Why Over-Ear Headphones?
Over-ear headphones are bulkier than wireless earbuds, but offer superior sound quality. They have longer battery life and better active noise cancellation (ANC). While earbuds like Apple AirPods are convenient for commutes, over-ear headphones are ideal for travel and immersive listening experiences.
Testing Experience
I’ve tested numerous headphones over the years, including various types like wireless earbuds and workout headphones. Combining my experience with NBC Select colleague feedback, we’ve chosen the top over-ear headphones available. Here’s the list:
Top Picks
Best Overall: Sony WH-1000XM6
The Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones excel in sound quality, powerful ANC, intuitive touch controls, and battery life. They have a bass-forward sound but maintain mid and high-end clarity. With a wider headband design, they offer more comfort. Touch controls on the earcup add to their user-friendly nature. The headphones fold for easy storage.
Best Budget: Soundcore Life Q30
Affordable and feature-rich, the Soundcore Life Q30 headphones include ANC, transparency mode, a folding design, and long battery life with fast charging. They’re comfortable but have slightly flimsy control buttons. Although transparency mode is not perfect, the battery lasts up to 60 hours with ANC off.
Best for Noise Cancelling: Bose QuietComfort Ultra
The QuietComfort Ultra headphones offer strong noise-cancelling capabilities. With durable metal components and plush ear padding, they fold easily into a hard case. The headphones have physical and touch controls which can sometimes be imprecise.
Best from Apple: Apple AirPods Max 2
Rebecca Rodriguez, a former NBC Select project manager, used Apple AirPods Max extensively. They are comfortable thanks to ample padding, despite being heavier than others. They boast excellent ANC and transparency modes, and come with enhanced Apple-specific features for optimal integration with Apple devices.
Best for Travel: Bose QuietComfort
The Bose QuietComfort headphones suit frequent travelers with excellent ANC, compact design, and easy button controls. They mix ANC with transparency but cannot turn both off to conserve battery life.
Best Design: Sonos Ace
The Sonos Ace headphones offer the best on-ear controls with dedicated power and ANC buttons. They have a sliding media button for other controls, providing precise adjustments. They produce balanced, crisp sound and are incredibly comfortable with excellent ear and head padding.
Best for Bass: Sony Ult Wear
Similar in design to Sony’s flagship models but with enhanced bass, the Ult Wear headphones provide additional bass through a unique control button.
Selection Criteria
Our selections are based on comfort, ease of use, battery life, noise-cancelling capabilities, and overall user feedback.
Optimizing Over-Ear Headphones
To maximize performance, use noise cancellation modes appropriately, download companion apps for additional features, and take breaks to prevent discomfort or strain.
Expert Insights
Allen Conrad, a chiropractor, emphasizes considering headphone weight and fitting, particularly for long durations.
About NBC Select
Trust in NBC Select comes from a combination of expert opinions, extensive testing, and a commitment to unbiased recommendations.