The 15 Things Your Boss Wished You Knew About Over Ear Headphones Wire…

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to deliver greater bass and larger soundstages. Many also include active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The latest Master & Dynamic MW65 update provides high-quality audio, numerous ANC modes, and a long battery life, all in a sleek and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved on an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are lighter, better built, and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though they are bass heavy). They also include an app to adjust the sound. Their active noise cancelling performs better than it did before, removing more ambient sound, and they have a longer continuous battery life than a lot of competitors.

These headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.

One subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond more quickly to a tap on the panel, which makes them easier to control during calls or to listen to music. Sony has also added a feature that helps voices sound more clear and precise when calling, which is noticeable and a nice addition.

While the WH1000XM4s aren't perfect, they're some of the top wireless headphones we've tested. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an outstanding battery that lasts for more than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used in a passive manner with the TRS cable which is perfect if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH-1000XM4s are 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 an application that lets you adjust their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are better built wifi and bluetooth headphones can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine which tries to increase the size of compressed music to high resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, especially 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 standard for commuters as well as passengers around the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, and adds the USB-C port, which is better at cancelling noise and a longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feeling and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband is made of plastic, but is sturdy and comfortable with hinges made of metal at the pivot points and the familiar ratcheting action when you retract or extend the ear cups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly 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 details that higher-end headphones may be able to bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is great for most music genres but can be problematic for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent, but it lacks power.

The possibility of pauseing the playback when you remove the headset is a feature not available. This is a feature Bose's rivals have offered for years. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app, but it would be nice if there was an option to control the EQ manually.

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

The QC45s have four microphones built-in to pick up your voice when you are on the phone. They have excellent call quality, but they don't let you mute the voice during playback like other wireless headphones. Update: As of February 2022, a firmware update to the QC45s gave you manual EQ options within the audio app, which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand known for its high-performance headphones that last for a long time, comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something unique. Their first attempt at wireless noise cancelling headphones The Bathys are stunning headphones that sound and look amazing. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery life, with Focal promising 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a bit more out of them with more than 40 hours on average out of one charge. If you have to charge the headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will change red.

They have a decent amount of features for a pair of headphones at this price, including support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select the source device each time you would like to listen). They have a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Bluetooth Headphone Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by an average of 9 decibels. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it's still effective.

The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor variations in the mids and bass. The Bathys are bassy sound that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals seem obscure.

You can wear them anywhere and not worry about whether others listen to your music. Their mic is passable for recording using Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble and treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum blue tooth wireless headphones is a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headsets. The previous model, called the Momentum 3, was a decent but not a standout in the category. The new pair is a step up from the previous model, sporting a an elegant design, enhanced gesture control and a massive battery life.

A lot of the improvements here are subtle but they add up to make a pair of over-ears that feel like an upgrade to the old one. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case that protects them when on the move. The Momentum 4s are compatible with all devices, just like other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, including those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They are compatible with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but lack the AirPods' extra features like Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The biggest difference is the massive battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is nearly twice the amount of the competition and enough to go on a long-distance trip without having to search for an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score, citing their audio quality and ANC as their main strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral music tends to sound flat, not grand. The bass is well-rounded however it can be too loud, which can cause fatigue in songs that have strong bass lines, such as the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full, and there's no real sense of depth in the bass.

The Momentum 4s are comfortable and aren't likely to put too much pressure on your ears or neck. They can be a bit fidgety if you wear them around the home or during long listening sessions. They can move on your head, and make rapid head movements. This can cause them unexpectedly wake up, which can be distracting during calls or music. Fortunately they will shut down after 15 minutes of rest by default, and can be turned off manually off using the power button.