The 7 Best Over-Ear Headphones - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best wireless over-ear headphones that we've tested are the Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018. These well-built over-ears have a very comfortable fit and a well-balanced sound profile that ranks them among the best headphones we've tested. Their 20-hour continuous battery life can easily get you through long days on the go, too.

Thanks to their balanced sound, these headphones are well-suited to listening to a wide variety of audio content. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) feature does an outstanding job blocking out background noises, so they're a solid choice to wear during your commute or while working in a noisy office. You can even pair them with up to two devices at a time, making it easy to switch your audio source between your phone and your laptop.

Unfortunately, these headphones leak a bit of sound when you play your music at loud volumes, so they may not be ideal to wear to a quiet library. They also don't offer any sound customization features in their companion app, which is disappointing for such premium headphones. That said, they have a very versatile overall performance that can please a wide range of listeners.

The best over-ear headphones for audiophiles that we've tested are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. These open-backs are very comfortable and deliver a virtually unparalleled listening experience. They look and feel very premium and well-built, and they're comfortable for extended listening periods thanks to their breathable open-back design.

They're incredibly well-balanced and reproduce audio accurately for a wide range of genres. However, they lack a little bit of bass, and they might sound a tiny bit muddy on some tracks, though it may not be noticeable to everyone. Their open-back design provides a spacious and natural soundstage that's nearly as immersive as listening to standalone tower speakers.

Unfortunately, they're very expensive, and they require a powerful amplifier. They're also best suited for a quiet, dedicated listening environment as, like with most open-back headphones, they leak a lot of audio and block almost no background noise by design. Overall, while they're not meant for everyday use, they provide one of the best listening experiences available and are the best audiophile headphones we've tested.

The Razer Opus are the best over-ear headphones under $200 that we’ve tested. They’re well-built, feature a premium design that stands out compared to the rest of Razer’s gaming-oriented lineup, and provide a very comfortable fit, with generous amounts of padding used on their headband and ear cups. Meanwhile, an outstanding near-33-hour battery life outlasts more expensive alternatives like the Sony WH-1000XM3 Wireless and Bose QuietComfort 35 II/QC35 II Wireless 2018.

They have a very neutral sound profile, which should make them a good fit for all sorts of musical genres. That said, if you like to tweak and fiddle with your listening experience, you can customize how these headphones sound via a graphic EQ or presets in the dedicated Razer Opus companion app. Their ANC performance punches well above their price point’s weight class, as it does an excellent job of reducing everything from the low-rumble of construction equipment to the chatter of coworkers in a busy office.

Unfortunately, they lack multi-device pairing, so it might be a bit of an annoyance if you tend to repeatedly swap between listening to content on your phone and computer. Their integrated microphone also doesn’t do a great job of isolating your voice from background noise. That said, these are a great value with a rich feature set, balanced sound profile, and remarkable noise cancellation performance.

The best over-ear headphones under $100 that we've tested are the Mixcder E9. These comfortable wireless over-ears have a decently versatile performance that can please many different listeners. Thanks to their over 18-hour continuous battery life, these are a solid choice for long days on the go.

Overall, their default sound profile is quite neutral and well-balanced, making them suitable for listening to a wide variety of music genres. There's also an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature, which does a very good job blocking out ambient noise, including bass-heavy sounds like engines and sharper sounds like voices and AC units. As a result, you can enjoy your favorite tunes without a lot of distractions during your commute or while working in a noisy office setting.

Unfortunately, while they don't feel as cheap as some of the others in their price range, they still have a slightly plasticky build. They don't offer any sound customization features, either, so you can't adjust the sound to your liking. That said, they rank among the best over-ear headphones under $100 that we've tested.

The best over-ear headphones in the budget category that we've tested are the Mpow H10. They have a comfortable fit and a versatile performance for everyday casual listeners. Their over 23-hour continuous battery life means that you won't have to worry about recharging these headphones on a daily basis, which is convenient.

With a decently neutral default sound profile, they're suitable for listening to lots of different music genres. They pack an extra thump and punch in the bass-range, too, which can please fans of bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. Also, they have an impressive noise isolation performance, so they're a solid choice for your commute or other noisy environments.

Unfortunately, they leak a bit of noise, so you may disturb the people around you if you crank up the volume too loud. They also feel a bit flimsy due to their plasticky build, so they don't have the best build quality. However, their versatile performance ranks them among the best headphones under $50 that we’ve tested.