The 6 Best Over-Ear Headphones - Winter 2024: Reviews (2024)

1. Best Over-Ear Headphones

   Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless 48

   

   Neutral Sound

   7.4

   Commute/Travel

   8.1

   Sports/Fitness

   7.4

   Office

   8.0

   Wireless Gaming

   6.1

   Wired Gaming

   7.1

   Phone Calls

   7.5

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless are the best over-ear headphones we've tested. They're Bose's top-of-the-line model, and you can expect an outstanding noise isolation performance thanks to their premium noise cancelling (ANC) system. They can easily cut down the rumble of bus and plane engines as well as tackle ambient chatter and the hum of AC units. With their ANC on, they last over 29 hours continuously. You can even use them wired, though you'll need to still have the headphones on for them to work, and they have a comfortable fit to last through long days on the go.

   They have a bassy sound out of the box that delivers extra thump, rumble, and boom to mixes. If you prefer a different sound, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets so that you can fine-tune their sound. The app also has Immersive Audio, which is a head-tracking feature that can make your audio seem more immersive. If that's not enough, you can pair these headphones with up to two devices at a time, allowing you to stay connected to your PC and smartphone simultaneously.

   Consider the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless if you're looking for Bose headphones at a slightly more digestible price. They offer a similar level of noise isolation and are just as comfortable, which can make all the difference during long trips. However, they don't feel as premium, and you lose out on features like Immersive Audio.

   See our review

2. Best Upper Mid-Range Over-Ear Headphones

   Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless 6

   

   Neutral Sound

   7.2

   Commute/Travel

   8.1

   Sports/Fitness

   7.2

   Office

   See Also

   Best over-ear headphones

   7.7

   Wireless Gaming

   5.8

   Wired Gaming

   7.4

   Phone Calls

   6.7

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   For something premium at a bit more of a manageable price, check out the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless. They're not quite as comfortable as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless, but they offer a fantastic noise isolation performance. Overall, their ANC blocks out more ambient sound, and with ANC on, they last longer than the Bose. Their over 37 hours of playback time will be enough to get you from point A to B without a recharge.

   These well-built over-ears have a very bassy default sound, which is good if you like genres like EDM and hip-hop. However, their extra bass muddies vocals and instruments. Luckily, their companion app offers a graphic EQ and presets if you want to adjust their sound to your tastes. They also have a spatial audio feature and support LDAC, which is Sony's propriety codec for streaming high-quality audio. They support multi-device pairing, too.

   See our review

3. Best Mid-Range Over-Ear Headphones

   Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless 8

   

   Neutral Sound

   6.8

   Commute/Travel

   8.0

   Sports/Fitness

   7.0

   Office

   7.7

   Wireless Gaming

   5.8

   Wired Gaming

   7.0

   Phone Calls

   7.4

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   The Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless are a great mid-range pick. They don't feel as premium or well-built as the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, but these cans still offer a well-rounded and feature-loaded performance at this price point. They have an adaptive ANC system, which automatically adjusts to your surroundings, blocking out loud vehicle engines and other people's conversations on your commute and at the office. They're pretty comfortable for most people, but their plastic frame can put pressure on the top of your head after a while. Their onboard controls aren't as easy to use, either.

   Still, these headphones have a great sound that's suitable for many different genres. The V-shaped sound profile emphasizes the bass and the treble for a punchy, sparkling sound. There's even a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app to fine-tune their sound to your liking. Unfortunately, these headphones have a high noise floor when the ANC is set to 'Adaptive' or 'Max' mode, which can result in an annoying sound that's persistent throughout your listening experience. If you can learn to ignore it, you'll enjoy around 28 hours of continuous battery life with their ANC on. It's less than the manufacturer's advertised 50-hour battery, but it's still excellent for wireless noise cancelling headphones.

   See our review

4. Best Budget Over-Ear Headphones

   Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless 5

   

   Neutral Sound

   6.5

   Commute/Travel

   7.8

   Sports/Fitness

   6.9

   Office

   7.3

   Wireless Gaming

   5.6

   Wired Gaming

   6.7

   Phone Calls

   6.7

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are the previous generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless. They're a great budget pick with a mostly unchanged design from their predecessor, meaning you can expect the same comfortable fit for an affordable price. If you plan to use them on the go, you'll be happy to know that their multi-setting ANC feature performs nearly as well as our previous pick, the Anker Soundcore Space Q45 Wireless. That said, you need to manually switch between the Q30's ANC settings, which isn't as convenient as the Q45's adaptive ANC system.

   These headphones also have a V-shaped sound profile that packs extra bass while vocals and lead instruments sound bright. You can tune their sound to suit your preferences using their companion app's graphic EQ and presets. Unfortunately, there's a difference in sound quality depending on if the ANC is on or off. They also aren't very breathable, and some users have noticed their unit's headband break or crack over time. Still, they're worth a look if you're shopping on a budget.

   Check out our article on the best budget and cheap headphones for more budget-friendly options.

   See our review

5. Best Sounding Over Ear Headphones

   Focal Bathys Wireless 12

   

   Neutral Sound

   7.8

   Commute/Travel

   7.6

   Sports/Fitness

   7.1

   Office

   7.5

   Wireless Gaming

   5.9

   Wired Gaming

   7.0

   Phone Calls

   7.0

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Closed-Back

   Wireless Yes

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling Yes

   Mic Yes

   See all our test results

   If you're looking for wireless over-ears and don't want to compromise on sound quality, the Focal Bathys Wireless offer the best of both worlds. These headphones are suitable for both casual use and critical listening, with a fairly neutral sound that delivers solid warmth and punch. Astute audiophiles will notice that instruments and vocals are slightly veiled, but you can make up for this using the graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. These headphones also support aptX Adaptive codec for streaming audio in higher quality with compatible apps, like Tidal. They even have an optional wired USB-DAC connection that converts digital audio signals to analog, ensuring a smoother sound with better audio fidelity.

   However, there are a few drawbacks for either type of user. For audiophiles, their closed-back design means they won't create a wide and spacious soundstage as you would get with traditional open-back headphones. On the other hand, if you listen to music while on the go, these headphones are bulkier than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless, and their ANC doesn't cut out as much low-end background noise. If none of this bothers you, they're still comfortable, well-built headphones worth a look.

   See our review

6. Best Audiophile Over-Ear Headphones

   Sennheiser HD 800 S 3

   

   Neutral Sound

   8.5

   Commute/Travel

   4.0

   Sports/Fitness

   5.5

   Office

   4.7

   Wireless Gaming

   4.8

   Wired Gaming

   6.9

   Phone Calls

   1.7

   Type Over-ear

   Enclosure Open-Back

   Wireless No

   Transducer Dynamic

   Noise Cancelling No

   Mic No

   See all our test results

   If you want headphones to truly upgrade your listening experience, the Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best audiophile over-ear headphones we've tested. They have a premium build quality and a very comfortable fit but differ from the previous picks as they have an open-back design that allows audio to leave the ear cup and interact with the space around you. The result is a wide, spacious, and out-of-head passive soundstage to help immerse you in your audio. They aren't designed for use outside your home or studio since they can't isolate you from ambient sound and leak a lot of audio.

   They have a very neutral sound profile and can accurately reproduce vocals and lead instruments. They suit most genres, but their open-back design lacks some rumble and punch in the bass range. The equally high-end HiFiMan Arya feature planar-magnetic drivers that deliver much more low-bass, but these headphones are much bulkier than the Sennheiser. They may feel less comfortable if you prefer a lighter set of cans.

   That said, this range of headphones isn't for everyone, as their high price point puts them well out of reach of more casual users, and you still need to invest in a good amp to power them if you don't already have it. Check out our article on thebest audiophile headphonesfor hi-fi options to suit every budget.

   See our review

Recent Updates

1. Feb 02, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text to improve readability and accuracy. Our picks remain the same.

2. Jan 05, 2024: We've ensured all products are in stock and updated the Notable Mentions to include the Philips Fidelio X2HR.

3. Dec 08, 2023: We've checked that our picks are up to date and in stock. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations, though.

4. Nov 16, 2023: We've replaced the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless with the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Wireless since the Bose offer a slightly better overall performance. We've also replaced the Bose QuietComfort 45 Wireless with the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless as the QC45 have been replaced by the Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless. The Sony have more features than the Bose, which can make them a viable option for more users. Finally, we've removed the Bose 700 Headphones Wireless from Notable Mentions.

5. Oct 17, 2023: Added the recently-reviewed Bose QuietComfort Headphones Wireless to Notable Mentions.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best headphones with an over-ear design to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for over-ear headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection.