Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds encapsulate the ears completely. They also permit larger drivers that deliver deeper bass and a wider soundstage. Many of them also feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update offers high-quality audio, numerous ANC modes and impressive battery life, Long-Lasting Sony Wireless Bluetooth Headphones – 50 Hours+ all in a sleek and distinct design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed and feature an audio profile that is more balanced (though bass heavy). They also have an app for audio customization. Their active noise cancelling performs even better than before, removing any background noise. Additionally, long-Lasting sony wireless bluetooth headphones – 50 hours+ they have a longer battery life than a lot of competitors.

These headphones use Bluetooth 5.0, with support for SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. These headphones can transmit high-resolution audio, however, you'll need compatible devices and a streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between them as required. This feature can be enabled via the Sony Headphones Connect App and works well.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to a tap on a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to media. Sony has also added an option that makes voices sound more clear and precise when calling, which is evident and a nice feature.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the top wireless headphones that we have ever test. They're comfortable, well-made, and have batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used passively with a TRS cable. This is great for travel or preserving energy.

The WH-1000XM4s are a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfy and their ANC is able to block out more background noise. The B&Ws feature a more flexible EQ and an app companion to adjust the audio quality. The B&Ws are more robust, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD, and they have an AI-driven engine which tries to scale compressed music up to high resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does well in improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 sound cancelling headset is the most current version of a headset which has become a favorite among commuters and passengers across the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, better noise cancellation and longer battery life.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband, constructed of plastic, has a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also has the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you extend or retract your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that fit over your ears without pressing your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. You can use them while wearing a coat or sweater as the noise-canceling works even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not provide the best sound at this price point. The frequencies are tinny and lack the detail that headphones with higher prices might be able bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is fine for the majority of music but can be problematic for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent, but lacks punch.

The ability to pause the playback when removing the headset is a feature that is missing. This is standard in this price bracket and is something Bose's competitors have been offering for years. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app but it would be nice to have a manual control.

You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets voice and sound settings.

The QC45s come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The headsets have a good call quality, however they don't permit you to muffle the sound during playback as other wireless headphones. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s in February 2022 added manual EQ options to the audio app. This is a great upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that is known for high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting sony wireless bluetooth headphones – 50 hours+ comfort and a style that let listeners know they're listening to something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They come with a top-quality USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys come with a great battery life, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got more out of them with more than 40 hours of playtime on average of a single charge. If you do need to recharge, there's an indicator light on the right ear cup that turns red when the headphone needs to be charged.

They offer a good amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price, including support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select the source device each time you want to listen). They come with a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to use interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

For Ultimate Wireless Over-Ear Headphones: 60 Hours Playtime - HiFi Stereo headphones that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys perform very well in our test of noise cancellation, reducing the background sound by around 9 decibels per hour on average. It's not as effective as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless however it is still effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones in our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys performed well overall with an overall frequency response that is in line with the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with just minor differences in the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit obscure.

You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others listen to your music. Their mic has passable recording quality through Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid - to high treble frequency range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new update of the company's flagship Bluetooth headsets. The last pair, the Momentum 3, was a decent, but not the most impressive entry into the category. The new pair is an improvement on the previous model, featuring more sleek design, better gesture control and an enormous battery life.

Many of the improvements aren't that obvious, but they make a pair that appear to be an upgrade from the old one. The Momentum 4s lay flat and do not fold however they come with a sturdy hardshell case to keep them safe on the go. They also follow the pattern of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, including the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they do not have the additional features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that you'll find on the AirPods.

The most obvious difference in this model is the huge battery, which claims up to 60 hours of playback with noise cancellation turned on. This is easily double the amount of the competitors and sufficient to go on a long-distance trip without worrying about finding an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 score and cited their sound quality and ANC as two of their strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids as well as treble, meaning that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can cause to fatigue when songs have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full, and there's no real feeling of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s are a comfortable fit and shouldn't put too much pressure on your neck or ears. They can be fidgety if you wear them at home or for long listening sessions. They will move around on your head and make a lot of head movements. This could cause them to unexpectedly wake up and can cause distraction during calls or music. Fortunately they shut down after 15 minutes of rest by default and can be turned off manually off by pressing the power button.