Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to produce deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many of them also feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update provides superior audio, multiple ANC modes and impressive battery life, all in a sleek and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has upgraded an already fantastic pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed and feature a more balanced audio profile (though they are bass heavy). They also have an app for audio customization. They've improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates the background noise and extending the battery life.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio, however you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them as required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to tapping on panels and are simpler to manage when making a phone call or listening to music. Sony also added a feature that makes voice sound clearer and more precise during calls, which is evident and a nice feature.

The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones we've ever test. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an outstanding battery that can last more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively with the TRS cable. This is ideal for travel or preserving power.

The WH1000XM4s are a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. They also come with a companion app that lets you tweak their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are built better and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD, and they have an AI-driven engine which tries to increase the size of compressed music to high resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless music.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 Noise-Canceling headset is the most current version of a headset that has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel the new model follows the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, and adds USB-C, improved noise cancellation and a longer battery lifespan.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have an elegant design and feel that oozes quality. The headband, constructed of plastic, offers a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. They also have the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or xilubbs.xclub.tw extend your ear cups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without placing pressure on your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. They can be used with a sweater or coat as the noise cancellation function is functional even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones however, the QC45s don't provide the best sound at this price point. The frequencies are tinny and lack the details that more expensive headphones may be able to bring out. The upper registers tend to be boosted, which is fine for most music, but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent but is lacking punch.

The ability to pause playback after removing the headset is a feature that's absent. This is a feature that Bose's rivals have provided for many years. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings in the app, but it would be nice to have manual control.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's audio and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s have four microphones built-in to hear your voice when you are on the phone. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't allow you to silence the voice when playing back as other studio Wireless headphones headphones. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s in February 2022 added manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are known for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're listening something special. Their first attempt at wireless noise cancelling headphones The Bathys, are stunning cans that look and sound fantastic. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wired and bt wireless headphones listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We had more than 40 hours of playback on average from just one charge. If you have to charge your headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will change red.

They come with a wide range of features for headphones of this price with support for multiple devices at once and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select the source device every time you would like to listen). The headphones have an inbuilt microphone that can be used with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by 9 decibels on average. This isn't as impressive as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still fairly effective.

In our tests of headphone sound quality in our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys did well overall, with a a frequency response that mostly is in line with the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with just minor differences in the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals seem veiled.

You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others listen to your music. Their mic is passable for recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion between the mid-treble and treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a decent, but not the most impressive entry in the category. The new model is an improvement on the previous model, featuring a sleeker look, improved gesture control, and a huge battery life.

The improvements are subtle, but add up to an over-ear pair of headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lay flat and don't fold however they do come with a nice hardshell case that protects them when on the move. The Momentum 4s are also device-agnostic, like many other Bluetooth headphones from recent years, including the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that are available on the AirPods.

The most notable change is the huge battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is more than what the majority of the competitors offer and enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge it.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score, citing their audio quality and ANC as particular strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral music tends to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well rounded but it can sound 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 sizzled, not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to put pressure on your neck or https://shorl.com ear. However they can be fidgety when wearing them in the house or during longer listening sessions. They will move about on your head, causing intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting when listening to music or making calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be switched off manually with the power button.