Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones iphone surround your ears and immerse you into audio. They are typically designed for audiophiles and feature features like active noise cancellation and control apps.

The Focal Bathys are a wireless speaker with ANC and a mobile app to adjust the EQ and presets. They also support high-res audio through USB-C for wired listening.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH-1000XM5 is Sony's latest upgrade to their best-in-class noise cancellation lineup. They have a fresh new design, enhanced ANC and a lot of the same features as their predecessors but with better materials and slightly more premium sound quality.

With only 250g, they're a light weight for over-ear ANC headsets. This makes them extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time, even if you're listening to a podcast or a book. The headband features a friction rod design similar to the Grado Labs SR60x, which prevents your ears getting too cold.

With a sound quality that is able to please casual music listeners and serious audiophiles, the WH-1000XM5's sonic signature is tuned to have a slight emphasis on bass, but not too loud or harsh. The earphones feature a wide and open soundstage, with good separation of instruments. This allows you to listen to the subtleties of your music. The earcups are also equipped with touch controls that are easy to use. You can swipe forward to access the next track, reverse to listen to the previous one, and up and down to adjust the volume. The headphones can connect to two devices simultaneously, and will automatically stop playback when you remove them from your head, thanks to the built-in sensor. You can enable the ambient mode by placing your hand on the right earcup. This lets you hear the sounds around you without removing the headphones.

They can also be connected with your voice assistant. Bluetooth low-energy is also supported, as is high-resolution audio (via LDAC). The headphones come with a carry case made of premium fabric, and an USB-C charging cable. The headphones work with Android and iOS smartphones, as well as computers running Windows or macOS. The WH-1000XM5's life expectancy is superb. In our standard battery test, we got 31 hours and 53 minutes with the ANC on which was more than Sony's advertised 30 hours battery life.

The WH-1000XM5's microphone performance on voice calls is excellent and there's not any muffled or static-y sounding background. The noise cancellation performance is top-quality and they're a great fit for public transport or the office.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 offers a significant upgrade over its predecessor. It comes with a variety of new features and performance. This includes 24-bit wireless streaming and optimized active noise cancellation, and clear voice quality on any compatible tablet or mobile phone. The 40mm drivers, which are designed specifically and angled to fit in each earcup, offer more immersive and focused listening experience. Six carefully placed microphones offer excellent call clarity even in noisy surroundings. A built-in microphone and remote lets you control music and calls from any device that is compatible.

Like the PX7's original design, these headphones are sleek and elegant, with accent rings around each earcup, and an elegant silver sheen on the headband. The earcups are cushioned with memory foam and fit snugly on the cranium, but never feel tight. The new design and shape was refined over a period of time, and delivers a comfortable clamping pressure that isn't hard on my own skull.

At 10.8 ounces (or 307g), they're 2 ounces lighter than Sony WH-1000XM5, and are slightly smaller. The headphones are light enough to be carried in a bag or backpack and remain in place during long listening sessions. A sturdy hinge on the back of the headband enables you to fold them to make it easy to transport them in a protective case.

They're powered by Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive support which is ideal for high-resolution audio and fast video sync. You can play them wirelessly too, using the included 3.5mm cable that connects to the USB-C port on the right earcup. The headphone's status indicator is an excellent gesture, flashing green to indicate rapid charge and solid blue when Bluetooth pairing is in use.

The B&W app has similar controls to the onboard buttons in the hardware such as bass and treble adjustments and assigning action buttons wear detection, a cycle through ANC modes and more. When you play music on your iPhone the app will display album covers and track titles. The most popular extras like music presets, soundscapes and music mode aren't available, however.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The HD 800 S is a successor to the legendary Sennheiser headphones and was designed to meet the highest expectations. Its technical construction was optimized to achieve stunning detail resolution that covers the entire frequency spectrum, dynamic range, and stereo panorama. It's the most realistic audio you'll hear on headphones with open backs.

The headphone is 300 ohms in impedance, therefore a high-quality headphone amplifier is required to operate it at the right levels without distortion. It is recommended to utilize a balanced connection, which will increase the output and boost the quality of sound.

The headphones are designed to be used by professionals and feature a sturdy metal frame that is adorned with plastics and leather padding. The design is minimalist and they're not fancy, but the quality of the headphones and their build are top-quality. They come with a carry case, an additional audio cable and a 1/4" to 1-/8" adapter.

The HD 800 S has a neutral sound that reproduces vocals and instruments in a natural way, even though they are a little lighter on bass. This is because the open-back design creates a large and out-of-head soundstage. The treble sound quality is superb with only minor peaks and dips. The treble region is extremely smooth, meaning you won't have issues with piercing sibilants and the upper impact of a snare drum.

They still have the ability to deliver as well as dynamism and impact when needed despite the lack of a booming low-end. They'll still be enjoyable for those who like listening to rock music with strong basslines, however they might not be as fun as some of the models on this list, headphones for sleeping such as the HiFiMan Arya.

In the mids in the mids, headphones for sleeping these Sennheiser headphones are difficult to beat. They are straight and have a slight scoop on the upper mids, which shouldn't be noticed by most listeners. They can also reproduce fine time gradations, which is a bonus.

The HD 800 S is a pair of premium headphones that are perfect for audiophiles and professionals. They're a top choice because of their excellent sound quality and comfortable fit. They're expensive however, you're getting a pair of headphones beats that will last for years to be able to perform well in any environment.

Anker Soundcore Life q20

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 are a great pair of headphones that can do the trick for anyone who needs to relax or simply needs a cheap pair of noise-cancelling headphones. The headphones come with a basic bag which protects the headphones when you place them into bags. Their battery can last for several long-haul flights. The ANC can effectively block out noisy passengers and engine rumbles, but their audio profile is a bit warm and bass-heavy.

The Life Q20's controls can be easy to use and clearly marked. On the left earcup, there are buttons for pairing and powering up the headphones for sleeping (pop over here) as well as turning on and off the active noise cancellation. On the right ear cup there are controls for playing back media that include a multi-function switch that lets you activate the voice assistant of your phone and turn on the Anker's BassUp feature (more on this later). The built-in mic can be used to make hands-free phone calls.

Anker's Soundcore Q20 headphone provides a full and immersive listening experience due to its custom 40 mm dynamic driver that provides certified Hi-Res audio. The headphones have the treble range to go up to 40 kHz. Their hybrid active noise cancelling is designed to filter out a variety of low- and mid-frequency sound.

One thing to keep in mind about the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is that they do not support the aptX codec, which is disappointing. This means you won't able to take advantage of the superior codec's lower latency while playing on your computer.

In terms of comfort In terms of comfort, the Life Q20's memory foam ear cups and headbands are comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time without causing any discomfort. The ear cups are capable of rotating and adjust to the unique shape of your head so you can have a comfortable fit. The included 3.5mm audio cable allows you to listen to music while charging the battery.