Ten Headphones Over The Ear Headphones Products That Can Help You Live Better
Headphones Over the Ear
Over-ear headphones, also called circumaural headphones cover your ears with foam or similar padding. They block out sound from the outside and a lot of them feature active noise cancellation, making your listening experience even more immersive.
Sound quality is the most important feature of headphones. But what exactly can it do?
Comfort
When shopping for headphones, the first thing that most people think about is audio quality. They do not think about how comfortable the headphones will feel. This is important because no matter how great the headphones sound, they won't be able to stay on your head for extended periods of time if they aren't comfortable.
To find a pair of headphones that are both comfortable to wear and include the features you want, look for pairs that are constructed with top-quality materials and have a thick padding on the headband and the ear pads. The pads should be designed to conform to the contours of your ears and should not be too tight or loose. You should also ensure that the headphones are light in weight, so they won't increase your neck and head fatigue over long periods of time.
Over-ear headphones are usually more comfortable than other headphone types due to their larger ear cups that completely encompass the ears. The larger ear cups provide greater padding and expansive sound. Additionally to this, many of the best over-ear headphones come with active noise cancellation technology that helps reduce ambient sound and keep your music or podcasts in a quiet area.
Another factor to consider when shopping for headphones is whether or not they are Bluetooth-compatible. This is an increasingly important feature because it allows you to wirelessly connect your headphones to a mobile device or portable media player. Additionally, Bluetooth headphones are often equipped with a voice assistant so that you can use them to control your music or other apps on your phone or tablet.
Bowers & Wilkins' Px7 S2 Bluetooth over-ear headphones are among the best Bluetooth headphones we can recommend. They have drivers that are 40mm and feature active noise cancellation with six microphones to ensure that your music always takes priority over ambient noise. They also include an app companion that lets you customize your audio experience, and also support multi-device pairing. They're also extremely comfortable to wear thanks to the V-shaped sound profile which enhances the bass and makes vocals as well as the lead instruments stand out.
Sound
Over-ear headphones, also referred to as circumaural or encircling headphones, feature large ear cups that completely cover your ears. The earcups can be filled with soft padding, making these headphones comfortable enough to wear for hours on end.
They are also bigger and can improve the audio quality. They have bigger drivers that reproduce sound with a wide dynamic range from bass to the treble. The ear pads also form a seal around your ears to block out any ambient noise and allowing you to enjoy a full audio experience.
Some of the top manufacturers of headphones have developed over-ear headphones that offer a premium audio experience. Sony's WH1000XM4 headphones for example, have touch sensors that respond to your voice and let you control music and make calls hands-free. They also have the ability to automatically adjust audio settings for optimal listening depending on your environment thanks to smart sensors.
The Focal PX8s are a fantastic pair of headphones with over-ears. These premium headphones are the ultimate audiophile's dream. The Focals come with a mix-booth audio with a neutral, wide and expansive soundstage. The Focals are customizable to your liking with the companion application's graphic equalizer and presets. The Focals can also be being used as a high-end audiophile headphone DAC with support for high-resolution audio over USB-C.
If you're looking for a light alternative that has the same great audio quality, consider the Bose QuietComfort 45. These wireless headphones for over-ear use are one of the best options for acoustic isolation and are made to be easily transportable. The Bose headphones are so light that they don't even feel like they're on your head. They're also comfortable for long durations.
On-ear headphones are an excellent option if you're fond of the immersive audio experience that over-ear headphones offer. However, they can leak a lot of sound, which can be a problem for certain listeners. They're not as comfortable as the over-ear headphones, and may be uncomfortable for people who live a busy life.
Noise Cancellation
A pair of headphones that block out the noises around you can help you concentrate in a noisy workplace, relax on a flight or just concentrate on your music. The best over-ear headphones come with active noise cancellation that electronically or digitally blocks out the sounds from your surroundings by inverting frequencies, leading to a more peaceful listening experience. Some ANC headphones allow you to allow external sound through, which can be beneficial if you're in busy areas or need to hear what people around you are talking about.
The passive noise cancellation that comes with over-ear headphones are more effective than earbuds, because they fit comfortably over the ears to create an earpiece that blocks out ambient sound. Some ANC headphone models also have extra padding to make them even more comfortable for long listening sessions. Over-ear headphones are generally heavier than earbuds, and could require more consideration when it comes to storage or transport. They are also more expensive, and many are bigger than earbuds, which can be heavy for some ears or uncomfortable for their heads after long wear.
ANC can be set up by hand or automatically, with some of the top pairs automatically adjust to the ambient noise level as you move and switch between outdoor and indoor environments. You can also adjust the bass, high and mid EQ levels or muffle specific frequencies. Most over-ear ANC headphones come with companion apps that provide the full control over these settings, which can be useful if you do not like the default sound profile right out of the box.
Noise cancelling can enhance the experience of playing back music however it will not safeguard your hearing from damage caused by prolonged exposure to loud sounds or music. When using ANC it's a good idea to take regular breaks from your music and not listen to music at excessive levels. As a general rule, you should not play your audio or podcasts at greater than 80 percent of maximum volume.
Battery Life
A good pair of headphones should last all day, without the need to recharge or connect to a power outlet. The best headphones will give you between 20 and 60 hours of playback time before they require recharge, and that's even with noise cancellation turned on.
The Bang & Olufsen HX500s feature an extremely powerful battery capable of delivering up to 35 hours of continuous audio playback, and with active noise cancelation enabled. This is ideal for long flights, when you need to block out the noise of jet engines and chatty passengers. The HX500s provide excellent Bluetooth performance, using high-end codescs that ensure a flawless wireless connectivity and stability. The headband and earpads offer comfort for prolonged use, and the controls and interface are intuitive and easy to operate.
Sennheiser's fourth-gen noise cancelling headphones offer the highest quality sound right out of the box, and are equipped with audio features that allow you to tweak it to your taste. The headphones have a premium design and feel, featuring an amalgamation of aluminum and leather on their ears as well as a band around the head. They also feature the best quick-charge technology, which takes just five minutes of charging time giving you four hours of listening time.
These headphones are designed to be used for serious workouts and are built to withstand the abuse that you could inflict on them in your daily workout routine. The headphones feature a durable design, which is sweat-resistant and able to withstand the force of a fall during running. They are also covered with a protein leather cushion to provide comfort. over ear beats headphones Over-Ear Training Headphones also feature the JBL app, which allows you to personalize the sound with presets such as the one that was created by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson that's designed to crush workouts.
The Master and Dynamic MW75s have an exclusive style that draws inspiration from gaming headsets and also offer premium sound and impressive ANC performance. They feature a closed-back design that won't give you the wide, open soundstage that some listeners like however they are perfect for business and mobile music travel. The audio quality is superb with a balanced, natural sound and deep bass. The MW75s also come with an excellent quick-attention mode that allows you to hear the sounds of the surrounding area when you cover the right ear cup with your hands and are compatible with Alexa for hands-free voice control.