The Best Wireless Over Ear Headset
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds completely cover your ears and can block out any sound from outside. Find headphones that have active noise cancellation as well as a battery that can last for at minimum 20 hours with music playing.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4s feature a great ANC feature, a simple on-ear control, and an easy-to-use app. The default sound is an intense thump, however instruments and vocals can be turned off to the background.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a great pair of headphones for people who love music and want the most wireless headset. They’re light and comfortable with a carrying case and fold flat for easy storage in your bag. The controls are easy to use and easy to navigate. their battery lasts an impressive 30 hours with ANC switched off. They also have an auto-pause feature which shuts off your blutooth headphones when they’re removed from your head to conserve battery.
The WH1000XM5 can be used with Sony Headphones Connect, which includes a range of features that can be utilized to tailor the audio experience. The app is able to track location and customize ambient sound features according to your surroundings. They also have a built-in microphone for making hands-free calls. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is able to play music using bluetooth wireless headphones bluetooth headphone (click to find out more) or a wired connection using the included cable. They support aptX codecs, aptX HD codecs as well as adaptive codecs for high-quality audio via Bluetooth.
Like the XM4, the WH-1000XM5 is lightweight and comfortable, with a comfortable headbands and ear cups. These headphones are comfortable to wear and can be worn for extended periods. They’re also great for long commutes and flights. They are noise cancelling headphones that can cut down background noise but not sacrifice clarity or detail. The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones have plenty of bass, especially for a closed-back pair. They also have a great soundstage and a clear distinction between vocals and instruments.
They have a very low latency when watching videos which is a plus. The lag is so tiny that it’s almost invisible and they can be used to play casual games. They’re not ideal for video gaming competitively however they’re perfect for those who want to utilize them for entertainment or for making hands-free calls.
Sony is dedicated to incorporating smart features into its products and the WH1000XM5 model is no different. The active noise cancellation is one of the best I’ve ever used, and they come with a whole range of smart features to improve your listening experience. They also include Sony’s DSEE Extreme engine which upscales compressed music to close to high quality. They’re also compatible with Sony’s own LDAC technology which streams higher-bitrate audio via Bluetooth (although not as high-quality as a dedicated headphone DAC).
2. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
Since the introduction of the first generation PX7 in 2015, Bowers & Wilkins’ flagship headphones have often been featured on the top lists of wireless headsets, putting them firmly in the same class as the likes Sony WH-1000XM5 as well as Bose QuietComfort. The newest model, called the PX7 S2, is an upgrade that takes the first headphones to a new level, with better ANC performance and a refreshed design.
The bio-cellulose drivers of 40mm in the earcups have been angled so that they directly hit your eardrums. This provides an experience with more intimacy unlike other closed-back headphones. This is a bold claim however the PX7 S2 delivers on. The vocals are clear, and the bass is deep when needed.
The PX7 S2 also performs very well when it comes to voice calls, with crisp and clear audio that doesn’t overpower your own voice. They also come with a quick charge that gets you back to full power in less than two hours, and they’re compatible with hi-res audio, thanks to an aptX adaptive Bluetooth codec that allows them to play 24-bit music.
For the majority of listeners, however the most significant upgrade is the enhanced noise-canceling and audio quality. In our tests, the PX7 S2 eliminated nearly all of our simulated aircraft cabin noise with remarkable effectiveness and also performed well when we performed Mozart’s Et In Carnatus Est and Sanctus from his Grosse Messe, demonstrating excellent insight into the dynamic shifts between the solo voice, wind trio, and orchestral accompaniment.
As well as In addition to improved ANC Alongside improved ANC, the PX7 S2s have a number of other useful features that make them competitive with other top-rated noise-canceling headphones. They’re wireless and have Bluetooth multipoint support, so you can connect two devices simultaneously and also come with a built-in microphone that allows hands-free calling using your phone’s assistant. The construction is durable and top-quality and will last for many years.
They’re not perfect, but they are. The clamp force on our test models was a little less than we’d like and there aren’t as many additional features in the app as other options, but they aren’t major issues. The PX7 S2s are an excellent wireless headphone that rivals the best in their class, and it’s difficult to imagine them being defeated by any other competitor.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
Focal Bathys is a great option for audiophiles who appreciate high fidelity, and who are looking for an ANC headphone that is wireless. The Focal Bathys were the first ANC headphones from a French audio company that utilizes Bluetooth. They provide stunning sound both in Bluetooth mode and when connected via USB to a device for true hi-fi audio at up to 24-bit/192kHz.
The Bathys are stunning with their glossy finish and swooping curvatures like Focal’s closed-back Celestee and open-back Elear headphones. They also feature premium materials such as aluminum and magnesium for solid construction that feels solid, comfortable and worth the cost.
The Bathys Bluetooth headphones deliver a crisp, lively sound signature. They are able to outperform consumer ANC models of the same price such as the Sony XM5/5 and Bose QC45. They can be improved further by using direct DAC audio mode which makes them a bona fide option for true hi-fi listeners.
With the Focal and Naim app users can change their headphone’s playback controls, virtual assistant, and Bluetooth pairing preferences. You can select between quiet or soft intensities for ANC, adjust the brightness of the LEDs on the ear cups, and adjust the EQ settings. The app is bare but offers enough functionality to be worth the cost.
The only drawback is the active noise cancellation, which isn’t able to live up to the competition. The headphone isn’t able to block out all background noise as effectively as the top-rated XM5 and AirPods Max. Its treble accuracy is also a bit off and has a muddy high to mid range that takes away from the instruments and vocals.
The Focal Bathys aren’t the most portable headphones. They are not suitable for travel due to their ear cups don’t fold and they are heavier than other models. The Bathys are best used at home for long listening sessions or as an example headset for sound engineering. Despite their size and bulk, the Bathys are extremely comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.
4. Sony WH-CH720N
The Sony WH-CH720N cordless headphones are excellent wireless over-ear headphones for the price. The noise-cancelling technology is great and helps to reduce ambient noise. They are perfect for commuters or travellers. Their matte finish and robust construction gives them a hint of high-end quality.
They follow a similar design to Sony’s newer 1000X and XB910N headphones. They have a slim, plastic headband, with the standard hinges on the earcups. They are lightweight and comfortable, but they are a little too tight for my taste. In the box, they come with an USB-C port to charge as well as the 3.5mm connector and a decent length cable. They are multipoint Bluetooth, which means you can connect two devices at the same time should you wish to.
In my tests the CH720N’s hybrid tech for noise cancellation did a fantastic job at reducing ambient noise. There were only a few small blips while walking through Waterloo Station and London Victoria. The sound-silencers did not block every sound around them however, they struggled with lower frequencies sounds, such as the rumbling engine sound of trains and buses.
Streaming music over the CH720N’s Bluetooth connection was smooth, and it showed a low amount of harmonic distortion. I tested a range of genres and found that they were able to handle the intricate interplay between instruments with ease. It did a fantastic job of reducing the bass in rock tracks, and keeping the mix focused.
The Sony Headphones Connect App allows you to alter the CH720N’s multipoint connectivity as well as ANC settings according to your preferences. You can also choose from a range of audio presets. You can also activate DSEE through the app, which increases the quality of sound and boosts compression of audio files.
The WH-CH720N offers a great value for PS130. It lacks some of Sony’s best features (such as Speak-toChat and Quick Attention) however it comes with numerous amazing features. 360 Reality Audio, smart controls, and DSEE upscaling are all included. The only thing not available is LDAC Bluetooth High-Res Audio Support, Bluetooth Wireless Headphone which I believe would have been a great inclusion.