Best Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds encapsulate the ears completely. They also allow for larger drivers, which deliver greater bass and a larger soundstage. They also have active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.
The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been upgraded with improved audio and features, including numerous ANC modes and a huge battery life.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has made improvements to an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel more built, have an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass heavy) and come with an app that lets you do some audio-related customization. They've upgraded their active noise cancellation, removing more background noises and extending the battery life.
best wireless over ear headset 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 services. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between them when required. You can enable this feature via the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to the touch of the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to music. Sony has also added a feature that can make voices sound more clear and precise during calls. This is an obvious and nice touch.
The WH-1000XM4s aren't perfect, but they're among the best wireless headphones we've ever tested. They are comfortable, well-made, and have an energy-efficient battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used passively with the TRS cable which is great when you're on the road or need to save 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 ambient noise. The B&Ws have an EQ that is more flexible and an app that allows you to tweak the audio performance. The B&Ws are better built, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD, and they have a unique AI-driven engine that attempts to boost 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 QuietComfort 45 noise-canceling headphones are the most recent version of a headset that became a staple for commuters and travelers around the globe. Instead of reinventing the wheel the new model follows the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery lifespan.
Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones feature an elegant design and feel that exudes 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 whenever you extend or retract your 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 fairly compact when folded. You can wear them with a sweater or coat as the noise cancelling function works even when they are not on your head.
Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s don't provide the best sound quality in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the detail that higher-end headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted and is suitable for most music but can cause problems for more delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent, but lacks the punch.
One feature that's not present is the ability to pause playback whenever you remove the headset. This is a standard in this price range and something Bose's competitors have offered for a long time. 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 if there was an option to manually control.
Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust the voice and sound settings.
The QC45s come with four microphones that are built-in to hear your voice while on the phone. The quality of calls is generally very good but the headphones do not have the capability to muffle your voice during playback which is a feature that other wireless headphones have. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s was released in February 2022 introduced manual settings for EQ to the audio app. This is a welcome upgrade.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal is a French audio brand that is known for high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a style that lets listeners know they're listening to something unique. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They also have a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wireless and wired listening.
The Bathys have a very good battery performance, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a little more out of them and got over 40 hours of playtime on average of one charge. If you are required to charge your headphones in the future, the indicator light on the right earcup will change red.
They offer a good amount of features for headphones at this price with support for multiple devices at once and automatic pairing (though you'll have to select the source device each time you would like to listen). The headphones come with an inbuilt microphone that can be used with voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones also have an easy-to-use interface that makes it easy to control your music and take calls.
For over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys excel in our tests of noise cancellation, reducing the ambient sound by about 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, however it's still quite effective.
In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones, the Bathys performed well overall with a frequency response that mostly corresponds to the SoundGuys preference curve, with just minor differences in the bass and mids. The Bathys have a bassy sound profile that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals seem obscure.
They also have very good leakage resistance, which means you can wear them out in public without worrying about others hearing your music. Their mic is passable for recording via Bluetooth with only a slight 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 top-of-the-line Bluetooth headphones. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not an outstanding entry in this class. The latest pair is a significant improvement over the previous generation, with an elegant design, enhanced gesture control and an enormous battery life.
The changes are subtle but add up to a pair of over ear headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s lie flat and aren't foldable however they do come with a sturdy hardshell case to protect them when on the move. They also follow the trend of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, like those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be beautifully device agnostic. They can be used with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but they do not have the AirPods extra features, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
The most obvious change here is the massive battery that promises up to 60 hours of playback time with the noise cancellation feature turned on. This is more than double the amount of the competitors and sufficient to go on a long-distance trip 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 their main strengths. The only thing he dislikes is that they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat instead of grand. The bass is well rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can cause to fatigue in songs with high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits in As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound hot, but not a lot. There's also no real depth to the lows.
The Momentum 4s are comfy and should not 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 with intense head movements. This could cause them to unexpectedly wake up which can be distracting when you are listening to music or calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes, and can be switched off manually using the power button.