Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and wireless bluetooth headphones allow larger drivers to provide greater bass and larger soundstages. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with superior audio and features, including multiple ANC modes, and a long battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Bluetooth headphones

Sony has improved on an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are lighter, better built, and have a more balanced audio profile (though bass-heavy). They also come with an app that lets you customize the audio. They have improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates more ambient sounds, and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and switch between them if needed. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

One subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitiveness of their touch panels. They respond quicker to the touch of panels and are simpler to control when making calls or listening to media. Sony has also added a feature to make voices sound more clear and precise during calls. This is a distinct and nice touch.

The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they're among the top wireless headphones that we have ever test. They are comfortable and well-made. They also have a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used in a passive manner using a TRS cable. This is ideal for traveling or conserving power.

The WH1000XM4s provide a superior alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears Px7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sound. The B&Ws come with a more flexible EQ and an app that allows you to tweak the audio performance. The B&Ws are built better and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine that tries to scale compressed music up to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it improves the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headphone that became an essential for commuters and travelers from all over the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula that made its predecessor so successful, while adding the USB-C port and improved noise cancellation.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband, which is made of plastic, has an incredibly solid feel due to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also features the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you extend or retract your ear cups. The cups have soft cushions that are securely positioned over your ears and do not apply pressure to your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. They can be worn with a coat or sweater as they work even when not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s can't offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are tinny and lack the details that more expensive headphones may be able to bring out. The higher registers tend to be boosted, which is fine for most music but can be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is good but it lacks power.

The possibility of pauseing the playback when you remove the headset is a feature absent. This is a feature that Bose's rivals have offered for many years. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings within the app however it would be nice to have manual control.

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

The QC45s come with four microphones built-in to hear your voice while on the phone. The quality of calls is generally good, but the headsets don't have the nifty ability to mute your voice during playback, which is something other wireless headphone bluetooth headphones do. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s in February 2022 introduced manual EQ options to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort that let listeners know that they're listening to something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They also have a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them 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 on average on a single charge. If you need to charge the headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will turn red.

For a pair of headphones for this price, they offer lots of features. They support multiple devices at once and feature automatic pairing. (You will need to select your device source manually every time you listen.) They have a built-in microphone that supports voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones also feature an easy-to-use interface, making it simple to control your music and take calls.

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

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve with minor variations in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound pattern which adds plenty of boom to the mix, however, it can make instruments and vocals such as cymbals sound veiled.

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

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new update of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a decent but not a standout into the category. The new model is a step up from the previous model, sporting a an elegant design, enhanced gesture control and an enormous battery life.

The improvements are subtle, but add up to an over-ear set of headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lie flat and aren't foldable however they come with a nice hardshell case to protect them when on the move. The Momentum 4s are non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones from recent years, Wireless Bluetooth headphones such as those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that you'll find on AirPods.

The biggest change is the huge battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is easily double the amount of the competition and enough 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 score with a focus on their audio quality and ANC as two of their strengths. He has only one complaint: they lack a sense gravitas in mids and the treble. This means that orchestral pieces sound flat, not grand. The bass is well-rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can lead fatigue in songs that have strong bass lines, such as the drum hits in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound hot, but not a lot. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s shouldn't put pressure on your neck or ears. However they can be uncomfortable when worn around the house or for longer listening sessions. They will move about on your head with intense head movements. This can cause them wake up at random and can cause distraction during music or calls. Fortunately they stop working after 15 minutes of slumber by default, and can be manually switched off using the power button.