The Best Over-Ear Headphones

If you travel on public transportation or work in an office with noisy coworkers or just want to enjoy your music without the distraction of distractions from outside, then headphones with noise cancellation on the ear can make all the difference. We've reviewed the top headphones that offer superior audio quality with active noise cancelling headset with mic cancellation.

Mpow Over Ear Headphones

These Bluetooth headphones from Mpow have a good robust and sturdy design. They also offer excellent audio quality that is impressive for their price. The headphones are designed to be worn over your ears and have ear cups that comfortably fit over your ears. This will help block out Sennheiser noise Cancelling headphones from the outside. The earpads consist of a moderately padded cushion that insulates your ears sufficiently to block out a significant portion of environmental sounds but they don't have active noise canceling capability. The earpads weigh a bit heavier than 11 ounces but they are comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

The Mpow headphones are simple and not much different from other over-ear headphone designs available. The headband which connects the two ear cups is hinged, which allows them to fold down into a compact package for transport and storage. The left earcup contains the controls for volume, power and noise cancellation. A microphone is housed in the right ear cup to allow hands-free phone calls.

The Mpow headphones offer very good sound quality, but they don't have the bass punch or clarity of the Sony WH1000XM5. The PRTF accuracy and activation scores are above average among Bluetooth headphones. This should result in a large and wide soundstage when listening to music. Their PRTF distance score, however, is below the average. This means they sound more closed-in and less open when compared to headphones with larger, more open-backed earcups.

The treble extension is also excellent, so you can have a clear and crisp sound that can be used with most music genres. The mids of Sony headphones are more pronounced, giving them an even more lively sound. This is great for music that has a lot of instruments. The bass can be a bit overpowering for some people however it's a personal preference that can be corrected by altering the equalizer settings in your audio player.

The Mpow headphones have a fairly long battery life and can be used in wired mode when the battery is exhausted. The headphones come with an USB charger as well as the cable, so you can listen to your favorite music without interruption. The manufacturer offers a 45-day money-back warranty, along with an 18-month warranty on these headphones. Their customer service is also renowned for sennheiser noise cancelling headphones its speedy response.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The PX7 S2 are the most current headphones for over-ears that have graced the Bowers & Wilkins catalog. The PX7 is replaced by the PX7 S2 and they are part of a larger collection of wireless headphones that includes the PI5 and PI7. Unboxed, the design of these headphones instantly invokes a sense of luxury. The use of metals and textured materials on the ear cups gives them a luxurious feel. The headphones are also more comfortable on the ears and head although they weigh a bit more. The earpads are easily removable and can be replaced in the event that they wear out.

Like many of the best headphones, these models have active noise cancellation, which reduces external sounds while still allowing you to listen to your music. The technology isn't perfect however, it does a good job of keeping the whir of an airplane engine or the train's rumble away from your ears while not affecting the balance of music pieces that might be on the same frequency.

One thing that really sets the PX7 S2 apart from their rivals is their soundstage which provides plenty of space and great separation between distinct components of sound. This brings a clarity to music that can't always be found on other Bluetooth headphones.

Although the PX7 S2s aren't as movable as their competition, they come with a nice carry case. The case is well-padded and the headphones can fold flat when not in use.

The ear cups have a leather-like, soft material that feels luxurious to touch. They're also extremely light which makes them ideal for long listening sessions. The headband is designed to be as comfortable as possible and it doesn't clamp too tightly, which can help prevent headaches over time.

The headphones have a range of features that include Bluetooth multipoint, which allows them to connect with two devices simultaneously. They are compatible with all the popular Bluetooth codecs, as well as high-resolution audio, in the event that your streaming service supports it. They also come with a headphone amplifier that can give you an extra boost when using them with devices that aren't powered, such as laptops.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH-1000XM5 is the most recent model in the line of Sony's top headphones for over-ear noise cancellation. These headphones are a great upgrade to their predecessors, WH1000XM2s or WH1000XM4. Sony has improved on its already impressive active noise cancellation. For instance, the fifth-generation headphones are now able to eliminate low-frequency sounds, such as subway car and plane engine rumbles. They can also detect your location and automatically adjust the Ambient Sound Control settings to match.

You can still make use of a voice-activated assistant in order to control your music, receive directions and more. The microphones in the earcups have been upgraded so that they can be used to make hands-free phone calls and Siri/Google Assistant commands. The headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 which means they have faster pairing and connection speeds.

The WH-1000XM5 received high scores in our lab tests for comfort, ease of use and the quality of its sound. The lightweight headset is comfortable for long listening sessions and the earcup can be adjusted to accommodate various head sizes. The headphones are able to be carried around and their flat foldable design makes them able to easily fit in the backpack or suitcase.

The ear cups have a slight curvature, and the headband is more refined. This makes it easier to conceal points of assembly. They're covered in a modern synthetic leather material, which provides more durability and a luxurious look. The earcup cavity is also larger and fits more snugly to the ears. This may cause a small amount of pressure on your head when worn for long periods of time.

The XM5 keeps some of the basic features of the WH1000XM4s. You can swipe and tap the right earcup to switch songs or pause your music and open Ambient Sound Mode. You can place your hands on the left earcup to temporarily turn off the music and increase ambient sound. This is useful if you need to hear what's happening around you.

The XM5s have some minor improvements that make them a good option for headphones that block out bose noise cancelling headphones 700 over ear. The new ANC offers better isolation for low-frequency sounds and the headphones will stop the music when removed off your head to conserve power. You can also switch to a transparent listening mode to let in more outside sound. A new battery-power-consumption algorithm gives the XM5s the same 30-hour battery life rating as their predecessor, and a quick press of the power button will alert you to your remaining charge.

Skullcandy ATH-ADX700

If you're looking to get a set of headphones for gaming, the ATH-ADX700 is a fantastic choice. They offer excellent sound quality and are comfortable to wear for a long period of time. They are light, so you won't feel them on your head or ear. They come with self-adjusting 3D wings that eliminate pressure and adapt to fit your head. The headphones include an audio cable that can be easily connected to your audio source.

Open-air headphones with a distinctive design, these headphones come with large earcups which reveal the drivers. This unique design makes them stand out from the rest however it's not the only thing that sets them apart. These headphones are unique because of their self-adjusting wing-support construction, the new 53 mm driver with bobbin wound CCAW voice coils and a lightweight honeycomb aluminum casing.

The ATH ADX700 has a broad frequency response, which allows for natural, clear treble. The sound isn't as bassy as other pairs because they are designed for an average music lover who does not like being bombarded by low frequencies. These headphones are great for gamers because they let you hear your friends and other NPCs, without being muffled.

While the ATH-ADX700 comes with an impedance of 32 ohms they still require a decent amplifier to achieve the best performance. If you are using them with a portable player, it's not a problem, but using a headphone amplifier makes it easier to control the sound and experience the full range.

The ATH ADX700 comes with a 9.84-foot cable with a gold-plated 1/8-inch connector and an elastic TPE sheath that helps prevent tangling and damage. It also includes a 1/4-inch adapter for mobile devices. The earpads are constructed of velvety velour, which feels soft and initially itchy but will break the end. They also feature a flexible raised fabric that increases comfort and Sennheiser Noise Cancelling Headphones durability.