Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

If you're on the train or in the office the noise-cancelling headphones can be an absolute must for those who love to listen. Which are the most effective?

Sony's flagship headphones are a fantastic value. They offer a new design and superior sound quality, as well as impressive features. From the raucous chorus to Sinead's shaking bridge, these headphones deliver superb detail and authenticity.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is a pro at noise cancellation, and its WH-1000XM5 headphones are the top model of this line. A few well-thought-out improvements Over Ear Wireless Headphones Noise Cancelling the XM4s makes this model an all-around excellent pair of headphones, particularly for commuters and travelers. They're comfortable and feature multipoint technology that allows you to connect to two devices simultaneously and have the best noise cancelling over ear headphones ANC Sony has ever created. They're also lightweight and offer approximately 27 hours of playback without charging, which is enough for a week's worth of commutes or a long-haul flight.

The WH1000XM5s are sleek and minimalist in appearance. They are made from ABS, a recyclable and recycled plastic. Branding is minimal, though there is the tiny "Sony" logo on the hinge of each earcup. The headband and earcups feature soft, plush materials that is comfortable for all types of heads with the exception of the largest. The earcups are also adjustable so that you can find the perfect fit for you.

Unlike previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves, which cancels out ambient sounds. This improves overall sound quality and can help reduce engine and cabin noises on flights. The XM5s is equipped with another processing unit to enhance noise cancellation on planes. The audio app can also automatically adjust the sound environment you are listening to according to air pressure data.

The WH-1000XM5s comes with an assistant for voice that is simple to use, and works with Alexa as well as Google Assistant, Siri, and many more. You can also pair the XM5s to other Sony audio products for multi-room music playback as well as stereo separation. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming via Sony's LDAC codec but they're not compatible with the aptX or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

If an organization has been producing headphones for longer than Sennheiser, you expect class-leading sound quality and a comfy fit. They've delivered on both counts with their latest pair of good over ear noise cancelling headphones-ears dubbed the Momentum 4 Wireless. They've updated the design to eliminate certain elements that gave the previous models the look of a aviator headset and have also enhanced the active noise cancellation by using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They've rated these headphones to last for 60 hours of listening time with ANC enabled, which is more than double the battery life of many competitors.

They're also a lot more portable than the previous model as they fold down and are much smaller overall. They're made from synthetic PU leather for the replaceable ear pads and headband that feel comfortable on my noggin even when I wear them for the entire working. They are also not very tight, so you can wear them for long flights, or even during your workout.

The sound is clean and well-balanced, though there are some peaking in the low-mid and high-mid which cause slightly muddy sound in mixes. The bass is overemphasized, which adds a little punch and thump to genres such as EDM or hip-hop. It's not an issue, but some listeners may find it irritating. The high-mid also has a sloppy balance in bringing instruments and vocals forward in the mix, but at the expense of bringing out some vocal sibilants.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless comes with all the usual features including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparent mode which blends outside sounds into your music to enhance awareness and mobile application support for custom and preset EQ options. They can also be connected with an 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 can reduce latency by as much as a quarter of a second and that's a huge benefit.

3. B&W PX7 S2

Since their release, the original PX7s have been featured on numerous lists of the top Bluetooth headphones, topping them in many cases thanks to their exceptional ANC and strong sound quality. However, like many wireless headphones, they've been getting older and required to be refreshed and hence the PX7 S2. B&W did not just alter the design however, they also made improvements to ANC, and added more voice-calling features.

The PX7 S2 headphones are extremely light, making them ideal for over Ear wireless headphones noise cancelling long listening sessions. A lot of the look is reminiscent of the previous model, like the cool oval aluminum earcup top as well as the hook-like design on the headband, which glides instead of clicking as you expand it and the actual physical buttons. The earcups are smaller, however, and the headband feels a little less large overall.

B&W's software allows you to adjust EQ settings for treble and bass, but you don't get as much control over the ear headphones wireless noise cancelling the mix between the two components as you do with higher-end headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup toggles environmental modes and can be adjusted in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to activate the voice assistant on your device.

The PX7 S2 sounds great for all musical styles, and has a soundstages that have ample width and great separation between the various elements of sound. It is particularly impressive on music that has acoustic instrumentation like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. 19, composed by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capucon with woody instrumental tones and a sense of air. It's also capable of handling heavier songs as well, thanks to the bass sound and midrange clarity of Entombed's crossover of death-n'-rock and garage to Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth giving an impressive sound wall while allowing to hear the vocals, such as Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

bose noise cancelling headphones 700 over ear is one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. While they held an unwavering position in the market for years, they are now competing with more modern headphones that offer more features and superior sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for anyone looking to listen to their music or podcasts without sound rumbles or hums.

They're also comfortable to wear and come with a an incredibly balanced default sound profile. The ANC is excellent at eliminating background noise. However it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than other headphones, such as the Sony WH1000XM5.

The QC35s are a fantastic pair of headphones that can be used to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. They have a passive noise cancellation mode that blocks out ambient sounds but still allowing you to be completely isolated from the surrounding. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and "audio-share" which allows you to play something on one pair of headphones and answer an incoming call from the other.

The Bose Connect app is decent but doesn't provide the full EQ options of some other headphone apps. The QC35s are also used in wired mode using an audio cable, however the quality of sound takes a huge loss and they don't have the same battery life as wireless models.

The QC35s come with a well-known Bose style that may not be as appealing to some people as the sleeker designs of other manufacturers. However you can add a touch of personalization by buying an ear cover-up with decals from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. Later this year, you'll be able customize the color of the earcups and headband, similar to the older QC25.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 headphones are the best wireless headphone with active noise cancellation you can buy today. They're a bit more expensive than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they isolate a lot more ambient noise and feel much more durable. The app is also more advanced and offers tons of sound-related options for customization.

The XM3s have an excellent sound quality, and ever since their release they've been improved to provide an even better experience. They have a little more clarity across the frequency spectrum, their noise cancelling works better at all levels of volume and they've improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control and Speak-to-Chat. They also have a new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that automatically adjusts how much external sound is allowed in based on where you are and what you're doing.

However, they're not without imperfections. The treble can be a little overpowering at times and the midrange is slightly receding. They do have the potential to increase the bass too much on some tracks, making them sound heavy and full. But that's something you can address through the headphone settings or by using EQ adjustments in the Sony app.

The XM3s are a fantastic pair of headphones, especially for commuters and frequent travelers. They are more comfortable, feel and look premium, and are more durable over ear headphones noise cancelling bluetooth the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a larger battery and one of the top noise cancelling features available. They're also more versatile and more suited for use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH M50X wireless, though their noise cancelling is less impressive. They're also not waterproof which is a problem for some.