Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds, are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also allow for larger drivers, which deliver greater bass and a wider soundstage. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update features excellent audio, a variety of ANC modes and impressive battery life with a stylish and distinct design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has redesigned an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more constructed, and have a more balanced sound profile (though still bass-heavy), and come with an app that allows some audio customization. Their active noise cancelling works better than it did before, removing the background noise, and they have a longer battery life than a lot of competitors.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, Cordless Headphones and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between them when needed. You enable this feature through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond quicker to a tap on a panel and are easier to control when making calls or listening to music. Sony has also added a feature that helps voices sound clearer and more precise when calling which is evident and a nice feature.

While the WH1000XM4s aren't perfect, they are some of the most comfortable wireless headphones we've tested. They're comfortable, cordless Headphones feel well-made, and come with an impressive battery that lasts for more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively using an TRS cable. This is great to travel with or for storing power.

The WH-1000XM4s are better over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfy and their ANC can block out more background noise. The B&Ws come with an EQ that is more flexible, as well as a companion app to tweak the audio quality. The B&Ws are better built, and can pair with two bluetooth wireless headphone devices simultaneously. Additionally, they support aptX HD and feature an AI-driven engine that attempts to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme, and it improves the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 Noise-Canceling headset is the most current version of a headset that is a popular choice among commuters and passengers all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that made its predecessor so successful, while adding the USB-C technology and improved noise cancellation.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport an elegant design and feel that oozes quality. The headband, made of plastic, offers a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. It also features the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you extend or retract your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that fit over your ears without putting pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can wear them while wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancellation function is functional even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the detail that higher-end headphones might be able bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is acceptable for most music genres but can be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent, but lacks punch.

The ability to pause playback after removing the headset is a feature that's missing. This is standard in this price range and something Bose's competitors have been offering for years. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings 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 as well as more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's voice and sound settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones inbuilt to pick up your voice while on the phone. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't allow you to mute the voice during playback as other wireless headphones. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s was released in February 2022 included manual EQ options to the audio app. This is a welcome upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're listening something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery performance, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got more out of them with more than 40 hours on average of one charge. If you need to charge your headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.

For a pair of cordless headphones [go now] for this price, they have many features. They can be used with multiple devices simultaneously and have automatic pairing. (You must select the device you want to pair with each time you listen.) The headphones come with an inbuilt microphone that can be used with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also have an easy-to-use interface that makes it easy to control your music and take calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by an average of 9 decibels. This isn't as impressive as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless but it's still quite effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the blue tooth headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations on the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound profile which can make instruments, vocals and cymbals look a bit veiled.

They also have very good leakage resistance, so you can wear them in public without worrying about others hearing your music. Their microphone is of decent recording quality through Bluetooth with just a little distortion in the mid to the treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's top-of-the-line Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not an outstanding entry in this category. The new model is an improvement on the previous model, featuring a sleeker look, improved gesture control and an enormous battery life.

The improvements are subtle, but can make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lie flat and do not fold however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case that protects them when on the move. They also follow the pattern of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, like those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be beautifully device agnostic. This means they work well with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked spatial audio) that you'll find on the AirPods.

The most obvious improvement in this model is the huge battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback when the noise cancellation option activated. This is more than what the majority of the competition can offer and enough for a long-distance trip without worrying about finding a power outlet to charge them up.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 score with a focus on their audio quality and ANC as their main strengths. He only has one complaint that they lack gravitas in mids and treble. This means that orchestral pieces sound dull instead of grand. The bass is smooth and well-rounded but it's easy to over-emphasize and cause fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines like the drum hits in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full and there's not a real sense of depth in the bass.

The Momentum 4s shouldn't place pressure on your neck or ear. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them at home or during long listening sessions. They will move around on your head and make intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up unexpectedly, which can be distracting when listening to music or making calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes and can be switched off manually with the power button.