Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Roundup

Wireless headphones remove the restriction of wires in your listening experience. They are more comfortable for longer periods of time, and some can fold into a compact form to be stored away when not when not in use.

The Sony WH-1000XM5s Bluetooth headphones are a great pair of Bluetooth headsets that meet all the boxes. They offer class-leading sound quality, noise cancellation and a sleek design and excellent comfort. They even support the lossless LDAC high-res codec that provides superior audio playback.

Sound Quality

If you're a fan large, full-size wireless headsets that rest over your ears and are connected via the headband to block out and amplify audio, there's no shortage of options. In our round-up of the top over-ear Bluetooth headphones you'll find UC-certified headsets specifically designed to work with communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams, plus premium headphones from brands like Sony, Sennheiser, Bose and Bowers & Wilkins that are as luxurious as they are durable.

The Sony WH1000XM5 is one of our top picks. They improve on the multi-award winning predecessor by having an elongated design and improved noise cancellation. They also provide 37 hours of playback on a single charge, and can be charged quickly to give you 8 hours of playtime in only 15 minutes. They offer a balanced, enjoyable sound, and also support the lossless Sony LDAC high-res codec to stream music in stunning HD.

They have luscious, twinkling highs, as well as distinctive bass and mids. You can alter the audio characteristics of the headphones through their mobile app to match your preferences. For instance you can increase the emphasis on the bass or the treble. The headphones we tested were extremely precise and clear, with vocals and orchestral music sounding in glorious detail.

The Logitech Wireless Headphones G HUB are another of our top-rated Bluetooth headphones for over ear headphones with noise cancelling-ear use. They offer a balanced sound right from the box and offer clear audio. They have a good amount of bass to emphasize sound effects and game audio, and their sound is consistent. They're compatible with Logitech HUB software which includes an equalizer for graphics and presets for customizing the sound.

If you're willing pay a little more you can go for the Bowers & Wilkins premium Danish-made Px7S2 headphones are a top Bluetooth over-ear headphones. The Sonys are a bit less expensive however they sound better and appear better. They feature a tough aluminum casing and lambskin leather earcups filled with memory foam. The headphones are comfortable to wear and they are compatible with aptX audio codecs and SBC audio codes. This lets you listen to high-quality wireless music. They're beautifully made, too, and feature a classy, understated design that suits all tastes.

Noise Cancellation

If you're looking to block out the world and completely immerse yourself in your favorite music or podcasts then noise cancellation is an essential feature. Wireless headphones that have noise cancellation capabilities typically have earpieces that are squeaky clean over your ears. This helps you to focus on the audio and block out any ambient sounds. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is used by a majority of over-ear headphones to block out ambient noise it works by listening to the surroundings and then creating an opposing sound to block the noise. They won't make your surroundings zen-like however they can reduce the sound of train engines and other noises.

ANC employs tiny microphones to listen for ambient sounds. These are then compared to the music you're currently listening to. Small differences between the two are then used to create an equal and opposite sound that is then fed through your earphones and effectively blocks out the background noise. The best noise cancelling headphones can also be adjusted using apps or a dedicated hardware control. This can allow you to choose a specific level of noise cancellation to suit the situation you're in.

The majority of the headphones we test include many other features beyond just the ability to control ANC. A majority of the headphones come with a microphone that allows hands-free calling and can be utilized with voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa. Some have built-in speakers for audio streaming.

In the area of noise cancellation we've seen some major improvements in recent years. For instance, Focal has thrown itself into the premium wireless ANC headphones market with its Bathys which we adore for their outstanding comfort, slick features and stunning audio quality. The Bathys have the ability to cut down background noise by up to 30dB. You can adjust ANC levels through an app, and also set three favorite settings that you can switch using a physical button located on the left earcup.

While the quality of sound of headphones is an important aspect Noise cancellation should be on the top of your list when shopping for a new pair of headphones. The most well-known ANC models available tend to be costly, but that's because they offer excellent quality of construction and battery life. If you're on a budget Sony WF-1000XM5s are our top pick because they provide excellent noise cancellation and slick sound quality for an affordable price.

Battery Life

Wireless headphones should last for as long as they are able to. This is because they drain their own battery as well as the audio device that's playing music through them, so it's crucial to select headphones with a sufficient amount of storage in case you miss an charge or run out of power. Many companies now offer headphones with a huge capacity of storage, and some even use solar power to increase their storage automatically when you're not using them.

Over-ear headphones usually come with larger earcups that cover your ears, meaning they can accommodate larger batteries to allow for longer play times and more advanced features. They also offer better noise-cancelling, as their larger size provides a better seal to the environment.

The top brand Bang & Olufsen makes some of the top headphones for over-ear with its flagship H95 wireless headphones providing an immersive listening experience. With a premium design with aluminum details and Nappa leather they're the Best over ear headphones Noise cancelling choice for anyone who wants to listen in the comfort of their home for hours at a stretch.

For a more affordable pair of headphones for less money, the Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro offers a remarkable battery life of 50 hours with ANC turned on and 65 hours without it. This is far ahead of the competitors and is a testament to the headphones' remarkable quality of construction that includes a comfortable fit and a durable headband that can take an abuse.

Another option that is affordable is the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless headphones, which can be used for up to 44 hours with ANC turned on and feature an active noise cancellation system that's extremely efficient in blocking out background noise. The sound quality is also good with a V-shaped profile that produces plenty of bass while brightening the vocals and instruments.

The latest Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless headphones aren't as expensive, but they still come in at under $100 and provide great isolation thanks to foam ear tips as well as solid, if not the most advanced, noise cancelling features on this list. The headphones also come with Bluetooth 5.3 and the most recent LDAC codec, which allows for high-resolution audio. They can be charged with the included cord, or Best Over ear headphones noise Cancelling via USB.

Portability

The amount of space that a pair of headphones take up once folded down into their most compact format is a crucial aspect in their portability capabilities. The smaller the fold down format, the easier it is to put them in the bag or backpack to use on the go without getting in your way.

The Audio-Technica Bluetooth ATH-M50xBT wireless headphones is a great option if you want a wireless headphone that is easy to use and offers a wide range of features for everyday listening. They're light, fold down in a neat manner, and come with an impressive 44 hours of playback time. They support multi-devices pairing and have a superb microphone for phone calls.

If you don't intend to use your headphones for hands-free calling, the Audio-Technica S200BT is a better option. They are more comfortable and come with a playback time of 50 hours. They also have an adjustable cable for wired use and come with a tough hard case.

The Sony WF-C700N, a five-star performer that's the top pick of What Hi-Fi?'s team, and the JBL Live Pro 2 are two other top-rated over-ear wireless headphones. Both headphones cost $100 / PS100 / $150 and come with active noise cancellation, but they're not as well-made as some of our higher-end recommendations.

For a more luxurious experience, the Focal Bathys Wireless are a premium pair of headphones that offer impressive sound quality for their price. The Focal Bathys Wireless have a V shaped sound profile with lots of bass that complements EDM hip-hop, rock and other genres. The sound of vocals and instruments is clear and best over Ear headphones noise Cancelling you can adjust the sound to suit your taste by using the graphic EQ feature in their companion application. They also support aptX Adaptive Codec to provide a high-res stream and have an option to listen via USB-DAC.

For a pair that's even more expensive but still worthy of our five-star seal, check out the multi-award-winning Sony WH-1000XM5. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is not expensive, but it comes with an extremely long battery life, superb noise cancellation and allows you to listen to music for a long time without having to worry about running out of battery or needing to charge.