The Best Wireless Over Ear Headset
In contrast to earbuds, headphones over-ear completely cover your ears and block out ambient sound. Choose headphones with active noise cancellation and batteries that last at minimum 20 hours.
The Sennheiser Momentum 4s come with amazing ANC, a convenient app, and easy control via the ear. Its default sound profile delivers thump and punch, but vocals and instruments can be moved into the background.
1. Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is an excellent pair of headphones for those who love music and need the best wireless headset. They are light and come with a soft carrying case and fold flat to fit inside your bag. The controls are simple and easy to use, and the battery lasts for 30 hours without ANC. wireless on ear headphones include an auto-pause feature that turns off your headphones once they're removed from your head in order to save battery.
The WH-1000XM5 can be used with Sony's Headphones Connect app which offers an array of features and can be used to personalize your audio experience. The app can be used to track your location and tailor ambient sound features to the environment you are in. The microphone can also be included for hands-free phone calls. The Sony WH1000XM5 plays music wirelessly through Bluetooth or wired via the cable included. They include aptX codecs and aptX HD codecs and aptX adaptive codecs to play high-quality audio over Bluetooth.
Similar to the XM4 The WH-1000XM5 is light and comfortable, with well-padded headbands and ear cups. These headphones are comfortable to wear and are suitable for extended periods. They are also ideal for longer flights and commutes. They feature excellent noise canceling performance that block out the majority of background noise, but without sacrificing clarity and clarity. The Sony WH1000XM5 headphones feature plenty of bass, especially for closed-back models. They also provide an impressive soundstage and clear separation between vocals and instruments.
They have a low latency for watching videos which is a benefit. The lag is so minimal that it's barely noticeable and they can be used for gaming on the go. They're not the ideal choice for games that are competitive, however and are ideal for those who intend to use them for media consumption or for making hands-free phone calls.
Sony is committed to incorporating intelligent features into its products and the WH1000XM5 model is no exception. The active noise cancellation is among the best I've tried and they come with a range of smart functions that enhance the overall listening experience. They also have 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 over Bluetooth (although not as high-quality as a dedicated headphone DAC).
2. Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
Bowers & Wilkins flagship headphones which is the PX7 S2 have been consistently on the top lists of wireless headsets since the release of the first-generation PX7, in 2015. They are in the same class as Sony WH1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort. Its newest model, the PX7 S2, is an upgrade that takes the initial headphones to the next level with improved ANC performance and a new design.
The bio-cellulose drivers of 40mm in the earcups have been angled so they are aimed directly at your eardrums. This provides an audio experience that is more intimate than most other closed-back headphones. It's a bold claim however, one that the PX7 S2 can deliver on. The vocals are clear, and the bass is deep when needed.
The PX7 S2 also performs very well in voice calls, with clear and crisp sound that doesn't muddle your own voice. The PX7 S2 also comes with an extremely fast charge that will allow you to return to full capacity in just two hours. They're also compatible with high-resolution music due to the aptX adaptive Bluetooth codesc that allow them to play 24-bit audio.
The noise-canceling technology as well as improved audio performance are among the most important upgrades for most listeners. In our tests the PX7 S2 eliminated nearly all of our simulations of cabin noise with remarkable effectiveness, and they excelled when we played Mozart's Et In Carnatus Est and Sanctus from his Grosse Messe, demonstrating excellent insight into the dynamic shifts between the solo voice, the wind trio, and orchestral accompaniment.
The PX7 S2s are not only noise-cancelling, they also include a variety of features that make them highly competitive with other top-rated headphones. They're completely wireless and come with Bluetooth multipoint support, so you can pair two devices at once. They also come with an inbuilt microphone which allows hands-free calls with your phone's assistant. The build quality is durable and premium and will last you for many years.
Of course they're not 100% perfect. The clamp force of our test models were slightly higher than we'd prefer, and there weren't as many apps features as the other options. However, these aren't major concerns. The PX7 S2s are a fantastic wireless headphone that rivals the top of their class, and it's difficult to imagine them being defeated by any other headphone.
3. Focal Bathys Wireless
For audiophiles who prize high fidelity 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 provide incredible sound in both Bluetooth mode and when connected to an device via USB to enjoy hi-fi quality sound at up to 24-bit/192kHz (the headphones are also capable of blocking external sound with its closed ear cups).
The Bathys look gorgeous, with their glossy black finish and swooping curves that are similar to Focal's premium open-back Elear and closed-back Celestee headphones. They also come with premium materials like magnesium and aluminum to create a robust build that feels solid, comfortable and worth the price.
In Bluetooth mode when Bluetooth is enabled, the Bathys offer a clear and vibrant sound that easily surpasses similarly priced consumer ANC options such as the Bose QC45. Direct DAC audio mode lets them be pushed further, making them a great option for true hifi listeners.
Using the Focal and Naim application users can change the playback controls of their headphones, virtual assistant, and Bluetooth pairing preferences. They can choose between silent or soft intensities for ANC and adjust the brightness of the LEDs that are on the ear cups, and tweak settings for EQ. The app is bare-bones, but it offers enough functionality to be worth the download.
The only significant flaw is that the active noise cancellation doesn't match the quality of the competitors. The headphone doesn't eliminate all ambient noise as well as the highly rated XM5 and AirPods Max. Its treble accuracy also falls short with a muffled high to mid range that takes away from vocals and instruments.
The Focal Bathys headphones aren't very transportable. The ear cups aren't foldable up and weigh a bit heavier than the competition, meaning that they're not ideal for traveling. The Bathys are best used at home for long listening sessions or as an example headset for audio engineering. Despite their size and bulk they Bathys are extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
4. Sony WH-CH720N
The Sony WHCH720N is fantastic pair of wireless over-ear headsets at a reasonable price. The noise-cancelling technology is great and does a great deal to cut down on the background noise. They are ideal for commuters or travellers. Their matte finish and sturdy construction gives them a hint of premium quality.
They are similar in design to Sony's more recent 1000X and XB910N headphones. They feature a slim plastic headband with the usual hinges on the earcups. They're lightweight and comfortable to wear, but they feel a little too compressed for my taste. They have a USB-C charging port, 3.5mm jack and a decent-length cable included in the box. They support multipoint Bluetooth pairing, which means you can connect them to two devices at the same time If you want to.
In my tests the CH720N's hybrid tech for noise cancellation did a great job of reducing ambient sound. There were only a few blips when walking through Waterloo Station and London Victoria. The sound-silencers didn't zap every sound around them, but they did struggle with lower frequency sounds like the rumbling engine sounds of trains and buses.
Streaming music through the CH720N's Bluetooth connection was smooth and displayed a low level of harmonic distortion. I tested a variety of genres and found that 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.
I like the ability to adjust the Sony Headphones Connect app to tailor the CH720N's ANC and multipoint connectivity settings to your preference and also include a variety of audio presets. You can also utilize the app to activate DSEE which can boost the quality of compressed content and improves its sound quality.
The WH-CH720N offers a great value for PS130. It lacks some of Sony's best features (such as Speak-to-Chat and Fast Attention) but it has a lot of excellent features. 360 Reality Audio, smart controls and the DSEE upscaling are all included. The only thing not available is LDAC Bluetooth High-Res Audio Support I think it would have been a welcomed inclusion.