Best Over-Ear Headphones
Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones encapsulate your ears completely and allow larger drivers to deliver deeper bass and wider soundstages. They also have active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.
The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with superior
Wireles Headphones audio, multiple 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 lighter, better built and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though bass-heavy). They also come with an app that lets you customize the audio. They've improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates more ambient sounds and have a longer battery life.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. The latter can transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and switch between them when required. You enable this feature through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond more quickly to the tap of the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a phone call or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature that can make voices more clear and precise during calls. This is an obvious and a nice addition.
While the WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect,
Wireles Headphones they are some of the most comfortable wireless headphones we've ever tested. They're comfortable, feel well made, and have an impressive battery that lasts more than 30 hours continuously. They can be used as a passive device with the TRS cable. This is perfect for traveling or conserving power.
The WH1000XM4s are a better 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 have a more flexible EQ and an app companion to adjust the audio quality. But the B&Ws have more robust design and they're able to connect with two Bluetooth devices at once. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine that attempts to up-scale compressed music to high-resolution. This is referred to as DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless audio files.
2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless
The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 noise-canceling headset is the most current version of a headset which is a popular choice among commuters and travelers all over the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It is based on the same formula that has made its predecessor so successful with the addition of the USB-C technology and improved noise cancellation.
These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that came before them. The headband is constructed of plastic, yet it is a solid feel, with hinges made of metal at pivot points and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or extend the earcups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that fit over your ears without putting pressure on your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. You can wear them when you're wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancelling function works even when they are not on your head.
Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the detail that more expensive headphones may be able bring out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted, which is fine for most music genres but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is good, but lacks the punch.
The possibility of pauseing the playback after removing the headset is a feature absent. This is standard in this price bracket and is something Bose's competitors have offered for a long time. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app, but it would be nice to have an option to control the EQ manually.
Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, with multipoint as well as more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets audio and voice settings.
The QC45s have four microphones inbuilt to pick up your voice when on the phone. The call quality is generally excellent but the headphones do not have the capability to muffle your voice while playing back which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s was released in February 2022 included manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a great upgrade.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio brand known for its high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a style that lets listeners know they're listening to something truly special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They also come with a built-in high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for both wireless and wired listening.
The Bathys come with a great battery performance with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a little more and got over 40 hours on average of just one charge. If you do require a recharge, there's an indicator light on the right earcup that will change to red when the earphone needs to be charged.
They offer a good amount of features for a pair of headphones at this price that include support for multiple devices at once and automatic pairing (though you'll have to manually select your source device every time you need to 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 easy-to-use interface that makes it simple to control your music and take calls.
For wireless headphones that are over-ear The Bathys perform very well in our tests of noise cancellation, which reduces the ambient sound by about 9 decibels on average. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still quite effective.
The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was mostly similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations in the mids and bass. The Bathys have a booming sound profile that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals seem veiled.
They also have very good leakage resistance, which means you can wear them in public without worrying about other people hearing your music. Their mic is passable for recording via Bluetooth, with only slight distortion between the mid-treble and 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 the most impressive entry in the category. The latest pair improves on the previous model by having a sleeker design, improved gesture controls, and an enormous battery life.
The improvements are subtle, but add up to an over-ear set of headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lay flat and do not fold however they come with a sturdy hardshell case to keep them safe when on the move. The Momentum 4s are also non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth
wireles headphones -
click here! - of recent times, like the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but do not have the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
The most obvious improvement here is the massive battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback when noise cancellation enabled.