Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best Isn't As Tough As You Think

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to provide deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The most recent Master & Dynamic MW65 update features excellent audio, a variety of ANC modes, and a long battery life with a stylish and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved an already great pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, feature an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy) and include an app that allows some audio customization. Their active noise cancelling performs better than ever before, eliminating more ambient sound, and they have a longer continuous battery life than other models.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter can transmit high-resolution audio, however, you'll need compatible equipment and streaming service. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them if needed. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and is very effective.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to a tap on the panel, and this makes them easier to control during calls or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature to make voices sound clearer and more precise during calls. This is an obvious and a nice addition.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the top wireless and bluetooth headphones headphones we've ever test. They're comfortable, well-made, and come with an excellent battery that can last longer than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used passively with an TRS cable, which is ideal if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH1000XM4s offer a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfy and their ANC can block out more ambient sound. They also have a companion app that lets you alter their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than B&W's. The B&Ws are built better, and can pair with two bluetooth headphones bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine that tries to increase the size of compressed music to high resolution. This is referred to as DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headphone that became a standard for commuters as well as travelers around the globe. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and look, just like the QC 35 II headphones that came before them. The headband is made of plastic, yet it is sturdy and comfortable with hinges made of metal at pivot points and the familiar ratcheting action that you experience when you extend or retract the ear cups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that fit over your ears without putting pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be paired with a sweater or funny post coat because they function even when not on the head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones, the QC45s do not provide the best sound at this price point. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack the details that higher-end headphones may be able to bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is acceptable for most music genres but can be problematic for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent, but lacks power.

The ability to pause the playback after removing the headset is a feature that's absent. This is a standard feature in this price bracket and is something that Bose's competitors have long offered. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings in the app, but it would be nice to have a manual control.

You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets audio and voice settings.

The QC45s have four microphones that are built-in to hear your voice while on the phone. The call quality is generally good however, the headphones don't come with the handy ability to mute your voice while playing back which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: As of February 2022, a firmware update to the QC45s provided manual EQ options in the audio app, which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand known for its high-performance headphones that last for a long time, comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something special. Their first venture into wireless headphones that block noise the Bathys are stunning cans that look and sound amazing. They also come with a built-in high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for both wired and wireless listening.

The Bathys are very efficient in terms of battery performance, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We had more than 40 hours of playback time on average from a single charge. If you require a recharge, there's an indicator light on the right earcup that turns red when the headphone needs to be charged.

For headphones at this price, they offer a lot of features. They can connect to multiple devices simultaneously and offer automatic pairing. (You have to select your source device each time you listen.) They have a built-in microphone that supports voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by 9 decibels on average. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless but it's still quite effective.

In our tests of wire less headphone sound quality in our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys were a good overall performer with the frequency response which generally is in line with the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with just minor differences in the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals appear veiled.

They also have very good leakage resistance, which means you can wear them out in public without worrying about people hearing your music. Their microphone is suitable for recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion between the mid-treble and treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The last pair, the Momentum 3, was a decent but not a standout into the category. The latest pair is a step up from the previous model, featuring more sleek design, better gesture control and an enormous battery life.

Many of the improvements here are subtle, but they make a pair that appear to be an upgrade from the previous model. The Momentum 4s lie flat and don't fold however they come with a sturdy hardshell case that protects them while on the go. They also follow the style of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, like those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but do not come with the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked spatial audio) that you'll find on the AirPods.

The most significant improvement is the battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is easily twice the amount of the competitors and sufficient to go on a long-distance trip without worrying about finding an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 rating with a focus on their audio quality and ANC as two of their strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble, which means that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is smooth and well-rounded however, it can be overemphasized and cause fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines such as the drums that are pounding in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full and there's no feeling of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s shouldn't place pressure on your neck or ear. They can be a bit fidgety if you wear them around the home or during long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make a lot of head movements. This could cause them to suddenly wake up, which can be distracting when you are listening to music or calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be switched off manually with the power button.