choice
- Colors:Â Black/Grey
- Waterproof:Â Not Present
- Weight:Â 1 lbs
- Battery life:Â Infinite (Mains)
- Price: Under $200, although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our Take:
These studio quality over ear headphones absolutely deserve their place as the runner up for best headphones for glasses. The Closed-back over ear design with soft ear cups makes for both great sound output and comfortable long-term use. It felt unfair to pit this against the sennheiser hd 660s, namely due to the price disparity between both models. But in all honesty, this headset is perfectly capable of holding its own under the circumstances. It’s even a contender for best gaming headset because it doubles up so well as one.
Pros
- Ideal for studio use
- Very sturdy (built to last)
- Features an ergonomic design fit for longer term use
- Can double up as a gaming headset
Cons
- Somewhat bulky/cumbersome
- The wire isn’t removable
Our Rating:
9.7 / 10
This is a comfortable, sturdy, and accurate sound system for your head. It’s unlikely to bump into your glasses frame or cause any of the other issues you may have grown accustomed to with other models.
3. AKG K371
Studio quality headphones with a unique oval ear cup design and an impressive frequency response range.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth:Â Fully Wired
- Type:Â Over-ear
- Enclosure:Â Closed back
- Wireless: Fully Wired
- Noise Canceling:Â Fully Acoustic
- Charging: Not Necessary
- Mic and Controls:Â Not Present
- Transducer: 50mm coated
- Colors:Â Black
- Waterproof:Â Not water resistant
- Weight: 8.9 ounces
- Battery life:Â Infinite (mains)
- Price: Under $200, although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
The unique design of these headphones makes them ideal headphones for glasses wearers. They also provide a great level of ambient noise cancellation and quality audio for mixing. Unlike the bose quiet comfort headphones, which are similarly comfortable for glasses – these employ an oval ear design. This frees up a lot of space around your ears and is more accommodating to awkward shapes interfering with use.
Pros
- Oval foam pads help with comfort, even for glasses wearers
- Adjustable headband allows for a perfect fit
- Impressive frequency response
- 32-ohm impedance line
- High-quality transducers
Cons
- Adjustable/calibrated headbands are more prone to breaking
- The neutral sound profile can be boring for media consumption
Our Rating:
9.1 / 10
Unique ear cup designs and high-quality materials solidify this as an excellent choice for musicians and gamers alike.
4. Samson SR850 (Best Budget Headphones)
These old-school headphones are an excellent budget buy and have a whole host of ergonomic features. Probably the best headphones for people with glasses under 100.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth:Â Fully Wired
- Type:Â Over-ear
- Enclosure:Â Open back
- Wireless:Â Fully Wired
- Noise Canceling:Â N/A
- Charging:Â Not Necessary
- Mic and Controls:Â Not Necessary
- Transducer:Â 50mm REM
- Colors:Â Black
- Waterproof:Â Not featured
- Weight:Â 1.05 lbs
- Battery time:Â Infinite (mains)
- Price: Under $90, although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
These headphones actually employ a slightly older design – and it shows in the aesthetic. They’re a little bit cheaper as a result. They’re still among the best headphones for glasses wearers because they utilize velour pads around the ears -which are soft and moldable enough to not disrupt your glasses when you move. They also utilize open back cans, comparable to that of our front-running product in this list.
Pros
- Stylish, retro design
- Highly comfortable velour ear pads
- The headband can self adjust and isn’t too rigid
- Powerful 50mm magnetic drivers
Cons
- Slightly older model
- Open back design isn’t ideal for listening around others
Our Rating:
9.4 / 10
This retro headset doesn’t falter when it comes to sound quality or comfort over longer periods of use.
5. Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Wireless Headphones
These portable headphones are foldable, feature a detachable cable, and a highly comfortable ear cup design which is perfect for anyone who wears glasses.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth:Â Present
- Type:Â Over-ear
- Enclosure:Â Closed back
- Wireless:Â Available/Hybrid
- Noise Canceling:Â Fully Acoustic
- Charging:Â 7 Hours
- Mic and Controls:Â Controls for both built into ear cup
- Transducer:Â Dynamic
- Colors:Â Black/Blue/Gun Metal/White/Purple
- Waterproof:Â Not Featured
- Weight:Â 10.1 oz
- Battery time:Â 40 hours
- Price: Under 160$, although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
These comfortable headphones receive a lot of attention for their portability. But they actually also provide quite an extensive frequency range thanks to their 45mm magnetic drivers. The cable can also be detached and the headphones can function as a wireless Bluetooth headset – which is a nice little hybrid feature. Whilst these do have a great frequency range, it’s important to note it’s still underperforming compared to the beyerdynamic dt 770 pro. However, they do have the advantage of wireless, which the previously mentioned headset sadly lacks.
Pros
- Headphones can be folded up
- The cable can be detached (cheaper to replace)
- High-quality audio
- Swiveling ear pads are highly adaptable & great for glasses wearers
- Excellent sound isolation
- Wide range of colors to choose from
- This range doubles as gaming headsets
Cons
- Too much pressure for some users
- More moving parts means more opportunity for breakage
Our Rating:
9.7 / 10
If you’re looking for an adaptable headset with a wide use case across multiple forms of media, this is a great choice.
6. Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Headphones
Based on user reviews alone these are considered excellent headphones for glasses wearers. Probably due to their comfortable ear pads.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth:Â Yes
- Type:Â Over-ear
- Enclosure:Â Closed-back
- Wireless:Â Yes
- Noise Canceling:Â Both active and acoustic
- Charging:Â 7 Hours
- Mic and Controls:Â Yes
- Transducer:Â Dynamic
- Colors:Â Black/Silver
- Waterproof: Not Present
- Weight:Â 8.3 oz
- Battery time:Â 20 hours
- Price: Under 300$, although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
These cans trump some of the other headphones on our list when it comes to features and functionality. They have integrated microphones that can be used for Alexa, augmented reality, and active noise cancellation. They’re also a hybrid of Bluetooth and wired – meaning they can be used to relax or in a more professional setting. Unfortunately, some corners were cut with the bass. So if you’re a fan of deep booming bass tones we’d stay clear.
The bose quiet comfort headset has a massive advantage over competitors like the sony MDR1RNC because of its many functions such as the Bose connect app and easy pairing with android devices.
Pros
- Good ambient noise cancellation
- Active noise cancellation present
- Crisp audio
- Well padded headphones
- Built in microphone
- Optional cable for latency
Cons
- Only using Bluetooth will result in minor latency
- Doesn’t have a particularly great bass response
- Distortion at higher volumes
Our Rating:
9.7 / 10
If you’re looking for a headset with a massive array of functionality and compatibility, this is a solid choice.
7. Sony MDR1RNC (Non Wireless Headphones)
If you’ve got the money to spare, this headset boasts incredible features and an extremely high level of overall quality.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth:Â Fully Wired
- Type:Â Over-ear
- Enclosure:Â Closed back
- Wireless:Â Fully Wired
- Noise Canceling:Â Yes
- Charging:Â Charging cable sold separately
- Mic and Controls:Â In line remote control cable
- Transducer:Â Dynamic 50mm drivers
- Colors:Â Black
- Waterproof:Â Not present
- Weight:Â 11.8 oz
- Battery time:Â 22 hours
- Price: Under 400$, although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
These headphones are a bit of a mixed bag, especially compared to other models in the same price range such as the sennheiser hd 660s. On one hand, they have undeniably amazing sound. The over-ear design in conjunction with a few nifty hardware tricks makes for an unbeatable listening experience. On the other hand, they’re pretty bulky and lack the padding to compensate for this. Especially compared to headsets such as the Shure SRH1540 – which actively use aircraft aluminum to keep bulk/weight down whilst retaining a high level of durability and quality.
Pros
- Automated AINC noise cancellation provides unbeatable sound isolation
- Earpads are highly comfortable and ergonomic
- Doubles up as wired headphones
- 50mm audio drivers made from liquid crystal polymer provide a great frequency response
- Excellent space emulation
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Far too heavy
- Foam padding is too thin for extended use
Our Rating:
8.8 / 10
These cans are an awesome choice for music lovers pursuing limited use. The space emulation alone makes you feel like you’re actively at a concert.
8. Philips Fidelio X2HR (Non Wireless Headphones)
These budget headphones actually let you toggle between driver sizes to ensure you get the best value for money.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth: Fully Wired
- Type:Â Over Ear
- Enclosure:Â Open Back
- Wireless:Â Fully Wired
- Noise Canceling:Â Fully acoustic
- Charging:Â Not necessary
- Mic and Controls:Â Volume controls
- Transducer:Â 50mm, neodymium
- Colors:Â Black
- Waterproof:Â Not Present
- Weight:Â 8.2 oz
- Battery time:Â Infinite (mains operated)
- Price: Under 160$ although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
Despite being fairly affordable headphones, the level of engineering that has gone into designing these is quite remarkable. From top to bottom, every aspect of the design has been meticulously labored over. From the layered motion control technology through to the adjustable headband and heavily layered ear shells.
Whilst they don’t have as much functionality as models other models like the Bose Quietcomfort (which have their own exclusive Bose connect app) – they are still backed by an impressive array of little tweaks that are designed to enhance listening.
Pros
- Multiple budget options available
- High-resolution sound quality
- Foam ear pads (velour) are replaceable and great for glasses wearers
- Adjustable headband
Cons
- Bass leaves something to be desired
- Mid-range frequencies can feel a little distorted/muddy
- Open back designs always result in bleed through.
Our Rating:
9.6 / 10
An excellent pick for anyone shopping on a budget – especially those who’re looking for a bit of choice.
9. Shure SRH1540 (Non Wireless Headphones)
As usual Shure have delivered another highly durable, comfortable, and easily adjustable headset with some modest sound quality.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth: Fully Wired
- Type:Â Over Ear
- Enclosure:Â Closed Back
- Wireless:Â Fully Wired
- Noise Canceling:Â Fully Acoustic
- Charging:Â Not necessary
- Mic and Controls:Â Not present
- Transducer:Â 40mm neodymium
- Colors:Â Black/Grey/Silver
- Waterproof:Â Not Present
- Weight:Â 11.4 ounces
- Battery time:Â Infinite (mains)
- Price: Under 500$? although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
This is another product that brings with it a handful of positives and negatives. The sound quality is likely to exceed your expectations – especially for the price range it exists in. However, the excellent sound quality is contrasted by a build quality that leaves a little to be desired. Namely in how flimsy it feels despite the use of high-quality materials.
Whilst its true that the aircraft aluminum gives it a bit of an advantage in weight over other models such as the KRK KNS 8400 – it doesn’t completely protect the product from destruction. The presence of a moving adjustable headband is always a bit of a worry.
Pros
- Aircraft aluminum makes for a light and sturdy build quality
- Driver frame is made from steel to eliminate internal interference
- 40mm drivers make for a nice frequency response
- Closed-back design for higher noise cancellation levels
- Ear pads are ideal for wearing glasses
Cons
- Too many moving parts (easier to break)
- Limited ear adjustment despite this
Our Rating:
9.3 / 10
If you’re looking for a relatively sturdy closed back headset with excellent ambient noise reduction, you won’t have to look further than here.
10. KRK KNS 8400
These on-ear headphones offer a nice change of pace from the all too common over-ear design. But they’re not without their own faults.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Bluetooth:Â Fully Wired
- Type:Â On Ear
- Enclosure:Â Generic
- Wireless:Â Fully Wired
- Noise Canceling:Â Acoustic
- Charging:Â Not Necessary
- Mic and Controls:Â Not Present
- Transducer:Â 40mm neodymium
- Colors:Â Black
- Waterproof:Â Not Present
- Weight:Â 0.51 lbs
- Battery time:Â Infinite (mains)
- Price: Under 200$, although prices vary on Amazon (buy link) – Checked May 20, 2021
Our take:
It’s highly likely at this stage in our list that you will have noticed a distinct lack of “over-ear” design headphones. This is primarily because over-ear headphones are so hard to get right. It can be tricky to ensure they’re sturdy. It can also be pretty tricky to get the balance of sound isolation and general comfort right too. These headphones make a great attempt at tackling these issues and only leave a little to be desired when it comes to low-end power and headband comfort.
Whilst other headsets such as the Philips Fidelio X2HR may look like they’re capable of filtering out more ambient noise – their open back designs still allow audio to bleed through both ways. Yet this innocuous looking on ear design is capable of even better acoustic noise reduction.
Pros
- On ear design makes these an excellent choice of headphones for glasses wearers
- Acoustic memory foam makes for an incredibly comfortable listening experience
- The over ear design hasn’t resulted in sound leakage, which is impressive
- Incredible durability
- Highly portable
- Accurate enough for studio monitoring
Cons
- Bass levels are just okay
- Some people report discomfort with the headband
Our Rating:
9.2 / 10
If you want to experience the benefit/comfort of on ear style headphones, these are the best possible option in terms of quality and value for money.
Considerations Buying Glasses Friendly Headphones
If you’re not interested in picking items from a list and you’d prefer to do your own research, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here’s a quick compilation of some of the things we’d personally be on the lookout for when searching for a new headset.
Ear cups
These can be particularly obtrusive to those who wear glasses. Typically speaking – stiffer materials such as firmer types of leather don’t have enough “give” in them. So they’re more likely to knock your glasses loose if you happen to move your headphones. Softer materials such as fabrics and various types of foams offer the least resistance.
Flexible headband
This component is another issue for anyone wearing glasses. Generally speaking, finding the right one is a balancing act. You need a headset with enough elasticity and rigidity to hold your earcups firmly on your head. But you don’t want one with so much rigidity that your ear cups are highly responsive to movement and thus more likely to knock your glasses loose.
Over ear vs On ear vs In ear
It’d be disingenuous to say this boils down entirely to personal preference. There’s a lot of differences between the various types of headphone configurations.
Both on a technical level (when it comes to how you experience audio) and also on the level of accessibility for users who have to wear glasses.
Smaller, wireless in-ear headphones are obviously very unlikely to disrupt your workflow. But they also don’t provide you with a wide enough frequency range and low enough latency output to enable studio work.
On ear headphones aren’t particularly disruptive to glasses (normally) provided that the headband and earpads are reasonably constructed. But again, you can often run into an issue with sound quality. Namely because the lack of “cans” doesn’t provide a reasonable level of sound isolation from the outside world.
Over ear headphones are often the best option for anyone looking for high-quality sound output. But unfortunately, they’re also the most disruptive to people who wear glasses. Finding the perfect pair is a little harder.
Closed back vs Open back
Closed back and open back headphones don’t normally have extremely different dimensions. So they aren’t more or less likely to bang off glasses frames or interfere in other ways. The only operative difference between closed and open back headphones is that open back phones have an opening for air. This can stop a build-up of pressure which would normally distort audio slightly. Closed back headphones are fully sealed and have better noise cancellation.
Sound Quality
This should obviously be an important factor for anyone sourcing headphones. But sound quality is actually a fairly subjective thing. Frequency response ranges and EQ presets that sound amazing to some people sound horrible and distorted to others. Without hearing through a headset first, it can be quite hard to gauge the quality.
Luckily there are a few things to look out for in your specifications that can be an indicator of sound quality.
These are normally things such as the presence of 40m-50mm neodymium drivers. These are effectively the industry standard when it comes to generating a nice range of frequencies to enjoy without too much interference.
Always remember that build quality doesn’t correlate with the sound quality too. You can find the most impressively well-put-together headphones in the world and they could still sound awful.
Glasses Wearers FAQs
What are the best headphones for people who wear glasses?
This is largely down to what your intentions are when it comes to using your headphones. If you’re planning on gaming or you’re looking for studio reference headphones – you’re probably going to want a pair of closed-back, over-ear headphones. If this is the case for you our top recommendation would be #1 on our list, which is the Sennheiser HD 660S.
If you’re only concerned about some entry-level media/podcast/music consumption and you don’t have a strong need for quality, you probably won’t need the above.
How do you wear headphones comfortably with glasses?
If you’re unable to afford a new headset immediately, you might be left cursing yourself with your current pair. Luckily, there are a lot of people who wear glasses. And some of them are pretty smart. As a direct result of this, we’ve been able to accumulate a list of “hacks” for turning any set of headphones into the best headphones for glasses.
Glasses hacks for headphones:
- Get thinner glasses frames.
- Use tissues or foam to provide padding between your glasses frames and your actual head.
- Replace the ear padding on your headphones.
- Loosen the headband on your headphones.
How long should I wear my headphones with glasses?
The answer to this question is the same as the answer to “how long should I wear headphones in general?”.
Wearing headphones for too long won’t just result in chaffing and irritation around your ears – you can actually damage your hearing depending on the volume you prefer to listen at.
In all honesty, it’s probably not ideal to be wearing your headphones continuously for more than 90 minutes a day. Especially if they’re at max volume. You’re unlikely to cause significant chafing or hearing damage if you adhere to this warning as a general rule.
If you have a job that requires you to operate headphones for longer than this, make sure to take regular breaks and keep your volume under control.
Can you wear glasses with noise-cancelling headphones?
You absolutely can do this.
Noise-canceling is a fairly vague term – you can use in-ear wireless headphones with active noise cancellation and it’s completely physically impossible that they would ever be able to interfere with your glasses.
Even larger headsets with powerful acoustic foam cancellation can be worn fairly easily with glasses provided a few quick adjustments are made. (such as swapping for soft ear cups or loosening your headband)
Can you wear Bose headphones with glasses?
Yes, Bose are a great brand, but there is nothing particularly unique to their headphones that would prohibit someone from wearing them in the event they were wearing glasses. In fact, quite a lot of customer reviews for Bose headphones in the past have mentioned them being relatively compatible with glasses.
Bose quiet comfort headphones, for example, get a great write up for their overall ergonomic design that remains highly adaptable to a wide range of head sizes
Should I buy Wired or Wireless headphones for glasses?
The answer to this question honestly boils down to what your intended use for your headphones is. The best headphones for one purpose can be completely useless for another. If you’re pursuing audio quality/low latency for gaming or studio mixing (mixing audio professionally) – then you’re going to need a wired connection. More casual use can be covered with the wide range of wireless headphones out there.
(Note: The best gaming headset doesn’t have to be wired – it just helps)
