Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Noise-cancelling headphones are an ideal solution for anyone who loves to listen whether in the office or in the train. Which are the best?

With a brand new design with superior sound quality and a plethora of features, Sony's newest flagship headphones are a great value. These headphones can capture every detail, from Sinead O'Connor's trembling Bridge to the powerful chorus.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is a master at noise cancellation, and its WH-1000XM5 headphones are the best iteration of this series. A few well-thought-out improvements over the XM4s make this model an excellent all-round pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute and travel. They are comfortable, feature multipoint technology that allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously, and have the best ANC Sony has ever created. They're light and can play for up to 27 hours with no charging. This is enough for a week of commutes or a long-haul flight.

The WH-1000XM5s have a sleek minimalist design and are made from a recycled and recyclable plastic known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The branding is minimal. You'll see tiny Sony logo on each hinge of the earcup. The earcups and headbands are made of a soft, plush material that is comfortable for all heads apart from the biggest. The earcups can be adjusted to perfect fit your head.

Contrary to previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify the sound waves at higher frequency to cancel out ambient noise. This improves the overall quality of sound and helps reduce the noise of engines and cabins on flights, for instance. The XM5s has an additional processing unit that helps improve noise cancellation on planes. The audio app can also automatically adjust the sound environment you are listening to according to the pressure of the air.

The WH-1000XM5s also features an integrated voice assistant that is easy to use and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and many more. You can also pair the XM5s to other Sony audio products to enable stereo and multi-room music playback separation. They are compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio using Sony's LDAC but not HD or aptX.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

If a company has been making headphones for longer than Sennheiser is a top brand, you can expect superior sound quality and a comfortable fit. They've delivered on both counts with their latest Over the ear Headphones with noise cancelling-ears, dubbed the Momentum 4 Wireless. They've revamped their design to eliminate some trademark elements that gave their previous models their aviator-style headset look. They also enhanced active noise cancellation with their latest Adaptive Noisy Cancellation Technology. They've rated these headphones to last for 60 hours of listening time when ANC enabled, doubling the battery life of their major rivals.

They're also much more mobile than the previous model since they fold down and are smaller overall. They're made from synthetic leather that can be used to make the replaceable ear pads and headband which feel comfortable on my ear even if I wear them for the entire working. They're also not extremely tight, which means you can wear them on long flights, or even during your workout.

The sound is clear and well-balanced There are a few peaks in the low-mid and high-mid which cause slightly muddy sound in mixes. The bass is too loud, adding extra energy and thump in genres like EDM or hip hop. It's not an issue but it might annoy some listeners. The high-mid has a little uneven balance too that pushes instruments and vocals to the forefront of mixes however at the expense of bringing out sibilants in certain songs.

The Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless has all the usual features, including Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparent mode that blends outside sounds into your music to improve awareness, as well as mobile application support for custom and pre-set EQ options. They can also be used with a 3.5mm cable when connecting to your phone via wire. They can make use of SBC, AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your phone, and they're able to reduce latency by up to 25 which is fantastic.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were top of the line on many lists of best Bluetooth headsets, thanks to their superior ANC and the sound quality. But like most wireless headphones, they've been getting older and required a refresh and hence the PX7 S2. B&W did not just alter the design, but also made improvements to ANC and added voice-calling features.

The PX7 S2 headphones are extremely light, making them comfortable for long listening sessions. A lot of the look is carried over ear headphones noise cancelling wireless from the previous model, including the cool oval aluminum earcup top-plate and the hook-like accent on the headband that glids rather than clicks when you expand it, and the actual buttons. The earcups, however are smaller, and the headband isn't as substantial.

The software from B&W lets you tweak EQ settings for treble and bass but you don't get as much control over the mix of the two components 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 set to call the voice assistant on your device via the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.

The PX7 S2 is a great option for a variety of music styles. It offers a wide soundstage and a good separation of the various sound elements. It is particularly impressive on pieces that have acoustic instruments, over the ear headphones with noise Cancelling such as Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata, Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon, which has woody tones and a sense of air. It can also handle heavier songs too. The bass power and midrange clarity of Entombed's garage/deathn'roll crossover, To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth, give a wall of noise while allowing you to discern vocal nuances like Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. While they held an advantage over the market for years but they are now competing with newer headsets with more features and better sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great option for anyone who wants to listen to their music or podcasts without hums or rumbles.

They're also comfortable to wear and feature a an incredibly balanced default sound profile. The ANC does a fantastic job of eliminating background noise, but it tends to emphasize low frequencies more than modern headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5.

If you're looking for a pair of headphones that can be used to listen to podcasts or audiobooks The QC35s come with an amazing passive noise cancellation feature that reduces ambient noises while keeping you isolated from the hum of the world around you. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and also "audio-share", so you can listen to music with one set of headphones while taking an incoming phone call from the other set of headphones.

The Bose Connect app is decent but doesn't offer the extensive EQ options offered by other headphone apps. The QC35s are also utilized in wired mode by using a cable, but sound quality takes a big hit and they don't have the same battery life as wireless models.

The QC35s are a Bose product, and it might not appeal to everyone. Other manufacturers offer sleeker designs. However, you can add a bit of personalization by purchasing a decal cover-up from companies like SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You'll also be able customize the color of the ear cups and the headband later this year, much like you could with the earlier QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 is the best wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation that you can purchase right now. They're a bit more expensive than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they block out a lot more ambient noise and feel more sturdy. The app is also superior and has a wide range of sound-related options for customization.

The XM3's outstanding audio quality is among the main reasons why they're popular, and they've been upgraded since their introduction to provide the best performance. They're a bit more detail in the frequency spectrum. Their noise cancelling is more effective at all levels of volume. They also have better controls like Quick Attention mode and Speak-to chat. The latest 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.

However, they are not without imperfections. The treble can be sometimes a bit loud and the midrange sounds slightly receding. They do have the potential to increase the bass too much on certain tracks, which makes the sound too heavy and full. But that's something you can correct by changing the settings for your headphone or by using EQ adjustment within the Sony app.

The XM3s are a great pair of headphones, especially for those who commute or are frequent travelers. They are more comfortable, look and feels premium, and last longer in comparison to the JBL Live 650 BTNC beats wireless noise cancelling headphones. They also have a better battery and one of the best features for noise cancellation available. They're also more adaptable and more mobile-friendly than the Audio-Technica ATH M50X Wireless, despite having less impressive noise isolation. And they're not waterproof which can be a major issue for some.