Best Over-Ear Headphones

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

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update provides high-quality audio, numerous ANC modes, and an impressive battery life with a stylish and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has redesigned an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed, and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though bass heavy). They also include an app to adjust the sound. They have improved their active noise cancellation, eliminating the background noise, and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible equipment and streaming service. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them if needed. This feature can be enabled through 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, which makes them easier to control during a call or listen to media. Sony has added a feature to make voices more precise and clear during calls. This is a noticeable and pleasant addition.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they are some of the best wireless headphones we've tested. They're comfortable, well-made, and have batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used in a passive manner with a TRS cable, which is ideal if you're traveling or need to save power.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfy, and their ANC can block out more ambient sound. They also come with a companion app that lets you tweak their audio performance, Headphonesshop and HeadphonesShop their EQ settings are more flexible than B&W's. However, the B&Ws come with more robust design and they're able to pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Additionally, they support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine that attempts to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does well in improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headphone that became an essential for commuters and travelers from all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, and adds USB-C, improved noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have a premium look and feel that exudes quality. The headband is made from plastic, but is a solid feel, with hinges made of metal at the pivot points and the familiar ratcheting action that you experience when you open or retract the earcups. The cups are soft cushions that are securely positioned over your ears and do not apply pressure on your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. You can wear them while wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancelling function works even when they are not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are tinny and lack the detail that headphones with higher prices might be able bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is acceptable for most music genres but can be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent but is lacking the punch.

The ability to pause the playback when you remove the headset is a feature that's not available. This is standard in this price bracket and is something Bose's competitors have been offering for years. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app, but it would be nice to have an option to manually control.

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

The QC45s also come with four built-in microphones that listen to your voice during calls. The call quality is generally good but the headphones don't come with the handy ability to mute your voice while playing back which is something that other wireless headphones have. Update In February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s provided manual EQ options in the audio app which is a welcomed improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their style and comfort which tell listeners that they're listening something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They come with a top-quality USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.

The Bathys come with a great battery performance with Focal promising 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We were able to get more than 40 hours of playback on average on a single charge. If you are required to charge the headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.

They offer a good amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price, including support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to manually select your source device each time you need to listen). The headphones come with built-in microphones that works with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. They also come with an intuitive interface that makes it easy to control your Immerse into Music with KVIDIO Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones as well as make calls.

For headphones with over-ear connectivity, the Bathys are very good 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 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless however it's still very effective.

The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve, with only minor deviations in the mids and bass. The Bathys are bassy sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals seem unreal.

You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others hear your music. Their mic has passable recording quality through Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid - to treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's most popular Bluetooth headsets. The previous model, called the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry in the category. The new model is a step up from the previous model, featuring more sleek design, better gesture control and an enormous battery life.

The improvements are subtle, but can make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with an outer case that protects 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 well 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 are available on the AirPods.

The most obvious difference in this model is the huge battery, which claims up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation feature enabled. This is more than the majority of the competitors offer and is enough for a trip of a lifetime without worrying about finding a power outlet to charge it.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and Engadget, gave the headphones an 82 percent score. He highlighted their audio quality and ANC features as the top strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble, which means that orchestral music tends to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be too loud, which can cause to fatigue when songs have heavy bass lines, like the drum hits of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full and there's no sense of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfy and aren't likely to put too much pressure on your ears or neck. However, they can be a bit uncomfortable when worn around the house or during longer listening sessions. They can move around on your head, causing intense head movements. This can cause them to unexpectedly wake up and can cause distraction during music or calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be shut off manually with the power button.