Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

On the train or in the office, noise-cancelling headphones are an absolute must for anyone who likes to listen. Which ones are the best, though?

Sony's flagship headphones are an excellent value. They come with a fresh design and superior sound quality, best over Ear headphones noise-cancelling as well as impressive features. From the forceful chorus to Sinead's trembling bridge, these headphones deliver amazing clarity and authenticity.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the king of noise cancellation and its WH1000XM5 headphones represent the most advanced version of this model. This model is a great pair of headphones, especially for those who commute or travel. They are comfortable, feature multipoint technology that allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously, and have the best ANC Sony has ever made. They are lightweight and can run for up to 27 hours with no charging. This is enough to get through a week of commutes or long-haul flights.

The WH1000XM5s are sleek and minimal in design. They are made from ABS which is which is a recyclable and recycled plastic. The branding is minimal, but you'll see the tiny 'Sony' logo on the hinge of each earcup. The headband and earcups are cushioned by a plush soft material that feels comfortable on all but the largest heads. The earcups can be adjusted to ensure that you get the ideal fit for your needs.

In contrast to previous models that concentrated on reducing low-frequency noise the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves, which cancels out background noise. This improves the overall sound quality, and can help reduce engine and cabin noises on flights. The XM5s comes with an additional processing unit that helps increase noise cancellation on planes. The audio app is also able to automatically adjust the sound environment you are listening to based on the pressure of the air.

The WH-1000XM5s also has an assistant for voice that is easy to use and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and many more. You can also pair the XM5s with other Sony audio products to enable multi-room music playback and stereo separation. They are compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio through Sony's LDAC but not aptX or HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

When an organization has been producing headphones for many years, including Sennheiser you can expect top-of-the-line sound quality and a comfy fit. With their new over-ears, called Momentum 4 Wireless, they provide both. They've revamped their design to eliminate some distinctive elements that gave their previous models the look of an aviator. They also upgraded active noise cancellation with their newest Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. The headphones are designed to last for 60 hours with ANC on, Best over ear headphones noise-cancelling which is double the battery life of many rivals.

They're also more portable than the previous model since they fold up and are smaller overall. They're made with artificial PU leather for the replaceable ear pads and headband which feel comfortable on my head even if I wear them for the entire day at work. There's not a lot of clamping force that keeps them in place and they'll be comfortable during flights and during longer workouts.

The sound is well-balanced and clear There are a few peaking in the low-mid and high-mid, which can cause slight muddiness in mixes. The bass is too loud with a lot of punch and thump in genres like EDM or hip hop. It's not an issue, but some listeners may find it annoying. The high-mid is a little uneven balance too which pushes instruments and vocals towards the front of the mix, but at the cost of bringing out sibilants in some songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless comes with all the standard features, including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a translucent mode that mixes outside sounds into your music to improve awareness and mobile apps that support custom and preset EQ options. They can also be used with an 3.5mm cable when connecting to your phone via wire. They can connect to your phone by using SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes, and they can reduce delay by as much as one quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

Since their launch, the original PX7s have been featured on numerous lists of the Best over ear headphones noise-Cancelling Bluetooth headphones, atop them in a lot of cases due to their outstanding ANC and high-quality sound. The PX7s, like most wireless headphones, were getting old and required a refresh. Therefore, the PX7S2. B&W not only changed the design and design, but also made enhancements to ANC and added voice-calling features.

The PX7 S2 headphones are incredibly light, making them comfortable for long listening sessions. A lot of the look is reminiscent of the previous model, including the elongated aluminum earcup top as well as the hook-like design on the headband that glids rather than clicks when you expand it and the actual physical buttons. The earcups, however are smaller, and the headband is less substantial.

The software from B&W lets you adjust EQ settings for treble and bass, but you don't get as much control over the ear headphones noise cancelling the mix of those two elements as you do with higher-end headphones. The Quick Action button on left earcup switches between the different modes of the environment. It can also be programmed to activate the voice assistant of your device via the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.

The PX7 S2 is a great option for a variety of music styles. It has a large soundstage and good separation of different sound elements. It is particularly impressive on music that has acoustic instrumentation such as Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. 19, by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capucon, with acoustic instrumental tones that give the feeling of air. It can also handle heavier songs too. The bass sound and midrange clarity on Entombed's garage/deathn'roll crossover, To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth, give an imposing soundscape while allowing you to discern vocal nuances like Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was among the first companies to bring active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. While they held an advantage over the market for years, they are now competing against newer headsets that have more features and higher sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for those who want to listen to their music or podcasts without hums or rumbles.

The default sound profile is balanced and they're comfortable to wear. The ANC is great at removing background noise. However it tends to focus on lower frequencies more than other headphones such as the Sony WH1000XM5.

The QC35s are an excellent pair of headphones to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. They have a passive noise cancellation mode which reduces ambient sounds, yet still keeps you secluded from the surrounding. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and "audio-share", so you can listen to something on one set of headphones and answer an incoming call on the other.

The Bose Connect app is decent but it doesn't have the vast EQ options of some other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode, but the quality of sound is reduced and the battery longevity isn't as good as with wireless models.

The QC35s are a Bose product, which may not be for all. Other brands offer more sleek designs. However, you can add a touch of personalization by purchasing a decal cover-up from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You'll also be able to alter the color of the ear cups and headband later in the year, just like you can do with the previous QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 is among the top wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation you can purchase right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more background noise. They also come with a superior companion app that provides numerous sound-related features that can be customized.

The XM3s offer a fantastic sound quality, and ever since their release, they've been enhanced to deliver an even better experience. They offer a little more detail across the frequency spectrum and their noise cancelling functions better at all volume levels and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control and Speak-to-Chat. They also have a new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that automatically adjusts the amount of external sound let in based on where you are and what you're doing.

There are some issues, though. The midrange can sound receding, and the treble may sometimes be too loud. They still have the tendency to increase the bass too much on certain tracks, making them sound too heavy and full. But that's something you can correct through the headphone settings or by using EQ adjustment within the Sony app.

The XM3s are a great pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute or are frequent travelers. They are more comfortable, feel and look premium, and are durable in comparison to the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a larger battery and one of the most effective over-ear noise cancelling headphones cancelling features available. They are also more versatile and more suited for use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X wireless, though their noise cancelling is less impressive. They're not waterproof which could be a deal-breaker for some people.