Best Over-Ear Headphones
In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear encapsulate your ears completely and allow larger drivers to produce deeper bass and wider soundstages. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The Master & Dynamic MW65 is updated with superior audio and features, including multiple ANC modes, and a long 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 more lightweight, better constructed and feature a more balanced audio profile (though they are bass heavy). They also come with an app that lets you customize the audio. They have improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates more background noises and extending the battery life.
These headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0, with support for SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between them as needed. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works well.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond quicker to a tap on the panel and are much easier to manage when making a phone call or listening to media. Sony has added a feature to make voices more clear and precise during calls. This is an obvious and a nice addition.
While the WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, they're one of the most comfortable wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable and well-made. They also have an energy-efficient battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used in a passive manner using an TRS cable which is great if you're traveling or need to conserve power.
The WH-1000XM4s are better over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sounds. The B&Ws come with an EQ that is more flexible, as well as an app companion to adjust the audio quality. But the B&Ws have a better-built design, and they can connect with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD, and they have an AI-driven engine that tries to up-scale compressed music to high resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme,
blue tooth head phones 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 around the globe. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula that made its predecessor so successful but it also includes USB-C and better noise cancellation.
Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature an elegant design and feel that oozes quality. The headband, made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also has the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you expand or retract your earcups. The cups have soft cushioned pads that fit comfortably over the ears and don't apply pressure on your head. When folded they weigh 238g. They can be worn with a sweater or coat as they work even when not on the blue Tooth head phones (
https://Highwave.kr/).
Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not offer the best sound at this price. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack the depth that more expensive headphones might be capable of bringing out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted which is great for most music but can become a problem for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent but it lacks punch.
The possibility of pauseing the playback when removing the headset is a feature not available. This is a standard feature in this price range and is something that Bose's competitors have offered for a long time. Another omission is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app, but it would be nice if there was a manual control.
You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets sound and voice settings.
The QC45s come with four microphones built into the headset to hear your voice when you make calls. The call quality is generally good but the headphones don't have the nifty ability to mute your voice while playing back which is something that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s came out in February 2022 introduced manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio company that makes high-performance headphones. They are known for their comfort and style, which let listeners know that they're listening to something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.
Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We had more than 40 hours of playback on average from a single charge. If you need to recharge, there's a light on the right ear cup that will turn red when the earphone needs to be charged.
For headphones at this price, they come with many features. They can connect to multiple devices at once and feature automatic pairing. (You have to select the device you want to pair with by hand each time you listen.) The
headphones bluetooth have built-in microphones that can be used with 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 for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys excel in our tests of noise cancellation, which reduces the sound of the surrounding environment by about 9 decibels in average. They aren't as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless, but it is still effective.
In our tests of
bt headphone sound quality in our tests of headphone sound quality, the Bathys performed well overall with a frequency response that mostly matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve with only minor
blue tooth head phones differences in the mids and bass. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile that adds plenty of boom to mixes, however, it can make instruments and vocals like cymbals sound dull.
They also have excellent leakage resistance, so you can wear them in public without worrying about other people hearing your music. The microphone has a decent quality of recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid to the treble range.
4. Sennheiser Momentum 4
The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid, but not spectacular entry in this category. The new model is an improvement on the previous model, sporting a more sleek design, better gesture control, and a huge battery life.
A lot of the improvements here are subtle, but they make a pair that seem like a step up from the old one. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with an outer case that protects them when traveling. They also follow the trend of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, including those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be beautifully device agnostic. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
