Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also permit larger drivers that deliver deeper bass and a bigger soundstage. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The latest Master & Dynamic MW65 update provides high-quality audio, numerous ANC modes and impressive battery life with a stylish and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are lighter, better built, and have a more balanced audio profile (though bass heavy). They also come with an app to adjust the sound. Their active noise cancellation works even better than before, removing the background noise, and they have a longer battery life than a lot of competitors.

These headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. In addition, the WH1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when required. You can enable this feature via the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond faster to a tap on the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to music. Sony also added a feature that helps voices sound more clear and precise when calling which is evident and a nice feature.

While the WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, they're some of the top wireless headphones we've tested. They're comfortable, well made, Bluethooth Headphones and have an outstanding battery that can last longer than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used in a passive manner using the TRS cable which is perfect if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH-1000XM4s are 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 sounds. They also have an app that lets you tweak their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are built better, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Additionally, they support aptX HD and have a unique AI-driven engine that attempts to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is referred to as DSEE Extreme and it does well in improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 Noise-Canceling headset is the most current version of a headset that has become a favorite among commuters and passengers across the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, improved noise cancellation and a longer battery lifespan.

These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband, constructed of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also features the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you retract or extend your ear cups. The cups are soft cushioned pads that fit comfortably over the ears and do not apply pressure to your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can wear them when you're wearing an overcoat or sweater since the noise-canceling works even when they are not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not offer the best sound at this price. The frequencies are flat and lack the depth that headphones with higher prices might be able to bring out. The upper registers tend to be boosted and is suitable for most music, but could become a problem for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent, but it lacks power.

One thing that's not included is the ability to pause playback when you take the headset off. This is a feature Bose's rivals have provided for years. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose provides 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 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 microphones built-in to hear your voice when you are on the phone. The headphones have good call quality, but they don't allow you to muffle the sound during playback as other wireless headphones. Update In February 2022, a firmware update to the QC45s offered an option to adjust the volume manually in the audio app, which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're listening to something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for 30 hours. We actually got a bit more, with over 40 hours on average out of a single charge. If you do need to recharge, there's a light on the right ear cup that will change to red when the headphone has to be charged.

They have a decent amount of features for bluethooth headphones (littleyaksa.yodev.net) of this price point that include support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll have to manually select your source device every time you need to listen). They have a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones come with an easy-to use interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

For wireless headphones bluetooth that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys are very good in our tests of noise cancellation, reducing the ambient sound by about 9 decibels in average. It's not as effective as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still effective.

The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor differences on the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound profile which can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit unreal.

They also have very good leakage resistance, so you can wear them out in public without worrying about people listening to your music. Their microphone is suitable for recording via Bluetooth, with only slight distortion between the mid-treble and the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new update of the company's flagship Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid, but not spectacular entry in this class. The new model improves on the previous model by having more sleek design, better gesture controls, and an enormous battery life.

The improvements here are subtle but they make a pair of over-ears that seem like a step up from the old one. The Momentum 4s lie flat and aren't foldable however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case to protect them while on the go. They also follow the trend of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, including the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be beautifully device agnostic. This means they work well with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but do not have the additional features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that are available on the AirPods.

The most significant improvement is the battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is more than the majority of the competition can offer and enough for a trip of a lifetime without worrying about finding a power outlet to charge them up.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, bluethooth Headphones gave the headphones a score of 82. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral music tends to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can lead fatigue in songs that have strong bass lines, such as the drum hits of 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 should not put too much pressure on your neck or ears. However they can be fidgety when wearing them in the house or during longer listening sessions, and will move about on your head, causing intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random and can cause distraction during calls or music. Fortunately they will shut down after 15 minutes of sleep by default and can be manually switched off using the power button.