Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones completely surround your ears and allow you to fully immerse in sound. They tend to be made for audiophiles, and come with features like active noise cancellation and control applications.

The Focal Bathys is a wireless pair that includes ANC as well as a mobile app to tweak the EQ and presets. They also support hi-res audio for wired listening through USB-C.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH1000XM5 earphones from Sony are the most recent upgrade in their noise cancellation line-up. The headphones feature a brand new design and improved ANC. They also come with many of the same features, but they have higher-end sound quality and better materials.

They're lightweight for over-ear ANC headphones, with 250 grams. This makes them extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time, even if you're listening to a podcast or book. The headband is supple, and it has an ear-friction rod design similar to the Grado Labs SR60x that prevents your ears from getting too cold.

With an audio quality that can satisfy casual music listeners and serious audiophiles, the WH1000XM5's sound signature is tuned to put a little emphasis on bass, but not overpowering or harsh. The earphones feature a wide and spacious soundstage, with excellent instrument separation. This lets you be able to hear the finer details of your music. The earcups have touch controls that are intuitive and responsive. Swipe up or down to alter the volume. You can also swipe forward to listen to the next song or reverse to hear the previous track. The headphones can connect to two devices at once and will automatically stop playback when you remove them from your head, thanks to the built-in sensor. You can enable ambient mode by placing your palm on the right-ear cup. This lets you listen to the sounds around you without having to take off the headphones.

Other useful features include the possibility of pairing them with your voice assistant, Bluetooth low-energy, and support for high-resolution audio (via LDAC). The headphones come with a carry case made of high-end fabric and the USB-C charging cable. The headphones work with Android and iOS smartphones as well as computers running Windows or macOS. The battery longevity of the WH1000XM5 is exceptional. In our test of the standard battery, we got 31 hours and 53 minutes with the ANC on, which was better than Sony's advertised 30 hour battery life.

The WH1000XM5 has a great mic for voice calls. There's no muffled or static audio in the background. Noise cancelling is also excellent, and these headphones are ideal for public transportation or the office.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 is a major upgrade over its predecessor. It has a host of new features and performance. The Bowers and Wilkins PX7 S2 comes with premium performance and features like 24-bit wireless streaming and active noise cancellation optimized and clear voice calls on any compatible mobile or Headphones For Sleeping tablet. The 40mm drivers, which are designed specifically and angled inside each earcup, provide a more deep and focused listening experience. Six strategically placed microphones provide excellent call clarity, even in noisy environments. And an inline remote and microphone lets you manage your music and calls on any device compatible with it.

Like the original PX7, these headphones are a sleekly refined look with accent rings on each earcup and a silver sheen on the headband. The memory foam earcups fit comfortably, but not too tightly on the cranium. The new design and shape took a long time to perfect, delivering a comfortable clamping force that doesn't push too hard, even on my own cranium that is rotund.

They're 2 ounces lighter (or 307g) and are a little smaller than the Sony WH1000XM5. The headphones jvc are lightweight enough to fit in a backpack or bag and are comfortable to wear throughout long listening sessions. The headband is foldable by using a sturdy hinge on the back.

They're powered by Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive support which is ideal for both high-resolution audio and precise video sync. You can play them wired too, using the included 3.5mm cable that connects to a USB-C port on the right earcup. The headphone's status indicator is a useful gesture, flashing green to indicate rapid charging and solid blue when Bluetooth pairing is in progress.

The B&W app offers the same controls as the buttons on the hardware including bass and treble adjustment as well as action button assignment wear detection, the ability to cycle through ANC modes and more. The app also displays an album cover and track title when you play music on your iPhone. However, popular extras like music presets or a soundscapes feature are missing.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The HD 800 S is the successor to the legendary headphones made by Sennheiser, and it is meant to meet the most demanding requirements. Its technical construction was designed to provide a breath-taking detail resolution that encompasses the entire frequency spectrum, dynamic range and stereo panorama. It also provides the most realistic spatial sound you'll ever experience in a pair of open-back headphones.

The headphone has 300 ohms of impedance, which means a quality headphone amplifier is needed to ensure it is operating at the desired levels without distortion. A balanced connection is recommended, as this will double the power output and enhance the overall sound quality.

These headphones are made for professional use. They have a steel frame, and a mix of plastic and leather padding. The design is rather minimalist and doesn't appear like an expensive pair of headphones, however they feel premium in the palm and are built to last. They come with a carry case, an additional audio cable and an adapter from 1/4" to 1-/8" adapter.

The HD 800 S has a neutral sound that reproduces instruments and vocals with a natural sound, even although they are a bit lighter on bass. The open-back design creates a spacious out-of-head soundstage. Their treble performance is excellent, with only minor peaks and dips. The Treble region also has a linearity, so you will not have any issues with piercingsibilants, or the upper bite of a drum snare.

Despite the lack of a booming bass, they can still provide dynamism and impact when required. They are still a great choice for those who love rock music with punchy basses however, they may not sound as good as the other models on this list.

In the mids they are Sennheiser headphones are difficult to beat. They are very linear, with a slight scoop in the upper mids that shouldn't be noticeable to most listeners. They are also able to reproduce precise time gradations in vocals which is a huge benefit.

The HD 800 S are a pair of exceptional headphones, ideal for audiophiles and professionals. They're a top choice due to their exceptional sound quality and comfortable fit. They are expensive, but you're paying for headphones that will last for many years to be used and perform at their best in any situation.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 are a good pair of headphones that can be a great choice for anyone who needs to kill some time or just wants an affordable set of noise cancelling headphones. The headphones come with a basic bag that will protect them when you throw them in bags. The battery will last multiple long-haul flights. The ANC works well to block out noisy seatmates and engine rumbles, however their audio profile is a bit warmer and bass-heavy.

The Life Q20's controls are easy to navigate and well-marked. On the left earcup, you'll find buttons to power up and pair the headphones, as well as for turning on or off active noise cancellation. On the right earcup, you'll find media playback controls. This includes a multi-function button that activates your phone's voice assistant and turns on Anker BassUp (more about that later). You can also use the built-in microphone to make calls without hands your phone.

Anker's Soundcore Life Q20 Headphones For Sleeping deliver an immersive and rich listening experience, thanks to the custom 40mm dynamic drivers that are certified Hi-Res Audio. These headphones sony have the treble range to go up to 40 kHz. Their hybrid active noise cancelling is designed to block out a wide range of mid- and low-frequency sound.

Anker Soundcore Q20 does not support aptX. This is disappointing. This means that you won't be capable of taking advantage of the superior codec's lower latency when you're playing games on your PC.

In terms of comfort, the Life Q20's memory foam earcups and headbands are comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time without creating discomfort. The ear cups are also able to rotate and adjust to the specific shape of your head so that you can have a comfortable fit. The included 3.5mm audio cable allows you to listen to music while charging the battery.