Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for larger drivers to deliver more bass and a wider soundstage. Many of them also feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been upgraded with improved audio, multiple ANC mode and an impressive battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved an already fantastic pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're lighter, feel more constructed, pr.lgubiz.net and have a more balanced sound profile (though still bass-heavy) and include an app that allows for some audio adjustments. They have improved their active noise cancellation, eliminating more ambient sounds, and buy have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them as needed. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

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

The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones that we have ever test. They're comfortable and well-constructed, and come with a a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used as a passive device by using an TRS cable. This is ideal to travel with or for storing energy.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. The B&Ws come with a more flexible EQ and a companion app to tweak the audio performance. However, the B&Ws have an improved design, and they can connect with two Bluetooth devices at once. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine that tries to increase the size of compressed music to high resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless music.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that has become a staple for commuters and passengers around the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, improved noise cancellation and longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband, made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you retract or extend the ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that can be worn over your ears without putting pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. You can wear them with an overcoat or sweater since the noise cancelling function works even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not provide the best sound quality at this price. The frequencies are comparatively flat and lack details that more expensive headphones might be capable of bringing out. The higher registers tend to be boosted and is suitable for most music, but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is great, but it lacks punch.

One feature that's missing is the possibility of paused playback when you remove the headset. This is standard in this price range and something that Bose's rivals have offered for a long time. Another oversight was the absence 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.

You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's audio and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s have four microphones that are built-in to pick up your voice when you are on the phone. The quality of calls is generally very good, but the headsets don't come with the handy capability to muffle your voice while playing back which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: As of February 2022, a firmware upgrade to the QC45s gave you an option to adjust the volume manually in the audio app which is a welcomed improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that is known for high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something special. Their first venture into wireless headphones that cancel out noise The Bathys are a stunning set of cans that look and sound fantastic. They also come with an inbuilt high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for both wired and wireless headphones with bluetooth listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery performance, with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We got more than 40 hours of playback time on average from just one charge. If you are required to charge the headphones, the indicator light on the right earcup will turn red.

For a pair of headphones for this price, they have lots of features. They can be used with multiple devices simultaneously and have automatic pairing. (You must select your source device manually every time you listen.) They also have a built-in mic that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to use interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by 9 decibels on average. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still quite effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve with minor variations on the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals appear obscure.

You can wear them anywhere and not worry about whether others hear your music. Their microphone is of decent recording quality through Bluetooth with just a little distortion in the mid - to high treble frequency range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headsets. The previous model, called the Momentum 3, was a decent, but not the most impressive entry into the category. The new model is a significant improvement over the previous model, featuring more sleek design, better gesture control and an enormous battery life.

The improvements here are subtle, but they create a pair of over-ears that appear to be an upgrade from the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case that protects them while traveling. They also follow the trend of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, like those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods' extra features like Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most obvious difference in this model is the huge battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation option activated. That's easily double what most of the competitors offer and is enough for a multi-day trip without worrying about finding an outlet to charge it.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones a score of 82. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as their strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well rounded however it can be overemphasized, which can lead to fatigue in songs with high-pitched bass lines, like the drum beats of 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 should not put too much pressure on your ears or neck. They can be fidgety if you wear them around the home or for long listening sessions. They will move around on your head and make intense head movements. This can cause them wake up unexpectedly, which can be distracting when listening to music or making calls. They will shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be turned off manually with the power button.