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Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds, are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also have larger drivers, which deliver greater bass and a wider soundstage. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update provides excellent audio, a variety of ANC modes and impressive battery life in an elegant 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 more built, feature a more balanced sound profile (though still bass-heavy) and come with an app that allows some audio customization. Their active noise cancelling performs better than it did before, eliminating any background noise. Additionally, they have a longer continuous battery life than many competitors.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s can also allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between the two when required. This feature can be enabled via the Sony Headphones Connect App and is very effective.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond more quickly to the tap of a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to media. Sony also included a feature that helps voices sound more clear and precise when calling which is noticeable and a nice touch.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they're some of the top wireless headphones we've ever tested. They're comfortable, feel good to the touch, and wire less head Phones have an outstanding battery that can last longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively by using a TRS cable. This is ideal for traveling or conserving energy.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfy, and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sounds. They also come with a companion application that lets you adjust their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are better built and can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and feature a unique AI-driven engine that tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it improves the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that has become a staple for commuters and passengers around the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model follows the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, and adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband is made of plastic, but is a solid feel, with hinges made of metal at pivot points and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or extend the ear cups. The cups have soft cushions that fit comfortably over the ears and don't apply pressure to your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can wear them when you're wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancelling function works even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not provide the best sound at this price point. The frequencies are tinny and lack the details that headphones with higher prices might be able bring out. The higher registers tend to be more boosted and is suitable for most music, but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent, but it lacks punch.

One feature that's missing is the possibility of paused playback when you take the headset off. This is a feature that Bose's competitors have offered for many years. Another omission is 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.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's audio and voice settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones that are built-in to pick up your voice when you are on the phone. The quality of calls is generally excellent, but the headsets don't come with the handy capability to muffle your voice while playing back which is a feature that other wireless headphones have. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s was released in February 2022 introduced manual EQ options to the audio app. This is a welcome upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something truly special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They also come with a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wireless and wired listening.

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

For headphones at this price, they have lots of features. They support multiple devices at once and feature automatic pairing. (You will need to select the device you want to pair with by hand each time you listen.) They come with a built-in microphone that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to navigate interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform 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 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless, but it is still effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations in the mids and bass. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile that adds plenty of boom to mixes but can sometimes make vocals and instruments like cymbals sound dull.

You can wear them anywhere without worrying that others will listen to your music. Their microphone is suitable for recording via Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble as well as the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's top-of-the-line Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry in the class. The new model improves on the previous generation with modern design, better gesture controls, and a huge battery life.

The improvements are subtle but make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold however they come with a sturdy hardshell case that protects them on the go. The Momentum 4s are non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, including the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that you'll find on AirPods.

The most obvious difference in this model is the huge battery, which claims up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation option enabled. This is more than double the amount of the competition and enough to go on a long-distance trip without having to search for an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior Wire less head phones editor at Engadget The headphones were rated by Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget an 82 percent score. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as strengths. He has only one complaint that they lack gravitas in the mids and treble. This means that orchestral tracks sound dull instead of grand. The bass is rounded, but it's easy to over-emphasize, which can lead to fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines, like the drums that are pounding in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound a bit hot, but not a lot. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to put pressure on your neck or ears. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them at home or for long listening sessions. They will move around on your wire less head phones and make intense head movements. This can cause them wake up unexpectedly, which can be distracting while listening to music or making calls. They will shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be shut off manually with the power button.