5 Best Headphones for Big Heads – Max Size, Max Comfort

Headphones for big heads

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Best Headphones for Big Heads
2024

Headphones come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but for those of us with big heads, headphones that fit us just right isn’t all that common.

Getting the most comfort out of a pair of headphones is more than just being large enough for big heads. Fit and comfort are complex, nuanced, and most importantly, very different for different people. So in this guide, we’ll go through what it takes to be the best headphones for big heads, and the cans that we found to have made the cut. 

Headphone ModelDriverFrequency RangePrice
Sennheiser HD60042mm Dynamic Driver12 – 40,500 Hz$$$
Philips Fidelio X2HR50mm Neodymium Drivers5 – 40,000 Hz$$
Koss KSC7534mm Dynamic Driver15 – 25,000 Hz$
Hifiman HE1000seElectrostatic Driver8 – 65,000 Hz$$$$
Sony WH-1000XM440mm Dynamic Driver4 – 40,000 Hz$$$
Editor’s Pick
Sennheiser HD600

The Sennheiser HD600 stands out, excelling both in sound quality and comfort. These headphones feature a comfortable build with oval earcups, lightweight construction, and effective cushioning, making them suitable for larger heads. It also has an excellently balanced sound signature that makes for an outstanding audio experience.

How Headphone Comfort Works

If you’ve ever worn an off-the-rack suit jacket or a gown, you’ve probably noticed all of the little ways that it can fit wrong. Maybe the sleeves are too short. Maybe they feel too tight on the chest. Maybe the buttons or fasteners look like they’re holding on for dear life. 

Headphone comfort works a lot like that. There are a lot of little things that come together to make a headphone feel comfy to wear, and falling short in any one of them can make a headphone mildly annoying or outright unwearable. 

Much of your experience will be affected by the size and shape of your head, and if your head is larger than average, there are a few qualities that contribute to a comfy experience. 

#1: Headband Length

Whether your head is wide or long, a long headband is key to actually getting the headphones to reach and fit around your ears. In most cases, you could probably stretch the headphones to fit but you’ll be pulling down on the headband by doing so, which adds an annoying pressure down on top of your head. 

A surprising example of this is the Audeze LCD-2. Despite its massive earcup diameter, its headband yokes are so short that longer heads will have trouble fitting them. They do sell longer yoke rod accessories if the stock ones are too short but not having it in the first place is quite disappointing. 

#2: Earcup Size

The LCD-2, however, does compensate for this somewhat by having comically large earcups. As the part of the headphone that encircles your ears, the bigger the earcup, the bigger the head and/or ears it can fit. 

Of course, you can only make a headphone so big before it becomes impractical and uncomfortable in its own way. 

Earcups that are too big can often be heavy, especially with high-end headphones that use metal or wood in their designs. More importantly, the earpads might be spread out too much and not provide enough clamping pressure to balance against the headband. 

#3: Clamping Pressure

The clamping pressure or clamping force of a headphone is arguably the most important part of getting a comfortable fit with a big head. 

Getting the headphone clamping pressure is an art that takes a lot of science — much more than we can reasonably cover in this guide. But for our purposes, a good rule of thumb is to strike a balance between the force from the earcups and the force from the headband.

Failing to balance this will skew the feeling of weight too far to one side, which gets quite uncomfortable. Earpads that clamp too lightly will make most of the pressure come from the headband on top of your head. Conversely, earpads that clamp too hard will be quite annoying to wear over time. 

Best Headphones for Big Heads Reviewed

Sennheiser HD600

Editor’s Pick: A legendary reference headphone, the HD600 also somehow excels in comfort for big heads

4.5/5
Price Range: $$$
Brand: Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD600

The Download

It’s not often that a headphone just manages to do everything well all at once. Rare as they are, however, these magic all-rounders do exist — and the Sennheiser HD600 is one of them. 

Already one of our long-time recommendations for one of the best-sounding headphones ever, the Sennheiser HD600 somehow also manages to be one of the most comfortable in its class, making it one of the best headphones for big heads. 

The key to its success is its simple shape and effective use of cushioning. While it doesn’t have the premium look and feel of more modern headphone designs in its price range, the HD600 makes up for it with its very comfortable oval ear cups and lightweight build that minimizes pressure on the head and ears. Soft velour ear pads and plush foam keep contact points nice and comfy, and the surprisingly long headband range reaches all but the absolute largest heads.

And if it wasn’t already obvious, the HD600 sounds great. Its excellently-balanced sound signature is tight and crisp throughout the frequency range, and its clear and close soundstage keeps the experience focused in any genre. While you can’t reasonably take this experience outside, the HD600 does everything it says it can exceptionally well. 

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Open-back over-ear headphones
  • Driver Type:  Single 42mm dynamic driver
  • Frequency Range:  12 – 40,500 Hz
  • Sensitivity:  102 dB/V
  • Impedance:  300 Ω
  • Weight:  ~260 grams (without cable)

What’s in the Box?

  • Sennheiser HD600 headphones
  • 3m cable (dual proprietary 2-pin to 6.3mm TRS)
  • Screw-on adapter (3.5mm TRS to 6.3mm TRS)

Stuff I like

  • Lots of padding for the head and ears
  • Excellent sizing range for both small and large ears
  • Legendary reference sound with impeccable imaging

Stuff I like less

  • Sub-bass extension is expectedly lacking
  • Rather small soundstage for an open-back headphone
  • Wired + open-back = home use only
  • Doesn’t feel very premium
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

Philips Fidelio X2HR

Contender: The solidly bassy sound of the Philips Fidelio X2HR offers a “fun” sounding alternative to the HD600

4.5/5
Price Range: $$
Brand: Philips
Philips Fidelio X2HR

The Download

Despite its status, the HD600 is still very much an “audiophile’s headphone” — its sound is not for everyone. 

With that in mind, the Philips Fidelio X2HR, then, might be worth a look. Its energetic demeanor and immersive soundstage make it especially suited for electronic music and game audio, which also landed it a spot in our list of the best headphones for gaming. 

Long-term comfort is another high point of the X2HR, which it achieves with two specific design details. The first is its long suspension headband, which extends to accommodate very big heads while still maintaining even pressure distribution. The second is its plush ear pads, which are one of the better ones we’ve seen but are hard to replace when they inevitably wear out.

Being a relatively modern headphone (succeeding the X1 in 2017), the X2HR’s design uses a lot more metal for a more solid feel and a more premium look. This naturally adds quite a bit to the weight, but at shy of 400 grams, sit shouldn’t be a problem for most wearers.

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Open-back over-ear headphones
  • Driver Type:  50mm dynamic drivers
  • Frequency Range:  5 – 40,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity:  115 dB/V
  • Impedance:  30 Ω
  • Weight:  ~390 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Philips Fidelio X2HR headphones
  • 3m straight cable (3.5mm to 3.5mm)
  • 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter

Stuff I like

  • Set and forget suspension headband
  • Impactful, immersive bass
  • Fun, versatile sound signature

Stuff I like less

  • On the slightly heavy side
  • Earpads are hard to replace
  • Can’t be used outside
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

Koss KSC75

Budget Pick: One of the most comfortable headphones for big heads…that isn’t worn on the head at all

4/5
Price Range: $
Brand: Koss
Koss KSC75

The Download

The Koss KSC75 is technically a headphone, in the same way that an airplane is a propelled vehicle that can fly through the air. Its drivers are too large for it to fit in the ear canal; instead, they sit on the ears with foam pads and are kept in place with clips that go around the earlobes. 

The lack of a headband connecting the two earpieces makes it hard to call the KSC75 a headphone. There’s no doubt, however, that this helps the KSC75 be one of the best headphones for big heads. But even when we look past its unique design, we’re still treated to a fun and engaging sound. While we won’t be able to get much sub-bass out of it, there’s a decent amount of mid-bass punch on tap and the midrange is still quite clear. 

Of course, we should remember to manage our expectations here. The Koss KSC75 is a $20 headphone that you clip on your ears. But what it does do, it does extremely well, and is worth getting even if it’s just as a beater pair. 

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Closed-back on-ear “headphones”
  • Driver Type:  Single 34mm dynamic drivers
  • Frequency Range:  15 – 25,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity:  113 dB/V
  • Impedance:  60 Ω
  • Weight:  ~45 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Koss KSC75 headphones

Stuff I like

  • Engaging and clear sound signature
  • Fits heads of any size
  • Almost weightless on the ears

Stuff I like less

  • Can be uncomfortable on the ears
  • Sound is nothing special
  • Practically no noise isolation
Overall Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Hifiman HE1000se

Premium Option: A broad, open frame and vast earcups ensure one size fits all—assuming you can afford it, of course

4.5/5
Price Range: $$$$
Brand: HIFIMAN
Hifiman HE1000se

The Download

Ultra-high-end headphones usually justify themselves in one of two ways: luxurious excess or cutting-edge engineering. In the case of their HE1000se, Chinese headphone maker Hifiman does both at the same time. 

At an eye-watering $3,500 MSRP, it’s extremely hard to justify buying any pair of headphones at this price for any normal person. This is even more so when you’re expected to spend almost as much on an amp, DAC, and other components in your audio chain to squeeze every last drop of performance out of it. 

But for the ones weird enough (and rich enough) to grab one, the HE1000se offers an incisive and extremely detailed sound that gives even the venerable Sennheiser HD800 a run for its money. More importantly, the HE1000se has the same elongated design that’s especially comfortable for large heads while also having all of the luxury touches you’d expect from a headphone of this class.

At the top of the headphone price mountain, tiny changes make huge differences. The Hifiman HE1000se, in our opinion, makes just the right adjustments to cement its place above all the rest.

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Open-back over-ear headphones
  • Driver Type:  Single electrostatic driver
  • Frequency Range:  8 – 65,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity:  110 dB/V
  • Impedance:  35 Ω
  • Weight:  440 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Hifiman HE1000se headphones
  • 1.5m straight cable (dual 3.5mm TRS to angled 3.5mm TRS)
  • 3m straight cable (dual 3.5mm TRS to balanced XLR)
  • 3m straight cable (dual 3.5mm TRS to 6.3mm TRS)

Stuff I like

  • Sound quality that’s actually worth the price tag
  • Premium fit and feel
  • Spacious, one-size-fits-all design

Stuff I like less

  • On the heavier side
  • Requires a proper setup built around it
  • Ear pads can be a bit shallow
Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars

Sony WH-1000XM4

Also Consider: Still one of the best and most comfortable wireless ANC headphones on the market

4/5
Price Range: $$$
Brand: Sony
Sony WH-1000XM4

The Download

With the third iteration of the WH-1000X, Sony has basically perfected the formula for wireless ANC headphones. A simple fit with a huge sizing range for large heads, a tight and smooth software experience, excellent noise cancellation and generally great sound at $300 — the WH-1000XM3 already does so much right, it’s hard to find anything better than this. 

Except, of course, a fourth version.

Unlike the further departure of the XM5, the WH-1000XM4 is more of an iteration of its predecessor. It makes small but meaningful changes like more spacious ear cups, longer battery life at nearly 40 hours, and better tuned ANC that’s hot on the heels of Bose’s best.

If you do find yourself without any juice, the XM4s could still be used passively with a good ol’ cable. However, its sound while unpowered is kind of a mess — retaining all of the bass of its stock sound with a weaker top end that emphasizes the bass even further.

Clearly the Sony WH-1000XM4, a wireless ANC headphone, is meant to be used as such. Just keep the battery charged and you’ll have no less than one of the best headphones in its class. 

The Specs

  • Headphone Type:  Closed-back over-ear headphones
  • Driver Type:  Single 40mm dynamic driver
  • Frequency Range:  4 – 40,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity:  115 dB/V
  • Impedance:  40 Ω
  • Weight:  ~260 grams

What’s in the Box?

  • Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones
  • 1.2m straight cable (3.5mm TRS to 3.5mm TRS)
  • Charging cable (USB-A to USB-C)
  • Flight adapter plug
  • Carrying case

Stuff I like

  • Extensive size adjustment range
  • Excellently fun sound signature
  • Top-tier active noise-canceling

Stuff I like less

  • Disappointing passive sound
  • Battery life is a bit behind the competition
  • Bass-heavy sound is not for everyone
Overall Rating: 4 / 5 Stars

Final Thoughts

As it is with clothes and shoes, it can be a challenge of trial and error to find headphones if you have a big head. The lack of sizing standards for headphones only adds another roadblock to finding that perfect fit. 

But as we’ve shown in this guide, there are a lot of excellent headphones out there that will fit larger heads without much trouble, with our top pick being the Sennheiser HD600. While we’re just scratching the surface of the options available, you can’t go wrong with any of our recommendations here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most comfortable headphones for a large head?

The Sennheiser HD600 is, in our opinion, one of the best headphones for big heads thanks to its combination of roomy oval earcups and a long headband extension range. The Sony WH-1000XM4 is a great alternative if you want a closed-back headphone that you can comfortably use outside.

How do you know if headphones will fit your head?

The best way to test a headphone’s fit is to actually wear it in person. You’ll know if you have a comfortable fit if the headphones fully cover your ears and there isn’t too much pressure on the top or sides of your head.

What are full-size headphones?

Full-size headphones are just another name for over-ear headphones. This is a kind of headphone design in which the earcups are meant to be large enough to completely surround your ears, making a seal on your head.

Endless hours of experimentation, professional work, and personal investment in Home Theatre, Hi-Fi, Smart Home Automation and Headphones have come to this.

Former owner of Headphones Canada, a high-end headphone specialty retailer.

This post was last updated on 2024-03-18 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.


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