Whether you’re using them to escape a noisy home or work environment, traveling, gaming, zoom calls, listening to music, or just escaping from reality for a moment, you have a choice between in-ear earbuds and over-the-ear headphones.
We’re focusing on the latter, as over-the-ear headphones are superior at delivering better sound while removing the most noise around you with great comfort. Here are 5 of the best ones expert-reviewed.
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Apple AirPods Max
The new Apple AirPods Max, launching on September 20, 2024, elevate the premium over-ear headphone experience with several key upgrades. Featuring pro-level Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode, these headphones provide an immersive listening experience while allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings. The enhanced Personalized Spatial Audio creates a theater-like sound environment, while the sleek design includes a breathable knit mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions for ultimate comfort. A significant upgrade is the switch to USB-C charging, aligning with Apple’s universal connectivity initiative. With advanced Bluetooth technology for seamless pairing with Apple devices, high-fidelity audio from custom-built drivers, and the Digital Crown for precise volume control, the AirPods Max maintain an impressive 20-hour battery life, making them a standout choice. The new Midnight color option further distinguishes this model, building on the features that made its predecessors popular.
Jabra Elite
These Jabra Elite 85h Noise-Cancelling Headphones are amazing for the price. With a cost lower than that of most competing products, these are the best budget noise-canceling headphones we tested. They’re super comfortable, you get 36 hours on a single charge, and they are compatible with Apple, Amazon, and Google assistants. The mics are great for phone calls, and the Jabra app lets you tweak the sounds to your liking. At the time of publishing, this product was available on Amazon for $240.17 and had over 1,700 global reviews with 61% giving it 5 stars.
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Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones
Apple’s focus on spatial audio sounds the best with the AirPods Max Wireless Headphones. It has high fidelity, active noise cancellation, and transparency mode that lets you hear your surroundings while leaving them on. They have an incredible feel with cool on-head detection that makes them the primo pick of the best wireless headphones. They are about the hottest headphones available right now. At the time of publishing, they were being sold on Amazon for $499.99 and had over 4,000 global reviews with 81% giving them 5 stars.
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Sony WH-1000XM5 Headsets
Upgraded with double the processors and double the microphones, the Sony WH-1000XM5 Headsets now have 8 built-in mics. They allow the headphones to monitor the ambient sound around you to instantaneously cancel noise better. 4 mics are meant for better picking up your voice on phone calls. It also has a 32-hour battery life and a soft, light fit. At the time of publishing, these were available on Amazon for $398 and had over 15,000 global reviews and 73% giving it 5 stars.
Bose Noise Canceling Headphones 700
The Bose Noise-Canceling Headphones 700 are by far the best from the company. They can last 20 hours on a single charge, are lightweight, and great for travel. You can customize the noise cancellation from 0-10, and it’s the best design I’ve seen from Bose. They sit on my head for hours without any discomfort in my ears. At the time of publishing, this product was available on Amazon for $379 and had over 35,000 global reviews with 77% giving it 5 stars.
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Bose Quiet Comfort 45
The Bose Quiet Comfort 45 is a solid runner-up to the previous Bose headphones mentioned. It folds up better for travel and gives you up to a 45-hour battery before having to recharge. They are not as high-quality as you will get with the 700; however, they are a solid pick. At the time of publishing, these were for sale on Amazon for $329 and had over 16,000 global reviews with 81% giving them 5 stars.
The Sonos Ace is a premium set of wireless over-ear headphones that offer an exceptional personal listening experience. They are designed with custom drivers tuned by leading producers, engineers, and artists to deliver high-fidelity sound. The headphones feature spatial audio that creates a three-dimensional soundstage and lossless audio streaming over Bluetooth and USB-C to deepen your connection to the music.
For those seeking immersion, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology blocks external noise, while the Aware mode allows you to remain conscious of your surroundings. The plush memory foam ear cushions and an extendable headband ensure a comfortable and custom fit.
The Sonos Ace provides up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC enabled and includes rapid charging capabilities, providing 3 hours of battery life with just a 3-minute charge. Calls are made crystal clear with enhanced voice targeting and background noise suppression.
In terms of build, the headphones are made from polycarbonate material and are not water-resistant. They come with a fabric carrying case, and the package includes a charging cable, headphone cable, user manual, and protective case. The Sonos Ace supports Bluetooth 5.4 and is compatible with both Apple and Android devices, as well as integration with select Sonos soundbars for TV audio.
At the time of publishing, the Sonos Ace headphones were for sale on Amazon for $449.
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Bonus: what are some good options for wireless Bluetooth headphones?
There are many great options out there when it comes to quality headphones that can connect wirelessly to your TV. I’ve narrowed it down to 3 that I think have some excellent features. Just be aware that not every TV may accept these headphones, so make sure you know what your TV allows before purchasing a pair.
Sennheiser headphones
These wireless over-the-head headphones have a frequency response of 17,000 to 22,000 Hz, along with bass boost and surround sound listening modes. The signal transmission will remain clear and accurate while you use them thanks to its digital wireless technology, and it even has main controls that are located right on the headphones so that you don’t have to get up and adjust anything. At the time of publishing, these headphones had over 6,800 global reviews, with 67% giving them 5 stars.
Avantree Ensemble wireless headphones
The Avantree Ensemble wireless headphones and it doesn’t even require Bluetooth pairing. It comes with a transmitter that you can plug into a power source and your TV’s audio output port. The transmitter’s optical, 3.5mm AUX, and RCA input options make it compatible with nearly every TV on the market, whether it has Bluetooth features or not. The headphones also have a battery that lasts up to 35 hours, so you won’t have to worry about charging it constantly. At the time of publishing, this product had over 12,000 global reviews, with 71% giving it 5 stars.
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MORE: BEST WIRELESS EARBUDS EXPERT REVIEWED
Besign BTH01 wireless headphones
The Besign BTH01 wireless headphones also come with a transmitter and charging port, and all you have to do is pair them with a compatible power supply source and your TV via a cable, switch them on, and take the headphones from the charging dock. It takes just a few minutes to connect them via Bluetooth, and they have a single battery life of up to 35 hours. They also have the most updated Bluetooth technology so that you can watch your content with perfect synchronization. At the time of publishing, this product had over 2,600 global reviews, with 61% giving it 5 stars.
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Have you tried any of these noise-canceling headphones yet? Let us know how they work for you.
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