What to Look For in Over the Ear Headphones

There are many types of headphones available and the one that's right for you will depend on your preferences, requirements and listening habits. Over the ear headphones are well-known for their audio quality and noise cancellation.

They rest over your ear and block out ambient audio better than headsets that rest on your ears, and can press down or become hot after prolonged listening sessions.

Noise Cancellation

Over-ear headphones block out the outside world a bit better than earbuds, and many of them use active noise cancellation to block out ambient sounds. The headphones utilize microphones to listen for sounds around you and then digitally alter the frequency to block them out. It's a complicated process, but it's extremely effective. This can help you concentrate in a noisy workplace, get some sleep during a train or plane journey, or even keep out your loud neighbor's booming music.

In our testing we found that over-ear headphones can be more effective at blocking out external noises than earbuds. They are the best over ear headphones choice for commuters. However, they allow for more high-frequency noise leakage particularly at higher volumes. This means you may need to crank up your music more than the case if you were using earbuds, but it's worth it for the peace and peace.

Over-ear headphones are bigger than other types of headphones, so they can handle larger drivers. This allows for greater frequency range. Over-ear headphones can provide great bass if you are seeking their bass. In our current top picks the Sony WH1000XM4, you can expect to hear frequencies as low as 4Hz and up to 40kHz.

Some ANC headphones allow you to manually turn off the noise-canceling function if you wish to let external sounds in. Some have a transparency mode that can be activated to achieve this. If you plan to use your headphones for more than just music, look out for additional features like a microphone for hands-free calls and voice assistant integration (e.g. Apple's Siri, or Amazon Alexa.

The majority of ANC headphones today are wireless and have Bluetooth connectivity, making them simple to pair with your phone and enjoy music while on the go. These models are increasingly equipped with microphones, allowing you to make calls as well as participate in video conferences.

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Bass is a crucial feature in headphones. It doesn't matter if the music is an intense or smooth sound. It allows us to feel and be absorbed by the music. It also helps us keep time to the beat and rhythm of the music. This is why a lot of headphones have a built-in equalizer for audio, which can be used to adjust the bass volume.

Over-the-ear headphones generally feature large drivers that provide a wider range frequencies than smaller headphones, especially in the lower end where bass is prevalent. This is why over-ear headphones often have a superior bass than earbuds. The sound quality also improves because they can block out more ambient noise since the ear cups are sealed around your ears instead of sitting inside of them like earbuds do.

Ear cups are usually constructed of padded materials that make them more comfortable for long listening sessions. The headband also has padding to ensure that you don't feel any pressure on your ears or head. These features, combined with the ergonomic design make over-ear headphones an ideal option for those who listen to music regularly.

Over-ear headphones are typically more expensive than other kinds. However, with the most recent technologies like active noise cancellation and Bluetooth, they can be well worth the cost. If you're an audiophile, you should look for a pair of headphones with premium components and a high-resolution DAC mode to support hi-res music. There are many excellent choices if you're willing spend less.

The Focal Bathys wireless headphones are an audiophile's dream, with a sleek aluminum design and Nappa leather. They are designed to bring mixing booth-quality listening to your everyday life. The Sivga Oriole wired over-ear headphones are another example of excellent value, featuring 50mm dynamic drivers and a 1.8m cable that includes a 3.5mm to 6.3 adapter and a hemp carry case.

Comfort

Over-ear headphones, in contrast to earbuds are completely enclosed and cover a greater area of the skull. They also provide more comfort and suitable for long listening sessions. Over-ear headphones are also superior in noise cancellation since they block out more ambient sounds.

The shape of the headphones can impact comfort. If the headband isn't tight enough it could place pressure on your earlobes that could cause discomfort or over-ear headphones even pain. If the earcups in contrast, are too small, they can cause irritation to your ear canals or the earlobes to be pierced. The depth and size of the ear cups are important too since they can have a significant impact on the quality of your listening experience.

Over-ear headphones feature larger drivers than in-ear models, which enables them to cover a wider frequency range, especially in the lower tier, where bass is strongest. They also have more room to work in, which allows for larger and more powerful acoustic components, giving you a more immersive sound and larger soundstage. Additionally, they are usually lighter and have more user-friendly features like automatic audio controls.

Over-ear headphones are heavy and more difficult to transport than on-ear or in-ear models. They can also become hotter and sweatier when worn for long periods of time. Over-ear headphones are becoming more portable, and have features that make them comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

Some over-ear headphones like the ones above, have ear cups which can be folded down to smaller sizes. This makes them easier to store and transport. They also have more flexible headbands that can be adjusted for an ideal and more comfortable fit. Wireless connectivity, integrated mics, smart assistant support and even noise cancellation built-in for hands-free calls are other features that make headphones for over-ear more portable and practical. Over-ear headphones are an excellent choice for those who commute, business travelers, and even those who travel.

Design

The design of the over-ear headphones can affect sound quality. The size of the ear cups may impact the soundstage. The larger drivers will also deliver more powerful bass. Open-back headphones have a bigger soundstage than closed back models. Some premium headphones feature advanced acoustics that have built-in sound processors to enhance certain aspects of sound, for example a frequency response and total harmonic distortion.

Most over-ear headphones are made from foam or a similar material to provide comfort. They also have padding around the cups and around the ears. This makes them comfortable to wear for long listening sessions. The size of your head will determine the level of comfort these headphones offer. If you plan to wear them with a cap or have more flexibility, opt for an adjustable design. This lets you remove the cups from your ears.

Many over-ear headphones come with an active noise cancellation feature. This feature uses a microphone that listens for ambient noises, and then plays back frequencies to cancel the unwanted sound. It works in the same way as a door blocks out sound from another room. Although there are a few on-ear headphones that can support ANC however, over-ear headphones tend to offer greater active noise cancellation capabilities because their large ear cups can create an even more natural seal.

Some over-ear headphones such as the Focal Bathys Wireless, feature the default sound profile which leans towards heavy bass. This can give plenty of thump to complement EDM and hip-hop, but instruments and vocals can be slightly lost in the mix. The companion app features a graphic EQ and presets that let you customize the sound profile to suit your needs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is a pair of over-ear headphones that have the highest audio quality. These headphones have an impressive 60-hour battery life, a sophisticated noise cancellation algorithm, over-ear headphones and a ferocious sound that can completely transport you to a musical world. They're more expensive than other over-ear headphones, but they're well worth the cost due to their premium build quality and wide range of features.