The Best Wireless Over Ear Headset

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear completely cover your ears, and block out environmental sound. Look for headphones that have active noise cancellation, and a battery life of at minimum 20 hours.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4s come with an outstanding ANC feature, a simple on-ear control, as well as a convenient app. Its default sound delivers a punchy thump, but vocals and instruments can be pushed to the background.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a fantastic pair of headphones for people who love music and want the most wireless headset. They're lightweight and come with a soft carrying case and fold flat for easy storage in your bag. The controls on their touch screen are easy to use and intuitive, and their battery lasts for 30 hours with ANC turned off. They even have an auto-pause feature which turns off your headphones once they're removed from your head to conserve battery.

The WH-1000XM5 can be used with Sony's Headphones Connect app which offers an extensive array of features and can be used to personalize your audio experience. The app allows you to monitor your location and alter the ambient sound effects based on your surroundings. They also come with built-in microphones for making hands-free calls. The Sony WH1000XM5 can be used to play music via Bluetooth or with wired connections using the included cable. They are compatible with aptX, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs to deliver high quality audio over Bluetooth.

The WH-1000XM5 sports the same headband and earcups to the XM4 but is more lightweight and comfortable. They're comfortable to wear for long periods of time and are comfortable enough for commutes and longer flights. They're noise-cancelling headphones that reduce background noise without compromising clarity or clarity. The Sony WH-1000XM5 offer an adequate amount of bass for closed-back headphones. They also have a superb soundstage that has a clear distinction between vocals and instruments.

The low latency is a big plus. The lag is so minimal that it's virtually undetectable and they can be used to play casual games. They're not ideal for competitive video gaming but they're excellent for those who want to utilize them for entertainment or for making calls hands-free.

Sony is very committed to infusing smart features into their products, and the WH-1000XM5 is not an exception. The active noise cancellation is among the best I've tried and they include a whole suite of smart functions to improve the overall listening experience. Sony's DSEE Extreme Engine upscales compressed audio to a near-hi-res format. They're also compatible with Sony's own LDAC technology which streams audio with higher bitrates over Bluetooth (although not as high-quality as the headphone DAC that's dedicated).

2. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

Bowers & Wilkins flagship headphones, the PX7 S2 have been consistently on top lists of wireless headsets since the introduction of the first generation PX7 in the year 2015. This puts them in the same category as Sony WH1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort. The PX7 S2 is the latest version that takes the original headphones up a notch with improved ANC performance and a refreshed design.

The bio-cellulose drivers that measure 40mm inside the earcups have been angled so they are aimed directly at your eardrums. This gives you an audio experience that is more intimate than other headphones with a closed back. The PX7 S2 is a perfect example of this bold claim. The vocals are clear and the bass is deep when needed.

The PX7 S2 is also very excellent at making calls. It provides crisp clean, clear sound that will not drown out your voice. They also offer a quick charge that gets you back to full power in wire less head phones than two hours, and they're compatible with high-resolution audio, thanks to an aptX adaptive Bluetooth codec that allows them to play music with 24-bit resolution.

For most listeners, though, the most important upgrade is the enhanced noise-canceling and audio quality. In our tests we were able to eliminate a majority of the simulated aircraft noises with the PX7 S2. They also excelled in Mozart's Et In Carnatus Est and Sanctus which provide great insight into the shifting dynamics between the solo vocal, wind trio, and orchestral accompaniment.

The PX7 S2s are not only noise-canceling, but they also include a variety of features that make them competitive with other top-rated headphones. They're wireless and come with Bluetooth multipoint support, which means you can pair them with two devices at once. They also come with a built in microphone that allows hands-free calls with your phone assistant. The construction is durable and top-quality which means they'll last for many years.

They're not perfect, of course. The clamp force of the models we tested were a little more than we'd like and there weren't as many apps features as the other options. However, these aren't major issues. The PX7 S2s are a fantastic wireless headphone that rivals the top of their class, and it's difficult to imagine them being beaten by any other rival.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

For audiophiles who prize high fidelity and are looking for an exceptional wireless noise-canceling headset, the Focal Bathys are difficult to beat. They're the French audio company's first-ever ANC headphones to use Bluetooth and offer amazing sound quality both in Bluetooth mode and when connected to the device via USB for hi-fi audio at up to 24 bit/192kHz (the headphones are also capable of passively blocking external sound with its closed ear cups).

The Bathys are stunning, with their glossy finish and swooping curvatures that like Focal's closed-back Celestee and open-back Elear headphones. The Bathys are constructed of premium materials like magnesium and aluminum that make them feel sturdy and comfortable. They're also worth the price.

The Bathys Bluetooth headphones offer a crisp, lively sound signature. They are able to outperform consumer ANC devices of similar price such as the Sony XM5/5 and Bose QC45. They can be enhanced further by using direct DAC audio mode, making them an excellent choice for true hi-fi listeners.

The Focal &Naim app allows users to alter the playback controls of the headphone and Bluetooth pairing preferences. The app allows users to select between silent and soft intensities for ANC. They can also adjust the brightness of LEDs on the ear cups of the headphones, as well as alter the EQ settings. The app isn't complete but it has enough functionality to be worth the download.

The only significant flaw is that the active noise cancellation doesn't quite live up to the competition. The headphone isn't able to block out all the background noise like the most rated XM5 or AirPods Max, and its quality of treble isn't as good, with a muddy mid - to high range that detracts from the instruments and vocals.

The Focal Bathys headphones aren't the most transportable. They're not ideal for travel because their ear cups do not fold and they are heavier than other monolith headphones. They're ideal for a home environment where they can be used for extended listening sessions or as an audio reference headphone for engineering purposes. The Bathys are comfortable to wear over long periods of time, despite their size and weight.

4. Sony WH-CH720N

The Sony WHCH720N headset is a fantastic pair of wireless over-ear headsets for the price. They come with a reliable noise-cancelling technology that does an excellent job of blocking out ambient noise, making them perfect for commuters and travellers. They also offer a nice design that reflects premium quality, thanks to their sturdy construction and appealing matte finish.

They are similar in design to Sony's newer 1000X and XB910N headphones. They have an ultra-slim headband that has the typical ear cup hinges and a sturdy plastic build. They are light and comfortable, but they feel a bit too compressed to my liking. In the box, they include a USB-C port for charging and an 3.5mm socket, and a decent-length cable. They are compatible with multipoint Bluetooth pairing, meaning you can connect them to two devices simultaneously If you want to.

In my tests, the CH720N's hybrid noise-cancelling tech did well in reducing background noise, with just a couple of noticeable blips when walking through Waterloo station and London Victoria. They weren't magic sound-silencers that destroyed every sound in the vicinity, however, and they struggled with lower-frequency noises like the rumbling engine noises of trains and buses.

The CH720N's Bluetooth connection worked smoothly and displayed a minimal harmonic distortion. I tested a range of genres and found that they handled the intricate interplay between instruments very well. It did an impressive job of taming the bass in rock tracks while keeping the mix focused.

The Sony Headphones Connect App allows you to alter the CH720N's multipoint connectivity as well as ANC settings to your liking. You can also add a variety of audio presets. You can also utilize the app to activate DSEE which boosts the quality of compressed content and improves the sound quality.

While the WH-CH720N does not have some of Sony's primetime features when compared to the XM5 (such as Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention) they do have a solid feature set for PS130. 360 Reality Audio, smart controls, and listening DSEE upscaling are all included. The only thing that's missing is LDAC Bluetooth high-res audio support, which I think would have been a great inclusion.