It's The Next Big Thing In Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best

Best Over-Ear Headphones

In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to produce greater bass and larger soundstages. Many come with Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been upgraded with improved audio and various ANC modes, and Bluetooth headphones a long battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has redesigned an already great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are lighter, better built and feature a more balanced audio profile (though bass heavy). They also include an app that lets you customize the audio. They've upgraded their active noise cancellation, eliminating the background noise, and have a longer battery life.

These headphones use Bluetooth 5.0, with support for SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution audio, however, you'll need compatible devices and streaming service. In addition, the WH1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and switch between them if needed. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.

One subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. They respond quicker to the touch of a panel and are easier to control when making a call or listening to media. Sony has added a feature to make voice calls more precise and clear during calls. This is a noticeable and a nice addition.

While the WH1000XM4s aren't perfect, they're one of the top wireless headphones wireless headphones we've tested. They're comfortable, well made, and have an excellent battery that can last longer than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used using the TRS cable, which is ideal for those who travel or want 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 can block out more background noise. The B&Ws come with a more flexible EQ and an app that allows you to tweak the audio performance. The B&Ws are better built and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Additionally, they support aptX HD and have a unique AI-driven engine that tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme, 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 latest iteration of a headset that became a standard for commuters as well as passengers around the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula which has made its predecessor so successful with the addition of USB-C and better noise cancellation.

These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feel and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband, constructed of plastic, has a solid feel thanks to the metal hinges at pivot points. It also features the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you expand or retract your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that can be worn over your ears without pressing your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. You can use them with a coat or sweater as the noise-canceling works even when they are not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s can't offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are comparatively flat and lack the details that more expensive headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted, which is fine for most music genres but could be a problem for delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent, Bluetooth headphones but it lacks the punch.

The ability to pause the playback after removing the headset is a feature that is absent. This is standard in this price bracket and is something Bose's competitors have offered for a long time. Another omission is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings within the app however it would be nice to have manual control.

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

The QC45s come with four microphones built-in to pick up your voice while on the phone. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't allow you to silence the voice when playing back as other wireless headphones. Update In February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s gave you manual EQ options within the audio app which is a welcomed improvement.

3. Focal Bathys wireless headphones with bluetooth

Focal is a French audio brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their comfort and style which tell listeners that they're listening to something special. Their first venture into wireless noise cancelling headphones, the Bathys, are stunning headphones that look and sound great. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for 30 hours. We actually got a bit more, with over 40 hours of playtime on average of just one charge. If you require a recharge, there's a light on the right earcup that will turn red when the headphone has to be charged.

They offer a good amount of features for a pair of headphones at this price, including support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select your source device every time you want to listen). They also have a built-in mic that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also have an easy-to-use interface, making it easy to manage your music and make calls.

For headphones with over-ear connectivity, the Bathys are very good in our test of noise cancellation, reducing the background sound by around 9 decibels per hour on average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless however it's still very effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve, with only minor deviations on the bass and mids. They have a bass-rich sound profile that adds plenty of boom to mixes, however, it can make instruments and vocals like cymbals seem a bit veiled.

You can wear them anywhere without worrying that others will listen to your music. The microphone is able to be used for recording via Bluetooth, with only slight distortion between the mid-treble as well as the treble.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new update to the company's top-of-the-line Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not an outstanding entry in this class. The new pair is an improvement on the previous model, sporting a an elegant design, enhanced gesture control, and a huge battery life.

Many of the improvements aren't that obvious, but they make a pair that seem like a step up from the previous model. The Momentum 4s lie flat and don't fold, but they do come with a sturdy hardshell case to keep them safe when on the move. The Momentum 4s are non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, including the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They can be used with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most significant change is the huge battery that can run for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than what the majority of the competition can offer and enough for a trip of a lifetime without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge them up.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral music tends to sound flat rather than grand. The bass is well-rounded, but it can be overemphasised and cause fatigue in songs with strong bass lines like the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound hot, but not a lot. There's also not much depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to put pressure on your neck or ear. They can be fidgety if you wear them at home or for long listening sessions. They can move on your head, and make rapid head movements. This can cause them to wake up at random and can cause distraction when you are listening to music or calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be turned off manually with the power button.