Best Over-Ear Headphones

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear encapsulate your ears completely and allow for bigger drivers to deliver deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

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

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has redesigned an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, have more balanced sound profiles (though still bass-heavy) and come with an app that allows some audio adjustments. They've improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates the background noise, and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. This codec can transmit high-resolution audio, however, you'll need compatible equipment and streaming service. In addition, the WH1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time and switch between them if needed. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to a tap on the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to music. Sony also added an option that makes voices sound more clear and precise when calling, which is noticeable and a nice touch.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones we've ever tested. They're comfortable and well-made. They also have a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used in a passive manner with an TRS cable, which is ideal when you're on the road or need to save power.

The WH-1000XM4s are better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfy, and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sound. They also have a companion application that lets you adjust their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are better built and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and feature an AI-driven engine which tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it enhances the clarity of music when listening where to buy wireless bluetooth headphones lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that became a staple for commuters and travelers around the globe. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband is made from plastic, and is a solid feel, with metal hinges at pivot points and the familiar ratcheting action when you extend or retract the earcups. The cups are cushioned, b.r.ea.kab.leactorgigantic.profiter and have soft pads that can be worn over your ears without putting pressure on your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. You can use them when you're wearing an overcoat or sweater since the noise cancellation function is functional even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not offer the best sound at this price. The frequencies are tinny and lack the depth that more expensive headphones may be able to bring out. The higher registers tend to be boosted which is great for most music genres but could be a problem for delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent but lacks punch.

The ability to pause playback when removing the headset is a feature that is missing. This is a feature that Bose's competitors have offered for several years. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings within the app however it would be nice to have manual control.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, with multipoint as well as more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's sound and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s also include four in-built microphones to listen to your voice during calls. The call quality is generally very good, but the headsets don't come with the handy capability to muffle your voice while playing back which is something that other wireless headphones have. Update as of February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s gave you an option to adjust the volume manually in the audio app which is a welcomed improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their comfort and style that let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. Their first venture into wireless noise cancelling headphones, the Bathys, are a stunning set of headphones that sound and look amazing. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery performance, with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We had more than 40 hours of playback time on average from just one charge. If you need to recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that will change to red when the blue tooth headphone needs to be charged.

They offer a good amount of features for headphones of this price that include support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll need to 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 also feature an intuitive interface that makes it simple to manage your music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by an average of 9 decibels. It's not as impressive as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, however it's still pretty effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys did well overall, with a a frequency response that mostly matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with only slight differences in the mids and bass. They have a deep, Bridgejelly71>j.U.Dyquny.Uteng.Kengop.Enfuyuxen bass-filled sound profile that adds plenty of boom to mixes, however, they can make instruments and vocals like cymbals seem a bit veiled.

They also have very good leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them out in public without worrying about people listening to your music. Their microphone is suitable to record via Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble as well as the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The last pair, the Momentum 3, was a decent, but not the most impressive entry into the category. The latest pair is a significant improvement over the previous model, featuring more sleek design, better gesture control, and a huge battery life.

The improvements here are subtle, but they add up to make a pair that appear to be an upgrade from the old one. The Momentum 4s lay flat and do not fold however they come with a sturdy hardshell case to protect them while on the go. They also follow the style of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, like the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. They can be used with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods' extra features like Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most significant change is the huge battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. That's easily double what most of the competitors can provide and is enough for a trip of a lifetime without having to worry about finding a power outlet to charge them up.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score and cited their sound quality and ANC as particular strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble, which means that orchestral music tends to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well rounded however it can be too loud, which can cause to fatigue when songs have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals also sound sizzled rather than full, dj and there's no real sense of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s should not put pressure on your neck or ear. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them around the home or for long listening sessions. They will move around on your head and make a lot of head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random which can be distracting when you are listening to music or calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes, and can be shut off manually using the power button.