Best Over-Ear Headphones for 2022
Looking for a set of over-ear cans? These are CNET's current top picks.
When it comes to headphones, almost everyone seems to be obsessed with true-wireless earbuds, which both offer convenience and solid audio performance. But some want the best audio experience possible, and not everyone enjoys sticking things in their ears. Over-ear headphones solve both problems in one fell swoop, offering the best in sound quality and ear freedom. Many of the latest over-ear headphones offer Bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancellation and fantastic sound quality. Most wireless over-ear headphones can also be connected with a cable, too -- the AirPods Max, however, can't.
In my most recent update, I added the following headphones to the list: the WH-1000XM5, Edifier W820NB, Edifier Stax Spirit S3 and Technics EAH-A800. I dropped the Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 3 because the Momentum Wireless 4 is scheduled to be released in the next few months. And we expect to see a few more significant over-ear headphones released this summer, too.
Here's a look at the best headphone options that go over your ears (they are also sometimes referred to as "around-the-ear" headphones). When making my picks, I considered factors such as build quality, comfort and sound quality (of course), as well as noise canceling and voice-calling performance.
Apple AirPods Max
High-end noise-canceling option
Yes, they're expensive, but the AirPods Max deliver richer, more detailed sound than lower-priced competitors from Bose and Sony. They also feature arguably the best noise cancellation on the market, along with premium build quality and Apple's virtual surround-sound spatial audio feature for video watching. While they're heavy, they manage to be surprisingly comfortable, though I did have to adjust the mesh canopy headband to sit a little more forward on my head to get a comfortable secure fit when I was out walking with them. They should fit most heads well, but there will be exceptions. These are one of the best pairs of noise canceling headphones. Read our Apple AirPods Max review.
Sony WH-1000XM5
Best new noise-canceling headphones
When you have a product that a lot of people love, change can be risky. Such is the case for Sony's WH-1000XM5, the fifth generation of the 1000X series headphones, which were first released in 2016 as the MDR-1000X Wireless and have become increasingly popular as they've improved with each generation. Over the years, Sony has made some tweaks to the design, but nothing as dramatic as what it's done with the WH-1000XM5. Other than the higher $400 price tag ($50 more than the WH-1000XM4), most of those changes are good, and Sony's made some dramatic improvements with voice-calling performance as well as even better noise canceling and more refined sound. Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 review.
Anker SoundCore Life Q30
Best noise cancellation under $100
Premium noise-canceling headphones tend to cost more than $300. But what if you're on a tight budget -- what's your best option for noise-canceling over-ear headphones?
As far as sound, comfort level and build quality, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than Anker's SoundCore Life Q30 for the money. They don't quite have the same clarity or bass definition as some of the top premium models, but they're less than a third of the price and get you about 75% of the way there in terms of sound: It's well-balanced overall with punchy bass, and there's an app that allows you to tweak the sound. The noise canceling is good for the price, though not up to the level of the Sony WH-1000XM4 or Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700. Battery life is rated at an impressive 40 hours with USB-C charging.
The only area where the Q30 headphones fall a little short is voice calls. They pick up your voice fine in quieter environments, but they just don't reduce background noise all that well.
Compared with the step-down Q20, the Q30 headphones do offer improved sound (it's not a huge difference, but it definitely is a notch up) and a more premium design.
2022-08-24 03:48:31
