Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to deliver deeper bass and wider soundstages. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with better audio and features, including various ANC modes, and a long battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, feature an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy), and include an app that allows for 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 compatible with. This codec can transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time and switch between them if needed. You enable this feature through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.

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

While the WH1000XM4s aren't perfect, they are some of the top wireless headphones we've tested. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an outstanding battery that can last longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively using the TRS cable. This is ideal for traveling or conserving power.

The WH1000XM4s are a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears Px7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more background noise. They also have a companion app that lets you tweak their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than B&W's. The B&Ws are more robust and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD, and they have an AI-driven engine that tries to up-scale compressed music to high resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme and it does well in improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 sound cancelling headset is the latest version of a headset which has become a favorite among commuters and passengers across 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.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband, made of plastic, offers a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you expand Buy wireless headphones or retract your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that fit over your ears without placing pressure on your wire less head phones. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. You can wear them while wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancelling function works even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the detail that headphones with higher prices might be able bring out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted and is suitable for most music, but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is good, but lacks power.

One feature that's not present is the possibility of paused playback when you remove the headset. This is a standard feature in this price range and something Bose's competitors have been offering for years. Another omission is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app, but it would be nice to have an option to manually control.

You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's sound and voice settings.

The QC45s come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The quality of calls is generally good however, the headphones don't come with the handy ability to mute your voice while playing back which is a feature that other buy wireless headphones - Home - headphones do. Update as of February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s provided an option to adjust the volume manually in the audio app which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand known for its high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting comfort and a design that makes listeners feel like they're listening to something special. Their first foray into wireless headphones that cancel out noise, the Bathys, are stunning cans that look and sound fantastic. They also have a built-in high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for both wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery performance with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous bluetooth wireless headphone playtime. We actually got a bit more from them with more than 40 hours on average out of a single charge. If you have to charge the headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will turn red.

They offer a good amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price point, including support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select your source device every time you want to listen). The headphones come with an inbuilt microphone that works with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones come with an easy-to use interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

For headphones with over-ear connectivity, the Bathys are very good in our test of noise cancellation. They cut down the ambient sound by about 9 decibels per hour on average. It's not as impressive as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless but it's still pretty effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations on the bass and mids. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile which adds plenty of boom to the mix, however, it can make instruments and vocals such as cymbals sound veiled.

You can wear them anywhere and not worry about whether others listen to your music. Their mic has passable quality of recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid to treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's most popular Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this category. The latest model is improved over the previous model by having a sleeker design, improved gesture controls, and an enormous battery life.

The improvements here are subtle, but they make a pair that seem like a step up from the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case that protects them when on the move. The Momentum 4s are compatible with all devices, just like other Bluetooth headphones from recent years, such as those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they work well with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they do not come with the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that you'll find on AirPods.

The most significant change is the huge battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is more than the majority of the competitors can provide and enough for a multi-day trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them up.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as their strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble, which means that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is rounded, however, it can be overemphasized and cause fatigue in songs with strong bass lines such as the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound hot, but not a lot. There's no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfortable and aren't likely to 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 a lot of head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random which can be distracting during music or calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes, and can be shut off manually using the power button.