Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also permit larger drivers that deliver deeper bass and a bigger soundstage. Many of them also feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update offers excellent audio, a variety of ANC modes, and a long battery life, all in a sleek and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, have an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass-heavy) and come with an app that allows for some audio-related customization. They've upgraded their active noise cancellation, removing the background noise and extending the battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. This codec can transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and switch between them when required. This feature can be enabled via the Sony Headphones Connect App and is very effective.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond more quickly to a tap on a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a phone call or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature to make voice calls more clear and precise during calls. This is an obvious and nice touch.

While the WH1000XM4s aren't perfect, they are some of the top wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable, feel well-made, and come with an impressive battery that lasts longer than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used using the TRS cable, which is ideal if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable and Head phone wireless their ANC can block out more background noise. They also come with a companion application that lets you adjust their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are better built and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine that attempts to increase the size of compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does an excellent job of improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless music.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 noise-canceling headset is the most recent version of a headset which has become a favorite among commuters and travelers all over the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that has made its predecessor so successful, while adding the USB-C port and improved noise cancellation.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feel and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband, which is made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the metal hinges at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you extend or retract your ear cups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that fit over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be used when you're wearing a sweater or coat as the noise cancelling function works even when they're not on your head phone Wireless.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack details that higher-end headphones may be capable of bringing out. The higher registers tend to be boosted, which is fine for most music, but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent, but it lacks power.

One thing that's not included is the ability to pause playback whenever you take off the headset. This is a feature Bose's competitors have offered for several years. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings within the app, but it would be nice to have manual control.

You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust the volume and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones inbuilt to hear your voice while on the phone. The headphones have good call quality, but they don't allow you to mute the voice during playback like other wireless headphones. Update In February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s gave you manual EQ options in the audio app, which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are known for their comfort and style, which let listeners know that they're listening to something special. Their first foray into wireless headphones that block noise, the Bathys are stunning headphones that look and sound great. They also have a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys come with a great battery performance with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We were able to get more than 40 hours of playback time on average from just one charge. If you need to recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that will turn red when the headphone needs to be charged.

For headphones for this price, they have lots of features. They support multiple devices simultaneously and offer automatic pairing. (You have to select the device you want to pair with by hand each time you listen.) They also have a built-in mic that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to navigate interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

For headphones with over-ear connectivity for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys perform very well in our tests of noise cancellation, which reduces the ambient sound by about 9 decibels on average. This isn't as impressive as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, however it's still quite effective.

In our tests of headphone sound quality The Bathys did well overall, with a an overall frequency response that matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with only minor deviations in the bass and mids. The Bathys have a bassy sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit obscure.

They also have excellent leakage resistance, so you can wear them in public without worrying about other people hearing your music. The microphone has a decent recording quality through Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid - to high treble frequency range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's flagship bluetooth wireless headphones headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid, but not spectacular entry in this category. The new pair is a significant improvement over the previous generation, with a sleeker look, improved gesture control and a massive battery life.

The improvements here are subtle, but they make a pair of over-ears that seem like a step up from the old one. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold however they do come with a nice hardshell case to protect them while on the go. The Momentum 4s are compatible with all devices, just like other Bluetooth headphones from recent times, like the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked spatial audio) that you'll find on the AirPods.

The most obvious change in this model is the huge battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback time with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than the majority of the competitors offer and enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding a power outlet to charge them up.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones an 82 percent score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense gravitas in the mids as well as the treble. This means that orchestral music tends to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well-rounded however it can be overemphasized, which can cause to fatigue in songs with high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full and there's no feeling of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfortable and shouldn't put too much pressure on your neck or ears. However they can be a bit uncomfortable when worn in the house or during longer listening sessions. They can move around on your head, causing intense head movements. This can cause them suddenly wake up which can be distracting during music or calls. Fortunately, they will shut down after 15 minutes of sleep by default and can be turned off manually off by pressing the power button.