The Best Wireless Over Ear Headset

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear completely cover your ears, and block out ambient sound. Look for headphones with active noise cancellation and batteries that can last for at least 20 hours with audio playing.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4s have an outstanding ANC feature, a convenient on-ear control, as well as an app that is easy to use. The default sound profile offers punch and thump, but vocals and instruments can be moved to the background.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a great pair of headphones for people who love music and want the best wireless headset. The headphones are lightweight, come with a soft carry bag and fold flat to fit into your bag. The touch controls are intuitive and simple to use, and the battery lasts for 30 hours without ANC. They also include an auto-pause feature that turns off your headphones once they are removed from your head phone wireless in order to save battery.

The WH1000XM5 can be used with Sony Headphones Connect, which has a wide range of features that can be used to personalize the audio experience. The app can be used to monitor your location and alter the ambient sound effects based on the environment you are in. They also have an inbuilt microphone that can be used to make calls without hands. The Sony WH1000XM5 can be used with music streaming via Bluetooth or via an electrical connection via the included cable. They support aptX codecs, aptX HD codecs, and adaptive codecs that provide high-quality audio through Bluetooth.

The WH-1000XM5 comes with a similar headband and earcups as the XM4 but is lighter and more comfortable. They're comfortable to wear for long periods of time and are comfortable enough for long commutes and flights. They offer excellent noise cancellation performance that eliminates most background noise, but without sacrificing clarity and detail. The Sony WH-1000XM5 offer decent bass for closed-back headphones. They also have a superb soundstage that has the clear distinction between vocals and instruments.

The low latency is an enormous positive. The lag is so small that it's almost invisible, and they can also be used to play casual games. These are not the best for gaming in a competitive manner however they're perfect for those who want to make use of them for entertainment or for making hands-free calls.

Sony is committed to infusing smart features into their products and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. The active noise cancellation is one of 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 near-hi-res quality. They're also compatible with Sony's own LDAC technology that streams higher-bitrate audio via Bluetooth (although not as high-quality as the headphone DAC that's dedicated).

2. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

Since the introduction of its first-generation PX7 in 2015, Bowers & Wilkins' flagship headphones have been regularly included on top wireless headset lists and putting them in the same bracket as the likes Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort. The latest model, the PX7 S2, is an upgrade that takes the original headphones to a new level, with better ANC performance and a refreshed design.

The bio-cellulose drivers of 40mm in the earcups are angled so that they directly hit your eardrums. This delivers an experience with more intimacy than other headphones with a closed back. The PX7 S2 does not disappoint in the bold claim. Vocals are clear and clear, and bass is deep and rumbly when you need it to be.

The PX7 S2 is also very good at voice calls. It provides crisp, clear sound that does not overpower your voice. The PX7 S2 is also able to provide an extremely fast charge that can bring you back fully charged in just two hours. They're also compatible with high-resolution music thanks to aptX adaptive Bluetooth codesc which allow them to play audio with 24-bit quality.

For most listeners, the most important upgrade is the enhanced noise-canceling and audio performance. In our tests, the PX7 S2 eliminated nearly all of our simulations of cabin noise with impressive efficiency and performed exceptionally when we performed Mozart's Et In Carnatus Est and Sanctus from his Grosse Messe, demonstrating excellent insight into the shifting dynamics between the solo voice, wind trio and orchestral accompaniment.

The PX7 S2s are not only noise-canceling, but they also have a variety of other features that make them competitive with other top-rated headphones. They are fully wireless and have Bluetooth multipoint support, meaning that you can pair them with two devices simultaneously. They also have built-in microphones that allows hands-free calls with your phone's assistant. They're also incredibly robust, with premium-feeling and durably-built construction that should last for a long time of regular usage.

Of course they're not 100% perfect. The clamp force of our test models were slightly higher than we would have liked, and they didn't have as many app features as the other options. However, these aren't big issues. The PX7 S2s are a superb wireless headphone that rivals the best in their class, and it's hard to imagine them being beaten by any other headphone.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

For audiophiles who prize high-quality sound and are looking for a premium wireless noise-canceling headset The Focal Bathys are tough to beat. The Focal Bathys are the very first ANC headphones made by a French audio manufacturer to utilize Bluetooth. They deliver incredible sound both in Bluetooth mode and when connected via USB to a device that supports true hi-fi audio with up to 24-bit/192kHz.

The Bathys look gorgeous with their sleek black finish and swooping curves that are like Focal's premium open back Elear and closed-back Celestee headphones. They also have premium materials such as magnesium and aluminum for solid construction that feels solid, comfortable and worth the price.

The Bathys Bluetooth headphones offer crisp, vibrant sound quality. They easily surpass consumer ANC devices of similar price such as the Sony XM5/5 and Bose QC45. Direct DAC audio mode allows them to be further pushed which makes them a fantastic option for those who love hifi.

The Focal &Naim app allows users to adjust the playback controls of the headphone and Bluetooth pairing preferences. You can select between silent or soft intensities for ANC as well as alter the brightness of LEDs on the headphone's ear cups, and adjust the settings for EQ. The app is bare but offers enough functionality to be worth the cost.

The only significant flaw is that the active noise cancellation does not live up to the competition. The headphone doesn't block out all ambient noise as the most rated XM5 or AirPods Max, and its Treble accuracy is subpar with a muddy mid - to high frequency that impedes the instruments and vocals.

The Focal Bathys aren't the most portable headphones. Their earcups don't fold up and weigh a bit heavier than their counterparts, which means they're not the best choice for use on the road. They're best suited to in a home setting where they can be used for long listening sessions or as a reference headphone for sound engineering purposes. The Bathys are comfortable to wear over long periods of time, despite their size and bulk.

4. Sony WH-CH720N

The Sony WHCH720N is excellent pair of wireless over ear headsets for the price. The noise cancelling technology is fantastic and helps to cut down the background noise. They are ideal for commuters and travelers. They also have a nice design that reflects premium quality, thanks to their sturdy construction and appealing matte finish.

They are similar to Sony's XB910N and 1000X headphone models. They feature a slim headband with the usual ear cup hinges and a solid plastic build. They're light and comfortable, but they are a little too compressed to my liking. In the box, they include an USB-C port to charge as well as the 3.5mm socket, and a decent length cable. They allow multipoint Bluetooth pairing, which means you can connect to two devices at the same time should you choose to.

In my tests, the CH720N's hybrid noise-cancelling tech did great job of reducing ambient noise, with only two noticeable blips in walking around Waterloo station and London Victoria. The sound-silencers did not block every sound around them, but they did struggle with lower frequencies sounds, such as the engine rumbling sound of trains and Wireless Headphone buses.

The CH720N's Bluetooth connection worked smoothly and showed a low level harmonic distortion. I tested a variety of genres and discovered that they were able to handle the intricate interplay among instruments very well. It did an impressive job of taming the bass in rock tracks and keeping the mix in focus.

I like the fact that you can adjust the Sony Headphones Connect app to customize the CH720N's ANC and multipoint connectivity settings to your preference and add a variety of audio presets. You can also enable DSEE through the app, which enhances sound quality and upsacles compressed audio files.

While the WH-CH720N does not have a few of Sony's primetime features when compared to the XM5 (such as Quick Attention and Speak-to-Chat) they do have an impressive set of features for PS130. You get access to 360 Reality Audio and a range of smart controls, in addition to the DSEE upscaling feature. The only thing that's missing is LDAC Bluetooth high-res audio support I believe it would have been a welcomed inclusion.