Best Over-Ear wirelss headphones

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear cover your ears completely and allow for larger drivers to deliver deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many come with bluetooth wireless headphones technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with superior audio and various ANC mode and an impressive battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has enhanced an already fantastic pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed, and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though they are bass heavy). They also have an app that lets you customize the audio. They've upgraded their active noise cancellation, wireless Headphone which eliminates more ambient sounds and extending the battery life.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. These headphones can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible devices and streaming service. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when required. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works well.

One subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond faster to the touch of a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to music. Sony has also added a feature that can make voices sound more precise and clear during calls. This is a noticeable and pleasant addition.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the top wireless headphones that we have ever examined. They are comfortable and well-made. They also have batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used passively using a TRS cable which is perfect for those who travel or want to conserve power.

The WH1000XM4s are a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears Px7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sounds. The B&Ws feature a more flexible EQ and a companion app to tweak the audio quality. The B&Ws are more robust and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine that attempts to increase the size of compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it enhances the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headphone that became a standard for commuters as well as travelers from all over the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have a premium look and feel that oozes quality. The headband, which is made of plastic, offers a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also has the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you extend or retract the ear cups. The cups are soft cushions that fit securely over the ears and don't apply pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. You can use them when you're wearing a sweater or coat as the noise cancelling function 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 flat and lack the details that headphones with higher prices might be able bring out. The upper registers tend to be amplified which is great for most music, but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is good but it lacks punch.

The ability to pause the playback after removing the headset is a feature that is absent. This is a standard in this price range and is something that Bose's rivals have offered for a long time. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings within the app however it would be nice to have manual control.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, with multipoint as well as more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets audio and voice settings.

The QC45s come with four built-in microphones that pick up your voice during calls. The call quality is generally excellent, but the headsets don't have the nifty capability to muffle your voice during playback which is something that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s was released in February 2022 included manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a great upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting comfort and a style that let listeners know they're listening to something unique. Their first attempt at Wireless headphone headphones that cancel out noise The Bathys, are a stunning set of headphones that look and sound fantastic. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, making them suitable both for wireless and wired listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for 30 hours. We were able to get more than 40 hours of playback on average from just one charge. If you need to charge your headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will turn red.

They have a decent amount of features for headphones of this price that include support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll have to manually select your source device each time you need to listen). They also have a built-in mic that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones come with an easy-to use interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

For wireless headphones that are over-ear, the Bathys perform very well in our test of noise cancellation, reducing the ambient sound by about 9 decibels per hour on average. It's not as effective as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless, but it is still effective.

In our tests of headphone sound quality The Bathys performed well overall with a frequency response that mostly corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve, with only slight differences in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound profile which adds plenty of boom to the mix, however, it can make vocals and instruments like cymbals sound dull.

You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others listen to your music. Their microphone is suitable for recording via Bluetooth, with only slight distortion between the mid-treble and the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The last pair, the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry into the category. The new model improves on the previous model with modern design, better gesture controls, and a huge battery life.

The improvements are subtle, but can make for a pair of over ear headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them when on the move. The Momentum 4s are also non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, including the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they work well with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they do not come with the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked spatial audio) that you'll find on AirPods.

The most obvious change here is the massive battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback with the noise cancellation option activated. This is easily twice as much as most of the other brands and enough to go on a long-distance trip without having to search for an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score and cited their sound quality and ANC as two of their strengths. He has only one complaint: they lack a sense gravitas in mids and the treble. This makes orchestral pieces sound flat, not grand. The bass is rounded, however, it can be overemphasized, which can lead to fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines, like the drum hits in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full and there's not a real sense of depth in the bass.

The Momentum 4s should not cause pressure on your neck or ear. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them at home or during long listening sessions. They can move on your head, and make rapid head movements. This can cause them to unexpectedly wake up, which can be distracting when you are listening to music or calls. Fortunately, they shut down after 15 minutes of slumber by default and can be switched off by pressing the power button.