Best over-ear headphones

There are no two ways about it: those who value sound quality and comfort above all else should get over-ear headphones. There are some sacrifices that you make with over-ears compared to earbuds or even on-ear headphones, but the payoff is worth it for many of us. In this list of the best over-ear headphones, we include wired and wireless options to accommodate most prospective buyers’ needs. As always, price is considered a factor, and you can be sure that the best-value products will shine through.

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The quick answer:

Most people want headphones to do it all right out of the box, and in that case, you’re most likely looking at active noise canceling (ANC) headphones. Not only are these headphones able to be used in just about any situation, but they also tend to carry the latest features and tech. There will be some variability between what things are more important for certain people, but overall, the range of what’s considered “best” will be pretty narrow for most.

The best overall:

The best alternative:

The best features:

The best bargain:

The best iOS pick:

The best value:

The best open-back headphones for most:

Why is the Sony WH-1000XM6 the best pair of over-ear headphones?

Although Sony boosts the bass response on these headphones, they still sound quite good out of the box and require little effort to EQ through the Sony Headphones Connect app. Additional notable features include spatial audio modes, Bluetooth multipoint connectivity, support for multiple Bluetooth codecs (SBC, AAC, and LDAC), good mic quality, and USB-C fast charging. Although these headphones are expensive at $449, for many, the expense is worth it as this product performs well across the board.

Despite the Sony WH-1000XM6’s place on our list, it does lack features that some may want in the future, like Auracast broadcasting, a more-granular EQ app, and USB-C wired audio. However, the 3.5mm jack ensures that peripherals can be used with the headphones, and the app may see an update that increases its functionality — as it has several times in the past with other Sony products.

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra are a good alternative

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones represent a significant upgrade in ANC technology for Bose. The headphones prioritize comfort with a lightweight design (253g) and wide, soft ear cups suitable for glasses wearers. They offer fast pairing, 27+ hours of battery life, and quick charging capabilities. The standout feature is CustomTune, which adjusts the sound profile to the user’s ear anatomy.

This makes for a rather frustration-free user experience, but also one that can’t be customized as much. Despite that, these cans are very good any way you slice it, and will work extremely well for most right out of the box.

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 has great battery life

The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless beats the top picks with better sound quality, but is quite old. While its ANC may not top Sony or Bose, it still effectively reduces high-pitched noise by up to 95% and lower-pitched noise by 75%. The standout feature is its impressive 56-hour battery life with ANC on, surpassing the WH-1000XM5 by 24 hours.

These headphones support various Bluetooth codecs, including SBC, AAC, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptive, offering versatility for different audio devices. They also include wired options in 3.5mm or USB-C for when Bluetooth isn’t available, making the MOMENTUM 4 Wireless a strong contender in the high-end wireless headphone market.

The JBL Tour One M3 has all the tools to stay on the cutting edge

Though the JBL Tour One M3 falls slightly behind the top ANC options in sound quality, the tradeoff in features, customizability, and value is more than worth the gamble. These headphones come with a smart accessory that doubles as a secondary control center, and as a transmitter for wired sources. On top of that, the headphones also offer lossless playback over USB-C, and near-lossless wireless over LDAC.

Coming in at $50 less than the Sony WH-1000XM6, the minor effort required to get better sound quality (even just using any of the EQ presets is enough) will be an easy way to get headphones that match or best the top of the market. It’s just gravy that the ANC unit in the JBL Tour One M3 bests all but the AirPods Max in total noise attenuation.

The JLab JBuds Lux is the best bang for the buck

For under $100, the JLab JBuds Lux ANC offers tremendous value as affordable over-ear headphones with active noise cancelation (ANC). Their ANC performance is quite impressive for the price, hushing lower frequencies by up to 20dB to significantly reduce ambient noise during commutes or travel. The headphones also have a stellar 44+ hour battery life per charge. While not audiophile-quality, the sound tuning has boosted bass that helps vocals and instrumentation cut through outside din, and you can tweak it further via an adjustable 10-band EQ in the companion app.

The comfortable padded fit allows for long listening sessions. Other standout features in this price range include a durable yet travel-friendly folding plastic build, USB-C audio connectivity, and decent microphone quality for calls. For budget-minded buyers, the fundamentals and versatility of the JLab JBuds Lux ANC make them a compelling top pick among affordable over-ear ANC headphones.

Who is the Apple AirPods Max for?

Though Apple’s entry into the market is certainly popular, we generally steer people away from it for two reasons: firstly, it’s costly. Maybe perceptions have shifted regarding the price of consumer electronics since Apple’s flagship handheld devices sell for over $1,000. But in the real world, walking around with headphones that cost $549 doesn’t seem like a great idea, especially if you want to keep them.

Second, many of their coolest features are available exclusively to those who have a (current) Apple device to pair them with — making it an incomplete product if you don’t own other Apple devices. Since most people fall outside that category, the price is an even more significant hurdle to overcome. Thankfully, these headphones are no longer sold with the Lightning connector, and are only available with the USB-C connection after the EU flexed its regulatory muscle.

If you’ve got cash to burn and are already invested in Apple’s ecosystem/walled garden, check out the AirPods Max. They sound fantastic, and like the popular AirPods Pro, the AirPods Max features impressively effective noise canceling technology. Additional features include a comfortable design, Transparency Mode, Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio, and the inclusion of Apple’s H1 Chip for seamless connection with Apple devices.

Keyboard warriors should check out the Sennheiser HD 550

If you’re going to be at the computer without anyone around you, you might want to put all your chips on sound quality. If that’s the case, open back headphones like the Sennheiser HD 550 could provide what you’re looking for. These headphones are quite large, light, and offer sound quality that’s truly noteworthy. Though there are plenty of picks in this category that are deserving of this list, we chose the HD 550 because its sound, comfort, and ease of use is among the best in the lot for newcomers to higher-end audio.

Wired headphones have a little bit of a learning curve to them, and you could be forgiven for having lots of questions. However, these headphones should not need an amp, a DAC, or any equipment other than a 3.5 or 6.3mm headphone jack in order to work. Just remember that these headphones aren’t intended for blocking out sound, and will let in everything around you. The tradeoff is very high sound quality and headphones that won’t need to be replaced every so often because of battery wear.

The best over-ear headphones: Notable mentions

• Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT2 ($79 at Amazon): Anyone who wants over-ear headphones for professional and personal use will get great value from Audio-Technica’s Bluetooth headphones. The sound quality and connectivity are great, and so is the 10-minute quick charge.
• Beyerdynamic DT 900 PRO X ($269 at Amazon): Content creators who are on the move and working from one hotel room to the next get these headphones. It’s comfortable, fairly lightweight, and produces excellent audio quality.
• Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700 $379 at Amazon: The NCH 700 is a great option if you have money to blow and want one of the best noise canceling experiences around. You can now create a custom EQ for the headphones straight from the Bose Music app, which is a nice plus.
• Bose QuietComfort 45 ($279 at Amazon): This pair of active noise canceling headphones sounds good, though you’ll want to EQ to account for the treble boost, and has some of the best ANC around. Comfort is a given here, too.
• Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX ($199 at Manufacturer site): If you’re looking for a set of headphones to stay by the computer, few offer a better price-to-performance ratio than the Drop x Sennheiser HD 6XX.
• EarFun Wave Pro ($79.99 at Amazon): If you have a limited budget, the EarFun Wave Pro are a great option. With exceptional battery life, decent ANC, and advanced connectivity, the EarFun Wave Pro headphones are ideal travel or commuting headphones.
• Focal Azurys ($549 at Manufacturer site): Focal Azurys are a competent, durable, and attractive set of headphones meant to meet the needs of audiophiles and those looking for higher-end headphones than their current pair.
• Focal Utopia ($1149 at Amazon): We actually got a chance to review the Focal Utopia headphones, and it’s great. We don’t recommend the Utopia to the average person because it’s mega-expensive. That said, if you have the money to blow, go crazy.
• Focal Bathys ($699 at Amazon): Though ANC headphones are a bit oversaturated at the moment, luxury buyers will appreciate the higher sound quality offered by Focal’s effort.
• Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus ($217.95 at Amazon): This is a great option for consumers looking for a middle-ground ANC headphone, especially if $300+ is just too rich for your blood.
• Sennheiser ACCENTUM Wireless ($179.95 at Amazon): For a set of ANC headphones that cost roughly half of what the top-end competitors do, this is one of the best value buys on the market at the moment.
• Sennheiser HD 560S ($207 at Amazon): The HD 560S are a rock-solid choice if you’re aiming to grab a set of headphones that live by the computer but don’t break the bank.
• Sony MDR-7506 ($89 at Amazon): If all of these options are way too expensive, then go with the Sony MDR-7506. These are far from new, but they’re still an industry favorite for audio production.
• Sony ULT WEAR ($199.99 at Amazon): These are best suited for commuters who want good ANC but aren’t willing to shell out for the highest-end options. The headphones should also do well for those with slightly larger heads and bass heads.

What else you should know about over-ear headphones

What is isolation?

Isolation refers to the ability of your headphones to block outside noise from reaching your ears. This might sound like active noise cancelation, but it isn’t. Active noise canceling uses microphones to pick up the sounds that are going on around you and then uses clever processing to cancel them out. In physics, it’s called destructive interference, and you can learn more about that in our article on how noise canceling works, but that isn’t what isolation is.

Isolation is simply having a physical barrier between your ears and the outside noises. Every time you stuff your fingers in your ears, you’re isolating yourself. You might hear certain loud noises around you, but for the most part, sounds are blocked out. A good pair of over-ear headphones can do something similar. They’ll cover your ears and block noises that would otherwise interfere with the music you’re listening to.

Do Bluetooth headphones have the same sound quality as wired headphones?

Not yet. While Bluetooth has become way better and more convenient in the last few years, it still can’t compete on a technical level with wired over-ear headphones. Sure, we might be a little biased against removing the headphone jack. Still, even our objective testing of the LDAC codec (which is arguably one of the top transfer methods currently available) revealed that Bluetooth falls short. Of course, you probably won’t have to worry about it too much if you’re over the age of 24 because our hearing tends to go a lot sooner than you might realize, but it’s still something you should be aware of. At least for now, wired headphones still reign supreme.

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Frequently asked questions about over-ear headphones