The Best Over-Ear Headphones

Bose 700 Wireless Headphones

Instant Home Office Wherever you Are

Lightweight and quite trendy, the Bose 700 look good whether you’re on the street, at home, or in the office!

We love that the product lets you control routine activities using voice controls (Alexa & Google Assistant enabled), but we’re also amazed by the powerful noise-canceling system with 11 levels of customization. Also, since this is an over-ear design, you get plenty of ventilation even if it’s a hot summer day!

If you add the amazing Bose-supported sound and the 20h autonomy, it’s easy to understand why so many people love them!

And should you want to use standard controls, the earcups have intuitive touch controls. Even more, you can pair your headphones with your Bose Soundbar, to create a more fun and interesting listening experience.

Sennheiser PXC 550-II

The Sennheiser Quality in a Portable Package

Sennheiser is already legendary for the sound quality of most of their products, so people using the PXC 550-II already have high expectations. And man, do they deliver!

In short, the sound quality is clear, powerful, and rich. Also, the Sennheiser Smart Control App has selectable sound modes so you can customize the listening experience according to your current mood.

If you add to all these the ANC system, it’s easy to understand these headphones’ popularity among people of all ages and trades. Of course, the build is solid and comfortable, with a focus on long-term usage (30h autonomy).

The right earcup is equipped with a touchpad and, with just one touch, you get to have your favorite AI helper (Google, Siri, or Alexa) at your disposal. With another touch, you can take calls and enjoy privacy and clarity even if you’re in a crowded place (due to the bespoke triple microphone array).

Lastly, the PXC 550-II headphones have a smart pause system that detects when you remove the headphones. When the action is detected, the music will stop and resume when the headphones are back on.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x

The Best Over-ear Headphones Under $200

These wired over-ear headphones are designed with 90° swiveling earcups to provide easy one-ear monitoring. Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is foldable, so you may always keep it in your bag when you leave your home. High-quality earpad and robust headband material guarantee comfort during long hours of use.

Thanks to circumaural contours that come around the ears Audio-Technica ATH-M50x has great sound isolation even in the loudest environment. Having extended frequency range it provides clear sounding with deep bass what makes them one of the best bass headphones on the market. Besides, its 45 mm large-aperture drivers that come with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils make these over-ear headphones very durable.

Another advantage is a reasonable price as Audio-Technica ATH-M50x is one of the best headphones under $200.

Sony WH-1000XM4

Sony’s Epic Take on Wireless Over Ear Headphones

Some say that the WH-1000XM4 are Sony’s best headphones to date, and we tend to agree to that bold statement. Here’s the deal: the WH-1000XM4 replace the previous M3 gen, which were also highly praised by the audiophile tribe (community, my bad).

Needless to say, the M4s are better than ever, and they deliver amazing SQ and impressive noise cancelation in a comfortable lightweight design. We would like to say the same about the price, but unfortunately, stellar quality doesn’t come cheap, and the same goes for the WH-1000XM4, which retail for approximately $350. And yes, that’s a lot of dough, though we dare say they are worth every penny.

In terms of design, the M4s look pretty much like their predecessors, but there are new features squeezed in, the likes of multipoint pairing, DSEE Extreme upscaling, conversational awareness and auto-play/pause using a built-in sensor.

On top of that, these wireless over-ear headphones deliver exceptionally well in any aspect, ranging from sound quality to comfort and noise cancelation, not to mention Sony’s cutting-edge codec support, including Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format and LDAC.

While these headphones are ideal for long commutes and travelers, they are not so great for sport aficionados, as they have zero water resistance, and, due to their comfy design, they don’t have a secure fit. Except from these caveats, the WH-1000XM4 are great for nearly everyone else, being arguably some of the best headphones released in 2021.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm

The Best Closed Back Over-ear Headphones for Recording

These over-ear headphones are designed with soft circumaural and replaceable velour ear pads for comfortable wearing during long hours of listening. Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO has a durable construction with spring steel headband that will survive long journeys in your bag as well as ups and downs thanks to its high German quality.

Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO is one of the best studio headphones that can boast of vivid sound with detailed resolution. They come with ultra-low bass and clear highs. Thanks to its spacious reproduction this headset is beloved by many professionals that use it for studio applications. Still, it’s also a wonderful option for music lovers and non-professionals.

Sennheiser Momentum 3

Never Miss A Beat With Great ANC & Other Features

With an elegant and modern design, the Momentum 3 wireless headphones are perfect for any casual or formal environment. In addition, the over the ear cups are perfect during any season as there is enough ventilation to prevent any overheating.

As expected from a Sennheiser product, the sound is exceptional with well-balanced depth and precision (almost studio quality). To make things even better, the earcups are fitted with intuitive controls, advanced mics (for immersive chats) and auto On/Off with smart pause features.

Since these are designed for use in noisy environments, the ANC module with Transparent Hearing is a great addition. Even more, it’s tailored to different environments so you can set it according to your needs.

Lastly, the headphones work in tandem with the Sennheiser Smart Control app where users are offered several more customization options. The app’s interface is intuitive and simple, with several modes for noise cancellation and a built-in equalizer.

Bowers & Wilkins PX7

The Perfect Noise Isolation Design

Over-the-ear headphones are perfect for passive noise isolation, but the PX7 is also equipped with an ANC module. Furthermore, they react to your gestures, as the music is paused when you lift one of the earcups to hear the surrounding sounds. When both earcups are on, the music is resumed automatically.

Bowers & Wilkins equipped these headphones with 43mm drivers, which manage to deliver impeccable low notes, perfect mids, and crisp highs. Also, due to the latest Bluetooth technology and the limitless customization possibilities (they can be paired with an app) the experience is smooth and easy.

While some over-the-ear designs can feel tight and heavy, the PX7 is made from high-grade carbon fiber and features comfortable ear cushions. As a result, you can wear them for as long as 30 hours (battery life on one charge) without feeling any tightness or pressure.

However, due to fast-charging, you’ll only need 15 minutes of charging, and you’ll have six more hours to enjoy!

Sony MDR7506

Great Over-ear Headphones Under $100

Unlike Bowers & Wilkins PX these over-ear headphones are quite cheap. Sony MDR7506 is designed with 40mm drivers and neodymium magnets to deliver rich and clear sound. There is also a wide frequency response (10 Hz-20 kHz). All this guarantees crisp highs and balanced mids.

Sony MDR7506 has a closed-ear design that helps to reduce ambient noises. Keep in mind that these headphones do not have ANC. They are not only comfortable to wear but also portable thanks to their foldable design. Note that this over-ear headset is wired.

Bose QuietComfort 45

Bose Goes Back to What Works

To make it really easy for our readers, especially if they are Bose aficionados, the latest QuietComfort 45 are pretty far from reinventing the wheel, as Bose often does. To be more precise, the 45s follow the formula that made the QuietComfort 35 and 35 II best sellers, i.e. they are awesome Bluetooth wireless over-ear headphones, ideal for travelers and people on the go.

The 45s also benefit from improved active noise cancelation technology, USB C connectivity, and better battery life, making for intuitive and powerful headphones solidly anchored in the premium niche.

Even if the 45s are not actually marketed as the company’s 2021 flagship, as it was the case with the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, they are pretty close. However, they don’t feature adjustable noise reduction nor EQ, also the sound quality is not really audiophile grade, as it’s the case with the Bose 700 released last year.

However, if you’re shopping for premium/high quality over-ear wireless headphones, the 45s will definitely fit the bill, due to their ergonomic design, which makes them supremely comfortable for long periods of time.

Noise cancelation is fantastic, but that’s no surprise from Bose, a company that leads the industry in this regard; the same goes for ease of use and the incredible levels of comfort provided by the 45s, which again, is Bose’s signature.

Battery life is good, as these headphones are rated at 25 hours of autonomy on a single charge, sound quality is good for both playing music and voice calls. Interestingly enough, the 45s can “hear” what type of music you’re playing and automatically optimize the sound, and the controls are intuitive and easy to find and use.

Basically, if you’re looking for long-lasting, well designed, and supremely comfortable, the Bose QuietComfort 45 would definitely fit the bill.