Headphones Over the Ear
Headphones that cover your ears with foam or other padding are called circumaural headphones. They block out sound from the outside and many of them have active noise cancellation, which makes your listening experience more immersive.
The quality of the sound produced by headphones is the most crucial aspect. What factors affect the quality of sound?
Comfort
When shopping for headphones the first thing most people think about is the audio quality. They do not think about how comfortable the headphones will be. It is important to take into consideration this as regardless of how good the headphones sound, they won't be able to stay on your head for long if they don't feel comfortable.
If you're looking for headphones that are comfortable to wear, and also come with the features that you need choose ones made of top-quality materials with a thick padding on the headbands as well as earpads. The pads should be sized to fit your ears and should not be too tight nor too loose. The headphones should be lightweight so that they don't cause neck or head discomfort over time.
Over-ear headphones are more comfortable than other types of headphones due to their larger ear cups which fully surround the ears. The larger ear cups provide more padding and a more large sound. Many of the top over-ear headphones come with active noise cancellation to reduce background noise and block out your audio or podcasts.
Another factor to consider when shopping for headphones is whether or not they are Bluetooth-compatible. This feature is becoming increasingly important since it allows you to wirelessly connect your headphones to portable devices or media players. Bluetooth headphones often come with voice assistants that allow you to control music or other apps using your tablet or phone.
If you're looking for the top Bluetooth headphones, we recommend the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 over-ear headphones. They have drivers that are 40mm and feature active noise cancellation with six microphones to ensure that your music takes priority over ambient noise. They also include a companion app that lets you customize your audio experience and support multi-device pairing. They're extremely comfortable to wear thanks to V-shaped sound profiles that increases bass and makes vocals and the instruments that lead you stand out.
Sound
Over-ear headphones (also known as circumaural headphones) feature large ear cups that completely cover your ears. The ear cups are filled with soft padding, making these headphones comfortable enough to wear for hours on end.
They also have larger speakers, which helps to improve their audio quality. They have larger drivers that can reproduce sound in a broad dynamic range from bass to treble. The ear pads also form a seal around your ears, blocking out ambient sounds and allowing you to enjoy a full audio experience.
Some of the top manufacturers of headphones have developed over-ear headphones that offer premium audio experience. For instance, Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones feature sensors that can detect and respond to your voice for simple music control and hands-free phone calls. They also have the ability to automatically adjust audio settings for optimal listening in accordance with the environment, thanks to smart sensors.
Another fantastic pair of over-ear headphones is the Focal PX8s. These premium headphones are a dream for audiophiles. The Focals have a mix booth-like sound with an open, wide and neutral soundstage. The Focals can be customised to your preferences using the accompanying app's graphic equalizer as well as presets. The Focals are also capable of being used as an audiophile headphone DAC, with support for high-resolution audio over USB-C.
The Bose QuietComfort 45 is a lightweight model that offers the same high-quality audio performance. These wireless over-ear headphones are among the best alternatives for acoustic isolation, and are made to be easily transportable. With their incredibly light design they Bose headphones don't even feel like they're on your head and they're also extremely comfortable for long periods of time.
On-ear headphones are a good option if you appreciate the rich audio experience provided by over-ear headphones. They can leak quite some of the sound which can be a concern for some listeners. Another disadvantage is that they can't be worn as comfortably as earphones and can be uncomfortable when you lead an active lifestyle.
Noise Cancellation
A pair of headphones that can block out the noises around you can help you focus in a noisy office or even take a relaxing flight or just focus on your music. The most effective headphones for over-ears come with active noise cancellation that electronically or digitally blocks out the sounds from your surroundings by inverting frequencies, leading to an equier listening experience. Certain ANC headphones allow you to allow external sound through, which may be beneficial if you're in busy areas or need to hear what people around you are saying.
The passive noise cancellation provided by headphones with over-ears can be more effective than earbuds, because they fit comfortably over the ear to create an earpiece that blocks out sound from the outside. Certain ANC headphones also come with additional padding that makes them even more comfortable for long listening sessions. Over-ear headphones generally weigh more than earbuds and may require more thought when it comes to storage and carrying. They are also more expensive, and many are bigger than earbuds, which can make them bulky for some people's ears, or uncomfortable on their head after long wear.
ANC can be activated by hand or automatically, with some of the top pairs automatically adjusting to the ambient noise level as you move around and switch between indoor and outdoor environments. They can also be programmed to mute specific frequencies or adjust the bass, mid and high EQ levels to your preferred listening style. Most over-ear ANC headphones come with companion apps that give you the full control over these settings, which is useful if don't like the default sound profile right out of the box.
Noise cancelling can upgrade the experience of playing back music however it will not shield your hearing from damage caused by prolonged exposure to loud sound or music. It's a good idea to listen to your music at a moderate volume and take regular breaks while using ANC. As a rule of thumb it is not recommended to play your music or podcasts for more than 80 percent of the maximum volume.
Battery Life
A good pair of headphones for over-ear will last you all day without the need for recharging or an outlet. The best headphones can give you between 20 to 60 hours of playback time before they require recharge, and that's even with noise cancelling activated.
The Bang & Olufsen HX500s feature powerful batteries capable of providing up to 35 hours of continuous audio playback, with active noise cancellation enabled. This is great for long flights, when you want to bluetooth over ear headphones block the sound of jet engines or chattering passengers. The HX500s provide excellent Bluetooth performance, and high-quality codescs to ensure flawless wireless connection and stable. The earpads and headband are comfortable to wear for prolonged periods and the controls are intuitive and easy to use.
Sennheiser's fourth-gen noise cancelling headphones offer high-quality sound right out of the box, and are equipped with audio features that let you tweak the sound to suit your preferences. The headphones are luxurious in design and feel, featuring the combination of aluminum and leather on their ears and a headband. They feature the most efficient quick charge technology. 5 minutes of charging provides four hours of listening.
These headphones are built to be used for serious workouts and are built to stand up to the abuse that you could put on them during your regular gym routine. They feature a tough design, which is sweat-resistant and resistant to the impact of a fall during running. They're also covered with a protein leather cushion to ensure comfort. The JBL UA Project Rock Over-Ear Training Headphones also feature the JBL app, which allows you to customize the sound using presets like one designed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson that's designed to crush workouts.
The Master & Dynamic MW75s have an exclusive design that draws inspiration from gaming headsets and also offer top-quality sound and a dazzling ANC performance. The closed-back design isn't able to create the spacious, open soundstage some listeners prefer. However, they're perfect for music on the move and travel. They provide excellent audio quality that is characterized by a natural, balanced sound and rich bass. The MW75s come with a quick-attention mode which lets you hear ambient sounds by covering the right earcup with your hand. They also work with Alexa voice control.