Best Over-Ear Headphones
Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to produce deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The most recent Master & Dynamic MW65 update provides high-quality audio, numerous ANC modes, and an impressive battery life with a stylish and distinct design.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has upgraded an already great pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4
wireless headphone bluetooth. They are less heavy, more durable and feature a more balanced audio profile (though they are bass heavy). They also come with an app that lets you customize the audio. Their active noise cancellation works better than ever before, eliminating any background noise. Additionally,
Bluetooth they have a longer battery life than a lot of competitors.
These headphones use
bluetooth headphones wireless headphones 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible devices and a streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s can also allow you to connect two
Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between them when required. This feature can be enabled via the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.
A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. They respond quicker to the touch of the panel and are much easier to control when making calls or listening to music. Sony also included a feature that makes voice sound clearer and more precise on calls which is noticeable and a nice addition.
The WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones that we have ever examined. They're comfortable, well-made, and have batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used in a passive manner using a TRS cable. This is ideal for traveling or conserving energy.
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 ambient noise. The B&Ws have an EQ that is more flexible and a companion app to tweak the audio quality. But the B&Ws have a better-built design, and they're able to pair with two Bluetooth devices at once. They also support aptXHD, and
Bluetooth they have an AI-driven engine which tries to scale compressed music up to high resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does well in improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless music.
2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless
The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 noise-canceling headset is the latest version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that was the basis of its predecessor's success with the addition of the USB-C technology and improved noise cancellation.
Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have an elegant design and feel that exudes quality. The headband, which is made of plastic, offers a firm feel thanks to the metal hinges at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you expand or retract the ear cups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without pressing your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. You can use them while wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancelling function works even when they're not on your head.
Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the depth that more expensive headphones may be able to bring out. The higher registers tend to be amplified, which is fine for most music, but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is great, but it lacks the punch.
One feature that's missing is the ability to pause playback whenever you take off the headset. This is standard in this price bracket and is something that Bose's rivals have long offered. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app, but it would be nice if there was a manual control.
You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's sound and voice assistant settings.
The QC45s come with four microphones inbuilt to hear your voice while on the phone. They have excellent call quality, but they don't allow you to silence the voice when playing back like other wireless headphones. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s came out in February 2022 introduced manual EQ options to the audio app. This is a great upgrade.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are renowned for their comfort and style that 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 also come with a built-in high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wired and wireless listening.
Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for 30 hours. We actually got a little more and got over 40 hours on average of one charge. If you do need to recharge, there's an indicator light on the right ear cup that will turn red when the headphone has to be charged.
For a pair of headphones for this price, they come with many features. They can connect to multiple devices simultaneously and have automatic pairing. (You must select your source device manually every time you listen.) They come with a built-in microphone that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to use interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.
For wireless headphones that are over-ear, the Bathys excel in our test of noise cancellation. They cut down the sound of the surrounding environment by about 9 decibels per hour on average. They aren't as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it is still effective.
The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve, with only minor deviations on the bass and mids. They have a bass-rich sound profile that adds a lot of boom to the mix, however, they can make vocals and instruments like cymbals sound dull.
They also have excellent leakage resistance, so you can wear them out in public without worrying about others listening to your music. The microphone has a decent quality of recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid to high treble frequency range.
4. Sennheiser Momentum 4
The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry in the category. The new model is an improvement on the previous model, sporting a a sleeker look, improved gesture control and an enormous battery life.
The improvements aren't that obvious, but they make a pair of over-ears that seem like a step up from the old one. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case that protects them on the go. They also follow the trend of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, such as 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 additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.