Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation introduction of bluetooth technology your ears and allow for larger drivers to deliver more bass and a wider soundstage. Many also include active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The most recent Master & Dynamic MW65 update offers superior audio, multiple ANC modes and impressive battery life with a stylish and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has enhanced an already excellent pair introduction of bluetooth technology headphones by introducing the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're lighter, feel more constructed, and have a more balanced sound profile (though still bass heavy), and come with an app that lets you do some audio adjustments. They have improved their active noise cancellation, removing more background noises and extending the battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio, however, you'll need compatible equipment and a streaming service. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and automatically switch between them as needed. You enable this feature through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitiveness of their touch panels. They respond faster to the touch of a panel and are easier to control when making calls or listening to music. Sony has also added a feature that can make voices more precise and clear during calls. This is an obvious and nice touch.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones we've ever test. They're comfortable, feel good to the touch, and have an excellent battery that lasts more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used in a passive manner with an TRS cable. This is great for traveling or conserving power.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC can block out more background noise. They also have an app that lets you tweak their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. However, the B&Ws come with an improved design, and they can connect with two Bluetooth devices at once. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine which tries to up-scale 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 current version of a headset that has become a favorite among commuters and travelers all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, and adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and longer battery life.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband is constructed of plastic, and is sturdy and comfortable with hinges made of metal at the pivot points, and the familiar ratcheting action that you experience when you open or retract the ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that can be worn over your ears without pressing your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can wear them while wearing an overcoat or sweater since the noise-canceling works even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation for wireless headphones Music comfort, the QC45s can't offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are fairly flat and lack the depth that more expensive headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is fine for the majority of music but can be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent, but lacks power.

One feature that's missing is the ability to pause playback when you take the headset off. This is a feature Bose's rivals have offered for many years. Another thing that was missing was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app but it would be nice to have a 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 voice and sound settings.

The QC45s also include four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The headphones have good call quality, however they don't allow you to muffle the sound during playback like other wireless headphones. Update: As of February 2022, a firmware upgrade to the QC45s provided manual EQ options within 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 last for a long time, comfort and a design that makes listeners feel like they're listening to something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery performance with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got more out of them with more than 40 hours on average out of one charge. If you require a recharge, there's a light on the right ear cup that turns red when the headphone needs to be charged.

They offer a good amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price with support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select your source device every time you want to listen). They have a built-in microphone that supports voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones come with an easy-to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

For headphones with over-ear connectivity for over-ear wireless headphones music (he has a good point) headphones, the Bathys are very good in our tests of noise cancellation, which reduces the ambient sound by about 9 decibels on average. It's not as impressive as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still quite effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor variations on the bass and mids. They have a bass-rich sound pattern that adds a lot of boom to the mix, but can sometimes make instruments and vocals like cymbals seem a bit veiled.

You can wear them anywhere without worrying that others will listen to your music. Their microphone is suitable for recording using Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble and treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's top-of-the-line Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a decent, but not the most impressive entry in the class. The new pair is a step up from the previous model, featuring an elegant design, enhanced gesture control, and a huge battery life.

The changes are subtle but add up to a pair of over ear headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them when on the move. The Momentum 4s are compatible with all devices, just like other Bluetooth headphones from recent times, like those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they do not have the additional features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that you'll find on AirPods.

The most significant improvement is the battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is more than the majority of the competitors can provide and is enough for a multi-day trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and Engadget, gave the headphones an 82 percent score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as their strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral music tends to sound flat, not grand. The bass is well-rounded, but it's easy to over-emphasize and cause fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines such as the drums 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 are comfy and should not put too much pressure on your neck or ears. They can be fidgety if you wear them at home or during long listening sessions. They will move around on your head and make intense head movements. This could cause them to suddenly wake up which can be distracting during calls or music. Fortunately, they stop working after 15 minutes of rest by default, and can be manually switched off using the power button.