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. They also have active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.
The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio, multiple ANC modes and a huge battery life.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has improved an already excellent pair of headphones by introducing the WH1000XM4 wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, feature an improved sound profile that is more balanced (though still bass-heavy) and include an app that allows for some audio customization. Their active noise cancelling performs better than it did before, removing any background noise. Additionally, they have a longer battery life than many competitors.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. The latter can transfer high-resolution audio however, you'll need compatible devices and a streaming service. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and switch between them when required. This feature can be enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect app and it works very well.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond more quickly to the tap of the panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or listen to media. Sony has also added a feature that can make voices more clear and precise during calls. This is a noticeable and nice touch.
Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they are some of the best wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable and well-made. They also have batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used passively using a TRS cable, which is ideal if you're traveling or need to conserve power.
The WH-1000XM4s are a better choice than 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 a companion app to tweak the audio performance. The B&Ws are better built and can be paired with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and feature an AI-driven engine which tries to up-scale compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as 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 latest iteration of a headset that has become a standard for commuters as well as travelers from all over the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, improved noise cancellation and a longer battery lifespan.
Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones have a luxurious look and feel that oozes quality. The headband, constructed of plastic, provides a solid feel thanks to the hinges made of steel at pivot points. best wireless in-ear headphones features the familiar ratcheting mechanism when you retract or extend your ear cups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that are comfortable to wear over your ears without putting pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. You can use them with a sweater or coat as the noise cancelling function works even when they're 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 details that higher-end headphones might be able bring out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted which is great for most music but can be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is decent, but is lacking punch.
The ability to pause playback when you remove the headset is a feature absent. This is a standard in this price bracket and is something that Bose's rivals have offered for a long time. Another oversight is the absence of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app, but it would be nice if there was an option to manually control.
You can connect to your smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support and more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headsets sound and voice settings.
The QC45s also include four in-built microphones to listen to your voice during calls. The headphones have good call quality, however they don't permit you to silence the voice when playing back as other wireless headphones. Update: A firmware upgrade for the QC45s 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 brand that produces high-performance headphones. They are well-known for their comfort and style that let listeners know that they're hearing something unique. Their first venture into wireless headphones that block noise The Bathys, are a stunning set of cans that look and sound great. They also come with a built in high performance USB DAC which means you can use them for wired and wireless listening.
The Bathys are very efficient in terms of battery performance, with Focal promising 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a little more out of them with more than 40 hours on average out of just one charge. If you need to charge your headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will change red.
They have a decent amount of features for headphones of this price that include support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select your source device each time you would like to listen). The headphones come with a built in microphone that can be used with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones feature 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 noise by an average of 9 decibels. It's not as impressive as the ANC in the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless but it's still quite effective.
In our tests of the quality of sound from headphones The Bathys performed well overall with an overall frequency response that matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with only slight differences in the mids and bass. They have a bass-rich sound pattern that adds a lot of boom to mixes however, it can make instruments and vocals such as cymbals sound veiled.
They also have excellent leakage resistance, meaning you can wear them in public without worrying about people listening to your music. Their microphone is of decent recording quality through Bluetooth with only slight distortion in the mid - to high treble frequency range.
4. Sennheiser Momentum 4
The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new version of the company's top Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not an outstanding entry in this category. The latest pair is a significant improvement over the previous model, featuring more sleek design, better gesture control and an enormous battery life.
The improvements are subtle, but make for an over-ear set of headphones that feel like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with an outer case that protects them when traveling. They also follow the style of many other recent Bluetooth headphones, including those from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be beautifully device agnostic. This means they can 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 significant improvement is the battery that can run for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation turned on. This is more than twice as much as most of the competition and enough to take a multi-day journey without having to search for an outlet.
Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82-point score, citing their audio quality and ANC as particular strengths. His only complaint is that they lack a sense of weight in the mids and the treble, which means that orchestral pieces tend to sound flat, not grand. The bass is rounded, but it can be overemphasised and cause fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines such as the drum hits in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound a bit sizzled, not full. There's also not much depth to the lows.
The Momentum 4s are not designed to put pressure on your neck or ears. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them around the home or during long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make a lot of head movements. This can cause them to wake up at random times, which can be distracting while listening to music or making calls. Fortunately they shut down after 15 minutes of rest by default, and can be turned off manually off with the power button.