10 Things We Hate About Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also allow for larger drivers that deliver deeper bass and a wider soundstage. Many also include active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been upgraded with improved audio, various ANC modes, and a long battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, feature an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy), and include an app that allows some audio adjustments. They have improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates more ambient sounds, and have a longer battery life.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0, with support for SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when required. This feature is accessible through the Sony Monolith Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond more quickly to a tap on the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a phone call or listen to media. Sony also added an option that makes voices sound more clear and precise on calls which is evident and a nice feature.

While the WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, they're some of the best wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable, feel well made, and have an impressive battery that lasts for longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used as a passive device with an TRS cable. This is ideal for travel or preserving energy.

The WH-1000XM4s are better over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. They also have a companion application that lets you adjust their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. However, the B&Ws come with an improved design, and they're able to connect with two Bluetooth devices at once. They also support aptXHD, and they have an AI-driven engine which tries to increase the size of compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it enhances 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 latest version of a headset that has become a favorite among commuters and passengers across the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that made its predecessor so successful, while adding the USB-C technology and improved noise cancellation.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium bluetooth headphones feeling and look, just like the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband is made from plastic, and is sturdy and comfortable with metal hinges at the pivot points and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or extend the ear cups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that can be worn over your ears without placing pressure on your head. When folded they weigh 238g. They can be used with an overcoat or sweater since the noise cancellation function is functional even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are flat and lack the details that higher-end headphones might be able bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is fine for most music genres but can be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is good, but is lacking punch.

The ability to pause the playback when you remove the headset is a feature missing. This is standard in this price range and something that Bose's rivals have been offering for years. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs in the app but it would be nice to have an option to manually 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 audio and voice settings.

The QC45s have four microphones that are built-in to hear your voice while on the phone. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't allow you to mute the voice during playback like other wireless headphones. Update: As of February 2022, a firmware upgrade to the QC45s gave you an option to adjust the volume manually in the audio app which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a style that makes listeners feel like they're listening to something special. Their first foray into wireless noise cancelling headphones The Bathys are stunning headphones that sound and Monolith Headphones look great. They also have an inbuilt high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for both wireless and wired listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We actually got a bit more and got over 40 hours on average of a single charge. If you need to charge the headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will change red.

They have a decent amount of features for headphones of this price, including support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to manually select your source device each time you need to listen). They come with a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also feature an intuitive interface that makes it simple to manage your music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by an average of 9 decibels. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it's still very effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones in our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys did well overall, with a a frequency response that mostly is in line with the SoundGuys headphone wireless preference curve, with just minor differences in the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals seem veiled.

You can wear them wherever without worrying that others will hear your music. Their mic has passable quality of recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid - to treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid, but not spectacular entry in this category. The new model improves on the previous model by having modern design, better gesture controls, and a huge battery life.

The improvements are subtle, but add up to a pair of over ear headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lie flat and aren't foldable however they come with a nice hardshell case to protect them while on the go. They also follow the trend of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, like those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most obvious difference here is the massive battery, which claims up to 60 hours of playback time with noise cancellation activated. This is more than the majority of the competitors offer and is enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and Engadget, gave the headphones a score of 82. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as the top strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense weight in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral music tends to sound flat, not grand. The bass is well rounded however it can be too loud, which can cause fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines, like the drum hits of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound a bit sizzled, not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfy and shouldn't 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 a lot of head movements. This could cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting when listening to music or making calls. They will shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be shut off manually by pressing the power button.