Best Over-Ear Headphones

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear encapsulate your ears completely and allow for larger drivers to produce greater bass and larger soundstages. They also have active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with superior audio and numerous ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved on an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, feature an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy), and include an app that lets you do some audio customization. Their active noise cancellation works better than ever before, removing any background noise. Additionally, they have a longer continuous battery life than other models.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. These headphones can transmit high-resolution audio, however, you'll need compatible equipment and a streaming service. In addition, the WH1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and automatically switch between them if needed. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.

One subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond quicker to a tap on panels and are simpler to control when making calls or listening to music. Sony has also added a feature to make voice calls more clear and precise during calls. This is a distinct and a nice addition.

The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones that we have ever test. They're comfortable, feel good to the touch, and have an excellent battery that lasts for more than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used in a passive manner using an TRS cable, which is ideal if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH1000XM4s are a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfy and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sound. The B&Ws have a more flexible EQ and a companion app to tweak the audio performance. The B&Ws are built better, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine that attempts to scale compressed music up to high resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it improves 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 most recent version of a headset that became a staple for commuters and travelers around the globe. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula that made its predecessor so successful with the addition of the USB-C port and improved noise cancellation.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a luxurious look and feel that oozes quality. The headband, made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you extend or retract the ear cups. The cups feature soft, cushioned pads that fit securely over the ears and do not apply pressure to your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be worn with a coat or sweater as they work even when not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not provide the best sound at this price point. The frequencies are tinny and lack the details that higher-end headphones might be able bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is great for the majority of music but could be a problem for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is decent but it lacks punch.

One thing that's not included is the possibility of paused playback when you remove the headset. This is a feature Bose's competitors have offered for years. Another oversight is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app, but it would be nice to have a manual control.

Portable Foldable Bluetooth Headphones with Mic And FM 5.0 is supported, with multipoint as well as more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's audio and voice settings.

The QC45s also include four microphones built into the headset to hear your voice when you make calls. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't permit you to mute the voice during playback as other wireless headphones. Update as of February 2022, a firmware upgrade to the QC45s provided manual EQ options in the audio app which is a welcomed improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are known for their style and comfort which tell listeners that they're listening something special. Their first foray into Wireless And Bluetooth Headphones noise cancelling headphones The Bathys are stunning cans that look and sound great. They also come with a built-in high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wireless and wired listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We actually got a bit more from them with more than 40 hours of playtime on average of a single charge. If you do require a recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that turns red when the earphone needs to be charged.

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

For over-ear wireless headphones for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys excel in our tests of noise cancellation, which reduces the background sound by around 9 decibels on average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it's still very effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor differences on the bass and mids. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile that adds plenty of boom to the mix, however, it can make vocals and instruments such as cymbals sound veiled.

You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others listen to your music. Their microphone is suitable to record via Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble and treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The previous model, called the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry into the category. The new model improves on the previous generation with a sleeker design, improved gesture controls and massive battery life.

The improvements are subtle but can make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case to keep them safe while on the go. They also follow the style of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, such as those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they do not have the additional features (like Find My support and wireless and bluetooth Headphones head-tracked Spatial Audio) that you'll find on the AirPods.

The most obvious change here is the massive battery, which claims up to 60 hours of playback with the noise cancellation feature activated. This is more than twice the amount of the competitors and wireless and bluetooth headphones sufficient to go on a long-distance trip without having to search for an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and Engadget, gave the headphones a score of 82. He highlighted their audio quality and ANC features as strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well rounded however it can be too loud, which can cause to fatigue when songs have strong bass lines, such as the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full, and there's no real sense of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to put pressure on your neck or ear. However, they can be a bit fidgety when wearing them around the house or during longer listening sessions, and will move about on your head, causing intense head movements. This could cause them to suddenly wake up and can cause distraction during music or calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes, and can be switched off manually using the power button.