In this article, we’re going to look at the Top 7 Best Over-Ear Headphones Of 2022. We made this list based on our own opinion, research, and customer reviews. We’ve considered their quality, features, and values when narrowing down the best choices possible.
If you want more information and updated pricing on the products mentioned, be sure to check the links in each product we mentioned.
So, here are the Top 7 Best Over-Ear Headphones Of 2022.
#1. Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless
The Sony WΗ-1000XM4 Wireless are the best wireless over-ear headphones we’ve tested. These very well-built headphones have an active noise cancelling (ANC) feature with an outstanding performance. They can block out a wide range of noise, from rumbling engines to background conversations at the office.
Out of the box, they have a bass-heavy sound profile that delivers extra thump, punch, and body to mixes. This sound is well-suited to genres like EDM and hip-hop, and it can also be customized with a graphic EQ and presets in the headphones’ companion app. They have a long continuous battery life of roughly 37 hours, a comfortable fit, and support multi-device pairing, which allows you to stay connected to your phone and computer at the same time.
#2. Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless
If a very comfortable fit is important to you, you may prefer the Bose QuietComfort 45/QC45 Wireless. They have a worse noise isolation performance than the Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless, but their lightweight, well-padded design makes them even more comfortable. They also have an easier-to-use control scheme with physical buttons instead of touch-sensitive surfaces. They have a mic with significantly better recording quality, so your voice sounds much more clear and natural if you use them for phone calls. Their default sound profile is more neutral, which some may prefer, and it’s also customizable in the headphones’ companion app. Their roughly 20-hour continuous battery life is much shorter than the Sony headphones’ but should still easily last you through a full day of use without recharging.
If you want the headphones with better noise isolation or a longer continuous battery life, go for the Sony, but try the Bose instead if you’re looking for a very comfortable fit or a better-performing mic.
#3. Sennheiser HD 800 S
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are the best headphones for audiophiles that we’ve tested. Thanks to their open-back design, they can create a wide, natural, and spacious passive soundstage to help immerse you in your audio. Although they seem a bit bulky, they also have a very comfortable fit, so you shouldn’t feel fatigued when using them for long periods.
These headphones have a very neutral sound profile and can reproduce vocals and lead instruments accurately. They have excellent frequency response consistency, meaning once you achieve a good fit, you shouldn’t experience deviations in bass or treble delivery. They come with several additional accessories like a USB memory drive and a 1/4″ to 1/8″ adapter so that you can connect them to a mixer or amp.
#4. HiFiMan Arya
If you’re an audiophile looking for planar magnetic headphones, you may prefer the HiFiMan Arya. These over-ear headphones don’t feel as well-built as the Sennheiser HD 800 S, but their planar magnetic transducer offers some advantages over dynamic transducer headphones. Although it’s still underemphasized, their low-bass response is more accurate and extended. Overall, their sound profile is very neutral and well-suited for different genres. They also create an immersive and spacious-seeming passive soundstage. Unfortunately, they don’t come with an adapter to connect them to an amp or a pouch to help protect them when not in use.
If you want headphones with a more premium build quality, go for the Sennheiser, but try the HiFiMan if you’re looking for over-ear headphones with a planar magnetic transducer and a more extended bass response.
#5. Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless
The Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless are the best headphones under $100 with an over-ear design that we’ve tested. These affordable wireless headphones have an adjustable ANC system that you can set to different modes to suit different situations. With their ‘Transport’ mode, they do a fantastic job of blocking out bass-range noise like the low rumble of bus and plane engines.
Their default sound profile is v-shaped and packs a lot of extra thump and punch into audio, while instruments and lead vocals are bright and clear. If you prefer a different sound, you can customize them with a graphic EQ and presets in their companion app. They’re also well-built, have a comfortable fit, and last for more than 44 hours of continuous use on a single charge. They also support multi-device pairing, meaning you can stay connected to your phone and computer at the same time.
#6. Mixcder E9 Wireless
If you need headphones that leak less audio, look at the Mixcder E9 Wireless. They don’t block out as much noise as the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, but less sound escapes when you’re listening at high volumes, so you may prefer them to avoid bothering people in a shared space like an office. They have a similarly comfortable fit and a long continuous battery life of about 18 hours. While they don’t have a companion app or come with any sound customization features, they have a very neutral sound profile that makes them well-suited for a variety of genres. Ηowever, they aren’t as well-built and don’t isolate you as well from bass-range noise like rumbling engines.
If you want headphones with more customization options or a better noise isolation performance, go for the Anker, but consider the Mixcder if you want headphones that leak less sound.
#7. Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless
The best budget over-ear headphones are the Anker Soundcore Life Q20 Wireless. Although they’re the previous generation of the Anker Soundcore Life Q30 Wireless, they still offer a well-rounded performance at this price point. They have over 32 hours of continuous playback time, and you can use them passively with their 1/8″ TRS cable if you prefer.
These comfortable over-ears have an ANC system that does a good overall job blocking background noise. Although they have a harder time cutting down the low rumble of bus and plane engines, they can reduce mid-range sounds like office chatter well. They also have an excited, v-shaped sound profile that delivers extra thump, punch, and boom to mixes while vocals and lead instruments are bright, making them well-suited for genres like pop and rock.