The Best Over-Ear Headphones

If you travel on public transit, work in an office with a lot of chattering colleagues or just want to listen to your music with no interruptions of outside noise, headphones that block out noise can make all the difference. We analyzed the top headphones that offer great sound quality with impressive active noise cancellation.

Mpow Over-Ear Headphones

These Bluetooth headphones from Mpow have a good robust and sturdy design. They also offer premium audio that is remarkable for their price. The headphones are designed to be worn over the ears and feature ear cups that comfortably fit over your ears. This helps block out ambient noise. The earpads are made of a moderately thick cushion that shields your ears to muffle out a good portion of environmental sounds but they don't come with a noise canceling feature. The earpads weigh a bit heavier than 11 ounces but they're comfortable to wear over long periods.

The Mpow headphones have a simple design, not much different from other over-ear headphone designs on the market. The headband that connects the two ear cups is hinged, allowing them to fold into a compact unit to transport and store. The left earcup houses controls for power, volume and noise cancellation. The right earcup houses an audio microphone for hands-free calls.

The Mpow headphones offer a good sound quality, but they do not have the bass power or ear noise cancelling headphones clarity of the Sony WH1000XM5. The PRTF accuracy and the activation score are higher than average among Bluetooth headphones. This should result in a spacious and wide soundstage when listening music. However they're PRTF distance score is lower than average, meaning they will sound closed in and less open than headphones that have large, open-back earcups.

The treble extension is also excellent, so you can get a crisp and clear sound that will work with all genres of music. The mids of the Sony headphones are more pronounced, giving them more of a dynamic sound. This is perfect for music that has a lot of instruments. The bass is a little too loud for some, but this is an individual preference that can be redressed by altering the equalizer settings on your audio player.

The Mpow headphones have a long battery life, and can be used in wired mode for when your charge runs out. The headphones come with an USB charger and a cable, so you can enjoy your favorite music without interruption. The manufacturer offers a 45-day return guarantee and an 18-month warranty on these headphones, and their customer service is known to be quick and responsive.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The PX7 S2 is the newest over-ear headphone that is available in Bowers & Wilkins' catalog. They replace the PX7 model and are part of a wider range of beats wireless noise cancelling headphones headphones that also includes the PI5 and PI7. The design of these headphones is immediately elegant once they are removed from the box. The use of textured materials and metals on the ear cups as well as the headband give them an exquisitely put together feel. They also feel comfortable on the head and ear although they are slightly heavier than the other models. The ear pads snap on and off easily so they can be replaced when they wear out.

Like a lot of the top headphones, these models feature active noise cancellation, which reduces the sound of outside sounds while allowing you to listen to your music. The technology isn't perfect however, it does a fantastic job of keeping train and plane engine noises out of your canals, without affecting the balance between music tracks.

One thing that really distinguishes the PX7 S2 apart from their competitors is the soundstage they provide, which offers ample space and a strong separation between the various sound elements. This gives clarity to music that cannot always be heard on other Bluetooth headphones.

While the PX7 S2s aren't as movable as their rivals, they come with a great carry case. It's also well-padded and the headphones fold flat to make it easy to store when not in use.

The earcups are covered with a soft, leather-like fabric that's quite indulgent to the feel. They're also light and comfortable for long listening sessions. The headband is designed to provide maximum comfort and doesn't squeeze too tightly. This helps to prevent headaches.

The headphones have a range of features, including Bluetooth multipoint, which allows them to connect with two devices at the same time. They support all popular Bluetooth codecs, as well as high-res audio, in the event that your streaming service supports it. They also have an amplifier for headphones that can give you an extra boost when you use headphones with electronics that are not powered, such as laptops.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH-1000XM5 are the newest model in the line of Sony's top over-ear noise cancelling headphones. These headphones are a great improvement to their predecessors, WH1000XM2s and WH1000XM4. Sony has improved its already impressive active noise cancellation. For instance, Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones the fifth-generation headphones are now able to block out low-frequency sounds like subway car and plane engine rumbles. They can also detect your location and automatically adjust the Ambient Sound Control settings accordingly.

You can still make use of a voice-activated assistant to control your music, find directions and more. The microphones in the earcups have been upgraded to allow them to be used to make hands-free phone calls and Siri/Google Assistant commands. The headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible which means that they can be connected and pair faster.

The WH-1000XM5 was awarded top scores in our tests of comfort, ease-of-use and sound quality. The lightweight headset is comfortable for long listening sessions, and the ear cup can be adjusted to fit different sizes of heads. The headphones are portable, and their flat design allows them to easily fit into the backpack or suitcase.

The ear cups are a bit curvier than their predecessors, and the headband is fitted with more refined curves to help conceal assembly points. They're covered with a brand new synthetic leather material, which provides extra durability and luxury. The ear cup cavity is also larger and fits more snugly to the ears. This could cause a slight pressure on the head if worn for long periods of time.

A few of the features from the WH-1000XM4s are transferred to the XM5. You can still swipe and tap on the right ear cup to switch songs or pause your music and switch to Ambient Sound Mode. You can even hold your hands over the left ear cup to temporarily turn down your music volume and boost the ambient sound, which can be helpful when you need to hear what's happening around you.

There are some subtle improvements to the XM5s which make them a great purchase for headphones that block noise. The new ANC offers better isolation for low-frequency noise, and the headphones will pause the music when removed from your head to save power. Transparent listening mode lets in more outside sound. A new battery-power-consumption algorithm gives the XM5s the same 30-hour battery life rating as their predecessor, and a quick press of the power button will alert you to your remaining charge.

Skullcandy ADX700

The ATH ADX700 headphones are a ideal choice for those who want to buy a set of gaming headphones. They are comfortable and provide excellent audio. They are light, so you won't feel them on your ears or head. They come with a self-adjusting 3D wings that can adjust to your head and eliminates pressure. They also come with a detachable cable that is easy to connect to your audio source.

These are open-air headphones that look quite unique, thanks to their massive earcups as well as black honeycomb covers that reveal the driver inside. The unique design helps them stand out from the rest, but it's not the only factor that makes them stand out. The self-adjusting wing support structure and the brand new 53 mm drivers that feature bobbin-wound CCAW voice coils, and the aluminum casing made of honeycomb are the main reasons these headphones are special and worth the cost.

The ATH-ADX700 has an impressively broad frequency response, which gives a crisp and natural midrange and treble. The sound isn't as deep as some other pairs but that's because they're designed for an audience of general music lovers who isn't looking to be sprayed by excessive low frequencies. These headphones are ideal for gamers because they allow you to hear your friends and other NPCs, without being muffled.

The ATH ADX700 headphones have an impedance rating of 32 ohms but still require a high-quality amp to operate at its best. If you are using them with a portable player it's not a problem, however a headphone amplifier will make it easier to control the sound and experience the full range.

The ATH-ADX700 comes with 9.84-foot cable that features 1/8-inch connector that is gold-plated and an elastic TPE sheath that helps keep it from tangling and causing damage. It also comes with a 1/4-inch adapter for mobile devices. The earpads are constructed of plush velour that feels soft and initially itchy, but will break in eventually. They also feature a flexible raised fabric that improves the comfort and durability.