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Best Over-Ear Headphones for 2023: Wired and Wireless Picks

We've tested the best over-ear headphones on the market, from brands like Apple, Bose, Sony and more. Get the best over-ear headphones for you and your ears.

Updated on Aug. 17, 2023

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Written by  David Carnoy
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
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David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.
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$549 at Apple
airpods-max-8
Best high-end wireless headphones for Apple users
Apple AirPods Max
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$398 at Amazon
A pair of white Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones against a blue background
Best noise-canceling headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5
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$100 at Amazon
The 1More SonoFlow headphones feature strong sound and a comfortable fit
Best sound under $100
1More SonoFlow
View details
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$150 at Dell
sony-ch-720n-pink-background.png
Top midrange noise-canceling headphones
Sony CH-720N
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$350 at Walmart
beats-studio-pro-sandstone-2
Upgraded Beats over-ear headphones
Beats Studio Pro
View details
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$329 at Lenovo
The Bose QuietComfort 45 in white
Best QuietComfort from Bose
Bose QuietComfort 45
View details
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$349 at Amazon
The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless features a totally new design
Flagship Sennheiser noise-canceling headphones
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
View details
View details
$80 at Amazon
Anker SoundCore Life Q30
Best cheap noise-canceling headphones under $100
Anker SoundCore Life Q30
View details
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$159 at Walmart
Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
Best wired studio headphones
Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
View details
View details
$699 at Crutchfield
The Focal Bathys are high-end Bluetooth headphones
Best-sounding wireless noise-canceling headphones
Focal Bathys
View details
$468 at Amazon
The Sennheiser 660S2 offer improved sound with a more spacious soundstage
Top open-back audiophile wired headphones
Sennheiser 660S2
View details
View details
$599 at Master & Dynamic
Master & Dynamic MW75 headphones on green background
Great-sounding premium noise-canceling headphones
Master & Dynamic MW75
View details
$399 at Master & Dynamic
The Master & Dynamic MH40 2nd Generation offer improved performance
Sturdy wireless headphones with upgraded performance
Master & Dynamic MH40 (2nd Generation)
View details
$249 at Amazon
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphones on a blue background
Next-gen Bowers & Wilkins noise-canceling headphones
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2
View details
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$70 at Amazon
edifier-820nb-anc-eadphones
Affordable noise-canceling headphones with good sound
Edifier W820NB
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$440 at Amazon
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
Top AirPods Max alternative
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
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$81 at Amazon
Sony MDR7506
Best older over-ear headphones
Sony MDR7506
View details
View details
$300 at Amazon
V-Moda M-200
Best audiophile headphones from V-Moda
V-Moda M-200
View details
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Which are the best over-ear headphones right now?

There's a lot of debate around this question, and it's hard to name one single model as the best overall over-ear or "around-the-ear" headphone. But a few models do stand out from the rest of the pack, including the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple's AirPods Max (for iPhone users). For sound quality in a wireless over-ear headphone, the Focal Bathys are hard to beat, but they cost $799.

Most of the over-ear headphones on this list are wireless Bluetooth headphones that feature active noise canceling (some but not all wireless headphones also come with a cable for wired listening). But I've also included a handful of wired-only over-ear headphones for the audio purists out there looking for great sound.

When testing and evaluating over-ear headphones, we consider factors such as build quality, comfort and sound quality, as well as noise-canceling and voice-calling performance. This list is regularly updated as more over-ear headphones hit the market, with the most recent addition being the Beats Studio Pro headphones. Note that Bose is likely to introduce new over-ear headphones later this year.

Read more: Best Headphones for 2023: Our Top Overall Picks

Best over-ear headphones of 2023

$5 at Apple

Best high-end wireless headphones for Apple users

Apple AirPods Max

airpods-max-8
Pros
  • Surprisingly comfortable for their weight
  • Impressive sound and build-quality
  • Adaptive noise canceling is top-notch and so is transparency mode
  • Good headset performance for calls
  • Spatial audio virtual surround for iPhones and iPads is a sweet bonus feature
  • Automatic switching between iOS devices on your iCloud account (multipoint Bluetooth)
Cons
  • Expensive, heavy and the smart case may be too smart for its own good
  • No cable included for wired use
  • Android users lose a couple of key features
  • People around you can hear what you're listening to if you have the volume up (they leak some sound)
Battery Life Rated up to 20 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

Yes, they're expensive, but the AirPods Max deliver richer, more detailed sound than lower-priced competitors from Bose and Sony. They also feature arguably the best noise canceling on the market along with premium build quality and Apple's virtual surround spatial audio feature for video watching. While they're heavy, they manage to be surprisingly comfortable, though I did have to adjust the mesh canopy headband to sit a little more forward on my head to get a comfortable secure fit when I was out walking with them. They should fit most heads well, but there will be exceptions.

Pros:

  • Surprisingly comfortable for their weight
  • Impressive sound and build quality
  • Adaptive noise canceling is top-notch and so is transparency mode
  • Good headset performance for calls

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Equipped with Apple's H1 chip, not the newer H2
  • No cable included for wired use
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$4 at Amazon

Best noise-canceling headphones

Sony WH-1000XM5

A pair of white Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones against a blue background
Battery Life Rated up to 32 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony's WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they've improved with each generation. Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, but nothing as dramatic as what it's done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher $349 price tag, most of those changes are good, and Sony's made some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound.

Pros:

  • More refined sound and even better noise cancellation
  • Slightly more comfortable
  • Best-in-class voice call quality
  • Robust feature set

Cons:

  • Higher price tag than the previous model
  • Larger carrying case (headphones fold flat but not up)
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$1 at Amazon

Best sound under $100

1More SonoFlow

The 1More SonoFlow headphones feature strong sound and a comfortable fit
Battery life Rated up to 70 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Water-Resistant No IP Rating

The design of 1More's SonoFlow headphones reminds me a little of some earlier Sony headphones and also the newer Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4. They're a bit generic looking but sleek enough and more importantly, comfortable to wear. They also feature very respectable sound quality. While it doesn't quite measure up to the sound quality of what'll get with more premium models like the Momentum Wireless 4, it isn't that far off. The SonoFlow headphones deliver smooth sound with good clarity and relatively well-defined bass (they're just not quite as rich or dynamic sounding as those premium models I mentioned). They also have support for the LDAC audio codec.

The noise canceling is a step down from what Sony and Bose models offer but it does a decent job of muffling ambient sound and there is a transparency mode. Voice-calling performance is similarly solid but unspectacular. Note that you can use this in wired mode with the included cable but the noise canceling only works in wireless mode, which is an issue for frequent flyers who like some noise canceling when plugging into an in-flight entertainment system. 

Pros:

  • Comfortable
  • Good sound quality for their price
  • Decent noise canceling
  • LDAC audio codec support for Android users

Cons:

  • A bit generic looking
  • Noise canceling only works in wireless mode
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$2 at Dell

Top midrange noise-canceling headphones

Sony CH-720N

sony-ch-720n-pink-background.png
Battery life Rated up to 35 hours
Noise Cancelling Yes
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

Sony's improved entry-level noise canceling headphones, the CH-720Ns, have a bit of a plasticky budget vibe, but they're lightweight and very comfortable. Part of me was expecting them to sound pretty mediocre, but I was pleasantly surprised. No, they don't sound as good as the WH-1000XM5s. But they sound more premium than they look (and feel), and their overall performance is a step up from their predecessor, the CH-710Ns. Are they worth $150? Maybe -- or maybe not. But the good news is that, like the CH-710N and WH-XB910 before them, these should see significant discounts in the not-so-distant future, which is what you may want to wait for.

Pros:

  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Good sound with impressive noise canceling
  • Good voice-calling performance
  • 35 hours of battery life

Cons:

  • No carrying case
  • No ear-detection sensors
  • No LDAC audio codec support
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$4 at Walmart

Upgraded Beats over-ear headphones

Beats Studio Pro

beats-studio-pro-sandstone-2
Battery life Rated up to 40 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

Love 'em or hate 'em, Beats Studio headphones are among the most popular headphones of all time, launching as a wired headphone back in 2008. This is the fourth generation of them, and they carry the same list price as their predecessor and look very similar on the outside but have some big changes on the inside that make them significantly better headphones. I'm tempted to describe them as more affordable plastic versions of the AirPods Max. However, that's not quite accurate due to a choice in chipsets and one notable missing feature. But read our full review to find out what makes this a very good headphone with some caveats.

Pros:

  • Improved sound quality, noise canceling and ear pad design
  • Great voice-calling performance
  • Spatial audio with head tracking for Apple users
  • USB-C audio

Cons:

  • No Apple H2 chip
  • No ear-detection sensors
  • No major design changes except for case
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$3 at Lenovo

Best QuietComfort from Bose

Bose QuietComfort 45

The Bose QuietComfort 45 in white
Battery Life Rated up to 25 hours
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

The Bose QuietComfort 45 essentially looks the same as its popular predecessor, the QuietComfort 35 II, with the biggest design difference being a USB-C port in place of the older Micro-USB. (At 238 grams, the QC45 weighs just 3 grams more than the QC35, which should be imperceptible.) And while the Bose 700 has plenty of fans, a lot of people (including me) think this QuietComfort design is slightly more comfortable and the headphones fold up and fold flat. It's arguably the most comfortable pair of headphones out there. 

They also sound very similar to the QC 35 II, with no change to the drivers. Where you'll see an improvement is with the noise cancellation (there's a transparency mode), which very well could be the best out right now. According to Bose, there's a new electronics package that powers the new ANC system, which now better muffles "unwanted sounds in the midrange frequencies" (voices) that you'd "typically find on commuter trains, busy office spaces and cafes."

Pros:

  • Comfortable headphones with best-in-class noise canceling and good sound
  • Improved voice calling with better noise reduction
  • Pairs with two devices at the same time
  • New Aware (transparency) mode

Cons:

  • No on-ear detection sensor
  • Not as feature-rich as Sony flagship ANC headphones
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$3 at Amazon

Flagship Sennheiser noise-canceling headphones

Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless features a totally new design
Battery life Rated up to 7 hours
Noise Canceling Yes
Multipoint Yes
Water-Resistant Yes (IPX4-- splash-proof)

Sennheiser's previous-generation Momentum Wireless headphones have always had a pretty distinct look that was part retro, part modern, and stood out for the exposed metal on their headband. For better or worse, that's all gone now, and the new Momentum 4 Wireless, Sennheiser's flagship noise-canceling headphones, look a bit more subdued and also a bit more like some of their competitors.

The Momentum 4 Wireless offers superior performance over the Momentum 3 Wireless in every regard, though the biggest gains are with noise canceling and voice-calling performance as well as battery life, which is outstanding -- up to 60 hours at moderate volume levels. There's also a transparency mode that allows ambient sound in, and they have the ability to create a custom sound profile in the Smart Control app for iOS and Android using the built-in EQ, sound modes and a new Sound Personalization feature that "assesses the user's listening preferences and adjusts the listening experience according to their taste." 

Equipped with 42mm drivers, Sennheiser says the Momentum 4 Wireless offer "best-in-class" sound, which is debatable. I'd say the Momentum 4's sound quality is right there with other models in this price range -- they sound excellent, with the requisite well-defined, punchy bass, relatively wide soundstage (they sound pretty open) and smooth treble that brings out some of the finer details in well-recorded tracks. They're a pleasure to listen to.

Pros:

  • Excellent sound
  • Improved noise-canceling and voice-calling performance
  • Impressive battery life
  • Good sound personalization features

Cons:

  • Ho-hum design
  • Noise cancellation isn't as good as Sony's or Bose's
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$80 at Amazon

Best cheap noise-canceling headphones under $100

Anker SoundCore Life Q30

Anker SoundCore Life Q30
Battery Life Rated up to 60 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

Premium noise-canceling headphones tend to cost more than $300. But what if you're on a tight budget -- what's your best option for noise-canceling over-ear headphones?

As far as sound, comfort level and build quality, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than Anker's SoundCore Life Q30 for the money. They don't quite have the same clarity or bass definition as some of the top premium models, but they're less than a third of the price and get you about 75% of the way there in terms of sound: It's well-balanced overall with punchy bass, and there's an app that allows you to tweak the sound. The noise canceling is good for the price, though not up to the level of the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort 45. Battery life is rated at an impressive 40 hours with USB-C charging.

The only area where the Q30 headphones fall a little short is voice calls. They pick up your voice fine in quieter environments, but they just don't reduce background noise all that well. 

Compared with the step-down Q20, the Q30 headphones do offer improved sound (it's not a huge difference, but it definitely is a notch up) and a more premium design.

Pros:

  • Comfortable
  • Decent build quality for their price
  • Good sound for their price
  • Good battery life

Cons:

  • Voice-calling performance could be better
  • Noise-canceling performance is fine but not great
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$2 at Walmart

Best wired studio headphones

Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X

Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
Battery Life NA
Noise Canceling No
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Over-ear wired headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

We were fans of Beyerdynamic's earlier DT 770 Pro headphones. The new DT 700 X is easier to drive than the 770 Pro, thanks to the company's new STELLAR.45 sound transducer with an impedance of 48 ohms, so it plays better with smartphones, tablets and laptops without requiring a headphone amp.

The headphone is targeted at content creators who want accurate audio reproduction, but it's a bit more dynamic sounding and less bass shy than many studio headphones, which tend to restrain the bass and hew toward a very neutral sound profile. The DT 700 X is a revealing, clean-sounding headphone that offers invitingly open sound (particularly for a closed-back headphone) and makes you realize what you're missing after listening to similarly priced Bluetooth headphones. 

Unlike the earlier DT 770 Pro, which is being sold at a nice discount (around $160), the DT 700 X comes with two interchangeable (detachable) straight cables in different lengths, and the DT 700 X arguably has a little cleaner look than its predecessor.

The solidly built headphone -- it weighs 350 grams -- is quite comfortable, featuring upgraded soft, velour-covered memory foam earpads that offer decent passive noise isolation. The earpads and the headphones' other parts are replaceable, Beyerdynamic says. 

Beyerdynamic also sells the open-back DT 900 X for the same price. That model should provide slightly more open, airy sound but the big drawback is people around you can hear whatever you're listening to -- and sound also leaks in. This closed-back version is more versatile.

Pros:

  • Comfortable
  • Clean, clear sound
  • More dynamic sounding and less bass shy than many studio headphones
  • Good build quality

Cons:

  • Wired-only headphone with no extra features
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The Focal Bathys are high-end Bluetooth headphones
$699 at Crutchfield

Best-sounding wireless noise-canceling headphones

Focal Bathys

French audio company Focal is known for its high-end speakers and headphones. You might call it the Bowers & Wilkins of France. And now it's finally done what a lot of high-end audio companies have had to do in this age of on-the-go wireless music listening: make active noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones. 

Over three years in development, the Bathys cost $799 and feature not only wireless connectivity but a built-in digital-to-analog converter for USB wired listening with any computer, smartphone or tablet with USB-C. They are easily one of the best-sounding wireless headphones.

Pros:

  • Comfortable
  • Truly excellent sound quality
  • USB-C Audio
  • Distinct design and solid build quality

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Active noise canceling is comparatively light
  • Included cables don't seem premium enough
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The Sennheiser 660S2 offer improved sound with a more spacious soundstage
$5 at Amazon

Top open-back audiophile wired headphones

Sennheiser 660S2

While the Sennheiser 660S2 may seem expensive, it's one of the more affordable true audiophile headphones, sharing the same design as its predecessor, the 660S. The changes are all on the inside, with improved airflow and upgraded drivers that include a new ultralight aluminum voice coil. This leads to better sound, with the bass adding more depth and definition, while the treble gains a bit more clarity and sizzle (the very natural-sounding mids remain pretty much unchanged as far as I can tell). The soundstage also seems more spacious and airy -- yes, these are open-back headphones so they do leak sound.

Note that the 660S2 requires some extra power to drive (it's now a 300-ohm headphone), so you'll want to pair it with a dedicated headphone amplifier. I did manage to use it with an iPhone but plugged it into an AudioQuest Dragonfly USB DAC/Amp designed for use with iPhones (there's also a version for Android smartphones). It sounded great listening to high-resolution tracks from Qobuz, the music streaming service.

Audiophile headphones usually have a very neutral sound profile, but the 660S2 doesn't suffer from being overly so. It mixes in just enough excitement while also managing to sound really clean and smooth. It's also a comfortable headphone, though some people with larger heads have complained that it feels a bit too tight on their heads. (I have a more medium-size head and they felt good over long listening sessions.)

Pros:

  • Comfortable (so long as you don't have a very big head)
  • Improved bass and treble performance (more clarity)
  • Less bass shy than many studio headphones
  • Good build quality

Cons:

  • Should ideally be paired with a headphone amplifier
  • Open design leaks sound
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Master & Dynamic MW75 headphones on green background
$599 at Master & Dynamic

Great-sounding premium noise-canceling headphones

Master & Dynamic MW75

The MW75 are Master & Dynamic's best full-size headphones yet. Needless to say, they're pricey at $599; most people will be quite satisfied with the $400 Sony WH-1000XM5s, which are lighter and more comfortable, and which deliver best-in-class voice calling and noise canceling. But the MW75's build quality is hard to beat and they offer top-notch sound for a wireless model (I thought they sounded better than Apple's AirPods Max headphones), plus strong voice-calling and noise-canceling performance. With their support for aptX Adaptive, they have additional appeal for Android users, who can get a touch better sound quality with the right setup. But I was also quite happy streaming music with my iPhone 13 Pro using the AAC codec.

Pros:

  • Comfortable headphones with excellent build quality
  • Top-notch sound
  • Strong voice-calling and noise-canceling performance
  • Support for aptX Adaptive audio codec for Android users

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Slightly heavy
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The Master & Dynamic MH40 2nd Generation offer improved performance
$399 at Master & Dynamic

Sturdy wireless headphones with upgraded performance

Master & Dynamic MH40 (2nd Generation)

All of Master & Dynamic's headphones are well built (they're sturdy) and have a unique retro-modern look. The higher-end MW75 has active noise canceling and sounds a little better than the freshly updated MH40, which features new drivers and a new chipset that delivers improved sound and performance. But the MH40 sounds more refined than its predecessor, with better clarity and definition, and now offers support for the AAC and AptX audio codecs, plus improved voice-calling performance. Additionally, you can plug its USB-C cable into a computer or Android smartphone for a wired digital connection for high-resolution audio. Battery life is rated at a healthy 30 hours.

To be clear, this isn't a noise-canceling headphone, but you do get decent passive noise isolation from the nicely padded ear cups, which adhere magnetically and are easy to swap out should they eventually show some wear. Available in several color options, the MH40s are comfortable to wear -- they weigh 280 grams -- but may not be a good fit for those with smaller heads. 

Pros:

  • Unique design with excellent build quality
  • Better clarity and definition
  • Improved voice-calling performance
  • Support for AAC and aptX audio codecs 

Cons:

  • May not fit those with smaller heads
  • Slightly heavy
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$2 at Amazon

Next-gen Bowers & Wilkins noise-canceling headphones

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2

Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphones on a blue background
Battery Life Rated up to 30 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Water-Resistant No

Available in three color options (gray, blue and black), Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2 headphones offer some significant improvements over the first-gen version. Not only are these headphones more comfortable -- they tip the scales at 307 grams -- but they sound better and have better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance with improved noise reduction. I don't necessarily think they're a better option than the lighter and even more comfortable Sony WH-1000XM5. But the PX7 S2 certainly looks and feels luxurious, with its sturdy design, and delivers very good sound with better voice-calling performance thanks to an upgraded microphone setup.

Bowers & Wilkins has also released a step-up model, the PX8, that features even better sound but costs significantly more. 

Pros:

  • Improved comfort and sound quality
  • Better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance
  • Sturdy design
  • Support for aptX Adaptive audio codec for Android users

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Heavy
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$1 at Amazon

Affordable noise-canceling headphones with good sound

Edifier W820NB

edifier-820nb-anc-eadphones
Battery Life Rated Up to 49 Hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint No
Headphone Type Over-Ear Wireless Headphones
Water-Resistant No IP Rating

Edifier makes some good-sounding PC speakers and true-wireless earbuds, and it's done a nice job with its W820NB noise-canceling headphones. The first thing you'll notice about them when you put them on is that they're comfortable -- the earpads are nicely cushioned and the headphones fit snugly on your head. They also sound good for their price, offering just enough clarity and decent bass performance. Their sound didn't blow me away, but I was fine listening to these headphones for a while; they sound pretty pleasant. 

There's also an ambient mode that lets outside sound in and a low-latency gaming mode. They're decent enough for voice calling and battery life is pretty impressive, with up to 49 hours on a single charge at moderate volume levels (and noise canceling off). 

A couple of things are missing. There's no carrying case or headphone jack -- they're Bluetooth only. But the 820NB headphones are still a good value.

Pros:

  • Comfortable
  • Good sound quality for their price
  • Decent noise canceling
  • Very good battery life

Cons:

  • No carrying case
  • No headphone jack (Bluetooth only)
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$440 at Amazon

Top AirPods Max alternative

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
Battery Life Rated up to 35 hours
Noise Canceling Yes (ANC)
Multipoint Yes
Headphone Type Over-ear wireless headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay HX headphones are the successor to the company's H9 series headphones (the X is the Roman numeral 10) and, like those earlier H9 models, the HX headphones carry a list price of $500 (some colors are discounted at Amazon). That price makes it a direct competitor of Apple's AirPods Max, which are heavier at 385 grams versus the HX's 285 grams. I don't know if the HX headphones are more comfortable than the AirPods Max, but I found the two models pretty equal in the comfort department over longer listening sessions, and these do feature the usual swanky B&O lambskin-covered memory foam earpads.

The HX has custom 40mm drivers, Bluetooth 5.1 and support for Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive (that includes AptX HD) for high-resolution wireless streaming when you combine an aptX-enabled Android device with certain music-streaming services like Qobuz.

Their sound measures up well to the AirPods Max's sound, overall well-balanced, with deep, well-defined bass, natural-sounding mids (where vocals live) and inviting detail in the treble. If you want to push the treble or bass, you can tweak the EQ in the Bang & Olufsen app for iOS and Android and give the headphones a warmer or brighter profile. 

Their noise canceling is also very good and voice-calling capabilities are also quite solid. Additionally, they offer multipoint Bluetooth pairing so you can connect them with a smartphone and PC simultaneously (Microsoft Swift Pair-enabled for Windows machines) so you can easily switch between the two. Battery life is rated at up to 35 hours with noise canceling on and 40 hours with it off.

Earlier Bang & Olufsen models included a soft case (a pouch really), but the HX headphones come with a hard case. As I said, they're expensive, but the small improvements over earlier flagship Bang & Olufsen noise-canceling headphones help make the HX headphones a worthy alternative to the AirPods Max.

Pros:

  • Sleek design with premium build quality
  • Comfortable
  • Excellent sound
  • Impressive noise-canceling and voice-calling performance

Cons:

  • Pricey
  • Heavy
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$81 at Amazon

Best older over-ear headphones

Sony MDR7506

Sony MDR7506
Pros
  • <b>Sony's MDR-7506</b> closed-back, full-size headphones click with all music genres and are comfortable to wear for hours at a time. They sound excellent for their relatively modest price point.
Cons
  • With a coiled, pro-style cable and lack of an inline remote/microphone, some will find the 7506s less mobile-friendly than more modern headphones.
Battery Life NA
Noise Canceling No
Multipoint :No
Headphone Type Over-ear wired headphones
Water-Resistant No IP rating

Introduced way back in 1991, the Sony MDR-7506 has long been a favorite headphone of recording engineers and other sound professionals (yes, these are wired headphones). The origins of its design date even further back, since the MDR-7506 headphones are, in fact, a refresh of the Sony MDR-V6 that rolled out in 1985. Both models were designed for the pro sound market, but remain hugely popular with consumers.

While the two models have the same design and are very comfortable, they don't sound identical. Both offer very well-balanced sound and excellent clarity for their modest prices -- and both are great overall values. But the MDR-V6 headphones make a little more bass and sound more laid-back and mellow, while the 7506 headphones are leaner with a more accentuated treble range, which makes the sound a little crisper and livelier.

Pros:

  • Comfortable
  • Accurate sound
  • Sturdy

Cons:

  • Wired-only headphone with no extra features
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V-Moda M-200
$300 at Amazon

Best audiophile headphones from V-Moda

V-Moda M-200

V-Moda's M-200 is one of the few wired headphones on this list. Released in late 2019, these clean and detailed sounding over-ear headphones have excellent bass response, and the cushy earcups mean they're also comfortable to wear. Featuring 50mm drivers with neodymium magnets, CCAW voice coils and fine-tuning by Roland engineers -- yes, V-Moda is now owned by Roland -- the M‑200 is Hi‑Res Audio-certified by the Japan Audio Society. Other V-Moda headphones tend to push the bass a little, but this set has the more neutral profile that you'd expect from studio monitor headphones. They come with two cords, one of which has a built-in microphone for making calls. It would be nice if V-Moda offered Lightning or USB-C cables for phones without headphone jacks.

Note that last year V-Moda released the M-200 ANC ($500), a wireless version of these headphones that includes active noise canceling. They also sound great, but their noise cancellation, call quality and overall feature set don't match those of the AirPods Max.

Pros:

  • Comfortable
  • Excellent sound
  • Includes a second cord with an integrated mic for calls
  • Good build quality

Cons:

  • Wired-only headphone with no extra features
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How we test over-ear headphones

We test over-ear headphones based on six key criteria: designsound qualitynoise-canceling performancevoice-calling performance, features and value

  • Design: We assess not only how comfortably the headphones fit (their ergonomics) but also their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. With over-ear headphones, we'll note if they're water-resistant, but only a few over-ear headphones have water- and dust-resistance ratings. 
  • Sound quality: We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing headphones to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
  • Noise-canceling performance: If the headphones we're testing feature active noise canceling, we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out onto city streets to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they do muffling not only street noise but also people's voices.
  • Extra features: Some great-sounding headphones aren't loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user-friendly it is. 
  • Voice-calling: When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls on noisy city streets and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voice.
  • Value: We determine value after considering the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what they're able to deliver compared with other models in their price class. 

Over-ear headphones FAQ

Do over-ear headphones sound better than on-ear headphones?

Usually but not always. Over-ear headphones tend to have bigger speaker drivers (bigger isn't always better when it comes to speaker drivers, but it can be), which can lead to better sound. Also, the way over-ear headphones cover your entire ear can create better acoustics and help passively seal out more ambient noise. It's also worth noting that over-ear headphones tend to be more comfortable than on-ear headphones, though in warmer environments over-ear headphones will steam up your ears more than on-ear headphones.

Are over-ear headphones bad for your hearing?

Only if you play them too loud for long periods of time. It's best to keep volume levels in the 50%-70% range.

What makes an over-ear headphone comfortable?

Lighter headphones tend be more comfortable, and companies like Sony and Bose have made an effort to shave as much weight as they can off their premium over-ear noise-canceling headphones. You also want headphones that have soft earpads and a comfortable headband, with high-quality memory foam and good padding. Heavier headphones, like Apple's AirPods Max, can be comfortable, but the weight distribution has to be good, along with the cushioning on the headband at the top where it meets the crown of your head.  

Is it 'noise-canceling' or 'noise-cancelling'?

Short answer: both. Either spelling is correct, as "canceling" is more common in American English, while "cancelling" is more common in British English. CNET uses "noise-canceling" since the company is based in the US, but the noise is canceled just the same, regardless of spelling. If you're looking to see what different noise-impacting technology is out there for headphones, check out our article on noise-canceling versus noise-isolating headphones, which highlights differences in function (and not just a difference in spelling).