Best Over-Ear Headphones
Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for larger drivers to deliver more bass and a wider soundstage. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio and numerous ANC mode and an impressive battery life.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has upgraded an already excellent pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are lighter, better built, and have a more balanced audio profile (though bass heavy). They also include an app for audio customization. Their active noise cancelling performs better than ever before, eliminating 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 to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between the two when required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.
A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond faster to tapping on panels and are simpler to control when making a call or listening to media. Sony has also added a feature to make voices more clear and precise during calls. This is an obvious and nice touch.
The WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones we've ever examined. They're comfortable, well-made, and have an energy-efficient battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used in a passive manner by using the TRS cable. This is ideal to travel with or for storing power.
The WH1000XM4s offer a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient noise. The B&Ws have a more flexible EQ and an app that allows you to tweak the audio quality. However, the B&Ws have more robust design and they can connect with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine which tries to scale compressed music up to high resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme, and it improves 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 most recent version of a headphone that became an essential for commuters and travelers from all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery life.
These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband, which is made of plastic, provides an incredibly solid feel due to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you expand or retract your earcups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without pressing your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be paired with a coat or sweater since they can be worn even when not on the head.
Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the most impressive sound quality for this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the detail that more expensive headphones may be able to bring out. The higher registers tend to be more boosted and is suitable for most music, but could become a problem for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent but is lacking the punch.
The possibility of pauseing the playback when you remove the headset is a feature that's missing. This is standard in this price range and something that Bose's competitors have been offering for years. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings within the app however it would be nice to have a manual control.
You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support as well as more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's audio and voice assistant settings.
The QC45s also come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The call quality is generally excellent however, the headphones do not have the ability to mute your voice during playback which is something that other wireless headphones have. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s in February 2022 included manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio brand known for its high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something truly special. Their first attempt at wireless headphones that cancel out noise, the Bathys, are stunning headphones that sound and look amazing. They also have an inbuilt high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for
wireless bluethooth headphone and wired listening.
Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We actually got more from them with more than 40 hours on average of just one charge. If you require a recharge, there's an indicator light on the right earcup that will turn red when the headphone has to be charged.
They have a decent amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price with support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll need to manually select your source device each time you would like to listen). The headphones come with an inbuilt microphone that works with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. The
blue Tooth Headphones also have an easy-to-use interface that makes it easy to control your music as well as make calls.
For wireless headphones that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys perform very well in our test of noise cancellation, which reduces the sound of the surrounding environment by about 9 decibels in average. This isn't as impressive as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still quite effective.
In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys performed well overall with the frequency response which generally is in line with the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with just minor differences in the bass and mids. The Bathys have a bassy sound profile that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals seem veiled.
You can wear them anywhere without fearing that other people will hear your music. Their microphone is of decent recording quality 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 top Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The latest pair improves on the previous generation with more sleek design,
blue tooth headphones better gesture controls, and a huge battery life.
Many of the improvements here are subtle, but they add up to make a pair of over-ears 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 moving. They also follow the style of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, including those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be beautifully device agnostic.