Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Whether you're on the train or in the office, noise-cancelling headphones are a godsend for anyone who likes to listen. Which ones are the best?

Sony's flagship headphones are a great value. They offer a new design and a superior audio quality as well as enviable features. From the forceful chorus to Sinead O'Connor's unstable bridge, these headphones deliver superb detail and real-world realism.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the leader in noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are among the top model in this model. This model is a great pair of headphones, especially for those who commute or are traveling. They're comfortable and feature multipoint technology to connect two devices at once and feature the best ANC Sony has made to date. They're lightweight and can run up to 27 hours with no charging. This is enough time for a week of daily commutes or long-haul flights.

The WH-1000XM5s feature an elegant, minimalist design and are made from a recycled and recyclable plastic referred to as acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). The branding is minimal, although you'll find a tiny "Sony" logo on each hinge of each earcup. The headband and earcups are cushioned with a plush, soft material that's comfortable on all heads. The ears can be adjusted to perfect fit your head.

Unlike previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves in order to block out background noise. This improves the overall quality of the sound, and can help drown out engine and cabin noises during flights. The XM5s are equipped with an additional processor that can increase noise cancellation more for airplanes and the audio application can also automatically adjust the listening environment to air pressure data.

Other features of the WH-1000XM5s are an enhanced voice assistant that's simple to use and integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and more. You can also pair the XM5s with other Sony audio products for multi-room music playback as well as stereo separation. They are compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio via Sony's LDAC, but not HD or aptX.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

When an organization has been producing headphones for longer than Sennheiser is a top brand, you can expect superior sound quality and a comfortable fit. With their new over-ears, called Momentum 4 Wireless, they provide both. They've redesigned their design to remove some characteristic elements that gave their earlier models their aviator-style headset look. They also improved active noise cancellation with their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. They've evaluated these headphones to last 60 hours of listening time when ANC enabled, doubling the battery life of many other competitors.

The new model is more portable, as it folds up and is a bit smaller. They're made of synthetic PU leather for the re-usable ear pads and headband which feel comfortable on my ear even if I wear them all day at work. There isn't a lot of clamping force that holds them in place either which means they'll remain comfortable on flights and during workouts that last longer.

The sound is balanced and clear, but there are some highs that can cause a little muddiness to mixes. The bass is a little overemphasized, which adds a little impact and thump to genres such as EDM or hip-hop. It's not a huge deal however some listeners may find it annoying. The high-mid has some uneven balance too, pushing vocals and instruments to the forefront of mixes but at the expense of bringing out sibilants into some songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is equipped with all the usual features including bluetooth beats Wireless noise cancelling Headphones (huff-bowling-2.technetbloggers.de) connectivity, a transparent mode which blends outside sounds into your music to increase awareness, and mobile app support for custom and preset EQ options. You can also use a 3.5mm cord to connect your phone. They can connect to your phone via SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes and can cut down the delay by as much as one quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were a top choice on a variety of lists of the most reliable Bluetooth headsets due to their excellent ANC and the sound quality. The PX7s, as with many wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a new look. This is why the PX7S2. B&W hasn't merely tweaked the design of the new version, but has made considerable improvements to ANC and added more voice-call features, too.

The first thing you will notice when you open the box and pick up the PX7 S2 is just how lightweight they are, which makes them comfortable for long listening sessions. The overall design is carried over from the previous model, like the sleek oval aluminum earcup top-plate, the hook-like accent on the headband, which glides instead of clicking as you expand it and beats wireless noise cancelling headphones the actual physical buttons. The earcups are smaller and the headband isn't as substantial.

The software of B&W lets you tweak EQ settings for treble and bass, however, you don't have as much control over the ear headphones wireless noise cancelling the mix between these two elements as you do with higher-end headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switch on the various modes of the environment. It can also be set within the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to call your device's voice assistant.

The PX7 S2 sounds great for all musical styles, and has a soundstages that have ample width and great separation between the various sounds. It shines in particular on works featuring acoustic instruments like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19 by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capeucon, with a woody tone and an airy feel. It can take on heavier music too. The bass power and midrange clarity of Entombed’s garage/deathn'roll crossover curiosity To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth, give an overwhelming sound while still allowing listeners to hear vocal details like Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. Though they had an unwavering position in the market for a long time however, they are now competing against newer headsets with more features and superior sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for anyone looking to listen to music or podcasts without hums or rumbles.

They're comfortable to wear and have an excellently balanced default sound profile. The ANC is excellent at eliminating background noise. However, it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than other headphones like the Sony WH1000XM5.

If you're looking for a pair of headphones that can be used to listen to podcasts or audiobooks, the QC35s have an impressive noise cancellation mode that reduces ambient noise while ensuring you are completely insulated from the hum of the surrounding environment. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and "audio-share" to ensure that you can listen to music with one set of headphones while taking an incoming phone call from the other pair.

The Bose Connect App is decent however it lacks the full EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s can be utilized in wired mode by using an audio cable, however the sound quality takes a major loss and they don't have the same battery life as wireless models.

The QC35s come with a well-known Bose look that might not be as appealing to some consumers as the sleeker designs of other brands. However you can add a bit of personalization by buying a decal cover-up from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You'll also be able to change the color of the earcups and headband later this year, much like you can do with the previous QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 headphones are the best wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation that you can purchase right now. They're a bit more costly than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they are able to block out more ambient noise and feel more sturdy. They also have a superior companion app that offers tons of sound customization features.

The XM3's outstanding sound quality is one of their biggest draws and they've been improved since their introduction to provide the best performance. They offer a little more clarity across the frequency spectrum, their noise cancelling works better at all levels of volume and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control, and Speak-to-Chat. The new feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound that is allowed in, based on where you are and what you are doing.

However, they aren't without imperfections. The midrange can sound a bit recessed and the treble can sometimes be too loud. They also have a tendency to increase bass too much in certain tracks, which makes them sound too full and heavy. But that's something you can address in the headphone settings or via EQ adjustment within the Sony app.

The XM3s make a great pair of headphones, particularly for frequent travelers or commuters. They're more comfortable, look and feel superior and more durable than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless, and they have a better battery and one of our favorite noise cancellation features available in the market. They're also more adaptable and more mobile-friendly than the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Wireless, although they have less impressive noise isolation. They're not waterproof, which could be a problem for some.