15 Top Documentaries About Headphones

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones surround your ears and immerse you into audio. They are usually made for audiophiles, and come with features like active noise cancellation and control apps.

The Focal Bathys are a wireless speaker with ANC and a mobile application for tweaking the EQ and presets. They also support hi-res audio for wired listening via USB-C.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH1000XM5 earphones from Sony are the most recent upgrade in their noise cancellation lineup. The headphones have a new design and enhanced ANC. They also come with many of the same features, but with a superior sound quality and higher-end materials.

At only 250g, they're a light weight for over-ear ANC headsets. This makes them extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time, even if you're listening to a podcast or reading a book. The headband is soft, and has an ear-friction rod design similar to the Grado Labs SR60x that prevents your ears from becoming too cold.

With a sound quality that can satisfy casual music listeners and serious audiophiles, WH-1000XM5's signature is tuned to have a slight focus on bass, but not overpowering or harsh. The earphones boast a huge and wide soundstage, as well as good separation of instruments. This allows you to listen to the subtleties of your music. The earcups come with control buttons that are easy to use and responsive. Swipe forward to play the next track, back to hear the previous track and then up and down to adjust the volume. The headphones are capable of connecting to two devices at once and due to an inbuilt sensor, they automatically stop the playback when removed from your head. You can also turn on ambient mode by resting your palm on the right ear cup and headphones Marshall allowing you to listen to what's happening around you, without taking off the headphones.

Other features that are useful include the possibility of pairing them with your voice assistant, Bluetooth low-energy, and support for high-resolution audio (via LDAC). They come with a sturdy carrying case made from premium fabric and a USB-C cable to charge. The headphones work with most Android and iOS smartphones and computers that run Windows and macOS. The battery longevity of the WH-1000XM5 is impressive. In our test we were able to achieve 31 hours and 53 minutes with the ANC switched on, which is better than Sony's advertised battery duration of 30 hours.

The WH-1000XM5's microphone quality for calls is superb and there's no distorted or static-y sound in the background. The noise cancellation performance is top-quality, and they're a good choice for public transport or the office.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 provides a significant improvement over its predecessor. It comes with a variety of new features and improved performance. It features wireless streaming with 24-bit enhanced active noise cancellation, and clear voice call quality on any compatible mobile phone or tablet. The 40mm drivers that are custom-designed for the device are carefully placed inside each earcup to provide a more focused, immersive listening experience. Six carefully placed microphones offer exceptional call clarity even in noisy surroundings. A built-in microphone and remote allows you to control calls and music from any device compatible with it.

Like the original PX7 The headphones sport sleek and elegant with accent rings on each earcup and an elegant silver sheen on the headband. The memory foam earcups fit snugly, but not too tightly on the cranium. The new design and shape was refined over a period of time and offers an incredibly comfortable clamping pressure that doesn't press too hard on my rotund skull.

They are 2 ounces lighter (or 307g) and a little thinner than the Sony WH1000XM5. They're light enough to carry in your bag or backpack without any discomfort, and will remain comfortably in place for long listening sessions. The headband is foldable by using a sturdy hinge on the back.

The headphones gaming are powered by Bluetooth 5.2 with the aptX Adaptive. This is ideal for high-resolution audio as well as a fast video sync. The included 3.5mm cord connects to the USB-C port located on the right earcup. The headphone's status indicator is an excellent touch, flashing green to indicate rapid charging and solid blue when Bluetooth pairing is in use.

The B&W App has the same controls that the hardware onboard buttons offer - bass and treble adjustments, action button assignments, wear detection, the ability to cycle through ANC modes, etc. When you listen to music on your iPhone the app displays album covers and track titles. Some popular features like music presets and a soundscapes mode are not available, however.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The HD 800 S is a successor to the famous Sennheiser headphones, and is designed to meet the highest expectations. The design and construction of the headphones is optimized to give a detail resolution that encompasses all the spectrum of frequencies as well as dynamic range and stereo panorama. It also offers the most realistic spatial sound you'll ever hear in a pair of open-back headphones.

The headphone has an impedance of 300 Ohms, therefore it requires a premium headphone amplifier that can drive it at the desired levels without distortion. A balanced connection is recommended, since this can double the power output and increase the overall sound quality.

These headphones are made to be used by professionals and have a sturdy steel frame that is adorned with plastics and leather padding. The design is minimalistic and they're not fancy, but the quality of the headphones and their build are top-quality. They come with a carrying pouch and an additional audio cable, as well as a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.

The HD 800 S has a neutral sound that reproduces vocals and instruments with a natural sound, even however they are less bass-y. This is because the open-back design provides a wide and out-of-head soundstage. The treble quality is excellent with minor drops and peaks. The treble region is very linear, so you shouldn't have any issues hitting sibilants or the upper bite of a snare drum.

They can still deliver impact as well as dynamism and impact in the event of need, despite the absence of a loud low-end. These headphones are still enjoyable for those who enjoy rock music that has punchy bass, but may not sound as great as some of the other models on this list.

These Sennheiser headphones have a great midrange. They are linear with an incline on the upper mids, which won't be noticed by the majority of listeners. They can also reproduce fine time gradations which is an added bonus.

The HD 800 S is a pair of headphones that are ideal for audiophiles and professionals. They are a top pick due to their exceptional audio quality and comfortable fit. They are expensive, but you're paying for a pair of headphones that will last for many years to be able to perform at their best cheap wireless headphones in any setting.

Anker Soundcore Life q20

The Anker Soundcore Q20 is a good pair of headphones for those who wants to relax or simply need an affordable pair of noise cancelling headphones. The headphones come with a basic bag that protects the Headphones Marshall when you place them in the bag. Their battery can last multiple long-haul flights. The ANC is a great way to block out noisy passengers and engine rumbles, but their audio profile is a bit heavy and warm.

The Life Q20's controls are easy to use and are well-marked. On the left earcup, you'll find buttons for pairing and powering up the headphones as well as turning on or off the active noise cancellation. On the right earcup, you'll see media playback controls. This includes a multi-function key that activates the phone's voice assistant and turns on Anker BassUp (more about it later). The built-in microphone can be used to make phone calls hands-free.

Anker's Soundcore Life Q20 headphones delivers a rich, immersive listening experience thanks to its custom 40 mm dynamic driver that offers certified Hi-Res audio. With a treble that extends up to 40 kHz they can provide outstanding clarity and detail, as their active noise cancellation technology is designed to block out a wide range of low and mid-frequency sounds.

One thing to keep in mind about the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is that it doesn't support aptX, which is a disappointment. This means you won't able to take advantage of the superior codec's lower latency when you're gaming on your PC.

In terms of comfort, the Life Q20's memory foam ear cups and headband are comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time without creating discomfort. The ear cups also rotate to adapt to your individual head shape. You can also listen to music via a 3.5mm cable, and a microUSB cable is included to charge the battery.