Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds encapsulate your ears completely and allow for larger drivers to deliver deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many also include active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been upgraded with improved audio, multiple 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. They're lighter, feel more built, have more balanced sound profiles (though still bass-heavy), and include an app that lets you do some audio customization. Their active noise cancelling works better than ever before, removing the background noise, and they have a longer continuous battery life than many competitors.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transmit high-resolution audio, however, you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. In addition, the WH1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and automatically switch between them when required. 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 quicker to tapping on panels and are simpler to manage when making a phone call or listening to music. Sony has also added a feature that makes voice sound clearer and more precise when calling which is evident and a nice feature.

The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones we've ever tested. They're comfortable and well-made. They also have a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used as a passive device by using the TRS cable. This is great for traveling or conserving energy.

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

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headphone that became an essential for commuters and passengers around the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband is made from plastic, but is sturdy and comfortable with hinges made of metal at the pivot points, and the familiar ratcheting action when you retract or extend the ear cups. The cups have soft, cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and don't put pressure to your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be worn with a sweater or coat since they can be worn even when not on the head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are fairly flat and lack details that higher-end headphones may be capable of bringing out. The upper registers are amplified which is fine for the majority of music but could be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is good but lacks the punch.

The possibility of pauseing the playback when you remove the headset is a feature not available. This is a feature Bose's rivals have offered for many years. Another thing that was missing was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings within the app, but 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 the volume and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s come with four in-built microphones to pick up your voice during calls. The call quality is generally good however, the headphones do not have the ability to mute your voice during playback, which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s was released in February 2022 introduced manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a great upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting comfort and a design that lets listeners know they're listening to something truly special. The Bathys are their first wireless music headphones noise-cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They also have an inbuilt high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wired and Wireless Bluetooth (Http://Envtox.Snu.Ac.Kr/Bbs/Board.Php?Bo_Table=Sub5_4&Wr_Id=672183) listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We actually got more, with over 40 hours of playtime on average of one charge. If you require a recharge, there's an indicator light on the right ear cup that will turn red when the earphone needs to be charged.

For a pair of headphones at this price, they offer a lot of features. They can connect to multiple devices simultaneously and have automatic pairing. (You have to select your source device by hand each time you listen.) The headphones have an inbuilt microphone that can be used with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to navigate interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

For wireless headphones that are over-ear, the Bathys excel in our test of noise cancellation, reducing the ambient sound by about 9 decibels on average. 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 fairly effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys did well overall, with a the frequency response which generally matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with just minor differences in the mids and bass. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile which adds plenty of boom to the mix, however, they can make instruments and vocals like cymbals seem a bit veiled.

You can wear them anywhere and not worry about whether others listen to your music. The microphone is able to be used for recording via Bluetooth with only a slight 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 is a significant improvement over the previous model, sporting a an elegant design, enhanced gesture control, and a huge battery life.

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

The most obvious difference in this model is the huge battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation feature turned on. This is more than the majority of the competitors can provide and enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 rating and cited their sound quality and ANC as their main strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is smooth and well-rounded but it's easy to over-emphasize and can cause fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines like the drums that are pounding in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound bubbly, but not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are a comfortable fit and should not put too much pressure on your ears or neck. However they can be a bit fidgety when wearing them in the house or during longer listening sessions. They can move around on your head with intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random times, which can be distracting while listening to music or making calls. They will shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be shut off manually by pressing the power button.