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. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The most recent Master & Dynamic MW65 update offers superior audio, multiple ANC modes, and an impressive battery life, all in a sleek and distinctive design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are lighter, better built, and have a more balanced audio profile (though bass heavy). They also have an app to adjust the sound. Their active noise cancelling performs better than ever before, removing the background noise, and they have a longer continuous battery life than many competitors.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter can transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between them when required. You enable this feature through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. They respond quicker to a tap on panels and are simpler to control when making calls or listening to media. Sony also added a feature that makes voice sound clearer and more precise during calls, which is noticeable and a nice addition.

The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they are among the best wireless bluetooth stereo headphones headphones we've ever examined. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an outstanding battery that lasts more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively with a TRS cable. This is perfect for traveling or conserving energy.

The WH1000XM4s are a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins wifi wireless headphones Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. They also have an app that lets you alter their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than B&W's. But the B&Ws have a better-built design, and they're able to pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine that tries to increase the size of compressed music to high resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does an excellent job of improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that became an essential for commuters and travelers from all over the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, but adds the USB-C port, which is better at cancelling noise and longer battery life.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose cordless headphones sport a luxurious look and feel that oozes quality. The headband is made of plastic, but has a sturdy feel with hinges made of metal at the pivot points, and the familiar ratcheting action when you extend or retract the earcups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without pressing your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. They can be paired with a sweater or coat since they can be worn even when not on the head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s can't offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the details that headphones with higher prices might be able bring out. The higher registers tend to be boosted which is great for most music, but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent, but it lacks power.

The ability to pause the playback after removing the headset is a feature that's missing. This is a feature Bose's rivals have provided for years. Another issue is 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 manually control.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs, such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's audio and voice settings.

The QC45s also come with four built-in microphones that pick up your voice during calls. The call quality is generally excellent, but the headsets do not have the ability to mute your voice during playback, which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s was released in February 2022 included 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 that let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. Their first venture into wireless headphones that block noise The Bathys, are stunning headphones that look and sound amazing. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys come with a great battery life, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous bluetooth headpones playtime. We had more than 40 hours of playback on average from just one charge. If you are required to charge your headphones then the indicator headphone Bluetooth light on the right earcup will go red.

They offer a good amount of features for a pair of headphones at this price with support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to manually select your source device every time you need to listen). The headphones have an inbuilt microphone that can be used with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones also feature an intuitive interface that makes it easy to control your music as well as make calls.

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

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was mostly similar to the SoundGuys headphone bluetooth (pop over to this website) curve with minor variations in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound profile which adds plenty of boom to the mix, however, they can make vocals and instruments like cymbals seem a bit veiled.

You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others hear your music. Their mic has passable recording quality through Bluetooth with just a little distortion in the mid to high treble frequency range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum wireless bt headphones are a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The last pair, the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry into the category. The new model is an improvement on the previous model, sporting a a sleeker look, improved gesture control, and a huge battery life.

Many of the improvements here are subtle but they add up to make a pair that seem like a step up from the previous model. The Momentum 4s lay flat and aren't foldable however they do come with a nice hardshell case that protects them when on the move. They also follow the trend of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, including the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. They are compatible with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but lack the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most notable difference is the massive battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than twice the amount of the other brands and enough to allow you to travel for a longer period of time without having to search for an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 rating and cited their sound quality and ANC as their main strengths. He only has one complaint: they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and treble. This means that orchestral music sounds flat, not grand. The bass is well-rounded, but it's easy to over-emphasize and cause fatigue in songs with strong bass lines such as the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound a bit sizzled, not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.

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