Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow larger drivers to provide greater bass and larger soundstages. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The most recent Master & Dynamic MW65 update provides excellent audio, a variety of ANC modes and impressive battery life with a stylish and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 wireless headphone (gwwa.yodev.net published an article). They are lighter, better built, and have a more balanced audio profile (though bass heavy). They also have an app for audio customization. They have improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates more ambient sounds and have a longer battery life.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible equipment and streaming services. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and switch between them as needed. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to tapping on panels and are simpler to control when making calls or listening to media. Sony has also added a feature to make voice calls more clear and precise during calls. This is an obvious and a nice addition.

While the WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, they're some of the most comfortable wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable, feel well-made, and come with an outstanding battery that lasts for longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used in a passive manner using the TRS cable. This is ideal for traveling or conserving power.

The WH1000XM4s provide a superior alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfy and their ANC is able to block out more background noise. They also come with a companion app that lets you alter their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. However, the B&Ws come with a better-built design, and they're able to pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Additionally, they support aptX HD, and they have an AI-driven engine which is attempting to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does a good 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 latest version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and travelers all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula that has made its predecessor so successful, while adding USB-C and better noise cancellation.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport an elegant design and feel that oozes quality. The headband is made of plastic, and has a sturdy feel with metal hinges at the pivot points, and the familiar ratcheting action when you extend or retract the earcups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without putting pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. You can wear them while wearing a sweater or coat as the noise cancellation function is functional even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones, the QC45s do not offer the best sound at this price. The frequencies are dull and lack the detail that headphones with higher prices might be able bring out. The higher registers tend to be amplified, which is fine for most music, but could become a problem for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent, but lacks power.

The ability to pause the playback when removing the headset is a feature that is missing. This is a feature Bose's rivals have provided for several years. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app but it would be nice if there was a manual control.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, with multipoint as well as 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 built-in microphones that hear your voice when you make calls. The call quality is generally excellent however, the headphones don't come with the handy capability to muffle your voice during playback, which is something that other wireless headphones have. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s in February 2022 introduced manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company 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 headphones. They look and sound stunning. They also come with a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery performance, with Focal promising 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We had more than 40 hours of playback time on average from just one charge. If you have to charge your headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will turn red.

They offer a good amount of features for headphones at this price with support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select your source device each time you want to listen). The headphones come with built-in microphones that can be used with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also feature an easy-to-use interface that makes it simple to control your music and take calls.

For headphones with over-ear connectivity for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys are very good in our tests of noise cancellation, reducing the background sound by around 9 decibels in average. It's not as effective as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it's still very effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys did well overall, with a the frequency response which generally is in line with the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with only minor differences in the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals appear veiled.

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

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new update of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The last pair, the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry in the category. The latest pair improves on the previous model by having a sleeker design, improved gesture controls and massive battery life.

The improvements are subtle but can make for a pair of over ear headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case that protects them when moving. They also follow the trend of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, including those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. This means they work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked spatial audio) that you'll find on AirPods.

The biggest change is the huge battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is easily double the amount of the competitors and sufficient to allow you to travel for a longer period of time without worrying about finding an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and http://fpcom.co.kr/ Engadget, gave the headphones a score of 82. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as their strengths. He only has one complaint they lack gravitas in mids and treble. This makes orchestral music sounds dull instead of grand. The bass is well-rounded, but it can be overemphasised and cause fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines like the drums that are pounding in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals also sound sizzled rather than full and there's not a real sense of depth in the bass.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to put pressure on your neck or ears. However, they can be fidgety when wearing them around the house or for longer listening sessions. They will move about on your head, causing intense cordless head phones movements. This could cause them to suddenly wake up which can be distracting during music or calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes and can be switched off manually using the power button.