When you're looking to get the most out of your music, a great pair of headphones can make a difference.
Over-ear
headphones, also known as
over-ear
, can give you some of the best sound.
But with such an abundance of options, it's not always easy to find the pair that fits your needs.
How do you make sure you get the best quality?
And if you're on a budget, which ones strike the best balance between cost and quality?
Well, we are here to answer those questions for you.
We continually test the latest and greatest hearing aid deals as they hit the market.
We rate each pair based on sound quality, build, comfort, and more.
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Here's our current list of the best
over-ear headphones
:
A deeper dive into the winners
Best overall over-ear headphones:
Sony WH-1000XM4
(Buy them from Amazon:
USD $ 348
/
MX $ 5,999
with 28% discount).
It seems that Sony's recipe for the WH-1000XM4s was to keep all the good things about the WH-1000XM3s, then add a sprinkle of smart features to really outperform all headphones in its class. Namely, it's the XM4's improved chip and processing capabilities, which work together to enhance audio in real time, without introducing latency to the track or big changes to the original EQ mix, making them the ultimate best
over-ear headphones
to date.
These headphones have crisp, clear sound no matter what track you're listening to. Listening to "I'm on Fire" by Bruce Springsteen makes you feel like you're in the recording studio. The instruments that lay beneath those voices were easy to identify, whether it was the constant thumping of the drums or each guitar riff. A bass-heavy track like "Bad Guy" feels solid and raw.
The noise cancellation is as stellar as the audio quality.
These headphones from Sony were better at cutting down the higher frequencies, like arguments about what's for dinner or even loud neighbors talking outside your window.
In our tests with a television and a washing machine, the XM4s reduced sounds to a slight background noise, even without music.
A backing track resulted in the outside environment being completely blocked.
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And you'll be able to enjoy that sound quality all day long, as the XM4s survived up to 30 hours on a single charge during our tests.
They are also comfortable because they do not feel tight around the ear or the top of the head.
The headphones feel quite spongy and the padding on the top reduces the pressure that some other headphones might apply.
We were able to easily use them for 12 hour sessions without any noticeable discomfort.
Best wireless headphones: Jabra Elite 85h
Buy them on Amazon:
USD $ 189 /
MX $ 5.155
The Jabra Elite 85h are a robust set of headphones. Our overall score for these was the same as the Sony's, but they fell slightly behind in sound and comfort, but outperformed them in build quality, in-device controls, and unlimited one-year warranty.
We tested them both outdoors and indoors, and while the design is quite bulky, they sit firmly on your head. The top band is wrapped with a somewhat firm cushion and fine mesh that rests comfortably but securely on your head. The headphones offer the same firm cushioning, enveloping the entire ear with similar results. The point is: These never fell off during our testing, despite not feeling too tight. Its secure and bulky build can ultimately be packed into the included carry bag, with both cups folded inward for added portability.
And about those headphones: We also appreciated the controls from a fitness perspective.
The large, easy-to-navigate buttons on the right cup are a win when you're running, serving basic functions like playing music and making phone calls.
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Also, on other headphones that relied on buttons on the side or center of the headphones (JBL Live 650BTNC and Beats Studio 3), the controls weren't as easy to locate on the fly.
Some headphones (like the Beats Studio 3 and Skullcandy Crusher ANC) even produce audible feedback when you press their buttons.
Jabra made sure to include cushioning around the Elite 85h's buttons to cushion this dramatically.
The Elite 85h, on the other hand, use large buttons that are easy to locate.
Its battery life also lasts 36 hours, topping Sony's 30.
In terms of sound, they offer Sony-like quality, which is even closer to Jabra's comprehensive Sound + app (available for iOS and Android).
The Elite 85h's bass is satisfyingly deep, but it doesn't reach the same quality depth of Sony headphones.
We also noticed that the sound felt a bit flatter on the Elite 85h.
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In the Sound + app you'll find an equalizer to customize your sound with presets that create noticeable boosts in vocals and bass.
There are countless settings available too, like toggling on-ear detection, which detects if the headphones are on your head, and pausing the music when you take them off.
The most comfortable headphones: Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
Buy them on Amazon:
USD $ 379 /
MX $ 8,499
When it comes to comfort, the Bose noise canceling Headphones 700 topped our list.
Although priced somewhat high, the pair's ergonomic nature and exceptional sound quality still made them one of our top picks.
The foam lining inside the headband and earbuds is designed with especially comfortable layers of memory foam cushioning.
It produces practically zero pressure, to the point that it is almost like wearing nothing.
However, for those who love portability, the headphones don't fold.
And while Bose includes a carrying case, you'll have to make do with its unfolded size.
Bose headphones also don't skimp on sound or cancel noise.
In fact, they scored just below the Sony WH-1000XM4 in both categories.
We found the soundstage and compression quality to be similar to Sony's.
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If you're someone who likes to personalize the experience through a companion app, you won't find it with Bose.
The app itself is pretty simple, notably lacking an equalizer feature.
It is a disappointment, especially at this price.
So if you are looking to increase bass or vocals, you just can't;
The main use of the application is to toggle the noise cancellation and transparency mode.
In the end, the Bose 700s offer a build unmatched in comfort.
They feature a seamless modern design, which unless you're on a ninja mission could work with a pop of color from the silver or white and gold varieties.
You won't be disappointed with the balanced sound experience and long battery life either.
Best headphones at the lowest price: JBL Noise Live 650BTNC
Buy them on Amazon:
USD $ 71.99 /
Not available
The JBL Live 650BTNC provides the most value of all the headphones we tested.
As they are still high-end headphones, they offer crystal-clear sound, in line with the Bose 700. Unfortunately, they suffer a bit in compression and bass.
When it comes to bass, JBLs are average performers.
While the JBL Headphones companion app tries to refine these mishaps with specific sound profiles.
What we found was that they overemphasized what they wanted to improve.
In other words, the bass sound profile made the bass overpowering, drowning out some of the more subtle notes, which can steal some thunder from the vocals.
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The 650BTNC headphones have a sleek and relatively minimalist design.
The headband and its cushion are covered in mesh, which is visually interesting.
Inside is a metal bar with a good amount of flex, allowing it to bend generously and accommodate large heads.
The cushion that rests on your head is quite thin and can result in a tight feeling.
Coupled with the relatively firm cushioning of the headphones, the JBL cans are not ideal for long-term use, so they lost a few points for comfort.
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