Think You're Cut Out For Doing Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best?…

Best Over-Ear Headphones

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

The Master & Dynamic MW65 is updated with better audio, multiple ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

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

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0, with support for SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. These headphones can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible equipment and streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between them when required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. They respond more quickly to the touch of the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to media. Sony has also added a feature that can make voices more clear and precise during calls. This is a noticeable and nice touch.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the top wireless headphones that we have ever examined. They're comfortable, well-made, and come with an excellent battery that lasts more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used as a passive device with an TRS cable. This is perfect for travel or preserving power.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC can block out more background noise. They also come with 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 more robust and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine that 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 most recent version of a headset that has become a favorite among commuters and travelers all over the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, Blue Tooth head Phones better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport an elegant design and feel that oozes quality. The headband is constructed of plastic, and is sturdy and comfortable with metal hinges at the pivot points, and the familiar ratcheting action when you extend or retract the earcups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without putting pressure on your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. You can wear them when you're wearing a sweater or coat as the noise cancelling function works even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not offer the best sound at this price. The frequencies are dull and lack the details that higher-end headphones might be able to bring out. The higher registers tend to be boosted which is great for most music genres but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent but lacks the punch.

One feature that's not present is the ability to pause playback whenever you remove the headset. This is a standard feature in this price bracket and is something Bose's competitors have been offering for years. Another omission is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app, but it would be nice if there was an option to control the EQ manually.

You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's sound and Blue Tooth Head Phones voice assistant settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones built-in to hear your voice when you are on the phone. The quality of calls is generally very good however, the headphones don't have the nifty capability to turn off your voice during playback which is something other wireless headphones have. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s in February 2022 included manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a great upgrade.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort which tell listeners that they're listening to something special. Their first foray into wireless headphones that cancel out noise, the Bathys, are a stunning set of cans that look and sound amazing. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, making them suitable both for wired and wireless listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play bluetooth wireless headphone music for up to 30 hours. We got more than 40 hours of playback on average on a single charge. If you have to charge the headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.

For headphones at this price, they offer many features. They support multiple devices simultaneously and have automatic pairing. (You have to select the device you want to pair with manually every time you listen.) The headphones come with a built in microphone that can be used with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

For wireless headphones that are over-ear The Bathys excel in our tests of noise cancellation, reducing the background sound by around 9 decibels on average. They aren't 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 headphone sound quality The Bathys did well overall, with a the frequency response which generally is in line with the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with just minor differences in the bass and mids. They have a bass-rich sound profile that adds a lot of boom to mixes however, they can make instruments and vocals like cymbals sound dull.

Wear them wherever you want without worrying that others will listen to your music. The microphone has a decent quality of recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid - to high treble frequency range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a decent but not a standout in the category. The latest model is improved over the previous generation with more sleek design, better gesture controls and massive battery life.

The improvements are subtle but add up to a pair of over ear headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lay flat and do not fold, but they do come with a sturdy hardshell case that protects them when on the move. They also follow the trend of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, such as the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. This means they work well with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but don't have the extra features (like Find My support and blue tooth head phones (find more)-tracked spatial audio) that are available on the AirPods.

The most obvious improvement in this model is the huge battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback with the noise cancellation option turned on. This is easily twice the amount of the other brands and enough to take a multi-day journey without having to search for an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget The headphones were rated by Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget a score of 82. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well-rounded but it can sound overemphasized, which can lead to fatigue when songs have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound hot, but not a lot. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are a comfortable fit and shouldn't 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, and can move around on your head with intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random times, which can be distracting while listening to music or making calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes, and can be turned off manually using the power button.