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Best Over-Ear Headphones: The best wired and wireless pairs
In This Article
The over-ear style is one of the most effective for enveloping the ear and blocking out unwanted noise. It’s also a great way of telling people you don’t want to be disturbed, so if you’re after the best over-ear headphones, you’ve come to the right place.
This list includes a pair of over-ears for a variety of situations, including the best pairs for childrens, the best wireless over-ears, the best for audiophiles, the best for office use, and more options besides.
If you want to check out some of our other headphone lists includingbest headphones,best wireless headphonesand thebest wireless earbuds. If you’re interested in blocking out distractions then have a look at ourbest noise-cancelling headphones.
Best over-ear headphones at a glance:
How we test
Not just anybody can review a pair of headphones. You don’t need superhuman hearing to tell what’s good, but you do need to know what to listen out for.Our headphone tests are done by some of the best and most prolific reviewers in the industry, with years of experience listening to everything from the plasticky freebie earbuds that come with your smartphone, to five-figure beasts of glass and marble. We love music and we want your tunes to sound good, too.So we listen every pair of headphones we can get on or in our ears. We use a variety of sources, from basic MP3s playing on a laptop to high-quality tracks on dedicated hi-res audio players.Our test tracks are wide-ranging to give headphones a thorough challenge. They’re also familiar, so we know every track backwards, and we know which bits might trouble the lesser performers.We listen again and again, and we do that for weeks in case the sound changes – because it usually does. Then we’ll listen to similarly priced rivals and come up with a verdict that reflects the performance and features for the money.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Pros
Cons
TheSony WH-1000XM5are Sony’s latest premium wireless over-ears, following up on the success of their popular predecessors. The biggest change from the previous model is how they look. They sport a modern modern look to, and ditch the ability to be collapsed, a change that’s meant to help the noise cancellation peformance, which we found reaped benefits with less noticeable wind noise detected than on theWH-1000XM4.
They’re comfortable to wear, with the redesigned earpads and heading creating a solid enough clamping force and seal; while at around 255g, they’re one of the lightest noise cancelling over-ears around.
The noise cancelling itself is excellent, the call quality is class-leading, while the battery life remains the same as before, it 30 hours with ANC on matches the likes of theB&W Px7 S2and is better than either theBose QuietComfort 45andAirPods Max.
The Speak-to-Chat feature that brings convenience, pausing music when you’re talking. The Quick Attention mode allows you hear your surrounding environment, and there’s built-in voice assistance available from both Google and Alexa. The Adaptive Sound Control detects and logs locations in the Sony Headphones app, allowing you to build custom sound profiles based on the places you frequent. These headphones pack plenty of convienience for the everyday user.
When it comes to sound quality, there’s support forLDACthat’s useful for listening to higher quality tracks from streaming services. We found the midrange to be rich and detailed, the headphones feature a boost in the low and high frequencies over the XM4, with instruments sounding better defined and more focussed. This all contributes to a performance that’s more refined sound than their immediate predecessor.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Sony WH-1000XM5
Meze Audio Empyrean II
Pros
Cons
TheEmpyrean IIare a remarkable pair of headphones for those who want to listen to music in the best quality possible.
Priced at £2749 / $2999, you’ll need a capable amplifier and higher quality sources to take advantage of what the Meze headphones offer but according to our reviewer, the Meze will happily deal with low quality sources as long as you’ve got a decent amplifier to give music a boost. If it’s an uncompromised performance that you want, the Meze Empyrean II deliver on that front.
The presentation is neutral one that boasts remarkable levels of detail retreival and resolution. Our reviewer found their tonal balance from the bottom to the top end of the frequency range to be impeccable. The low end is conveyed with depth, texture, and substance, while the midrange is full of information. They’re an engaging, energetic, and entertaining listen.
The headphones are on the large side, but they’re comfortable to wear even after several hours thanks to the suspension wings and headband that help balance weight across the head. Earpads are included, and swapping them out is easy enough thanks to Rinaro’s isomagnetic coupling technology. Meze offers five different cable types at different lengths, so overall you get a choice of ten different cables to suit your set-up when ordering the headphones.
Reviewer:Simon LucasFull Review:Meze Empyrean II
Bowers and Wilkins Px8
Pros
Cons
If you have a budget that allows you to go up to and beyond the £500 mark, theBowers & Wilkins Px8is an excellent choice at £599 / $699.
Aesthetically the Px8 look great in whichever colour you end up going for. The build quality is excellent, and we found they were comfortable to wear over long periods of time.
They supportadaptive ANCand while the performance not as strong as theSony WH-1000XM5or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones that also feature on this list, compared to the more expensiveFocal BathysandDali IO-12, the Bowers are the best of the lot.
Call quality is among the best we’ve heard from any headphones recently. Voices coming across clearly and background noises are kept to a minimum. The wireless connection is another aspect of these headphones performance that is superb with barely any dips in the signal, and the battery is respectable at thirty hours.
With 40mm dynamic full-range drivers, the Px8 offers a large and expansive soundstage, taking a slightly warm but neutral approach audio, giving low frequencies good definition and punch, with a sharp and clear midrange and the high frequencies are distinctive and bright.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Bowers & Wilkins Px8
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Pros
Cons
When it comes to noise-cancelling headphones, Bose has always been there or thereabouts, and with theQuietComfort Ultra Headphones, they’re on top of the pile as far as noise-cancelling over-ears go.
The ANC is, in our opinion, class-leading, spectacularly reducing noise wherever we go. They’re the best ANC headphones we’ve used on planes, public transport, or just idly walking about; besting theSony WH-1000XM5.
They dismiss people’s voices with an impressive level of precision, and best of all, there’s none of that noise-cancelling ‘whine’ we often hear with other pairs when the ANC is activated.
The transparency mode is just as good, clear and detail as well as sounding very natural to our ears. It’s as if we’re not wearing headphones at all.
The Bluetooth performance is strong with only a few stutters as we walked through busy areas of interference. Call quality is solid but could be better as these headphones have a tendency to let in noise whenever we speak.
The sound quality is a very mainstream sound from Bose. Before they headphones used to sound quite crisp and shilly, but they’re slightly warmer with a bigger bass performance, a smooth and detailed midrange and clear highs. The Immersive Audio feature that takes stereo music and spatialises works, though we found that we didn’t necessarily want to hear every track outputted in this format. Some are best left to stereo.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones
Sony MDR-MV1
Pros
Cons
TheMDR-MV1are wired headphones from Sony’s professional sector, and we found them a blast to listen to.
While they’re intended for mixing, you could conceivably use these headphones for home listening too. Though Sony describes them as a neutral-sounding pair of headphones, that doesn’t really describe what kind of sound these over-ears can produce. They’re a fun, energetic, and spacious and dynamic sounding pair, which a rich bass performance (especially for an open-backed pair).
TheAustrian Audio Hi-X65offer a more balanced, reference performance with a level of sharpness and detail that the Sony doesn’t match. But if you want a fun sound, the Sony offers plenty of it.
They’re easy to drive with their low impedance, and they’re very comfy to wear thanks to the lightweight frame and cushy earpads. They’re also compatible to be used with Sony’s360 Reality Audioformat for professionals who are mixing in that sound format.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Sony MDR-MV1
Planet Buddies Volume Limited Headphones
Pros
Cons
If you’re a parent in need of a pair of over-ears suitable for children, we’d recommend giving thePlanet Buddies Volume Limited Headphonesa look.
We’ve tested the wireless version of these headphones and found them be effective, and the wired models are just as cute in appearance for the younger ones, but the headline feature here is that they are volume limited to 85dB. This is the volume level WHO recommend to protect small ears from developing noise-induced hearing loss.
The headphones come in a variety of adorable designs, from the vibrant Olive the Owls, to the eared Pippin the Pandas and the customisable Colour and Swaps. All are soft and adjustable and some fold up to slip into carry pouches as well. These headphones are quite light on features. The Olive the Owl and Colour and Swap pairs feature multi-function buttons on their cables, while the Pippin the Pandas actually have two ports so kids can listen to music and watch movies with friends.
We did find the volume limit subdued some of the dynamism produced by these headphones, and there’s much in the way of detail but the bass still has a good amount of presence and it feels like a worthy trade off to protect your kids ears. For adults, consider thePuroPro Hybrid ANCheadphones which also have volume limited technology inside.
Reviewer:Hannah DaviesFull Review:Planet Buddies Volume Limited Headphones
Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC
Pros
Cons
Since the pandemic, there’s been a rise in people using headphones for online meetings, but rather than using the a pair of headphones that might not offer the best call quality, why not get a pair designed specifically for the task?
That’s where thePoly Voyager Surround 80 UCenters the discussion. Available in a few different configurations, the version we tested is rather expensive but if you look around £259 is one of the cheaper prices on offer (and far less than the £466 quoted on some sites).
They’re not the smallest headphones for an over-ear, an aspect our reviewer had qualms with, but they’re comfortable to wear as using them across a full workday, the reviewer noted there was heat build-up that they noticed, nor any skin irritation. Build quality is sturdy and well-constructed, which you’d expect for the outlay.
The noise-cancellation is effective, not quite up to the level of theSony WH-1000XM5, but strong enough to drown out the drone of an everyday office. Wireless call quality is excellent, with the ten ‘boomless’ mics working well to capture your voice and render it clearly. Use the USB connection and we noted an even better call quality performance.
Bluetooth multipoint is supported for connecting to two devices at once, while there’s certification with Microsoft Teams.
And if you were to use these headphones for music, then they put in a good performance. Bass is generally warm and energetic, working well wiht genres such as punk and dance that require plenty of bass. Clarity in the treble region allows for good levels of detail, and there’s a nice degree of stereo separation too. We don’t feel you’d be disappointed if you were to use these headphones for music while you work. For a cheaper option there’s theLogitech Zone Vibe Wireless, although these office headphones don’t boast noise-cancellation.
Reviewer:Sean CameronFull Review:Poly Voyager Surround 80 UC
AirPods Max
Pros
Cons
TheAirPods Maxare Apple’s only over-ear headphones, and as a result they offer the best iOS integration of all the headphones on this list.
The AirPods Max have a striking design with large metal cups, a mesh band and a dial that’s cribbed from the Apple Watch. Despite being far heavier than theSony WH-1000XM5and theBose QC Ultra Headphones, the AirPods remain comfortable to wear with their weight distributed across the headband to the point where we could barely feel them at all.
However, there’s noIP rating, so we wouldn’t recommend using them at the gym, but very few over-ear headphones have an IP rating anyway. The physical buttons and dial make it easy to move through tracks, adjust the volume and toggle between noise cancellation and transparency modes, while the ANC itself is some of the best around with the adaptive setting doing a fantastic job of altering the noise cancellation levels to fit your environment.
The transparency mode is excellent too, and the addition of spatial audio makesDisney PlusandApple TV+content feel much grander and less flat than it does with a regular pair of over-ears. However, some features like spatial audio and seamless quick device switching are only supported on iOS devices.
When it comes to audio performance the AirPods Max are excellent, though perhaps not as big of an improvement over the Bose and Sony headphones to justify the higher price. The custom 40mm driver, dual H1 chips and adaptive EQ work together to offer a balanced and versatile sound that impressed us across a wide range of songs and genres. There’s plenty of bass and higher frequencies never sound harsh or distorted,
The 20-hour battery life should get you through a long flight but it isn’t class-leading and the storage case offers little protection. However, if you’re looking for a pair of Apple-centric over-ears, you won’t find better than the AirPods Max.
Reviewer:Max ParkerFull Review:AirPods Max
Shure SRH840A
Pros
Cons
TheShure SRH840Aare an affordable pair of home studio-grade reference headphones that are ideal if you value sound quality above all else.
They are the follow up to theSRH840, built from a mix of aluminium, plastic, synthetic leather and a fabric weave, with a redesigned headband that tracks closer to the shape of the head than that of their predecessor. As such, we found these improvements to be positive, ensuring good comfort as the breathable headband and firm ear cup pads enabled our reviewer to wear them for up to six hours with no obvious fatigue.
The headphones come with a long 3m cable, which limits their portability, making them well-suited for listening around the home but less ideal for using out and about. Given they are home studio-grade reference headphones, it wouldn’t make sense to use these outside of the home.
The sound of the SRH840A is similar to their predecessor with the same 5–25000Hz frequency response and low impedance for use with non-specialist hardware. They have the neutrality required of a pair of monitor headphones with some thickness in the upper bass and low mids to avoid sounding sterile. The bass is measured and punchy and the sound width is good, but we were less impressed by the sense of depth in the soundstage. A less expensive option to consider is Shure’s ownSRH440A, which can be had for less than £100 / $100.
Reviewer:Andrew WilliamsFull Review:Shure SRH840A
Puro BT2200 Plus
Pros
Cons
We’ve tested a few headphones designed for adults from Puro, but theBT2200 Plusare the first model we’ve really tested of theirs for children. And it’s much better than they need to be.
Puro claims studio-grade quality and they’re not fair off. Clarity is good, detail levels are engaging, and the soundstage is described in wide enough terms, though we did find that some clarity and detail is lost when the volume is nudged up. They lack dynamism, which we’d expect for volume limited headphones, and bass is limp at default volumes (though it gets better when the volume is pushed up.
Battery life is long at 20 hours, and in our tests we felt you can get much longer. We do find the wireless connection to be a bit patchy in busy signal areas, the connection drops regularly even when we on the London Underground waiting for the tube.
The build quality is of surprisingly good quality for a children’s headphones. They’re not the cheap, plasticky quality that you get with less expensive options such as thePlanet Buddies headphones. We found them comfortable to wear, and the clamping force is light enough that it shouldn’t cause an undue irritation for young ones. The headphones also come with a spare pair of earpads, so if you wanted to, you could switch and turn these headphones into an on-ear pair.
Reviewer:Kob MonneyFull Review:Puro BT2200 Plus
We also considered…
Inexpensive headphones for mixing audio
An excellent pair of premium wireless headphones
One of the best-sounding wireless over-ears around
Stylish and affordable hybrid office headphones
A pair of wired open-backed over-ears with an insightful performance
Great-sounding and long-lasting wireless cans
We’ve reviewed
FAQs
The Planet Buddies Volume Limited Headphones cannot be pushed past 85dB, which is the limit recommended by the World Health Organisation to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss. This can be especially useful on kids headphones as children might not recognise when their music is too loud.
ANC stands for Active Noise Cancelling, a feature designed to block out distractions and outside noise when you wear your headphones.
Over-ear headphones have larger ear cups that envelope the ears and generally offer better passive noise isolation. You might also find them to be more comfortable than on-ear headphones, but this comes down to personal preference.
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Comparison specs
Kob began his career at What Hi-Fi?, starting in the dusty stockroom before rising up the ranks to join the editorial and production team as the Buyer’s Guide editor. Experienced in both magazine and …
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
