Best Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are able to completely encapsulate your ears. They also permit bigger drivers that provide deeper bass and a bigger soundstage. They also have active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.
The Master & Dynamic MMW65 has been updated with better audio, various ANC modes, and a long battery life.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has redesigned an already-great pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're lighter, feel better built, have more balanced sound profiles (though still bass heavy) and include an app that lets you do some audio customization. They've improved their active noise cancellation, removing the background noise, and have a longer battery life.
These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also compatible with. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution music, but you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s can also allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between the two when required. This feature can be enabled via the Sony Headphones Connect App and is very effective.
One of the major improvements over the XM3 is the sensitiveness of their touch panels. They respond more quickly to the touch of the panel, which makes them easier to control during a phone call or to listen to music. Sony has added a feature to make voices sound more precise and clear during calls. This is an obvious and a nice addition.
The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they are among the best wireless headphones we've ever tested. They're comfortable and well-made. They also have a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used passively using a TRS cable which is perfect when you're on the road or need to conserve power.
The WH1000XM4s are a better alternative to the Bowers & Wilkins Wireless Over-Ears Px7 S2. The Sonys are more comfy, and their ANC is able to block out more background noise. The B&Ws have an EQ that is more flexible and an app that allows you to tweak the audio performance. However, the B&Ws come with more robust design and they're able to connect with two Bluetooth devices at once. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine which tries to scale compressed music up to high resolution. This is called 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 sound cancelling headset is the most recent version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel the new model uses the same formula that made its predecessor so popular, adding the USB-C port, which is better at cancelling noise and a longer battery life.
These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feeling and look, just like the QC 35 II headphones that came before them. The headband is constructed of plastic, but is sturdy and comfortable with metal hinges at the pivot points and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or extend the earcups. The cups are cushioned and feature soft pads that fit over your ears without placing pressure on your head. They weigh 238 grams and are fairly compact when folded. They can be used when you're wearing a sweater or coat as the noise-canceling 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 flat and lack the depth that higher-end headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers are boosted which is great for most music genres but can be problematic for more delicate and intricate genres. The bass is good, but it lacks the punch.
The ability to pause the playback after removing the headset is a feature that's not available. This is a standard in this price range and is something that Bose's competitors have long offered. 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 tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with support for multipoint and the more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's sound and voice assistant settings.
The QC45s come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The headsets have a good call quality, but they don't let you mute the voice during playback as other wireless headphones. Update as of February 2022, a 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 brand that is known for high-performance headphones that last for a long time, comfort and a style that makes listeners feel like they're listening to something special. Their first venture into wireless noise cancelling headphones the Bathys are a stunning set of cans that look and sound fantastic. They come with a high-performance USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.
Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We were able to get more than 40 hours of playback time on average from a single charge. If you do require a recharge, there's an indicator light on the right earcup that will turn red when the earphone needs to be charged.
They offer a good amount of features for a pair of headphones at this price with support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select the source device each time you need to listen). The headphones come with a built in microphone that can be used with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The headphones have an easy-to use interface that makes it easy to control music and make calls.
Bathys over-ear headphones do well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by 9 decibels on average. It's not as impressive as the ANC in the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless but it's still fairly effective.
In our tests of headphone sound quality The Bathys were a good overall performer with the frequency response which generally matches the SoundGuys headphone preference curve, with only slight differences in the mids and bass. The Bathys are bassy sound profile that can make instruments, vocals and cymbals appear unreal.
You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others hear your music. Their mic is passable for recording 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 update to the company's flagship Bluetooth headphones. The previous model, called the Momentum 3, was a solid but unspectacular entry in the category. The new model improves on the previous generation with more sleek design, better gesture controls and massive battery life.
The improvements are subtle, but add up to an over-ear set of headphones that feel like an upgrade. best over ear wireless headset lie flat and don't fold however they do come with a nice hardshell case that protects them when on the move. They also follow the style of a number of other recent Bluetooth headphones, including those 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, such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
The most notable improvement is the battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is more than twice the amount of the other brands and enough to take a multi-day journey without having to search for an outlet.
Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget and Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He cited their audio quality and ANC features as strengths. The only issue he has is they lack of gravitas in the mids and treble. This makes orchestral tracks sound flat, not grand. The bass is smooth and well-rounded but it can be overemphasised and can cause fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines, like the drums in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals also sound sizzled rather than full, and there's no real feeling of depth in the lows.
The Momentum 4s are comfy and shouldn't put too much pressure on your neck or ears. However, they can be a bit fidgety when wearing them in the house or during longer listening sessions, and will move about on your head, causing intense head movements. This can cause them suddenly wake up, which can be distracting when you are listening to music or calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes, and can be turned off manually with the power button.