Best Over-Ear Wireles headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds can completely surround the ears. They also allow for bigger drivers that provide deeper bass and a larger soundstage. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 is updated with better audio, numerous ANC mode and an impressive battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has upgraded an already excellent pair of headphones by introducing the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, have more balanced sound profiles (though still bass-heavy) and include an app that lets you do some audio-related customization. They've improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates the background noise and have a longer battery life.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution audio, however you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them as required. You can enable this feature via the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensitiveness of their touch panels. They respond more quickly to the tap of the panel, which makes them easier to control during a phone call or to listen to music. Sony has also added a feature that can make voice calls clearer and more precise during calls. This is a distinct and pleasant addition.

The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they are among the best wireless headphones we've ever examined. They're comfortable, feel well-made, and come with an outstanding battery that lasts more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively by using an TRS cable. This is great to travel with or for storing energy.

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 ambient noise. They also come with a companion app that lets you tweak their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are better built and can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Additionally, they support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine which attempts to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it enhances the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 noise-canceling headset is the most recent version of a headset which is a popular choice among commuters and passengers all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, adding the USB-C port, which is better at cancelling noise and a longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that came before them. The headband, made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you extend or retract your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that fit over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly 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 wifi and bluetooth headphones comfort, the QC45s do not offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are comparatively flat and lack details that headphones with higher prices might be capable of bringing out. The upper registers are boosted which is great for most music genres but could be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is good but lacks power.

One thing that's not included is the ability to pause playback whenever you take off the headset. This is a standard feature in this price range and something that Bose's rivals have offered for a long time. Another omission is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs in the app but it would be nice to have a manual control.

You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support as well as more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's audio and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones inbuilt to hear your voice when on the phone. The call quality is generally very good however, the headphones 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 added manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand known for its high-performance headphones that last for a long time, comfort and a style that makes listeners feel like they're listening to something truly special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for Wireles headphones wireless and wired listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We had more than 40 hours of playback on average on a single charge. If you require a recharge, there's an indicator light on the right earcup that will turn red when the earphone needs to be charged.

They offer a good amount of features for headphones at this price with support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select the source device each time you would like to listen). The headphones have 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.

Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by 9 decibels on average. It's not as effective as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless however it is still effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones, the Bathys did well overall, Wireles headphones with a the frequency response which generally corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve with only minor differences in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound pattern which adds plenty of boom to the mix, but can sometimes make vocals and instruments like cymbals sound dull.

They also have excellent leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them in public without worrying about other people hearing your music. Their microphone is suitable for recording using Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble and the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The new model improves on the previous model by having modern design, better gesture controls, and a huge 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 aren't foldable however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case to protect them when on the move. They also follow the pattern of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, like the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be beautifully device agnostic. This means they work well 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 most obvious improvement here is the massive battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation option enabled. This is easily twice the amount of the competitors and sufficient to allow you to travel for a longer period of time without having to search for an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget The headphones were rated by Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget a score of 82. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well rounded however it can be overemphasized, which can cause fatigue in songs that have strong bass lines, such as the drum hits of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound a bit hot, but not a lot. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfy and should not put too much pressure on your neck or ears. They can be a bit fidgety if you wear them at home or for long listening sessions. They will move around on your head and make intense head movements. This can cause them to wake up at random times, which can be distracting while listening to music or making calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be switched off manually by pressing the power button.