Best Over-Ear Headphones

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

The latest Master & Dynamic MW65 update offers superior audio, multiple ANC modes and impressive battery life with a stylish and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, have a more balanced sound profile (though still bass heavy) and come with an app that allows some audio adjustments. 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 are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. This codec can transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between them when required. You can enable this feature via the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond quicker to a tap on the panel and are much easier to manage when making a phone call or listening to media. Sony also included a feature that helps voices sound clearer and more precise on calls, which is evident and a nice feature.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones that we have ever test. They're comfortable, well-made, and come with an outstanding battery that lasts for more than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used passively using an TRS cable, which is ideal if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfy and their ANC can block out more ambient sounds. The B&Ws come with a more flexible EQ and an app that allows you to tweak the audio quality. The B&Ws are built better, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine that attempts to up-scale compressed music to high resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does an excellent job of improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless music.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 wireless bluetooth headphones

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that has become a standard for commuters as well as travelers from all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It is based on the same formula which was the basis of its predecessor's success with the addition of the USB-C technology and improved noise cancellation.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a luxurious look and feel that oozes quality. The headband, which is made of plastic, offers an incredibly solid feel due to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. It also features the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you extend or retract the ear cups. The cups are soft cushioned pads that fit comfortably over the ears and do not apply pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. You can wear them when you're wearing a sweater or coat as the noise cancelling function works even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are flat and lack the depth that higher-end headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is fine for most music genres but could be a problem for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is good but lacks punch.

One feature that's missing is the ability to pause playback when you take off the headset. This is a feature Bose's rivals have offered for years. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app but it would be nice if there was an option to control the EQ manually.

You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust the volume and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s also come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The call quality is generally excellent, but the headsets do not have the ability to mute your voice while playing back which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s came out in February 2022 added manual EQ options to the audio app. This is a welcome upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that is known for high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a design that makes listeners feel like they're listening to something truly special. The Bathys are their first DOQAUS Wireless Over Ear Headphones: Enhanced Bluetooth 5.3 noise cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery life, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a little more, with over 40 hours on average of one charge. If you need to recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that turns red when the headphone has to be charged.

They come with a wide range of features for a pair of headphones of this price with support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select your source device each time you would like to listen). The headphones have an inbuilt microphone that works with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. They also come with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to manage your music and make calls.

For over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys excel in our tests of noise cancellation, reducing the background sound by around 9 decibels on average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless, but it's 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 only slight differences in the mids and bass. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile which adds plenty of boom to mixes, but can sometimes make instruments and vocals like cymbals sound dull.

They also have excellent leakage resistance, which means you can wear them out in public without worrying about people hearing your music. Their microphone is of decent recording quality via Bluetooth with just a little distortion in the mid to high treble frequency range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid, but not spectacular entry in this category. The new model improves on the previous model with modern design, better gesture controls and doqaus Wireless Over ear headphones: enhanced bluetooth 5.3 massive battery life.

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

The most obvious change here is the massive battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation option activated. This is more than double the amount of the competition and enough to go on a long-distance trip without worrying about finding an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score, citing their audio quality and ANC as two of their strengths. He only has one complaint that they lack gravitas in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral pieces sound flat, not grand. The bass is well-rounded, but it can be overemphasised, which can lead to fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines, like the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound a bit sizzled, not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.

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