Best Over-Ear Headphones
Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to provide deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The latest Master & Dynamic MW65 update provides excellent audio, a variety of ANC modes, and a long battery life in an elegant and distinctive design.
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 have an audio profile that is more balanced (though they are bass heavy). They also have an app that lets you customize the audio. Their active noise cancelling works better than it did before, removing the background noise, and they have a longer battery life than other models.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution audio, however you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond more quickly to the touch of the panel, and this makes them easier to control during calls or to listen to music. Sony has also added an option that makes voices sound clearer and more precise on calls which is noticeable and a nice touch.
While the WH1000XM4s aren't perfect, they're one of the most comfortable wireless headphones we've ever tested. They are 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 save power.
The WH-1000XM4s are 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 have an application that lets you adjust their audio performance and EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are better built and can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine that tries to scale compressed music up to high resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, particularly when listening to lossless files.
2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless
The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 Noise-Canceling headset is the most current version of a headset that has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel the new model follows the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, and adds USB-C, improved noise cancellation and longer battery life.
These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feel and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband, made of plastic, has a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you expand or retract your ear cups. The cups feature soft cushions that fit securely over the ears and don't put pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. You can wear them when you're wearing a sweater or coat as the noise cancelling function works even when they're not on your head.
Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s can't provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack the details that higher-end headphones may be able to bring out. The higher registers tend to be more boosted and is suitable for most music genres but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent but is lacking power.
One feature that's missing is the ability to pause playback when you take the headset off. This is a feature that Bose's rivals have provided for years. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings within the app, but it would be nice to have a manual control.
You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust the voice and sound settings.
The QC45s have four microphones inbuilt to hear your voice when on the phone. The quality of calls is generally very good however, the headphones do not have the capability to turn off your voice during playback which is something other
wireless headphones uk Wireles Headphones have. Update In February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s provided an option to adjust the volume manually in the audio app which is a welcome improvement.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio brand that is known for high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a design that let listeners know they're listening to something truly special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They come with 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
Wireles headphones up to 30 hours. We actually got a bit more from them and got over 40 hours on average of one charge. If you are required to charge your headphones, the indicator light on the right earcup will change red.
For headphones at this price, they offer many features. They support multiple devices simultaneously and have automatic pairing. (You must select the device you want to pair with each time you listen.) They come with a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. They also come with an intuitive interface that makes it simple to control your music and take calls.
Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by an average of 9 decibels. This isn't as impressive as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless but it's still fairly effective.
In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys performed well overall with an overall frequency response that matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve with only minor deviations in the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound profile that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals seem unreal.
They also have very good leakage resistance, which means you can wear them out in public without worrying about other people listening to your music. The microphone is able to be used to record via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion between the mid-treble as well as the treble.
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 model by having a sleeker design, improved gesture controls and massive battery life.
A lot of the improvements aren't that obvious, but they add up to make a pair that appear to be an upgrade from the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them while traveling. The Momentum 4s are compatible with all devices, just like other Bluetooth headphones from recent years, such as those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they work well with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that are available on the AirPods.
