Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Roundup

Wireless headphones remove the restriction of wires in your listening experience. They are more comfortable for long periods of time, and some can fold into a compact form to store when not when not in use.

Sony's WH-1000XM5s are a great pair of Bluetooth headphones that tick all the boxes, including top-of-the-line audio quality and noise cancellation, a stylish design and premium comfort. They also support the lossless LDAC high-res codec that provides superior audio playback.

Sound Quality

If you're a fan of large, full-size wireless headphones that rest over your ears and are connected with the headband to block out and amplify sound there's a wide range of options. In our list of the top Bluetooth over-ear headphones you'll find UC certified headsets that work with communication platforms like Microsoft Teams. You'll also find premium pairs from Sony, Sennheiser and Bose that are as luxurious as they are durable.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones are one of our favorites. They improve on the multi-award winning predecessor by having sleeker design and more refined noise cancellation. The headphones can also be used for up to 37 hours on a single charge. They can also be charged fast to extend the battery life by 8 hours in just 15 minutes. They have a balanced, fun sound, and also support the lossless Sony LDAC high-res codec to stream music in stunning HD.

The headphones produce a rich and twitchy sound, with distinct mids and bass. You can adjust the audio quality of the headphones using their mobile app to fit your personal preferences. For instance you can put more emphasis on the bass or treble. The headphones we tested were impressively accurate and clear, softjoin.co.kr with vocals and orchestral music sounding in glorious detail.

Another of our top-rated over-ear Foldable Bluetooth Over-Ear Headphones - Stereo Sound And FM headphones is the Logitech G HUB Wireless Headphones, which have an excellently balanced sound out of the box and provide clear audio. They have a good amount of bass to enhance sound effects and game audio, and their sound is very consistent. They're compatible with Logitech HUB software, which comes with an equalizer for graphics and presets for customizing the sound.

If you're willing to invest more money, the premium Danish-made Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones are our pick of the top Bluetooth over ear headphones. The Sonys are a bit less expensive, but they sound better and appear better. They feature a tough aluminium casing with lambskin leather earcups that are filled with memory foam. They're comfortable to wear and are compatible with the adaptive aptX and SBC audio codecs, which allow you to listen to high-quality music wirelessly. They're also well-crafted and feature a stylish elegant, minimalist style that is suitable for all tastes.

Noise Cancellation

If you're looking to block out the world and immerse yourself in your music or podcasts then noise cancellation is a crucial feature. Wireless headphones that have noise cancellation capabilities typically have earpieces that are squeaky clean over your ears. This helps you to focus on the audio and block out all background sounds. Active noise cancellation (ANC), which is used by most over-ear headphones to cut down on ambient noise it works by listening to the surroundings and then creating an opposing sound to cancel the background noise. This means that they won't transform your surroundings into tranquil zen-like peace, but they will reduce the sound of train engines and other ambient sounds.

ANC uses tiny microphones that listen for ambient sounds. They then compare them to the music you're currently listening to. The small differences between the two sounds are then used to create a sound that's equivalent and opposite. The resulting sound is then pumped into your ear, effectively drowning the background noise. The top headphones that cancel out noise can be adjusted using apps or a dedicated hardware control. This lets you choose a specific level of noise cancellation to suit the situation you're in.

Most of the headphones we test have a range of other features that go beyond the ability to control ANC. For instance, many headphones come with a microphone that allows you to make calls hands-free and can be used with voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa. Some models come with built-in speakers for audio streaming.

Noise cancellation has seen a significant improvement in the last few years. Focal For instance, Focal has jumped into the premium wireless ANC headphones space with its Bathys. We appreciate them for their exceptional comfort and sleek features, as well as their dazzling audio quality. The Bathys can reduce background noise by up to 30dB. You can manage ANC levels using an app, and also set three preferred settings that you can switch using a physical button located on the left earcup.

Noise cancellation should be the primary factor you consider when buying the latest pair. The quality of the sound is essential however noise cancellation should also be at the top of the list. The most well-known ANC headphones are costly however they're worth it due to their build quality and long battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5s is our favorite for those on a tight budget. They offer great noise cancellation and excellent audio quality at a reasonable price.

Battery Life

If you're planning on using Orange Crest MKII Wireless Headphones with Mic headphones on the go, you want them to last as long as is possible. They drain their own batteries as well as the audio device that's playing music through them, so it's crucial to select headphones with a sufficient amount of storage in case you don't get the charge or get power out. Many manufacturers offer headphones with a lot of storage. Some even incorporate solar charging, which allows them to be charged automatically when you are not listening to them.

Over-ear headphones are typically larger and will cover more of your ears. This allows them to have larger batteries that allow for longer playtimes as well as more advanced features. They also typically have better noise cancellation as their bigger size helps to create a stronger seal against the environment.

The premium brand Bang & Olufsen makes some of the top headphones for over-ear with its H95 flagship wireless headphones providing an immersive listening experience. With a luxurious design that includes aluminum detailing and Nappa leather, shop they're the ultimate choice for an audiophile who would like to listen in the comfort of their home for hours at a time.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro headphones are more affordable and feature a battery lifespan of 65 hours without ANC and 50 hours with it. This is a much better battery life than other headphones, and is a testament of the headphones' impressive quality of construction. They are comfortable fit with a sturdy headband.

Another budget option is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones, which can be used for up to 44 hours with ANC turned on and feature an active noise cancellation system that's incredibly efficient in blocking out ambient noise. The sound quality is excellent with a V-shaped profile that produces lots of bass while also brightening the vocals and instruments.

The Sony WF1000XM5 wireless headphones aren't cheap, but at less than $100, they provide excellent isolation with foam ear tips and noise cancellation that's good, even if it's not the most advanced on this list. They also support Bluetooth 5.3 and the most recent LDAC codec, which allows for high-quality audio. They can be charged using the cord included, or via USB.

Portability

The amount of space a pair of headphones take up once folded into their smallest format is a crucial aspect in their portability capabilities. The smaller the size of the fold-down format the easier it can put them in backpacks or bags to take with you on the go without the risk of them getting stuck in the way.

If you're looking for a no-fuss wireless headphones with lots of features that will suit every day listening The Audio-Technica M50xBT is an excellent choice. They're light, fold down neatly, and offer an impressive 44 hours of playback time. They support multi-devices pairing and have an excellent microphone for phone calls.

If you're not planning to use your headphones for calls that are hands-free, the Audio-Technica ATH-S200BT are a better option as they are more comfortable and have an impressive 50 hours of playback. They also come with an elongable cable that can be retracted for wired use, and come with a tough hard case.

A five-star performer that is a favorite among What Hi-Fi?'s staff, the Sony WF-C700N and JBL Live Pro 2 TWS are another top pair of affordable over ear wireless headphones. Both are priced around the $100 / PS100 or AU$150 price range and come with active noise cancellation, but you'll need to accept that they're not as well-made as our top recommended models.

For something more upscale for a more luxurious experience, the Focal Bathys Wireless are a high-end pair of headphones with impressive sound quality for their price. They have a V-shaped sound profile that includes plenty of bass to compliment EDM, hip-hop and rock. The sound of vocals as well as instruments are bright and you can adjust the sound to your preference using the graphic EQ in their companion application. They also support aptX Adaptive codec for hi-res streaming, and also have an USB-DAC mode to listen on wires.

Check out the Sony WH1000XM5 It's not only more expensive, but worthy to receive our five-star seal. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is not inexpensive, but it does have an extremely long battery life, superb noise cancellation and lets you listen to music for a long period of time without having to worry about running out of power or needing to charge.