Best Over-Ear Headphones

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear cover your ears completely and allow for bigger drivers to deliver more bass and a wider soundstage. They also have active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been upgraded with improved audio and various ANC modes, and a long battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved on an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more constructed, and have a more balanced sound profile (though still bass heavy), and include an app that lets you do some audio customization. Their active noise cancellation works better than it did before, eliminating the background noise, and Bluetooth headphones they have a longer continuous battery life than other models.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. This codec can transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when needed. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond quicker to tapping on the panel and are much easier to control when making calls or listening to media. Sony has also added a feature to make voices sound clearer and more precise during calls. This is a noticeable and a nice addition.

While the WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, they are some of the best wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an outstanding battery that lasts for longer than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used with an TRS cable which is great if you're traveling or need to save power.

The WH1000XM4s provide a superior alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sounds. The B&Ws have an EQ that is more flexible, as well as a companion app to tweak the audio performance. The B&Ws are more robust, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD, and they have an AI-driven engine that tries to up-scale compressed music to high resolution. This is called 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 which is a popular choice among commuters and passengers all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that was the basis of its predecessor's success but it also includes USB-C and better noise cancellation.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have a premium look and feel that oozes quality. The headband is made of plastic, yet it has a sturdy feel with metal hinges at pivot points and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you open or retract the earcups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that can be worn over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be paired with a sweater or coat as they work even when not on the head.

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

The ability to pause the playback when removing the headset is a feature that's missing. This is a feature Bose's rivals have offered for many years. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings in the app however it would be nice to have a manual control.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs, such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets voice and sound settings.

The QC45s also come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't allow you to muffle the sound during playback as other wireless wireles headphones. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s came out in February 2022 included manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a great upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are known for their style and comfort which tell listeners that they're listening something special. Their first venture into wireless noise cancelling headphones the Bathys, are a stunning set of cans that look and sound amazing. They come with a top-quality USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wired and wireless bluetooth headphone 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 out of just one charge. If you do require a recharge, there's an indicator light on the right ear cup that will change to red when the earphone needs to be charged.

They offer a good 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 have to select your source device each time you would like to listen). They also have a built-in mic that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones come with an easy-to use interface that makes it simple to control music and Bluetooth headphones make calls.

For wireless headphones that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys excel in our test of noise cancellation, which reduces the ambient sound by about 9 decibels in average. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, however it's still pretty effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve with minor variations in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound pattern that adds plenty of boom to mixes but can sometimes make instruments and vocals like cymbals sound dull.

Wear them wherever you want without worrying that others will hear 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 is a new update of the company's most popular Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this category. The latest model is improved over the previous generation with a sleeker design, improved gesture controls and massive battery life.

The changes are subtle but make for an over-ear set of headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them when on the move. The Momentum 4s are compatible with all devices, just like other bluetooth Headphones (bilde-Foss.blogbright.net) from recent times, like the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but lack the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most obvious improvement in this model is the huge battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback when the noise cancellation option turned on. This is nearly double the amount of the other brands and enough to go on a long-distance trip without having to search for an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He highlighted their audio quality and ANC features as the top strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense gravitas in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral music tends to sound flat, not grand. The bass is rounded, however, it can be overemphasized and cause fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines such as the drum hits in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound sizzled, not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are a comfortable fit and aren't likely to put too much pressure on your ears or neck. However they can be a bit fidgety when wearing them around the house or during longer listening sessions. They can move around on your head with intense head movements. This can cause them unexpectedly wake up and can cause distraction during music or calls. Fortunately, they shut down after 15 minutes of rest by default and can be switched off by pressing the power button.