Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?
The noise-cancelling headphones can be an absolute blessing for anyone who loves to listen whether in the office or in the train. Which are the best?
With a brand new design, superior sound quality and a plethora of features, Sony's newest flagship headphones offer great value. From the forceful chorus to Sinead's unstable bridge, these headphones deliver superb detail and realism.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony is an expert in noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the top model of the series. A few well-thought-out improvements over the XM4s make this model an all-around excellent pair of cans, especially for those who commute or travel. They're comfortable, have multipoint technology to connect to two devices at once and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has ever created. They're light and can run up to 27 hours without charging. This is enough time for a week of daily commutes or a long-haul flight.
The WH-1000XM5s sport a sleek minimalist design. They are made of recycled and recyclable plastic, known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Branding is minimal, though you'll see the tiny "Sony" logo on the hinge of each earcup. The headband and earcups feature a soft, plush material that is comfortable for all head sizes except the largest. The earcups can be adjusted so that they fit you perfectly.
Contrary to previous models which focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves, which cancels out background noise. This improves overall sound quality and helps to reduce engine and cabin noises on flights. The XM5s are equipped with another processor to increase noise cancellation further on airplanes, and the audio app will also automatically adjust your listening environment using air pressure data.
The WH-1000XM5s also features an integrated voice assistant that is easy 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 enable stereo and multi-room music playback separation. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming via LDAC codec from Sony but they're not compatible with the aptX or aptX HD.
2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
If an organization has been producing headphones for many years, including Sennheiser, you expect class-leading audio quality and a comfortable fit. With their latest headphones, dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they provide both. They've revamped the design to eliminate certain elements that gave the original models their aviator headset look and also improved their active noise cancellation by using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They've evaluated these headphones to last 60 hours of listening with ANC enabled, which is more than double the battery life of their major rivals.
They're also more portable than the previous model since they fold down and are much smaller overall. They're made from synthetic PU leather for the re-usable ear pads and headband that feel comfortable on my head even if I wear them all day at work. They're also not extremely tight, which means you can wear them for long flights or during your workouts.
The sound is well-balanced and clear However, there are a few peaks in the low-mid and high-mid that cause a slight muddiness in mixes. The bass is overemphasized, adding extra punch and thump in genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not a major issue however it could be a problem for some listeners. The high-mid area has a little uneven balance too, pushing vocals and instruments to the forefront of mixes but at the expense of bringing out sibilants within some songs.
The Sennheiser momentum 4 wireless has all the usual features that include Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a translucent mode that blends outside sounds into your music for improved awareness, as well as mobile application support for custom and pre-set EQ options. They can also be connected with a 3.5mm cable when connecting your phone to it via wire. They can use SBC, AAC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your device, and they're able to reduce the latency to as little as one quarter of a second which is fantastic.
3. B&W PX7 S2
Since their launch in 2004, the original PX7s have been featured on numerous lists of the top Bluetooth headphones, atop them in a lot of cases due to their outstanding ANC and strong sound quality. over ear noise cancelling headphones , as with many wireless headphones, were becoming old and required a refresh. Hence the PX7S2. B&W hasn't just redesigned the design of the new version, but has made substantial improvements to ANC and also added more voice-call features, too.
The first thing you notice when you open the box and pick up the PX7 S2 is how lightweight they are, which makes them very comfortable for long listening sessions. The look of the PX7 S2 is mostly the same as the previous model. This includes the sleek oval aluminum top-plate that is used for the earcups, the hook-like accent that slides instead of clicks when you expand the headband and the physical buttons. The earcups are a bit smaller, however, and the headband feels a little less large overall.
The software from B&W lets you adjust the EQ settings for the bass and treble. However you aren't as in control as you do with more expensive headphones. The Quick Action button on left earcup toggles the environmental modes. It can also be set to call the voice assistant on your device through the Bowers & Wilkins Music App.
The PX7 S2 sounds great for the majority of musical styles, with a the soundstage offering ample width and great separation between the various sounds. It shines particularly on pieces that showcase acoustic instruments, like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. 19, by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capeucon, with woody instrumental tones and the feeling of air. It can also handle heavier songs too. The bass power and midrange clarity of Entombed's crossover of garage and deathn'roll To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth provide a wall of noise while allowing you to hear vocal details like Lars-Goran Petrov’s gritty growl.
4. Bose QuietComfort 35
Bose is among the first companies to bring active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. While they held an unwavering position in the market for many years however, they are now competing against newer headsets with more features and superior sound quality. But, the QuietComfort 35 is still a excellent option for anyone looking to hear their music or podcasts without being disturbed by continuous buzzing and rumbles.
The default sound profile is balanced, and they're comfortable to wear. The ANC does an excellent job of eliminating background noise, although it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than newer headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5.
The QC35s are a fantastic pair of headphones to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. They come with a noise cancellation mode that is passive that blocks out ambient sounds while still keeping you isolated from your surroundings. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and "audio-share" to ensure that you can listen to music on one pair of headphones and answer an incoming call with the other.
The Bose Connect App is decent but it doesn't offer the vast EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode, but the sound quality is significantly reduced and the battery life isn't as great as wireless models.
The QC35s sport a classic Bose style that may not be as appealing to some people than the more modern designs of other brands. However, you can add a bit of personalization by buying a decal cover-up from companies such as SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You'll also be able customize the color of the earcups and headband later this year, similar to what you could with the earlier QC25 model.
5. Sony WH-1000XM3
Sony's WH1000XM3 headphones are the best wireless headphone that has active noise cancellation you can buy today. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more ambient noise. They also have a superior companion app that offers tons of sound customization features.
The XM3's outstanding audio quality is among their main draws, and they've been upgraded since their launch to offer the best performance. They're equipped with a little more depth in the frequency spectrum. The noise cancellation is better at all levels of volume. They also have upgraded controls like Quick Attention mode and Speak-to Chat. They also have a brand new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that adjusts automatically how much external sound is let in based on where you're at and what you're doing.
There are some issues, however. The midrange can sound receding, and the treble may sometimes be too loud. They still have the tendency to boost the bass too much on some tracks, making the sound too heavy and full. But this is something you can fix in the headphone settings or via EQ adjustment within the Sony app.
The XM3s are a fantastic pair of headphones, particularly for frequent travelers and commuters. They're more comfortable, look and feel more durable and premium than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless, and they have a far better battery and one of our favorite noise cancelling features in the business. They're also more adaptable and more mobile-friendly than the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X Wireless, despite having less impressive noise cancellation. And they're not waterproof, which could be a deal-breaker for some people.