Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones encapsulate your ears completely and allow for larger drivers to provide greater bass and larger soundstages. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio and various ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has redesigned an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, feature more balanced sound profiles (though still bass heavy) and include an app that allows some audio adjustments. They have improved their active noise cancellation, eliminating more ambient sounds, and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. These headphones can transfer high-resolution audio, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them as required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.

A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond faster to tapping on a panel and are easier to control when making calls or listening to media. Sony also included an option that makes voices sound clearer and more precise when calling which is evident and a nice feature.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they're one of the most comfortable wireless headphones we've ever tested. They're comfortable and well-constructed, and come with a batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used as a passive device with a TRS cable. This is perfect to travel with or for storing energy.

The WH-1000XM4s are better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC can block out more ambient sound. They also have a companion app that lets you alter their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are built better and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and have a unique AI-driven engine that attempts to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is referred to as DSEE Extreme and it does an excellent job of improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless music.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headset that has become a staple for commuters and travelers around the globe. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, but adds the USB-C port, which is better at cancelling noise and longer battery life.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature a premium look and feel that exudes quality. The headband is made of plastic, and has a sturdy feel with metal hinges at the pivot points, and the familiar ratcheting action that you experience when you retract or extend the earcups. The cups are soft, cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and do not apply pressure to your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. They can be used while wearing an overcoat or sweater since the noise-canceling works even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s can't offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are tinny and lack the detail that more expensive headphones may be able bring out. The higher registers tend to be boosted, which is fine for most music but can cause problems for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is great, but lacks punch.

The ability to pause playback when you remove the headset is a feature that's not available. This is a feature Bose's rivals have offered for many years. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs in the app, but it would be nice to have an option to control the EQ manually.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs, such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust the sound and voice settings.

The QC45s have four microphones built-in to hear your voice while on the phone. The headphones have good call quality, however they don't allow you to silence the voice when playing back as other wireless Bt headphones wireless. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s came out in February 2022 added manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a welcome upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. Their first attempt at wireless headphones that cancel out noise the Bathys are stunning headphones that look and sound great. They also have a built-in high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wired and wireless listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery performance with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We were able to get more than 40 hours of playback time on average on a single charge. If you do need to recharge, there's an indicator light on the right ear cup that will turn red when the headphone needs to be charged.

They have a decent amount of features for headphones of this price point, including support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select your source device each time you need to listen). The headphones come with an inbuilt microphone that works with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to use interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

For over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys perform very well in our tests of noise cancellation. They cut down the background sound by around 9 decibels on average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless however it's still very effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones in our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys did well overall, with a the frequency response which generally matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve with only slight differences in the mids and bass. The Bathys have a booming sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals seem obscure.

You can wear them anywhere and not worry about whether others hear your music. The microphone has a decent quality of recording via bluetooth stereo headphones 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, the Momentum 3, was a decent, but not the most impressive entry in the class. The new model improves on the previous generation with more sleek design, better gesture controls and massive battery life.

The improvements are subtle, but make for an over-ear set of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lie flat and aren't foldable however they do come with a nice hardshell case that protects them when on the move. They also follow the trend of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, such as the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. They can be used with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most obvious difference in this model is the huge battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback when the noise cancellation feature turned on. This is more than the majority of the competitors can provide and enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them up.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense gravitas in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat, not grand. The bass is well rounded but it can sound overemphasized, which can cause fatigue in songs that have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full and there's no sense of depth in the bass.

The Momentum 4s shouldn't cause pressure on your neck or ear. However they can be a bit difficult to wear around the house or during longer listening sessions, and Bt Headphones Wireless can move around on your head with intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting when listening to music or making calls. Fortunately they will shut down after 15 minutes of rest by default, and can be switched off by pressing the power button.