Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best? Noise-cancelling headphones can be an ideal solution for those who love to listen whether at work or on the train. Which are the best, though? Sony's flagship headphones are an excellent value. They feature a brand new design and a superior audio quality as well as enviable features. From the powerful chorus to Sinead O'Connor's unstable bridge, these headphones offer superb detail and authenticity. 1. Sony WH-1000XM5 Sony is an expert in noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the top model of the series. A few well-thought-out upgrades over the XM4s make these headphones an excellent all-round pair of cans, especially for those who commute or travel. They're comfortable and feature multipoint technology to connect two devices simultaneously, and are the most advanced ANC Sony has made to date. They're also light and provide about 27 hours of playback with no charging, which is plenty for a week's worth commutes or a long-haul flight. The WH1000XM5s are sleek and minimal in design. They are made from ABS, a recyclable and recycled plastic. The branding is minimalist. There's the tiny Sony logo on every hinge of the earcup. The earcups and the headband are cushioned with a plush soft material that is comfortable on all but the largest heads. The earcups can be adjusted to perfect fit your head. Contrary to previous models which focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves, which cancels out ambient noise. This improves overall quality of the sound, and can help reduce cabin and engine noise on flights. The XM5s have another processor to dial up noise cancellation even more for airplanes and the audio application will also automatically adjust your listening environment using air pressure data. Other features of the WH1000XM5s include an enhanced voice assistant that's easy to use and works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and more. You can also pair the XM5s to other Sony audio products for multi-room music playback as well as stereo separation. They support Bluetooth high-bitrate streaming audio using Sony's LDAC, but not aptX or HD. 2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Sennheiser has been manufacturing headphones for over 50 years. You can expect a high-quality sound, and a comfortable fit. They've got both with their latest over-ears, named the Momentum 4 Wireless. They've reworked the design to eliminate certain elements that gave the original models the look of a aviator headset and also improved the active noise cancellation with their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They've rated the headphones to last for 60 hours of listening with ANC enabled, which doubles the battery life of their major other competitors. They're also a lot more mobile than the previous model since they fold down and are much smaller overall. The ear pads and the headband are made of synthetic PU leather, which feels comfortable on my head when I wear it all day. They're also not too tight, so you can wear them on long flights, or even during workouts. The sound is clear and well-balanced However, there are a few peaking in the low-mid and high-mid which cause slightly muddy sound in mixes. The bass is too loud which adds extra impact and thump to genres like EDM or hip hop. It's not a huge deal however some listeners might be annoyed. The high-mid is a bit of an uneven balance which pushes instruments and vocals to the forefront of mixes, but at the cost of bringing out sibilants within some songs. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has all the usual features including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparency mode that mixes outside sounds into your music to improve awareness and mobile apps that support custom and preset EQ options. You can also use a 3.5mm cord to connect your phone. They can connect to your phone via SBC, AAC HD, and aptX Adaptive codes, and they can reduce latency by as much as a quarter second. 3. B&W PX7 S2 The original PX7s were a top choice on a variety of lists of the most reliable Bluetooth headsets, thanks to their superior ANC and the sound quality. The PX7s, like most wireless headphones, were getting old and needed a new look. Hence the PX7S2. B&W not only changed the design and design, but also made enhancements to ANC, and added more features for voice calling. The PX7 S2 headphones are extremely light, making them comfortable for long listening sessions. A lot of the design is reminiscent of the previous model, like the sleek oval aluminum earcup top-plate and the hook-like accent on the headband, which glides rather than clicks as you expand it, and finally the actual physical buttons. The earcups are smaller though, and the headband feels a little less substantial overall. B&W's software lets you adjust the EQ settings of the bass and treble. However, you don't have as much control as you would with more expensive headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switch on the environmental modes and can be adjusted within the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to activate the voice assistant on your device. The PX7 S2 is a great option for a variety of musical styles. It offers a wide soundstage and a good separation of the various sound elements. It is particularly impressive on selections that feature acoustic instrumentation, such as Rachmaninoff’s Cello Sonata, Op. 19 by pianist Yuja Wang and cellist Gautier Capeucon, with woody instrumental tones and a sense of air. It can also handle heavier songs as well. The bass punch and midrange clarity on Entombed's garage/deathn'roll crossover, To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth provide an overwhelming sound while keeping things clear to hear vocal details like Lars-Goran Petrov's gritty growl. 4. Bose QuietComfort 35 Bose is one of the first companies that brought active noise cancelling headphones into the mainstream. While they held an unwavering position in the market for many years however, they are now competing with more modern headphones that offer more features and higher sound quality. beats studio3 wireless noise cancelling over ear headphones remains a great choice for those who want to listen to podcasts or music without sound rumbles or hums. The default sound profile is balanced, and they're comfortable to wear. The ANC is excellent at eliminating background noise. However it tends to emphasize lower frequencies more than other headphones, such as the Sony WH1000XM5. If you're looking for a pair that can be used to listen to audiobooks or podcasts, the QC35s have an impressive passive noise cancellation mode that reduces ambient sounds while keeping you isolated from the sounds of the environment around you. The QC35s let you connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and also audio-share, so you can listen to a song with one set of headphones while taking an incoming call on the other pair. The Bose Connect App is decent but it doesn't offer the vast EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s can also be used in wired mode with a cable, but sound quality takes a big hit and they don't have the same level of battery longevity as wireless models. The QC35s have an established Bose design that might not be as appealing to some consumers than the more modern designs of other manufacturers. You can personalize your headphones by purchasing a decal-covered cover from companies such as SlickWraps or Skin Sticker. You'll also be able alter the color of the earcups and the headband later this year, just like you could with the earlier QC25 model. 5. Sony WH-1000XM3 Sony's WH-1000XM3 are the best wireless headphones that have active noise cancelling you can buy right now. They're more expensive than Anker Soundcore Q20 Wireless but they isolate more background noise. The app is also superior and comes with a variety of sound-related options for customization. The XM3s have an excellent audio quality, and since their release, they've been enhanced to deliver an even better experience. They're a bit more depth in the frequency spectrum. The noise cancellation is superior at all levels of volume. They also have better controls, such as Quick Attention mode and Speak-to chat. They also have a new feature called Adaptive Sound Control that automatically adjusts how much external sound is allowed in, based on the location you're at and what you're doing. However, they're not without their flaws. The midrange can sound a bit receding, and the treble may sometimes be too loud. And they still tend to boost bass too much in certain tracks, making them sound too full and heavy. You can fix this via the Sony app or in the headphone settings. The XM3s are an excellent pair of headphones, especially for those who commute or are frequent travelers. They're more comfortable, look and feel superior and more durable than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless and have a far superior battery and one of our favorite noise cancelling features available in the market. They're also more flexible and more suitable for use on the go than Audio-Technica's ATH M50X wireless, although their noise cancelling is less impressive. They're also not waterproof, and that could be a problem for some.
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