Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

On the train or in the office beats noise cancelling over ear headphones-cancelling headphones are a godsend for those who love to listen. Which ones are the best budget noise cancelling headphones?

With a fresh design that is a step up in sound quality, and a wealth of features, Sony's newest flagship headphones offer exceptional value. These headphones are able to capture every detail, from Sinead's shaking Bridge to the intense chorus.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is the leader in noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the best version of this model. This model is an excellent pair of headphones, especially for those who commute or are traveling. They're comfortable, feature multipoint technology that allows you to connect to two devices at once and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has made to date. They're light and can run up to 27 hours with no charging. This is enough time to get through a week of commutes or long-haul flights.

The WH-1000XM5s feature an elegant minimalist design and are made from a recycled and recyclable plastic known as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The branding is minimal, but you'll find the "Sony" logo on each hinge of each earcup. The earcups and headband are cushioned by a plush soft material that feels comfortable on all heads. The earcups are also adjustable to ensure that you get the best over the ear Headphones noise cancelling fit for you.

Contrary to previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify sound waves at high frequency to cancel out ambient noise. This improves the overall quality of sound and helps reduce the noise of engines and cabins during flights, for instance. The XM5s come with an additional processor that can increase noise cancellation further on airplanes and the audio app can also automatically adapt the listening environment to data on air pressure.

Other features of the WH-1000XM5s are an enhanced voice assistant that is easy to use and works with Alexa, best over the ear headphones Noise cancelling Google Assistant, Siri and many more. The XM5s are compatible with other Sony audio devices to provide stereo separation and multi-room music. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming through Sony's LDAC codec however they don't support the aptX codec or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

When a company has been manufacturing headphones for many years, including Sennheiser, you expect class-leading sound quality and a comfortable fit. They deliver on both fronts with their latest headphones, called the Momentum 4 Wireless. They've revamped their design to remove some trademark elements that gave their previous models the look of an aviator. They also improved active noise cancellation using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation Technology. The headphones are designed to last for 60 hours with ANC on, which is double the battery life of many competitors.

They're also a lot more portable than the previous model as they fold up and are much smaller overall. The earpads and headband are made of synthetic PU leather, which is comfortable on my head when I wear it throughout the day. There isn't a lot of clamping force to keep them in place either which means they'll remain comfortable on flights and even during workouts that last longer.

The sound is clear and well-balanced, though there are some peaks in the low-mid and high-mid which cause slight muddiness in mixes. The bass can be a bit overemphasized, adding a bit of punch and thump to genres like EDM or hip-hop. It's not an issue however some listeners might find it irritating. The high-mid area has some uneven balance which pushes instruments and vocals towards the front of the mix however at the expense of bringing out sibilants in certain songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is equipped with all the standard features, including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a translucent mode which blends outside sounds into your music to increase awareness and mobile apps that support custom and preset 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 phone using SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes and can reduce delay by as much as a quarter second.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were a top pick on many lists of the best Bluetooth headsets, thanks to their superior ANC and sound quality. The PX7s, like most wireless headphones, were becoming old and required a refresh. This is why the PX7S2. B&W hasn't merely tweaked the design for the new version, but has made significant improvements to ANC and added more features for voice calls, too.

The first thing you will notice when you open the box and pick up the PX7 S2 is how light they are, which makes them comfortable for long listening sessions. A lot of the look is reminiscent of the previous model, including the cool oval aluminum earcup top-plate as well as the hook-like design on the headband that glides instead of clicking as you expand it, and the actual physical buttons. The earcups are a bit smaller, though, and the headband is less substantial overall.

The software from B&W lets you tweak EQ settings for treble and bass but you don't get as much control over the mix between those two elements as you do with higher-end headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switches between various modes of the environment. It can also be set within the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to activate the voice assistant on your device.

The PX7 S2 sounds great for all musical styles, best over the ear Headphones noise Cancelling and has a soundstages that have ample width and great separation between the various elements of sound. It's especially impressive for music that has acoustic instrumentation, such as Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata, Op. 19 by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capeucon, with a woody tone and a sense of air. It's also able to handle heavier songs as well, thanks to the bass power and mid-range clarity on Entombed's fusion of garage and death-n'-roll, Ride the Straight, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth creating an impressive sound wall while keeping things clear enough to be able to discern vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. Though they had an advantage over the market for a long time, they are now competing with more modern headsets that have more features and higher sound quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great option for anyone who wants to listen to their music or podcasts without noise or rumbles.

They're also comfortable to wear and come with a a well-balanced default sound profile. The ANC does an excellent job of removing background noise, but it tends to focus on low frequencies more than the latest headphones, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5.

The QC35s are an excellent pair of headphones that can be used to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. They feature a noise cancellation mode that is passive which reduces ambient sounds, while still keeping you isolated from your surroundings. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices at once and "audio-share" so that you can play something on one pair of headphones and then answer an incoming call from the other.

The Bose Connect App is decent but it doesn't offer the full 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 longevity isn't as good as with wireless models.

The QC35s are an Bose product, but it may not be a favorite for all. Other manufacturers offer sleeker designs. You can add some personalization to your headphones by purchasing a cover with decals from companies like SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. In the near future you'll be able to customize the color of the earcups and headbands, just like the QC25 model from earlier.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH-1000XM3 are among the top wireless headphones with active noise cancellation you can get today. They're a bit more costly than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they are able to block out more ambient noise and feel much more sturdy. The app is also better and has a wide range of options for sound customization.

The XM3's outstanding audio quality is among their main draws and they've been improved since their release to provide an even better experience. They're a bit more depth in the frequency spectrum. The noise cancellation is better at all levels of volume. They also have better controls, such as Quick Attention mode and Speak-to Chat. They also have a brand new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that automatically adjusts the amount of external sound allowed in, based on the location you're at and what you're doing.

There are some problems, however. The treble can sound sometimes a bit loud and the midrange is slightly recessed. They are still prone to boost the bass too much on some tracks, which makes the sound too heavy and full. This can be corrected by using the Sony app or in the headphone settings.

The XM3s make a great pair headphones, especially for frequent travelers or 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 the best noise cancelling features available in the market. They're also more versatile and more mobile-friendly than the Audio-Technica ATH M50X Wireless, even though they have less impressive noise isolation. They're also not waterproof, and that could be a major issue for some.