Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best? If you're on the train or at work, noise-cancelling headphones are a godsend for anyone who likes to listen. Which ones are the best? Sony's flagship headphones are an excellent value. They feature a brand new design and a superior audio quality as well as enviable features. These headphones can capture every detail, from Sinead O'Connor's shaking Bridge to the intense chorus. 1. Sony WH-1000XM5 Sony is an expert in noise cancellation, and its WH-1000XM5 headphones are the most advanced version of this series. This model is an excellent pair of headphones, especially for those who commute or are traveling. They're comfortable, feature multipoint technology to connect two devices at once and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has produced yet. They're also lightweight and offer approximately 27 hours of playback with no charging, which is plenty to last a week's worth commuting or one long-haul flight. The WH-1000XM5s have a sleek minimalist design and are made of recycled and recyclable plastic, known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The branding is minimal. You'll see a tiny Sony logo on every hinge of the earcup. The earcups and headband are cushioned by a plush soft material that feels comfortable on all heads. The earcups can be adjusted to fit you perfectly. Contrary to previous models which focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves, which cancels out ambient noise. This improves the overall sound quality and helps drown out engine and cabin noise during flights, for instance. The XM5s are equipped with an additional processor that can dial up noise cancellation even more on planes and the audio app can also automatically adjust your listening environment using data on air pressure. Other features of the WH-1000XM5s are an enhanced voice assistant that's simple to use and integrates with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and many more. You can also pair the XM5s to other Sony audio products to allow multi-room music playback as well as stereo separation. They support Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio using Sony's LDAC, but not aptX or HD. 2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Sennheiser has been manufacturing headphones for more than 50 years. You can expect superior sound quality, as well as a comfortable fit. With their latest headphones, dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they provide both. They've revamped the design to remove some of the distinctive elements that gave the previous models the look of a aviator headset and also improved the active noise cancellation with their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. The headphones are designed to last 60 hours with ANC on this, which is more than double the battery life of many competitors. The new model is more compact, since it folds up and is smaller. The earpads and headband are made of artificial PU leather, which feels comfortable on my head when I wear it all day. They're also not extremely tight, which means you can wear them for long flights or even during your workouts. Best over ear headphones noise cancelling is smooth and clear, but there are some highs which can cause a bit of confusion to the mixes. The bass can be a bit overemphasized, which adds a little energy and thump to genres like EDM or hip-hop. It's not an issue but it might annoy some listeners. The high-mid also has an uneven balance in bringing instruments and vocals forward in the mix but at the expense of bringing out a few vocal sibilants. The Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless has all of the usual features such as Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a clear mode that blends outside sounds into your music for improved awareness, and mobile application support for pre-set and custom EQ options. They can also be connected with an 3.5mm cable for connecting your phone to it via wire. They can connect to your device by using SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes, and they are able to reduce the latency by up to a quarter second. 3. B&W PX7 S2 The original PX7s were a top choice on many lists of the most reliable Bluetooth headsets, thanks to their outstanding ANC and the sound quality. However, like many wireless headphones, they've been getting older and needed to be refreshed, hence the PX7 S2. B&W hasn't just redesigned the design for the new version, but it's made substantial improvements to ANC and also added features for voice calls, too. The PX7 S2 headphones are extremely lightweight, which makes them comfortable for long listening sessions. The look of the PX7 S2 is mostly the same as the model before it. It has the stylish oval-shaped aluminium 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, however, are smaller, and the headband isn't as substantial. The software from B&W lets you adjust the EQ settings for the bass and treble. However, you don't have as much control as you would with headphones that cost more. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switches between various modes of the environment. It can also be set in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to summon your device's voice assistant. The PX7 S2 is a great choice for all music styles. It has a large soundstage and a good separation of different sound elements. It shines in particular on works featuring acoustic instruments such as Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor Op. 19, by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capucon with a woody tone and a sense of air. It's also able to handle 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 overwhelming soundscape while allowing to be able hear vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl. 4. Bose QuietComfort 35 Bose is among the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. Though they had an unwavering position in the market for years but they are now competing against newer headphones that offer more features and better audio quality. That said, the QuietComfort 35 is still a excellent choice for anyone who wants to listen to their podcasts or music without being interrupted by constant noises and rumbles. They're comfortable to wear and come with a an excellently balanced default sound profile. The ANC does a fantastic job of eliminating background noise, although it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than newer headphones such as the Sony WH-1000XM5. The QC35s are a great pair of headphones to listen to audiobooks and podcasts. They feature a noise cancellation mode that is passive that reduces ambient noise while still keeping you isolated from your surroundings. The QC35s permit you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and audio-share which means you can listen to something on one set of headphones and answer an incoming phone call from the other pair. The Bose Connect App is decent however it lacks the extensive EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s are also available in wired mode, however the sound quality is significantly reduced and the battery longevity isn't as good as with wireless models. The QC35s come with a well-known Bose look that might not be as appealing to some consumers as the sleeker designs of other manufacturers. You can personalize your headphones by purchasing a decal-covered cover from companies like SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. Later this year you'll be able to customize the color of the earcups as well as the headbands, just like the earlier QC25. 5. Sony WH-1000XM3 Sony's WH1000XM3 is the best wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation that you can purchase right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise. The app is also more advanced and comes with a variety of options for sound customization. The XM3s have a great sound quality, and ever since their launch, they've been upgraded to give an even better experience. They have a little more clarity across the spectrum of frequencies and their noise cancelling functions better at all volume levels, and they have improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control, and Speak-to-Chat. The latest feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound let in based where you are and what you are doing. However, they're not without their shortcomings. The treble can sound occasionally a bit overpowering and the midrange can sound a bit receding. They also tend to boost the bass too much in certain tracks, making them sound overly full and heavy. This can be corrected via the Sony app or in the headphone settings. The XM3s are an excellent pair of headphones, especially for commuters and frequent travelers. They are more comfortable, feel and look premium, and last longer than the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a better battery and one of the top noise cancelling features available. They're also more flexible and more suited for use on the go than Audio-Technica's M50X wireless, though their noise isolation is less impressive. They're not waterproof, and that could be a deal breaker for some.
Best over ear headphones noise cancelling
