Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Whether you're on the train or at work Noise-cancelling headphones are the perfect solution for anyone who likes to listen. Which ones are the best, though?

With a brand new design with superior sound quality and an enviable list of features, Sony's newest flagship headphones offer exceptional value. From the forceful chorus to Sinead's shaking bridge, these headphones offer amazing clarity and realism.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the king of noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the most advanced version of this model. A few well-thought-out improvements over the XM4s make these headphones an excellent all-round pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute and travel. They're comfortable, feature multipoint technology that allows you to connect to two devices at once and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has ever created. They are lightweight and can play for up to 27 hours with no charging. This is enough to get through a week of commutes or long-haul flights.

The WH1000XM5s look sleek and minimalist in design. They are made of ABS, which is a recyclable and recycled plastic. The branding is minimal. You'll see a tiny Sony logo on each hinge of the earcup. The earcups and the headband are cushioned by a plush, soft material that's comfortable on all but the largest heads. The earcups are also adjustable to ensure that you get the perfect fit for you.

Contrary to previous models that were focused on reducing low frequency noise, the XM5s amplify sound waves with high frequency to cancel out background noise. This improves the overall sound quality and helps reduce cabin and engine noises on flights, for example. The XM5s have another processor to increase noise cancellation more for airplanes, and the audio app can also automatically adapt the listening environment to data on air pressure.

The WH-1000XM5s comes with an assistant for voice that is simple to use, and it works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and more. You can also pair the XM5s with other Sony audio products to enable multi-room music playback as well as stereo separation. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming through LDAC codec from Sony, but don't support aptX or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

If an organization has been producing headphones for longer than Sennheiser you can expect top-of-the-line sound quality and a comfortable fit. With their new over-ears, called Momentum 4 Wireless, they deliver on both fronts. They've revamped the design to remove certain elements that gave the previous models the look of an aviator headset and also improved their active noise cancellation using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They've evaluated these headphones to last 60 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, Noise cancelling Wireless headset which is more than double the battery life of most other competitors.

The new model is also more compact, since it folds up and is a bit smaller. The ear pads and the headband are made of synthetic PU leather, which feels comfortable on my head even when I wear it throughout the day. They are also not very tight, so you can wear them for long flights or even during your workouts.

The sound is clean and well-balanced, though there are some peaking in the low-mid and high-mid, which can cause slight muddiness in mixes. The bass is overemphasized, adding extra energy and thump in genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not a big deal but it might annoy some listeners. The high-mid also has a sloppy balance in bringing instruments and vocals forward in the mix but at the cost of bringing out some sibilants.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is equipped with all the standard features like bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparent mode which blends outside sounds into your music to increase awareness, and mobile apps that support custom and preset EQ options. They can also be connected with an 3.5mm cable for connecting to your phone via wire. They can connect to your device via SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes and can reduce latency by as much as one quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

Since their release in the year 2000, the original PX7s have been featured on numerous lists of the top bluetooth over ear headphones noise cancelling headphones, atop them in a lot of cases due to their outstanding ANC and excellent sound quality. The PX7s, as with many wireless headphones, were getting old and needed a refresh. This is why the PX7S2. B&W didn't just change the design and design, but also made enhancements to ANC and added features for voice calls.

The PX7 S2 headphones are extremely light, making them ideal for long listening sessions. The design of the PX7 S2 is largely similar to the previous model. This includes the stylish oval-shaped aluminium top-plate that is used for the earcups, the hook-like accent that slides rather than clicks when you expand the headband and the physical buttons. The earcups are smaller but the headband is a bit less large overall.

B&W's software lets you adjust the EQ settings for the bass and treble. However you aren't as in control as you do with more expensive headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switch on the modes for the environment and can be adjusted in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to call your device's voice assistant.

The PX7 S2 sounds great for all musical styles, and has a the soundstage offering plenty of space and excellent separation between the various sound elements. It is particularly impressive on music that has acoustic instrumentation like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. 19, composed by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capeucon, with acoustic instrumental tones that give an airy feel. It's also capable of handling heavier songs and has the bass punch and midrange clarity on Entombed's fusion of garage and death-n'-roll, Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth providing an impressive sound wall while keeping things clear enough to hear vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose is one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. They held the market for years, but they now have to compete with newer headsets which offer more features and a better sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for those who want to listen to their music or podcasts with no noise or rumbles.

They're also comfortable to wear and come with a an incredibly balanced default sound profile. The ANC does an excellent job of eliminating background noise, though it tends to focus on low frequencies more than modern headphones such as the Sony WH-CH720N White Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones WH-1000XM5.

The QC35s are a great pair of headphones that can be used to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. They feature a noise cancellation mode that is passive which reduces ambient sounds, yet still keeps you secluded from your surroundings. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and "audio-share" so you can listen to something with one pair of headphones and answer an incoming call from the other.

The Bose Connect App is decent however it lacks the vast EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode using a cable, but sound quality takes a big drop and they don't offer the same battery life as wireless models.

The QC35s sport a classic Bose look that might not be as appealing to some consumers as the sleeker designs of other brands. However you can add a touch of personalization by purchasing a decal cover-up from companies like SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. In the near future you'll be able to customize the color of the earcups as well as the headband, just like with the older QC25.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 headphones are the best wireless headphone that has active noise cancelling wireless Headset (Www.headphonesshop.uk) cancellation you can purchase right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise. They also come with a superior companion app that provides numerous sound-related features that can be customized.

The XM3s offer a fantastic audio quality, and since their release they've been improved to give an even better experience. They have a little more detail across the spectrum of frequencies The noise cancelling function works better at all volume levels and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control and Speak-to-Chat. The new 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're doing.

They're not without their own issues, however. The midrange can sound recessed and the treble can sometimes be too loud. They do have the potential to boost the bass too much on certain tracks, which makes them sound heavy and full. You can correct this issue via the Sony app or in the headphone settings.

The XM3s are a great pair of headphones, especially for frequent travelers and commuters. They are more comfortable, feel and look premium, and last longer than the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a more powerful battery, and one of the most effective noise cancellation features available. They're also more flexible and better-equipped for mobile use than the Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X Wireless, even though they have less impressive noise cancellation. They're not waterproof, and that could be a problem for some.