Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

On the train or in the office, noise-cancelling headphones are an absolute must for those who love to listen. Which ones are the best, though?

Sony's flagship headphones are a great value. They come with a fresh design and superior sound quality, as well as enviable features. They can capture every detail, from Sinead's bridge that trembles to the booming chorus.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is an expert in noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the most advanced version of this line. This model is a great pair of headphones, especially for commuters or travelers. They're comfortable and feature multipoint tech to connect to two devices at once and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has ever created. They're light and can run for up to 27 hours without charging. This is enough for a week of daily commutes or long-haul flights.

The WH1000XM5s are sleek and minimal in design. They are made from ABS which is an eco-friendly and recycled plastic. The branding is very minimal. You'll see a tiny Sony logo on each hinge of the earcup. The earcups and the headband are cushioned with plush soft material that is comfortable on all heads. The ears can be adjusted to be perfectly sized for you.

In contrast to previous models, which focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify the sound waves at higher frequencies to cancel out ambient noise. This improves the overall quality of the sound, and can help drown out engine and cabin noises during flights. The XM5s are equipped with another processor to enhance noise cancellation further on airplanes and the audio app can also automatically adapt the listening environment to air pressure data.

The WH-1000XM5s also has an assistant for voice 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 using LDAC, which Sony's codec is based on but they're not compatible with aptX or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

When a company has been manufacturing headphones for many years, including Sennheiser is a top brand, you can expect superior sound quality and a comfy fit. They deliver on both fronts with their latest headphones, named the Momentum 4 Wireless. They've revamped their design to eliminate a few distinctive elements that gave their previous models the look of an aviator. They also enhanced active noise cancellation with their latest Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. They've rated the headphones to last 60 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, which doubles the battery life of many competitors.

They're also much more portable than the previous model since they fold up and are much smaller overall. The ear pads and the headband are made of synthetic PU leather, which feels comfortable on my head even when I wear it for the entire day. There's not a lot of clamping force that holds them in place which means they'll remain comfortable during flights and during workouts that last longer.

The sound is well-balanced and clear, however there are some highs that can cause a little discoloration to mixes. The bass can be a bit overemphasized, which adds a little energy and thump to genres such as EDM or hip-hop. It's not a major issue however some listeners might find it annoying. The high-mid has a little uneven balance that pushes instruments and vocals to the forefront of mixes however at the expense of bringing out sibilants into certain songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless comes with all the standard features, including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a translucent mode that blends outside sounds into your music to increase awareness and mobile apps that support custom and preset EQ options. They can also be connected with an 3.5mm cable if you're connecting your phone to it via wire. They can connect to your phone using SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes, and they can reduce delay by as much as one quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were a top choice on many lists of most reliable Bluetooth headsets, thanks to their superior ANC and audio quality. The PX7s, as with many wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a refresh. Therefore, the PX7S2. B&W didn't just change the design however, they also made improvements to ANC and added features for voice calls.

The PX7 S2 headphones are incredibly light, making them ideal for long listening sessions. A lot of the design is the same as the previous model, including the elongated aluminum earcup top and the hook-like accent on the headband that glides rather than clicks as you expand it and the actual buttons. The earcups, however, are smaller, and the headband isn't as substantial.

The software from B&W lets you adjust EQ settings for bass and treble, however, you don't have as much control over the mix between the two components as you would on higher-priced headphones. The Quick Action button on left earcup switches between the different environmental modes. It can also be set to call the voice assistant of your device via the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.

The PX7 S2 is a great choice for all musical styles. It offers a wide soundstage and a good separation of the various sound elements. It's particularly impressive on pieces that have acoustic instruments such as Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon features woody tones with a sense air. It can also handle heavier songs too. The bass sound and midrange clarity on Entombed's crossover of garage and deathn'roll To Ride and Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth, give an overwhelming sound while keeping things clear to hear vocal details like Lars-Goran Petrov’s gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

bose over ear noise cancelling headphones was among the first companies to bring active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. Although they held an advantage over the market for years however, they are now competing with newer headphones that offer more features and Best active noise cancelling Over ear Headphones superior audio quality. That said the QuietComfort 35 is still a ideal option for anyone looking to listen to their podcasts and music without being disturbed by continuous buzzing and rumbles.

They're comfortable to wear and best active noise cancelling over ear headphones have an incredibly balanced default sound profile. The ANC does an excellent job of removing background noise, but it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than modern headphones, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5.

If you're looking for a pair of headphones that can be used to listen to audiobooks or podcasts The QC35s feature an impressive passive noise cancellation mode that reduces ambient noises while keeping you isolated from the sound of the world around you. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and "audio-share" which allows you to listen to music on one pair of headphones and answer an incoming call from the other.

The Bose Connect App is decent but it doesn't offer the extensive EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode, however the sound quality is significantly diminished and battery longevity isn't as good as with wireless models.

The QC35s are a Bose product, which may not be a favorite for everyone. Other manufacturers offer sleeker designs. However, you can add a touch of personalization by buying an ear cover-up with decals from companies like SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You'll also be able alter the color of the earcups and headband later this year, similar to what you could with the earlier QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 is among the top wireless headphone with active noise cancellation you can purchase right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise. They also come with a superior companion app that offers many sound customization options.

The XM3s have a great sound quality, and ever since their release, they've been enhanced to provide the Best active noise cancelling over ear headphones performance. They provide a bit more detail across the spectrum of frequencies and their noise cancelling functions better at all volumes and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control and Speak-to-Chat. They also have a brand new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that adjusts automatically how much external sound is allowed in based on where you're at and what you're doing.

However, they're not without their shortcomings. The mid-range can sound receding, and the treble may sometimes be too loud. They still have the tendency to boost the bass too much on certain tracks, which makes them sound heavy and full. But that's something you can correct by changing the settings for your headphone or through EQ adjustment within the Sony app.

The XM3s are an excellent pair of headphones, particularly for commuters or frequent travelers. They are more comfortable, look and feels premium, and are durable over the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a better battery, and one of the most effective features for noise cancellation available. They're also more versatile and more mobile-friendly than the Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X Wireless, although they have less impressive noise cancellation. They're also not waterproof which could be a deal-breaker for some.