Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Roundup

Wireless headphones remove the need for wires in your listening experience. They are more comfortable to wear for a long time at a stretch and some can fold down to a compact size to be able to fold away when not when not in use.

The Sony WH-1000XM5s Bluetooth headphones are a fantastic pair of Bluetooth headsets that check all the boxes. They feature top-of-the-line audio quality, noise cancellation and a sleek design and great comfort. They support the lossless LDAC high-res codec to playback high-quality audio.

Sound Quality

There are plenty of options for those who prefer large, full-size, wireless headphones that fit over your ears and are connected to a headband via a headband in order to block out and amplify sound. In our round-up of the best over-ear Bluetooth headphones, you'll find UC-certified headsets specifically designed to work with communications platforms like Microsoft Teams, plus premium pairs from brands like Sony, Sennheiser, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins that are as luxurious as they are durable.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones are one of our favorites. They improve on the multi-award winning predecessor by having an elongated design and improved noise cancellation. The headphones can be used for up to 37 hours on a single charge. They can also be charged quickly to get an additional 8 hours in just 15 minutes. They come with a lively balanced sound profile, and also support the lossless Sony LDAC hi-res codec so you can stream music in stunning high-definition.

The headphones offer a rich twinkling sound that is characterized by distinct mids and bass. You can alter the sound quality of the headphones using their mobile app to fit your own taste. For instance you can increase the emphasis on the bass or the treble. In our tests, they were extremely precise and clear with orchestral and vocal music sounding in glorious detail.

Another of our top-rated, Over ear Sports headphones over-ear Bluetooth headphones is the Logitech G HUB Wireless Headphones, which have an excellently balanced sound straight out of the box and deliver clear audio. The sound is smooth and has a lot of bass, which helps to emphasize the sound effects and music from games. They're compatible with Logitech's HUB software, that includes an EQ graphic and presets to allow you to tailor the sound to your liking.

If you're prepared to spend more money, the premium Danish-made Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones are among our top picks of the best Bluetooth over-ear headphones. The Sonys are a bit less expensive but they sound and look better. They have a hard aluminum casing and lambskin leather earcups that are filled with memory foam. The headphones are comfortable to wear and they are compatible with audio codecs aptX and SBC audio codes. This lets you listen to high-quality wireless music. They're also well-crafted and sport a stylish minimalist design that can be adapted to suit the needs of all.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation is a feature that's crucial if you wish to shut out the world so that you can concentrate on your music or podcasts. Wireless headphones with noise cancellation capabilities typically have the ear cups that are sealed over ear sports headphones (legalidad.net) your ears to block out background sound and help you focus on the music. The majority of over-ear headphones employ active noise cancellation (ANC) to cut down on the background noise that are created by listening to the environment and creating an opposite sound to block out noise. This means that they won't turn your surroundings into a tranquil zen-like peace, but they will reduce the sound of train engines and other sounds that are common to the environment.

ANC uses tiny microphones that listen for ambient sounds. These are then compared to the music you're currently listening to. The small differences between two sounds are then used to create a sound that's equivalent and opposite. The resulting sound is then pumped into your ear over ear headphones, effectively drowning the background noise. Apps or hardware controls that are specifically designed for this purpose can be used to adjust the most effective noise cancelling headsets. This lets you select a certain level of noise cancellation that is appropriate to the environment you're in.

The majority of the headphones we test come with various other features beyond just the ability to control ANC. For instance, a lot of headphones come with a microphone that allows you to allow hands-free phone calls and can be used with voice assistants, such as Siri and Alexa. Some models have built-in speakers to allow audio streaming.

In the area of noise cancellation, we've seen some significant advancements in recent years. For example, Focal has thrown itself into the top wireless ANC headphone market with its Bathys, which we love for their outstanding comfort, sleek features and stunning sound quality. They can cut down background noise by as much as 30dB and you can manage the ANC levels via an app and set three 'favorites settings that can be changed using a physical button on the left earcup.

While the quality of sound of a pair is an important consideration, noise cancellation should be at the top of your list when looking for a new pair of headphones. The most popular ANC pairs on the market tend to be expensive however, this is because they provide outstanding build quality and battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5s is the top choice for those on a tight budget. They offer great noise cancellation and excellent audio quality at a reasonable price.

Battery Life

If you're going to use wireless headphones on the go you'll want them to last as long as possible. This is because they drain their own batteries as well as the audio device that plays music through them, therefore it's essential to select a pair with a good amount of storage in case you don't get a charge or run out of power. Many companies now offer headphones with a huge capacity of storage, and some even use solar charging to top up their storage automatically when you're not listening to them.

Over-ear headphones tend to be larger and can cover more of your ears. They can have larger batteries that allow for longer playtimes and more advanced features. They are also more noise-cancelling because their larger size creates a better seal against the outside environment.

The top brand Bang & Olufsen produces some of the most premium headphones on the market. The flagship H95 wireless headphones give an immersive listening experience. With a luxury design featuring aluminum details and Nappa leather they're the best choice for an audiophile who would like to listen in comfort for a long time.

For a more affordable pair of headphones for less money, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro has an outstanding battery life of 50 hours with ANC activated and 65 hours without it. This is a much better battery life than other headphones, and is a testament of the headphones' impressive construction quality. They have a comfortable fit, and a durable headband.

Another budget option is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones, which can be used for up to 44 hours with ANC enabled and come with an active noise cancellation system that's impressively efficient in blocking out ambient noise. The sound quality is good, with a V shaped profile that delivers plenty of bass while brightening vocals and instruments.

The latest Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless headphones aren't as expensive however they're still under $100 and offer excellent isolation with foam ear tips and sturdy, if not the most advanced noise cancelling on this list. They also support Bluetooth 5.3, which supports the most recent LDAC codec that provides high-quality audio. They can also be recharged using the supplied cord or USB to your computer.

Portability

The amount of space a pair of headphones takes up once folded into their smallest size is a key factor in their portability capabilities. The smaller the fold down format is, the easier it will be to put them in bags or backpacks to take on the go without them getting in your way.

The Audio-Technica ATH M50xBT wireless headphone is a great option if you're looking for a headphone with wireless capabilities that is simple to use and has plenty of features that are perfect for everyday listening. They're lightweight, fold neatly, and offer an impressive 44 hours of playback time. They also support multi-device pairing, and have a great microphone for phone calls.

If you're not planning to use your headphones for hands-free calls The Audio-Technica headphones ATH-S200BT are the better choice as they are more comfortable and offer an impressive 50 hours of playback. The headphones also include a retractable cord for wired use, as well as a hard case.

A five-star performer that is a favorite with What Hi-Fi?'s staff, the Sony WF-C700N and JBL Live Pro 2 TWS are two other top pairs of wireless over-ear headphones. Both headphones cost around $100, PS100 or $150 and come with active noise cancelling, but they're not quite as well-made as some of our higher-end selections.

If you want something more expensive, the Focal Bathys Wireless are a premium pair of headphones with impressive sound quality for their price. They feature a V-shaped sound profile that offers plenty of bass to go with EDM hip-hop, rock and other genres. The sound of vocals and instruments is bright and you can adjust the sound to your preference by using the graphic EQ feature in their companion application. They also support aptX Adaptive codec to provide high-res streaming, and also have an USB-DAC mode for wired listening.

Check out the Sony WH1000XM5 which is not just more expensive, but is also worthy to receive our five-star seal. The Sony WH-1000XM5 may not be cheap but it has an extremely long battery life, superb noise cancellation, and lets you listen to music for a long period of time without having to worry about running out of power or charging.