The Often Unknown Benefits Of Headphones

Best Over-Ear Headphones Skullcandy

Over-ear headphones are designed to surround your ears and immerse you in the audio. They are typically designed for audiophiles and come with features such as active noise cancellation and control apps.

The Focal Bathys is a wireless pair that comes with ANC as well as a mobile app to adjust the EQ, and presets. They also support high-res audio through USB-C for Headphones Skullcandy wired listening.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH-1000XM5 headphones are Sony's latest upgrade to their best-in-class noise cancellation lineup. They have a fresh new design, upgraded ANC and a lot of the same features as their predecessors, but with premium materials and slightly higher quality sound.

With only 250g, they're a light weight for over-ear ANC headsets. They are very comfortable to wear, even if you're reading or listening a book. The headband features a friction rod design similar to the Grado Labs SR60x, which prevents your ears getting too cold.

With a sound quality that is able to please those who enjoy music casually and audiophiles, the WH1000XM5's sound signature is tuned to have a slight focus on bass, but not too loud or harsh. The earphones boast a huge and open soundstage, with good separation of instruments. This lets you hear the details in your music. The earcups come with control buttons that are easy to use and responsive. Swipe forward to go to the next track, then back to listen to the previous one, and up and down to adjust the volume. The headphones are capable of connecting to two devices at once and, thanks to a built-in sensor, they will automatically stop the playback when removed from your head. You can enable the ambient mode by placing your palm on the right-ear cup. This lets you listen to the sounds around you without removing the headphones.

Other helpful features include the ability to pair them with your voice assistant, Bluetooth low-energy, and support for high-resolution audio (via LDAC). The headphones come with a carry case made of premium fabric, and a USB-C charging cable. The headphones work with the majority of Android and iOS smartphones, as well as with computers that run Windows and macOS. The WH-1000XM5's battery capacity is exceptional. In our most basic test, we were able to achieve 31 hours and 53 minutes when the ANC switched on which is much better than Sony's advertised battery life of 30 hours.

The WH1000XM5 has a great microphone that can be used for voice calls. There's no muffled or static audio in the background. The noise cancellation performance is top-quality and they're a great option for public transport as well as the office.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 offers a significant upgrade over its predecessor. It has a host of new features and performance. The Bowers & Wilkins S2 comes with premium performance and features like 24-bit wireless streaming, active noise cancellation optimized and clear voice calls on any compatible mobile device or tablet. The custom-designed 40mm drivers are carefully placed inside each earcup for an enhanced, more deep listening experience. Six strategically placed microphones provide excellent call clarity even in noisy surroundings. A built-in microphone and remote allows you to control calls and music on any device compatible with it.

As with the original PX7 The headphones sport sleek and elegant with accent rings around each earcup, and a silver sheen on the headband. The memory foam earcups fit well but not too tightly on the cranium. The new form and shape was developed over the course of several months, and delivers a soft clamping pressure that isn't into my skull, which is a rotund one.

At 10.8 pounds (or 307g), they're 2 ounces lighter than Sony WH-1000XM5, as well as a touch smaller. The headphones are lightweight enough to be carried in a backpack or bag and are comfortable to wear during long listening sessions. The headband can be folded up by using a sturdy hinge on the back.

They're powered by Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive support which is ideal for both high-resolution audio and precise video sync. You can play them wirelessly too, using the included 3.5mm cable that connects to a USB-C port on the right earcup. The status indicator on the headphone is a nice touch. It flashes green to indicate rapid charging, and solid blue to indicate Bluetooth pairing.

The B&W app provides similar controls to the buttons on the hardware such as bass and treble adjustments, action button assignment, wear detection, cycle through ANC modes and more. The app also displays an album cover and track's title when you play music from your iPhone. However, some popular features such as music presets or a soundscapes feature aren't available.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The HD 800 S is the successor of the iconic headphones from Sennheiser and is designed to meet highest expectations. Its engineering was designed to provide stunning detail resolution that covers the entire frequency spectrum, dynamic range, and stereo panorama. It's the most realistic spatial audio you can get from open-back headphones.

The headphone has 300 ohms of impedance, therefore a high-quality headphone amplifier is needed to operate it at the right levels without distortion. It is recommended to utilize a balanced connection, which can double the output and improve the sound quality.

These headphones are designed for professional use. They feature a metal frame, and a mix of leather and Headphones Skullcandy plastic padding. The design is minimalistic and they don't look fancy, but the quality of the headphones in ear and their build are superb. They come with a carrying pouch and an additional audio cable and an 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.

With an unison sound profile, the HD 800 S reproduces natural instruments and vocals, even though they are light in bass. The open-back design results in an expansive, out-of-head soundstage. The treble quality is excellent, with minor drops and peaks. The treble region is also extremely smooth, meaning you'll not have issues piercing sibilants and the upper sound of a drum snare.

Even with the absence of loud bass, they can still provide dynamism and impact when needed. These headphones are still great for those who like rock music that has punchy bass however they might not be as impressive as some of the other models on this list.

In the mids, these Sennheiser headphones are difficult to beat. They're very straight, with a slight scoop in the upper mids which should not be noticeable to the majority of listeners. They are also able to reproduce precise time gradations in vocals, which is a big benefit.

The HD 800 S is a pair of headphones that are perfect for professionals and audiophiles. They're a top choice because of their excellent audio quality and comfortable fit. They're expensive however you're buying headphones review that will last for years to be able to perform to their best in any situation.

Anker Soundcore Life q20

The Anker Soundcore Q20 is a good set of headphones for anyone looking to kill time or just want an affordable set of headphones that cancel out noise. The headphones come with a basic case which protects the headphones when you place them in a bag. The battery will last for a long time on long-haul flights. Their ANC does a good job of blocking out chattering seatmates and engine rumbles from the plane, but their audio profile is heavy and warm.

The controls on the Life Q20 are well-marked and easy to use. On the left earcup, you'll see buttons for pairing and powering up the headphones as well as turning on or off the active noise cancellation. On the right ear cup there are controls for playing back media, including a multi-function button that lets you activate the voice assistant on your phone and enable Anker's BassUp feature (more on that later). The built-in microphone can be used to make phone calls hands-free.

Anker's Soundcore Life Q20 headphones provide an immersive and rich listening experience, thanks to the custom 40 mm dynamic drivers that are certified Hi-Res Audio. With a treble that stretches up to 40 kHz the headphones are able to provide exceptional clarity and detail, as their active noise cancellation technology is designed to filter out a wider range of mid- and low-frequency sounds.

One important thing to be aware of about the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is that they don't support the aptX codec, which is disappointing. This means that you won't be able to take advantage of the superior codec's lower latency when you're playing games 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 causing discomfort. The earcups can rotate to adapt to the shape of your head. The included 3.5mm audio cable allows you to listen to music while charging the battery.