Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Noise-cancelling headphones are an ideal solution for those who love to listen regardless of whether they're at work or on the train. Which are the best?

With a new design with superior sound quality and a plethora of features, Sony's latest flagship headphones are a great value. From the powerful chorus to Sinead's shaking bridge, these headphones provide amazing clarity and authenticity.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is a pro at noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the best iteration of this series. A few well-thought-out enhancements over the XM4s make these headphones an excellent all-round pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute or travel. They're comfortable and feature multipoint tech to connect to two devices at once and have the best ANC Sony's ever produced. They're lightweight and can run up to 27 hours with no charging. This is enough to get through a week of commutes or an extended flight.

The WH-1000XM5s have an elegant, minimalist design and are made from recycled and recyclable plastic, known as acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). The branding is minimal, although there is a tiny 'Sony' logo on the hinge of each earcup. The headband and earcups have a soft, plush material that is comfortable for all head sizes with the exception of the largest. The earcups can be adjusted so that you can find the ideal fit for your needs.

Contrary to previous models that were focused on reducing low frequency noise, the XM5s amplify the sound waves at higher frequencies to block out background noise. This improves the overall sound quality and helps drown out the noise of engines and cabins during flights, for instance. The XM5s is equipped with an additional processing unit that helps increase noise cancellation on planes. The audio app can also automatically alter the listening environment in accordance with the data on air pressure.

The WH-1000XM5s comes with an integrated voice assistant that is simple to use, and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and many more. You can also pair the XM5s to other Sony audio products to enable multi-room music playback and stereo separation. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming through Sony's LDAC codec, but don't support aptX or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser has been manufacturing headphones for more than 50 years. You can expect a superior sound quality, and a comfortable fit. They've got both with their latest headphones, dubbed the Momentum 4 Wireless. They've redesigned their design to eliminate some characteristic elements that gave their previous models the look of an aviator. They also enhanced active noise cancellation with their newest Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. They've rated the headphones to last 60 hours of listening with ANC enabled, which doubles the battery life of their major competitors.

The new model is also more portable, as it folds up and is smaller. The ear pads and the headband are made of artificial PU leather, which is comfortable on my head even when I wear it all day. They're also not too tight, so you can wear them for long flights or even during your workouts.

The sound is smooth and clear, however there are some highs that can add a bit of discoloration to mixes. The bass is overemphasized, adding extra impact and thump to genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not a major issue however it could be a problem for some listeners. The high-mid is some uneven balance which pushes instruments and vocals towards the front of the mix, but at the cost of bringing out sibilants into certain songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has all the standard features, including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparent mode which blends outside sounds into your music to improve awareness and mobile apps that support custom and preset EQ options. You can also use a 3.5mm cord to connect your phone. They can utilize SBC, AAC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your device, and they can reduce latency by up to one quarter of a second and that's a huge benefit.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were a top choice on many lists of best Bluetooth headsets, thanks to their excellent ANC and audio quality. The PX7s, just like other wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a refresh. Therefore, the PX7S2. B&W hasn't just redesigned the design for this new version, but has made considerable improvements to ANC and added more voice-calling features, too.

The PX7 S2 headphones are very lightweight, which makes them comfortable for long listening sessions. The design of the PX7 S2 is largely identical to the previous model. This includes the sleek oval aluminum top-plate for the earcups, the hook-like accent that slides rather than clicks when you expand the headband and the physical buttons. The earcups are smaller, but the headband is a bit less bulky overall.

B&W's software allows you to adjust EQ settings for treble and bass but you don't get as much control over the mix between these two elements like you do on more expensive headphones. The Quick Action button on left earcups switches the environmental modes. It can also be configured to activate the voice assistant on your device in the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.

The PX7 S2 sounds great for the majority of musical styles, with a the soundstage offering plenty of width and good separation between the various elements of sound. It shines especially on selections that showcase acoustic instruments, like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon, which has woody tones with a sense air. It can handle heavier fare as well. The bass power and midrange clarity of Entombed's garage/deathn'roll crossover, To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth The album is an overwhelming sound while still allowing listeners to be able to hear vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov's grittier growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was one of the first companies to bring active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. Although they held an unwavering position in the market for a long time but they are now competing with more modern headsets that have more features and superior sound quality. That said, the QuietComfort 35 is still a ideal choice for anyone who wants to listen to music or podcasts without being disturbed by continuous buzzing and rumbles.

They're also comfortable to wear and feature a an excellently balanced default sound profile. The ANC does a fantastic job of eliminating background noise, although it tends to focus on low frequencies more than modern headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5.

If you're looking for a pair of headphones that can be used to listen to podcasts or audiobooks The QC35s come with an amazing passive noise cancellation feature which reduces ambient noise while ensuring you are completely insulated from the hum of the environment around you. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and "audio-share", so you can listen to music with one set of headphones and answer an incoming call on the other pair.

The Bose Connect App is decent but it doesn't offer the full EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s are also available in wired mode, but the sound quality is drastically diminished and battery life is not as good as with wireless models.

The QC35s have an established Bose look that might not appeal to some as the sleeker designs of other manufacturers. However, you can add a bit of personalization by buying a decal cover-up from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You'll also be able change the color of the ear cups and headband later in the year, similar to what you could with the earlier QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH-1000XM3 are among the top wireless headphones with active noise cancelling Wireless headphones (http://bitetheass.com/User/soilroot3) cancellation you can get today. They're a bit more expensive than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they isolate a lot more ambient noise and feel more sturdy. The app is also more advanced and offers tons of sound-related options for customization.

The XM3's excellent audio quality is one of the main reasons why they're popular, and noise cancelling Wireless headphones they've been upgraded since their release to provide the best performance. They have a little more detail across the frequency spectrum, their noise cancelling works better at all volume levels and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control and Speak-to-Chat. The latest feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound allowed in, based on the location you are in and what you are doing.

However, they are not without imperfections. The midrange can sound receding, and the treble may sometimes be too loud. They do have the potential to increase the bass too much on certain tracks, which makes them sound too heavy and full. You can correct this issue in the Sony app or in the headphone settings.

The XM3s are a fantastic pair of headphones, specifically for frequent travelers and commuters. They are more comfortable, feel and look premium, and are more durable over ear headphones with noise cancelling the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a larger battery, and one of the top features for noise cancellation available. They're also more adaptable and more suitable for use on mobile devices than the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Wireless, despite having less impressive noise cancellation. They're also not waterproof, and that could be a deal breaker for some.