Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best: What's No One Is Discussing

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds encapsulate the ears completely. They also have larger drivers that deliver deeper bass and a wider soundstage. They also have active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The most recent Master & Dynamic MW65 update provides high-quality audio, numerous ANC modes, and an impressive battery life, all in a sleek and distinct design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved an already excellent pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, feature a more balanced sound profile (though still bass-heavy), and include an app that lets you do some audio customization. They have improved their active noise cancellation, eliminating the background noise and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. This codec can transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and switch between them as needed. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

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

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they are among the best wireless headphones we've ever examined. They're comfortable, feel good to the touch, and have an outstanding battery that lasts for more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively using the TRS cable. This is ideal to travel with or for storing energy.

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. The B&Ws have a more flexible EQ and an app that allows you to tweak the audio quality. The B&Ws are better built, and can pair with 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 called DSEE Extreme, and it improves 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 latest version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers across the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula which was the basis of its predecessor's success, while adding USB-C and better noise cancellation.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a premium look and feel that oozes quality. The headband, which is made of plastic, provides a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. It also features the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you expand or retract the ear cups. The cups feature soft cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and don't apply pressure on your head. When folded they weigh 238g. They can be worn with a coat or sweater as they work even when they are not on the head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are fairly flat and lack the details that headphones with higher prices might be capable of bringing out. The higher registers tend to be boosted and is suitable for most music but can cause problems for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is great, but lacks the punch.

One feature that's missing is the ability to pause playback whenever you remove the headset. This is a standard in this price range and is something Bose's competitors have offered for a long time. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings in the app, but it would be nice to have manual control.

You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support 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 also include four built-in microphones that hear your voice when you make calls. The headphones have good call quality, however they don't permit you to muffle the sound during playback like other buy wireless headphones headphones. Update In February 2022, the 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 provide long-lasting comfort and a design that lets listeners know they're listening to something unique. Their first venture into wireless noise cancelling headphones the Bathys are a stunning set of headphones that look and sound amazing. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys are very efficient in terms of battery performance with Focal promising 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a bit more from them with more than 40 hours on average of just one charge. If you need to recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that will change to red when the headphone needs to be charged.

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

For headphones with over-ear connectivity for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys are very good in our test of noise cancellation. They cut down the ambient sound by about 9 decibels on average. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless Head Phones but it's still fairly effective.

In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys were a good overall performer with a frequency response that mostly corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve, with only slight differences in the mids and bass. The Bathys have a bassy sound profile which can make instruments, vocals and cymbals seem veiled.

They also have very good leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them out in public without worrying about people hearing your music. The microphone is able to be used for recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion between the mid-treble and treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's top-of-the-line Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The new pair is a significant improvement over the previous model, sporting a more sleek design, better gesture control and a massive battery life.

Many of the improvements aren't that obvious, but they make a pair that appear to be an upgrade from the old one. The Momentum 4s lay flat and don't fold however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case that protects them on the go. The Momentum 4s are also non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, including the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they work well with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked spatial audio) that you'll find on the AirPods.

The most significant improvement is the battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is more than the majority of the competition can offer and is enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them up.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 score and cited their sound quality and ANC as two of their strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense gravitas in the mids as well as the treble. This means that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well-rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can cause to fatigue in songs with high-pitched bass lines, like the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound sizzled, not full. There's also not much depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s should not place pressure on your neck or ears. However they can be a bit uncomfortable when worn in the house or wireless Head phones during longer listening sessions. They will move about on your head with intense head movements. This can cause them unexpectedly wake up which can be distracting during calls or music. Fortunately, they shut down after 15 minutes of sleep by default and can be manually switched off by pressing the power button.