Best Over-Ear Headphones

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear encapsulate your ears completely and allow for larger drivers to provide deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many of them also feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 is updated with better audio and features, including various 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 headphoens. They're lighter, feel more built, feature an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy), and come with an app that lets you do some audio adjustments. They've upgraded their active noise cancellation, eliminating the background noise, and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. These headphones can transmit high-resolution audio, but you'll need compatible devices and a streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between them when needed. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond more quickly to the tap of a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or iphone to listen to media. Sony has added a feature to make voice calls more precise and clear during calls. This is a distinct and nice touch.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they are some of the best wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable, well made, and have an outstanding battery that lasts for longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used in a passive manner by using a TRS cable. This is perfect to travel with or Iphone for storing power.

The WH-1000XM4s are a better choice than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more background noise. They also have a companion app that lets you alter their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. However, the B&Ws come with an improved design, and they're able to connect with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine that tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does an excellent job of improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 noise-canceling headset is the most current version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and travelers all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, and adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband is made of plastic, but has a sturdy feel with metal hinges at pivot points and the familiar ratcheting action that you experience when you retract or extend the earcups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that can be worn over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be worn with a coat or sweater as they work even when not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s can't offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are comparatively flat and iphone lack details that more expensive headphones might be capable of bringing out. The upper registers are boosted which is great for most music genres but can be problematic for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is good, but lacks the punch.

One feature that's not present is the ability to pause playback when you remove the headset. This is a standard feature in this price range and is something that Bose's rivals have offered for a long time. Another thing that was missing was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings within the app however it would be nice to have manual control.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's sound and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones that are built-in to pick up your voice while on the phone. The quality of calls is generally good, but the headsets don't have the nifty capability to turn off your voice during playback which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s came out in February 2022 introduced manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a welcome upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their comfort and style that let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys come with a great battery performance with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous bluetooth wireless headphone playtime. We got more than 40 hours of playback time on average from a single charge. If you need to recharge, there's a light on the right ear cup that will change to red when the headphone has to be charged.

For a pair of headphones for this price, they offer lots of features. They can connect to multiple devices simultaneously and offer automatic pairing. (You must select the device you want to pair with manually every time you listen.) They have a built-in microphone that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also have an intuitive interface that makes it simple to manage your music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by an average of 9 decibels. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still quite effective.

The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor differences in the mids and bass. The Bathys have a bassy sound profile which can make instruments, vocals and cymbals look a bit obscure.

They also have very good leakage resistance, so you can wear them in public without worrying about other people hearing your music. The microphone has a decent recording quality through Bluetooth with only slight distortion in the mid to the treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The latest pair is an improvement on the previous generation, with a sleeker look, improved gesture control and a massive battery life.

Many of the improvements here are subtle but they make a pair of over-ears that appear to be an upgrade from the previous model. The Momentum 4s lay flat and do not fold, but they do come with a nice hardshell case that protects them while on the go. The Momentum 4s are device-agnostic, like many other Bluetooth headphones from recent years, including the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They can be used with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but do not have the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The biggest improvement is the battery that can run for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than what the majority of the competitors offer and enough for a multi-day trip without worrying about finding a power outlet to charge them up.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score, citing their audio quality and ANC as their main strengths. He has only one complaint: they lack a sense gravitas in the mids and the treble. This makes orchestral music sounds flat instead of grand. The bass is rounded, but it can be overemphasised, which can lead to fatigue in songs with strong bass lines such as the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full and there's no feeling of depth in the bass.

The Momentum 4s are a comfortable fit and shouldn't put too much pressure on your ears or neck. They can be a bit fidgety if you wear them at home or for long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make intense head movements. This could cause them to unexpectedly wake up which can be distracting during calls or music. They stop automatically after 15 minutes and can be turned off manually by pressing the power button.