Best Over-Ear Headphones
Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow larger drivers to deliver more bass and a wider soundstage. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update offers excellent audio, a variety of ANC modes and impressive battery life in an elegant and distinctive design.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has made improvements to an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed, and have a more balanced audio profile (though bass-heavy). They also come with an app that lets you customize the audio. They've upgraded their active noise cancellation, eliminating more background noises, and have a longer battery life.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution audio, however you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and switch between them when required. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to the tap of the panel, which makes them easier to control during a phone call or to listen to music. Sony also included an option that makes voices sound more clear and precise on calls which is noticeable and a nice addition.
The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones that we have ever examined. They're comfortable and well-made. They also have a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used in a passive manner using an TRS cable. This is great for traveling or conserving energy.
The WH-1000XM4s are a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. 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 performance. However, the B&Ws have more robust design and they're able to connect with two Bluetooth devices at once. 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 enhances the clarity of music when listening to lossless audio files.
2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless
The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 Noise-Canceling headset is the latest version of a headset that is a popular choice among commuters and passengers across the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula which made its predecessor so successful, while adding USB-C and better noise cancellation.
Like the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature a premium look and feel that oozes quality. The headband, constructed of plastic, offers a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. They also have the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you extend or retract the ear cups. The cups are cushioned and have soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are compact when folded. They can be used with a coat or sweater as the noise cancellation function is functional even when they're not on your head.
Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are fairly flat and lack the details that headphones with higher prices might be capable of bringing out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted, which is fine for most music genres but could cause problems for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is good but lacks the punch.
One thing that's not included is the ability to pause playback when you take off the headset. This is a standard feature in this price range and is something Bose's competitors have long offered. Another thing that was missing was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs in 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 support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's sound and voice assistant settings.
The QC45s also come with four microphones built into the headset to listen to your voice during calls. The quality of calls is generally very good however, the headphones don't come with the handy ability to mute your voice during playback which is something other wireless headphones have. Update as of February 2022, the firmware update 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 renowned for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're listening something special. Their first attempt at wireless noise cancelling headphones, the Bathys are a stunning set of cans that look and sound fantastic. They come with a top-quality USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.
The Bathys come with a great battery performance with Focal promising 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a bit more and got over 40 hours of playtime on average of one charge. If you do need to recharge, there's an indicator light on the right earcup that will turn red when the headphone has to be charged.
They have a decent amount of features for a pair of headphones at this price, including support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select your source device each time you would like to listen). They come with a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. good wireless over ear headphones have an easy-to navigate interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.
Bathys over-ear headphones perform well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient sound by an average of 9 decibels. They aren't as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still effective.
The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the SoundGuys headphone curve, with only minor deviations in the mids and bass. The Bathys have a booming sound that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit veiled.
They also have excellent leakage resistance, which means you can wear them out in public without worrying about others hearing your music. Their microphone is of decent recording quality via 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 solid but unspectacular entry in the class. The latest pair improves on the previous model with modern design, better gesture controls and massive battery life.
The changes are subtle but make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lie flat and don't fold however they come with a nice hardshell case that protects them when on the move. They also follow the trend of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, including the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. They are compatible with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods' extra features like Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
The most obvious improvement here is the massive battery, which claims up to 60 hours of playback when the noise cancellation option enabled. This is easily twice the amount of the other brands and enough to allow you to travel for a longer period of time without worrying about finding an outlet.
Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score with a focus on their audio quality and ANC as two of their strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids as well as treble, meaning that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat, not grand. The bass is well-rounded, but can be too loud, which can cause fatigue in songs that have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits in 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 a comfortable fit and shouldn't put too much pressure on your ears or neck. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them around the home or for long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make intense head movements. This could cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting while listening to music or making calls. Fortunately, they shut down after 15 minutes of sleep by default and can be switched off by pressing the power button.