Notes

Why You Should Focus On Enhancing Wireless Over Ear Headphones
Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Roundup

Wireless headphones remove the restriction of wires from your listening experience. They are more comfortable to wear for a long time at a time, and some can fold down into a compact size to pack away when not in use.

The Sony WH-1000XM5s Bluetooth headphones are an excellent pair of Bluetooth headsets that check all the boxes. They offer class-leading audio quality, noise cancellation, a stylish design, and excellent comfort. best over ear headphones support the lossless LDAC high-res codec that provides superior audio playback.

Sound Quality

If you're a fan big, full-size wireless headphones that sit over your ears and are connected via a headband to isolate and amplify sound, there's no shortage of options. In our list of the best Bluetooth over-ear headphones, you'll discover UC certified headsets that can be used with communication platforms like Microsoft Teams. You'll also find premium pairs from Sony, Sennheiser and Bose which are just as they are durable.

One of our top picks is the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, which improve on their multi-award-winning predecessor with slimmer styling and refined noise cancellation. The headphones can be used for up to 37 hours on a single battery charge. They can also be charged fast to get an additional 8 hours in only 15 minutes. They come with a lively balanced sound profile and support the lossless Sony LDAC hi-res codec so you can stream music in stunning HD.

The headphones produce a rich and twitchy sound, with distinct mids and bass. You can alter the sound characteristics of the headphones through their mobile app to fit your own taste. For example, you can add more emphasis on the bass or treble. In our tests they were extremely precise and clear, with vocals and orchestral music playing in stunning clarity.

The Logitech Wireless Headphones G HUB are one of our top-rated Bluetooth over-ear headphones. They have a balanced sound right from the box and offer clear audio. They're equipped with a decent amount of bass to emphasize sound effects and game audio, and their sound is very consistent. They're compatible with Logitech's HUB software that includes an EQ graphic and presets to allow you to tailor the sound to your liking.

If you're prepared to spend more money, the premium Danish-made Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones are among our top picks of the best Bluetooth over ear headphones. They're more expensive than the Sonys but they look and sound like the real deal, with a hard aluminium casing and lambskin leather earcups stuffed with memory foam. The headphones are comfortable to wear, and they can be used with audio codecs aptX and SBC audio codes. This lets you listen to high-quality wireless music. They're also well-crafted and sport a stylish, understated look that is suitable for all tastes.

Noise Cancellation

If you're looking for a way to shut out the world and immerse yourself in your podcasts or music Noise cancellation is a crucial feature. Wireless headphones that have noise cancellation capabilities usually have ear cups 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) which is used by a majority of over-ear headphones to reduce ambient noise is achieved by listening to the surroundings and then creating an opposite sound to cancel the background noise. They won't make your surroundings zen-like, but they will reduce the sound of trains and other noises.

ANC utilizes tiny microphones that listen for ambient sounds. They then compare them with the audio you're currently listening to. The small differences between the two sounds are then used to create a sound equivalent and opposite. This is then fed into your ear cups which effectively muffles 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 environment you're in.

The majority of the headphones we test have a range of additional features beyond the ability to control ANC. A majority of the headphones include a microphone for hands-free calls. They can also be utilized with voice assistants such as Siri and Alexa. Some come with built-in speakers for audio streaming.

Noise cancellation has significantly improved in the last few years. Focal For instance, Focal has jumped into the top wireless ANC headphones market with its Bathys. We love them for their superb comfort and slick features and stunning audio quality. The Bathys have the ability to cut down background noise to as low as 30dB. You can adjust ANC levels via an app, and also set three favorite settings that you can switch using the physical button on the left earcup.

Noise cancellation should be the first thing you consider when purchasing the latest pair. Sound quality is important, but noise cancellation should also be at the top of the list. The most popular ANC headphones available tend to be costly however, this is because they offer excellent build quality and battery life. For those with a smaller budget Sony WF-1000XM5s is our top choice as they offer fab noise cancellation and great audio quality at a reasonable price.

Battery Life

Wireless headphones should last for as long as they possibly. This is because they consume both their own battery and that of the audio device playing music. Therefore, it's crucial to pick a pair of headphones that have enough storage capacity in case you run out of battery or power. Many companies now offer headphones with a substantial capacity of storage and some even incorporate solar charging to replenish their storage automatically when not listening to them.

Over-ear headphones are usually larger and can cover more of your ears. This lets them accommodate larger batteries, which allows for longer playtimes as well as more advanced features. They are also more noise-cancelling due to their size, which makes a better seal against the surrounding environment.

The top brand Bang & Olufsen makes some of the top headphones for over-ear, with its flagship H95 wireless headphones offering a soaring listening experience. They feature a luxurious design with aluminum details and Nappa Leather, making them the perfect choice for audiophiles who want to listen for hours at a time.

Anker Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro headphones are more affordable and have a battery life of 65 hours without ANC and 50 hours with it. This is far superior battery life than other headphones and is a testimony to the headphones' remarkable construction quality. They offer a comfortable fit and a sturdy headband.

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless headphones are another affordable option. They can be used for up to 44 hours when the active noise cancellation is turned on and have a system that blocks out background noise with remarkable efficiency. The sound quality is also good with a V-shaped profile that provides lots of bass while also brightening vocals and instruments.

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

Portability

The amount of space a pair of headphones takes up once folded down into their most compact format is an important aspect of their portability. The smaller the fold-down format the more convenient it is to slip them into bags or backpacks for use on the move without getting in the way.

The Audio-Technica Bluetooth ATH-M50xBT wireless headphones is a great choice if you want a wireless headphone that is simple to use and comes with plenty of features to make listening easy. They are lightweight, fold up neatly, offer 44 hours of playback, and are extremely compact. They also support multi-device pairing and come with a great microphone for phone calls.

If you're going to use your headphones for hands-free calls the Audio-Technica ATHS200BT are the better choice as they are more comfortable and come with an impressive 50 hours of playback. They also have an adjustable cable to use wired and come with a durable hard case.

The Sony WF-C700N, a five-star performer that is one of the most popular models among What Hi-Fi?'s team, and the JBL Live Pro 2 are two other top-rated over-ear wireless headphones. Both headphones are priced around $100 / PS100 / 150 AU$ and have active noise cancellation, however they're not quite as well-made as our top suggestions.

For a more luxurious experience for a more luxurious experience, the Focal Bathys Wireless are a premium pair of headphones with excellent sound quality for their price. They have an angled sound profile that offers plenty of bass to complement EDM hip-hop, rock and other genres. The vocals and instruments is bright and you can adjust the sound to your preferences with the graphic EQ available 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 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 cheap but it has an extremely long battery life, excellent noise cancellation and allows you to listen to music for a long period of time without worrying about running out of power or having to charge.

Website: https://www.headphonesshop.uk/categories/over-ear-headphones