Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds, can completely surround the ears. They also permit larger drivers that deliver deeper bass and a wider soundstage. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio and features, including numerous ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has made improvements to an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are less heavy, more durable and feature a more balanced audio profile (though they are bass heavy). They also come with an app for audio customization. They've improved their active noise cancellation, eliminating the background noise and extending the battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter can transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between the two when needed. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works well.

One subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitiveness of their touch panels. They respond quicker to a tap on a panel and are easier to control when making a call or listening to media. Sony has also added an option that makes voices sound clearer and more precise on calls, which is evident and a nice feature.

The WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, but they are among the best wireless headphones that we have ever examined. They're comfortable, well-made, and have a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used passively by using the TRS cable. This is ideal to travel with or for storing energy.

The WH1000XM4s provide a superior alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears Px7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC can block out more background noise. The B&Ws come with an EQ that is more flexible and a companion app to tweak the audio performance. The b uetooth headphones&Ws are built better and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine which tries to upscale 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 music.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headset that has become an essential for commuters and passengers around the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, and headphones wireless bluetooth price adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and longer battery life.

Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature a premium look and feel that oozes quality. The headband is made of plastic, but has a sturdy feel with metal hinges at the pivot points and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you open or retract the earcups. The cups feature soft, cushioned pads that fit comfortably over the ears and do not apply pressure to your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. They can be worn with a sweater or coat since they can be worn even when not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are comparatively flat and lack the depth that Headphones wireless bluetooth price with higher prices might be able to bring out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted which is great for most music, but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent, but it lacks the punch.

One feature that's not present is the ability to pause playback whenever you remove the headset. This is a feature that Bose's rivals have provided for many years. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings in the app, but it would be nice to have a manual control.

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

The QC45s come with four microphones inbuilt to hear your voice while on the phone. They have excellent call quality, however they don't allow you to mute the voice during playback as other wireless headphones. Update In February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s gave you an option to adjust the volume manually 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 known for their comfort and headphones Wireless bluetooth price style which tell listeners that they're listening to something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys come with a great battery performance, with Focal promising 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a bit more, with over 40 hours of playtime on average of one charge. If you require a recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that will turn red when the headphone has to be charged.

For headphones at this price, they come with a lot of features. They support multiple devices simultaneously and offer automatic pairing. (You must select your source device by hand 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 feature an easy to use interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

For over-ear wireless headphones The Bathys are very good in our tests of noise cancellation, reducing the ambient sound by about 9 decibels in average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless however it's still very effective.

In our tests of headphone sound quality in our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys performed well overall with the frequency response which generally corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve, with only minor deviations in the bass and mids. The Bathys have a bassy sound that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit unreal.

They also have very good leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them out in public without worrying about others listening to your music. Their microphone is of decent recording quality via Bluetooth with just a little distortion in the mid to high treble frequency range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not an outstanding entry in this class. The new model improves on the previous model by having more sleek design, better gesture controls, and a huge battery life.

The improvements are subtle but make for a pair of over ear headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with an outer case that protects them while on the move. The Momentum 4s are also non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, such as those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They are compatible with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The biggest change is the huge battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. That's easily double what most of the competitors offer and is enough for a long-distance trip without worrying about finding an outlet to charge it.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score and cited their sound quality and ANC as their main strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and the treble, which means that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat instead of 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 hits in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full and there's no sense of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfortable and shouldn't put too much pressure on your ears or neck. However, they can be a bit difficult to wear in the house or during longer listening sessions, and can move around on your head, causing 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 shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be shut off manually with the power button.