Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow larger drivers to deliver greater bass and larger soundstages. Many also include active noise cancellation and Portable Foldable Bluetooth Headphones with Mic And FM technology.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been upgraded with improved audio, various ANC mode and an impressive battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved on an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are lighter, better built and have a more balanced audio profile (though bass heavy). They also include an app for audio customization. They've improved their active noise cancellation, removing more background noises and extending the battery life.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth Wireless Headphone 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. These headphones can transmit high-resolution audio, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and automatically switch between them as needed. 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 faster to the touch of the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a phone call or to listen to media. Sony also added a feature that makes voice sound clearer and more precise during calls which is noticeable and a nice addition.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they're some of the best wireless cordless headphones we've tested. They're comfortable, feel good to the touch, and have an excellent battery that can last more than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used passively with the TRS cable which is great for those who travel or want to save power.

The WH-1000XM4s are a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. The B&Ws come with a more flexible EQ and an app that allows you to tweak the audio performance. However, the B&Ws have an improved design, and Bluetooth Wireless headphone they're able to connect with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and feature an AI-driven engine that tries to upscale 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 QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headset that became a staple for commuters and travelers around the globe. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feeling and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband is constructed of plastic, yet it has a sturdy feel with hinges made of metal at pivot points and the familiar ratcheting action when you retract or extend the ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that can be worn over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. You can wear them while wearing a sweater or coat as the noise cancelling function works even when they are not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack the details that headphones with higher prices might be able to bring out. The higher registers tend to be more boosted, which is fine for most music, but could become a problem for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent, but lacks power.

One feature that's not present is the possibility of paused playback when you take off the headset. This is a standard feature in this price range and something that Bose's rivals have long offered. Another oversight is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app but it would be nice if there was an option to manually control.

You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's sound and voice settings.

The QC45s also come with four microphones built into the headset to pick up your voice during calls. The quality of calls is generally very good, but the headsets don't come with the handy ability to mute your voice during playback, which is something other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s was released in February 2022 added manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort that let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. Their first venture into wireless headphones that cancel out noise, the Bathys, are stunning cans that look and sound amazing. They also come with a built-in high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for both wired and wireless listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for 30 hours. We actually got more from them, with over 40 hours on average of a single charge. If you need to recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that will change to red when the headphone has to be charged.

They offer a good amount of features for headphones of this price that include support for multiple devices at once and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select the source device every time you want to listen). The headphones have an inbuilt microphone that works with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones also feature an easy-to-use interface that makes it simple to control your music as well as make calls.

For over-ear wireless headphones for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys are very good in our tests of noise cancellation. They cut down the ambient sound by about 9 decibels in average. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still pretty effective.

In our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys did well overall, with a an overall frequency response that corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve with only slight differences in the mids and bass. The Bathys have a booming sound that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals seem unreal.

They also have excellent leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them out in public without worrying about other people listening to your music. The microphone has a decent quality of recording via Bluetooth with only slight distortion in the mid to treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new update of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The new model is an improvement on the previous model, sporting a a sleeker look, improved gesture control and an enormous battery life.

A lot of the improvements here are subtle but they add up to make a pair that seem like a step up from the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them while traveling. They also follow the trend of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, including the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. This means they 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 difference in this model is the huge battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation feature activated. This is more than twice the amount of the other brands and enough to go on a long-distance trip without worrying about finding an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget The headphones were rated by Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget an 82-point score. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as their strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids as well as the treble, which means that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well-rounded but it can sound overemphasized, which can cause to fatigue when songs have strong bass lines, such as the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full, and there's no real feeling of depth in the lows.

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