The PX8 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Review

The PX8s may be expensive but their design and sound are superior to other headphones. A carbon cone 40mm driver as well as Nappa leather elevate the style. Also, a DAC mode can play hi-res audio.

This Bluetooth flagship is Bose's top-of-the-line ANC technology, excellent control and a sleek design. The main selling point however, is its battery longevity.

Sound Quality

In general, wireless headphones tend to sound better than earbuds since they fully cover your ears. They also come with larger and more powerful drivers that provide high-quality bass and a wide soundstage. Over-ear headphones are more expensive with the most expensive models starting at around $250/PS250/AU$450. They are also typically equipped with active noise cancellation.

It's all the choice of your personal taste and what you're using headphones for. If you want to listen to music in a noisy setting and value comfort over audio quality, an affordable pair such as the Jabra Move Wireless or JBL E50 are a good choice. If you want to spend a bit more, the IMG Throne Gold headphones are awe-inspiring in sound quality and battery life while the Focal Bathys are specifically designed for serious audiophiles with their DAC mode that can support high-res audio via USB-C.

There are also some great headphones in the mid-tier price bracket. A variety of brands provide headphones that are great sounding at a reasonable cost. Poly's (formerly Plantronics') BackBeats pro 2 is a great example. They have a thumping bass and a bright treble, ideal for pop and rock music, but they also have an uncluttered midrange that keeps the instruments and vocals at the forefront. The recently updated Sennheiser Momentum 4 are another good choice, with a better ANC and a great companion app with presets for different listening styles. If you're a big fan of Bose's premium headphones, try the QC35 II for a similar experience, but with better passive noise isolation and a more robust design.

Audiophiles are trained to differentiate between headphones. Even casual listeners can tell the difference between wired and headphone wireless Bluetooth wireless headphones. Wireless technology has many issues that could impact the quality of audio. Audio codecs, like, can alter the frequency, sample rates and latency of wireless transmissions, which can cause distortion and loss of detail.

Fortunately, these issues are now largely resolved with modern wireless headphones that utilize the most up-to-date bluetooth headpones technology and are compatible with advanced audio codecs, such as Qualcomm AAC. This means that the majority of wireless headphones that we test offer excellent audio quality for their prices.

Noise Cancellation

Wireless over-ear headphones are a great option for blocking out the noise in your workplace or on an airplane. These large headphones are usually more comfortable than earbuds. Many models also offer active noise cancellation that makes your music and audio clearer.

Active noise cancellation uses microphones to detect ambient sounds and then employ frequencies that counteract the unwanted noise to isolate you from the surrounding. The majority of over-ear headphones that support this feature include an integrated microphone to ensure that your voice is clearly heard during phone calls. Audio-Technica's M20xBT wireless noise cancelling headsets feature Bluetooth multipoint connectivity and a battery life of up to 60 hours. These over-ear headphones are the perfect choice for commuters and are small enough to fit in bags or purses.

If you want to invest a bit more in your audio experience, the Focal Bathys are an excellent pair of high-end wireless over-ear headphones with excellent audio quality and advanced noise cancellation. The first wireless headphones by a French high-end audio company, the Focal Bathys are an audiophile's delight. They have an open back design and luxurious materials like leather and aluminum accents. They boast a rich suite of features that include an app companion with a graphic EQ as well as presets to adjust your listening profile. With their 40mm Beryllium coated drivers and acoustic leather cups, they offer exceptional isolation. They also support lossless audio, allowing them perform as high-end Hi-Fi speakers when wired.

For a less expensive option the Monoprice B-600ANC is a comfortable, lightweight pair of wireless over-ear headphones that have excellent sound quality and impressive noise cancellation for the price. The headphones come with a wide range of features, including ambient-awareness and Headphone wireless bluetooth ANC settings as well as touch controls and support for aptX and Apple AAC for high-quality audio. The BT-600ANC is also one of only a few pairs of headphones that come with a programmable ambience awareness mode. This lets you listen to the ambient noise at a reduced volume without having to turn off the music.

Battery Life

The most important thing you don't want to do is to run out of juice midway through an extended commute or workout. Wireless headphones do away with cords and are a more practical option. The battery power of wireless headphones will drain over time. It is important to select headphones with a long-lasting battery.

Certain models can stay up and running for several days or weeks on one charge. However, this endurance isn't without its trade-offs. To get there, manufacturers must reduce the size of the battery or sacrifice other features. The most effective wireless headphones offer a perfect balance of battery capacity and performance.

Over-ear headphones have bigger batteries but also use more power to run features such as active noise cancellation. On-ear headsets are smaller and lightweight. However, they don't have the same noise-blocking features as their larger counterparts.

In terms of battery life, the Cleer Enduro ANC and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have set a new standard in wireless headphones. Both headphones can play music for 60 hours with ANC. They easily beat top over-ear headsets at a similar price such as Sony's W1000XM5 or Bose's S740III.

Similar to the Focal Px8's first wireless headphones are a dream for audiophiles. The Focal Px8 headphones have an open-back design, which is comfortable to wear. The headphones deliver a dynamic sound profile with an emphasis on the thumpy bass and the bright trebles. The Focal Px8 headphones also feature an app companion to let you customize the sound to your liking.

Focal's headphones are among the most expensive headphones available. This is due to their premium materials and construction. The headphones also have a fast-charge feature that lets you enjoy two hours of music within just 15 minutes of charging. The Focal Px8 is an excellent option if you're not worried about the loss of battery life in exchange for better sound quality and a more comfortable fit.

Comfort

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds rest on the ears instead of around them. The ear pads do not press against your ears as much, which reduces the pressure on your earlobes and allows you to listen longer. The ear cups also seal in the music and make it more engrossing. This immersive experience also improves the quality of your audio because you can hear the subtleties of the music without being distracted by background noise or your personal voice.

On the other hand over-ear headphones aren't as portable as earbuds. They are more difficult to store in backpacks or pockets due to their bulkier design and lack of folding mechanism. A case is also needed to keep them safe when not in use. Most headphones come with a carrying bag, but it can be cumbersome for those who prefer to listen to music while traveling.

This pair of wireless headphones is perfect for audiophiles searching for high-quality headphones they can use when traveling. The Bose QC35 II is a premium headphone that offers excellent comfort, sound quality and noise cancellation at a reasonable price. Its earcups and headband are made of premium materials and are extremely comfortable to wear. The sound quality is an improvement over its predecessor, with greater clarity and more enticing sound. With a companion application which includes an EQ and presets, you can tweak the sound to suit your preferences.

Another top option is the Focal Bathys Wireless headphones, that offer high-end design that is full of style and comfort. They are available in a variety of colors and have premium leather. They're stylish enough to pair with a suit or evening dress. These headphones' default sound profile is bass heavy, resulting in more energy and thump that complements EDM, hip-hop and other dance music genres. Vocals and instruments may be buried or obscured in the mix, and you can rectify with the Focal audio application's built-in graphic EQ.

It's hard to say which kind of Headphone wireless bluetooth is more comfortable. The overall experience is contingent on personal preference. If you prefer the feel of over-ear headphones consider a model that has thick padding and a moderate clamping force. This will help prevent your earlobes from becoming painful after long listening sessions even with ANC activated.