Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds, are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also have bigger drivers that provide deeper bass and a bigger soundstage. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with superior audio and features, including numerous ANC mode and an impressive battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved on an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are less heavy, more durable, and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though they are bass heavy). They also have an app to adjust the sound. Their active noise cancellation works better than it did before, removing more ambient sound, and they have a longer battery life than many competitors.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. This codec can transfer high-resolution music, though you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them as needed. You can enable this feature via the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.

One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensitiveness of their touch panels. They respond quicker to tapping on a panel and are easier to control when making a call or listening to music. Sony also included a feature that helps voices sound more clear and precise when calling, which is noticeable and a nice touch.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones we've ever test. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an impressive battery that lasts longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used in a passive manner with a TRS cable. This is ideal for traveling or conserving energy.

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 background noise. They also come with a companion app that lets you tweak their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. But the B&Ws have a better-built design, and they're able to pair with two Bluetooth devices at once. Additionally, they support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine which tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it enhances the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headphone that became a standard for commuters as well as passengers around the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, and adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a Premium P47 Over-Ear Headphones: Wireless - Noise-Canceling - Black feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband, made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you retract or extend your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that fit over your ears without putting pressure on your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. You can use them with an overcoat or sweater since the noise-canceling works even when they're not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the details that more expensive headphones may be able to bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is fine for most music genres but could be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent but lacks the punch.

The ability to pause playback when you remove the headset is a feature that is not available. This is standard in this price bracket and is something Bose's competitors have been offering for years. Another oversight is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app but it would be nice to have 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 have four microphones that are built-in to hear your voice while on the phone. The call quality is generally good but the headphones don't have the nifty ability to mute your voice during playback, which is a feature that other wireless headphones have. Update: As of February 2022, a firmware update to the QC45s offered manual EQ options within the audio app which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones that last for a long time, comfort and a style that makes listeners feel like they're listening to something unique. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They also have a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wireless and wired listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for 30 hours. We had more than 40 hours of playback on average from a single charge. If you do require a recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that will change to red when the headphone needs to be charged.

They come with a wide range of features for bt headphones of this price with support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select the source device every time you need to listen). The headphones have an inbuilt microphone that can be used with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also have an easy-to-use interface, making it easy to control your music and take calls.

For wireless headphones that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys perform very well in our tests of noise cancellation, premium p47 over-ear headphones: wireless - noise-canceling - black which reduces the sound of the surrounding environment by about 9 decibels in average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and 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 were a good overall performer with the frequency response which generally matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with only minor differences in the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound profile that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals seem veiled.

Wear them wherever you want without fearing that other people will listen to your music. The microphone has a decent quality of recording via Bluetooth with only slight distortion in the mid to treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new update of the company's most popular Bluetooth headsets. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry into the category. The latest pair is an improvement on the previous generation, with more sleek design, better gesture control and a massive battery life.

The improvements are subtle but can make for an over-ear set of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lie flat and aren't foldable however they come with a nice hardshell case to protect them on the go. They also follow the pattern of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, including the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. They are compatible with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but 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. This is more than the majority of the competitors can provide and is enough for a trip of a lifetime without having to worry about finding a power outlet to charge them.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and Engadget, gave the headphones an 82 percent score. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as their strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is rounded, but it's easy to over-emphasize, which can lead to fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines such as the drum hits in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound bubbly, but not full. There's no real depth to the lows.