Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Noise-cancelling headphones can be an ideal solution for those who love to listen, whether you're at work or in the train. Which are the most effective?

With a brand new design, superior sound quality and an enviable list of features, Sony's latest flagship headphones are a great value. From the powerful chorus to Sinead O'Connor's unstable bridge, these headphones deliver amazing clarity and real-world realism.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the king of noise cancellation and its WH1000XM5 headphones are among the top model in this series. A few well-thought-out enhancements over the XM4s makes this model an all-round excellent pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute and travel. They're comfortable and feature multipoint tech to connect to two devices simultaneously and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has ever created. They're also lightweight and provide approximately 27 hours of playback without charging, which is plenty for a week's worth of traveling or one long-haul flight.

The WH-1000XM5s have an elegant minimalist design and are made of recycled and recyclable plastic referred to as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The branding is minimal, but you'll see the tiny "Sony" logo on each hinge of each earcup. The earcups and headband are cushioned by a plush, soft material that's comfortable on all heads. The earcups can be adjusted to ensure that you get the ideal fit for your needs.

In contrast to previous models, which focused on reducing low frequency noise, the XM5s amplify sound waves with high frequencies to cancel out background noise. This improves the overall sound quality, and can help drown out engine and cabin noises during flights. The XM5s has a second processing unit to increase noise cancellation on planes. The audio app can also adjust the sound environment you are listening to in accordance with the data on air pressure.

The WH-1000XM5s also has a voice assistant that is easy to use and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and many more. The XM5s are compatible with other Sony audio devices to provide stereo separation and multi-room music. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming using Sony's LDAC codec, but don't support the aptX codec or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

When an organization has been producing headphones for many years, including Sennheiser you can expect top-of-the-line sound quality and a comfortable fit. With their latest over-ears dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they provide both. They've revamped the design to remove certain elements that gave the previous models the look of a aviator headset and also improved the active noise cancellation using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They are designed to last for 60 hours when ANC on which is twice the battery life of a lot of competitors.

They're also much more mobile than the previous model because they fold up and are smaller overall. They're made with artificial PU leather for the re-usable headband and headphone earpads that are comfortable on my ear even when I wear them all day at work. They are also not very tight, so you can wear them on long flights or during your workout.

The sound is smooth and clear, however there are some peaks that can add a bit of confusion to the mixes. The bass is a little overemphasised, adding some extra impact and thump to genres like EDM or hip-hop. It's not a big deal but it might annoy some listeners. The high-mid is a bit of an uneven balance which pushes instruments and vocals to the forefront of mixes but at the expense of bringing out sibilants within certain songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has all the usual features including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a translucent mode that mixes outside sounds into your music to improve awareness, and mobile application support for custom and preset EQ options. They can also be connected with an 3.5mm cable for connecting your phone to it via wire. They can use SBC, AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your phone, and they're able to cut down the latency to as little as a quarter of a second which is fantastic.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were top of the line on many lists of best Bluetooth headsets due to their excellent ANC and the sound quality. The PX7s, like most wireless headphones, were getting old and needed a refresh. Therefore, the PX7S2. B&W hasn't just tweaked the design of the new version, but has made substantial improvements to ANC and added more voice-calling features, too.

The first thing you notice when you open the box and get the PX7 S2 is how light they are, which makes them very comfortable for long listening sessions. The design of the PX7 S2 is largely the same as the previous model. This includes the cool oval aluminium top-plate that is used for the earcups, the hook-like accent that slides instead of clicks when you expand the headband, and the physical buttons. The earcups, however are smaller and the headband isn't as substantial.

The software from B&W lets you adjust EQ settings for treble and bass, however, you don't have as much control over the mix of these two elements as you would on higher-priced headphones. The Quick Action button on left earcup switches between the different modes of the environment. It can also be configured to activate the voice assistant on your device through the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.

The PX7 S2 is a great choice for most music styles. It has a large soundstage and good separation of the different sound elements. It shines in particular on works featuring acoustic instruments such as Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor Op. 19, by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capeucon, with acoustic instrumental tones that give an airy feel. It can handle heavier fare as well. The bass punch and midrange clarity on Entombed’s garage/deathn'roll crossover curiosity To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth, give a wall of noise while allowing you to hear vocal details like Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was among the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. While they held a stranglehold on the market for years however, they are now competing with more modern headphones that offer more features and higher sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for those who want to listen to their music or podcasts without hums or 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 emphasize lower frequencies more than other headphones, such as the Sony WH1000XM5.

If you're looking for a pair that can be used to listen to podcasts or audiobooks The QC35s come with an impressive passive noise cancellation mode that reduces ambient noise while keeping you adrift from the sounds of the world around you. The QC35s can also connect two Bluetooth devices at once and "audio-share" so you can listen to something with one pair of headphones and then answer an incoming phone call on the other.

The Bose Connect App is decent however it lacks the full EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode using an audio cable, however sound quality takes a big hit and they don't have the same level of battery life as wireless models.

The QC35s come with a well-known Bose design that might not be as appealing to some consumers as the sleeker designs of other brands. You can personalize your headphones by purchasing a cover with decals from companies such as SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. You can also alter the color of the ear cups and the headband later this year, similar to what you could with the earlier QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 headphones are the best wireless headphone with active noise cancellation that you can buy today. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more background noise. They also have a premium companion app that provides numerous sound-related features that can be customized.

The XM3s have a great sound quality, and ever since their release, they've been enhanced to give even better performance. They have a little more clarity across the frequency spectrum and their noise cancelling functions better at all levels of volume, and they have improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control and Speak-to-Chat. The new feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound that is allowed in, based on the location of your body and the activities you are doing.

They're not without some issues, though. The treble can be sometimes a bit loud and the midrange is slightly more recessed. They are still prone to boost the bass too much on certain tracks, making them Experience Pure Sound with Srhythm NC25 Headphones heavy and full. This can be corrected by using the Sony app or in the headphone setting.

The XM3s are an excellent pair of headphones, especially for frequent travelers and commuters. They're more comfortable, comfortable, and appear premium and durable than the JBL Tune 770NC Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Black Live 650 BTNC Wireless and also have a better battery and one of our top noise cancelling features in the business. They're also more flexible and more suitable for use on mobile devices than the Audio-Technica ATH M50X Wireless, although they have less impressive noise cancellation. They're also not waterproof which is a problem for some.