Best Over-Ear Headphones
In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear encapsulate your ears completely and allow for larger drivers to deliver deeper bass and wider soundstages. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been upgraded with improved audio, various ANC modes, and a long battery life.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has upgraded an already excellent pair of headphones by introducing the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are less heavy, more durable and feature an audio profile that is more balanced (though bass-heavy). They also include an app for audio customization. Their active noise cancelling performs better than it did before, removing more ambient sound, and they have a longer battery life than many competitors.
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. The WH-1000XM4s can also allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and automatically switch between them when needed. This feature can be enabled 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 more quickly to a tap on a panel, and this makes them easier to control during calls or listen to media. Sony has added a feature to make voice calls more precise and clear during calls. This is a noticeable and nice touch.
The WH-1000XM4s aren't 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 longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively using an TRS cable. This is ideal for traveling or conserving power.
The WH-1000XM4s are better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC can block out more ambient sound. The B&Ws feature a more flexible EQ and a companion app to tweak the audio quality. The B&Ws are better built 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 referred to as DSEE Extreme and it does an excellent job of improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless music.
2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless
The $329 Bose QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headphone that became a standard for commuters as well as travelers from all over the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It is based on the same formula which has made its predecessor so successful but it also includes USB-C and better noise cancellation.
Like headphones wireless before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have an elegant design and feel that exudes quality. The headband, made of plastic, has a solid feel thanks to the metal hinges at pivot points. It also has the familiar ratcheting mechanism whenever you retract or extend your earcups. The cups have soft cushions that fit comfortably over the ears and don't apply pressure to your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. They can be worn with a sweater or coat since they can be worn even when not on the head.
Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones they do not offer the best sound at this price point. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack the depth that more expensive headphones might be capable of bringing out. The higher registers tend to be boosted which is great for most music, but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is great, but it lacks punch.
The ability to pause playback when you remove the headset is a feature that's missing. This is a feature that Bose's rivals have offered for years. Another omission is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose provides preset EQ settings 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 the audio and voice settings.
The QC45s come with four microphones built into the headset to pick up your voice during calls. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't allow you to silence the voice when playing back like other wireless headphones. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s was released in February 2022 added manual adjustments to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting comfort and a design that lets listeners know they're listening to something truly special. Their first attempt at wireless headphones that block noise The Bathys are stunning headphones that look and sound amazing. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.
The Bathys have a very good battery performance with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got more out of them with more than 40 hours of playtime on average of just one charge. If you need to charge your headphones, the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.
For headphones for this price, they offer a lot of features. They can connect to multiple devices simultaneously and offer automatic pairing. (You have to select your device source by hand each time you listen.) They also have a built-in mic that works with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also have an intuitive interface that makes it easy to control your music as well as make calls.
For wireless headphones that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys are very good in our test of noise cancellation, reducing the ambient sound by about 9 decibels per hour on average. This isn't as impressive as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still fairly effective.
The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations on the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound profile which can make instruments, vocals and cymbals appear unreal.
Wear them wherever you want and not worry about whether others listen to your music. The microphone is able to be used to record via Bluetooth with just a little distortion between the mid-treble as well as the treble.
4. Sennheiser Momentum 4
The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless are a new version of the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry in the class. The new model improves on the previous model by having modern design, better gesture controls, and a huge battery life.
The changes are subtle but make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them while traveling. They also follow the pattern of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, including the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be incredibly device-agnostic. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but lack the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
The most obvious difference in this model is the huge battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation feature enabled. This is more than twice as much as most of the competitors and sufficient to go on a long-distance trip without worrying about finding an outlet.
Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones a score of 82. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as their strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat 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 can sound smoky rather than full, and there's no real feeling of depth in the bass.
The Momentum 4s are comfortable and shouldn't put too much pressure on your ears or neck. However they can be a bit difficult to wear around the house or during longer listening sessions, and can move around on your head with intense head movements. This can cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting when listening to music or making calls. They will shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be shut off manually by pressing the power button.