Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones completely encapsulate your ears to immerse you in the sound. They tend to be tuned for audiophiles and come with features like active noise cancellation and control applications.

The Focal Bathys are a wireless pair with ANC and a mobile app to adjust the EQ and presets. They also support high-res audio for wired listening through USB-C.

Sony WH-1000XM5

The WH1000XM5 headphones by Sony are the most recent upgrade in their noise cancellation line-up. The headphones Noise cancelling are updated with a new design and improved ANC. They also have many of the same features, but they have superior sound quality and higher-end materials.

They're extremely light for over-ear ANC headphones, weighing just 250g. This makes them very comfortable to wear for long periods of time, even when you're listening to a podcast or a book. The headband has a friction-rod design, similar to the Grado Labs SR60x, which prevents your ears getting too cold.

The WH-1000XM5 comes with a distinct sound signature designed to please people who listen to music for pleasure as and serious audiophiles. It is tuned with a slight focus in bass, but it's not abrasive or overpowering. The earphones boast a huge and spacious soundstage, with good instrument separation. This allows you to hear the details in your music. The earcups have control buttons that are easy to use and responsive. Swipe up or down to alter the volume. You can also swipe forward to listen to the next track and backwards to hear the prior track. The headphones are capable of connecting to two devices at once and, thanks to a built-in sensor, they will automatically stop the playback when removed from your head. You can turn on ambient mode by placing your hand on the right earcup. This allows you to hear the sounds around you without having to take off the headphones.

Other helpful features include the ability to pair them with your voice assistant, Bluetooth low-energy, and bose uk Headphones support for hi-res audio (via LDAC). The bluetooh headphones come with a carry case made of premium fabric, and the USB-C charging cable. The headphones are compatible with Android and iOS smartphones, as well as computers running Windows or macOS. The WH-1000XM5's battery life is awe-inspiring. In our test of the standard battery we had 31 hours and 53 minutes with the ANC on, which was better than Sony's advertised 30 hour battery life.

The WH1000XM5 has a great microphone for making calls. There is no static or muffled audio in the background. The noise cancellation performance is excellent, and they're a good option for public transport as well as the office.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 is a major upgrade over its predecessor. It has a host of new features and improved performance. The Bowers & Wilkins S2 is a premium model with a variety of features like 24-bit wireless head phones streaming, active noise cancellation optimized, and clear voice calls on any compatible mobile or tablet. The 40mm drivers, which are custom-designed and angled to fit in each earcup, give you a more complete and focused listening experience. Six strategically placed microphones provide outstanding clarity for calls even in noisy surroundings. An inline remote and microphone lets you control your music and calls using any compatible device.

The headphones have a elegant and refined design as the original PX7. They feature accent rings around the earcups, and a silver sheen for the headband. The earcups are cushioned by memory foam and sit comfortably on the cranium, but they never feel tight. The new form and shape was refined over a period of time, and delivers a soft clamping pressure that isn't too hard on my skull, which is a rotund one.

They are 2 ounces lighter (or 307g) and are a little smaller than the Sony WH1000XM5. The headphones are lightweight enough to be carried in a bag or backpack and are comfortable to wear throughout long listening sessions. The headband is foldable by using a sturdy hinge on the back.

They're powered by Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive support which is ideal for both high-resolution audio and tight video sync. The 3.5mm cord connects to the USB-C port that is located on the right earcup. The headphone's status indicator is a helpful touch with a green flash to indicate a rapid charge, and solid blue when Bluetooth pairing is in progress.

The B&W App provides the same features that the hardware onboard buttons offer - bass and treble adjustments actions button assignments, wear detection, a cycle of ANC modes as well as other features. When you play music on your iPhone the app will display album cover and track titles. Popular extras such as music presets, soundscapes and music mode are missing, however.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The HD 800 S is a successor to the iconic Sennheiser headphones, and is made to meet the highest expectations. The design and construction of the headphones has been optimized to provide a detail resolution that encompasses all the spectrum of frequencies as well as dynamic range and stereo panorama. It also provides the most realistic sound you'll ever experience in a pair of open-back headphones.

The headphone has 300 ohms of impedance, so a good headphone amplifier is needed to operate it at the right levels without distortion. A balanced connection is recommended as this will double the output power and improve the overall sound quality.

These headphones are made for professional use. They have a steel frame and a mix of plastic and leather padding. The design is simple and they're not fancy however the quality of the headphones and their build are top-quality. They come with a carrying pouch as well as an additional audio cable as well as a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter.

With an unison sound profile, the HD 800 S reproduces natural instruments and vocals, even though they are somewhat light on bass. This is because the open-back design creates a spacious and out-of-head, passive soundstage. The treble performance is outstanding with only minor dips and peaks. The treble region also has a linear quality, so you will not have any issues with piercingsibilants or even the upper bite of the drum snare.

Even with the absence of loud bass, they can still deliver impact and dynamism when it is needed. They'll still be a great choice for those who enjoy listening to rock music with strong basslines, however they may not be as fun as some of the other models on this list, such as the HiFiMan Arya.

In the mids in the mids, these Sennheiser headphones are difficult to beat. They are very linear and have a slight scoop in the upper mids that should not be noticeable to the majority of listeners. They can also reproduce fine time gradations, which is a nice benefit.

The HD 800 S are a pair of outstanding headphones, ideal for audiophiles and professionals. They're a top choice because of their outstanding audio quality and comfortable fit. They are expensive, however they will last for many years and perform in any setting.

Anker Soundcore Life q20

The Anker Soundcore Life Q20 are a decent pair of headphones that can be a great choice for anyone who wants to kill some time or just wants an affordable set of noise cancelling headphones. The headphones come with a basic case that protects them when you put them in the bag. The battery will last for a long time on long-haul flights. Their ANC does a great job of blocking out chatty seatmates and engine rumbles from an airplane, although their audio profile is a bit warmer and bass-heavy.

The controls on the Life Q20 are well-marked and easy to use. On the left earcup, you'll find buttons for powering up and pairing the headphones, as well as to turn off or on active noise cancellation. On the right earcup you'll find controls for playing back media, including a multi-function button which lets you turn on your phone's voice assistant and enable Anker's BassUp feature (more on this later). The built-in microphone can be used to make calls using hands-free technology.

Anker's Soundcore Life Q20 headphones provides a full immersive listening experience thanks to its custom 40mm dynamic driver that provides certified Hi-Res audio. With a treble range that extends up to 40 kHz they can provide outstanding clarity and detail, as their active noise cancelling technology is designed to filter out a wide range of mid- and low-frequency sounds.

One important thing to be aware of about the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 is that they don't support aptX, which is disappointing. This means you won't in a position to benefit from the superior codec's low latency when playing on your computer.

In terms of comfort In terms of comfort, the Life Q20's memory foam earcups and headband are comfortable enough to wear for extended periods of time without causing discomfort. The earcups can rotate to adjust to the shape of your head. The included 3.5mm audio cable lets you to listen to music while charging the battery.