Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds cover your ears completely and allow larger drivers to produce more bass and a wider soundstage. Many of them also feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update offers 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 redesigned an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are lighter, better built and feature an audio profile that is more balanced (though bass-heavy). They also have an app that lets you customize the audio. Their active noise cancelling performs better than it did before, removing more ambient sound, and they have a longer battery life than other models.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible devices and streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between them when needed. You enable this feature through the Sony Cordless Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond quicker to the touch of a panel and are easier to manage when making a phone call or listening to media. Sony has also added a feature that helps voices sound clearer and more precise on calls which is evident and a nice feature.

While the WH1000XM4s aren't perfect, they're some of the top wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an excellent battery that can last longer than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used in a passive manner using a TRS cable which is great if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH1000XM4s are a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears Px7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sounds. The B&Ws feature an EQ that is more flexible, as well as an app that allows you to tweak the audio quality. However, the B&Ws have a better-built design, and they're able to pair with two Bluetooth devices at once. They also support aptX HD and feature an AI-driven engine that is attempting to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is referred to as DSEE Extreme and it does well in improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 sound cancelling headset is the latest version of a headset that is a popular choice among commuters and passengers across the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model follows the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery lifespan.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feel and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband, made of plastic, provides a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. It also has the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you extend or retract your ear cups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that can be worn over your ears without pressing 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 best sound in this price range. The frequencies are tinny and lack the details that more expensive headphones may be able bring out. The higher registers tend to be boosted, which is fine for most music, but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent, but lacks punch.

One feature that's not present is the ability to pause playback when you remove the headset. This is a feature Bose's rivals have provided for several 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 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs such as 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 hear your voice when you are on the phone. The quality of calls is generally very good but the headphones do not have the ability to mute your voice while playing back 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 welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys wireless headphones with bluetooth

Focal is a French audio brand known for its high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something unique. Their first foray into wireless headphones that block noise the Bathys, are stunning headphones that look and sound fantastic. They also come with an inbuilt high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for both wired and wireless listening.

The Bathys are very efficient in terms of battery life, with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We got more than 40 hours of playback time on average from just one charge. If you need to charge the headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will change red.

For a pair of headphones for this price, they have a lot of features. They support multiple devices at once and feature automatic pairing. (You will need to select the device you want to pair with manually every time you listen.) They have a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also have an intuitive interface that makes it simple to control your music as well as 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 effective as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it's still effective.

In our tests of headphone sound quality in our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys performed well overall with an overall frequency response that corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve, with just slight differences in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound pattern which adds plenty of boom to mixes however, it can make instruments and vocals like cymbals sound dull.

You can wear them anywhere without fearing that other people will listen to your music. The microphone is able to be used for recording using Bluetooth, with only slight distortion between the mid-treble as well as the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 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 into the category. The latest pair improves on the previous model with a sleeker design, improved gesture controls, and an enormous battery life.

Many of the improvements aren't that obvious, but they add up to make a pair that appear to be an upgrade from the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with an outer case that protects them when traveling. They also follow the pattern of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, including those 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 biggest difference is the massive battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. That's easily double what most of the competitors can provide and is enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them up.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as their strengths. He has only one complaint that they lack gravitas in mids and cordless Headphones the treble. This means that orchestral pieces sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well-rounded, but it's easy to over-emphasize and cause fatigue in songs with strong bass lines like the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals also sound sizzled rather than full and there's no sense of depth in the bass.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to place pressure on your neck or ear. 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 intense head movements. This can cause them wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting while listening to music or making calls. They will shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be shut off manually using the power button.