Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Roundup

Wireless headphones remove the necessity for wires in your listening experience. They are more comfortable for longer periods of time, and some fold up into a compact shape to store when not when not in use.

Sony's WH-1000XM5s are a great pair of Bluetooth headphones that tick all the boxes, including class-leading sound quality and noise cancellation, a sleek design and supreme comfort. They are compatible with the lossless LDAC high-res codec for playback of high-quality audio.

Sound Quality

If you're a lover of big, full-size wireless headphones that rest over your ears and are connected by a headband to isolate and amplify sound there's a wide range of choices. In our roundup of the best Bluetooth over-ear headphones you'll discover UC certified headsets that are compatible with communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams. You'll also find premium pairs from Sony, Sennheiser and Bose, which are as luxurious as well as durable.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones are one of our top picks. They are a step up from the multi-award winning predecessor with sleeker design and more refined noise cancellation. The headphones can also be used for up to 37 hours on a single charge. They can also be charged fast to extend the battery life by 8 hours in only 15 minutes. They offer a balanced, enjoyable sound, and also support the lossless Sony LDAC high-res codec to stream music in stunning HD.

They are sultry, with twinkling highs and distinctive mids and bass. You can alter the audio quality of the headphones using their mobile app to match your personal preferences. For example you can put more emphasis on the bass or treble. In our tests, they were remarkably precise and Bose clear with orchestral and vocal music playing in stunning clarity.

One of our top-rated over-ear Bluetooth headphones is the Logitech G HUB Wireless Headphones, which have an excellently balanced sound straight out of the box and offer crisp audio. They're equipped with a decent amount of bass to enhance the sound effects and game audio, and their sound is consistent. They are compatible with Logitech HUB software which includes an equalizer for graphics and presets that can be customized to enhance the sound.

If you are willing to pay a little more then the Bowers & Wilkins premium Danish-made Px7S2 headphones are the top Bluetooth over-ear headphones. They're more expensive than the Sonys but they sound and look the part, with hard aluminum casings and lambskin earcups filled with memory foam. They're comfortable to wear and can support the aptX adaptive and SBC audio codecs that let you listen to high-quality music wirelessly. They're also exquisitely made and feature a stylish, understated look that can be adapted to suit the needs of all.

Noise Cancellation

If you're looking to hush the world and immerse yourself in your podcasts or music then noise cancellation is a crucial feature. Wireless headphones that can block out noise usually have ear cups that are squeaky clean over your ears. This allows you to concentrate on the music and block out any background noise. Active noise cancellation (ANC) which is used by a majority of over-ear headphones to block out ambient noise it works by observing your surroundings and then creating an opposite sound to cancel the noise. They aren't able to make your surroundings peaceful but they can cut down the sound of trains and other noises.

ANC generally uses tiny microphones to listen for ambient sound. These is then compared with the audio you're listening to. tiny differences between them are then used to create an equal and opposing sound that is pumped through your earphones and effectively blocks out the ambient noise. Apps or hardware controls that are specifically designed for this purpose can be used to adjust the best noise cancelling headsets. This can allow you to choose a specific level of noise cancellation that's appropriate for the situation you're in.

The majority of the headphones that we test come with a range of features, in addition to the ability to control ANC. For example, many pairs incorporate a microphone to allow hands-free phone calls. They can also be used with voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa. Some pairs have built-in audio streaming speakers.

Noise cancellation has seen a significant improvement in the past few years. Focal, for example, has jumped into the premium wireless ANC headphones space with its Bathys. We love them for their superb comfort and sleek features and dazzling sound quality. They're able to reduce background noise by as much as 30dB. You can also control the ANC levels via an app and set three "favorite' settings that are switchable by pressing a physical button on the left ear cup.

Noise cancellation should be the primary thing you consider when buying a new pair. Quality of sound is crucial but noise cancellation should also be top of the line. The most well-known ANC headphones available tend to be expensive and that's because they provide outstanding build quality and battery life. If you're on a budget Sony WF-1000XM5s are our top choice as they offer fab noise cancellation and slick sound quality for a low price.

Battery Life

If you're planning on using wireless headphones on the go, you want them to last as long as possible. This is because they drain their own battery and the audio device that plays music through them, so it's essential to select a pair with a good amount of storage in the event that you fail to get an charge or run out of power. Many manufacturers are now offering headphone models with a large storage capacity and some even incorporate solar charging to replenish their storage automatically when you're not using them.

Over-ear headphones usually have larger ear cups that cover your ears, which means they can house larger batteries that can support longer play times and more advanced features. They also offer better noise-cancelling because their larger size creates a better seal against the surrounding environment.

The premium brand Bang & Olufsen makes some of the top over-ear headphones around with its H95 flagship wireless headphones providing an immersive listening experience. With a luxury design featuring aluminum details and Nappa leather They're the perfect choice for an audiophile who wants to listen in peace for hours at a time.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro headphones are less expensive and have a battery life of 65 hours without ANC and 50 hours with it. This is a far better battery life than the competition, and is a testament of the headphones' impressive construction quality. They have a comfortable fit, and a durable headband.

Another budget-friendly option is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones, which can be used for up to 44 hours with ANC enabled and come with an active noise cancellation system that's impressively effective at blocking out ambient noise. The sound quality is also good with a V-shaped profile that delivers lots of bass while also brightening vocals and instruments.

The latest Sony WF-1000XM5 Fiauli Wireless Bluetooth Headset: HiFi Noise Reduction headphones aren't as expensive, but they still come in at under $100 and provide great isolation thanks to foam ear tips and solid as well as the most advanced, noise cancelling features on this list. They also use Bluetooth 5.3 that supports the latest LDAC codec for high-quality audio. They can also be recharged using the supplied cord or USB to your computer.

Portability

The amount of space a pair of headphones take up once folded into their most compact format is a crucial aspect in their portability capabilities. The smaller the fold-down format is, the more easily you can slip them into bags or backpacks to carry around without worrying about them getting in the way.

The Audio-Technica ATH M50xBT wireless headphone is a great option if you're looking for a wireless headphone that's easy to use and comes with plenty of features for everyday listening. They're lightweight, fold down easily, and provide an impressive 44 hours of playback time. They also allow multi-device pairing and offer a fantastic microphone for phone calls.

If you don't intend to use your headphones for hands-free calling, the Audio-Technica S200BT is a better option. They are more comfortable, and come with a playback time of 50 hours. They also have an elongable cable that can be retracted for use with wires and come with a durable hard case.

A five-star performer and a favourite among What Hi-Fi?'s team, the Sony WF-C700N and JBL Live Pro 2 TWS are another top pair of wireless over-ear headphones. Both are around the $100/PS100 or AU$150 price range and come with active noise cancellation, but you'll have to accept they're not as high-quality as some of our high-end recommended models.

Focal Bathys wireless headphones are a more expensive option that delivers excellent sound quality for affordable prices. The Focal Bathys Wireless come with a V shaped sound profile with plenty of bass to complement EDM hip-hop, rock, and. Vocals and instruments sound bright and clear, and you can alter the sound to your liking using their accompanying app's graphic EQ and presets. They also support aptX Adaptive Codec for hi-res stream and have an option USB-DAC mode to listen wired.

Look into the Sony WH1000XM5 which is not just more expensive, but is also worthy of our five-star seal. They're not cheap, but they have an incredible battery life and superb noise cancelling that will allow you to listen for extended periods of time without worrying about having to recharge or run out of power.