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Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow larger drivers to provide more bass and a wider soundstage. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with superior audio, numerous ANC mode and an impressive battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved on an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed and have a more balanced audio profile (though they are bass heavy). They also come with an app that lets you customize the audio. They've improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates the background noise and extending the battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. 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 is extremely effective.

One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond faster to the touch of the panel, which makes them easier to control during a phone call or to listen to media. Sony also added a feature that helps voices sound clearer and more precise during calls, which is noticeable and a nice addition.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they are some of the top wireless headphones we've tested. They're comfortable, feel well made, and have an outstanding battery that lasts longer than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used in a passive manner using the TRS cable which is great when you're on the road or need to conserve power.

The WH-1000XM4s make a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient sound. They also have a companion application that lets you adjust their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than B&W's. The B&Ws are built better, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Additionally, 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 improves the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 wireless head phones

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 from all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula which made its predecessor so successful with the addition of USB-C and better noise cancellation.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feeling and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband is made from plastic, but is a solid feel, bluetooth headphonea with hinges made of metal at the pivot points, and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or extend the earcups. The cups are soft, cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and don't apply pressure to your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. You can use them when you're wearing a sweater or coat as the noise cancellation function is functional even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack the depth that bluethooth headphones with higher prices might be capable of bringing out. The higher registers tend to be amplified and is suitable for most music genres but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is great, but it lacks power.

The ability to pause the playback when removing the headset is a feature that's missing. This is standard in this price bracket and is something Bose's competitors have offered for a long time. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app but it would be nice to have an option to manually control.

Bluetooth Headphonea 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust the volume and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s also include four built-in microphones that listen to your voice during calls. The quality of calls is generally good however, the headphones don't have the nifty capability to turn off your voice during playback which is a feature that other wireless headphones have. Update: As of February 2022, a firmware update to the QC45s offered manual EQ options in the audio app which is a welcome improvement.

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 listening to something special. Their first attempt at wireless noise cancelling headphones The Bathys, are stunning headphones that look and sound amazing. They also come with a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wired and wireless listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery life, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We had more than 40 hours of playback on average from a single charge. If you require a recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that will turn red when the earphone needs to be charged.

For a pair of headphones for this price, they come with a lot of features. They can be used with multiple devices simultaneously and have automatic pairing. (You must select your source device each time you listen.) The headphones have built-in microphones that can be used with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to navigate interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

For over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys perform very well in our test of noise cancellation, reducing the sound of the surrounding environment by about 9 decibels per hour 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.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve with minor variations on the bass and mids. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile that adds a lot of boom to the mix, but can sometimes make instruments and vocals like cymbals seem a bit veiled.

Wear them wherever you want and not worry about whether others listen to your music. Their microphone is suitable to record via Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble and the treble.

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 class. The new pair is a step up from the previous generation, with an elegant design, enhanced gesture control and a massive battery life.

Many of the improvements here are subtle, but they add up to make a pair that feel like an upgrade to the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with an outer case that protects them while traveling. They also follow the trend of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, like the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. This means they work well 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 the AirPods.

The biggest change is the huge battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than what the majority of the competition can offer and enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them.

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

The Momentum 4s are not designed to put pressure on your neck or ear. However they can be difficult to wear around the house or for longer listening sessions, and can move around on your head with intense head movements. This can cause them unexpectedly wake up which can be distracting during calls or music. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be shut off manually by pressing the power button.