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Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds encapsulate your ears completely and allow for larger drivers to provide deeper bass and wider soundstages. A majority of them feature Bluetooth technology and active noise cancellation.

The most recent Master & Dynamic MW65 update features high-quality audio, numerous ANC modes and impressive battery life, all in a sleek and distinct design.

1. Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless bluetooth headphone

Sony has enhanced an already great pair of headphones by introducing the WH1000XM4 wireless. They are more lightweight, better constructed and feature a more balanced audio profile (though they are bass heavy). They also include an app to adjust the sound. Their active noise cancellation works better than ever 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, but you'll need compatible devices and a streaming service. In addition, the WH-1000XM4s can connect to two Bluetooth devices at the same time and automatically switch between them when required. This feature can be enabled via the Sony Headphones Connect App and works well.

A subtle improvement over the XM3 is the sensibility of their touch panels. They respond quicker to a tap on panels and are simpler to control when making calls or listening to music. Sony has also added a feature that can make voices sound clearer and more precise during calls. This is a noticeable and nice touch.

Although the WH-1000XM4s may not be perfect, they are some of the most comfortable wireless headphones we've ever tried. They're comfortable, well-made, and have batteries that last for more than 30 continuous hours. They can also be used in a passive manner with a TRS cable which is perfect if you're traveling or need to conserve power.

The WH1000XM4s are 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 sounds. The B&Ws have a more flexible EQ and a companion app to tweak the audio quality. The B&Ws are more robust, 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 latest version of a headset that is a popular choice among commuters and travelers all over the world. Instead of reinventing the wheel, the new model retains the same formula that made the predecessor so popular, but adds USB-C, improved noise cancellation and longer battery life.

Similar to the QC 35 II before them, these over-ear Bose headphones sport a luxurious look and feel that exudes quality. The headband, constructed of plastic, provides a firm feel thanks to the hinges made of metal at pivot points. It also features the ratcheting mechanism that is familiar when you extend or retract your earcups. The cups are cushioned and have 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. They can be paired with a sweater or coat because they function even when not on your head.

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

One feature that's missing is the ability to pause playback when you take off the headset. This is a standard feature in this price range and Wireless.Headphones something that Bose's rivals have long offered. Another omission 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 control the EQ manually.

You can connect to your tablet or smartphone via Bluetooth 5.0 with multipoint support as well as more advanced codecs such as aptX Adaptive. Download the Bose Audio App to adjust your headset's audio and voice settings.

The QC45s also come with four microphones built into the headset to listen to your voice during calls. The call quality is generally excellent, but the headsets do not have the ability to mute your voice while playing back which is something other wifi wireless headphones headphones have. Update as of February 2022, a firmware upgrade to the QC45s provided manual EQ options within the audio app, which is a welcome improvement.

3. Focal Bathys Wireless

Focal is a French audio company known for high-performance headphones with long lasting comfort and a style that let listeners know they're listening to something truly special. The Bathys are their first wireless noise cancelling headphones. They look and sound stunning. They have a high-performance USB DAC built in, so you can use them both for wired and wireless listening.

Focal claims that the Bathys can play Bluetooth music for up to 30 hours. We actually got a little more with more than 40 hours of playtime on average of a single charge. If you are required to charge your headphones, the indicator light on the right earcup will turn red.

They come with a wide range of features for a pair of headphones of this price that include support for multiple devices at once and automatic pairing (though you'll need to select your source device each time you need to listen). The headphones come with built-in microphones that works with voice assistants, such as Siri or Alexa. The headphones come with an easy-to navigate interface that makes it simple to control music and make calls.

For headphones with over-ear connectivity, the Bathys are very good in our tests of noise cancellation, reducing the sound of the surrounding environment by about 9 decibels per hour on average. It's not as good as the ANC found in the Sony WH1000XM4 or Bose QuietComfort45/QC45 Wireless but it's still effective.

The Bathys headphones did well in our headphone tests. Their frequency response was generally similar to the headphone curve of SoundGuys with minor variations on the bass and mids. They have a deep, bass-filled sound profile that adds plenty of boom to mixes, however, they can make vocals and instruments like cymbals seem a bit veiled.

Wear them wherever you want without worrying that others will listen to your music. Their mic has passable recording quality through Bluetooth with only slight distortion in the mid to treble range.

4. Sennheiser Momentum 4

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless is a new update of the company's most popular Bluetooth headsets. The Momentum 3 was a solid but not an outstanding entry in this category. The new model improves on the previous model by having more sleek design, better gesture controls, and a huge battery life.

The improvements are subtle but can make for an over-ear pair of headphones that feels like an upgrade. The Momentum 4s are flat and do not fold. They come with a hardshell case to protect them while on the move. They also follow the style of several other recent Bluetooth headphones, such as the ones from Sony and Bowers & Wilkins, to be completely device-independent. They are compatible with Apple iPhones as well as Android phones, but do not have the AirPods additional features such as Find My Support and head-tracked spatial audio.

The most obvious difference here is the massive battery, which claims up to 60 hours of playback with the noise cancellation option turned on. This is more than the majority of the competitors offer and is enough for a long-distance trip without having to worry about finding an outlet to charge it.

Engadget senior editor Billy Steele gave the headphones an 82 rating with a focus on their audio quality and ANC as two of their strengths. The only issue he has is that they lack a sense gravitas in the mids and treble, meaning that orchestral tracks tend to sound flat, not grand. The bass is well-rounded, but can be too loud, which can cause to fatigue when songs have high-pitched bass lines, like the drum hits of As I Lay Dying’s Forever. The cymbals sound smoky rather than full, and there's no real sense of depth in the bass.

The Momentum 4s are not designed to place pressure on your neck or ear. They can be a bit fidgety when you wear them around the home or during long listening sessions. They will move around on your head, and make rapid head movements. This can cause them to unexpectedly wake up and can cause distraction during music or wireless.headphones calls. They shut down automatically after 15 minutes and can be shut off manually using the power button.