Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best It's Not As Expensive As You Think

Best Over-Ear Headphones

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to deliver deeper bass and wider soundstages. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with superior audio and features, including numerous ANC mode and an impressive battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved an already excellent pair of headphones by introducing the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're less heavy, feel better constructed, and have more balanced sound profiles (though still bass-heavy), and come with an app that lets you do some audio customization. Their active noise cancelling performs even better than before, eliminating more ambient sound, and they have a longer continuous battery life than a lot of competitors.

These headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 and support SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible equipment and streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s can also allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and headphones wireless automatically switch between them as required. You can enable this feature via the Sony monolith headphones Connect app and it works flawlessly.

A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. They respond more quickly to the tap of the panel, which makes them easier to control during calls or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature to make voices sound more precise and clear during calls. This is a noticeable and nice touch.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they're some of the best wireless headphones we've ever tested. They're comfortable and well-constructed, and come with a an energy-efficient battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used as a passive device with a TRS cable. This is great for traveling or conserving energy.

The WH-1000XM4s are better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more background noise. The B&Ws feature an EQ that is more flexible and an app that allows you to tweak the audio quality. However, the B&Ws have an improved design, and they can connect with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine that attempts to scale compressed music up to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, and it enhances the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 wireless headphones music

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that became an essential for commuters and travelers from all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, adding the USB-C port, which is better at cancelling noise and a longer battery lifespan.

These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband, made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. They also have the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you expand or retract your earcups. The cups feature soft, cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and don't put pressure to your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. They can be used when you're wearing a coat or sweater as the noise cancelling function works even when you aren't on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s can't offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are tinny and lack the depth that higher-end headphones might be able to bring out. The higher registers tend to be boosted which is great for most music but can cause problems for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is good, but is lacking punch.

One feature that's missing is the possibility of paused playback when you take off the headset. This is a feature Bose's rivals have offered for several years. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings in the app however it would be nice to have manual control.

You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets audio and voice settings.

The QC45s have four microphones built-in to hear your voice while on the phone. The headphones have good call quality, but they don't let you mute the voice during playback as other wireless headphones. Update In February 2022, a firmware upgrade to the QC45s offered 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 company that makes high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their style and comfort which tell listeners that they're hearing something unique. Their first venture into wireless headphones that block noise, the Bathys are a stunning set of headphones wireless - index - that look and sound fantastic. They come with a top-quality USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys come with a great battery life, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got more out of them and got over 40 hours of playtime on average of a single charge. If you are required to charge your headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.

They come with a wide range of features for headphones of this price with support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select the source device each time you need to listen). The headphones have built-in microphones that works with voice assistants such as Siri or headphones wireless Alexa. The headphones also have an intuitive interface that makes it simple to control your music as well as make calls.

For wireless headphones that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys are very good in our tests of noise cancellation, reducing the ambient sound by about 9 decibels on average. They aren't as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still effective.

In our tests of headphone sound quality The Bathys performed well overall with a frequency response that mostly is in line with the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with just 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 people hearing your music. Their microphone is of decent recording quality through 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 most popular Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid, but not spectacular entry in this class. The latest pair improves on the previous generation with a sleeker design, improved gesture controls, and an enormous battery life.

The improvements here are subtle but they add up to create 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 a hardshell case that protects them when moving. They also follow the style of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, like those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. They work with both Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but lack the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most significant difference is the massive battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is nearly twice the amount of the competitors and sufficient to take a multi-day journey without worrying about finding an outlet.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 rating, citing their audio quality and ANC as two of their strengths. The only issue he has is they lack of gravitas in the mids and the treble. This makes orchestral tracks sound flat instead of grand. The bass is smooth and well-rounded but it can be overemphasised, which can lead to fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines, like the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound a bit hot, but not a lot. There's also not much depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to cause pressure on your neck or ears. However, they can be difficult to wear in the house or during longer listening sessions, and will move about on your head in a flurry of head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random which can be distracting when you are listening to music or calls. Fortunately they will shut down after 15 minutes of sleep by default and can be switched off using the power button.