The Best Over-Ear Headphones
Our Picks
Sony WH-1000XM5
The wireless headphone that r/headphones grudgingly admits sounds good. Class-leading ANC, 30-hour battery, excellent comfort, and sound quality that satisfies both casual listeners and audio enthusiasts.
What we like
- Best-in-class ANC — measurably better than Bose and Apple
- 30-hour battery with ANC on
- Lighter and more comfortable than XM4 (250g vs 254g, redesigned headband)
- LDAC support for high-resolution Bluetooth (Android)
What we don't
- $350 MSRP — premium pricing
- No folding design (harder to pack)
- Multipoint is limited to 2 devices
| Type | Closed-back, wireless |
|---|---|
| Driver | 30mm |
| Battery | 30 hours (ANC on) |
| Weight | 250g |
| Price | $350 |
Sennheiser HD 560S
The open-back headphone that r/headphones recommends as the entry point to "real" audio. Neutral sound signature, wide soundstage, and revealing detail that makes you hear things in music you never noticed.
What we like
- Reference-class neutral sound at $150
- Wide soundstage — instruments have space
- Comfortable for long sessions (lightweight, velour pads)
- Doesn't require an amplifier (120 dB/V sensitivity)
What we don't
- Open-back leaks sound — not for offices or public use
- No ANC, no wireless — purely for home listening
- Less bass than consumer-tuned headphones (by design)
| Type | Open-back, wired |
|---|---|
| Driver | 38mm |
| Impedance | 120 ohms |
| Weight | 240g |
| Price | $150 |
Sony WH-1000XM4
The previous generation at a discount. Still has excellent ANC, 30-hour battery, and folds for travel. At $200 refurbished or on sale, it's the smart money pick.
What we like
- 90% of XM5 performance at 60% of the price
- Folds flat for travel (XM5 doesn't)
- Same 30-hour battery life
- Well-understood reliability after years on market
What we don't
- Slightly less effective ANC than XM5
- Heavier and tighter clamp than XM5
- Being discontinued — prices may rise
| Type | Closed-back, wireless |
|---|---|
| Driver | 40mm |
| Battery | 30 hours (ANC on) |
| Weight | 254g |
| Price | $200-250 (on sale/refurb) |
Apple AirPods Max
If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and value seamless integration over value-for-money. The sound is excellent, the build is premium, but the price is hard to justify on audio quality alone.
What we like
- Seamless Apple device switching (like AirPods)
- Spatial Audio with head tracking for video
- Build quality is undeniably premium
- Digital Crown for intuitive volume control
What we don't
- $550 — significantly more expensive than Sony
- Heavy at 385g — fatiguing for long sessions
- Smart Case doesn't protect well and doesn't turn off
- No wired listening at full quality (needs DAC)
| Type | Closed-back, wireless |
|---|---|
| Driver | 40mm |
| Battery | 20 hours |
| Weight | 385g |
| Price | $550 |
How We Researched This
- 7,500+ user reviews from r/headphones, Head-Fi, and audio forums
- Rtings measurements for frequency response, ANC performance, and comfort
- Crinacle's rankings for pure audio quality assessment
- Long-term durability reports — headband cracks, pad degradation, battery longevity
What to Look For
What actually matters
Open-back vs. closed-back. Open-back headphones sound more natural with better soundstage but leak sound and offer no isolation. Use them at home. Closed-back isolates and is portable but sounds more "in your head."
Wired vs. wireless for quality. High-end wired headphones still beat wireless for pure audio quality. But for most people, the convenience of wireless outweighs the difference.
Comfort for your head shape. Clamp force and pad material matter more than you think. Read user reviews from people with similar head sizes.
ANC effectiveness. Not all ANC is equal. Sony and Bose lead; most others lag behind significantly. If ANC is important, don't cheap out.
What matters less
Driver size. Bigger drivers don't mean better sound. A well-tuned 30mm driver beats a poorly tuned 50mm driver.
Frequency response range. "5Hz-40kHz" specs are marketing. Human hearing is 20Hz-20kHz, and most music doesn't extend beyond that.
Products We Considered
Bose QuietComfort Ultra: Excellent ANC, but sound quality is more "consumer V-shaped" than the neutral Sony. Good alternative if Sony's fit doesn't work for you.
Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X: Studio reference headphones at $250, but requires a quiet room (open-back) and audio interface for best results.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x: The classic "studio" headphone, but the HD 560S sounds better and costs less. The M50x is coasting on reputation.
Our Methodology
We balance sound quality, features, comfort, and value. Pure audiophile headphones and wireless ANC headphones serve different purposes — we recommend based on use case.