Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

The noise-cancelling headphones can be an absolute blessing for anyone who loves to listen, whether you're in the office or commuting on the train. Which are the best?

With a fresh design that is a step up in sound quality, and an enviable list of features, Sony's new flagship headphones offer great value. From the powerful chorus to Sinead's unstable bridge, these headphones deliver superb detail and real-world realism.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the leader in noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones represent the top model in this model. A few well-thought-out enhancements over the XM4s make these headphones an all-around excellent pair of headphones, specifically for commuters and travelers. They're comfortable, have multipoint technology to connect two devices simultaneously and have the best active noise cancelling over ear headphones ANC Sony has ever made. They are lightweight and can run for up to 27 hours without charging. This is enough for a week of commutes or a long-haul flight.

The WH-1000XM5s have a sleek minimalist design and are made from a recycled and recyclable plastic referred to as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The branding is minimal. There's tiny Sony logo on every hinge of the earcup. The earcups and headbands are made of soft, plush material that is comfortable for all head sizes apart from the biggest. The earcups can be adjusted so that they fit you perfectly.

Unlike previous models, which focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify sound waves at high frequencies to cancel out ambient noise. That improves overall sound quality and helps drown out engine and cabin noise on flights, for instance. The XM5s come with another processor to increase noise cancellation more on planes, and the audio app can also automatically adapt your listening environment based on data on air pressure.

Other features of the WH-1000XM5s are an enhanced voice assistant that's easy to use and integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and many more. You can also pair the XM5s with other Sony audio products to enable multi-room music playback as well as stereo separation. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming through LDAC, which Sony's codec is based on but they're not compatible with aptX or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

If a company has been making headphones for longer than Sennheiser is a top brand, you can expect superior sound quality and a comfy fit. They've got both with their latest over ear noise cancelling headphones wireless-ears, dubbed the Momentum 4 Wireless. They've revamped their design to eliminate some trademark elements that gave their previous models the look of an aviator. They also improved active noise cancellation with their newest Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. They've rated the headphones to last 60 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, bose Over ear noise cancelling Headphones doubling the battery life of most other competitors.

The new model is more portable, as it folds down and is a bit smaller. The ear pads and headband are made of artificial PU leather, which is comfortable on my head when I wear it for the entire day. They are also not very tight, which means you can wear them for long flights or even during your workouts.

The sound is smooth and clear, but there are some highs that can add a bit of discoloration to mixes. The bass is too loud with a lot of impact and thump to genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not a major issue but it might annoy some listeners. The high-mid also isn't balanced in bringing instruments and vocals forward in the mix, but at the expense of bringing out a few vocal sibilants.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is equipped with all the usual features including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparency mode that blends outside sounds into your music to increase awareness and mobile application support for 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 using SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes, and they can cut down the latency by as much as one quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

Since their launch in 2004, the original PX7s have been featured on numerous lists of the top Bluetooth headphones, and have been ranked high in a lot of cases due to their impressive ANC and excellent sound quality. But like most wireless headphones, they've become older and required a refresh which is why the PX7 S2. B&W hasn't just redesigned the design of the new version, but has made considerable improvements to ANC and added more voice-calling features, too.

The PX7 S2 headphones are extremely lightweight, which makes them comfortable for long listening sessions. A lot of the design is carried over from the previous model, such as the sleek oval aluminum earcup top and the hook-like accent on the headband that glids instead of clicking as you expand it, and finally the actual physical buttons. The earcups, however are smaller and the headband isn't as substantial.

B&W's software lets you adjust the EQ settings of bass and treble. However, you do not have as much control as you do with headphones that cost more. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switches between environmental modes and can be adjusted within the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to summon your device's voice assistant.

The PX7 S2 sounds great for most musical styles, with the soundstage offering plenty of width and good separation between the various sound elements. It shines particularly on pieces that showcase acoustic instruments, like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon, which has woody tones with a sense air. It can also handle heavier songs too. The bass punch and midrange clarity on Entombed’s garage/deathn'roll crossover curiosity To Ride and Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth The album is an overwhelming sound while keeping things clear to be able to hear vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones QuietComfort 35

Bose was one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. They held a stranglehold for years, but they now have to compete against newer headsets that offer more features and better sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for anyone looking to listen to their music or podcasts with no noise or rumbles.

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

The QC35s are a great pair of headphones to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. They feature an active noise cancellation feature that reduces ambient noise while still keeping you isolated from the world around you. The QC35s permit you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and "audio-share" to ensure that you can listen to something with one set of headphones and answer an incoming phone call from the other set of headphones.

The Bose Connect app is decent but doesn't offer the extensive EQ options that other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode, but the sound quality is significantly reduced and the battery life isn't as great as wireless models.

The QC35s come with a well-known Bose design that might not appeal to some as the more sleek designs of other brands. You can personalize your headphones by purchasing a cover with decals from companies such as SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. You can also alter the color of the ear cups and the headband later this year, similar to what you can do with the previous QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 headphones are the best 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 have a superior companion app that provides numerous sound-related features that can be customized.

The XM3s have an excellent sound quality, and ever since their launch, they've been upgraded to give even better performance. They're equipped with a little more detail in the frequency spectrum. Their noise cancellation is better at all levels of volume. They also have improved controls like Quick Attention mode and Speak-to-Chat. They also have a new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that automatically adjusts the amount of external sound allowed in, based on the location you're at and what you're doing.

There are some issues, though. The mid-range can sound too recessed, and the treble could sometimes be too loud. And they still have a tendency to increase the bass too much in certain tracks, which makes them sound overly full and heavy. This can be corrected in the Sony app or in the headphone setting.

The XM3s make a great pair of headphones, especially for frequent travelers or commuters. They are more comfortable, look and feels premium, and are more durable in comparison to the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a more powerful battery, and one of the most effective noise cancellation features available. They're also more versatile and better-equipped to use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH M50X wireless, though their noise cancelling is less impressive. And they're not waterproof, which is a problem for some people.