Which Over the Ear Headphones Are the Best?

Whether you're on the train or at work Noise-cancelling headphones are an absolute must for those who love to listen. Which are the best, though?

Sony's flagship headphones are a fantastic value. They offer a new design and a superior audio quality as well as impressive features. From the raucous chorus to Sinead O'Connor's unstable bridge, these headphones offer incredible clarity and authenticity.

1. Sony WH-1000XM5

Sony is a pro at noise cancellation, and its WH1000XM5 headphones are the best over ear noise cancelling headphones iteration of this series. A few well-thought-out enhancements over the XM4s make these headphones an excellent all-round pair of headphones, particularly for those who commute and travel. They're comfortable, have multipoint technology to connect to two devices at once and feature the most powerful ANC Sony has made to date. They're also light and provide approximately 27 hours of playback with no charging, which is sufficient for a week's worth of commuting or one long-haul flight.

The WH-1000XM5s feature an elegant minimalist design. They are made of recycled and recyclable plastic, known as acrylonitrile butadiene (ABS). The branding is minimal, but you'll see the 'Sony' logo on the hinge of each earcup. The headband and earcups are cushioned by a plush, soft material that's comfortable on all but the largest heads. The ears can be adjusted to fit you perfectly.

Unlike previous models that focused on reducing low-frequency noise, the XM5s amplify high-frequency sound waves to cancel out background noise. This improves the overall sound quality, and can help drown out engine and cabin noises on flights. The XM5s are equipped with a second processor to increase noise cancellation further on airplanes and the audio application can also automatically adjust your listening environment using data on air pressure.

Other features of the WH1000XM5s include an enhanced voice assistant that's simple to use and works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and more. The XM5s can be connected with other Sony audio devices for stereo separation and multi-room music. They're compatible with Bluetooth high-bitrate audio streaming using LDAC, which Sony's codec is based on, but don't support the aptX codec or aptX HD.

2. Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

If a company has been manufacturing headphones for as long as Sennheiser is a top brand, you can expect superior sound quality and a comfy fit. With their latest headphones, dubbed Momentum 4 Beats wireless noise cancelling headphones, they offer both. They've reworked the design to remove some of the distinctive elements that gave the earlier models the look of an aviator headset and have also enhanced the active noise cancellation by using their advanced Adaptive Noise Cancellation technology. They are designed to last for 60 hours with ANC on this, which is more than double the battery life of many rivals.

The new model is more portable, since it folds down and is smaller. The earpads and headband are made of synthetic PU leather, which is comfortable on my head even when I wear it all day. There's not much clamping force to keep them in place either and they'll be comfortable during flights and during workouts that last longer.

The sound is clean and well-balanced There are a few peaking in the low-mid and high-mid that cause a slightly muddy sound in mixes. The bass can be a bit overemphasised, adding some extra punch and thump to genres like EDM or hip-hop. It's not a big deal, but it may bother some listeners. The high-mid is a bit of an uneven balance, pushing vocals and instruments towards the front of the mix but at the expense of bringing out sibilants into some songs.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless has all the usual features including bluetooth wireless connectivity, a transparency mode that blends outside sounds into your music to improve awareness and mobile app support for custom and preset EQ options. They can also be used with an 3.5mm cable if you're connecting to your phone via wire. They can use SBC, AAC, aptX HD and aptX Adaptive codecs to connect to your device, and they're able to reduce the latency to as little as 25 and that's a huge benefit.

3. B&W PX7 S2

The original PX7s were a top choice on many lists of top Bluetooth headsets due to their excellent ANC and audio quality. But like most wireless headphones, they've been getting older and required an update and hence the PX7 S2. B&W didn't just change the design, but also made improvements to ANC and added features for voice calls.

The PX7 S2 headphones are very light, making them comfortable for long listening sessions. The look of the PX7 S2 is basically similar to the model before it. This includes the stylish oval-shaped aluminium top-plate that is used for the earcups, the hook-like accent that slides rather than clicks when you expand the headband, and the physical buttons. The earcups are a bit smaller, though, and the headband is a bit less large overall.

The software of B&W lets you tweak EQ settings for beats wireless Noise cancelling headphones treble and bass, but you don't get as much control over the mix of these two elements like you do on more expensive headphones. A Quick Action button on the left earcup switch on the modes for the environment and can be adjusted within the Bowers & Wilkins Music app to summon your device's voice assistant.

The PX7 S2 sounds great for all musical styles, and has a the soundstage offering plenty of width and good separation between the various elements of sound. It shines particularly on pieces that feature acoustic instruments like Rachmaninoff's Cello Sonata in G Minor, Op. The 19 by Yuja Wang and Gautier Capucon, which has woody tones and a sense of air. It can also handle heavier fare as well, thanks to the bass power and mid-range clarity on Entombed's crossover of death-n'-rock and garage to Ride and Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth creating a wall of sound while allowing to be able hear vocal details such as Lars-Goran Petrov's sharp growl.

4. Bose QuietComfort 35

Bose was one of the first companies to bring active noise cancelling headphones to the mainstream. They had a stranglehold for years, but they now have to compete against newer headsets that offer more features and a better audio quality. QuietComfort 35 remains a great choice for those who want to listen to their podcasts or music without sound rumbles or hums.

The default sound profile is balanced and they're comfortable to wear. The ANC does an excellent job of removing background noise, but it tends to emphasize low frequencies more than modern headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM5.

If you're seeking a pair that can be used to listen to audiobooks or podcasts The QC35s feature an impressive noise cancellation mode that reduces ambient noises while keeping you isolated from the sound of the world around you. The QC35s allow you to connect two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and also "audio-share", so you can listen to music on one set of headphones while taking an incoming phone call from the other pair.

The Bose Connect App is decent however it lacks the extensive EQ features of other headphone apps. The QC35s are also used in wired mode with cables, but the quality of sound takes a huge loss and they don't have the same level of battery longevity as wireless models.

The QC35s come with a well-known Bose design that might not appeal to some as the sleeker designs of other manufacturers. However, you can add a bit of personalization by buying an ear cover-up with decals from companies like SlickWraps and Skin Sticker. You'll also be able to customize the color of the earcups and headband later this year, similar to what you can with the older QC25 model.

5. Sony WH-1000XM3

Sony's WH1000XM3 headphones are the best wireless headphone with active noise cancellation you can buy today. They're a bit more costly than the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless, but they block out a lot more ambient noise and feel more durable. They also come with a superior companion app that offers many sound customization options.

The XM3s offer a fantastic sound quality, and since their release, they've been enhanced to deliver even better performance. They provide a bit more clarity across the frequency spectrum The noise cancelling function works better at all volumes and they've added improved controls for things like Quick Attention mode, voice control, and Speak-to-Chat. The latest feature, Adaptive sound control, automatically adjusts the amount of external sound allowed in, based on the location you are in and what you're doing.

There are some issues, however. The mid-range can sound too recessed, and the treble could sometimes be too loud. They also have a tendency to increase bass too much in certain tracks, making them sound too full and heavy. You can fix this in the Sony app or in the headphone setting.

The XM3s are an excellent pair of headphones, especially for those who commute or are frequent travelers. They're more comfortable, stylish and premium and durable than the JBL Live 650 BTNC Wireless, and they have a much more powerful battery, and Beats Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones one of the best noise cancelling features available on the market. They are also more versatile and better-equipped to use on the go than Audio-Technica's M50X wireless, but their noise isolation is less impressive. And they're not waterproof which could be a deal-breaker for some people.