Why Over Ear Wireless Headphones Are Better Than Earbuds

With their large ear cups, the over-ear wireless headphones can better isolate you from the outside sounds. They can also use active sound cancellation more effectively than earbuds. This can be beneficial in noisy environments.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 are world-class headphones for over ear beats headphones over-ears that provide excellent audio quality and impressive active noise cancellation. They support a wide range of audio formats, including high-resolution lossless audio streaming via the LDAC codec.

Comfort

Over-ear headphones cover your ears and offer more comfort than in-ear headphones. They can also be less heavy due to the fact that they don't have a cord running to your head as earbuds do. Additionally, they can generally fit more components inside (like batteries, microphones and drivers) due to their larger size. They are also more portable and thus more suitable for travel.

A comfortable pair of headphones should include softly padded earcups that wrap around your ear and a lightweight non-stressing, non-stressing band. The headphones should be able to be adjusted to allow you to adjust the headband and ear cups for a better fitting. For long-term listening sessions, look for a pair of headphones that feature extra soft memory foam in the ear cups.

Some headphones for over-ear use active noise cancellation features which can reduce background noise, meaning you can concentrate on your music without distracting sounds of the outside. This will make your music or podcasts easier to listen to, and could aid in focusing more at the office or when you're on a plane ride.

Over-ear headphones can also reduce ambient noise by creating an effective seal. Although you may still hear some noise outside, it is usually less audible and does not hinder your walk into a noisy place.

On-ear headphones rest on your ears rather than over them, which is more comfortable for people with certain ear piercings or glasses shapes who find in-ear headphones uncomfortable. They are also more lightweight and portable due to the fact that they have a smaller shape and can be tucked away in your bag.

Some headphones feature additional padding on the ear cups for added comfort. They're also often constructed with open-back models which allow you to hear your surroundings. This is an excellent choice for those who like to be able to hear their surroundings and their music.

Sound

When you're spending this kind of money on headphones, you want them to sound great. Luckily, Bluetooth headphones have come a long way in recent years, and over-ear models can offer an incredibly balanced, rich sound that's comparable to wired counterparts. Modern Bluetooth chips should be energy efficient, include audio codecs like THX and aptX, and have comfortable earcups.

Over-ear headphones provide an immersive experience compared to headphones that are on-ear, since they completely cover your ears. This will create a more expansive and precise soundstage, as well as more separation between vocals and instruments. Larger earcups can also accommodate larger drivers that give your music the fullness and clarity that serious audiophiles want.

The drawback of headphones with over-ears is that they tend to let in a bit more ambient sound than models with on-ear headphones. It's a small cost to pay for Beats the secludedness that they offer, especially in noisy settings such as public transport or work. They're also larger and heavier than models with on-ears, making them less practical to carry in a bag.

Battery life is another aspect to take into consideration, with over-ear headphones typically providing 20 to 60 hours of playback. The amount of noise cancellation you use will affect this, as will the volume level you listen to.

On-ear wireless headphones last between 30 to 40 hours based on the model. The average will be somewhere in between, and the longer-lasting models tend to be more light and compact.

The Sony WHCH720Ns are a good example of a pair with an impressive number of features for a budget price. The Sony WH-CH720Ns are not as high-end as the WH-1000XM4s but they still provide a variety of features that include adaptive active noise cancellation, multi-point pairing and support for Sony 360 Reality Audio, DSEE upscaling, and many more.

Bowers & Wilkins' PX7 S2 is the top wireless over-ear headphone that you can get for the money, if you're on a tight budget. These fashionable headphones have elegant design and a solid feature-set that includes ANC.

Noise Cancellation

Over-ear wireless headphones are typically better in noise cancellation and active than earbuds. They cover a larger area around your ears thanks to their larger outer housings. This means they're able to create and produce more sound to cancel any ambient sounds that you're currently listening to.

Some models come with multiple ANC settings to select according to the situation in which you are listening. They may also allow external audio to be played through while you are in public or at work. Focal's entry into the growing market for top-quality over-ear noise cancellation headphones is an excellent example. Its Bathys provide a stunningly clear high-resolution sound that brings the sound of a mixing booth to everyday listening.

Other wireless headphones over-ear that we've enjoyed testing include the XM4s from Sony, that offer impressive passive noise isolation that lets you to concentrate on your music in comfort, and a plethora of useful features like voice control and LDAC support for high-res playback, and a clever app that lets you tweak the EQ settings of any song. They capture every note of Sinead's "Nothing Compares 2 You" to the bridge's trembling.

It's your choice and your budget to decide which pair is right for you. Over-ears tend to be more comfortable than earbuds and they're generally less likely to fall out of your ears, so if you are planning to wear them for long periods of time, it's well worth spending extra on an earbud that is comfortable.

The larger size of over-ear headphones also allows them to pack in an extra battery and offer more advanced features such as superior drivers and enhanced active noise cancellation technology. They're also a cheaper option than true audiophile headphones for listening to analytic music that can cost as much as $250 or AU$450 per pair.

Earbuds are a cheaper and smaller alternative, but they don't block out as much ambient noise, and don't offer the same variety of features.

Battery Life

For headphones to truly be portable, they should have long playback times. The Best over ear wireless headphones wireless over-ear headphones will play 30 hours of uninterrupted music without active noise cancelling activated (this greatly reduces the battery's life). Models with ANC typically have longer playback time.

Over-ear wireless headphones have larger ear cups that can hold larger batteries, which offer a longer battery life than smaller in-ears and on-ears. However, they do reduce some portability to offer longer run times and other features such as foldable ear cups and a carry case.

Most over-ear headphones are wireless and connect to audio sources with cables that terminate in 3.5mm ports. Professional-grade headphones can use larger connectors like 6.3mm or an XLR. Over-ear headphones with a wired connection can connect to an external audio output via an additional cable, whereas wireless models connect to a mobile device via Bluetooth.

Many wireless headphones with over-ear connectors have built-in microphones that allow you to take hands-free calls with your mobile phone, while others have a separate volume control that allows you to skip tracks or stop and resume playback. Some wireless headphones over-ear can even charge your phone when using them, but it is typically only found on higher-end models.

If you prefer the deep bass of EDM or the more balanced sound of classical, over-ear wireless headphones can provide excellent audio quality. Many over the ear headphones noise cancelling-ear headphones have an open-back design. This means they don't block out ambient sounds. They also have drivers of various sizes and types that allow to reproduce more rich, expansive music.

Focal's headphones are audiophile-grade, wireless over-ear headphones that bring the mix-booth experience to your everyday listening. The headphones are specifically designed to be compatible with Apple devices and are therefore not able to function on other devices. However should you wish to use them on your iPhone or iPad they provide the most powerful and expressive sound experience.

These over-ear wireless headphones have a premium build and design with aluminum detailing wrapped in soft Nappa leather. They're made for serious listeners. They can be adjusted to fit the shape of your ear, and come with a custom-fitting carrying pouch that ensures an ideal fit. The MW08s feature 11mm berylium speakers for rich, clear and resonant sound that replicates the acoustics of live performance. They support the aptX and AAC Bluetooth codecs, with the companion app that offers numerous options for customization to tailor their sound profile to your preference.