Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds, are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also have larger drivers, which deliver greater bass and a wider soundstage. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been upgraded with improved audio, numerous ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, feature a more balanced sound profile (though still bass heavy) and include an app that allows for some audio customization. They have improved their active noise cancellation, eliminating more background noises and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, Dj and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio, however you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between the two when required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

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

The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones we've ever examined. They are comfortable and well-constructed, and come with a a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used passively using an TRS cable. This is perfect to travel with or for storing power.

The WH-1000XM4s are better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. They also come with a companion app that lets you alter their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than B&W's. The B&Ws are better built and can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine that is attempting to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme, and it improves the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 wireless headphnes

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 noise-canceling headset is the latest version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers across the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model follows the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feeling and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband, which is made of plastic, offers a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also has the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you expand or retract the ear cups. The cups are soft, cushioned pads that fit comfortably over the ears and don't apply pressure to your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. They can be worn with a coat or sweater as they work even when not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones, the QC45s do not provide the best sound at this price. The frequencies are tinny and lack the details that higher-end headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is acceptable for the majority of music but can be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is good but lacks punch.

The ability to pause playback when you remove the headset is a feature missing. This is a feature that Bose's rivals have provided for several years. Another oversight is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app, but it would be nice if there was an option to control the EQ manually.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, with multipoint as well as more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust the audio and voice settings.

The QC45s come with four built-in microphones that listen to your voice during calls. The call quality is generally very good, but the headsets do not have the capability to turn off your voice during playback which is something that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s in February 2022 added manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a great upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're listening something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We got more than 40 hours of playback on average on a single charge. If you are required to charge the headphones, the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.

They have a decent amount of features for headphones at this price that include support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to manually select your source device each time you need to listen). They also have a built-in mic that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to use interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by 9 decibels on average. It's not as effective as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it is still effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was mostly similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor variations on the bass and mids. The Bathys have a bassy sound that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals look a bit obscure.

You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others listen to your music. The microphone is able to be used for recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion between the mid-treble and the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new update of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this category. The new model is a step up from the previous model, featuring a sleeker look, improved gesture control and an enormous battery life.

The improvements are subtle but add up to a pair of over ear headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them when on the move. They also follow the trend of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, including those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be beautifully device agnostic. This means they work well with both Android phones and cadplm.co.kr Apple iPhones, but do not have the additional features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that you'll find on the AirPods.

The most notable improvement is the battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is nearly twice as much as most of the competitors and sufficient to allow you to travel for a longer period of time without having to search for an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score with a focus on their audio quality and ANC as two of their strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense 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 fatigue in songs that have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound a bit sizzled, not full. There's also not much depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s shouldn't place pressure on your neck or ear. However they can be uncomfortable when worn around the house or for longer listening sessions, and can move around on your head in a flurry of head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random times, which can be distracting when listening to music or making calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes, and can be switched off manually with the power button.