There’s a good reason sound engineers use headphones to test audio. Whether you're in a gaming session or enjoying the finer details of a chamber orchestra track, over-the-ear headphones provide the best listening experience. They fully envelop your ears, creating a sealed box of sound, rich in quality and details. Over-ear wired or wireless headphones are the go-to choice when audio quality and active noise cancellation (ANC) are the prime concerns.

Their in-ear cousins, true wireless earbuds, can be better for high-energy activity, but headphones are made more for luxury and comfort. Modern over-ear headphones have features such as ANC, Bluetooth pairing, and in-line or built-in microphones for calls, meetings, and online gaming. They are generally a little more expensive, although some hand-picked options offer the best bang for the buck.

Which over-ear headphones do you need?

Philips' H8506 over-ear wireless headphones are one of the most robust, quality-rich, and affordable headsets. Designed for long listening, the H8506 have an astounding battery life of up to 60 hours and are designed with soft, sleek ear cups that make this headset perfect for hours of listening. Aside from comfort and longevity, the set has ANC and 40mm drivers, providing superb noise cancellation and delivering hi-res songs to its listeners.

The multipoint Bluetooth connectivity allows the H8506 to connect to two Bluetooth devices at once and allows for sound and notifications to come through both sources, making this a great headset for office multitasking. The Awareness Mode feature also allows users to adjust the settings to let in ambient sound if needed, and the advanced sound settings provide the best listening experience possible.

Not only do the settings help manage and control the device, but the sleek buttons on the oval ear cups allow users to change tracks, adjust volume, and even answer phone calls. Given the robust settings and impeccable sound quality, this device is a perfect fit for just about anyone and more wallet-friendly than most.

So far, the crown of the absolutely best over-ear headphones goes to the Sony Wh-1000XM5 if you can afford them. True, there are more expensive or better-sounding headphones out there, but either they are tuned for studio monitoring, or they haven’t been able to combine all the best features. The XM5s rule in that respect.

Coming in three colors (black, blue, and silver), the modern-looking headphones support LDAC out of the box. That’s 990 kbps lossless audio for you to enjoy, provided you have a suitable source (or downloaded files). The audio reproduction is hard-targeted for average consumers, and as such, the sound feels rich, warm, and highly detailed. Even low-bitrate audio would sound better thanks to Sony’s DSEE upscaling technique.

But what really trumps them all is the ANC; you won’t find better noise-suppressing headphones except maybe industrial-grade earmuffs. And yet the XM5s aren’t uncomfortable like them. In addition, the noise-cancellation is buttery smooth and intelligent, reducing most rumbling noises and conversations by 50-80% or more.

If you need high-quality music at a fairly low price, the Soundcore Life Q30 headphones by Anker will serve you well. For this price, you get a serviceable ANC that claims to filter out 95% of background noises. There are three modes of ANC that you can use to suit your position. The comfortable protein-leather memory foam earcups form a solid seal around your ears that helps to isolate external noise even better.

The headphones support only SBC and AAC codecs via Bluetooth 5.0, but they process the audio well and drive it through 40mm highly flexible silk diaphragm drivers, producing up to 40 kHz of clarity and thumping bass. This would be very favorable to anyone who is not an audiophile purist.

The lightweight and foldable build of the Q30 ensures they are both comfortable and portable. The big batteries last 40 hours with ANC on and 60+ hours with it off. And supporting quick charge, the headphones give you 4 hours of playtime with just 5 minutes of juice.

For those in the market for over-ear headphones that pair well with Apple products, the Beats Studio Pro is the perfect option. The Studio Pro deliver a great sound and offers Lossless Audio via the USB-C cable. With two listening modes, ANC and Transparency, Beats offer an enjoyable, immersive sound quality, but lets ambient sounds in when necessary.

With personalized spacial audio, the Beats Studio Pro tracks head placement to deliver an immersive 360 sound, and the voice-targeting mics ensure calls are just as clear and pristine as listening to music. What makes the Beats Studio Pro great for Apple is the enhanced compatibility with native applications such as Siri. With a simple button push on the sleek ear cup, Siri can be voice-activated straight from the headphones.

The Beats Studio Pros' battery life can last up to 40 hours, and the fast charge provides up to 4 additional hours for a 10-minute charge. While these headphones are expensive, they deliver a great sound and built-in features that Apple fans will love.

Say what you want about Sony, but they make some excellent headphones (and other audio equipment). The WH-XB910N are very good headphones except for the high price, and even then, they have few competitors. The headphones are built very well, with comfortable padding and enough space for any ear size. They are good at holding the sides of your head so that there is decent noise isolation, but not too tightly as to cause fatigue.

The best thing about the XB910N may be their high-resolution codec support. Yes, these headphones support LDAC out-of-the-box; that is 990 kbps high-quality audio for you, provided you have the source to supply it. The battery life is great as well, going over 35 hours easily with ANC and 50 hours without it.

Without a doubt, these ‘phones were made for bassheads, and Lo-fi remixes would perform the best on these. The sound is ‘messy bassy’, meaning the bass, especially at sub-100 Hz, is so high that it muddles the mids. You will not find good vocals on these cans. On the other hand, the ANC is great and so is the app support.

Looking for a great pair of comfortable over-ear headphones for working out or extended use? The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra provides the best sound and comfort in one. Users will enjoy a full rich sound with state-of-the-art ANC and various listening modes, including quiet, aware, and immersion. Aside from the three useful modes, users can refine the sound experience even further from the app.

Custom Tune technology is another perk. It allows users to build the perfect sound profile, tailored to listening preferences, whether it's music, podcasts, or phone calls. And the multiple microphones allow for crystal-clear calls, filtering out background noise.

But the benefits don't end there. These headphones also offer advanced Bluetooth 5.3, allowing for up to 30 feet of connectivity (who needs wire tangles?), and with 24 hours of battery life (again, less wire time), so they are great for active users. The Quiet Comfort Ultra headphones are (shockingly) made with comfort in mind. The headband distributes pressure evenly and luxuriously soft ear cups keep annoyances to a minimum.

When you first try on JBL headphones, you encounter what we call the “JBL signature sound,” which is a slightly bass-heavy, clear, and rich audio reproduction. JBL has successfully kept that up in their Tune 760NC headphones. The powerful audio is good for enjoying most genres of music and movies (except maybe classical).

These headphones are ideally suited for travel since the ANC in them is good at cutting out vehicle noise and nearby chatter. True, bass-heavy noise like plane engine noise would still be heard somewhat, but that’s a good compromise when considering the price.

Though they aren’t waterproof, you can use them for a light jog or workout. However, they clamp tightly on your head, so extended wear may be uncomfortable. The long battery life gives you the whole day at the office, and they are good for meetings and calls as well.

Looking for a good pair of headphones that sound good and have ANC, but you don’t want to splurge on brands like Sony or Bose? Sennheiser has you. The Momentum 4 headphones are one of the best-sounding headphones for the price, and they keep on going!

At nearly 60 hours of battery life with ANC on, these headphones are the longest-lasting on the market. Connected via Bluetooth 5.2, they support not only the default SBC/AAC but also aptX, aptX HD, and aptX Adaptable codecs. Few headphones out there have such credentials.

And the ‘phones can use the codecs properly, too. The sound of the Momentum 4s is rich and mellow, exceptionally clear, and stays true to the original audio. Audiophiles would love it. However, the ANC isn’t something to brag about here; about 10dB or 75% reduction is what you’ll mostly experience in the commute or office.

Talk about the Audio-Technica M50x among audiophiles, and anybody will tell you how awesome they were. That legendary piece of engineering is the base of the ATH-M50xBT2, the second iteration of Audio-Technica’s (very successful) trial of taking studio monitoring wireless.

With LDAC support through their advanced AK4331 DAC (that respects lossless audio as-is) and newer and bigger 45mm drivers, the sound you hear from these headphones is as clear as rainwater. The frequency response curve closely follows the original studio output, meaning you get to hear the audio as the musician intended. However, note that these are not, repeat, not for bassheads. Instead, they are best for those who listen to music that begs you to sit quietly and pay attention to details instead of bouncing along.

The Lack of ANC could be an issue for regular consumers, as well as the dated design with the bold logo and garish branding. But for me, if I’m rocking a M50x, I’d want people to know it. The battery lasts a whopping 60 hours and then some, while the multipoint connectivity works seamlessly. That being said, expect some issues with LDAC — it’s not completely perfect.

You’ll want these as soon as you look at them. The Shure Aonic 50 headphones are beautiful in aesthetic, build, and performance. The appealing colors offerings meld with any dressing style, while the huge, comfortable, removable ear cups lengthen device life and are easy to clean. These headphones are best for commuting and work-from-home, and the occasional movie.

Build quality and beauty aside, they are almost perfect on the audio performance front. Supporting aptX, aptX HD, aptX Low Latency, AAC, and LDAC, they can decode any device audio you throw at them. The huge 50mm dynamic drivers keep the frequency response close to flat, and everything comes out so clear you may want to hear all your favorite songs on this again just to find new stuff. With firmware update 0.4.9, they have perfected LDAC reproduction as well.

The Aonic 50s have ANC, though it isn’t their strongest suit. The noise reduction — helped a lot by the HD memory foam ear cups — is substantial at low frequencies and works well with appliance noise and background chatter. The battery could have been better at sub-20 hours, but they support a quick charge of 15 minutes to go 4 hours. And even though these rock only Bluetooth 5.0, they have excellent multipoint connectivity.

How to choose the right headphones

Aside from sound quality, which is arguably the most important consideration when choosing headphones, there are other important qualities that must be vetted, like compatibility, for instance. Depending on the intended use, the headphones may need to work with multiple devices, such as laptops, cellphones, and tablets. However, even if a device is compatible with certain headphones, note that it may still limit some capabilities with headphones that have buttons built in.

Noise and sound settings must also be analyzed, especially if the headphones are being used to serve multiple purposes. ANC is a must for any audiophiles who love a rich and clear sound without interruptions. But in work or outdoor environments, the option to allow outside sound is a must for awareness and safety.

While sound quality is imperative for purchasing a good set of headphones, the fit is almost just as important. If the intention is to wear headphones for long hours, a comfortable, lightweight headband and proper ear cup cushioning are required for daily or extended use. And if you do plan on listening for long periods, battery life and charging options are extremely important. Long batteries and short charge times are a must for most. Note also that battery-life can be dependent on what mode is being used, so be sure to check the battery-life and how the different sound modes affect it.

Enjoy pure listening nirvana

Whether wired or wireless, over-ear earphones are our best friends when we want comfort and audio quality. These needs become paramount while at home enjoying a movie or losing yourself in some great music. The solution is to use a nice pair of headphones with good ANC, large and efficient drivers with low impedance, and soft, comfy ear cups. Ideally, these large cans will produce a soundstage around your head, providing the ultimate immersion.

Of course, all of that has a price. Although there are some affordable headphones out there, the Philips H8606 offers the best balance of price and performance. But those looking to save a little cash should consider the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 headphones because they offer just enough benefits without breaking the bank. But great sound isn't always about affordability, and the Sony XM5s offer premium sound quality and memory-foamy comfort that's worth the splurge. Of course, if there is something else you are in search of, whether it is a better price, battery life, or sound quality, check out the other great headsets on our list.