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The PX8 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Review

The PX8s are expensive, but they look and sound a cut above other headphones. A carbon cone 40mm driver as well as Nappa leather elevate the style. Additionally, a DAC mode can play hi-res audio.

This Bluetooth flagship is Bose’s top-of-the-line ANC technology, superior control and a sleek look. The main selling point however, is its battery life.

Sound Quality

In general, wireless headphones are more effective than earbuds since they fully surround your ears. They also have larger earcups which allow powerful drivers to deliver massive soundstages and deep bass. But this comes at a price that is why over-ear headphones generally are more expensive, with flagship models starting at about $250 / PS250 / AU$450 and often featuring active noise cancellation.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference and what you’re using headphones for. If you’re looking to listen to music in a noisy setting and are looking for comfort over audio quality, a budget pair like the Jabra Move Wireless or JBL E50 are a good option. The I-MEGO Throne Gold headphones provide high-quality sound and a long battery life. Focal Bathys, on the other hand, are made for audiophiles, with their DAC mode that supports high-res over USB-C.

The mid-tier price range has plenty of options, with a range of brands that offer headphones that sound great for reasonable prices. The Poly (formerly Plantronics) BackBeats Pro 2 are a great example, with a thumpy bass and bright treble for rock and pop, but also a clear mid-range that keeps vocals and instruments prominent. jbl headphones wireless updated Sennheiser Momentum 4 are another solid option, with improved ANC and a handy companion app that has presets for various listening styles. If you’re a fan of Bose’s premium headphones, the QC35 II offers a similar experience, but with more durability and a passive design that blocks out noise.

Audiophiles are trained to differentiate between headphones. Even casual listeners can tell the distinction between wired and wireless headphones. Wireless headphones come with several pitfalls that could affect the quality of audio. Audio codecs, for example can alter the sample rate, bandwidth and the latency of wireless transmissions, leading to distortion and loss of detail.

These issues have been solved by wireless headphones, which use the latest Bluetooth technology. They also support advanced audio codecs such as Qualcomm AAC. Most wireless over-ear headsets that we test provide excellent audio quality at an affordable price.

Noise Cancellation

Wireless over-ear headphones are an excellent option to block out noise at your workplace or on an airplane. These large headphones are usually more comfortable than earbuds. Many models also come with active noise cancellation, which makes your music and audio more clear.

Active noise cancellation uses microphones to detect noise in the surrounding area and use frequencies to counteract it, effectively separating you from the surrounding. The majority of over-ear headphones that support this feature have a microphone built-in to ensure that your voice is clearly heard when you make phone calls. If you are looking for a pair of low-cost wireless noise cancelling headphones look into the Audio-Technica M20xBT, which comes with Bluetooth multipoint connectivity and up to 60 hours of battery life. These over-ear headphones make an excellent choice for those who commute and are small enough to fit in the bag or purse of a person.

If you’re looking to invest a bit more into your audio experience then the Focal Bathys are a fantastic pair of premium wireless headphones that offer excellent audio quality and advanced noise cancellation. The first wireless headphones made by a French premium audio company, the Focal Bathys are an audiophile’s dream. They have an open back design with luxurious materials, such as leather and aluminum detailing. They boast a rich suite of features, including a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets to customize your listening experience. They deliver excellent isolation with their 40mm Beryllium coated drivers and acoustic leather cups, and they support lossless audio playback that allows them to function as high-end hi-fi headphones when wired.

For a more budget-friendly option the Monoprice B-600ANC is a lightweight, comfortable pair of wireless over-ear headphones that have good sound quality and impressive noise cancellation for the price. The headphones offer a wide selection of features like ambient awareness and ANC modes, touch controls and AAC and aptX support for high-quality audio on Android and iOS. The BT-600ANC is among the very few pairs of headphones to feature a programmable ambient awareness mode that lets you listen to the sounds around you at a lower level without switching off your music.

Battery Life

The worst thing you could happen is to be depleted midway through the long commute or workout. Wireless headphones eliminate the cord and are a more comfortable option. The battery power of wireless headphones will drain over time. It is important to select the one with a long-lasting battery.

Some models are able to stay up and running for days or weeks on a single charge. This endurance comes with trade-offs. To get there, manufacturers must reduce the size of the battery, or sacrifice other features. The best wireless headphones have a great balance between battery capacity and performance.

Over-ear headphones typically come with larger batteries, however the bulky design means they consume more power for features like active noise cancelling. On-ear headphones, on the other hand are more compact in design that makes them more portable. However, they do not have the same noise-blocking features as their more bulky counterparts.

In terms of battery longevity, the Cleer Enduro ANC and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have set a new standard for wireless headphones. Both headphones can play music for up to 60 hours with ANC. They easily beat top-of-the-line headphones at a similar price like Sony’s W1000XM5 and Bose’s S740III.

Similar to the Focal Px8’s first wireless headphones are a dream for audiophiles. The Focal Px8 headphones have an open-back design that is comfortable to wear. The headphones deliver a dynamic sound with a focus on thumping bass and bright trebles. The Focal Px8 headphones also come with an app companion to let you alter the sound to your liking.

Focal’s headphones are among the most expensive on the market. This is due to their premium materials and premium design. The headphones also have an option for fast charging that lets you enjoy two hours of music in just 15 minutes of charging. The Focal Px8 headphones are a smart choice if you’re willing make the sacrifice of longer battery life in exchange for superior sound quality and a comfortable fit.

Comfort

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds rest on your ears instead of being positioned around them. This means the ear pads are less pressed against your ears, which reduces pressure on your earlobes and helps you enjoy listening sessions longer. The ear cups also help to seal in your music and make it more immersive and give you an amazing audio experience. This also increases audio clarity since you can listen to every detail of a song without being distracted by background noise or the sound of your own voice.

Most over-ear headphones are, however, not as portable as earbuds. They are more difficult to store in a pocket or backpack due to their heavier design and lack of folding mechanism. They also need an enclosure to protect them when not in use. Most headphones come with a carrying bag, but this can be cumbersome for those who like to listen to music moving around.

This pair of wireless headphones is ideal for audiophiles looking for top-quality headphones to use while traveling. The Bose QC35 II is a premium headphone that offers excellent comfort, audio quality, and noise cancellation at a reasonable price. Its earcups and headband are made of premium materials and are extremely comfortable to wear. The audio quality is superior to its predecessor, featuring more clarity and a deeper sound. You can also adjust the sound to suit your preferences through a companion application that features an EQ and presets.

Another premium option is the Focal Bathys Wireless headphones, which offer a premium design and plenty of design and comfort. They are available in a range of colors and come with premium leather. They are elegant enough to wear with a suit or a formal dress. These headphones’ default sound profile is a bass-heavy, resulting in more energy and thump that complements EDM hip-hop, rap and other dance music genres. Vocals and instruments can be lost or hidden in the mix, which you can rectify by using the Focal audio app’s built-in graphic equalizer.

It’s difficult to determine which headphone type is more comfortable. The overall experience will depend on your personal preferences. If you prefer over-ear headphones with a more comfortable padding, pick the one with a moderate clamping force. This will prevent your earlobes becoming sore even when ANC is on.