Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to deliver greater bass and larger soundstages. Many also include active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with superior audio and various ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved on an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel better constructed, and have an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass-heavy) and include an app that lets you do some audio-related customization. Their active noise cancelling works better than ever before, removing more ambient sound, and they have a longer continuous battery life than a lot of competitors.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, Wireless and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. In addition, the WH1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and automatically switch between them if needed. You enable this feature through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond quicker to the touch of the panel and are much easier to manage when making a phone call or listening to music. Sony also included a feature that helps voices sound more clear and precise when calling which is noticeable and a nice addition.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones that we have ever test. They're comfortable, feel well-made, and come with an impressive battery that can last more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used as a passive device using an TRS cable. This is perfect for traveling or conserving energy.

The WH1000XM4s provide a superior alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears Px7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC is able to block out more background noise. They also come with a companion application that lets you adjust their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. However, the B&Ws come with more robust design and they're able to connect with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine which tries to scale compressed music up to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme and it does well in improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless audio 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 passengers across the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel the new model follows the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, improved noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a luxurious look and feel that oozes quality. The headband, which is made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the metal hinges at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you expand or retract your ear cups. The cups have soft cushions that fit comfortably over the ears and don't apply pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can wear them when you're wearing an overcoat or sweater since the noise cancelling function works even when they are not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are flat and lack the depth that headphones with higher prices might be able bring out. The higher registers tend to be boosted which is great for most music genres but could become a problem for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent, but it lacks punch.

The ability to pause playback when you remove the headset is a feature absent. This is a feature that Bose's rivals have provided for many years. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app, but it would be nice if there was an option to manually control.

You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets sound and voice 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 do not have the capability to muffle your voice during playback which is something other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s came out in February 2022 introduced manual settings for EQ 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 provide long-lasting comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something truly special. Their first attempt at wireless noise cancelling headphones, the Bathys, are stunning cans that look and sound fantastic. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for rydohi wireless bluetooth headphones and wired listening.

The Bathys come with a great battery performance with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We had more than 40 hours of playback on average from a single charge. If you need to charge your headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will turn red.

They come with a wide range of features for a pair of headphones of this price point that include support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select your source device every time you want to listen). They come with a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. They also come with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to control your music and take calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by an average of 9 decibels. 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 tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations on the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals seem unreal.

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

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry in the class. The new model improves on the previous model with modern design, better gesture controls, and an enormous battery life.

The improvements are subtle, but can make for an over-ear set of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case to protect them on the go. The Momentum 4s are device-agnostic, like many other Bluetooth headphones from recent times, like those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They can be used with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most notable change is the huge battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than double the amount of the competition and enough to allow you to travel for a longer period of time without worrying about finding an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score, citing their audio quality and ANC as two of their strengths. He only has one complaint that they lack gravitas in the mids and treble. This makes orchestral pieces sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can cause to fatigue when songs have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full and there's no feeling of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to cause pressure on your neck or ears. They can be fidgety if you wear them around the home or for long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make intense head movements. This can cause them suddenly wake up and can cause distraction during music or calls. Fortunately, they will shut down after 15 minutes of rest by default, and can be turned off manually off with the power button.