Best Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds, can completely surround the ears. They also permit larger drivers that deliver deeper bass and a wider soundstage. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update provides superior audio, multiple ANC modes, and an impressive battery life with a stylish and distinctive design.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has enhanced an already fantastic pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed and feature an audio profile that is more balanced (though they are bass heavy). They also include an app for audio customization. Their active noise cancellation works even better than before, eliminating the background noise, and they have a longer continuous battery life than other models.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. This codec can transfer high-resolution audio, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s can also allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when needed. You enable this feature through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it is extremely effective.
One subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond faster to the tap of the panel, which makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to music. Sony also added an option that makes voices sound more clear and precise during calls, which is noticeable and a nice addition.
The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones that we have ever test. They're comfortable, feel well-made, and come with an outstanding battery that lasts for more than 30 hours continuously. They can also be used passively with an TRS cable which is great if you're traveling or need to conserve power.
The WH1000XM4s offer a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears PX7 S2. 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 more robust and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD, and they have an AI-driven engine which tries to increase the size of compressed music 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
The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that became a standard for commuters as well as travelers around the globe. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery lifespan.
Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport an elegant design and feel that oozes quality. The headband, which is made of plastic, offers a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. It also has the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you retract or extend your ear cups. The cups feature soft cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and do not apply pressure on your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. They can be worn with a sweater or coat since they can be worn even when they are not on the head.
Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not provide the best sound at this price point. The frequencies are dull and lack the depth that higher-end headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is acceptable for the majority of music but could be a problem for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent, but it lacks the punch.
One thing that's not included is the possibility of paused playback when you take off the headset. This is a feature that Bose's competitors have offered for years. Another oversight was the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings in the app, but it would be nice to have a manual control.
You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support as well as more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's audio and voice settings.
The QC45s come with four microphones inbuilt to hear your voice when on the phone. The headphones have 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 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 produces high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their comfort and style, which let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They come with a top-quality 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 life, with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a bit more from them, with over 40 hours on average of a single charge. If you do need to recharge, there's an indicator light on the right ear cup that will turn red when the headphone needs to be charged.
They have a decent amount of features for a pair of headphones of this price point with support for multiple devices at once and automatic pairing (though you'll have to manually select your source device each time you would like to listen). They have a built-in microphone that supports voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to use interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.
Bathys over-ear headphones do well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by 9 decibels on average. This isn't as impressive a result as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still quite effective.
The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve with minor differences in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound profile which adds plenty of boom to mixes however, it can make vocals and instruments such as cymbals sound veiled.
Wear them wherever you want and not worry about whether others hear your music. Their mic has passable recording quality through Bluetooth with only slight distortion in the mid - to the treble range.
4. Sennheiser Momentum 4
The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's top-of-the-line Bluetooth headphones. The last pair, the Momentum 3, was a decent but not a standout in the category. The latest model is improved over the previous model with modern design, better gesture controls, and a huge battery life.
A lot of the improvements aren't that obvious, but they make a pair that appear to be an upgrade from the previous model. The Momentum 4s lie flat and don't fold, but they do come with a nice hardshell case to protect them when on the move. They also follow the trend of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, such as those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. This means they work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but do not have the additional features (like Find My support and head-tracked spatial audio) that you'll find on AirPods.
The most obvious improvement in this model is the huge battery, which promises up to 60 hours of playback when noise cancellation enabled. This is more than the majority of the competition can offer and is enough for a multi-day trip without having to worry about finding a power outlet to charge them up.
Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones a score of 82. He highlighted their audio quality and ANC features as the top strengths. over ear headphones wireless has is: they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral tracks sound dull instead of grand. The bass is rounded, however, it can be overemphasized, which can lead to fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines such as the drum hits in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound a bit bubbly, but not full. There's also no real depth to the lows.
The Momentum 4s are comfortable and shouldn't put too much pressure on your neck or ears. However, they can be a bit difficult to wear around the house or for longer listening sessions, and will move about on your head, causing intense head movements. This can cause them unexpectedly wake up and can cause distraction during music or calls. They will shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be shut off manually by pressing the power button.