Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Whether you're on the train or at work Noise-cancelling headphones are a godsend for anyone who loves to listen. Which are the best?

With a fresh design, superior sound quality and an enviable list of features, Sony's newest flagship headphones offer exceptional value. They can capture every detail, from Sinead's bridge that trembles to the booming chorus.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the king of noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the most advanced version of this series. A few well-thought-out enhancements over the XM4s make this model an all-around excellent pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute or travel. They're comfortable and feature multipoint tech to connect to two devices simultaneously, and offer the best ANC Sony's ever produced. They're also lightweight and provide approximately 27 hours of playback with no charging, which is plenty for a week's worth of commuting or one long-haul flight.

The WH1000XM5s look sleek and minimalist in design. They are made from ABS, which is a recyclable and recycled plastic. The branding is minimal. You'll see a tiny Sony logo on each hinge of the earcup. The earcups and the headband are cushioned with a plush soft material that feels comfortable on all heads. The earcups are also adjustable to ensure that you get the ideal fit for your needs.

Unlike previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves to cancel out ambient noise. This improves the overall quality of sound and helps reduce the noise of engines and cabins on flights, for instance. The XM5s comes with a second processing unit to enhance noise cancellation on planes. The audio app is also able to automatically adjust the sound environment you are listening to based on the pressure of the air.

Other features of the WH-1000XM5s include an enhanced voice assistant that is easy to use and works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and many more. You can also pair the XM5s with other Sony audio products to enable stereo and multi-room music playback separation. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming via LDAC codec from Sony but they're not compatible with the aptX codec or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser has been manufacturing headphones for over 50 years. You can expect superior sound quality, and a comfortable fit. They've delivered on both counts with their latest pair of over-ears named the Momentum 4 Wireless. They've revamped their design to eliminate some distinctive elements that gave their original models the look of an aviator. They also improved active noise cancellation with their newest Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. They are designed to last for 60 hours when ANC on this, which is more than double the battery life of a lot of competitors.

The new model is more compact, since it folds down and is a bit smaller. They're made of synthetic leather that can be used to make the replaceable headband and earpads that are comfortable on my ear even if I wear them for the entire working. There isn't a lot of clamping force that holds them in place and they'll be comfortable on flights and even during longer workouts.

The sound is clean and well-balanced There are a few peaking in the low-mid and high-mid which cause slight muddying in the mixes. The bass is overemphasized with a lot of energy and thump in genres like EDM or hip hop. It's not a major issue however some listeners may find it annoying. The high-mid also has an uneven balance, bringing vocals and instruments forward in the mix but at the cost of bringing out some vocal sibilants.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless comes with all the usual features including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a translucent mode that blends outside sounds into your music to increase awareness, and mobile app support for custom and preset EQ options. They can also be used with a 3.5mm cable for connecting to your phone via wire. They can connect to your phone via SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes and can reduce delay by as much as a quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were a top pick on many lists of the most reliable Bluetooth headsets, thanks to their excellent ANC and audio quality. However, like many wireless headphones, they've become older and in need of to be refreshed and noise cancelling headphones microphone hence the PX7 S2. B&W did not just alter the design, but also made improvements to ANC and added features for voice calling.

The first thing you will notice when you open the box and get the PX7 S2 is how light they are. This makes them comfortable for long listening sessions. The look of the PX7 S2 is basically similar to the model before it. This includes the stylish oval-shaped aluminium top-plate for noise cancelling headphones microphone the earcups, the hook-like accent that slides rather than clicks when you expand the headband and the physical buttons. The earcups, however are smaller, and the headband is less substantial.

The software of B&W lets you tweak EQ settings for treble and bass, however, you don't have as much control over ear headphones with noise cancelling the mix of the two components as you would on higher-priced headphones. The Quick Action button on left earcup toggles the environmental modes. It can also be programmed to call the voice assistant of your device via the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.

The PX7 S2 is a great choice for most music styles. It has a large soundstage and good separation of the different sound elements. It's especially impressive for pieces that have acoustic instruments like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon, which has woody tones that have a touch of air. It's also able to handle heavier fare and has the bass power and mid-range clarity on Entombed's fusion of garage and death-n'-roll, Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth providing an impressive sound wall while allowing to be able to discern the vocals, such as Lars-Goran Petrov's sharp growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was among the first companies to bring active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. While they held an advantage over the market for years however, they are now competing with newer headsets with more features and superior audio quality. That said, the QuietComfort 35 is still a great choice for anyone who wants to listen to their music or podcasts without being disturbed by constant rumbles and hums.

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

The QC35s are an excellent pair of headphones that can be used to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. They have an active noise cancellation feature which reduces ambient sounds, but still allowing you to be completely isolated from the surrounding. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and also "audio-share" which means you can listen to music on one set of headphones and answer an incoming call with the other.

The Bose Connect app is decent but doesn't offer the extensive EQ options of some other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode, but the sound quality is drastically reduced and battery life is not as good as with wireless models.

The QC35s sport a classic Bose design that might not appeal to some than the more modern designs of other manufacturers. However, you can add a bit of personalization by purchasing an ear cover-up with decals from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. In the coming year you'll be able to customize the color of the earcups as well as the headband, just like with the earlier QC25.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 is the best wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation that you can buy today. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise Cancelling headphones microphone. They also have a premium companion app that provides many sound customization options.

The XM3's excellent sound quality is one of their main draws and they've been improved since their release to provide the best performance. They have a little bit more depth in the frequency spectrum. Their noise cancelling headset with mic cancelling is better at all levels of volume. They also have upgraded controls, such as Quick Attention mode and Speak-to chat. The new feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound allowed in based on where you are and what you are doing.

They're not without their own problems, however. The midrange can sound recessed and the treble can sometimes be too loud. And they still have a tendency to increase bass too much in certain tracks, which makes them sound overly full and heavy. However, this is something you can address through the headphone settings or through EQ adjustment within the Sony app.

The XM3s are a great pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute or are frequent travelers. They are more comfortable, appear and feel premium, and are more durable over the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a better battery, and one of the best noise cancelling features available. They're also more versatile and more suitable for use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH M50X wireless, but their noise cancelling is less impressive. They're also not waterproof, which could be a deal-breaker for some.