The Next Big Thing In Over Ear Headphones Wireless Best

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds, can completely surround the ears. They also have bigger drivers that provide deeper bass and a bigger soundstage. Many include Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The latest Master and Dynamic MW65 update offers high-quality audio, numerous ANC modes, and an impressive battery life with a stylish and distinct design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved an already excellent pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are less heavy, more durable, and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though bass heavy). They also include an app for audio customization. They've improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates the background noise and have a longer battery life.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible, and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter is able to transfer high-resolution audio, however you'll need compatible devices and streaming services. Additionally, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and headphones Wireless bluetooth switch between them if needed. This feature is enabled through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works well.

One subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensitivity of their touch panels. 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 helps voices sound more clear and precise during calls, which is noticeable and a nice touch.

The WH-1000XM4s might not be perfect, but they are among the top wireless headphones that we have ever test. They're comfortable, good to the touch, and have an excellent battery that lasts for longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively using a TRS cable. This is perfect to travel with or for storing energy.

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 ambient sounds. They also have a companion app that lets you tweak their audio performance, and their EQ settings are more flexible than the B&W's. The B&Ws are better built and can connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. They also support aptXHD and have an AI-driven engine that tries to increase the size of compressed music to high-resolution. This is called DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, particularly 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 headphone that became an essential for commuters and travelers from all over the world. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, and adds USB-C, better noise cancellation and a longer battery lifespan.

These over-ear Bose headsets come with a premium feel and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that preceded them. The headband, made of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. It also has the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you expand or retract the ear cups. The cups are cushioned, and have soft pads that can be worn over your ears without pressing your head. When folded they weigh 238 grams. You can use them with an overcoat or sweater since the noise cancelling function works even when they are not on your head.

Despite their reputation for comfort, the QC45s do not offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are tinny and lack the detail that higher-end headphones might be able to bring out. The upper registers tend to be more boosted which is great for most music, but could be a problem for delicate or intricate music genres. The bass is good, but lacks power.

The ability to pause the playback when removing the headset is a feature that is not available. This is a standard feature in this price range and is something that Bose's competitors have been offering for years. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose offers preset EQs within the app, but it would be nice if there was 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. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's sound and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s come with four microphones that are built-in to pick up your voice when you are on the phone. The quality of calls is generally excellent but the headphones do not have the capability to muffle your voice during playback which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update as of February 2022, a firmware update to the QC45s gave you an option to adjust the volume manually in the audio app which is a welcomed improvement.

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 makes listeners feel like they're listening to something truly special. Their first venture into wireless noise cancelling headphones, the Bathys, are stunning cans that look and sound fantastic. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery performance, with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We had more than 40 hours of playback time on average from just one charge. If you are required to charge your headphones, the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.

For a pair of headphones at this price, they have a lot of features. They can be used with multiple devices at once and feature automatic pairing. (You will need to select your device source each time you listen.) They come with a built-in microphone that can be used to control voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones Wireless bluetooth also have an intuitive interface that makes it easy to control your music and take calls.

For over-ear wireless blutooth headphones headphones, the Bathys excel in our tests 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 fairly 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 are bassy sound profile which can make vocals, instruments and cymbals seem unreal.

They also have very good leakage resistance, so you can wear them out 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 treble range.

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 spectacular entry in this category. The new model is an improvement on the previous model, sporting a an elegant design, enhanced gesture control, and a huge battery life.

Many of the improvements here are subtle, but they add up to create a pair of over-ears that appear to be an upgrade from the old one. The Momentum 4s are flat and don't fold. They come with an outer case that protects them when traveling. The Momentum 4s are device-agnostic, like many other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, such as those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they can work with both Android phones and Apple iPhones, but don't have the extra features (like Find My support and head-tracked Spatial Audio) that you'll find on AirPods.

The most notable change is the huge battery that can play for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is more than what the majority of the competition can offer and enough for a trip of a lifetime without worrying about finding an outlet to charge them up.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget, gave the headphones an 82-point score. He noted their sound quality and ANC features as their strengths. He only has one complaint that they lack gravitas in the mids and the treble. This means that orchestral tracks sound dull instead of grand. The bass is smooth and well-rounded but it's easy to over-emphasize and cause fatigue in songs with heavy bass lines like the drum hits in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound sizzled, not full. 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. 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 rapid head movements. This could 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 sleep by default and can be turned off manually off with the power button.