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Updated

The 6 Best Over-Ear Headphones - Spring 2018
Reviews

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Over-ear headphones, also called around-ear headphones, offer a simple design with large ear cups that fit around the ears (read our article over-ear vs on-ear headphones). They can be a little bulky, but they generally offer decent noise isolation and are very comfortable to wear for extended periods.

So far, we've tested 111 over-ear headphones and below are our recommendations for the best ones to purchase this spring.

Best Over-Ear Headphones: Sennheiser HD 800 S

Sennheiser HD 800 S Design
Sennheiser HD 800 S
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Usage Ratings - Version 1.2
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✕

Test Benches:

  • 1.2: Winter 2018
  • 1.1: Summer 2017
  • 1.0: Winter 2017
  • 0.9: Winter 2016
See changelog and how ratings work
6.2
Mixed Usage
Show Help
✕
What it is This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.
Score components:
8.5
Critical Listening
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✕
What it is The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
4.8
Commute/Travel
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✕
What it is How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
5.5
Sports/Fitness
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✕
What it is How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
5.4
Office
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✕
What it is How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
6.2
Home Theater
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✕
Score components:
See our best recommendations
6.2
Gaming
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✕
Score components:
See our best recommendations

Of the 111 over-ear headphones we've tested, the best ones so far are the Sennheiser HD 800 S. If you have the budget and consider yourself a hardened critical listener or an audiophile, then we strongly recommend the HD 800s.

They’re exceptionally well-built open headphones, with expertly matched dynamic drivers that deliver an accurate audio reproduction. Their open design also recreates the ambiance of a good stereo speaker set up for an immersive listening experience unmatched by most of the headphones we've reviewed, except maybe the HiFiMan Edition X.  

However, like most open headphones, the 800S have only one specific use case, critical listening, so you won’t be taking them outdoors or using them as casual headphones.

See our review

Alternative For Everyday Use: Bose QuietComfort 35 II

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Design
Bose QuietComfort 35 II
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

If you need a more versatile pair of headphones for casual use, then get the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. They're a slightly upgraded version of the QuietComfort 35 and are still one of the best headphones for commuting thanks to their excellent noise cancellation. They have a sufficiently good sound to satisfy most listeners and they're comfortable enough to wear for hours.

They do not look as premium and do not isolate as well as the Sony WH-1000XM2 but they provide a better overall experience, with a more consistent sound and greater comfort. Overall, the QC35 II are great versatile headphones that won't disappoint. 

See our review

Best Mid-Range Over-Ear Headphones: SteelSeries Arctis 7

SteelSeries Arctis 7 Design
SteelSeries Arctis 7
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Usage Ratings - Version 1.2
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✕

Test Benches:

  • 1.2: Winter 2018
  • 1.1: Summer 2017
  • 1.0: Winter 2017
  • 0.9: Winter 2016
See changelog and how ratings work
7.3
Mixed Usage
Show Help
✕
What it is This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.
Score components:
8.0
Critical Listening
Show Help
✕
What it is The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
6.7
Commute/Travel
Show Help
✕
What it is How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
7.0
Sports/Fitness
Show Help
✕
What it is How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
7.1
Office
Show Help
✕
What it is How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
7.4
Home Theater
Show Help
✕
Score components:
See our best recommendations
8.3
Gaming
Show Help
✕
Score components:
See our best recommendations

For a mid-range option, we recommend the SteelSeries Arctis 7. They're a great gaming headset that also comes with an audio cable so you can use them wired with most of your devices. 

These headphones have an excellent and sturdy build quality, multiple connection options and a well-balanced sound that's good enough for casual and critical listening. Unfortunately, you can't use them wirelessly with your phone, so they will not be as outdoor-friendly as the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 or the JBL Everest Elite 700. They're also a bit tight for some users since you can't adjust the headband. 

If you need a good pair of headphones to primarily use at home, then they're a great choice, especially since you can use the dongle with your TV via the line input.

See our review

Alternative for Critical Listening: Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2

Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 Design
Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

If you need a more versatile headset that you can also use wirelessly with your phone, then get the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 instead. They're a lot more affordable than the Bose QuietComfort 35 II or the Sony WH-1000XM2, and they're well-rounded enough for most use cases, even gaming. They don't isolate as well as the Bose QC 35 II but make up for it with a tough, durable build quality, a simple and efficient control scheme and an incredible wireless range. 

They Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 are more sturdy and have more features than the Beats Studio3 Wireless, especially for Android users, and they're also less expensive, which make them a great recommendation for a pair of mid-range over-ear headphones. 

See our review

Best Budget Over-Ear Headphones: Logitech G433

Logitech G433 Design
Logitech G433
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Usage Ratings - Version 1.2
Show Help
✕

Test Benches:

  • 1.2: Winter 2018
  • 1.1: Summer 2017
  • 1.0: Winter 2017
  • 0.9: Winter 2016
See changelog and how ratings work
6.6
Mixed Usage
Show Help
✕
What it is This is the combination of the different use cases to evaluate how versatile the headphones are. Therefore an everyday headphone should be well-rounded enough to adapt to most situations and environments without significant losses in sound quality, design ergonomics or isolation.
Score components:
7.9
Critical Listening
Show Help
✕
What it is The level of audio fidelity a headphone can reproduce. Therefore a balanced and true representation of bass, mids, treble, soundstage and imaging, as well as a comfortable listening experience, is essential for critical listening.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
5.7
Commute/Travel
Show Help
✕
What it is How well the headphones handle the loud environments involved in commuting or traveling. Therefore your listening experience should be comfortable, hassle-free and as isolated from noise as possible.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
5.9
Sports/Fitness
Show Help
✕
What it is How well-adapted the headphones are, to use while doing sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore the headphones should not be too cumbersome and deliver a stable and comfortable listening experience.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
6.2
Office
Show Help
✕
What it is How well the headphones can deliver a comfortable and isolated listening experience in an office-like environment. They should not leak much and should block the noise of a busy office.
Score components:
See our best recommendations
6.0
Home Theater
Show Help
✕
Score components:
See our best recommendations
7.5
Gaming
Show Help
✕
Score components:
See our best recommendations

The best budget option we've tested so far are the Logitech G433. These wired gaming headphones are optimized for casual use with your mobile devices and they even come with a 1/8TRRS audio cable with an inline remote for your phone.

They have a surprisingly well-balanced sound that is on par, if not better, than headphones two to three times their price range. They're comfortable, decently lightweight and moderately breathable with extra earcup pads in the box. They also come with a Boom microphone for gaming and voice chat, which makes them versatile enough for most use cases.

They're not as feature-packed as some of the other wireless noise-canceling headphones on this list like the Bose or Plantronics, but they deliver a solid experience with a satisfying sound at a fraction of the price.

See our review

Cheaper Alternative: Philips SHP9500

Philips SHP9500 Design
Philips SHP9500
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

If you’re on a tight budget and mostly care about sound quality, then the Philips SHP9500 are a great alternative to the Logitech G433. They're excellent audiophile headphones for their level of audio fidelity and price. They're also comfortable enough to wear for long listening sessions and provide a spacious and open sound.

However, like most open headphones, they're not versatile enough for all environments and do not have all the convenient features of some of the more versatile headphones on this list. You can't control your audio since they do not have an inline remote and they're wired so they won't have the range of wireless headphones like the Beats Studio3 Wireless.

However, if you want a comfortable critical listening experience at a budget price, the SHP9500 are the headphones to get. 

See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Sony WH-1000XM2. Best over-ear for noise isolation and a sturdy, wireless design. Slightly inconsistent sound quality. See our review
  • Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro. Great build and audio quality. Stable and comfortable design but a bit tight on the head. See our review
  • HiFiMan HE-400i. Excellent sounding planar magnetic headphones with a decently comfortable design. Slightly weak build quality and bulky design. See our review
  • Sennheiser PXC 550. Highly customizable sound and noise isolation. Comfortable, stable and well-built over-ear headphones but mediocre noise isolation. See our review
  • B&O PLAY H9. Excellent build quality and design. Good comfort level but slightly too pricey compared to other similarly designed headphones. See our review
  • Beats Studio3 wireless. A good alternative to the Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2 with a sleek and polished design. They're a worthy upgrade to the original Studio Wireless but slightly lack active features. See our review
  • Sony MDR 1A. Balanced sound quality and comfortable design. A bit expensive for what they have to offer. See our review
  • Astro A50. Great sound quality for critical listening and comfortable design. A gaming-oriented headset limited by the range of the base station. See our review
  • Superlux HD 668B. Good, well-balanced sound quality, very affordable price range. Slightly uncomfortable and a bit cheaply made. See our review
  • Sennheiser HD 700. Over-ear headphones with a premium build quality, great sound. See our review
  • HiFiMan Sundara. A good alternative to the Sennheiser HD 800 S if you're looking for audiophile over-ears at a much cheaper price. See our review

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best over the ear headphones to buy for most people in each price range. We factor in the price (a cheaper headphone wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our reviews for over-ear headphones. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference and listening habits will matter more in your selection.

Questions Found an error?

Let us know what is wrong in this question or in the answer.

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Questions & Answers

19 ANSWERED QUESTIONS
10
Can you review the vmoda line of headphones? I'm curious as to how they stack up to the competition.
Sure, we are already planning on reviewing V-MODA headphones in the coming months.
May 12, 2016 Report Error
6
Please please please add a column to factor in the Bluetooth headset's microphones. If they're listen-only headphones then great, but if there's a microphone present then it needs to be more than a mere afterthought. The lack of detailed commentary on call quality by reviewers in general grants permission to completely overlook a critical part of headphones' usability with the phone they're paired to. Experiences with the flagship travel-friendly bluetooth headphones: After owning the QC35 for a month I pre-ordered the PXC550 and then also the MDR1000X simply because of my experience with the QC35 on calls. The PXC550 fared significantly worse, which was a dealbreaker because I actually really liked them. I listened to a call recording with the MDR1000X and it was, no exaggeration, no better than wired earbuds with the omni-directional inline mic dangling below my neck. So until I try something better (almost afraid to try Backbeat Pro 2 because I do love the sound image and ANC of the Bose), I'm forced to supplement my $350 Bose QC35 with a $40 Plantronics. In an office the QC35 is hard to use for a conference call without putting myself on "mute" between every word, yet with even a cheap calling-oriented Bluetooth headset I can stand on a Subway platform and only have to worry about myself going a little deaf. For what it's worth, Bose and Sennheiser both make premium ANC aviation headsets, and Bose makes a lot of ANC military headsets (most especially for vehicle crews). Sony's product measures the acoustic characteristics of the wearer's ears and head to optimize the DSP for better listening, so they're not idling either. It's not a big stretch to ask for good microphonics from their flagship consumer bluetooth headsets.
Thanks for your message. As previously mentioned, we have yet to review the quality of headphones' microphones. But it's part of our road-map. Having said that, please keep in mind that with Bluetooth devices you are always at the mercy of the bandwidth provided by the Bluetooth protocol. Therefore the microphone audio will always sound compressed.
Dec 21, 2016 Report Error
3
Hi there! I'd like to suggest that the Sennheiser HD 380 Pros be reviewed; they're the successor to the HD 280s and widely considered to be better subjectively, and they're also widely and relatively cheaply available, so I'd love to see a scientific assessment of them.
Already on our list, but it may takes us a couple of months to review them.
Dec 13, 2016 Report Error
2
Hello, do you plan to review the Astro A50 gen3 headset? I can see you did a review on Turtle Beach Elite 800, Astro and TurtleBeach are the top premium gaming headsets - it would be super cool to have your opinion on the Astro A50 gen3 as well. Thank you
We are planning on reviewing gaming headsets and will add the A50 to our list, but that would probably be sometime later this year.
Jan 18, 2017 Report Error
2
Hi, I'm a bit confused to see the HD600 and M50x both having the same critical listening score, that doesn't make any sense! is there an error or...
Thanks for your question. The M50x has a better bass and in general a better frequency response than the HD600. But the HD600 is open-back, which means it has a better soundstage. In our current scoring configuration, these difference cancel each other out.
Sep 01, 2017 Report Error
2
Im looking for an over ear headphone to use for a variety of things. First I primarily will use it for Gaming on an Xbox and PS4 and Movies. However I also want to use it with my phone and laptop for music. I dont want to need an amp and I do not require a microphone but one would be a bonus and what I would really like is something wireless with the option of connecting a 3.5mm cable to use off battery. My price limit is around $250 but I would prefer to spend under $200 if possible. Any recommendations?

If you would like to get a regular wireless headphone that you can also use for gaming, then we suggest the Plantronics Backbeat pro 2 and Bose SoundLink Around-Ear II. But keep in mind that for gaming you would have to use these wired, and you may need to get an extension cable for them as well.

For a purely gaming headset within your budget we would recommend the Logitech G930, but its downside is that you won't be able to use it with your phone wirelessly since they don't support bluetooth.

Nov 27, 2017 Report Error
2
Firstly thank you for this great Page. Dear Mister/Miss, I readed your headphone rewievs and good a bit of fustrated. I informed very well on headphones and bought firstly a Philips Fidelio x2. I dont liked the Sound mutch but i keeped them. So 1/2years later i bought bose i raw in the Internet they should be very Bad but i give them a Chance. Now im using them and I like the Sound more that the x2, better Bass not so much high Bass and it sounds clearer. I never exspected it. So i was questening why on the Internet much guys say they are Bad. After this i found your site thats says good Stuff about them. So now i want too to change my gaming headphones. I would Listen Musik them and play Games with then price up too 400€. So i saw the astro a50 witch is also hated by the Internet. For Bad bass (EXTREMLY HIGH) and you guys give them a good review. Can you give me a tip for gaming/Musical and for movies headphones? I read much but on Forums so i dont Trust them anymore. Anyone says : a beyerdynamic or what ever is much better then a astro a50 but if i See the frequency Response... Sorry for the long Text hope you can help me!

Thanks for your message! This is because there is not a widely accepted reference on what a good sounding headphone should be. Sean Olive and others at Harman have done some research on what a good sounding headphone should measure like, and most of our calculations are loosely based on their research.

Having said that, the A50 is a good sounding headphone with a balanced bass. It also comes with an adjustable EQ, so you can further adjust its sound profile to your own liking.

Jan 15, 2018 Report Error
1
I am looking for a over the ear headset for gaming and music. I keep seeing the Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum Wireless 7.1 Surround Gaming Headset (981-000585) and the Hyper X Cloud II as the top rated headsets per reviews. Could you give me a sense of wether these are just basically good or if they are overpriced? I'm assuming you get what you pay for (naturally). Your site is the most informative site on the web and please continue to expand and delve into all facets of electronics!
Thanks for your suggestions. Unfortunately we haven't reviewed the headphones you mentioned yet, so we won't be able to make a recommendation. However, we will start reviewing gaming headsets in a few months.
May 17, 2016 Report Error
1
Are you guys going to review any of the B&W headphones anytime soon. I'm very interested in the P7 and P5 models.
Thanks for your suggestions. We have already planned our headphones reviews for the month of June, but maybe we can sneak some of the B&W headphones in the July or August releases.
May 19, 2016 Report Error
1
Why haven't you reviewed any of the Grado headphones. I have the 325e and they sound amazing!
Thanks for your suggestion. We haven't reviewed Over-Ear Grado headphones yet, however, you can find a couple of their On-Ear's reviewed here.
May 30, 2016 Report Error
1
Please review HiFiMan HE400S?
We will add it to the list. However, since we have already purchased the HE 400i and the Edition X, it may take us some time to get to the 400S.
Jun 16, 2016 Report Error
1
First of all, i want to thank you guys for making this site, i love it, i love the reviews, they're very informative, detailed and helpful for making comparisons, really thank you! I've already made a couple of lists of headphones (2 headphones per list to choose between), One for my music listing needs (mainly based on your Critical Listening score and details) the other is for the on-the-go listening (that contain wireless and ANC features and match your Portability, Stability and other scores) Now I'm trying to find a headphone for my gaming needs, I know you guys didn't start reviewing gaming headsets yet, I just want to know which of the sound specs and characteristics i should focus on if i want to have a great sound experience in games from a non-gaming headphones, is it the bass the mid or the treble? the Soundstage or the Imaging? i don't really care about the mic or the design. hope to see an answer soon, keep it up guys.
If you only care about sound quality, then critical listening rating should match up pretty well with what you are looking for. Then only thing to consider is whether the leakage of open-back headphones is an issue for you. In that case remove Soundstage (specifically Openness and Acoustic Space Excitation) as one of the criteria.
Jan 09, 2017 Report Error
1
Have you guys considered changing you color coding system for your headphone reviews. Objectively if you look that the whole list of youre reviews it's give the impression everything that you have tested thus far is either bad or mediocre. Since most of the ratings end up in the 6-8 range pretty much everything is is yellow or worse with spots of green. With the current system you have the only headphones based on the numbers that will look good are Portable usage headphones. Everything else will probably be plastered with low rating for being bad at something they weren't designed for. Ultimately im saying the rating system needs to be revisited because it favors the wireless all rounders the most.
Thanks for your feedback. We do agree with you that our scoring can be improved to better match the subjective impression of them. We are planning on updating them in the near future and will consult your comments when doing so. However, not all of our ratings favor wireless headphones, for example, the Critical Listening usage rating, doesn't not include wireless.
Sep 29, 2017 Report Error
1
Hi, I am looking for a new pair of over-ear headphones with emphasis on sound quality. I don’t think I am on the level of an audiophile but I still look for the best quality sound from my headphones. After some research I sorta set my goal as the OPPO PM-3 as it seems to offer the good sound quality, comfort, and the well-rounded usage I desire. I mainly listen from my mobile device or my computer and have not decided to purchase an amp yet. When I purchase a good pair of headphones I will probably make the change from mp3 files to FLAC files but again, I’m looking for something I can use on the go or if I’m in a quiet setting such as my own room. My music taste varies a lot so I want something well rounded. I am probably looking for something closed back as I am definitely not going be using these cans in just a quiet setting. Do you have any recommendations around the price range of the oppo pm3's? Any help would be much appreciated!
The PM3s are definitely a good choice, but you could also consider the DT770, or even the M50x. For the price of the PM3 you can even go for something wireless and noise cancelling like the QC35. All of these are very good sounding headphones.
Oct 04, 2017 Report Error
1
What headphones would you recommend for use with Xbox One S and a TCL 55p607? I cannot afford an Atmos or DTS X soundbar or home theater system, so headphones are what I am looking at. They would only be used for movies (disc and streaming) and games. I do not use a microphone so it does not have to be a gaming headset, but I would like it to work with Xbox One S. I also would like them to function well with the Windows Sonic and Dolby Atmos apps. Do the 7.1 rated ones work any better than stereo or do the apps make them the same? Thank you.
Since Xbox One doesn't support bluetooth headphones, your best option is to pick from our top ranked Critical Listening headphones. If you are looking for an open headphone, then something like the DT990 would be our recommendation, and for a closed headphone something like the QC25, M50X, or DT770. We can't comment on how they would perform with Sonic or Dolby Atmos since we don't test them under those conditions at the moment.
Oct 11, 2017 Report Error
1
Since you clearly can’t be relied on for headphone reviews, I’m seriously doubting all your reviews now.
Are there any tests you think we could improve? And if so, do you have any suggestions we can implement to better our over-ear recommendations? We would appreciate your feedback on this issue.
Oct 18, 2017 Report Error
1
Could you consider reweighting one of the categories to heavily consider portability? Commute and office are largely the same criteria, with isolation and comfort flopping places as most important. Out of all the categories, portability has, at MOST, 10% importance in a category. And when I mean portability, I mean being worn, not in the case. Thanks
We do agree that our portability test is more focused on transport than the size of the headphones when worn. We will discuss, and if sufficiently requested, also implement the size of the headphones when they are not folded.

As for the scoresets, we are still fine tuning our weight distributions and will take your suggestions into consideration when updating our scoresets for the new testbench.

Jan 10, 2018 Report Error
1
Adding to the just mentioned suggestion of portability, I'd suggest getting the opinion of someone with a smaller head, as larger, more obtrusive headphones might not been as noticable on a larger head. Lastly, I'd also consider how well the headphones can be driven without amplification on the most common mobiles (ie Apple, Samsung, and a below average mobile phone when it comes to dac/amplification numbers) Thanks again
Thank you for your suggestion. Impedance, headphone drivability, and amplification requirements are some of the tests we plan to add to upcoming test benches. Once we have a reliable testing procedure to collect and compare that data we will add it to a testbench and update all headphones.

As for the portability follow up; Portability is an objective test, unlike comfort which is subjective and done in a group with different head shapes and sizes. Therefore the results for portability will have to be objective and comparable across all headphones and not be subject to listener preference in size.

Jan 10, 2018 Report Error
0
Hi, guys! I'm thinking between Bose QC35 II (you gave these 7.9 points in Critical Listening) and Sennheiser HD 650 (you gave these only 7.7). How is it possible that Bose QC35 II sounds better than HD 650 (one of the most favorite audiophiles headphones) or Oppo PM-3 (another audiophiles favorite using Planar Magnetic, 7.8)? This just doesn't sound right.
According to the research done by Harman and others, about 70% of the sound quality of headphones comes from their frequency response, and the HD 650 doesn't have as good a frequency response as the QuietComfort 35 II. But they perform better in some other areas. Overall, they are both pretty good in terms of sound quality, but also different. If you care about an extended bass and clear mid-range, then the Bose is the better sounding one.
Apr 18, 2018 Report Error
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