And not all of these over-ear models will break the bank.
Over-ear noise-canceling headphones typically offer the most comprehensive set of features we want for our listening pleasure. The best of these wireless options combine stellar sound quality with powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) and other handy tools to create as complete a package as possible. Of course, some companies do this better than others. For Engadget’s best wireless headphones guide, we tested out a number of different models with a variety of features, including noise cancellation, customization options and sound quality. Plus, our favorites span a range of prices so you can decide how much you’re comfortable spending and, ultimately, get the best buy for you.
Best headphones for 2023
Best headphones overall: Sony WH-1000XM5
Best overall
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget
Sony WH-1000XM5
Until another company can pack in as many features as Sony, and do so with a stellar mix of sound and effective ANC, the crown is safe with the WH-1000XM5.
Sony’s 1000X line has been our top pick for best wireless headphone for a long time now. Until another company can pack in as many high-quality features as Sony, and do so with a mix of excellent sound quality and effective ANC, the crown is safe. With the WH-1000XM5, Sony redesigned its flagship headphones, making them way more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. We also noticed in our tests that the company made noticeable improvements to the active noise cancellation, thanks to a separate V1 chip in addition to the QN1 that was inside the M4. There are now eight total ANC mics as well – the previous model only had four. This all combines to better block background noise and high frequencies, including human voices.
The 1000XM5 still has all of the features that typically make Sony’s top-of-the-line headphones showstoppers. That includes 30-hour battery life and crisp, clear sound with balanced tuning and punchy bass. A combo of touch controls and physical buttons give you on-board access to music, calls and noise modes without reaching for your phone. Speak-to-Chat automatically pauses audio when you begin talking, and like previous Sony headphones, the M5 can change noise modes based on your activity or location. Plus, this model offers better call quality than most of the competition. The only real downside is that they’re $50 more than the WH-1000XM4 at full price ($400).
Noise cancellation: Yes
Multipoint: Yes
Battery life: 30 hours
Weight: 0.55 pounds
Water resistance: None
Read our full review of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones
Runner up: Bowers and Wilkins Px7 S2
Runner up
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2
Bowers & Wilkins pair impressive audio quality with solid ANC performance in the Px7 S2, along with a more refined design that’s comfortable and doesn’t look overly plasticky.
I’ll admit I didn’t expect Bowers & Wilkins to make the year’s best headphones list, or even be in contention for a spot. However, the company’s revised Px7 headphones impressed me during my review. The Px7 S2 are pricey at $399, but Bowers & Wilkins pair impressive sound quality with solid ANC performance. In fact, the Px7 S2 are my favorite headphones right now in terms of sound. There’s also a more refined design that doesn’t look overly plasticky and the headphones fit comfortably even after hours of use. Call quality, ambient sound and automatic pausing aren’t the best here, but they get the job done. At the end of the day, the design, sound quality and excellent noise cancellation make the Px7 S2 a strong pick in the current true wireless headphone field.
Noise cancellation: Yes
Multipoint: Yes
Battery life: 30 hours
Weight: 0.67 pounds
Water resistance: None
Read our Full Review of Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2 Headphones
Best headphones for those on a budget: Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT
Best budget
Audio-Technica
Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT
For just $79, you can expect a comfy fit and up to 60 hours of battery life, along with Bluetooth multipoint connectivity and onboard physical-button controls.
Audio-Technica has introduced affordable wireless headphones in the past, and while they didn’t offer active noise cancellation, they’re still worth considering. The company’s latest is the M20xBT, a Bluetooth version of the A-T’s popular M20x wired cans. For just $79, you can expect a comfy fit and up to 60 hours of battery life. Bluetooth multipoint connectivity allows you to connect to multiple devices at once and physical buttons provide reliable on-board control. The design isn’t as refined as the company’s pricer models like the M50xBT2, but you get the bulk of what makes Audio-Technica’s cheaper options so good.
Noise cancellation: No
Multipoint: Yes
Battery life: 60 hours
Weight: 1.42 pounds
Water resistance: None
Another solid option: Bose QuietComfort 45
Another solid option
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget
Bose QuietComfort 45
The QC45 combines Bose’s excellent active noise cancellation with clear and balanced audio, plus an excellent 24-hour battery life.
The Bose 700 was one of our top wireless Bluetooth headphones last time around, but the company recently revived a workhorse with the QuietComfort 45. The design is mostly unchanged from the previous QC models, which could be a deal breaker for some. Once you get past that though, the QC45 combines Bose’s excellent active noise cancellation with clear and balanced audio. You can expect up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge and a comfortable fit that doesn’t get tiresome during long listening sessions. We’ve already seen them on sale for $50 less than full price, which makes the QuietComfort 45 even more compelling.
Noise cancellation: Yes
Multipoint: No
Battery life: 24 hours
Weight: 0.96 pounds
Water resistance: None
Read our Full Review of Bose QuietComfort 45 Headphones
Another solid option: Technics EAH-A800
Another solid option
Technics
Technics EAH-A800-K
Along with an impressive 50-hour battery life with ANC, these Technics headphones have good sound quality and a comfortable fit.
Back at CES 2022, Panasonic announced the EAH-A800: a new set of active noise canceling headphones under the iconic Technics brand. While most of the features are what you see on any number of wireless headphones, one figure stood out. The company says you can expect up to 50 hours of battery life on the A800, and that’s with active noise cancellation enabled. These are currently in my stable of review units for detailed analysis, but I have already tested them on a long flight. The ANC is impressive and they’re comfortable enough to avoid becoming a burden after several hours. Sound quality is also quite good (there’s LDAC support, too) and there are enough features here to justify the premium price tag.
Noise cancellation: Yes
Multipoint: Yes
Battery life: 50 hours
Weight: 0.65 pounds
Water resistance: None
Another solid option: Master and Dynamic MW75
Another solid option
MASTER & DYNAMIC
Master & Dynamic MW75
They don’t come cheap, but the MW75 has an attractive design that takes cues from Master & Dynamic’s MG20 gaming headset and mixes them with a combo of aluminum, leather and tempered glass.
While Master & Dynamic is known for its design prowess, the company’s over-ear headphones were due for a refresh. With the MW75 that debuted in June, the company opted for a look that takes cues from its MG20 gaming headset and mixes them with a combo of aluminum, leather and tempered glass. The company’s trademark sound quality returns with multiple ANC modes and ambient sound options for a range of situations. At $599, the high-end looks don’t come cheap, but if you’re looking for something beyond the pure plastic fashion of most headphones, M&D has you covered.
Noise cancellation: Yes
Multipoint: Yes
Battery life: 28 hours
Weight: 0.75 pounds
Water resistance: None
Another solid option: Sennheiser Momentum 4
Another solid option
Photo by Billy Steele / Engadget
Sennheiser Momentum 4
Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 has an impressive 60-hour battery life and improved ANC performance, but albeit with a somewhat bland design.
I’ll be honest, I had a hard time choosing between the Px7 S2 and the Momentum 4 wireless headphones for the runner-up spot this time around. However, Bowers & Wilkins gets the edge in terms of design even though the Px7 S2 and the Momentum 4 are very evenly matched on great sound quality. They’re the two best-sounding sets of Bluetooth headphones I’ve tested this year – and it’s not even close. Sennheiser does have an impressive 60-hour battery life in its favor and improved ANC performance. Those two items alone might be enough for you to overlook the very generic design.
Noise cancellation: Yes
Multipoint: No
Battery life: 60 hours
Weight: 0.65 pounds
Water resistance: None
Read our Full Review of Sennheiser Momentum 4 Headphones
FAQs
How can you tell the quality of headphones?
I typically look at three factors: design, sound quality and features. In terms of design, I’m usually looking to see if the build quality of the headphones feels cheap and plasticky. Plenty of companies use plastic, but they can do so in a way that doesn’t look or feel like budget models. For sound quality, I want to hear a nice, even tuning where highs, mids and lows are all well represented. No overly boomy bass or scooped out mids. I also want good clarity where you can pick up fine details and an open, immersive soundstage. Features is typically a distant third, but if a company doesn’t cover basic functionality (automatic pausing, transparency mode, multipoint Bluetooth, etc.) it can be an indication of overall quality.
How do I choose the best quality headphones?
“Best” can be pretty subjective, but I always recommend going to a place where you can listen to the headphones you’re thinking about buying before you commit. Sometimes this isn’t possible, so you’ll want to check return policies. I also recommend doing some research to determine what your priorities are in a new set. Are you an audiophile who wants the best sound quality? Is powerful active noise cancellation (ANC) the most important? Would you rather have conveniences like automatic pausing?
Which brand has the best headphones?
Sony consistently tops our list with its 1000X line. This is mostly due to the combination of sound quality, ANC performance and the truckload of features these headphones pack in. I’ll be the first to tell you that there are better sounding options and other companies, like Bose, offer more effective noise cancellation. But when you add everything up, no one comes close to the full slate of tools Sony puts in its premium headphone line.
Do expensive headphones sound better?
Exorbitant price tags don’t mean better audio quality. Bowers & Wilkins’ headphones are on the high end for wireless noise-canceling models and they sound amazing. However, Audio-Technica M50xBT2 is much more affordable and doesn’t have ANC, but these headphones have a warm, natural sound profile that I find very inviting. At the end of the day, it will come down to personal preference, but you don’t need to spend a lot to find great headphones.