Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Roundup

Wireless headphones remove the necessity of wires in your listening experience. They are more comfortable to wear for a long time at a stretch and some fold down into a compact form factor for storage when not in use.

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

Sound Quality

There are plenty of options for those who want large wireless headphones that can fit over your ears and are connected to a headband by a headband to amplify and isolate sound. In our list of the top Bluetooth over-ear headphones you'll discover UC certified headsets that work with communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams. You'll also find premium models from Sony, Sennheiser and Bose which are just as well as durable.

The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones are one of our favorites. They improve on the multi-award-winning predecessor with a slimmer design and refined noise cancellation. The headphones over ear can also be used for up to 37 hours on a single battery charge. They can also be charged fast to provide an additional 8 hours in 15 minutes. They have a fun, balanced sound profile and can be used with the lossless Sony LDAC hi-res codec so you can stream music in stunning HD.

The headphones have a luscious and twitchy sound, with distinct mids and bass. You can alter the sound characteristics of the headphones through their mobile app to fit your personal preferences. For example, you can add more emphasis on the bass or the treble. In our tests, the headphones were incredibly precise and clear. Vocals and orchestral sounds sounded in great detail.

The Logitech Wireless Headphones G HUB are another of our top-rated Bluetooth headphones for over-ear use. They have a well-balanced sound right from the box and offer clear audio. The sound is smooth and has a good deal of low-bass, which helps to emphasize the sound effects and music from games. They're compatible with Logitech's HUB program, that includes an EQ graphic and presets that allow you to adjust the sound to suit your preferences.

If you're prepared to spend more money, the premium Danish-made Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 headphones are our top pick of the best over ear headphones for gym Bluetooth over ear headphones. They're a bit more expensive than the Sonys but they sound and look the part, with hard aluminum casings and lambskin earcups stuffed with memory foam. The headphones are comfortable to wear and they support the audio codecs aptX as well as SBC audio codes. This lets you listen to high-quality wireless music. They're also exquisitely made and sport a stylish minimalist design that can be adapted to suit the needs of all.

Noise Cancellation

Noise cancellation is crucial if you wish to block out all noise so you can focus on your podcasts or music. Wireless headphones with noise cancellation features typically come with the ear cups that are sealed over your ears to block out background noise and help you concentrate on your audio. Active noise cancellation (ANC) is used by the majority of over-ear headphones to cut down on ambient noise it works by listening to your surroundings and creating an opposing sound to cancel the noise. They aren't able to make your surroundings peaceful but they can cut down the sound of train engines and other noises.

ANC usually uses tiny microphones to listen for ambient sound. These is then compared with the audio you're listening to. The tiny differences between the two sounds are then used to create a sound that is equal and opposite. This is then fed into your ear which effectively muffles the ambient noise. The best noise cancelling headphones can also be adjusted through apps or a dedicated hardware control. You can choose the level of noise cancellation that suits your requirements.

Most of the headphones we test come with many additional features beyond the ability to control ANC. Many pairs have a microphone for hands-free calling and can be used with voice assistants like Siri and Alexa. Some models come with built-in audio streaming speakers.

Noise cancellation has improved significantly in the past few years. For example, Focal has thrown itself into the top wireless ANC headphone space with its Bathys, which we love for their incredible design, comfort and dazzling audio quality. They're able to reduce background noise by as much as 30dB. You can manage the ANC levels from an app and set three 'favorite' settings that are switchable using a physical button on the left ear cup.

While the quality of sound of headphones is a crucial factor, noise cancellation should be at the top of your list when you are looking for a new pair of headphones. The most popular ANC pairs on the market tend to be expensive, but that's because they provide exceptional quality of construction and battery life. The Sony WF1000XM5s is the top choice for those on a tight budget. They offer excellent noise cancellation and great sound quality at an affordable cost.

Battery Life

If you're planning on using headphones wireless on the go, you want them to last as long as is possible. They drain their own battery and the audio device that plays music through them, therefore it's crucial to select the right pair that has a large amount of storage in the event that you fail to get the charge or get power out. Many brands offer headphone models with plenty of storage. Some even use solar power to allow them to be charged automatically when you are not listening to them.

Over-ear headphones are typically larger and will cover more of your ears. This allows them to have larger batteries that allow for longer playtimes as well as more advanced features. They also tend to have better noise cancellation, as their bigger size helps to create a stronger seal against 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 detailing and Nappa leather They're the perfect option for the audiophile who would like to listen in comfort for hours at a stretch.

For more affordable headphones that are more affordable, 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 a significant improvement hook over Ear headphones the other models and is a testament to the headphones' impressive build quality that includes a comfortable fit and a durable headband that can take an abuse.

The Sennheiser Momentum Wireless headphones are a great budget option. They can be used up to 44 hours when the active noise cancellation feature is turned on, and they feature the ability to block out background noise with remarkable effectiveness. The sound quality is also excellent with a V-shaped profile that delivers lots of bass while also brightening the vocals and instruments.

The newest Sony WF-1000XM5 wireless headphones aren't cheap however they still come in at under $100 and provide great isolation thanks to foam ear tips and sturdy as well as the most advanced, noise cancelling on this list. They also support Bluetooth 5.3 which is compatible with the most recent LDAC codec for high-resolution audio. They can be recharged with the cord included or via USB to your computer.

Portability

The amount of space that a pair of headphones occupy once folded into their smallest format is an important aspect in their portability capabilities. The smaller the fold down size, the easier it is to slip them into bags or backpacks to take on the go without getting in the way.

If you're looking for a simple wireless headphone that has plenty of features that will suit everyday listening, hook Over Ear headphones the Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT is an excellent option. They're lightweight, fold down easily, and provide an impressive 44 hours of playback time. They also allow multi-device pairing and come with a great microphone for phone calls.

If you're not going to use your headphones for calls that are hands-free, the Audio-Technica ATH-S200BT are a better option as they are more comfortable and come with an impressive 50 hours of playback. The headphones also come with an adjustable cord to use wired headphones and a hard case.

A five-star performer and a favourite with What Hi-Fi?'s team, the Sony WF-C700N and JBL Live Pro 2 TWS are two other top pairs of affordable over ear wireless headphones. Both headphones are priced around $100, PS100, or AU$150 and feature active noise cancelling, but they're not as well-made as our top recommendations.

For a more luxurious experience, the Focal Bathys Wireless are a premium pair of headphones with outstanding sound quality for the price. They feature a V-shaped sound profile that offers plenty of bass to compliment EDM hip-hop, rock and other genres. The sound of vocals and instruments is bright and you can adjust the volume to suit your preferences with the graphic EQ available in their companion application. They also support aptX Adaptive codec to provide high-res streaming and have an optional USB-DAC mode that allows wired listening.

If you're looking for a pair that's more expensive but still worthy of our five-star seal take a look at the multi-award winning Sony WH-1000XM5. They're not inexpensive, but they do have an amazing battery life and excellent noise cancelling that will allow you to listen for long periods without worrying about needing to recharge or running out of battery.