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Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds cover your ears completely and allow larger drivers to produce deeper bass and wider soundstages. They also have active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with superior audio and multiple ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They’re lighter, feel more constructed, and have an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy), and come with an app that allows some audio-related customization. Their active noise cancellation works better than ever before, eliminating more ambient sound, and they have a longer continuous battery life than many competitors.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. These headphones can transfer high-resolution audio however, you’ll need compatible devices and streaming services. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and switch between them when required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.

One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. They respond more quickly to the tap of a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature that helps voices sound clearer and more precise on calls which is noticeable and a nice touch.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they’re one of the top wireless headphones we’ve ever tested. They are comfortable and well-constructed, and come with a batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used in a passive manner using the TRS cable which is great when you’re on the road or need to save power.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. They also have a companion app that lets you alter their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than B&W’s. However, the B&Ws have a better-built design, and they can connect with two Bluetooth devices at once. They also support aptX HD, and they have a unique AI-driven engine that tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme, and it enhances the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 sound cancelling headset is the most current version of a headset that is a popular choice among commuters and travelers all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, and adds the USB-C port, which is better at cancelling noise and a longer battery life.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband, which is made of plastic, offers a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also features the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you extend or retract your earcups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without placing pressure on your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. They can be worn with a coat or sweater because they function even when not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones, the QC45s do not provide the best sound at this price. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack details that more expensive headphones might be capable of bringing out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted, which is fine for most music, but could become a problem for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is good, but it lacks the punch.

One feature that’s not present is the ability to pause playback whenever you take off the headset. This is a feature that Bose’s rivals have offered for years. Another thing that was missing was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app, but it would be nice to have an option to manually control.

over-ear wireless headphones can connect to your tablet or smartphone 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 your headset’s sound and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The quality of calls is generally very good but the headphones don’t have the nifty ability to mute your voice during playback which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: As of February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s offered manual EQ options in the audio app, which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones that last for a long time, comfort and a style that let listeners know they’re listening to something unique. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for 30 hours. We actually got a little more out of them, with over 40 hours on average of just one charge. If you require a recharge, there’s a light on the right earcup that will turn red when the headphone has to be charged.

They have a decent amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price that include support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you’ll need to select your source device each time you need to listen). The headphones come with an inbuilt microphone that can be used with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones do well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by an average of 9 decibels. It’s not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it is still effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys did well overall, with a the frequency response which generally corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve, with just minor deviations in the bass and mids. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile that adds a lot of boom to mixes but can sometimes make vocals and instruments like cymbals seem a bit veiled.

They also have excellent leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them out in public without worrying about people hearing your music. Their mic has passable 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 top-of-the-line Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a decent but not a standout in the category. The latest model is improved over the previous model by having a sleeker design, improved gesture controls and massive battery life.

The changes are subtle but can make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them while on the move. They also follow the trend of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, such as the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. They can be used with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but lack the AirPods’ extra features like Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most obvious change here is the massive battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback when the noise cancellation feature turned on. This is more than what the majority of the competition can offer and is enough for a multi-day trip without worrying about finding a power outlet to charge it.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget The headphones were rated by Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget an 82-point score. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as the top strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense weight in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral music tends to sound flat, not grand. The bass is rounded, however, it can be overemphasized and cause fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines like the drums that are pounding in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound a bit sizzled, not full. There’s also not much depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfy and aren’t likely to put too much pressure on your ears or neck. They can be a bit fidgety if you wear them around the home or for long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make a lot of head movements. This could cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting while listening to music or making calls. Fortunately, they shut down after 15 minutes of rest by default, and can be turned off manually off using the power button.