Over-ear headphones deliver excellent audio performance and comfort. These are the six best over-ear headphones for a variety of budgets.
When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider
Over-ear headphones offer some of the most impressive audio performance you can get for your money. But the best over-ear headphones provide more than just great sound. Top models also offer comfy designs and handy features like noise cancelling, wireless connectivity, and long-lasting battery life to be your sonic companion in virtually any scenario.
After countless hours spent with dozens of models across multiple categories, we've selected the six best over-ear headphones you can buy. Our top pick is the Sony WH-1000XM5, which offer a well-rounded mix of features and performance. On the budget side, the Soundcore Life Q30 serve up serious value at well below $100.
Our favorite picks span the spectrum, from wired audiophile headphones to feature-packed travel cans with top-notch noise-cancellation technology. Whatever you're looking for, you'll find the right pair for your needs below, as well as some helpful information to guide you in your search.
Best overall: Sony WF-1000XM5 - See at Amazon
Best on a budget: Soundcore by Anker Life Q30 - See at Amazon
Best for noise cancelling: Bose QuietComfort Ultra - See at Amazon
Best for Apple devices: Apple AirPods Max - See at Amazon
Best wired option for audiophiles: Sennheiser/Drop HD6XX - See at Amazon
Best premium model: Master & Dynamic MW75 - See at Amazon
Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones have it all: Fantastic sound quality, top-notch noise cancelling, great controls, a barrel of features, and lots of customization options, all wrapped in a sleek and comfortable chassis. These headphones aren't cheap, but they're primed to be your ultimate sonic companion from the office to the sky and everywhere in between.
Sitting a step above Sony's WH-1000XM4, the XM5 are built on a foundation of clear and relatively balanced sound that's as accessible as it is engaging. Bass is slightly ramped up by default, but Sony's Headphones Connect app packs many ways to customize it, including a multi-band EQ. The stereo image is spacious and expansive, with palpable dynamics to accentuate the action and isolate quiet moments. Details rush to the surface across your song catalog, letting you find new moments in old tracks.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider
Active noise-cancelling (ANC) performance is equally accomplished, combined with the headphones' great passive noise isolation to let you detach from your environment and fall into your music and videos. They're particularly excellent for traveling, where they're able to whisk away engine drones while still putting a serious damper on voices and other sounds. This is aggressive cancellation, firmly and unrelentingly squashing annoyances without adding any audible white noise. Perhaps that's why battery life, which is still quite good at 30 hours with ANC, can't push toward the 50+ hours of some competitors.
The XM5 pair great performance with a slick, minimalist design accented by plush padding along the earcups and headband to make them comfortable for hours. Our only real design complaint is that the headband doesn't fold, making these harder to pack than some rivals. Controls are simple and responsive, with swipes for volume and song skip and quick taps for playback. The auto-pause sensors work perfectly, so you'll never miss a moment of your show or podcast, while Sony's Quick Attention feature lets you hold the right earcup to snap between noise cancelling and transparency mode for conversations.
Speaking of conversations, the headphones work well for calls and include multipoint pairing to quickly swap between devices. The app unlocks many other options that let you tailor nearly everything to your preference. There are almost too many features for novices, but the design makes it easy to wade into these options at your own pace. You can still find Sony's older WH-1000XM4 model for less money, but if you want the best over-ear headphones, the WH-1000XM5 are the pair to buy.
Check out our Sony WH-1000XM5 review.
Soundcore's Life Q30 are our favorite pair of over-ear headphones priced under $100, offering a quality experience with performance that strikes well above their price point. It all starts with their accessible sound, marked by clean and tight bass response, a warm and full midrange, and a clear upper register that seems to lean into virtually everything you play. These things just sound great, making you wonder how Soundcore can keep the cost so low.
That vibe continues with the noise cancelling, which shoots high again, performing better than most headphones we've heard at this price and even some well above it. This isn't the kind of expansive noise cancelling found in our favorites from Bose and Sony, but it was up to the task on a recent cross-country flight, allowing us to set it and forget the world as we dived into our favorite music and movies.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
The Life Q30 also come loaded with extras. Their admiration for Bose's past QuietComfort headphones, like the QC30 and QC35, is evident from their understated look and simplified control keys to their pill-box hard case — a rarity at this price. You'll find an EQ and adjustable ambient audio modes within Soundcore's accompanying app, and you can expect up to 40 hours of playback time with noise cancelling or a whopping 60 hours without it.
The headphones are also quite comfy, cradling your head with thick, puffy pads that hold up long into a flight or work session. After a few uses, we did find some cracks in the armor — namely, the not-so-premium plastic on the earcups and headband, which is prone to scratches. We also noticed the tap command that switches between noise cancelling to transparency mode on the right earcup is prone to misfires, which is somewhat annoying, but far from a dealbreaker.
If you're looking for more features and slightly improved noise cancelling, you could step up to Soundcore's fancier Space One (though they don't come with a hard case). But for those seeking serious performance at well under $100, the Life Q30 are tough to beat.
For noise-cancelling performance that makes you feel more like you're floating through the vacuum of space than trudging through your daily dog walk, nothing beats Bose's QuietComfort Ultra. These are simply the top noise-cancelling headphones we've tried, able to detach you from noisy environments and set you in a sanguine zone of sonic reserve.
ANC isn't the only reason to spend up for Bose's Ultra-fied cans. They have an elegant design that feels posh from the moment you unzip their pill-shaped case, and they wear comfortably for hours. A mix of touch and tactile controls, including a clever slide-action volume strip, make it easy to move through your library. The app packs plenty of features, including some options previous Bose models lacked, like a three-band EQ, as well as adjustable ambient audio, and even a limiter to reduce sudden loud noises when using the Aware mode.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
Sound quality is also impressive, with a taut and refined midrange, a zippy treble register, and boomy bass that, after a few tweaks, punches with authoritative musicality. Instruments are detailed and crisp, with plenty of space within the soundstage to flourish. Calls are similarly clean and clear on both ends, with excellent wind-buffering for outdoor settings.
If you want to try some spatial audio fun, Bose's system will virtualize any stereo recording, with the ability to use head-tracking so you feel like you're pinned in a 3D space. It's not our favorite way to listen to most content, and we generally prefer stereo sound, but it's there if you're so inclined. We also wish battery life matched a bit better with the competition, but at 24 hours with ANC, it's still plenty for almost any use case.
With a price point that outspends even our favorite Sony pair, the QuietComfort are a high-end investment that won't be for everyone. But when it comes to uncompromised silence, Bose's top model is king.
Check out our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones.
Apple's space-age metal headphones made a big splash when they hit the market in 2020, and they're still making waves as the best over-ear headphones for those who want the fully switched-in Apple experience. Thanks to Apple's H1 chip, the Max work brilliantly with Apple gear. You can connect, share audio, and swap between iCloud devices with ease, while Always-on Siri lets you quickly chat with Apple's agreeable digital assistant hands-free.
Apple says the AirPods Max's computational power is key to their impressive noise cancelling and transparency mode that's among the most natural on the market. Their Adaptive EQ adjusts the sound to your exact fit, with crystal clarity across registers and a big, open soundstage that gives just the right space to instruments and effects in movies and TV shows. The Max also support Apple's Spatial Audio, which is among the best version we've tried when paired with Dolby Atmos mixes from compatible sources like Netflix and Disney Plus.
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
Their metal chassis is impressively well made, with a simple control system via a digital crown for precise volume adjustment. The headphones look and feel premium thanks to robust base materials like aluminum and steel, and they're available in multiple colors. They're also comfortable, though quite heavy, which can wear on your head over time, even with their forgiving canopy headband.
Apart from their heft, the AirPods Max's unique design has some limitations. They don't include a case, per se, instead using a sort of wrap that gives little protection for travel. We recommend visiting our guide to the best AirPods Max accessories for better storage options. The headphones can't ever really turn off either, staying in standby mode when in their wrap or laid down, which slow-drains the battery over time. That's particularly notable since their 20-hour battery life is among the worst in class. And though their premium build helps justify their high cost, they're only optimized for those deep in the Apple ecosystem, which makes them less versatile than competitors.
There are plenty of more affordable alternatives on our list, not to mention compact earbuds like Apple's own AirPods Pro that offer similar features for a lot less money. That said, the Max are a good choice for those after premium over-ears that play nicely with all things Apple.
Check out our AirPods Max review.
Check out our guide to the best Apple AirPods.
The term audiophile gets thrown around a lot in the headphones world, but the HD 6XX live up to the lofty moniker at a price that is unheard of in the segment. Pound for pound (or should we say ounce for ounce?) these open-back headphones, developed as an offshoot of Sennheiser's classic HD-650, offer some of the best sound quality on the market.
Performance is king for the HD 6XX. If you're new to the audiophile set, you're likely to be blown away by what you hear — and what you've never heard before. You'll find a warm and full midrange, ultra-clear treble, and spacey depth in the soundstage, letting instruments interweave and expand. You won't just hear the tone and timbre of a guitar, but the texture of the wood, the brassy sparkle of the strings, and the long sustain of each note. Vocals come alive, exposing every breath and even every micro movement between the singer and the microphone.
It's an aural feast for the senses that brings you closer to your favorite music than anything we've heard at this price point and even well above. The HD 6XX's one sonic drawback, if you can call it that, is that the bass is more resigned for a flatter, less accentuated punch. Those used to the heavier bass signatures of most wireless headphones may find it lacking, but it's enough to hold down the foundation and let the rest of the music flourish.
When it comes to wires, these are plug-in only, connecting with a six-foot cable. They'll work with everything from a PC to a phone (with an adapter), but they sound best if you drive them with a dedicated headphone amp. Perhaps most important to note is that, while their plush earcups make them comfortable for hours, their open-back design means that nothing you listen to is for you alone. Your music will spill out into the world and vice versa.
The HD 6XX don't come with a hard case, but then again, their exposed exterior means you'll likely want to listen mostly at home anyway. You won't get nearly the same versatility here as what's offered by our top pick or most wireless headphones. But if sound quality and comfort are your primary objectives, you simply won't find a better pair at this price.
Nothing makes you feel like part of the glitterati like a pair of headphones that actually glitter. Master & Dynamic's expensive MW75 offer audio performance befitting of their price point and some solid features as well. But what really makes them special is their premium design that's equal parts stunning style and luxurious fit.
With earcups etched from sparkling aluminum and tempered glass, the headphones feel cool and sleek to the touch. Their simplified control system uses tactile aluminum keys along the right and left earcups for volume and playback commands. The cushy headband and earpads are cloaked in gorgeous lambskin, which looks especially lovely in cognac brown. They feel as soft as a law firm's couch, and though they get a little warm after a few hours, it's frankly hard to find much fault with anything that looks this cool. The earcups are also removable and replaceable.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
There's substance beneath that glam exterior, too. The headphones sound excellent, with the kind of pristine clarity and taut punch we've come to expect from Master & Dynamic, elevated to its finest form. The instrumental separation and soundstage are clean and spacious, respectively, and bass booms big from the 40mm beryllium drivers.
Within the M&D Control app, you'll find a minimalist layout of features, including auto-pause sensors and timers, EQ presets (but no multi-band control), and adjustable ANC and transparency modes. The noise cancelling on offer isn't as good as the Sony and Bose options on this list, and you'll hear some soft white noise when it's activated, but it does the trick. Accessories include a sleek and durable hard case loaded with multiple adapters and USB-C cables for charging and audio playback.
These aren't ultimate, do-everything cans, and they'll cost you a pretty penny. But if you're after a plush pair that looks and feels as good as it sounds, these are the wireless over-ear headphones to grab.
Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider
To select the best over-ear headphones, we tested dozens of models in and outside the office to find our top six picks. We use reproducible methods whenever possible, including a specified list of well-known testing materials across musical genres, video samples, and podcasts. We also use test videos like airplane drone sounds and voice chatter with professional monitors in a treated room to evaluate features like noise cancelling in simulated real-world scenarios.
Whenever possible, we also take headphones out into the real world. For this guide, that process included a cross-country flight testing multiple pairs, as well as taking the headphones outdoors in windy environments to decipher features like call quality and transparency mode. We evaluate headphones over several days to measure battery life claims, as well as use features like multipoint pairing to determine their effectiveness and ease of use.
Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider
Many over-ear headphones sold today are wireless, which means you should look out for features like long battery life (at least 20 hours or more for modern pairs), noise cancelling and transparency modes to block or let in the world around you, and multipoint pairing to easily swap between multiple playback devices. The best over-ear headphones with wireless support should include an app to control settings, most notably an EQ (or equalizer) to adjust the sound. You'll also want to check the Bluetooth version used. We recommend 5.0 or higher to ensure a seamless wireless connection.
The above features aren't applicable if you're shopping for a wired pair of over-ear headphones, but whether you go wireless or wired, comfort is king. You'll want to ensure your pair isn't overly heavy and offers ample padding along the earcups and headband. Other important factors include the ability to fold for travel and accessories like a hard case, making it easier to take your headphones on the go. For audiophile options, you may need to decide between open-back models, which generally offer a more airy soundstage but let in environmental noise, or closed-back models, which sound more static but are more versatile.
Most of all, your guiding force should be sound quality. Your headphones can have all the features in the world, but if they don't sound good, you won't want to use them. For help there, you can look at critical reviews, user reviews, and guides like this. You can generally trust top brands like Sony, Sennheiser, Bose, and Apple or, on the budget side, Soundcore. Sound is subjective, so whenever possible, we recommend trying a pair of headphones for yourself before you buy.
Ryan Waniata/Business Insider
Determining what type of headphones are best is ultimately subjective and comes down to what you need and how you use them. But in general, most audio professionals agree that over-ear headphones, which fit around your ears rather than wedging into your ear canals, offer the best overall audio performance. This is partly due to basic physics; their larger drivers and acoustic chambers are ostensibly able to reproduce sound frequencies more faithfully than smaller on-ear headphones or earbuds. The best over-ear headphones may also have an advantage in fit and comfort since their larger earcups can offer more padding and will adapt to a larger group of users.
That said, thanks to new technology advancements, there are in-ear headphones that can outperform some of their over-ear counterparts. Moreover, in-ear headphones are more compact and much easier to bring along, which makes them arguably more convenient as your sonic daily driver. Check out our guide to the best wireless earbuds for some of our top in-ear headphone picks.
On-ear headphones, which are harder to find nowadays, are the odd man out. They can't create a seal as tight as over-ear or in-ear headphones, which puts them at a disadvantage in performance and comfort. But for some users, on-ear headphones could be preferable since their fit is less dependent on ear or head shape.
Active noise cancelling (ANC) utilizes onboard microphones and processing to capture the sound around you and reverse the frequencies, helping to block exterior sounds from reaching your ears. Noise-cancelling headphones can't suppress all sounds, often struggling with high-frequency noises like sirens, dog barks, and loud voices, especially when attempting to block other noises like plane engines simultaneously. But top noise-cancelling headphones from brands like Bose and Sony do a good job of minimizing ambient sounds.
Transparency mode is essentially the opposite of noise cancelling, using the same microphones meant to block sounds around you to accentuate those sounds instead. This is done to help keep you aware of your surroundings and/or communicate while wearing over-ear headphones and earbuds. The best over-ear headphones can provide a natural-sounding transparency mode, while some even add features like compression or limiting to keep sudden loud sounds from blasting your ear drums.
Multipoint connection enables Bluetooth headphones to pair with two or more devices simultaneously, letting you quickly switch between them. This is most useful when multitasking, letting you transition from listening to music on your phone to hearing a video call on your laptop without the need to disconnect/reconnect devices.
Open-back headphones are, as the name implies, headphones with open or vented earcups. This open design is most common on audiophile headphones to create a more airy sound unconstrained by traditional headphones' confined acoustics. While this can improve sound quality for performance that's more like speakers, it means whatever you're listening to may be audible to those around you, and vice versa.
Mark Knapp/Insider
Pros: Serious audio chops on a budget, massive soundstage, elegant design, easy to drive
Cons: Bulky, loose fit, not wireless
From the zebrawood on the ear cups to the see-through grille, the Monolith M570 headphones look like they'd cost a lot more than the $200 street price we typically see. That may still sound a little expensive, but that's until you get to the sound quality.
The Monolith M570 are swinging for the fences at this price point, and Monoprice has knocked it out of the park. The combination of an open-back design with large planar magnetic drivers lets the Monolith M570 deliver a truly massive soundstage. They sound even more spacious than what we experienced from our top high-end pick, the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro.
That said, they're not as precise as the DT 1990 Pros, particularly in the high end, but they come close enough that audiophiles on a budget shouldn't worry much about missing out. And, with resistance at just 32 ohms, you won't have to worry about getting an expensive amp to drive them.
Though the Monolith M570 headphones feel fairly solid and comfortable, they could have been better polished in this regard. The clamping force is too meek for headbanging. And, the headset is heavy at 420g, though the headband does help keep that weight from creating a singular pressure.
Mark Knapp/Insider
Pros: Premium features on a budget, well-balanced sound, portable design, great ear cushions, carrying case included, USB-C, wireless
Cons: Modest ANC, uninspired looks
The Monoprice BT600ANC cement their spot on our list with a wealth of features for a budget-friendly price. Though they can't match the incredible open-back audio performance that the Monolith M570 offer, the BT600ANC actually include extra perks, like wireless support and noise cancellation, for less money.
The headphones offer well-balanced sound with bass that delivers nice lift. You also get Bluetooth 5.0 along with aptX HD and AAC for higher-quality wireless audio. And, sure enough, we haven't noticed serious compression issues listening to tunes over Bluetooth.
Monoprice's ANC isn't stellar, but it does cut down on droning noises a little. That said if noise cancellation is a priority, you'll want to pay more for a model like Sony's WH-1000XM4.
The BT600ANC are just as portable as the more expensive Sony headphones, however, and they're even a little bit more comfortable thanks to thicker ear cushions.
Mark Knapp/Insider
Pros: Excellent noise cancellation, portable design, solid audio over Bluetooth or wired connection, long battery life, handy features
Cons: Plastic design, tighter fit around ears
Sony has long held the crown in the wireless noise-cancelling headphone market, and it manages another win with the WH-1000XM4. The headphones pack a ton of functionality into a portable design that also manages to come at the right price point.
Sony's headphones are like a Swiss Army Knife. They offer Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity with support for the LDAC and AAC codecs to deliver improved audio quality, but they can also connect over a standard 3.5mm cable.
Their audio skews a little in favor of bass, which is rich and thumpy, but mids and treble aren't buried in the mix. And, the ANC dramatically cuts down background noise without creating that sense of pressure that sometimes comes with noise cancellation.
During our testing, the Apple AirPods Max did pull ahead in overall ANC strength, and the Bose 700s muted low humming better. That said, the WH-1000XM4s strike the best balance between impressive ANC performance, sound quality, portability, and affordability. They're an especially great deal right now during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season.
Mark Knapp/Insider
Pros: Exceptional audio, large soundstage, comfortable design
Cons: Pricey, only for wired use, demanding drivers
Pristine audio is on the menu with the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro headphones. These cans will usually set you back about $600, but you'll have an audio experience that lasts through the years.
Beyerdynamic's 45mm Tesla drivers pump out incredibly precise sound that packs a punch in the mids and is delectably bright and clear at the high end. In fact, it's so precise that it's almost uncomfortable to listen to low-quality files at high volumes, as cymbal and tambourine hits come through more like grating static. With that in mind, you'll definitely want to stick to lossless music files and HiFi streaming services with these headphones.
Bass on the DT 1990 Pro is thumpy but doesn't feel cramped even at high volumes thanks to the open-back design. This design really gives music room to breath, creating a spacious soundstage where each instrument in a multi-part composition can stand out on its own.
However, because the DT 1990 Pro have a high impedance (250 ohm), you might not get the best experience without a reasonably powerful amp. The open-back design also lets outside sound in, so you'll want a quiet environment to have the best listening experience. That said, even plugged into a laptop or phone, we found the listening experience more than satisfactory and loud enough to drown out a nearby box fan.
The headphones have a refined and understated design that feels comfortable for hours of listening and robust enough to hold up for many years. Beyerdynamic also includes a high-quality carrying case, two sets of velour ear pads, a coiled cable, and a straight cable.
Mark Knapp/Insider
Pros: Wireless Hi-Fi sound, extensive codec support, DAC and amp built-in, USB-C audio support, comfortable headband
Cons: Seriously expensive, disappointing battery, huge design
If you're no stranger to extravagance, then the Hifiman Ananda BT may be for you. Hifiman has jammed some seriously high-end hardware into these wireless headphones. They feature powerful planar magnetic drivers, and you don't have to worry about having a separate amp or DAC to drive them, as those are both built into the headset.
They also offer Bluetooth connectivity with support for 24-bit/96kHz resolution and LDAC, HWA, aptX, and aptX HD codecs. You'll just want to remember to recharge regularly, as the headphones only have a 10-hour battery life and take 2.7 hours to recharge. You can listen to them over a USB connection in a pinch, however, and even get higher resolution 24-bit/192kHz playback. On the downside, 3.5mm and 1/4-inch connections aren't options because of the built-in DAC and balanced amp.
That high-res audio support will come in handy, too, because the Ananda BT headphones can best be described as strapping a high-end stereo system to your head. The cans are seriously huge, but the suspended headbands and generous ear cushions keep the experience comfortable.
These headphones kick at the low end, leave nothing lacking in the mids, and let the treble shine bright — and all of that plays out on a large soundstage. They leak a bit of sound, however, so these aren't headphones you'll want to take on public transit.
Mark Knapp/Insider
When evaluating headphones, we put each model through a series of tests to determine how they stack up. To get a sense of the audio capabilities, we listen to a ton of media from a variety of sources, including lossless audio files, streaming music services, movies, and TV. That covers a range of styles from easy listening to loud and frenetic.
We listen with the headphones at length to make sure they're comfortable enough for music and movie marathons. We also test them in multiple environments, as a pair of headphones that sounds great in a quiet living room might not be as impressive with the sound of traffic in the background.
Given the popularity of active noise cancellation (ANC) technologies, we also put this feature through some tough testing for every pair of headphones that include it. We listen to how well ANC eliminates loud external noises (including a box fan running at full blast two feet away as well as a vacuum cleaner) on its own and then also check how audio playback sounds when paired with ANC.
We then factor in other important details like build quality, materials, battery life, and price to determine which headsets stand out from the crowd.
Sony
How much you should spend on over-ear headphones really depends on what you're looking to get out of them. If you're someone who just wants a decent pair of budget-friendly headphones, you can find solid over-ear options for $50 to $100. Some in that price range, like the Monoprice BT600ANC, even include wireless support and active noise cancellation (ANC).
If you want something that delivers more robust sound quality or you're looking for a wireless pair with really good noise cancellation, you should spend $200 to $400. A good example of headphones in this range are the Sony WH-1000XM4, which have Bluetooth and impressive ANC.
Buyers who want a truly high-end pair of over-ear headphones should look to spend at least $500. Keep in mind, however, that many audiophile headphones are geared toward people who just want premium sound, and not extra features. The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro are a good example. This wired pair usually costs around $600, and it earns its price tag purely based on its advanced drivers and audio quality.
Over-ear headphones are designed with earcups that rest over your ears, creating a seal around them. This makes over-ear headphones larger than earbuds, but their size allows them to deliver impressive sound quality.
Earbuds, on the other hand, are much more compact. They use tiny left and right buds that can be designed to either rest just outside your ear canal or be inserted inside. This makes earbuds ideal for portable use, but they rarely sound as good as high-end over-ear models.
In general, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the best times of year to buy tech products, including over-ear headphones. If you want to snag a pair with a big discount, you should wait until these deal events.
Amazon
