When you're looking to get the most out of your music, a great pair of headphones can make a difference. Cup headphones, sometimes also known as headband or over-ear headphones , can give you the best sound. But with so many options, it's not always easy to find the pair that fits your needs. And, if you have a limited budget, which ones strike the best balance between cost and quality?
We set out to answer these questions. After reading dozens of expert reviews, analyzing the latest deals from the most popular brands, and using our own knowledge of the headphone market, we settled on a test group of 11 headphones, ranging from mid-range to high-end. Once we had them on hand, we exhaustively tested each in six categories, including sound quality, comfort, and battery life.
We chose to weight the highest sound quality because, in our opinion, by shelling out large amounts of money for headphones, you want to make sure that your music will sound its best. And while we tested the noise canceling capabilities, its weight in the overall rating was low. (Our full review of the best noise-canceling headphones will be published in a few weeks.)
Over the course of several months, we spent over a week with each couple, and after countless playlists, we settled on four standouts.
The best over-ear headphones
Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM3
Second place and best for exercise: Jabra Elite 85h
More comfortable: Bose 700 noise canceling headphones
Best quality / price: JBL Live 650BTNC
The short version
The WH-1000XM3 headphones from Sony proved to be the best overall headphones. They stood out in almost all of our test criteria, including the most important: sound quality. Priced close to $ 300, they offer considerable quality and are a good investment.
For running, training and just exercising, our second place, the Jabra Elite 85h, hits all the right notes. Although they're on the bulkier side, they have a great control scheme for exercise, with large, easy-to-locate buttons on the right cup. They also hold tightly to the head, which we confirmed during a 45-minute dash - there was no slipping or shifting of the headphones.
If you need headphones that can be used on long walks, intercontinental flights or simply at home, the Bose Noise Canceling 700 headphones are our option in comfort. There is some plush memory foam on the earbuds and on the top headband. Imagine sticking your head into two mini mattresses that delightfully fit your ears.
Lastly, at the relatively affordable price of $ 199.95 (now down to $ 159.95), the JBL Live 650TNC shone as our quality / price pick. They may not be the most eye-catching, but these headphones really matched the Jabra Elite 85h in terms of sound quality, and scored just below them in features. The JBL headphones caught our attention with clear reproduction of vocals (no artifacts), impactful bass, and a stunning three-dimensional soundstage.
The long version
Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM3
Why we love it in one sentence: The WH-1000XM3 combines spectacularly crisp sound and voice with deep, authentic bass, all complemented by excellent noise cancellation for studio-quality surround audio.
The WH-1000XM3 from Sony really is an example of what a pair of headphones should offer. To be fully transparent, they tied with the Jabra in terms of overall score after our tests. But the Sony headphones performed better in our key test: sound quality. So we think they are worth the extra money you spend compared to the Jabra Elite 85h.
The sound quality really shone during our tests: be it instruments or vocals, the playback was always crystal clear. The drums of the song Tread Softly by Molotov Jukebox came out shocking and clear. The vocals in this song, as well as Bruce Springsteen's I'm on Fire had a unique clarity, giving us a direct impression. In fact, we were amazed at how well the WH-1000XM3 displayed the 3D soundstage in I'm on Fire as if we were onstage with The Boss. Songs like Billie Eilish's Bad Guy also portrayed this: It felt like it was speaking directly to our ears, and the bass employed by this song was deep and resonant. Take Five , performed by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, with all its subtle notes and dynamic sax sounded perfect reproduction.
With every song we played on these headphones, it seemed like we were listening to the music to its full potential. The compression was at just the right level to avoid audio artifacts with the highest timbre and lowest bass, while still retaining the true sound of these extreme notes. For example, Joshua Redman's Jazz Crimes shows a very high-pitched saxophone, but we found it neither shrill nor muted. Billie Eilish's Bad Guy has an incredibly deep bass, but the playback was preserved with no artifacts or attenuation of this incredible depth.
Plus, these headphones deliver on their promise of a 30-hour battery life. We put this to the test using a 32-hour playlist made up of music from all genres, which we describe further in our methods section. We connected and gave play with the Sony blocked at 75% of the volume. The result was in fact an exact 30 hours of playback.
We were also impressed by the active noise cancellation. Like the rest of the headphones on our list, we tested them in two noisy conditions: running at high volume on a TV and trying to block out the sound of a noisy washing machine. We found the elimination of the lowest sounds in the environment and a general damping of the highest sounds. In this area, the WH-1000XM3 headphones were one of the best. And with the music on, you'll find that most distractions are effectively eliminated.
Better yet, Sony's companion app for iOS and Android offers some customization when it comes to sound. There are several presets available, including one that is geared towards live music (boosts echoes and sharpens the overall mix). You can even mix things up on your own with an equalizer. As with Bose, you can also customize the noise cancellation level and control the battery life.
The WH-1000XM3 comes in a fairly modest design but sports a comfortable and flexible headband. This, coupled with how lightweight they are, makes them almost as cozy as the Bose 700. They can be expanded to fit most head sizes and the cups fold flat so you can pack the WH-1000XM3 in the carrying case included.
Second place and best for exercise: Jabra Elite 85h
Why we love it in one sentence: The Elite 85h are a durable pair of headphones that stay in place while you exercise and have easy-access controls on the go.
Our overall score for these headphones was the same as the Sony WH-1000XM3, except with a different point distribution. These were slightly below the Sony in sound, comfort, and noise cancellation, but outperformed in build quality, device controls, and warranty.
There are several factors that put these headphones on top for exercising. First, while an IPX rating (a widely used measure by which a device's water resistance is measured) cannot be found, Jabra claims they are dust and water resistant. Despite lacking this rating, we sprayed water on the Elite 85h for almost a minute and were unhurt. In addition to their one-year limited warranty, they have a separate two-year warranty for dust and water related damage.
We tested them both outdoors and indoors, and while the design is quite bulky, they sit firmly on the head. The upper band is wrapped with a somewhat firm cushion and fine mesh that rests comfortably but securely on the head. The headphones offer the same firm cushioning, wrapping the entire ear with similar results. They never fell off during our tests, despite not feeling too tight. Its bulky and ultimately safe construction can be condensed into the included carry bag, with both cups foldable inward for portability.
And about those headphones: We also appreciate the controls from a fitness perspective. The buttons on the right cup, large and easy to navigate without much thought, are perfect when you are running, they fulfill basic functions such as music playback and phone calls.
Overall, we found that the Jabra Elite 85h felt stronger and had a better control scheme than the WH-1000XM3. The latter use the entire right cup as a touch control, which can cause accidental skipping of songs or blocking of phone calls. The Elite 85h, on the other hand, uses large buttons that are easy to locate. The battery life also lasts 36 hours, beating Sony's 30 hours.
In terms of sound, the Jabra Elite 85h offered similar quality to that of Sony, even closer thanks to Jabra's comprehensive Sound + app (available for iOS and Android). The Elite 85h's bass is satisfactorily deep, but doesn't reach the same studio-quality depth as that of Sony headphones. We also noted that the sound felt a bit flatter on the Elite 85h. It didn't necessarily suffer from the three-dimensional sound, but it felt more compressed, greatly reducing the maximum tones it could reproduce. With a custom EQ in the app specifically focused on the bass, the quality gap actually closed to a point where quality was comparable. Still, this did not fix compression issues.
And to put it lightly, we loved the Sound + app, where you'll find an equalizer to customize your sound with presets that create noticeable enhancements for vocals and bass. There are also countless settings available, such as toggling in-ear detection, which detects if the headphones are on your head and pauses music when you take them off. Pretty good, right? You can even configure Find My Jabra to get an approximate location of where your headphones are if you lose sight of them.
More comfortable: Bose 700 noise canceling headphones
Why we love it in one sentence: The 700s are a master class of comfort, resting on your head and ears like a cloud thanks to well-distributed, high-quality memory foam cushioning.
When it comes to comfort, the Bose 700 noise-canceling headphones top our list. Although their $ 399.99 price is on the extreme, the pair's ergonomic nature and exceptional sound quality made them one of our standout picks.
The foam lining inside the headband and ear muffs is designed with especially comfortable layers of memory foam cushioning. It produces practically zero pressure, to the point that it is almost like using nothing. The Bose 700 are capable of wide earmuff extension, allowing them to fit heads of almost any size. However, for those who love portability, the headphones don't fold. And while Bose does include a case, you'll have to settle for its unfolded size.
The Bose headphones also don't skimp on sound or noise cancellation. In fact, they scored just below the Sony WH-1000XM3 in both categories. We found that the sound and compression quality were similar to Sony's. Both headphones featured piano, saxophone, and drums on our Joshua Redman Jazz Crimes test track. And while the sound wasn't as sharp and the bass wasn't as intense as Sony's, we're still impressed with what they could get out. Listening to White Reaper's Might Be Right , the drums and vocals weren't as sharp as on Sony headphones. The bass in Billie Eilish's Bad Guy is also a small step back in depth and intensity. Despite these minor shortcomings, you still get a balanced mix that's very nice.
If you are someone who likes to personalize the experience through a companion application, you will not find it with Bose. The app itself is fairly simple, noticeably lacking an equalizer function. It is a disappointment, especially at this price. If you are looking to increase the bass or vocals, you simply cannot; The main use of the app is to toggle between transparency and noise cancellation mode. With that said, these modes stand out in the Bose 700. The transparency mode is especially cool as it amplifies the surrounding sound so you can hear better. Conversely, when you're on a phone call, the microphones do double duty by reducing ambient noise and amplifying your voice. There is no customization to modify this function.
In the end, the Bose 700 offers unmatched construction in comfort. You won't be disappointed by the balanced sound experience and battery life, either.
Best quality / price: JBL Live 650BTNC
Why we love it in one sentence: JBL's 650BTNCs deliver sound quality that rivals the best on our list, along with solid comfort and features in a relatively more affordable package.
At $ 199.95, the JBL Live 650BTNC offers the best value of all the headphones we've tested. Since they're still high-end headphones, they deliver crisp sound, aligning with the Bose 700. In fact, they got better points than the Beoplay H9, which cost more than double. We also loved the voices on these, just below the epic quality of the Bose 700 and Sony WH-1000XM3. Unfortunately, they suffer from some compression and bass. In terms of the former, we found that the highest and lowest sound range was limited compared to the Beats Studio 3 and WH-1000XM3. This was especially highlighted in Joshua Redman's Jazz Crimes , in which the higher saxophone notes seemed to mix and cut.
When it comes to bass, JBLs don't offer much. Shallower than devices like the Beats Studio 3, and they produced less rotundity than the WH-1000XM3. That said, these problems are relatively minor. The 650BTNC still released basses that were as deep as the more expensive picks like the Bose 700 and Jabra Elite 85h. They also have an impressive soundstage, with instrument placement and vocals almost as well resolved as the WH-1000XM3.
The JBL Headphones companion app tries to refine these setbacks with specific sound profiles. What we found was that they over-emphasized what they were looking to improve. In other words, the bass sound profile made the bass overwhelming, drowning out some of the more subtle notes, which can steal thunder from vocals. When you look at the bass sound profile, you boost the lowest frequencies to the extreme. These changes make the bass too strong. If you are looking to adjust the bass, try creating your own custom sound profile with less extreme changes for better results.
The 650BTNC headphones have a stylish design. The headband and its cushion are covered in mesh, which is visually interesting. Inside is a metal bar with a fair amount of flexibility, allowing it to flex generously and accommodate large heads. The cushion that rests on your head is quite thin and can give you a stiff feeling. Along with the relatively firm cushioning of the headphones, the JBLs aren't ideal for long-term use, so they lost a few points for comfort. Despite the weaker areas, these headphones still left out several more expensive devices and significantly outperformed the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2, which share their price.
How we test
The testing process for these headphones was rigorous. We wanted to test them in normal use, focusing on what would be most important to the user. We examined design and comfort over time, learned all the controls, listened to various genres of music, tested active noise cancellation, tested the batteries, and read the warranties. Throughout the process, we compared these features to the best-in-class headphones.
Sound quality
Bass: To determine the frequency of each headphone, we listened to Bad Guy by Billie Eilish and Royals de Lorde. Both songs have very deep and intense bass. We also listened to these songs to discover the bass range that each pair of headphones was capable of.
Compression: In audio, compression is used to amplify very quiet sounds and reduce the volume of very loud sounds. However, too much compression can darken higher-pitched tones and dampen deeper tones. In this subcategory, we hear the correct amount of compression. If the tones were shrill or if we heard audio artifacts like creaking, there wasn't enough. If the tones in the upper range felt muted and / or the tones in the lower range were confused, there was too much. We hear these qualities in Billie Eilish's Bad Guy and Joshua Redman's Jazz Crimes . The first is a song featuring extremely deep tones, and the second features quiet and subtle instrumentals, as well as full volume saxophones and drums.
Soundstage: In audio, soundstage is the feeling of three-dimensional space produced by high-quality stereo sound. A great sound will allow you to really hear the positions of the instruments and vocalists during a song. To prove this, we listened to I'm on Fire by Bruce Springsteen and Neon Lights by Molotov Jukebox. Both songs feature instrumentals with different 3D positions and voices that make you feel like you're on stage with the artist. This is a category where cross-comparison was especially important as we wanted to know to what extent different headphones had this three-dimensional effect.
Overall: This subcategory combines bass, compression and sound notes. We also note the quality of calls here, looking for quirks like echoes, voice clarity, and background noise. We listen to Let Me In by Laminate Pet Animal and Might Be Right by White Reaper, particularly complex songs (such as full of different instruments, voices, subtle rhythms and bass) to get a broader view of how the previous subcategories worked together.
Design
Build Quality - We determine the quality of the materials each device was built with, examine how they were attached, and look at the visual design. To test the build, we checked how flexible the headband was and analyzed what material, such as metal or plastic, held the headphones together. We also checked to see if the headphones folded for portability, and took a look at the controls' layout and how the buttons felt when pressed. Visually, we analyze volume, texture, and overall design.
Ear pads - We use the headphones for an extended period of time to determine if the ear pads felt tight over time. We also noticed if they were comfortable enough, to the point that one could forget that they even had them on.
Headband - We use the headphones for an extended period of time to determine if the headband felt tight over time or created localized pressure. This is where we also noticed the flexibility of the headband, as well as whether they were comfortable enough to fade from our concentration.
Overall Comfort: This subcategory combines headphones and headband notes. We also observed whether the tension occurred over time in the area where the headband and ear muffs were connected.
Features / Usability
Controls: We learned and tested each control to find out if the controls were easy to understand and how intuitive it was to control playback, calls, volume, Bluetooth pairing, and toggle functions like ANC. Finally, we noticed whether or not there was a voice narration control, such as saying “ANC on” when activating noise cancellation.
Bluetooth connectivity: We tested the latency of the controls between the headphones and the device they were paired with. We also measured how quickly the headphones, after turning on, reconnected to a previously paired device. Finally, we checked to see if the headphones could connect to multiple devices at once.
Companion app : If your headphones had a companion app, we explored the options the app provided. Some examples show the battery percentage, toggle or change the ANC level, present custom sound profiles and the ability to create your own and set a standby timer. Essentially, the more control an app provides, the better.
Ports: We tested whether the ports of each pair of headphones worked.
External Controls - This category combined Bluetooth connectivity and companion app notes. Then we check what smart assistants could be used, if any. We also looked at whether an AUX cable was included and if it had a control box. If it did, we analyzed how much control it provided.
Drums
Usage time: We create a playlist with a variety of genres such as jazz, rock, pop, rap, classic, and EDM, among others, to determine battery life. Each pair of headphones received a playlist that was approximately two hours longer than the supposed battery life. Then we review them in their respective playlist with 75% volume with noise cancellation disabled.
Quick Charge - Quick charge is a feature where charging a device for a short period of time will restore a large amount of battery. For models that supported this feature, we calculated the percentage of battery they received within the time they announced that fast charging is needed.
Overall: This subcategory combines usage time and fast loading notes. We just wanted to get an idea of which devices had a large battery and fast charge functionality.
ANC (active noise cancellation)
Pure ANC: We determined how well the ANC of each pair of headphones dampened ambient sound. We created two noisy conditions to try: running on a treadmill with a high-volume television nearby and sitting next to an active washing machine. This section also required intensive cross-comparison to determine which headphones were muffling more sound and what range of sound was being affected.
Warranty
Warranty: We investigated what warranties were available for each device. Guarantees with more years or devices with more than one available obtained a better score.
How we qualify
Using the procedures outlined above, we assign points to each pair of headphones in each subcategory. Below we quickly break down these point systems.
The sound quality had a maximum of 40 points: bass (10 points), compression (5 points), sound (5 points) and in general (20 points).
Features / usability had a maximum of 30 points: on-device controls (5 points), Bluetooth connectivity (5 points), companion app (5 points), ports (5 points), and off-device controls (10 points).
The design had a maximum of 25 points: build quality (10 points), headphones (5 points), headband (5 points), and overall comfort (5 points).
The battery had a maximum of 20 points: usage time (10 points), fast charge (5 points) and total (5 points)
The ANC had a maximum of 5 points: pure ANC (5 points)
The guarantee had a maximum of 5 points: Guarantee (5 points)
Most importantly, these points were assigned without knowing prices. In this way, the cost of each earpiece would not introduce biases in our ratings. After the endpoints were obtained, we applied the price in layers to determine the value that the headphones provided.
To obtain the best comfort, we focus on the comfort subcategories within the design. When it came to the best for exercise, we put together features / usability, battery, ANC and design notes. From the design, we mostly extracted aspects that are tailored to the job like water resistance and safety of cans while running.
Finally, to obtain the best value, we closely analyze the price of each model. Then we created a chart that allowed us to compare total points and prices at the same time. In the end, the JBL Live 650BTNC tied for the Plantronics BackBeat Pro 2 at just under $ 200 each, but the JBL headphones scored significantly higher, earning the category.
Everything else we try
Beats Studio 3 Wireless ($ 249.95, originally $ 349.95; amazon.com)
The Beats Studio 3 Wireless are a great overall headphone set. They were one of the best on the list when it came to sound, tying the Bose 700 and Beoplay H9 for second place behind the WH-1000XM3. And while they look just beautiful, they landed in the lowest range in terms of comfort, particularly the headband. We also didn't love the control button on the headset, not because of the control scheme, but because it clicks hard when pressed.
Beoplay H4 ($ 247.76, originally $ 300; amazon.com)
The Beoplay H4 is an entry level headphone set that showcases the craftsmanship of Bang & Olufsen. Overall sound quality was below that of many of the headphones on our list, and they don't have active noise cancellation. However, in terms of design, they are in the upper half. What we liked most about these headphones is their aesthetic quality. They're made of high-quality plastic, metal, and cushioning, with an easy-to-see design (for example, circular metal caps on the headphones). It is worth noting that on calls, the recipient might hear an echo of your voice.
Beoplay H9 ($ 478.47, originally $ 499; amazon.com)
The Beoplay H9 offers a significant improvement in sound quality over the Beoplay H4. Among the enhancements are much better bass, less compression, and a wider soundstage. Not to mention they have good active noise cancellation. And while they share the beauty and build quality of the H4, they fell back on controls and comfort. We found the touch controls to be frustrating to use, and comfort, especially in the headband, sank significantly. As was the case with the H4, call recipients could hear an echo of his voice.
Bose QuietComfort 35 II (from $ 299.99, originally $ 349.95; amazon.com)
The Bose QuietComfort 35 II was one of our favorites. The build quality of the headphones is high and they are also quite comfortable. Not only that, but they also have impressive sound and ANC, only falling short in the bass category. Also, we really liked the buttons on these headphones; Unlike most others that use buttons, the QuietComfort 35 II has solid built-in buttons that are virtually noise-free.
Bowers & Wilkins PX7 ($ 399.99; amazon.com)
The Bowers & Wilkins PX7 received an average score but remained strong on sound quality and battery life. And while the overall sound quality on the device was very good, we were very impressed by the bass. They deliver deep, satisfying bass. They were also one of the few headphones with 30 hours of battery life. Unfortunately, these headphones are not the most comfortable and are one of the bulkiest pairs we tested.
Plantronics BackBeats Pro 2 ($ 129.78, originally $ 199.99; amazon.com)
The Plantronics BackBeats Pro 2 tied the JBL Live 650BTNC for the price, but it didn't keep up with its counterpart in most categories. In terms of sound, the BackBeats Pro 2 showed potential with decent overall quality, but it didn't perform as well as others in bass, compression, or sound. Unfortunately, the call quality was very low; one recipient described it as sounding like we were underwater. But these scored slightly higher in comfort than the JBLs. Also, we really enjoy the unique volume controls, which work similar to a rotary phone.
Skullcandy Crusher ANC ($ 249.99, originally $ 319.99; amazon.com)
The Skullcandy Crusher was the worst one we tested. A main feature of these headphones is a bass slider on one of the cups.When at the lowest setting, the bass is weak, but as you increase it, the bass becomes more intense and vibrates the headphones. This felt like a gimmick: it didn't seem like the bass was getting that much better. The sound was generally somewhat faint, especially on the sound stage. The Skullcandy app, however, increases the sound quality thanks to its custom sound profiles. The Crusher ANC also scored below average in comfort.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.
