Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Roundup

Wireless headphones remove the necessity for wires to enjoy your music. They are more comfortable to wear for hours at a time, and some can fold down into a compact form factor to pack away when not in use.

The Sony WH-1000XM5s Bluetooth headphones are a great pair of Bluetooth headsets that tick all the boxes. They offer class-leading sound quality, noise cancelling, a stylish design, and Best Wireless Over Ear Headphones excellent comfort. They support the lossless LDAC high-res codec that plays back high-quality audio.

Sound Quality

If you're a lover of large, full-size wireless headphones that sit over your ears and are connected via a headband to isolate and amplify audio, there's no shortage of options. In our round-up of the Best Wireless Over Ear Headphones over-ear Bluetooth headphones you'll find UC-certified headsets designed to work with communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams, plus premium pairs from brands such as Sony, Sennheiser, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins that are as luxurious as they are durable.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones are one of our favorites. They improve on the multi-award winning predecessor with an elongated design and improved noise cancellation. They also offer up to 37 hours of playback on a single charge and can be fast-charged to 8 hours of use within 15 minutes. They offer a balanced, enjoyable sound and support the lossless Sony LDAC high-res codec to stream music in stunning HD.

The headphones produce a rich, twinkling sound with distinctive bass and mids. You can adjust the audio characteristics of the headphones through their mobile app to match your own taste. For instance you can put more emphasis on the bass or treble. In our tests, the headphones were incredibly accurate and clear. Vocals and orchestral sounds were recorded in great detail.

Another of our top-rated over-ear Bluetooth headphones is the Logitech G HUB Wireless Headphones, which have an excellently balanced sound straight out of the box and offer clear audio. The sound is smooth and has a good deal of low-bass, which aids in highlighting the sound effects and music from games. They work with Logitech HUB software, which comes with a graphic equalizer and presets to customize the sound.

If you're willing to invest more, the high-end Danish-made Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones are our top pick of the top Bluetooth over ear headphones. They're a little more expensive than the Sonys but they look and sound like the real deal, with a hard aluminum casings and lambskin earcups filled with memory foam. The headphones are comfortable to wear, and they support the audio codecs aptX and SBC audio codes. This allows you to listen to high-quality wireless music. They're also beautifully designed and have a chic elegant design that is suitable for every taste.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation is important if you want to block out all noise so you can concentrate on your music or podcasts. Wireless headphones that can block out noise generally have ear cups that are squeaky clean over your ears. This lets you focus on the audio and block out any ambient sounds. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is used by a majority of over-ear apple headphones over the ear to cut down on ambient noise, works by listening to your surroundings and then creating an opposing sound to cancel the background noise. They won't make your surroundings zen-like, but they will reduce the noise of trains and other noises.

ANC generally uses tiny microphones to listen for ambient sound. These is then compared with the original audio you're listening to. Tiny differences between the two are then used to create an equal and opposing sound that is fed through your earphones effectively reducing background noise. Apps or hardware controls that are specifically designed for this purpose can be used to alter the most effective noise cancelling headsets. This allows you to select a particular level of noise cancellation to suit the environment you're in.

The majority of the headphones that we test include a variety of features in addition to the ability to control ANC. A majority of the headphones have a microphone for hands-free calls. They can also be used with voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa. Some models have built-in speakers to allow audio streaming.

In the area of noise cancellation we've seen some major improvements in recent years. For example, Focal has thrown itself into the premium wireless ANC headphones market with its Bathys that we love for their outstanding comfort, sleek features and dazzling sound quality. They can cut down background noise by up to 30dB and you can manage the ANC levels from an app and set three "favorite settings that can be switched by pressing a physical button on the left ear cup.

Noise cancellation should be the primary thing you consider when purchasing a new pair. Sound quality is important however noise cancellation should also be at the top. The most well-known ANC models available tend to be costly, but that's because they provide excellent quality of construction and battery life. For those on a tighter budget Sony WF-1000XM5s are our top pick since they provide outstanding noise cancellation and great sound quality for an affordable price.

Battery Life

If you're going to use wireless headphones on the go you'll want them to last as long as possible. This is because they drain their own battery and the audio device that plays music through them, so it's important to choose the right pair that has a large amount of storage in case you miss an charge or get power out. Many brands offer headphone models with a lot of storage. Some even incorporate solar charging so they can be charged automatically when you are not listening to them.

Over-ear headphones typically have larger ear cups that cover your ears, which means they can hold bigger batteries to allow for longer playtimes and more advanced features. They also offer better noise-cancelling because their larger size makes a better seal against the environment.

The premium brand Bang & Olufsen produces some of the most premium headphones available. Its flagship H95 wireless headphones give an immersive listening experience. They feature a luxurious design, with aluminum details and Nappa Leather which makes them the ideal choice for audiophiles who want to listen for hours on end.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro headphones are more affordable and come with a battery life of 65 hours without ANC and 50 hours with it. This is a far better battery life than the competition, and is a testament of the headphones' outstanding quality of construction. They are comfortable fit, and a durable headband.

Another budget-friendly option is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones, which can be used for up to 44 hours with ANC enabled and come with an active noise cancellation system that's impressively efficient in blocking out ambient sounds. The audio quality is good, with a V shaped profile that delivers plenty of bass while brightening vocals and instruments.

The latest Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless headphones aren't as expensive but they still come in at less than $100 and provide excellent isolation thanks to foam ear tips and sturdy, if not the most advanced noise cancelling features on this list. They also support Bluetooth 5.3, which supports the most recent LDAC codec that provides high-resolution audio. They can be recharged with the included cord or via USB to your computer.

Portability

The amount of space a pair of headphones take up when folded into their most compact format is an important aspect of their portability. The smaller the fold-down format, the more easily you can fit them into a bag or backpack to take with you on the go without worrying about them getting out of the way.

If you're looking for a simple wireless headphone with plenty of features that are suitable for every day listening The Audio-Technica M50xBT is an excellent choice. They are lightweight and compact and provide up to 44 hours of playback and are incredibly compact. They support multi-devices pairing and have an excellent microphone for phone calls.

However, if you're not planning to use your headphones for hands-free calls The Audio-Technica headphones ATH-S200BT are the better choice as they are more comfortable and come with an impressive 50 hours of playback. They also have an adjustable cable for use with wires, and come with a durable hard case.

A five-star performer that is a favorite with What Hi-Fi?'s team, the Sony WF-C700N and JBL Live Pro 2 TWS are another top pair of wireless, over-ear headphones. Both are priced around the $100 / PS100 or AU$150 price range and come with active noise cancellation, though you'll need to accept that they're not as well made as some of our high-end recommended models.

Focal Bathys wireless headphones are a more expensive option that delivers excellent sound quality for a reasonable price. They feature a V-shaped sound profile that includes plenty of bass to compliment EDM hip-hop, rock, and. Vocals and instruments sound bright and clear, and you can alter the sound to your liking by using their accompanying app's graphic EQ and presets. They also support aptX Adaptive codec for high-res streaming, and also have an USB-DAC mode for wired listening.

Look into the Sony WH1000XM5 which is not just more expensive, but is also worthy to receive our five-star seal. They're not cheap, but they have an amazing battery life and great noise cancellation that allows you to listen for long durations without worrying about needing to recharge or run out of power.