The Best Wireless Over Ear Headset
Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones completely enclose your ears and block out any sound from outside. Look for headphones with active noise cancellation and a battery that lasts at minimum 20 hours with music playing.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4s feature amazing ANC as well as a handy app, and simple control via the ear. The default sound profile offers punch and thump, but vocals and instruments can be pushed to the background.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony's WH1000XM5 are a fantastic pair of headphones for music lovers who want to enjoy the best wireless over-ear headset. They're lightweight and come with a soft carrying case and fold flat to make it easy to store in your bag. The controls on the touch are intuitive and easy to use, and the battery will last for 30 hours without ANC. They also include an auto-pause feature that turns off your headphones once they are removed from your head to conserve battery.
The WH1000XM5 is compatible with Sony Headphones Connect, which offers a variety of features that can be utilized to personalize the audio experience. The app allows you to track location and customize ambient sound features according to your surroundings. They also come with an inbuilt microphone that can be used to make calls without hands. The Sony WH1000XM5 can play music wirelessly via Bluetooth or wired with the cable provided. They can support aptX, HD aptX and aptX Adaptive codecs that provide high-quality audio via Bluetooth.
The WH-1000XM5 has a similar headband and ear cups to the XM4 but is lighter and more comfortable. These headphones are comfortable to wear and are suitable for extended periods of time. They're also great for long flights and commutes. They're noise cancelling headphones that can cut down background noise but not sacrifice clarity or detail. The Sony WH1000XM5 has decent bass for a pair of closed-back headphones. They also offer an excellent soundstage with the clear separation of vocals and instruments.
They have a very low latency for watching videos, which is a plus. The lag is so minimal that it's practically imperceptible and they can be used to play casual games. These are not the best for competitive video gaming, but they're great for those who wish to use them for entertainment or to make hands-free calls.
Sony is adamant about including smart features into its products and the WH-1000XM5 are not an exception. The active noise cancellation feature was one of the best that I've used and they have many intelligent features that can enhance your listening experience. They also come with Sony's DSEE Extreme engine which upscales compressed music to near hi-res quality. They also work with Sony's own LDAC technology which streams higher-bitrate audio over Bluetooth (although not as high-quality as a dedicated headphone DAC).
2. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
Since the release of the first generation PX7 in 2015, Bowers & Wilkins' flagship headphones have often been included on the top lists of wireless headsets, putting them firmly in the same class with the likes of Sony WH-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort. The PX7 S2 is the latest model that takes the original headphones up a notch with a boost in ANC performance as well as a new appearance.
The bio-cellulose drivers of 40mm in the earcups have been angled so that they directly hit your eardrums. This provides a more intimate audio experience than most other closed-back headphones. This is a bold claim, but one that the PX7 S2 is able to deliver on. Vocals are clear and clear and bass is rich and rumbly when it needs to be.
The PX7 S2 also performs very well with voice calls, with crisp and clear sound that doesn't muddle your own voice. The PX7 S2 is also able to provide an extremely fast charge that can get you back fully charged in just two hours. They're also compatible with high-resolution music due to the aptX adaptive Bluetooth codesc that allow them to play audio with 24-bit quality.
For most listeners, though the most significant upgrade is the improved noise cancellation and audio quality. In our tests we were able eliminate nearly all of the airplane noises simulated by the PX7 S2. They also excelled in Mozart's Et In Carnatus Est and Sanctus which offer great insight into the shifting dynamics between the solo vocalist, the wind trio and orchestral accompaniment.
The PX7 S2s aren't just noise-cancelling, they also include a variety of features that make them comparable to other top-rated headphones. They're fully wireless, with Bluetooth multipoint support, so you can pair them with two devices simultaneously They also include a built-in microphone which allows hands-free calling using your phone's assistant. They're also incredibly robust, with premium-feeling and robustly-constructed construction that can last for years of regular use.
Of course, they're not the perfect models. The clamp force on our test models was a bit tighter than we'd prefer and there aren't as many additional app features available as some other options, but these aren't major complaints. The PX7 S2s are a superb wireless headphone that rivals the best in their class, and it's hard to imagine them being defeated by any other competitor.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
For audiophiles who appreciate high-fidelity and are searching for a premium wireless noise-canceling headset The Focal Bathys are hard to beat. They're the French audio company's very first ANC headphones that utilize Bluetooth and they offer incredible audio quality in both Bluetooth mode and when connected to a device via USB for hi-fi audio at up to 24 bits/192kHz (the headset is also capable of passively blocking external audio with its closed ear cups).
The Bathys are stunning with their black glossy finish and swooping curves that are reminiscent of Focal's premium open-back Elear and closed-back Celestee headphones. They also feature premium materials like aluminum and magnesium for a robust build that feels solid, comfortable and worth the price.
In Bluetooth mode when Bluetooth is enabled, the Bathys deliver a crisp and lively sound signature that easily surpasses similarly priced consumer ANC options like the Sony XM5/5 or Bose QC45. Direct DAC audio mode lets them be extended which makes them a fantastic option for those who love hifi.
The Focal &Naim app allows users to alter the headphone's playback controls and Bluetooth pairing preferences. The app lets users choose between soft and silent intensities for ANC. They can also adjust the brightness of LEDs on the ear cups of the headphones, and adjust the EQ settings. The app is not complete, but it offers enough functionality to be worth the download.
The only issue is that the active noise cancellation does not match the quality of the competitors. The headphone doesn't cut out all of the ambient noise as the most rated XM5 or AirPods Max, and its quality of treble isn't as good, with a muffled mid to high-end that can be distracting from vocals and instruments.
The Focal Bathys aren't the most portable headphones. They are not suitable for travel because their earcups don't fold and they are heavier than other models. on-ear headphones wireless for an environment at home where they can be used for long listening sessions or as a reference headphone for sound engineering purposes. Despite their size and weight they are Bathys are surprisingly comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
4. Sony WH-CH720N
The Sony WH-CH720N headphones are a good pair of wireless over-ear headphones for the money. The noise-cancelling technology is excellent and can do a lot to cut down ambient noise. They are ideal for commuters and travelers. They also have an attractive design that reflects premium quality, thanks to their durable construction and attractive matte finish.
They follow a similar design to Sony's more recent 1000X and XB910N headphones. They sport a slim headband, with the usual ear cup hinges and a solid plastic build. They're light and comfortable to wear, although they feel a little too compressed for my liking. In the box, they have an USB-C port to charge as well as the 3.5mm socket and a decent length cable. They support multipoint Bluetooth pairing, which means you can connect them to two devices at once If you want to.
In my tests the CH720N's hybrid noise cancelling technology did an excellent job of curbing background noise, with just few notable blips while walking through Waterloo station and London Victoria. The sound-silencers didn't zap all sounds around them however, they struggled with low-frequency sounds such as the engine rumbling sound of trains and buses.
The CH720N's Bluetooth connection was smooth and displayed a minimal harmonic distortion. I tried a range of different genres and found they could handle the intricate interplay between instruments well. It did an excellent job of taming bass in rock tracks, and keeping the mix focused.
The Sony Headphones Connect App allows users to modify the CH720N's multipoint connection and ANC settings to suit your preferences. You can also choose from a range of audio presets. You can also enable DSEE via the app, which enhances audio quality and speeds up the removal of compressed audio content.
The WH-CH720N isn't equipped with some of Sony's primetime features compared to the XM5 (such as Speak-to -Chat and Quick Attention) they do have an impressive set of features for PS130. 360 Reality Audio, smart controls and the DSEE upscaling are all present. The only thing missing is LDAC Bluetooth high-res audio support, which I think would have been a welcomed inclusion.