Best Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow larger drivers to provide greater bass and larger soundstages. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.
The latest Master & Dynamic MW65 update provides superior audio, multiple ANC modes, and an impressive battery life in an elegant and distinctive design.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has upgraded an already fantastic pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, feature an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy), and include an app that allows for some audio customization. They have improved their active noise cancellation, eliminating more ambient sounds, and have a longer battery life.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter can transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. In addition, the WH1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and automatically switch between them when required. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works well.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to a tap on the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a phone call or to listen to music. Sony has added a feature to make voices sound more clear and precise during calls. This is an obvious and pleasant addition.
The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones that we have ever examined. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an impressive battery that can last longer 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 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 background noise. They also come with a companion application that lets you adjust their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. 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 up-scale 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 QuietComfort45 sound cancelling headset is the most recent version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers across the world. The new model doesn't reinvent the wheel. It retains the same formula which was the basis of its predecessor's success with the addition of the USB-C technology and improved noise cancellation.
Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a luxurious look and feel that oozes quality. The headband, made of plastic, offers a solid 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 paired with a coat or sweater because they function even when not on the head.
Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are flat and lack the detail that headphones with higher prices 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 music genres. The bass is great, but lacks power.
The ability to pause the playback when you remove the headset is a feature that's absent. This is a feature Bose's competitors have offered for many years. Another omission is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQ settings in the app however it would be nice to have a manual control.
Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. wireless over the head headphones to adjust the sound and voice settings.
The QC45s also include four in-built microphones to listen to your voice during calls. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't let you silence the voice when playing back as other wireless headphones. Update as of February 2022, the firmware update to the QC45s provided manual EQ options 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 renowned for their style and comfort, which let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They also have a built-in high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them 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, with over 40 hours on average out of one charge. If you require a recharge, there's a light on the right ear cup that will turn red when the headphone has to be charged.
They come with a wide range of features for a pair of headphones of this price point, including support for multiple devices simultaneously and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select the source device each time you want to listen). The headphones come with an inbuilt microphone that works with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature an easy to use interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.
For wireless headphones that are over-ear The Bathys perform very well in our test of noise cancellation, reducing the ambient sound by about 9 decibels in average. It's not as impressive as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless, however it's still quite effective.
The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was largely similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor differences on the bass and mids. The Bathys have a bassy sound that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals seem obscure.
They also have very good leakage resistance, which means you can wear them out in public without worrying about other people listening to your music. Their microphone is suitable for recording using 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 update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not a great entry in this class. The new model is a step up from the previous model, featuring an elegant design, enhanced gesture control and an enormous battery life.
The changes are subtle but make for a pair of over ear headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case that protects them on the go. The Momentum 4s are non-device-specific, similar to other Bluetooth headphones from recent times, like the ones from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but do not have the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
The biggest improvement is the battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is easily twice as much as most of the competition and enough to take a multi-day journey without worrying about finding an outlet.
Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones an 82 percent score. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as their strengths. He only has one complaint they lack gravitas in mids and treble. This makes orchestral pieces sound flat, not grand. The bass is smooth and well-rounded but it can be overemphasised and can cause fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines, like the drums that are pounding in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound sizzled, not full. There's also not much depth to the lows.
The Momentum 4s shouldn't cause pressure on your neck or ears. They can be fidgety if you wear them around the home or during long listening sessions. They can move on your head, and make rapid head movements. This could cause them to wake up in a sudden manner, which could be distracting when listening to music or making calls. Fortunately, they stop working after 15 minutes of slumber by default, and can be manually switched off with the power button.