While Bluetooth earbuds are now popular when it comes to stylish and practical audio equipment, over-ear headphones are necessary if you really want to immerse yourself in the music. The sound that a good pair of cans can provide will far surpass that of earbuds. These over-ear cans produce a perfectly sealed soundscape that surrounds you with the audio, as opposed to earbuds, which can direct the audio into your ears.
A decent pair will be functional for a variety of activities, including gaming and keeping an ear out for oncoming foes, lounging with some music, and movie marathons. These options are also frequently among the most comfortable due to their larger size, extensive surface area, and plush memory foam padding. Whether you want ultra-premium, really inexpensive, wired, or wireless headphones, we’ve selected some incredible options that deliver.
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List of the 10 Best Over Ear Headphones in 2023
1. Over-ear headphones, model ATH-M50xBT2 from Audio-Technica
The Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT is a prime illustration of how good a headset Audio-Technica can provide at a great price. This is the wonderful ATH-M50X in wireless form, and it merely increases the functionality of that headset. There are still strong 45mm Neodymium drivers available with a 15–28kHz frequency response range for rich bass and clear treble. You may also drive them over a wired connection with just about any device you have on hand thanks to their 38-ohm impedance.
Additionally poised to dazzle is the wireless performance. The headset has a 50-hour battery life thanks to Bluetooth 5.0. Additionally, the headset supports the high-quality audio codecs LDAC and AAC. Additionally, it has two microphones to capture your voice during phone calls. Additionally, it has easy-to-use on-ear controls for media playback and activating Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri. Even a carrying pouch is provided by Audio-Technica to keep the headphones safe while you’re on the go.
2. Tascam TH-02 Headphones: Best Over-Ear Headphones in the Price Range
You may access the world of potent audio for a startlingly low price with the Tascam TH-02. You can acquire a pair of headphones that slightly exceed the typical pair’s frequency response range for roughly $30. You can get a little more bass response by lowering the frequency to 18Hz, while the treble is topped off at 22,000Hz. It will be produced using 50mm dynamic drivers. However, the headphones don’t require any specific equipment to work because of their 32 Ohm resistance, which enables you to use them with smartphones and computers and still get a good amount of volume.
For crucial listening, the closed-back design helps keep outside noise out. That seal will assist in preventing monitor audio from re-entering the mic if you are recording. The folding nature of the headphones makes them portable, and you may use a quarter-inch adapter to utilize them with professional audio equipment as necessary.
3. The Best Over-Ear Headphones for Audiophiles: Sennheiser HD 800 S
The price of headphones can range from $15 to $1,500, and if you have money to spend, you can treat your ears to a true treat at the top end of that range. While there are a few outstanding high-end sets, Sennheiser’s HD 800S cans are frequently regarded as the pinnacle of consumer audiophile cans.
They adhere to a flat sound signature better than the vast majority of artists out there and have an absurdly open soundstage that gives you some of the most natural sounding audio you’ll ever hear. It doesn’t get much better for genuine purists, but they aren’t cheap, you need an amplifier to drive them, and many people probably won’t even enjoy the way they sound. And hey, the cost might be worse—Sennheiser also produces a $60,000 set.
4. The best over-ear noise-canceling headphones are the Sony WH-1000XM5.
Are you prepared to tune out the world and focus entirely on what you’re listening to? The Sony WH-1000XM5 are the right headphones for you in that case. With this model, Sony improved upon a fantastic pair that was already excellent. Eight noise-cancelling microphones are now included, virtually doubling the number from the previous generation. The ANC is automatically tuned by AI and a new processor included into the headphones, saving you from having to make adjustments by hand. And similar to the WH-1000XM4, the ANC may be momentarily turned off so you can hear what’s going on around you by simply placing your palm over one of the ear cups.
The Sony WH-1000XM5 has some of the line’s most significant design revisions in recent memory. There is no longer a foldable headband included, which makes it a little less practical for traveling. Additionally, the earcups have stronger clamping forces for improved soundproofing. But don’t worry, these cans are still unbelievably comfortable. Using Bluetooth or the traditional 3.5mm jack to connect to your various devices is straightforward once you’ve got the headphones in the perfect position. However, since devices have a 30-hour battery life, you might not frequently feel the need to use the wired connection. Probably most importantly, the WH-1000XM5 has excellent sound quality.
5. The best wireless over-ear headphones are Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
The majority of the solutions on this list are wired because wired headphones are more cost-effective to produce than wireless ones when it comes to pure audio quality.
But there are also some excellent wireless choices available if you decide to plunge headfirst into this strange new world without headphone jacks. With a little extra bass and handy on-ear controls—and without a ton of extra features that drive up the price—the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 are a fantastic option for under $150. However, they do include active noise cancellation, which is a great addition even though it doesn’t quite match the Sony WH-1000XM3 described above.
If noise cancellation is your top priority and you have the money, Sony’s offering is a solid step up, but if all you want is a set of wireless headphones that offers excellent value, Planatronics has you covered.
6. The best inexpensive wireless over-ear headphones are Wyze Headphones.
There are several inexpensive wireless over-ear headphones on the market right now, but if you want high-end features at a low cost, you should acquire the Wyze Headphones. A pair of Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling is available for just $50. They stand out from the competitors in their pricing range just by having that feature. They go much further, though.
With their dual simultaneous connections and Bluetooth 5.0 technology, the Wyze headphones make it simple to switch between different music sources. Additionally, you may use them connected with a 3.5mm audio connection, enabling you to take advantage of their wider frequency response range. If you need to hear what someone is saying but don’t want to keep pulling your headphones off, noise cancelling microphones also passthrough ambient sound in with Quick Conversation mode. Approximately 20 hours of battery life and easy charging through USB-C guarantee that these exceptional features endure throughout the day.
7. HiFiMAN HE-400i: Over-ear planar magnetic headphones
So far, every choice on this list makes use of “dynamic” drivers: Your computer, phone, or other device sends a signal to a tiny coil, which produces a magnetic field that interacts with a magnet to cause a diaphragm to vibrate and produce sound. With magnets on either side of the thin, flat diaphragm, planar magnetic drivers employ a distinct design. Without getting very scientific, this enables less harmonic distortion and more naturally extended bass. However, there is less diversity available than with headphones using dynamic drivers, and planar magnetic cans are often much larger and heavier. This is because these types of drivers are more expensive to create.
However, planars are gaining popularity, with the $190 HiFiMAN HE-400i serving as a typical entry point. Give some planar magnetics a listen if you haven’t yet discovered a pair that suits your tastes because it’s one of those things you kind of have to hear to comprehend. You might change your mind.
8. Best smart over-ear headphones: Microsoft Surface Headphones 2
The Microsoft Surface Headphones 2 have some tricks up their sleeves for some added intelligence. Even during the longest workdays, these over-ear headphones’ battery life of 18.5 hours for audio playback or 15 hours for voice calls allows for wireless listening. Support for the aptX codec also allows you to take advantage of improved wireless audio. If your battery is becoming low, you may also swap to a 3.5mm audio connection or charge your device completely in under two hours.
The Surface Headphones 2 are designed to improve your quality of life. There are 13 degrees of active noise cancellation, and you’ll find that you can simply adjust the volume of what you’re listening to with a dial on the right ear and the volume of the environment around you with a dial on the left ear. The dual mics that handle your voice calls may also be used to speak to the voice assistant of your choosing, but Microsoft 365 is where they start to become truly intelligent. In Microsoft’s productivity suite, you can utilize it for dictation so that you can occasionally take a break from typing and relax a little in your chair.
9. Apple AirPods Max: Top Over-Ear Headphones for Hi-Fi
With the introduction of the brand-new, high-end AirPods Max, Apple has recently entered the hi-fi market. With a gleaming metal casing and Apple’s Digital Crown for calling, answering calls, controlling audio playing, and bringing up Siri, the headphones are as visually Apple as a device can be. Of course, Apple also included its own dynamic drivers that it had created. Despite the fact that they are somewhat heavy, Apple has created a mesh ring at the top that should equally distribute the weight.
The AirPods Max are expensive, but you get active noise cancellation with eight microphones and a transparency mode so you can continue listening to music while still being able to hear what’s going on outside. On compatible iPhones and iPads, Apple’s head tracking technology also offers spatial audio. Each ear cup contains an Apple H1 chip, which powers the head tracking. The AirPods Max feature a 20-hour battery life and connect wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.0, but you can also use a tethered connection via a 3.5mm-to-Lightning connector.
10. Razer Opus: Best Wireless Over-Ear THX Headphone
True THX sound support is one of the many features offered by the Razer Opus headset for consumers. The headset performs well in terms of frequency response, little distortion, and noise isolation because it was manufactured to THX standards. With active noise suppression, external sounds are reduced even more. Of course, you can easily toggle on and off ambient sound mode to hear what is around you when a headset does this much to obscure your surroundings.
The Razer Opus has a lot of memory foam padding, so you can wear it for a long time to fully test its 40-hour battery life and yet feel comfortable. Modern USB-C cables can be used to recharge the battery when the time comes. In terms of connectivity, Bluetooth and wired audio both offer the best of both worlds.
Over ear headphones: what to look for
Although you may believe that focusing your search on “over ear headphones” would make things simpler, there are still a lot of factors to take into account before making a purchase. Among the most crucial are the following:
Sound: The first and most crucial factor in choosing a pair is how they sound. The sound signature, which describes how well the bass, midrange, and treble are balanced, is one example of a subjective component of sound. Others may want strong bass or a frequency response that is “v-shaped,” which increases the bass and treble for a livelier feel. Some people may prefer a “flat” signature that is closer to the artist’s purpose.
Other aspects of sound quality are more measurable. It is possible, for instance, to have bass-heavy music with high-quality sound (where the bass is tight, punchy, and doesn’t entirely drown out the rest of the music) or low-quality music (where the bass is unnecessarily boomy). When something sounds distorted, harsh, or muddy, it’s likely that the headphones are of inferior quality. It’s important to strike a balance between your ears and your finances because higher quality headphones sound better but also cost more.
Some are so comfortable you might as well be wearing a cloud on your head, with their fluffy earpads and barely perceptible headbands. Others tighten their grip and squeeze your head like it’s in a vise, applying excessive pressure on the top of your skull.
Conclusion
If you intend to wear them for extended periods of time, such as during multi-hour gaming sessions, you should choose something that will remain comfortable over time. There are some solutions, like switching pleather ear cushions for velour-style ones to prevent your ears from overheating, but sometimes you simply have to give a pair a shot. To avoid having a headache and buyer’s regret, make sure you test a pair of headphones during that return time.