# Open Back Headphones and wall effects **URL:** \ **Category:** General Headphone Discussion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714 "2020-10-11T00:29:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EWIPAUL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@EWIPAUL](https://forum.headphones.com/u/EWIPAUL)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/1 "2020-10-11T00:29:55Z")
I am new to this forum and new to headphone listening. I own a pair of Senheiser 800s headphones and this is my first open back. I would think the answer is no, but does wall proximity effect sound stage or imaging with this type of headphone? ---
**Author:** ![frkasper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/frkasper/32/9408_2.png) [@frkasper](https://forum.headphones.com/u/frkasper)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 1:04am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/2 "2020-10-11T01:04:14Z")
I guess your answer depends on how loud are you listening to these cans? I have a HD800S as well and the only wall reflections I hear – occasionally – are the ones inside the cups themselves. 😉 > [@EWIPAUL](#): > > but does wall proximity… Seriously though, how close to the walls? 🤔 Welcome to the community. ---
**Author:** ![rrwwss52](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/rrwwss52/32/945_2.png) [@rrwwss52](https://forum.headphones.com/u/rrwwss52)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 3:25am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/3 "2020-10-11T03:25:31Z")
Not unless you are leaning on it. 😀 HD800S are great headphones. Lots of good pad options too. Options are plentiful. What type of headphone amp are you using? I’d guess you would need to have lots of volume and be right up against a wall to have any potential impact. ---
**Author:** ![EWIPAUL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@EWIPAUL](https://forum.headphones.com/u/EWIPAUL)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 3:49am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/4 "2020-10-11T03:49:00Z")
Thanks for the quick response. I am using a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+. I am getting very good sound and the staging is great. But my room is small and being new to headphones I thought it best to ask. Thanks again ---
**Author:** ![frkasper](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/frkasper/32/9408_2.png) [@frkasper](https://forum.headphones.com/u/frkasper)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/5 "2020-10-11T04:13:17Z")
No worries. Should you like to narrow that down, I’d suggest trying simple tones – e.g.: \> 4 kHz. The key is to find/identify signs of room reverberation. See this [site](https://www.szynalski.com/tone-generator/). Try with an external speaker first and with some different frequencies. Or even with your own voice (or someone else). If the echo does not bother you with an external source, then definitely the headphones will never be an issue. Cheers. ---
**Author:** ![cpp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/cpp/32/14979_2.png) [@cpp](https://forum.headphones.com/u/cpp)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 12:56pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/6 "2020-10-11T12:56:01Z")
How small is small. The acoustics of the room usually plays a huge part for normal speakers. Like one posted," if you are leaning against the wall", maybe which would impact the lower bass freq. through its reflections off a surface but I would think the volume would have to be LOUD. Because open back headphones can’t block outside noise that well, you’ll hear _everything_ going on around you and that will impact the sound, but not the walls. . ---
**Author:** ![generic](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/generic/32/61169_2.png) [@generic](https://forum.headphones.com/u/generic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/7 "2020-10-11T14:00:21Z")
I only hear a change with open backs when cupping it with my hand or leaning my ear against a chair or covering the headphones with a jacket. Room is a non issue. ---
**Author:** ![cpp](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/cpp/32/14979_2.png) [@cpp](https://forum.headphones.com/u/cpp)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/8 "2020-10-11T14:12:33Z")
> [@generic](#): > > cupping i Agree, cupping is acting like an acoustic trap of sorts. Mine do the same thing ---
**Author:** ![callmevil](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/callmevil/32/16451_2.png) [@callmevil](https://forum.headphones.com/u/callmevil)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 2:58pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/9 "2020-10-11T14:58:57Z")
Are you marshmello? ![mm](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/3/c/3c3d64a22b3173b5cc33d7b322c5017ccd98b148.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![generic](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/generic/32/61169_2.png) [@generic](https://forum.headphones.com/u/generic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/10 "2020-10-11T15:26:33Z")
Or Buckethead? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/1/3/1320a1087114d935f5ed73c752c36f816d9d8893.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![FLTWS](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/fltws/32/6388_2.png) [@FLTWS](https://forum.headphones.com/u/FLTWS)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 3:33pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/11 "2020-10-11T15:33:25Z")
I agree, I don’t see how room acoustics could impact the sound of headphones; opened, closed, or dipoles like the SR1a. Now if the listening space happens to be a coffin with the lid on…maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Pharmaboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Pharmaboy](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Pharmaboy)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/12 "2020-10-11T17:02:11Z")
If the walls are made of rubber & you’re wearing a white jumpsuit and slip-on sneakers, _perhaps_ the soundstaging will be affected (in your mind only). Otherwise, nope. ---
**Author:** ![rrwwss52](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/rrwwss52/32/945_2.png) [@rrwwss52](https://forum.headphones.com/u/rrwwss52)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 10:37pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/13 "2020-10-11T22:37:59Z")
I was thinking of Halloween dressed up as roll of TP… ---
**Author:** ![bpcarb](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/bpcarb/32/16496_2.png) [@bpcarb](https://forum.headphones.com/u/bpcarb)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/14 "2020-10-11T23:57:30Z")
Welcome to the community. One of the advantages of headphones over speakers is that the former takes the room (including walls) out of the equation. Query the altitude of your walls though. I kid. ---
**Author:** ![callmevil](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/callmevil/32/16451_2.png) [@callmevil](https://forum.headphones.com/u/callmevil)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/15 "2020-10-12T00:54:56Z")
🤣! yes, he could also be buckethead… lol ---
**Author:** ![callmevil](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/callmevil/32/16451_2.png) [@callmevil](https://forum.headphones.com/u/callmevil)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 12:55am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/16 "2020-10-12T00:55:58Z")
or he’s in a japanese spec’d porta potty. i kid i kid… ---
**Author:** ![EWIPAUL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@EWIPAUL](https://forum.headphones.com/u/EWIPAUL)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 5:40am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/17 "2020-10-12T05:40:57Z")
Thanks. I think my perception may have been caused by a balance problem. I shifted the headphone output a little to the right and it seems much better. I am also closer to the right wall. ---
**Author:** ![nectarsoundnet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/nectarsoundnet/32/17289_2.png) [@nectarsoundnet](https://forum.headphones.com/u/nectarsoundnet)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 5:13pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/18 "2020-10-12T17:13:51Z")
My left ear is stronger than my right, which is a problem for me. I have to adjust the L/R balance to get a good sound stage for perfectly matched headphones. ---
**Author:** ![EWIPAUL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6de8d8/32.png) [@EWIPAUL](https://forum.headphones.com/u/EWIPAUL)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 6:46pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/19 "2020-10-12T18:46:35Z")
Thanks. It appears that it is my left ear that is stronger plus I use hearing aids. I too have now tried my balance control. ---
**Author:** ![Audiophool](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/audiophool/32/49422_2.png) [@Audiophool](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Audiophool)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/open-back-headphones-and-wall-effects/8714/20 "2020-10-23T18:53:33Z")
Or …possibly? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/3X/c/f/cf9f619c4caf5fe07c73adaa153e41371797326f.jpeg)