Best Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds encapsulate the ears completely. They also permit larger drivers, which deliver greater bass and a bigger soundstage. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio, multiple ANC modes and a huge battery life.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has improved on an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are lighter, better built, and have a more balanced audio profile (though they are bass heavy). They also include an app to adjust the sound. Their active noise cancellation works even better than before, eliminating the background noise, and they have a longer battery life than many competitors.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio but you'll need compatible devices and streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when required. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and is very effective.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to the touch of the panel, which makes them easier to control during a call or listen to media. Sony also included a feature that helps voices sound clearer and more precise on calls, which is noticeable and a nice addition.
The WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones that we have ever examined. They're comfortable, well made, and have an excellent battery that can last longer than 30 hours continuously. over ear headphones wireless best can also be used in a passive manner with 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 can block out more ambient sound. The B&Ws come with an EQ that is more flexible, as well as an app that allows you to tweak the audio performance. The B&Ws are more robust and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and feature an AI-driven engine that tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is known 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 QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headset that became a standard for commuters as well as travelers around the globe. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It is based on the same formula which was the basis of its predecessor's success but it also includes USB-C and better noise cancellation.
These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feel and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband, constructed of plastic, offers a firm feel thanks to the metal hinges at pivot points. It also has the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you retract or extend the ear cups. The cups are soft, cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and don't apply pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can use them with a coat or sweater as the noise-canceling works even when they are not on your 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 to bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is fine for the majority of music but could be a problem for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is good, but is lacking power.
The ability to pause the playback after removing the headset is a feature that's not available. This is a standard feature in this price bracket and is something Bose's competitors have long offered. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings within the app, but it would be nice to have a manual control.
Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust the volume and voice assistant settings.
The QC45s also come with four in-built microphones to listen to your voice during calls. The call quality is generally excellent, but the headsets don't have the nifty capability to turn off your voice during playback which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update as of February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s gave you manual EQ options in the audio app which is a welcomed improvement.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their style and comfort that let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. Their first venture into wireless headphones that cancel out noise the Bathys, are stunning cans that look and sound great. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.
The Bathys are very efficient in terms of battery performance, with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a bit more out of them and got over 40 hours on average of a single charge. If you are required to charge the headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.
They have a decent amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price, including support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to manually select your source device every time you would like to listen). The headphones come with built-in microphones that works with 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.
Bathys over-ear headphones are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by 9 decibels on average. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, however it's still pretty effective.
The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations in the mids and bass. The Bathys have a booming sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit obscure.
They also have excellent leakage resistance, so you can wear them in public without worrying about others listening to your music. The microphone is able to be used for recording via Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble and the treble.
4. Sennheiser Momentum 4
The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid, but not spectacular entry in this category. The new model is a significant improvement over the previous generation, with an elegant design, enhanced gesture control and an enormous battery life.
Many of the improvements here are subtle, but they add up to create a pair of over-ears that appear to be an upgrade from the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them when traveling. The Momentum 4s are also non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones of recent times, like those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but do not have the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
The most obvious difference in this model is the huge battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback time with noise cancellation enabled. This is more than the majority of the competitors offer and enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them up.
Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget The headphones were rated by Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget a score of 82. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids as well as the treble, which means that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be too loud, which can cause fatigue in songs that have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits 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 a comfortable fit and should not put too much pressure on your neck or ears. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them at home or for long listening sessions. They will move around on your head and make a lot of head movements. This can cause them to wake up at random times, which can be distracting when listening to music or making calls. They will shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be switched off manually by pressing the power button.