Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones are designed to surround your ears and immerse you into audio. They are usually designed for audiophiles and feature features like active noise cancellation and control apps.

The Focal Bathys are a wireless speaker with ANC and a mobile application to adjust the EQ and presets. They also support high-res audio via USB-C for wired listening.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH-1000XM5 headphones are Sony's latest addition to their top-of-the-line noise cancellation lineup. They have a fresh new design, improved ANC and a lot of the same features as their predecessors, but with premium materials and slightly higher-quality sound.

They're extremely light for over-ear ANC headphones, with 250 grams. They're very comfortable to wear for long periods of time, even when you're listening to a podcast or book. The headband is soft and it has a friction rod design like the Grado Labs SR60x that prevents your ears from getting too cold.

The WH-1000XM5 has a sound signature designed to satisfy both people who listen to music for pleasure as well as serious audiophiles. It is tuned with a slight focus in bass, but it is not harsh or imposing. The earphones boast a huge and spacious soundstage, with good instrument separation. This allows you to be able to hear the finer details of your music. The earcups also feature control buttons that are easy and responsive to use. You can swipe forward to access the next track, reverse to hear the previous one as well as up and down to adjust the volume. The headphones can be used for connecting to two devices at the same time and thanks to a built-in sensor, they will automatically pause the playback if removed from your head. You can enable ambient mode by placing your hand on the right-ear cup. This allows you to listen to the sounds around you without removing the headphones.

Other helpful features include the ability to pair them with your voice assistant, Bluetooth low-energy, and support for high-resolution audio (via LDAC). The headphones come with a carrying case made of premium fabric, and an USB-C charging cable. The headphones are compatible with the majority of Android and iOS smartphones, as well as with computers that run Windows and macOS. The battery life of the WH-1000XM5 is excellent. In our battery test, we got 31 hours and 53 minutes with the ANC on, which was better than Sony's advertised 30 hour battery life.

The WH1000XM5 comes with a fantastic mic for voice calls. There is no muffled or static audio in the background. Noise cancelling is also excellent, and these headphones are great for public transportation or in the office.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 is a major improvement over its predecessor, providing top-quality performance and Headphone Shop features. The Bowers and headphone Shop Wilkins PX7 S2 offers premium performance and features like 24-bit wireless streaming and active noise cancellation optimized, and clear voice calls on any compatible mobile or tablet. The 40mm drivers that are custom-designed for the device are carefully placed inside each earcup for an enhanced, more deep listening experience. Six strategically placed microphones provide excellent call clarity, even in noisy environments. A built-in remote and microphone allows you to control calls and music from any device compatible with it.

As with the PX7's original design These headphones have elegant and refined, with accent rings around each earcup and an elegant silver sheen on the headband. The memory foam earcups fit comfortably but not too tight on the cranium. The redesigned shape and form took a long time to perfect, providing an easy clamping force that isn't too hard, even on my own rotund cranium.

At 10.8 grams (or 307g) They weigh 2 ounces lighter that the Sony WH-1000XM5, as well as slightly thinner. They're light enough for carrying in your bag or backpack without any discomfort, and will remain comfortable in your hand during long listening sessions. A strong hinge on the back of the headband allows you to fold them up for easy transportation in an enclosed case.

They're powered by Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive support which is ideal for high-resolution audio and fast video sync. You can also play them wirelessly too, using the included 3.5mm cable that connects to the USB-C port on the right earcup. The headphone's status indicator is a useful feature that flashes green to indicate rapid charge and solid blue when Bluetooth pairing is in use.

The B&W app provides similar controls to the onboard buttons in the hardware such as bass and treble adjustments as well as action button assignment, wear detection, cycle through ANC modes and more. When you listen to music on your iPhone, the app displays album cover and track titles. Popular extras such as music presets and a soundscapes mode are not available, however.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The HD 800 S is the successor to the legendary headphones made by Sennheiser and is designed to meet most demanding requirements. Its construction technology has been optimized to provide a detail resolution that encompasses all frequencies dynamic range, as well as stereo panorama. It's the most realistic sound you can get from open-back headphones.

The headphone has an impedance of 300 Ohms, so it requires a high-quality headphone amplifier to operate at the right levels, without distortion. A balanced connection is recommended, since this can double the power output and enhance the overall sound quality.

The headphones are designed to be used by professionals and have a sturdy steel frame with a mix of plastics and leather padding. The design is minimalistic and they don't look fancy however the quality of the headphones and their construction are superb. They come with a carrying case, an extra audio cable, and an adapter from 1/4" to 1-/8" adapter.

With an unison sound profile, the HD 800 S reproduces natural vocals and instruments, although they are a bit light on bass. This is due to the open-back design creates a spacious and out-of-head soundstage. The treble is very good, with minor drops and peaks. The treble region is also very linear, so you'll not have issues cutting sibilants, or the upper sound of the drum snare.

Despite the lack of a high-pitched bass, they still provide dynamism and impact when it is needed. These headphones are still great for those who like rock music with punchy basses however, they may not sound as great as other models on this list.

In the mids in the mids, these Sennheiser headphones are difficult to beat. They are straight and have a slight incline in the upper mids, which won't be noticed by most listeners. They are also able to reproduce fine time gradations in vocals which is a major benefit.

The HD 800 S are a pair of outstanding headphones, ideal for audiophiles and professionals. Their impressive sonic performance and comfortable fitting make them a great option. They are expensive, but you're paying for headphones that will last for years to come and perform well in any environment.

Anker Soundcore Life q20

The Anker Soundcore Q20 is a decent set of headphones for anyone who wants to relax or just want a pair of affordable headphones that cancel out noise. The headphones come with a simple bag that will protect them when you throw them into a bag. Their battery can last for several long-haul flights. The ANC can effectively block out noisy passengers and engine rumbles. However, their audio quality is a bit warm and bass-heavy.

The Life Q20's controls are easy to use and are well-marked. On the left earcup, you'll find buttons for pairing and powering up the headphones, as well as turning on and off the active noise cancellation. On the right earcup there are controls for playback of media which include a multi-function button which lets you turn on your phone's voice assistant and switch on Anker's BassUp feature (more on this later). You can also utilize the built-in microphone in order to make hands-free calls with your phone.

Anker's Soundcore Q20 headphone Shop offers a deep, immersive listening experience thanks to its custom 40mm dynamic driver that offers certified Hi-Res audio. The headphones have a treble range that reaches up to 40 kHz. Their active noise cancellation is designed to block out a wide range of mid- and low-frequency sound.

One thing to keep in mind about the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is that it doesn't support aptX, which is disappointing. This means that you won't not be able take advantage of the superior codes' lower latency when playing games on your computer.

The Life Q20's headband and memory foam earcups are comfortable enough to wear for long periods without discomfort. The ear cups also rotate to adjust to your unique head shape. The included 3.5mm audio cable lets you to listen to music while charging the battery.