Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

On the train or in the office Noise-cancelling headphones are an absolute must for anyone who loves to listen. Which are the best?

Sony's flagship headphones are a fantastic value. They feature a brand new design and superior audio quality and also enticing features. From the powerful chorus to Sinead O'Connor's trembling bridge, these headphones provide amazing clarity and real-world realism.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the leader in noise cancellation and its WH1000XM5 headphones are among the most advanced version of this series. A few well-thought-out enhancements over the XM4s make these headphones an excellent all-round pair of cans, especially for commuters and travelers. They're comfortable, have multipoint technology that allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously and have the best budget noise cancelling headphones (https://walker-hollis.technetbloggers.de) ANC Sony has produced yet. They're also lightweight and offer about 27 hours of playback time without charging, which is sufficient for a week's worth traveling or one long-haul flight.

The WH1000XM5s are sleek and minimalist in design. They are made of ABS which is a recyclable and recycled plastic. The branding is minimal, although you'll find a tiny "Sony" logo on the hinge of each earcup. The earcups and headbands are made of soft, plush materials that is comfortable for all types of heads apart from the biggest. The earcups can be adjusted so that they fit you perfectly.

In contrast to previous models that concentrated on reducing low-frequency noise the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves, which cancels out ambient noise. This improves the overall sound quality and can help reduce engine and cabin noises during flights. The XM5s have a second processor to dial up noise cancellation even further on airplanes, and the audio app can also automatically adjust the listening environment to the data from your air pressure.

The WH-1000XM5s also features an assistant for voice that is easy to use and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and many more. The XM5s can be paired with other Sony audio devices for stereo separation and multi-room music. They support Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio through Sony's LDAC, but not aptX or HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser has been manufacturing headphones for over 50 years. You can expect premium sound quality and a cosy fit. With their latest headphones, dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they offer both. They've reworked the design to remove some of the distinctive elements that gave the earlier models their aviator headset look and also improved their active noise cancellation using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They are designed to last 60 hours with ANC on this, which is more than double the battery life of a lot of competitors.

The new model is also more compact, since it folds down and is smaller. They're made from synthetic PU leather for the re-usable headband and earpads that are comfortable on my head even when I wear them all day at work. They're also not too tight, so you can wear them for long flights or even during workouts.

The sound is balanced and clear, however there are some highs that can add a bit of confusion to the mixes. The bass is overemphasized with a lot of impact and thump to genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not an issue, but it may bother some listeners. The high-mid also has a sloppy balance that brings instruments and vocals forward in the mix but at the expense of bringing out a few sibilants.

The Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless has all of the usual features such as Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a clear mode that blends outside sounds into your music for improved awareness, as well as mobile application support for pre-set and custom EQ options. They can also be connected with a 3.5mm cable when connecting to your phone via wire. They can make use of SBC, AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your device, and they're able to reduce latency by up to one quarter of a second which is fantastic.

3. B&W PX7 S2

Since their introduction, the original PX7s have been featured on numerous lists of the top Bluetooth headphones, and have been ranked high in many cases thanks to their impressive ANC and excellent sound quality. The PX7s, just like other wireless headphones, were becoming old and required a refresh. Hence the PX7S2. B&W did not just alter the design, but also made improvements to ANC, and added more features for voice calling.

The PX7 S2 headphones are extremely light, making them ideal for long listening sessions. A lot of the design is carried over from the previous model, including the elongated aluminium earcup top-plate and the hook-like accent on the headband, which glides rather than clicks when you expand it, and the actual physical buttons. The earcups are smaller and the headband isn't as substantial.

The software from B&W lets you tweak EQ settings for treble and bass, but you don't get as much control over the mix of those two elements like you do on more expensive 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 sounds great for the majority of musical styles, with a soundstages that have plenty of width and good separation between the various sound elements. It's especially impressive for selections that feature acoustic instrumentation like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon, which has woody tones and a sense of air. It can also handle heavier music, too, with the bass power and mid-range clarity on Entombed's fusion of garage and death-n'-roll, Ride the Straight, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth giving a wall of sound while still allowing to hear the vocals of Lars-Goran Petrov's grittier growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was among the first companies to bring active noise cancelling headphones with mic cancelling headphones to the mainstream. They had a stranglehold for years but now they have to compete against newer headsets which offer more features and a better audio quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for those who want to listen to music or podcasts with no noise or [empty] rumbles.

The default sound profile is balanced and they're comfortable to wear. The ANC is excellent at eliminating background noise. However it tends to focus on lower frequencies more than other headphones, such as the Sony WH1000XM5.

If you're looking for a pair of headphones that can be used to listen to podcasts or audiobooks, the QC35s have an amazing passive noise cancellation feature that reduces ambient sounds while keeping you isolated from the sounds of the world around you. The QC35s permit you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and also "audio-share", so you can listen to music on one set of headphones while answering an incoming phone call from the other pair.

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

The QC35s sport a classic Bose design that might not appeal to some consumers than the more modern designs of other brands. However you can add a bit of personalization by buying a decal-covered cover-up from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. Later this year you'll be able to alter the color of the earcups as well as the headbands, just like the QC25 model from earlier.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 is the best wireless headphone with active noise cancellation you can buy right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more background noise. The app is also superior and offers tons of sound customization options.

The XM3s have an excellent sound quality, and ever since their release they've been improved to provide even better performance. They're a bit more detail in the frequency spectrum. Their noise cancellation is better at all levels of volume. They also have improved controls, such as Quick Attention mode and Speak-to Chat. They also have a brand new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that automatically adjusts how much external sound is allowed in based on where you are and what you're doing.

They're not without some problems, however. The treble can be sometimes a bit loud and the midrange is slightly receding. They also have a tendency to increase bass too much in certain tracks, which makes them sound too full and heavy. But this is something you can address in the headphone settings or via EQ adjustments in the Sony app.

The XM3s make a great pair of headphones noise, especially for frequent travelers or commuters. They are more comfortable, look and feels premium, and last longer in comparison to the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a larger battery, and one of the best noise cancellation features available. They're also more versatile and better-equipped to use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X wireless, though their noise isolation is less impressive. And they're not waterproof which can be a major issue for some.