Comparisons.us is a comparison website - we do not rank or rate products. We do come up with pros and cons based on publicly available comments and feedback. Our goal is to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions. When you call, click on or purchase something on Comparisons.us we may receive compensation. As an Amazon Associate Comparisons.us earns from qualifying purchases. Additionally, we do not list every product or service available in each respective category.

Over-Ear Headphones

Sony Noise Cancelling Headphones WH1000XM3

Sony’s industry-leading technology evolves to further immerse you in your music. The new Sony HD noise cancelling processor qn1 eliminates noise around you. Listen all day with up to 30hrs of battery.

  • Light weight and comfortable headphones
  • Great for travelling due to swivel and foldable design that allows users to carry and store with ease
  • 10 minutes of charging allows for 5 hours of playback
  • Touch right ear cup to active Alexa
  • Sony Headphones Connect App and Smart Listening allow you to control the sound using an equalizer
  • Smart Listening allows the headphones to balance the noise cancellation and also adjust the sound based on your altitude
  • Consumers have reported that these headphones are not good for use in cold weather as the controls do not work to full capacity
  • Microphone is not the best as it does not pick up and process sound clearly
Dimensions
Noise Cancellation
Playtime
Bluetooth
Warranty
Accessories
Key Features
  • Noise cancellation
  • Alexa voice assistant for access to music and information via voice
  • Quick attention mode that turns down the sound so the user can engage in conversation
  • Smart listening to adjust sound based on your activities
  • Touch controls on headphones to answer calls and change volume
  • Bluetooth pairing and NFC
  • Foldable and swivel design
  • Built in mic and hands free calling

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Wireless Bluetooth Headphones

Bose headphones made better now with Voice control! QuietComfort 35 wireless headphones II are now Alexa enabled so you can enjoy entertainment, and access information without looking at your phone.

  • Good sound quality for music playback
  • Easy to use and control with buttons directly on the earphones
  • Great for those that value lightweight and comfortable headphones as it has soft earcups and top band padding
  • Built in mic that sends out clear sound
  • Noise cancellation feature is superior
  • Consumer reports of bluetooth connectivity issues
  • Consumer reports of defective firmware updates
  • Mic picks up external noise during phone calls
Dimensions
Noise Cancellation
Playtime
Bluetooth
Warranty
Accessories
Key Features
  • Noise cancellation (3 settings)
  • Bose AR uses motion sensors to detect movement and sends information to the Bose app to provide tailored audio content
  • Alexa voice assistant for access to music and information via voice
  • Noise-rejecting dual microphone
  • Bluetooth pairing
  • Connects and updates through Bose app
  • 1 LR44 batteries
  • Built in mic

Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones

Award-winning Sound & Design you love from Beats. Premium playback with fine-tuned acoustics to maximize clarity & balance. Take calls, control music & access Siri with multifunction ear controls.

  • Easy to use and pair
  • When battery is low, 5 minutes of charging allows for 3 hours of playback
  • Great for travelling due to foldable design that allows users to carry and store with ease
  • Hold 'b" to activate Siri
  • Consumers have reported that these headphones do not fit well for all head types which can cause pain when the headphones are worn for long periods of time
  • Consumers have reported that the earcups may also fit small in addition to the overhead band
Dimensions
Noise Cancellation
Playtime
Bluetooth
Warranty
Accessories
Key Features

COWIN E7 PRO Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

COWIN E7 PRO ANC Headphones engineered for better sound & comfort. Music is more powerful & balanced, and every note sounds clearer. No matter how noisy the world is, it's just you and your music.

  • Easy to use and pair
  • Great for those who fly often and want to reduce airplane noise
  • Answer calls and control sound directly from the headphones
  • Wireless capability makes it hassle free
  • Clean sound that allows you to hear everything precisely
  • Lightweight and comfortable earcups
  • Customers have mentioned that the product has great range when being away from the device that is playing sound
  • Consumers have reported that once the battery runs out, you cannot simply plug them in and use the wire to continue listening. You must charge the device before using it again
  • Consumers have mentioned that the placement of the buttons on the headphones could be improved as it is difficult to press the intended button
  • Consumers have reported that the when using the noise cancellation feature, the sound quality decreases and a static sound becomes evident
Dimensions
Noise Cancellation
Playtime
Bluetooth
Warranty
Accessories
Key Features
  • Active noise cancelling technology that works with both wire and wireless options
  • Proprietary 45mm large-aperture drivers for bass response
  • Built-in Microphone for hands free calls
  • Upgraded soft ear pads and 90° swivelling ear-cups
  • Built-in 800mAh battery
  • Bluetooth pairing
  • Built in mic

COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Headphones

COWIN E7 Advanced active noise reduction technology quells airplane cabin noise, city traffic or a busy office and allows you to focus on what you want to hear and enjoy your music, movies and videos.

  • Easy to use and pair
  • Great for those who fly often and want to reduce airplane noise
  • Answer calls and control sound directly from the headphones
  • Wireless capability makes it hassle free
  • Clean sound that allows you to hear everything precisely
  • Comfortably sit on your head and over your ears for hours of play
  • Lightweight and comfortable earcups
  • Not the best headphones for gaming as the microphone does not process sound clearly
  • When noise cancellation feature is turned on, the bass reduces greatly
  • Consumers have reported that the noise cancellation feature pours out too much white noise
Dimensions
Noise Cancellation
Playtime
Bluetooth
Warranty
Accessories
Key Features

TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

TaoTronics Active Noise Cancelling Headphones block traffic & other noise so you are free to dive into your favorite tunes with Static-free, reliable Bluetooth connection for stable music streaming.

  • Easy to use and pair
  • Control on the headphones are simple and easy to use
  • When battery is low, a 5 minute charge will allow for 2 hours of playback
  • Great for travelling due to foldable design that allows users to carry and store with ease
  • Consumers have reported distorted sounds and white static noises when using the headphones in active noise cancellation mode
  • Consumers mention that the mic is not the best for calls as the sound is not clear
  • Consumers have reported that overall sound quality is muffled
Dimensions
Noise Cancellation
Playtime
Bluetooth
Warranty
Accessories
Key Features

Mpow 059 Bluetooth Headphones Over Ear

Mpow 059 Bluetooth Headphones tailored specifically for Hi-fidelity sound. They’re stylish, foldable & deliver crystal clear sound. Designed for wearing comfort & 25 hrs continuous wireless playback.

  • Easy to use and pair
  • When battery is low, a 10 minute charge will allow for 2 hours of playback
  • Great for travelling due to foldable design that allows users to carry and store with ease
  • Lightweight and comfortable headphones due to padding on ear cups and cross support
  • Consumers have reported distorted sounds and white static noises after using the headphones for some time
  • Headphones passively isolate noise and do not have active noise cancellation(ANC) which means that users will still hear some sound
Dimensions
Noise Cancellation
Playtime
Bluetooth
Warranty
Accessories
Key Features

Over-Ear Headphones Overview

Tune out the world, and tune into a better audio experience with over-ear headphones. While over-ear headphones are bulkier than earbuds, they offer noise isolation and are preferred by those who do not like the feeling provided by earbuds.

With so many options available on the market, finding a pair of fashionable yet affordable over-ear headphones is easy. Whether you are looking for a pair to use while travelling, at home or in the office, we’ll help you find the right pair.

Which pair of over-ear headphones is right for you? It’s important to consider various features such as noise cancellation, bluetooth connectivity, whether you prefer wired or wireless, microphone capabilities, battery life and more. With so many options, we’ve done our best to narrow down your search by comparing some of the most popular over-ear headphones. We’re confident that our comparison will help determine which headphones are best for your lifestyle.

Over-Ear Headphones - Wireless or Wired?

It’s hard to deny the convenience of wireless headphones, especially for working out or performing other physical activities. But what about when it comes to sound quality?

The truth this, most people would be hard pressed to tell the difference between wireless and wired headphones when talking strictly about sound quality. Technically speaking, it would make sense for wired headphones to sound better than Bluetooth headphones, considering the latter has limitations when it comes to the amount of information it can handle across it’s signal (up to 2,304 kbps). However, since most people are listening to digital music files that are 256 kbps (iTunes standard), the average person will not notice a difference between the two.

Where sound quality does become more of a factor to consider is when you compare different brands. Equalization (EQ) levels can vary significantly from one manufacture to the next, with some offering manual EQing and some coming pre-EQ’ed to achieve a certain sound (heavy bass for example). This decision will ultimately come down to personal taste.

In conclusion, when it comes to choosing between wired or wireless headphones, sound quality is not likely to be a key distinguishing factor. We suggest instead spending more time reading up on a particular brand’s equalization process so that you can choose a set of headphones that suits your taste or gives you the flexibility to EQ for yourself.