Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

On the train or in the office the noise-cancelling headphones can be a godsend for those who love to listen. Which are the best?

Sony's flagship headphones are a great value. They feature a brand new design and superior sound quality, as well as enviable features. From the raucous chorus to Sinead O'Connor's unstable bridge, these headphones provide incredible clarity and authenticity.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the king of noise cancellation and its WH1000XM5 headphones represent the most advanced version of this series. A few well-thought-out enhancements over ear headphones bluetooth noise cancelling the XM4s make this model an all-round excellent pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute and travel. They're comfortable and feature multipoint tech to connect to two devices simultaneously, and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has ever made. They're also lightweight and provide about 27 hours of playback without charging, which is sufficient to last a week's worth traveling or one long-haul flight.

The WH1000XM5s are sleek and minimalist in design. They are made from ABS which is an eco-friendly and recycled plastic. The branding is minimal. You'll see a tiny Sony logo on every hinge of the earcup. The headband and earcups have a soft, plush material that is comfortable for all heads apart from the biggest. The earcups can be adjusted so that they fit you perfectly.

Contrary to previous models which focused on reducing low-frequency noise the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves to cancel out background noise. This improves the overall quality of the sound, and helps to reduce engine and cabin noises on flights. The XM5s comes with an additional processing unit that helps increase noise cancellation on planes. The audio app is also able to automatically adjust your listening environment in accordance with the pressure of the air.

Other features of the WH-1000XM5s are an enhanced voice assistant that's simple to use and integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and more. The XM5s are compatible with other Sony audio devices for stereo separation and multi-room music. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming via LDAC, which Sony's codec is based on however they don't support the aptX codec or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser has been manufacturing headphones for more than 50 years. You can expect a high-quality sound, as well as a comfortable fit. With their new over-ears, called Momentum 4 Wireless, they deliver on both fronts. They have reworked their design to eliminate a few characteristic elements that gave their original models their aviator-style headset look. They also enhanced active noise cancellation by using their newest Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. They've rated the headphones to last for 60 hours of listening time when ANC enabled, which doubles the battery life of their major competitors.

The new model is also more portable, as it folds up and is smaller. They're made from synthetic PU leather for the replaceable ear pads and headband that are comfortable on my ear even when I wear them for the entire day at work. There's not much clamping force that holds them in place and they'll be comfortable on flights and during longer workouts.

The sound is clear and well-balanced, though there are some high-pitched peaks in the mid- and high-mid, which can cause slight muddiness in mixes. The bass is overemphasized, which adds a little energy and thump to genres like EDM or hip-hop. It's not a huge deal, but some listeners may be annoyed. The high-mid has some uneven balance, pushing vocals and instruments to the forefront of mixes however at the expense of bringing out sibilants in some songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless comes with all the usual features including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparency mode which blends outside sounds into your music to increase awareness and mobile application support for custom and preset EQ options. They can also be connected with a 3.5mm cable for connecting your phone to it via wire. They can use SBC, AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your device and they can reduce the latency to as little as a quarter of a second which is fantastic.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were top of the line on a variety of lists of the top Bluetooth headsets due to their excellent ANC and audio quality. The PX7s, just like other wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a refresh. Therefore, the PX7S2. B&W didn't just change the design and Jbl live 660 noise cancelling over ear Headphones white design, but also made enhancements to ANC, and added more voice-calling features.

The PX7 S2 headphones are very light, making them comfortable for long listening sessions. A lot of the design is carried over from the previous model, such as the elongated aluminum earcup top-plate and the hook-like accent on the headband that glids rather than clicks as you expand it, and finally the actual physical buttons. The earcups are a bit smaller, however, and the headband is a bit less substantial overall.

The software of B&W lets you alter the EQ settings for the bass and treble. However, you aren't as in control as you do with higher-priced headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup toggles various modes of the environment. It can also be adjusted in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to call the voice assistant on your device.

The PX7 S2 is a great option for a variety of music styles. It has a large soundstage, and good separation of different sound elements. It's especially impressive for music that has acoustic instrumentation such as Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon, which has woody tones that have a touch of air. It can also handle heavier music and has the bass power and mid-range clarity on Entombed's crossover of death-n'-rock and garage to Ride and Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth giving a wall of sound while keeping things clear enough to be able hear the vocals of Lars-Goran Petrov's grittier growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose is one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. Though they had a stranglehold on the market for a long time however, they are now competing against newer headphones that offer more features and better audio quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for anyone looking to listen to their podcasts or music without sound rumbles or hums.

They're comfortable to wear and have an incredibly balanced default sound profile. The ANC does a great job of eliminating background noise, but it tends to emphasize low frequencies more than modern headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM5.

The QC35s are a fantastic pair of headphones to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. They come with a noise cancellation mode that is passive that blocks out ambient sounds but still allowing you to be completely isolated from the surrounding. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and also "audio-share" to ensure that you can listen to something with one set of headphones while taking an incoming call on the other.

The Bose Connect app is decent but it doesn't have the vast EQ options of some other headphone apps. The QC35s are also used in wired mode with cables, but the quality of sound takes a huge drop and they don't offer the same battery longevity as wireless models.

The QC35s are a Bose product, and it might not be for everyone. Other manufacturers have sleeker designs. You can personalize your headphones by purchasing a decal-covered cover from companies such as SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. You can also change the color of the ear cups and jbl live 660 Noise cancelling over ear headphones white the headband later this year, much like you can do with the previous QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 are the most effective wireless headphones with active noise cancellation that you can buy right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise. They also have a premium companion app that provides numerous sound-related features that can be customized.

The XM3's outstanding audio quality is one of their biggest draws and they've been upgraded since their introduction to provide an even better experience. They have a little more clarity across the frequency spectrum, their noise cancelling works better at all volume levels and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control, and Speak-to-Chat. The latest feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound that is allowed in, based on the location you are in and what you are doing.

However, they are not without their flaws. The midrange can sound a bit recessed and the treble can sometimes be too loud. They do have the potential to boost the bass too much on some tracks, making the sound too heavy and full. You can fix this via the Sony app or in the headphone setting.

The XM3s are a great pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute or are frequent travelers. They're more comfortable, comfortable, and appear more durable and premium than the Jbl Live 660 Noise Cancelling Over Ear Headphones White Live 650 BTNC Wireless, and they have a far more powerful battery, and one of our favorite noise cancelling features in the business. They're also more flexible and better-equipped to use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X wireless, but their noise isolation is less impressive. They're not waterproof, which could be a problem for some.