Best Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow larger drivers to provide deeper bass and wider soundstages. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with superior audio and features, including various ANC mode and an impressive battery life.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has improved an already excellent pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed, and have a more balanced audio profile (though bass-heavy). They also come with an app to adjust the sound. They've improved their active noise cancellation, removing the background noise and have a longer battery life.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. These headphones can transmit high-resolution audio, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming service. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when required. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and is very effective.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to a tap on the panel, which makes them easier to control during a call or listen to media. Sony has added a feature to make voice calls more clear and precise during calls. This is a noticeable and nice touch.
While the WH1000XM4s aren't perfect, they are some of the top wireless headphones we've ever tested. They're comfortable and well-constructed, and come with a batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used in a passive manner with the TRS cable which is perfect for those who travel or want to conserve power.
The WH-1000XM4s are a better choice than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. The B&Ws feature an EQ that is more flexible and an app companion to adjust the audio quality. However, the B&Ws have an improved design, and they're able to pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine which tries to upscale compressed music 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 QuietComfort45 Noise-Canceling headset is the most recent version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and travelers all over the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that was the basis of its predecessor's success, while adding the USB-C port and improved noise cancellation.
Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport an elegant design and feel that exudes quality. The headband, constructed of plastic, provides a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also has the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you extend or retract the ear cups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that fit over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can wear them while wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancellation function is functional even when you aren't on your head.
Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not offer the best sound at this price point. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack details that more expensive headphones might be capable of bringing out. The upper registers are boosted which is acceptable for the majority of music but can be problematic for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is great, but lacks power.
One thing that's not included is the possibility of paused playback when you take the headset off. This is a feature Bose's rivals have offered for many years. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app but it would be nice if there was a manual control.
You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust the volume and voice assistant settings.
The QC45s come with four in-built microphones to pick up your voice during calls. They have excellent call quality, but they don't allow you to mute the voice during playback as other wireless headphones. Update: As of February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s offered an option to adjust the volume manually in the audio app, which is a welcome improvement.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio brand that is known for high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting comfort and a design that lets listeners know they're listening to something special. Their first foray into wireless headphones that block noise, the Bathys, are a stunning set of cans that look and sound amazing. They also come with a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wireless and wired listening.
The Bathys come with a great battery life, with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a little more out of them with more than 40 hours on average out of a single charge. If bose soundlink around ear wireless headphones ii do need to recharge, there's an indicator light on the right earcup that will turn red when the headphone has to be charged.
They come with a wide range of features for a pair of headphones at this price with support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select the source device each time you need to listen). The headphones have built-in microphones that works with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.
For wireless headphones that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys are very good in our test of noise cancellation, reducing the background sound by around 9 decibels per hour on average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless however it's still very effective.
The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound pattern which adds plenty of boom to mixes, however, they can make vocals and instruments such as cymbals sound veiled.
They also have excellent leakage resistance, so you can wear them out in public without worrying about people hearing your music. Their mic is passable 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 are a new update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a decent, but not the most impressive entry in the category. The latest pair improves on the previous model with more sleek design, better gesture controls, and an enormous battery life.
The changes are subtle but make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lay flat and don't fold, but they do come with a sturdy hardshell case to protect them when on the move. They also follow the trend of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, including the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. This means they work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but do not come with the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that are available on the AirPods.
The most significant difference is the massive 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.
Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as their strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat, not grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can cause fatigue in songs that have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound sizzled, not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.
The Momentum 4s should not put pressure on your neck or ears. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them around the home or for long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make a lot of head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random, which can be distracting during calls or music. Fortunately they will shut down after 15 minutes of sleep by default, and can be turned off manually off by pressing the power button.