Best Over-Ear Headphones

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow larger drivers to produce deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio, numerous ANC modes, and a long battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has redesigned an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, have more balanced sound profiles (though still bass heavy) and come with an app that lets you do some audio adjustments. They've improved their active noise cancellation, removing more background noises, and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio, however you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s can also allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between them when needed. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works well.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond more quickly to the touch of the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a phone call or to listen to media. Sony also added an option that makes voices sound more clear and precise during calls which is noticeable and a nice touch.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones that we have ever examined. They're comfortable, well made, and have an outstanding battery that lasts more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively by using a TRS cable. This is great to travel with or for storing 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 sound. The B&Ws come with an EQ that is more flexible, as well as a companion app to tweak the audio performance. The B&Ws are more robust and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptX HD, and they have a unique AI-driven engine that tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme, and it enhances the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that became a standard for commuters as well as travelers from all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula which was the basis of its predecessor's success with the addition of the USB-C technology and improved noise cancellation.

These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that came before them. The headband is made of plastic, but has a sturdy feel with hinges made of metal at the pivot points and the familiar ratcheting action when you retract or extend the earcups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that fit over your ears without pressing your Head Phone Wireless. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can wear them with an overcoat or sweater since the noise cancellation function is functional even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the detail that higher-end headphones might be able bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is acceptable for most music genres but can be problematic for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is decent, but is lacking punch.

The ability to pause playback when you remove the headset is a feature that is missing. This is a feature that 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, but it would be nice to have manual control.

You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support as well as more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets audio and voice settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones built-in to hear your voice when on the phone. They have excellent call quality, but they don't allow you to silence the voice when playing back like other rydohi wireless bluetooth headphones headphones. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s came out in February 2022 added manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that is known for high-performance headphones that last for a long time, comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something unique. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling wifi headphones. They look and sound stunning. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We actually got a bit more with more than 40 hours on average out of just one charge. If you require a recharge, there's a light on the right ear cup that turns red when the headphone needs to be charged.

For a pair of headphones at this price, they come with many features. They support multiple devices simultaneously and offer automatic pairing. (You must select your device source manually every time you listen.) They come with a built-in microphone that supports voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones also feature an intuitive interface that makes it easy to control your music as well as make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by an average of 9 decibels. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Head Phone wireless Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, however it's still fairly effective.

In our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys performed well overall with the frequency response which generally matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with only slight differences in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound profile which adds plenty of boom to mixes but can sometimes make instruments and vocals like cymbals sound dull.

They also have excellent leakage resistance, so you can wear them in public without worrying about people listening to your music. Their mic is passable for recording via Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble and 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 latest pair improves on the previous model with a sleeker design, improved gesture controls, and a huge battery life.

A lot of the improvements here are subtle, but they create a pair of over-ears that seem like a step up from the old one. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold however they do come with a nice hardshell case to protect them when on the move. They also follow the style of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, like those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. They work with both Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods' extra features like Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most significant change is the huge battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than twice as much as most of the other brands and enough to allow you to travel for a longer period of time without having to search for an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 rating and cited their sound quality and ANC as two of their strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral music tends to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can lead to fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines, like the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound a bit bubbly, but not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s shouldn't cause pressure on your neck or ears. They can be fidgety if you wear them at home or during long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting while listening to music or making calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes, and can be switched off manually using the power button.