The 10 Scariest Things 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, which deliver greater bass and a wider soundstage. Many come with Bluetooth technology and bluetoothheadphones; click, active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio and various ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved an already great pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are less heavy, more durable, and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though they are bass heavy). They also include an app that lets you customize the audio. Their active noise cancelling works better than it did before, eliminating the background noise, and they have a longer battery life than many competitors.

These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, bluetoothheadphones AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. These headphones can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible devices and streaming service. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between them when required. You can enable this feature via the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.

One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensitiveness of their touch panels. They respond quicker to a tap on the panel and are much easier to manage when making a phone call or listening to music. Sony also included a feature that makes voice sound more clear and precise when calling, which is noticeable and a nice addition.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the top wireless headphones that we have ever tested. They are comfortable, well-made, and have batteries that 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 WH-1000XM4s make a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sound. They also come with a companion application that lets you adjust their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are more robust, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, bluetoothheadphones they support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine which attempts to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is referred to as DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 sound cancelling headset is the most recent version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers all over the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, adding USB-C, improved noise cancellation and longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feeling and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband, constructed of plastic, has a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. They also have the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or extend your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that fit over your ears without putting pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be paired with a coat or sweater because they function even when they are not on the head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are comparatively flat and lack the details that more expensive headphones might be capable of bringing out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted, which is fine for most music genres but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is good, but it lacks the punch.

One feature that's not present is the ability to pause playback when you remove the headset. This is a feature Bose's competitors have offered for years. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app, but it would be nice to have an option to control the EQ manually.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's audio and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones that are built-in to pick up your voice while on the phone. The headsets have a good call quality, however they don't permit you to mute the voice during playback like other wireless headphones. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s in February 2022 added manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're listening to something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

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

They come with a wide range of features for a pair of headphones of this price point, including support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select your source device every time you want to listen). The headphones come with a built in microphone that works with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. They also come with an easy-to-use interface, making it simple to control your music as well as make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by 9 decibels on average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless however 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 minor variations on the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound profile which can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit veiled.

They also have very good leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them in public without worrying about other people listening to your music. Their mic has passable recording quality through Bluetooth with only slight distortion in the mid - to the treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The latest model is improved over the previous generation with a sleeker design, improved gesture controls and massive battery life.

A lot of the improvements here are subtle but they add up to make a pair of over-ears that appear to be an upgrade from the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with a hardshell case that protects them while on the move. They also follow the pattern of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, like those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. They work with both Apple iPhones and Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most obvious difference here is the massive battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback when the noise cancellation option turned on. This is easily twice the amount of the competition and enough to allow you to travel for a longer period of time without having to search for an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as their strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack of gravitas in the mids and treble. This makes orchestral music sounds flat, not grand. The bass is smooth and well-rounded but it's easy to over-emphasize and cause fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines such as the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound sizzled, not full. There's no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are a comfortable fit and aren't likely to put too much pressure on your ears or neck. They can be a bit fidgety if you wear them at home or during long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make intense head movements. This can cause them to wake up at random times, which can be distracting while listening to music or making calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be switched off manually with the power button.