15 Gifts For The Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best Lover In Your Life

Best Over-Ear Headphones

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

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update provides superior audio, multiple ANC modes, and a long battery life with a stylish and distinct design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has enhanced an already great pair of headphones by introducing the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are lighter, better built and feature a more balanced audio profile (though bass heavy). They also include an app for audio customization. They've improved their active noise cancellation, removing more background noises and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also supported. These headphones can transfer high-resolution audio, however, you'll need compatible devices and streaming service. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and switch between them when required. You can enable this feature via the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. They respond faster to the tap of the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a phone call or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature that can make voice calls more precise and clear during calls. This is a noticeable and pleasant addition.

The WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones we've ever test. They are comfortable, well-made, and have an energy-efficient battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used in a passive manner using a TRS cable which is perfect when you're on the road or need to conserve power.

The WH1000XM4s are a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sounds. The B&Ws come with an EQ that is more flexible, as well as an app companion to adjust the audio performance. But the B&Ws have an improved design, Blutooth Headphones and they can connect with two Bluetooth devices at once. In addition, they support aptX HD and have a unique AI-driven engine that is attempting to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme and it does an excellent job of improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless music.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 wireless Headphone

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 noise-canceling headset is the most recent version of a headset which is a popular choice among commuters and passengers across the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, better noise cancellation and longer battery life.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have a premium look and feel that exudes quality. The headband is made of plastic, yet it is sturdy and comfortable with metal hinges at the pivot points and Wireless Headphone the familiar ratcheting action that you experience when you extend or retract the ear cups. The cups are soft, cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and do not apply pressure to your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. You can use them with a sweater or coat as the noise-canceling works even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not provide the best sound quality at this price point. The frequencies are comparatively flat and lack the details that more expensive headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is fine for most music genres but can be problematic for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is good, but it lacks power.

One feature that's missing is the ability to pause playback when you remove the headset. This is a standard feature in this price range and something that Bose's competitors have offered for a long time. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs 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 as well as more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's audio and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s have four microphones built-in to hear your voice when you are on the phone. The quality of calls is generally excellent but the headphones don't come with the handy capability to turn off your voice while playing back which is something that other wireless headphones have. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s in February 2022 added manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a welcome upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort that let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. Their first venture into wireless headphones that block noise, the Bathys are a stunning set of cans that look and sound amazing. They also have a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wired and wireless headphone wireless listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery life, with Focal promising 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We had more than 40 hours of playback on average from a single charge. If you have to charge the headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.

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

Bathys over-ear headphones do well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by 9 decibels on average. They aren't as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it's still effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys did well overall, with a the frequency response which generally corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve, with just minor deviations in the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit unreal.

They also have excellent leakage resistance, which means you can wear them in public without worrying about other people listening to your music. Their microphone is suitable to record via Bluetooth, with only slight distortion between the mid-treble and treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum headphone wireless bluetooth is a new version of the company's most popular Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The new model is an improvement on the previous generation, with 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 lay flat and aren't foldable, but they do come with a sturdy hardshell case to protect them on the go. The Momentum 4s are device-agnostic, like many other Bluetooth headphones from recent years, including the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They are compatible with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but do not have the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most significant difference is the massive battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than double the amount of the competition and enough to take a multi-day journey without worrying about finding an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 rating, citing their audio quality and ANC as particular strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids as well as treble, meaning that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can lead to fatigue when songs have strong bass lines, such as the drum hits in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full and there's no sense of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfy and should not put too much pressure on your ears or neck. However they can be fidgety when wearing them in the house or during longer listening sessions. They can move around on your head with intense head movements. This can cause them suddenly wake up which can be distracting during music or calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be shut off manually by pressing the power button.