Best Over-Ear Headphones
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds, encapsulate the ears completely. wireless noise cancelling headphones have bigger drivers that provide deeper bass and a larger soundstage. Many also include active noise cancellation and Bluetooth technology.
The Master & Dynamic MW65 has been upgraded with improved audio, various ANC modes, and a long battery life.
1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
Sony has improved on an already excellent pair of headphones with the WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed and have an audio profile that is more balanced (though bass heavy). They also come with an app to adjust the sound. They have improved their active noise cancellation, which eliminates more background noises and extending the battery life.
These headphones use Bluetooth 5.0 which supports SBC, AAC, and Sony's own LDAC codec. The latter can transfer high-resolution audio, however you'll need to use compatible devices and streaming services. The WH-1000XM4s also allows you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and then automatically switch between them when needed. This feature is accessible through the Sony Headphones Connect App and is very effective.
The touch panels are more sensitive than the XM3. They respond faster to a tap on panels and are simpler to control when making a call or listening to media. Sony has also added a feature that can make voice calls more clear and precise during calls. This is an obvious and a nice addition.
Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they're one of the top wireless headphones we've ever tested. They are comfortable, well-made, and have a battery that can last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can be used in a passive manner with an TRS cable. This is ideal to travel with or for storing power.
The WH-1000XM4s are a better choice over the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Wireless over-ears. The Sonys are more comfortable, and their ANC is able to block out more ambient sounds. The B&Ws feature a more flexible EQ and an app companion to adjust the audio quality. The B&Ws are better built, and can pair with two Bluetooth devices simultaneously. In addition, they support aptX HD and have a unique AI-driven engine that tries to upscale compressed music to high-resolution. This is known as DSEE Extreme and it does a good job of improving the clarity of music, especially when listening to lossless files.
2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless
The $329 Bose QuietComfort45 Noise-Canceling headset is the most recent version of a headset which has become a popular choice for commuters and passengers across the world. The new model does not reinvent the wheel. It uses the same formula which was the basis of its predecessor's success with the addition of USB-C and better noise cancellation.
These over-ear Bose headsets have a premium feeling and appearance, similar to the QC 35 II headphones that were before them. The headband is made from plastic, yet it is sturdy and comfortable with hinges made of metal at the pivot points, and the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you open or retract the ear cups. The cups feature soft, cushioned pads that are securely positioned over your ears and don't put pressure to 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 do not offer the best sound in this price range. The frequencies are dull and lack the details that headphones with higher prices might be able to bring out. The upper registers tend to be amplified and is suitable for most music but can become a problem for more delicate or intricate genres of music. The bass is decent, but lacks the punch.
The ability to pause the playback when removing the headset is a feature that is missing. This is a feature that Bose's competitors have offered for several years. Another thing that was missing was the lack of an in-app EQ. Bose has preset EQs available in the app but it would be nice to have an option to manually control.
Bluetooth 5.0 is supported, including multipoint and more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. You can download the Bose Audio app to adjust your headset's audio and voice assistant settings.
The QC45s also come with four in-built microphones to hear your voice when you make calls. The call quality is generally very good however, the headphones do not have the ability to mute your voice during playback, which is a feature that other wireless headphones do. Update: A firmware update for the QC45s was released in February 2022 included manual settings for EQ 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 renowned for their style and comfort that let listeners know that they're listening to something special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise-cancelling headphones. They are stunning in appearance and sound. They come with a top-quality USB DAC built in, which means you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.
The Bathys come with a great battery life, with Focal claiming 30 hours of continuous Bluetooth playtime. We actually got a bit more and got over 40 hours of playtime on average of a single charge. If you need to charge the headphones then the indicator light on the right earcup will go red.
For a pair of headphones for this price, they offer many features. They support multiple devices simultaneously and offer automatic pairing. (You will need to select the device you want to pair with by hand each time you listen.) The headphones come with a built in microphone that works with voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. They also come with an easy-to-use interface, making it easy to manage your music and make calls.
For wireless headphones that are over-ear for over-ear wireless headphones, the Bathys perform very well in our test of noise cancellation, which reduces the background sound by around 9 decibels in average. They aren't as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 and Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless, but it's still very effective.
The Bathys headphones performed well in our headphone sound tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor variations in the mids and bass. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile that adds plenty of boom to mixes however, it can make vocals and instruments like cymbals sound dull.
You can wear them wherever without worrying that others will hear your music. Their mic is passable for recording via Bluetooth with only a slight distortion between the mid-treble and 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 spectacular entry in this class. The latest pair improves on the previous model with a sleeker design, improved gesture controls and massive battery life.
Many of the improvements here are subtle, but they add up to create a pair of over-ears that seem like a step up from the old one. The Momentum 4s lie flat and don't fold however they come with a nice hardshell case to keep them safe when on the move. The Momentum 4s are also compatible with all devices, just like other Bluetooth headphones of recent years, including those from Bowers & Wilkins and Sony. They are compatible with Apple iPhones and Android phones, but lack the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.
The most notable improvement is the battery that can last for up to 60 hours with noise cancellation on. This is nearly twice the amount of the competitors and sufficient to go on a long-distance trip without having to search for an outlet.
Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 score and cited their sound quality and ANC as two of their strengths. He only has one complaint: they lack a sense of gravitas in the mids and the treble. This makes orchestral music sounds dull instead of grand. The bass is rounded, however, it can be overemphasized and can cause fatigue in songs that have heavy bass lines such as the drums that are pounding in As I Lay Dying's Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full, and there's no real feeling of depth in the lows.
The Momentum 4s are comfortable 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. They can move around on your head in a flurry of head movements. This could cause them to wake up at random, which can be distracting during calls or music. They stop automatically after 15 minutes and can be turned off manually using the power button.