Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones are designed to surround your ears and immerse you into music. They are usually designed for audiophiles and feature features like active noise cancellation and control applications.

The Focal Bathys is a wireless pair that comes with ANC, a mobile app to alter the EQ, and presets. They also support high-res audio through USB-C for wired listening.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH1000XM5 headphones by Sony are the latest model in their noise cancellation lineup. They have a fresh new design, enhanced ANC and a lot of the same features as their predecessors but with premium materials and slightly more premium sound quality.

They're light for over ear headphones (lamont-jiang-2.Technetbloggers.de)-ear ANC headphones, with 250 grams. They're very comfortable to wear, even when you're reading or listening a book. The headband is soft and has a friction rod design like the Grado Labs SR60x that prevents your ears from becoming too cold.

With a sound quality that is able to please those who enjoy music casually and audiophiles, WH-1000XM5's signature is tuned to put a little emphasis on bass, but it isn't excessively loud or harsh. The earphones boast a huge and spacious soundstage, with excellent instrument separation. This allows you to hear the details in your music. The earcups also feature control buttons that are easy and responsive to use. You can swipe forward to access the next track, reverse to hear the previous track and then up and down to control the volume. The headphones can be used for connecting to two devices at once and thanks to a built-in sensor, they automatically stop the playback when removed from your head. You can enable the ambient mode by placing your hand on the right ear cup. This allows you to listen to the sounds around you without having to take off the headphones.

Other features that are useful include the ability to pair them with your voice assistant, Bluetooth low-energy, and support for high-resolution audio (via LDAC). The headphones come with a carrying case made of top quality fabric and the USB-C charging cable. The headphones are compatible with Android and iOS smartphones, as well as computers operating Windows or macOS. The WH-1000XM5's battery capacity is exceptional. In our most basic test, we were able to achieve 31 hours and 53 minutes when the ANC turned on which is more than Sony's advertised battery duration of 30 hours.

The WH-1000XM5's microphone performance on voice calls is excellent and there's not any muffled or static-y audio in the background. The noise-canceling performance is also top-quality and they're a perfect fit for public transport or the office.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 is a major upgrade from its predecessor, providing premium performance and features. This includes 24-bit wireless streaming enhanced active noise cancellation, as well as clear voice quality on any compatible mobile phone or tablet. The 40mm drivers, that are custom-designed and Over ear headphones angled inside each earcup, provide a more deep and focused listening experience. Six strategically placed microphones provide excellent call clarity even in noisy environments. An inline remote and microphone lets you control your calls and music using any compatible device.

These headphones have a similar elegant and sleek design to the original PX7. They have accent rings around the earcups, and a silver-colored headband. The memory foam earcups fit comfortably but not too tight on the cranium. The new design and shape took many months to perfect, providing a comfortable clamping force that doesn't press too hard on my own rotund cranium.

They're 2 ounces lighter (or 307g) and are a little smaller than the Sony WH1000XM5. They're light enough to fit in your bag or backpack without any discomfort, and will remain comfortable in your hand during long listens. The headband is foldable using a sturdy hinge at the back.

They're powered by Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive support which is great for high-resolution audio and tight video sync. The included 3.5mm cord connects to the USB-C port that is located on the right earcup. The headphone's status indicator is an excellent feature with a green flash to indicate a rapid charge, and solid blue when Bluetooth pairing is in use.

The B&W App provides the same features that the onboard buttons in the hardware offer including bass and treble adjustment as well as action button assignments wear detection, cycling through ANC modes, etc. The app also shows an album cover and track's name when you play music on your iPhone. The most popular extras like music presets and soundscapes mode are not available, however.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The HD 800 S is the successor of the iconic headphones made by Sennheiser, and it is meant to meet the highest demands. Its technical construction was designed to provide stunning detail resolution that covers the entire frequency spectrum, dynamic range and stereo panorama. It also offers the most realistic sound you'll ever experience in a pair of open-back headphones.

The headphone is 300 ohms in impedance, therefore a high-quality headphone amplifier is required to drive it at desired levels without distortion. A balanced connection is recommended as this will double the power output and increase the overall sound quality.

These headphones are made for professional use. They have a metal frame and a mixture of leather and plastic padding. The design is minimalist and doesn't look like a fancy pair of headphones, but they feel premium in the hand and are built well. They come with a carry pouch and an extra audio cable, as well as an 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.

With a neutral sound profile, the HD 800 S reproduces natural instruments and vocals, though they are a bit light on bass. This is due to the open-back design creates a large and out-of-head, passive soundstage. The treble performance is outstanding, with only minor dips and peaks. The treble region also is linear, so you will not have issues with piercingsibilants, or the upper bite of a drum snare.

They can still deliver impact as well as dynamism and impact when needed despite the lack of a booming low-end. They'll still be enjoyable for those who like listening to rock music that has powerful basslines, but they might not be as enjoyable as some of the models on this list, such as the HiFiMan Arya.

In the mids they are Sennheiser headphones are hard to beat. They are linear with an incline on the upper mids, which shouldn't be noticed by most listeners. They are also able to reproduce precise time gradations in vocals which is a major benefit.

The HD 800 S are a pair of outstanding headphones, ideal for audiophiles and professionals. Their exceptional sound quality and comfortable fitting make them a great choice. They're expensive, but you're paying for a pair of headphones bluetooth that will last for years to come and perform at their best in any environment.

Anker Soundcore Life Q20

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 are a great pair of headphones that can provide the perfect solution for anyone who wants to pass the time or just wants an affordable pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They come with a simple pouch that will give them some protection when you toss them in a bag and their battery can last for multiple long haul flights. Their ANC does a great job of blocking out chattering seatmates and engine rumbles on the plane, but their audio profile is a bit warm and bass-heavy.

The controls on the Life Q20 are well-marked and easy to use. On the left earcup, you'll see buttons for pairing and powering up the headphones, as well as turning on and off the active noise cancellation. On the right earcup there are controls for playing back media that include a multi-function switch that allows you to activate your phone's voice assistant and turn on the Anker's BassUp feature (more on that later). You can also make use of the built-in microphone to make calls without hands your phone.

Anker's Soundcore Life Q20 headphones provide an immersive and deep listening experience, thanks to the custom 40mm dynamic drivers that are certified Hi-Res Audio. The headphones feature an amplitude range of up to 40 kHz. Their active noise cancellation is specifically designed to block out a wide range of low- and mid-frequency sound.

Anker Soundcore Q20 does not support aptX. This is disappointing. This means you will not be able to benefit of the better codes' lower latency while playing games on your computer.

The Life Q20's headband as well as memory foam earcups are comfortable enough to be worn for extended periods of time without discomfort. The ear cups are able to rotate and adjust to the specific shape of your head so you can have a comfortable fit. You can also listen to music wired with an included 3.5mm cable and a microUSB cable is included to charge the battery.