5 Best Wireless Over Ear Headset-Related Lessons From The Professional…

The Best Wireless Over Ear Headset

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones completely enclose your ears and block out environmental sound. Find headphones with active noise cancellation, and a battery life of at least 20 hours.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4s come with a great ANC feature, a simple on-ear control, and an easy-to-use app. Its default sound profile delivers thump and punch, but instruments and vocals can be pushed into the background.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

The Sony WH-1000XM5 is an excellent pair of headphones for those who enjoy music and want the most efficient wireless headphones music headset. They're lightweight and come with a soft carrying case that folds flat for easy storage in your bag. The controls are easy to use and easy to navigate. their battery lasts for 30 hours with ANC switched off. The headphones have an automatic pause feature which shuts them off when you take them from your head. This helps to conserve battery.

The WH1000XM5 works with Sony Headphones Connect, which includes a range of features that can be used to customize the audio experience. The app is able to track location and customize the ambient sound effects based on your environment. The microphone can also be included for hands-free phone calls. The Sony WH1000XM5 can play music wirelessly through Bluetooth or wired via the cable included. They are compatible with aptX codecs, aptX HD codecs and aptX adaptive codecs that provide high-quality audio via Bluetooth.

The WH-1000XM5 sports the same headband and ear cups to the XM4 but is more lightweight and comfortable. They're comfortable to wear for long periods and are comfortable enough for long commutes and flights. They're noise-cancelling cordless headphones that can reduce background noise without compromising clarity or detail. The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones feature an excellent amount of bass, particularly for closed-back headphones. They also have excellent soundstages and clear separation between vocals and instruments.

They have a low latency for watching videos which is a benefit. The lag is so tiny that it's almost invisible, and they can also be used to play casual games. They're not the best option for games that are competitive, however and are ideal for those who intend to use them for entertainment and to make calls that are hands-free.

Sony is committed to incorporating smart features into its products and the WH1000XM5 is no exception. The active noise cancellation was one of the best I've tried and they offer a whole range of intelligent features that can enhance your listening experience. They also come with Sony's DSEE Extreme engine which upscales compressed music to near hi-res quality. They're compatible with Sony's LDAC technology which streams music with higher quality via Bluetooth.

2. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

Since the launch of its first-generation PX7 in 2015, Bowers & Wilkins' flagship headphones have been regularly featured on top wireless headset lists which puts them in the same bracket as the likes of Sony WH-1000XM5 as well as Bose QuietComfort. The PX7 S2 is the latest version that takes the first generation of headphones to the next level with a boost in ANC performance and a fresh look.

The bio-cellulose drivers that measure 40mm inside the earcups are angled so they are aimed directly at your eardrums. This gives you an audio experience that is more intimate unlike other closed-back headphones. The PX7 S2 does not disappoint in this claim with a fervent zeal. Vocals cut through clearly, and bass is deep and rumbly when you need it to be.

The PX7 S2 also performs very well when it comes to voice calls, with a crisp and clear sound that doesn't drown out your own voice. They also offer a quick charge that gets you back fully charged in only two hours, and they're compatible with hi-res audio, thanks to an aptX adaptive Bluetooth codec that enables them to play music with 24-bit resolution.

For most listeners, though the most important change is the enhanced noise-canceling and audio quality. In our tests the PX7 S2 eliminated nearly all of our simulated cabin noise with impressive efficiency and performed exceptionally when we played Mozart's Et In Carnatus Est and Sanctus from his Grosse Messe, demonstrating excellent understanding of the changing dynamics between the solo voice, the wind trio, and orchestral accompaniment.

The PX7 S2s are not only noise-cancelling, but they have a variety of other features that make them highly comparable to other top-rated headphones. They're completely wireless, with Bluetooth multipoint support, so you can connect two devices at once, and they have a built-in microphone that supports hands-free calling with your phone's assistant. The construction is durable and high-end and will last you for many years.

They're not perfect, of course. The clamp force of the models we tested were a little more than we'd like and they didn't have as many app features as other options. But these are minor complaints. The PX7 S2s is a fantastic wireless headset that is able to compete with other models in its class. It's difficult to imagine a rival beating them.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

For audiophiles who appreciate high fidelity and are looking for a top-quality wireless noise cancelling headset, the Focal Bathys are difficult to beat. They're the French audio company's very first ANC headphones that use Bluetooth and offer amazing sound in both Bluetooth mode and when connected to a device via USB to enjoy hi-fi quality sound with up to 24 bit/192kHz (the headset is also capable of blocking external audio with its closed ear cups).

The Bathys are gorgeous with their black glossy finish and swooping curves that are like Focal's premium open back Elear and closed-back Celestee headphones. The Bathys are made from premium materials such as aluminum and magnesium, which make them feel durable and comfortable. They're also worth the cost.

The Bathys Bluetooth headphones provide a crisp, lively sound signature. They are able to outperform consumer ANC devices with similar prices like the Sony XM5/5 and Bose QC45. They can be improved further by using direct DAC audio mode, making them an excellent choice for those who love hi-fi.

Utilizing the Focal & Naim app users can change their headphone's playback controls as well as their virtual assistant and Bluetooth pairing preferences. The app lets users choose between quiet and soft intensities for ANC. Users can also alter the brightness of the LEDs that are on the ear cups of the headphones, and adjust the EQ settings. The app is fairly bare-bones but offers enough functionality to make it worthwhile.

The only issue is the active noise cancellation, which isn't able to live up to the competition. The headphone isn't able to block out all of the ambient noise as the most rated XM5 or AirPods Max, and wire less headphone its quality of treble isn't as good, with a muffled mid to high range that detracts from the sound of instruments and vocals.

The Focal Bathys aren't the most portable headphones. Their earcups don't fold up and weigh slightly more than other models, meaning they're not the best choice for travel. They're ideal for an environment at home where they can be used for long listening sessions or as an audio reference headphone for engineering purposes. Despite their size and bulk, the Bathys are surprisingly comfortable to wear for long durations of time.

4. Sony WH-CH720N

The Sony WHCH720N is a great pair of wireless over-ear headsets at a reasonable price. The noise-cancelling technology is excellent and helps to reduce the background noise. They are perfect for commuters or travellers. Their matte finish and sturdy construction gives them a hint of premium quality.

They are similar to Sony's 1000X and XB910N Wire less headphone models. They have a slim, plastic headband that has the typical hinges on the earcups. They're lightweight and comfortable to wear, although they're a bit compressed for my taste. They come with a USB-C charging port, 3.5mm jack and a decent-length cable included in the box. They support multipoint Bluetooth pairing, which means you can connect them to two devices at the same time, if you wish.

In my tests the CH720N's noise-cancelling technology was able to do an excellent job of curbing background noise, with just two notable blips while walking through Waterloo station and London Victoria. These weren't magical sound-silencers which zapped every single nearby sound, however, they struggled with lower frequency noises such as the rumbling engine sounds of trains and buses.

Streaming music over the CH720N's Bluetooth connection was smooth and exhibited a low level of harmonic distortion. I listened to a variety of genres and discovered they could handle the intricate interplay between instruments well. It did an impressive job of taming the bass in rock tracks and keeping the mix focused.

I love the ability to adjust the Sony Headphones Connect app to customize the CH720N's ANC and multipoint connectivity settings to your preference, as well as include a variety of audio presets. You can also activate DSEE through the app, which improves the quality of sound and boosts compression of audio files.

The WH-CH720N is a good value for PS130. It lacks some of Sony's top features (such as Speak-to-Chat and Fast Attention) but it has many amazing features. You get access to 360 Reality Audio and a variety of smart controls in addition to the DSEE upscaling feature. The only thing that's missing is LDAC Bluetooth high-res audio support, which I think would have been a great inclusion.