Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

On the train or in the office the noise-cancelling headphones can be the perfect solution for those who love to listen. Which ones are the best, though?

With a brand new design, superior sound quality and an enviable list of features, Sony's new flagship headphones offer exceptional value. They can capture every detail, from Sinead's shaking Bridge to the intense chorus.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is a pro at noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the best iteration of the series. This model is a fantastic pair of headphones, specifically for those who commute or travel. They're comfortable and feature multipoint technology to connect to two devices simultaneously and have the most advanced ANC Sony has made to date. They're also lightweight and provide around 27 hours of playback time without charging, beats Studio 3 noise Cancelling headphones which is enough for a week's worth traveling or one long-haul flight.

The WH1000XM5s are sleek and minimalist in appearance. They are made from ABS, which is a recyclable and recycled plastic. The branding is minimal. You'll see a tiny Sony logo on each hinge of the earcup. The earcups and the headband are cushioned by a plush soft material that feels comfortable on all heads. The earcups can be adjusted so that they perfect fit your head.

Unlike previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves to cancel out ambient noise. This improves overall quality of the sound, and helps to reduce cabin and engine over-ear noise cancelling headphones on flights. The XM5s come with another processor to increase noise cancellation further on airplanes and the audio application will also automatically adjust your listening environment based on air pressure data.

The WH-1000XM5s comes with an assistant for voice that is simple to use and works with Alexa as well as 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 LDAC codec from Sony, but don't support aptX or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

If an organization has been producing headphones for many years, including Sennheiser you can expect top-of-the-line audio quality and a comfortable fit. With their latest over-ears dubbed Momentum 4 Wireless, they offer both. They've revamped the design to eliminate some of the trademark elements that gave the original models the look of an aviator headset and have also enhanced the active noise cancellation with their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They've evaluated these headphones to last 60 hours of listening time when ANC enabled, which is more than double the battery life of many rivals.

They're also much more portable than the previous model since they fold up and are much smaller overall. They're made of synthetic PU leather for the re-usable headband and ear pads that are comfortable on my head even if I wear them for the entire working. There's not much clamping force that holds them in place either which means they'll remain comfortable on flights and even during workouts that last longer.

The sound is well-balanced and clear, however there are some peaks which can cause a bit of discoloration to mixes. The bass is too loud which adds extra energy and thump in genres such as EDM or hip hop. It's not an issue but it might annoy some listeners. The high-mid also has an uneven balance that brings instruments and vocals forward in the mix but at the expense of bringing out some sibilants.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless is equipped with all the standard features, including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparent mode which blends outside sounds into your music to enhance awareness, and mobile app support for custom and preset EQ options. They can also be used with an 3.5mm cable when connecting to your phone via wire. They can make use of SBC, AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your device and they can reduce the latency to as little as 25 and that's a huge benefit.

Beats Studio 3 Noise Cancelling Headphones. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were top of the line on many lists of the most reliable Bluetooth headsets, thanks to their superior ANC and the sound quality. The PX7s, like most wireless headphones, were becoming old and needed a refresh. Hence the PX7S2. B&W hasn't just tweaked the design for this new version, but has made substantial improvements to ANC and also added features for voice calls, too.

The first thing you will notice when you open the box and get the PX7 S2 is how light they are. This makes them very comfortable for long listening sessions. The design of the PX7 S2 is mostly the same as the previous model. It has the cool oval aluminium top-plate for the earcups the hook-like accent that slides instead of clicks when you expand the headband, and the physical buttons. The earcups are smaller however, and the headband is less large overall.

The software of B&W lets you alter the EQ settings for the bass and treble. However, you do not have as much control as you would with headphones that cost more. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switch on the modes for the environment and can be set in the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to call the voice assistant on your device.

The PX7 S2 sounds great for most musical styles, with soundstages that have plenty of space and excellent separation between the various elements of sound. It's especially impressive for selections that feature acoustic instrumentation such as Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata, Op. 19 by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capucon, with woody instrumental tones and a sense of air. It can handle heavier fare too. The bass sound and midrange clarity on Entombed's crossover of garage and deathn'roll To Ride, Shoot Straight, and Speak the Truth The album is an imposing soundscape while still allowing listeners to hear vocal details like Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was one of the first companies to introduce active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. They held a stranglehold for years but now they have to compete with newer headsets which offer more features and a better audio quality. That said, the QuietComfort 35 is still a great option for those who want to listen to their music or podcasts without being interrupted by constant noises and rumbles.

They're also comfortable to wear and feature a an excellently balanced default sound profile. The ANC is great at removing background noise. However, it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than other headphones, such as the Sony WH1000XM5.

The QC35s are a great pair of headphones that can be used to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. They come with a passive noise cancellation mode that blocks out ambient sounds while still keeping you isolated from the surrounding. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and also "audio-share", so you can listen to something with one set of headphones while taking an incoming call with the other set of headphones.

The Bose Connect App is decent, but it doesn't have the extensive EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s are also available in wired mode, beats studio 3 noise cancelling headphones but the sound quality is significantly reduced and battery life is not as good as with wireless models.

The QC35s sport a classic Bose design that might not be as appealing to some consumers than the more modern designs of other manufacturers. You can add some personalization to your headphones by purchasing a cover with decals from companies like SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. You'll also be able alter the color of the earcups and headband later in the year, much like you can do with the previous QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH-1000XM3 are among the top wireless headphones that have active noise cancellation that you can get right now. They're a bit more costly than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they isolate a lot more ambient noise and feel more durable. The app is also more advanced and offers tons of sound-related options for customization.

The XM3s' excellent sound quality is one of the main reasons why they're popular, and they've been upgraded since their release to provide even better performance. They have a little more detail across the spectrum of frequencies, their noise cancelling works better at all volumes and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control and Speak-to-Chat. They also have a brand new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that adjusts automatically how much external sound is allowed in based on where you are and what you're doing.

There are some issues, though. The midrange can sound recessed and the treble can sometimes be too loud. They are still prone to boost the bass too much on certain tracks, which makes them sound too heavy and full. You can correct this issue via the Sony app or in the headphone setting.

The XM3s are an excellent pair of headphones, specifically for those who commute and frequent travel. They are more comfortable, feel and look premium, and last longer in comparison to the JBL Live 650 BTNC wireless. They also have a larger battery and one of the best noise cancellation features available. They're also more adaptable and more suitable for use on mobile devices than the Audio-Technica's ATH-M50X Wireless, despite having less impressive noise cancellation. And they're not waterproof which can be a major issue for some people.