Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best Isn't As Difficult As You Think

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also have larger drivers that deliver deeper bass and a larger soundstage. Many also include active noise cancellation and Wireless Headhpones Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 is updated with superior audio and numerous ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has upgraded an already fantastic pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, have an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy) and include an app that lets you do some audio-related customization. Their active noise cancelling works better than it did before, eliminating the background noise, and they have a longer battery life than many competitors.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. This codec can transmit high-resolution audio, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s is also able to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between them when required. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.

A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitiveness of their touch panels. They respond faster to a tap on a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a phone call or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature that helps voices sound more clear and precise when calling, which is evident and a nice feature.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones we've ever examined. They're comfortable, feel well made, and have an outstanding battery that lasts for more than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used passively with a TRS cable, which is ideal if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH-1000XM4s are a better choice than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sounds. They also have an app that lets you tweak their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. However, the B&Ws come with an improved design, and they're able to pair 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 known as DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, particularly 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 headset that has become a standard for commuters as well as travelers from all over the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, but adds the USB-C port, which is better at cancelling noise and a longer battery life.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband, made of plastic, has an incredibly solid feel due to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. It also has the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or extend your ear cups. The cups have soft, cushioned pads that fit comfortably over the ears and do not apply pressure to your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. They can be worn with a sweater or coat as they work even when not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not provide the best sound at this price. The frequencies are flat and lack the details that higher-end headphones might be able bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is acceptable for the majority of music but can be problematic for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is decent, but lacks punch.

One feature that's not present is the possibility of paused playback when you take off the headset. This is a standard in this price range and is something that Bose's competitors have offered for a long time. Another issue is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs 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 multipoint support as well as more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's sound and voice settings.

The QC45s also come with four built-in microphones that listen to your voice during calls. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't allow you to muffle the sound during playback like other wireless headphones. Update: As of February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s gave you manual EQ options within the audio app which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys wireless Headhpones (rockzfx.com)

Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a style that let listeners know they're listening to something special. Their first attempt at wireless headphones that block noise the Bathys are a stunning set of headphones that look and sound amazing. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys are very efficient in terms of battery performance with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous cordless bluetooth headphones playtime. We actually got a little more from them and got over 40 hours on average out of one charge. If you do need to recharge, there's an indicator light on the right ear cup that will change to red when the headphone has to be charged.

For a pair of headphones for this price, they have a lot of features. They can be used with multiple devices simultaneously and have automatic pairing. (You have to select your source device by hand each time you listen.) The headphones have an inbuilt microphone that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to navigate interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

Bathys over-ear headphones do well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by an average of 9 decibels. This isn't as impressive as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless but it's still pretty effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor differences on the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound profile that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals appear obscure.

They also have excellent leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them out in public without worrying about others hearing your music. The microphone is able to be used to record via Bluetooth, with only slight distortion between the mid-treble and the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The new model improves on the previous generation with a sleeker design, improved gesture controls, and a huge battery life.

The changes are subtle but make for an over-ear set of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lay flat and do not fold however they do come with a nice hardshell case to protect them on the go. The Momentum 4s are compatible with all devices, just like other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, including the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, however they don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked spatial audio) that are available on the AirPods.

The most obvious difference here is the massive battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback when the noise cancellation feature activated. This is easily twice as much as most of the competition and enough to take a multi-day journey without having to search for an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget The headphones were rated by Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget an 82 percent score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as their strengths. The only issue he has is they lack of gravitas in the mids and the treble. This makes orchestral tracks sound flat, not grand. The bass is well-rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can lead to fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines, like the drum beats of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound a bit sizzled, not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are comfy and shouldn't put too much pressure on your neck or ears. However they can be a bit fidgety when wearing them around the house or for longer listening sessions, and can move around on your head with intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting when listening to music or making calls. Fortunately they will shut down after 15 minutes of sleep by default and can be turned off manually off by pressing the power button.