Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds are a complete encapsulation of your ears and allow for bigger drivers to produce greater bass and larger soundstages. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been updated with better audio and multiple ANC modes, and a long battery life.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless

Sony has improved an already great pair of headphones with the introduction of the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are lighter, better built, and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though bass-heavy). They also include an app to adjust the sound. Their active noise cancelling performs better than it did before, removing more ambient sound, and they have a longer battery life than a lot of competitors.

These headphones are Bluetooth 5.0 compatible and Sony LDAC is also supported. The latter can transmit high-resolution audio, however, you’ll need compatible devices and streaming service. The WH-1000XM4s can also allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between them as required. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and works flawlessly.

The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond more quickly to a tap on a panel, and this makes them easier to control during a call or to listen to music. Sony has added a feature to make voices more precise and clear during calls. This is an obvious and a nice addition.

The WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, but they are among the best wireless headphones we’ve ever tested. They’re comfortable, feel well-made, and come with an outstanding battery that lasts longer than 30 hours continuously. They can be used passively by using a TRS cable. This is perfect for travel or preserving energy.

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. 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 pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and have an AI-driven engine which attempts to boost compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as 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 Noise-Canceling headset is the most current version of a headset that has become a favorite among commuters and passengers all over the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula that made its predecessor so successful, while adding the USB-C port and improved noise cancellation.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a premium look and feel that oozes quality. The headband is made from plastic, but is sturdy and comfortable with hinges made of metal at pivot points and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you retract or extend the ear cups. The cups have soft cushions that are securely positioned over your ears and don’t put pressure on your head. When folded, they weigh 238 grams. You can use them when you’re wearing an overcoat or sweater since the noise-canceling works even when they’re not on your head.

Despite their reputation as comfortable headphones however, the QC45s don’t offer the best sound at this price. The frequencies are relatively flat and lack the depth that higher-end headphones may be capable of bringing out. The upper registers are amplified which is fine for most music genres but can be problematic for more delicate and complex genres. The bass is decent but is lacking power.

One feature that’s not present is the possibility of paused playback when you take the headset off. This is a standard in this price range and something Bose’s competitors have offered for a long time. Another omission was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs in the app, but it would be nice to have an option to control the EQ manually.

Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, with multipoint as well as more advanced codecs like aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset’s audio and voice assistant settings.

The QC45s also include four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. They have excellent call quality, however they don’t allow you to silence the voice when playing back as other wireless headphones. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s in February 2022 introduced manual EQ options to the audio app. This is a very welcome change.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio brand known for its high-performance headphones that provide long-lasting comfort and a style that makes listeners feel like they’re listening to something special. Their first attempt at wireless headphones that cancel out noise The Bathys are a stunning set of headphones that sound and look fantastic. They also have an inbuilt high-performance USB DAC which means you can use them for Blue tooth headphones both wireless and wired listening.

The Bathys have a very good battery life, with Focal claims of 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a bit more from them and got over 40 hours on average out of one charge. If you require a recharge, there’s an indicator 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 with support for multiple devices at the same time and automatic pairing (though you’ll need to select your source device each time you want to listen). The headphones come with a built in 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 manage your music and Blue tooth headphones make calls.

Bathys over-ear blue tooth headphones – https://perthinside.com/bbs/board.Php?Bo_table=main_6&Wr_id=708466 – do well in our noise cancellation test, reducing ambient noise by an average of 9 decibels. It’s not as effective as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it’s still effective.

The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was mostly similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys, with only minor deviations on the bass and mids. The Bathys have a booming sound profile that can make vocals, instruments and cymbals look a bit obscure.

You can wear them wherever and not worry about whether others listen to your music. The microphone has a decent quality of recording via Bluetooth with just a little 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 last pair, the Momentum 3, was a decent but not a standout in the category. The latest pair is a step up from the previous model, featuring more sleek design, better gesture control and a massive battery life.

The improvements here are subtle, but they create a pair of over-ears that feel like an upgrade to the previous model. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them when on the move. The Momentum 4s are also compatible with all devices, just like other Bluetooth headphones from recent years, such as those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. This means they 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 the AirPods.

The most obvious improvement in this model is the huge battery, which claims up to 60 hours of playback when the noise cancellation feature enabled. This is more than what the majority of the competition can offer and enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding a power outlet to charge them.

Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget The headphones were rated by Billy Steele, senior editor at Engadget an 82-point score. He highlighted their audio quality and ANC features as strengths. The only issue he has is they lack gravitas in mids and treble. This makes orchestral music sounds flat instead of grand. The bass is well-rounded, but can be overemphasized, which can cause fatigue in songs that have strong bass lines, such as the drum hits of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound bubbly, but not full. There’s also no real depth to the lows.

The Momentum 4s should not put pressure on your neck or ear. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them at home or for long listening sessions. They can move on your head and make a lot of head movements. This can cause them to wake up unexpectedly, which can be distracting while listening to music or making calls. They stop automatically after 15 minutes, and can be turned off manually using the power button.