The Best Wireless Over Ear Headset
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds completely surround your ears and can block out ambient sound. Find headphones with active noise cancellation, and a battery life of at least 20 hours.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4s feature great ANC, a convenient app, and easy-to-use on-ear controls. The default sound provides an energizing thump. However, instruments and vocals can be pushed to the background.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is a great pair of headphones for people who enjoy music and want the most wireless headset. The headphones are light, have a soft carrying bag and can be folded flat to fit into your bag. The controls on the touch are intuitive and easy to use and the battery can last for 30 hours with no ANC. The headphones come with an automatic pause feature that shuts them off when you remove them from your head. This helps in conserving battery.
The WH-1000XM5 can be used with Sony’s Headphones Connect app which offers an extensive array of features that can be used to personalize your audio experience. The app can be used to monitor your location and adapt the sound quality of your environment. They also come with an inbuilt microphone that can be used to make calls hands-free. The Sony WH-1000XM5 is able to play music via Bluetooth or with a wired connection using the cable included. They are compatible with aptX codecs, aptX HD codecs as well as adaptive codecs that provide high-quality audio through Bluetooth.
The WH-1000XM5 comes with a similar headband and earcups as the XM4 however it is more lightweight and comfortable. These headphones are comfortable to wear and can be worn for cordless Bluetooth headphones extended periods. They’re also great for long commutes and flights. They’re noise-cancelling headphones that can reduce background noise but not sacrifice clarity or detail. The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones have plenty of bass, especially for closed-back headphones. They also offer an impressive soundstage and clear distinction between vocals and cordless Bluetooth headphones instruments.
They have a low latency when watching videos, which is a plus. The lag is low enough that it’s practically imperceptible and they can be used to play casual gaming. These are not the best for gaming in a competitive manner but they’re excellent for those who wish to make use of them for media consumption or for making hands-free calls.
Sony is committed to incorporating intelligent features into its products, and the WH1000XM5 is no different. The active noise cancellation was one of the most effective I’ve ever used, and they come with a whole range of intelligent features that can enhance your listening experience. Sony’s DSEE Extreme Engine upscales compressed audio to near-hi-res quality. They’re compatible with Sony’s LDAC technology which streams music with higher bitrates over Bluetooth.
2. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
Bowers & Wilkins flagship headphones which is the PX7 S2 have always been on top lists of wireless headsets since the launch of the first-generation PX7 in 2015. This puts them in the same category as Sony WH1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort. The latest model, the PX7 S2, is an upgrade that takes the initial headphones to a higher level, with improved ANC performance as well as a fresh design.
In the earcups, bio cellulose 40mm drivers are designed to be angled so that they point straight towards your eardrums to deliver an audio experience that is more intimate than most closed-back headphones can manage. It’s a bold statement however, one that the PX7 S2 delivers on. Vocals are clear and clear and bass is deep and rumbly when it’s needed to be.
The PX7 S2 is also very adept at making voice calls. It has a crisp clean, clear sound that will not drown out your voice. The PX7 S2 is also able to provide an extremely fast charge that can get you back to full capacity in just two hours. They also work with high-resolution music thanks to aptX adaptive cordless bluetooth headphones codesc, which allows the playback of 24-bit audio.
For most listeners, the most important upgrade is the enhanced noise-canceling and audio performance. In our tests, we were able to eliminate a majority 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.
Alongside improved ANC Alongside improved ANC, the PX7 S2s include a range of other features that make them very competitive with other top-rated noise-canceling headphones. They’re fully wireless, with Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, which means you can pair them with two devices at once They also include a built-in microphone which supports hands-free calling with your phone’s assistant. The build quality is durable and premium which means they’ll last for many years.
Of course, they’re not perfect. The clamp force of the models we tested were a little more than we’d prefer, and they didn’t have as many app features as the other options. However, these aren’t big complaints. The PX7 S2s is a superb wireless headset that beats out other headsets in its class. It’s hard to imagine a rival to match them.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
For audiophiles who value high-quality sound and are looking for an exceptional wireless noise-canceling headset The Focal Bathys are tough to beat. They’re the French audio company’s first-ever ANC headphones to use Bluetooth and they offer incredible audio quality in both Bluetooth mode and when connected to the device via USB to enjoy hi-fi quality sound at up to 24-bit/192kHz (the headset is also capable of blocking external audio with its closed ear cups).
The Bathys are stunning with their glossy finish and swooping curvatures that similar to Focal’s closed-back Celestee and open-back Elear headphones. The Bathys are constructed of premium materials like aluminum and magnesium, which makes them feel solid, comfortable, and well worth the cost.
In Bluetooth mode in Bluetooth mode, the Bathys provide a clear and vibrant sound that easily beats similar priced consumer ANC alternatives like the Sony XM5/5 or Bose QC45. They can be enhanced further by using direct DAC audio mode, making them an excellent choice for those who love hi-fi.
The Focal &Naim app allows users to adjust the headphone’s playback controls and bluetooth wireless headphone pairing preferences. Users can choose between soft or silent intensities for ANC, adjust the brightness of the LEDs that are on the ear cups, and adjust the EQ settings. The app is bare but it has enough features to be worth the cost.
The only issue is the active noise cancellation, which doesn’t measure up to the competition. The headphone isn’t able to block out all ambient noise as the top-rated XM5 or AirPods Max, and its Treble accuracy is subpar with a muddy mid to high range that detracts from the sound of instruments and vocals.
The Focal Bathys aren’t the most portable headphones. They’re not suitable for travel because their ear cups don’t fold and they weigh more than other headphones. They’re ideal for an environment at home where they can be used for extended listening sessions or as an audio reference headphone for engineering purposes. The Bathys are comfortable to wear for long periods of time despite their size and bulk.
4. Sony WH-CH720N
The Sony WHCH720N headset is a great pair of wireless over ear headsets for the price. They feature a great noise-cancelling system that does a great job of blocking out ambient noise, which makes them great for those who commute and travel. Their matte finish and durable construction gives them a hint of premium quality.
They are similar to Sony’s 1000X and XB910N headphone models. They sport a slim headband, with the standard earcup hinges and a solid plastic build. They are lightweight and comfortable, however they feel a bit too compressed for me. In the box, they come with an USB-C port to charge, an 3.5mm connector, and a decent length cable. They support multipoint Bluetooth, which means you can connect to two devices at once when you want to.
In my tests the CH720N’s noise-cancelling technology was able to do an excellent job of curbing ambient noise, with only two noticeable blips when walking through Waterloo station and London Victoria. The sound-silencers weren’t able to block every sound in the vicinity however they struggled with lower frequencies sounds, such as the rumbling engine sounds of trains and buses.
The CH720N’s Bluetooth connection was smooth and displayed a minimal harmonic distortion. I tested a range of genres and found they could handle the intricate interplay between instruments very well. It did a fantastic job of controlling the bass in rock tracks and focusing the mix.
The Sony Headphones Connect App allows you to alter the CH720N’s multipoint connectivity as well as ANC settings to your liking. You can also add a variety of audio presets. You can also make use of the app to enable DSEE, which upsacles compressed content and improves the sound quality.
The WH-CH720N offers a great value for PS130. It’s not equipped with many of Sony’s top features (such as Speak-to-Chat and Fast Attention) however, it does come with a lot of amazing features. 360 Reality Audio, smart controls and DSEE upscaling are all present. The only thing not included is LDAC Bluetooth High-Res Audio Support which I believe would have been a welcomed inclusion.