Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

If you're on the train or in the office the noise-cancelling headphones can be a godsend for anyone who loves to listen. Which ones are the best noise cancelling headphones, though?

With a brand new design that is a step up in sound quality, and a wealth of features, Sony's new flagship headphones are a great value. They can capture every detail, from Sinead O'Connor's trembling Bridge to the powerful chorus.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is a master at noise cancellation, and its WH-1000XM5 headphones are the top model of this series. A few well-thought-out upgrades over the XM4s make these headphones an all-round excellent pair of headphones, specifically for those who commute and travel. They're comfortable and feature multipoint technology to connect two devices simultaneously and offer the best ANC Sony's ever produced. They're lightweight and can play for up to 27 hours with no charging. This is enough time to get through a week of commutes or long-haul flights.

The WH-1000XM5s feature an elegant, minimalist design and are made from a recycled and recyclable plastic referred to as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Branding is minimal, though you'll see the "Sony" logo on each hinge of each earcup. The earcups and headbands are made of soft, plush material that is comfortable for all head sizes with the exception of the largest. The earcups are also adjustable to ensure that you get the ideal fit for your needs.

Contrary to previous models which focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves, which cancels out ambient noise. This improves overall sound quality, and helps to reduce engine and cabin noises on flights. The XM5s is equipped with a second processing unit to increase noise cancellation on planes. The audio app can also adjust the sound environment you are listening to based on the pressure of the air.

The WH-1000XM5s also has an integrated voice assistant that is simple to use, and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and more. You can also pair the XM5s with other Sony audio products to allow stereo and multi-room music playback separation. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming using LDAC, which Sony's codec is based on but they're not compatible with the aptX or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser has been manufacturing headphones for over 50 years. You can expect a premium sound quality and jbl a comfortable fit. With their latest over-ears dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they offer both. They've reworked the design to remove some of the trademark elements that gave the earlier models the look of an aviator headset and also improved their active noise cancellation using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They are designed to last for 60 hours when ANC on, which is double the battery life of other rivals.

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

The sound is well-balanced and clear There are a few peaks in the low-mid and high-mid, which can cause slight muddiness in mixes. The bass is overemphasized with a lot of impact and thump to genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not an issue however some listeners may find it irritating. The high-mid area has a little uneven balance, pushing vocals and instruments towards the front of the mix but at the expense of bringing out sibilants into some songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has all the usual features including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a translucent mode which blends outside sounds into your music to increase awareness and mobile app support for custom and preset EQ options. They can also be used with an 3.5mm cable when connecting your phone to it via wire. They can use SBC, AAC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your device, and they can reduce latency by as much as one quarter of a second which is fantastic.

3. B&W PX7 S2

Since their introduction, the original PX7s have appeared on countless lists of the best Bluetooth headphones, topping them in many cases thanks to their outstanding ANC and strong sound quality. The PX7s, as with many wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a new look. This is why the PX7S2. B&W did not just alter the design, but also made improvements to ANC and added features for voice calling.

The first thing you notice when you open the box and take out the PX7 S2 is how light they are. This makes them extremely comfortable for long listening sessions. The design of the PX7 S2 is mostly similar to the model before it. It has the cool oval aluminium top-plate for the earcups the hook-like accent that slides instead of clicks when you expand the headband and the physical buttons. The earcups are smaller, and the headband isn't as substantial.

B&W's software lets you adjust the EQ settings for 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 switches between modes for the environment and can be configured within the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to activate your device's voice assistant.

The PX7 S2 is a great choice for all music styles. It has a wide soundstage and good separation of different sound elements. It's particularly impressive on music that has acoustic instrumentation such as Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. 19 by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capeucon, with acoustic instrumental tones that give the feeling of air. It can take on heavier music as well. The bass power and midrange clarity of Entombed's crossover of garage and deathn'roll To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth, give an imposing soundscape while keeping things clear to be able to hear vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose is among the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. Though they had an advantage over the market for many years however, they are now competing against newer headphones that offer more features and higher audio quality. However, the QuietComfort 35 is still a great choice for anyone who wants to hear their music or podcasts without being interrupted by constant rumbles and jbl hums.

They're comfortable to wear and feature a an excellently balanced default sound profile. The ANC is great at removing background noise. However it tends to focus on lower frequencies more than other headphones like the Sony WH1000XM5.

The QC35s are an excellent pair of headphones for listening to audiobooks and podcasts. They have an active noise cancellation feature that blocks out ambient sounds but still allowing you to be completely isolated from the world around you. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and "audio-share" so that you can listen to music on one pair of headphones and answer an incoming phone call on the other pair.

The Bose Connect App is decent, but it doesn't have the full EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s can be used in wired mode using a cable, but the sound quality takes a major loss and they don't have the same battery life as wireless models.

The QC35s are a Bose product, and it might not be a favorite for all. Other manufacturers have sleeker designs. You can personalize your headphones by purchasing a decal-covered cover from companies like SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. In the coming year you'll be able to customize the color of the earcups as well as the headband, just like with the earlier QC25.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH-1000XM3 are among the top wireless headphones that have active noise cancelling over ear headphones cancellation you can get right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise. The app is also better and offers tons of sound-related options for customization.

The XM3s have an excellent sound quality, and since their release they've been improved to provide an even better experience. They're a bit more detail in the frequency spectrum. Their noise cancellation is better at all levels of volume. They also have better controls, such as Quick Attention mode and Speak-to chat. The latest feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound that is let in based the location you are in and what you are doing.

They're not without some issues, though. The mid-range can sound too recessed, and the treble could sometimes be too loud. They still have the tendency to boost the bass too much on certain tracks, making the sound too heavy and full. You can fix this in the Sony app or in the headphone setting.

The XM3s are a great pair of headphones, specifically for those who commute and frequent travel. They're more comfortable, look and feel more durable and premium than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless and also have a more powerful battery, and one of the best noise cancelling features available in the market. They're also more versatile and better-equipped to use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X wireless, although their noise cancellation isn't as impressive. They're not waterproof, and that could be a problem for some.