Why Over-Ear Wireless Headphones Are Better Than Earbuds
Over-ear headphones protect your ears and create a physical barrier between you and outside sounds. The best models have huge soundstages and audiophile features.
Over-ear headphones tend to be heavier and bulkier than earbuds, although many fold and come with a carrying case to make it easier to carry. They can have longer battery lives, and provide superior noise cancellation.
Sound Quality
Over-ear headphones are a great choice for those who want to listen on public transport or at work. They offer superior sound quality and noise cancellation technology. For many people this is a major issue and over-ear headphones are their preferred option.
Over-ear headphones have a larger design, allowing them to have a much larger driver than earbuds. This results in greater sound reproduction and sound quality. This is especially true at lower frequencies, when over-ear headphones have a more powerful and fuller bass than earbuds.
Over-ear headphones isolate you from background noises, resulting in an immersive experience. The soundproofing capabilities of headphones can be enhanced by using active noise cancellation that emits reversed sound that blocks out external noise. Many over-ear wireless headphones which feature ANC come with multiple modes that allow you to select the level of volume you'd like.
The open-back design is yet another thing that differentiates over-ear headphones from earbuds. This means that the sound can exit the ear cups and connect with the space around it that enhances the experience. It's not something you'll find in every pair of over-ear headphones but the ones that do have it generally have a wider and more expansive soundstages to let you enjoy your music.
Master & Dynamic headphones are the latest over-ear wireless headphones to adopt this approach. They have a model MW75 that was launched in June. Leather, aluminum and tempered glasses make them look classy. The MW75 also features a range of ANC modes that can be used to adapt to different environments, and a longer battery life.
Focal's first over-ear headphones feature an open-back design and wide soundstage that complements their music-centric features. Their default sound profile is a bit rich in bass, and has plenty of thump and a punch to compliment EDM and hip-hop. The vocals and instruments are obscured by the bass, however you can adjust the sound to your preference via the companion application's graphic EQ and presets. The devices can be used in USB-C mode using a wired cable to allow high-resolution audio up to 24bit/192kHz.
Isolation
When choosing headphones the sound isolation is a major consideration. The best headphones for separating the sound are closed-back headphones with large ear cushions. These headphones block the majority of outside noise and provide a solid seal, which reduces the sound of ambient sounds such as voices or music. Some wireless over-ear headphones feature active noise cancellation, which improves isolation further by removing sound from your environment without compromising the audio quality.
If you're in search of a pair of wireless over-ear headphones that offer excellent sound insulation The Sennheiser HD 280 Pro is an excellent choice. They're lightweight and provide excellent noise isolation which makes them a great option for long listening sessions. They offer a balanced and natural sound quality, with a excellent bass and treble. They are also suitable for studio use and come with a premium microphone for calls.
The Bose Quiet Comfort 35 II is another great option. They are designed to be comfortable, with a pliable fit and soft earpads that are covered in plush fabric. These headphones also feature an earpiece that can be used as a noise cancelling microphone and are compatible with a variety of smartphones.
They're designed to be a true all-rounder with features that you won't find on lower-end headphone models. They also come with Bluetooth 5.0 to provide speedier transmission speeds and less video delay. These are also waterproof and a great choice for your next outdoor adventure.
The Sennheiser HD 25 II also offers a high level of sound reduction through passive, reducing ambient noise levels by 20 dB. This is a huge reduction, which lets you enjoy your music even in noisy surroundings.
Over-ear headphones also provide a better level of comfort than earbuds. While each user will experience this differently, many users report that earbuds cause discomfort after long listening sessions. Earbuds are also more prone to slip out of your ear, and are often covered with ear wax. Over-ear headphones on the other hand, are less likely to cause hearing damage and are closer to your eardrums.
Portability
Over-ear headphones are more comfortable for prolonged durations of time due to the fact that they feature large ear cups. The design of the over-ear can also help to keep you away from the world which makes them a great choice for commutes and long flights. The larger earcups of over-ear headphones generally allow them to deliver the best audio quality, with larger drivers and a bigger frequency range than earbuds.
Headphones are available in a variety of different sizes, styles, and price points. They can be customized to meet your budget and preferences. Cheap headphones are usually wired and connected through an ordinary 3.5mm plug, whereas premium models come with Bluetooth connectivity, a USB-DAC for high-resolution audio playback, and other features such as noise cancellation.
Even sports-specific headphones with earpads that are washable or breathable and a tighter clamping force will help keep them in place while exercising. Choose headphones that fold into a compact bag and fit in your bag or jacket.
Some wireless headphones come with built-in microphones that allow you to make calls using your tablet or phone without having to remove the headphones. This is particularly useful in noisy environments in noisy areas, where it may be difficult to hear someone at the other end of the line.
Over-ear headphones are ideal for listening to podcasts and audiobooks, since the ear cups block some of the background noise. This allows you to hear them when you are reading or at home.
In our tests, the Focal Wireless Bathys headphones ranked as the top wireless headphones over-ear. They're designed for music lovers and have an app companion to the headphones that includes a graphic EQ and presets that allow you to personalize the sound profile. They come with an aptX-Adaptive codec to stream high-res video using compatible apps, like Tidal.
Some over-ear headphones are heavy, and fitting them in a backpack or suitcase is a major challenge. The weight and size of these headphones are sacrificed for the superior audio quality and convenience that earbuds do not offer.
Battery Life
The best over-ear headphones have long battery life. They last longer because they don't have to work as hard in order to keep your ears warm. Over-ears are ideal for listening in motion whether you're traveling or just commuting.
They are also a good option for office workers and students who need to stay focused on their tasks. The Marshall Major IIIs are lightweight, comfortable to wear and boast up to 44 hours of continuous playback on one charge. They also offer Bluetooth multipoint connectivity that allows you to pair with multiple devices simultaneously, and physical buttons to control the device on board.
The Sony WH1000XM5 Wireless Headphones, which are over-ear Bluetooth headphones, are among the best-rated. They come with an charging case that can allow up to 60 hours of playback. They can also be used to make calls hands-free thanks to the built-in microphones. The headphones come with intelligent active noise cancellation technology that automatically adjusts the sound settings to your environment. It can be activated with a single button. Automatic ear detection will stop the playback when you take off them, and resumes it automatically when you put them back on.
Focal's Bathys, their first Bluetooth headphones with a long battery life, are a different alternative. These high-end headphones are designed to impress audiophiles, and feature a soundstage that can fully transport you to a music-filled landscape. They also have a rich feature set and a sophisticated noise cancelling system. They also last for 34 hours on a full charge.
Over-ears also provide better listening time than on-ears thanks to their larger earcups which can hold larger batteries. Certain budget models provide up to 95 hours of playback time beats studio three wireless headphones on a single charge (Edifier W830BT), which is more than double the amount you can get from the top headphones for on-ears.
Over-ear Bluetooth headphones will be the ideal choice for audiophiles who are looking for an affordable pair of high-quality headphones that will last for a long time. As they are located further away from the eardrums they are less likely to cause damage to your hearing. According to the British Hearing Foundation over-ear headphones can be used for longer listening sessions than in-ear earbuds.