Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Noise-cancelling headphones can be an ideal solution for those who love to listen, whether you're in the office or in the train. Which ones are the best, though?

With a new design with superior sound quality and an enviable list of features, Sony's newest flagship headphones offer great value. From the raucous chorus to Sinead's trembling bridge, these headphones provide superb detail and realism.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is a master at noise cancellation, and its WH-1000XM5 headphones are the top model of this line. This model is a fantastic pair of headphones, especially for those who commute or are traveling. They're comfortable and feature multipoint technology that allows you to connect to two devices at once and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has ever made. They're also light and provide about 27 hours of playback time without charging, which is sufficient to last a week's worth commuting or one long-haul flight.

The WH-1000XM5s feature a sleek minimalist design and are made of a recycled and recyclable plastic known as acrylonitrile butadiene (ABS). The branding is minimal, although there is the "Sony" logo on each hinge of each earcup. The earcups and headband are cushioned with plush soft material that feels comfortable on all heads. The earcups can be adjusted to be perfectly sized for you.

In contrast to previous models that concentrated on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves in order to block out ambient noise. This improves the overall quality of the sound, and can help reduce engine and cabin noises on flights. The XM5s has a second processing unit to improve noise cancelling over ear headphones cancellation on planes. The audio app can also automatically adjust your listening environment based on the data on air pressure.

Other features of the WH-1000XM5s include an enhanced voice assistant that's easy to use and can be used with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and many more. The XM5s can be paired with other Sony audio devices to provide stereo separation and multi-room music. They are compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio using Sony's LDAC but not HD or aptX.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

Sennheiser has been making headphones for more than 50 years. You can expect a premium sound quality and a cosy fit. With their latest over-ears dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they deliver on both fronts. They've revamped their design to eliminate some trademark elements that gave their original models their aviator-style headset look. They also upgraded active noise cancellation by using their advanced Adaptive Noisy Cancellation Technology. They've evaluated these headphones to last for 60 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, which doubles the battery life of many other competitors.

The new model is more portable, since it folds up and is smaller. The earpads and headband are made of synthetic PU leather, which is comfortable on my head when I wear it throughout the day. There's not a lot of clamping force that keeps them in place either which means they'll remain comfortable on flights and even during longer workouts.

The sound is clean and well-balanced, though there are some high-pitched peaks in the mid- and high-mid that cause a slight muddying in the mixes. The bass is overemphasized which adds extra punch and thump in genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not an issue, but it may bother some listeners. The high-mid area has a bit of an uneven balance too which pushes instruments and vocals to the forefront of mixes, but at the cost of bringing out sibilants into some songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is equipped with all the standard features, including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparency mode that mixes outside sounds into your music to increase awareness and mobile app support for custom and preset EQ options. You can also use a 3.5mm cord to connect your phone. They are able to connect to your device by using SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes and can cut down the delay by as much as one quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

Since their launch, the original PX7s have appeared on countless lists of the best Bluetooth headphones, topping them in many instances due to their exceptional ANC and high-quality sound. The PX7s, just like other wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a new look. Therefore, the PX7S2. B&W hasn't merely tweaked the design for the new model, but they've made significant improvements to ANC and also added more voice-calling features, too.

The first thing you will notice when you open the box and get the PX7 S2 is how lightweight they are, which makes them very comfortable for long listening sessions. A lot of the design is carried over from the previous model, like the cool oval aluminum earcup top-plate and the hook-like accent on the headband, which glides rather than clicks when you expand it and the actual buttons. The earcups are smaller but the headband feels a little less substantial overall.

The software of B&W lets you adjust EQ settings for treble and bass, but you don't get as much control over the mix of those two elements like you do on more expensive headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switch on the environmental modes and can be adjusted in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to summon the voice assistant on your device.

The PX7 S2 is a great choice for most music styles. It has a wide soundstage and Headphones Noise Cancelling good separation of the different sound elements. It shines in particular on works featuring acoustic instruments like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19, by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capucon, with woody instrumental tones and the feeling of air. It's also capable of handling heavier songs as well, thanks to the bass power and mid-range clarity on Entombed's fusion of garage and death-n'-roll, Ride the Straight, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth giving a wall of sound while allowing to be able to discern vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov's sharp growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose is among the first companies that brought active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. Although they held an unwavering position in the market for many years, they are now competing against newer headsets with more features and higher sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for those who want to listen to music or podcasts without sound rumbles or hums.

The default sound profile is balanced, and they're comfortable to wear. The ANC is great at removing background noise. However, it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than other headphones such as the Sony WH1000XM5.

If you're looking for a pair that can be used to listen to podcasts or audiobooks, the QC35s have an impressive passive noise cancellation mode that cuts down on ambient noises while keeping you isolated from the sound of the surrounding environment. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and "audio-share", so you can listen to a song on one set of headphones noise cancelling (simply click the up coming article) while answering an incoming call with the other.

The Bose Connect App is decent however it lacks the vast EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s are also available in wired mode, however the sound quality is drastically reduced and the battery life is not as good as wireless models.

The QC35s come with a well-known Bose look that might not be as appealing to some consumers as the more sleek designs of other brands. You can personalize your headphones by purchasing a decal cover from companies like SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. In the coming year, you'll be able customize the color of the earcups as well as the headbands, just like the earlier QC25.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 is among the top wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation you can purchase right now. They're a bit more expensive than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they block out a lot more ambient noise and feel much more durable. They also have a premium companion app that offers numerous sound-related features that can be customized.

The XM3s' excellent sound quality is one of their main draws and they've been upgraded since their introduction to provide the best performance. They're equipped with a little more detail in the frequency spectrum. Their noise cancelling is better at all levels of volume. They also have upgraded controls like Quick Attention mode and Speak-to Chat. The new feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound that is allowed in, based on where you are and what you are doing.

There are some problems, however. The midrange can sound too recessed, and the treble could sometimes be too loud. They still have the tendency to increase the bass too much on some tracks, making them sound too heavy and full. But this is something you can address in the headphone settings or by using EQ adjustments in the Sony app.

The XM3s are a great pair of headphones, Headphones Noise Cancelling especially for frequent travelers or commuters. They're more comfortable, stylish and more durable and premium than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless, and they have a far superior battery and one of our top noise cancelling features available on the market. They're also more flexible and more suited for use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X wireless, though their noise cancellation isn't as impressive. And they're not waterproof, which is a problem for some people.