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Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for larger drivers to produce greater bass and larger soundstages. Many of them also feature active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio, various ANC modes and a huge battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved on an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, feature more balanced sound profiles (though still bass heavy) and include an app that allows for some audio-related customization. They've improved their active noise cancellation, removing the background noise and extending the battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between the two 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 faster to a tap on a panel and are easier to control when making a call or listening to media. Sony also included an option that makes voices sound clearer and more precise when calling, which is noticeable and a nice addition.

The WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, but they're among the top wireless headphones we've ever test. They're comfortable, feel well-made, and come with an impressive battery that lasts more than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used using an TRS cable which is great for those who travel or want to conserve power.

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 a more flexible EQ and an app companion to adjust the audio quality. The B&Ws are more robust, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and wifi wireless headphones have an AI-driven engine which tries to increase the size of compressed music to high-resolution. This is referred to as DSEE Extreme and it does well in improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless files.

2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless

The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the latest iteration of a headset that has become a staple for commuters and travelers around the globe. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that made its predecessor so successful but it also includes USB-C and better noise cancellation.

These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and look, much like the QC 35 II headphones that came before them. The headband, made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. It also features the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you retract or extend your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that can be worn over your ears without putting pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be paired with a coat or sweater since they can be worn 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 relatively flat and lack details that headphones with higher prices might be able to bring out. The upper registers are amplified which is great for most music genres but could be a problem for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is decent, but it lacks the punch.

One feature that's not present is the ability to pause playback whenever you take the headset off. This is a feature that Bose's rivals have offered for several years. Another oversight 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.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's audio and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s also come with four microphones built into the headset to hear your voice when you make calls. They have excellent call quality, however they don't allow you to silence the voice when playing back as other Wifi Wireless headphones headphones. Update as of February 2022, a firmware update to the QC45s gave you 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 produces high-performance wiresless headphones. They are renowned for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. Their first attempt at wireless headphones that cancel out noise The Bathys are a stunning set of headphones that look and sound amazing. They come with a top-quality USB DAC built in, making them suitable both for wireless headphone and wired listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for 30 hours. We were able to get more than 40 hours of playback on average from just one charge. If you do require a recharge, there's a light on the right ear cup that turns red when the headphone has to be charged.

For a pair of headphones for this price, they offer lots of features. They can connect to multiple devices simultaneously and offer automatic pairing. (You must select your source device manually every time you listen.) The headphones come with built-in microphones that works with voice assistants like 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 are able to perform in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound 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 quite effective.

The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was mostly similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations on the bass and mids. The Bathys are bassy sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals appear obscure.

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 recording quality through Bluetooth with only a slight distortion in the mid - to treble range.

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 pair is a step up from the previous model, sporting a an elegant design, enhanced gesture control, and a huge battery life.

The improvements are subtle but make for an over-ear set of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them when moving. The Momentum 4s are non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones of recent times, like the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but do not come with the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that are available on the AirPods.

The biggest change is the huge battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is nearly double the amount of the competitors and sufficient to take a multi-day journey without having to search for an outlet.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, wifi wireless headphones gave the headphones an 82-point score. He highlighted their audio quality and ANC features as the top strengths. He only has one complaint that they lack gravitas in mids and the treble. This means that orchestral pieces sound flat, not grand. The bass is rounded, but it's easy to over-emphasize, which can lead to fatigue in songs with strong bass lines such as the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals can sound smoky rather than full and there's not a real sense of depth in the lows.

The Momentum 4s are a comfortable fit and aren't likely to put too much pressure on your neck or ears. They can be a bit fidgety if you wear them around the home or for long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make a lot of head movements. This can cause them suddenly wake up and can cause distraction during calls or music. Fortunately, they shut down after 15 minutes of sleep by default and can be manually switched off by pressing the power button.