Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?
Noise-cancelling headphones can be an ideal solution for anyone who enjoys listening, whether you’re in the office or on the train. Which ones are the best, though?
With a new design that is a step up in sound quality, and a wealth of features, Sony’s latest flagship headphones offer great value. From the forceful chorus to Sinead O’Connor’s unstable bridge, these headphones offer incredible clarity and authenticity.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony is a pro at noise cancellation, and its WH-1000XM5 headphones are the best iteration of the series. A few well-thought-out upgrades over the XM4s makes this model an all-around excellent pair of cans, especially for those who commute or travel. They are comfortable, feature multipoint technology to connect two devices simultaneously, and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has ever made. They’re also lightweight and offer approximately 27 hours of playback with no charging, which is sufficient to last a week’s worth commutes or a long-haul flight.
The WH1000XM5s are sleek and minimalist in design. They are made from ABS, which is a recyclable and recycled plastic. The branding is minimal. You’ll find a tiny Sony logo on every hinge of the earcup. The headband and earcups have soft, plush material that is comfortable for all head sizes apart from the biggest. The ears can be adjusted to be perfectly sized for you.
Unlike previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves in order to block out ambient noise. This improves overall quality of the sound, and can help reduce engine and cabin noises during flights. The XM5s have an additional processor that can dial up noise cancellation even further on airplanes and the audio app can also automatically adjust the listening environment to air pressure data.
The WH-1000XM5s comes with a voice assistant that is simple to use, and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and many more. You can also pair the XM5s with other Sony audio products to allow multi-room music playback and stereo separation. They can support Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio via Sony’s LDAC, but not HD or aptX.
2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
When a company has been manufacturing headphones for as long as Sennheiser is a top brand, you can expect superior sound quality and a comfortable fit. With their latest over-ears dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they offer both. They’ve revamped the design to remove some of the distinctive elements that gave the earlier models the look of a aviator headset and also improved the active noise cancellation by using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They’ve rated the headphones to last for 60 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, doubling the battery life of their major other competitors.
The new model is also more portable, since it folds up and is smaller. The ear pads and the headband are made of synthetic PU leather, which feels comfortable on my head even when I wear it all day. They are also not very tight, so you can wear them for long flights or even during workouts.
The sound is well-balanced and clear, though there are some high-pitched peaks in the mid- and high-mid, which can cause slight muddiness in mixes. The bass is a little overemphasised, adding some extra energy and thump to genres such as EDM or hip-hop. It’s not an issue, but some listeners may be annoyed. The high-mid is a little uneven balance too that pushes instruments and vocals towards the front of the mix however at the expense of bringing out sibilants in some songs.
The Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless comes with all the usual features, including Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a translucent mode that blends outside sounds into your music for improved awareness, and mobile app support for bose Over the ear headphones noise cancelling custom and pre-set EQ options. They can also be used with a 3.5mm cable when connecting to your phone via wire. They can make use of SBC, AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your phone, and they’re able to cut down latency by as much as a quarter of a second, which is great.
3. B&W PX7 S2
The original PX7s were a top choice on many lists of the most reliable Bluetooth headsets due to their outstanding ANC and sound quality. The PX7s, like most wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a refresh. This is why the PX7S2. B&W hasn’t just redesigned the design of the new version, but has made significant improvements to ANC and added more voice-call features, too.
The PX7 S2 headphones are extremely light, making them comfortable for long listening sessions. The design of the PX7 S2 is largely identical to the model before it. It has the sleek oval aluminum top-plate for the earcups, the hook-like accent that slides rather than clicks when you expand the headband and the physical buttons. The earcups are smaller, and the headband isn’t as substantial.
B&W’s software allows you to adjust EQ settings for treble and bass, however, you don’t have as much control over the mix of the two components 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 configured in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to call your device’s voice assistant.
The PX7 S2 sounds great for the majority of musical styles, with a soundstages that have plenty of space and excellent separation between the various elements of sound. It shines in particular on works that feature acoustic instruments such as Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata in G Minor Op. 19 by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capucon, with woody instrumental tones and the feeling of air. It can also handle heavier fare and has the bass sound and midrange clarity of Entombed’s fusion of garage and death-n’-roll, Ride the Straight, bose over the ear headphones noise cancelling Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth providing an overwhelming soundscape while still allowing to hear vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov’s grittier growl.
4. Bose QuietComfort 35
bose over the ear headphones noise cancelling was one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. They held the market for years but now they have to compete against newer headsets that offer more features and superior sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great option for anyone who wants to listen to their music or podcasts without noise or rumbles.
The default sound profile is balanced and they’re comfortable to wear. The ANC does a great job of removing background noise, although it tends to focus on low frequencies more than newer headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM5.
The QC35s are an excellent pair of headphones for listening to audiobooks and podcasts. They have an active noise cancellation feature that reduces ambient noise but still allowing you to be completely isolated from the surrounding. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and “audio-share” which means you can listen to something on one set of headphones noise and answer an incoming call with the other pair.
The Bose Connect app is decent but doesn’t offer the extensive EQ options that other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode with a cable, but sound quality takes a big loss and they don’t have the same battery longevity as wireless models.
The QC35s are a bose over ear noise cancelling headphones product, but it may not be for all. Other brands offer more sleek designs. However you can add a touch of personalization by buying an ear cover-up with decals from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You’ll also be able to customize the color of the ear cups and the headband later this year, just like you can with the older QC25 model.
5. Sony WH-1000XM3
Sony’s WH1000XM3 is among the top wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation that you can buy today. They’re more expensive than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they are able to block out more ambient noise and feel better-built. They also come with a superior companion app that gives you many sound customization options.
The XM3s offer a fantastic audio quality, and since their release, they’ve been enhanced to give even better performance. They have a little bit more depth in the frequency spectrum. The noise cancellation is superior at all levels of volume. They also have better controls like Quick Attention mode and Speak-to chat. The new feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound that is allowed in, based on the location you are in and what you are doing.
There are some issues, however. The treble may be a little overpowering at times and the midrange sounds slightly recessed. They still have the tendency to boost the bass too much on certain tracks, making the sound too heavy and full. But this is something you can correct in the headphone settings or by using EQ adjustments in the Sony app.
The XM3s are a great pair of headphones, especially for commuters or frequent travelers. They are more comfortable, feel and look premium, and are more durable over the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a more powerful battery, and one of the most effective features for noise cancellation available. They’re also more adaptable and more suitable for use on mobile devices than the Audio-Technica ATH M50X Wireless, even though they have less impressive noise cancellation. They’re not waterproof, which could be a problem for some.