Best Over-Ear Headphones According to Audio Engineers and Sound Experts

If comfort is a priority for your next pair of over-ear headphones, Schumer recommends the Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X Closed-Back Studio Headphones. Their muffs are made with memory foam wrapped in velour that’ll feel soft against your ears while listening to music, podcasts, or any other sounds via its STELLAR.45 driver. Even though these headphones are made with a spring steel headband that’ll keep them on your head throughout your entire session, they are lightweight at 12.3 ounces (minus the weight of their wire) and are compatible with a plethora of devices.

When it comes to the best over-ear headphones for Apple Users, Schumer recommends the Apple AirPods Max (which also made our lists for the best wireless headphones and the best noise canceling headphones). Unlike some other over-ear headphones, these contain a knit mesh canopy which promotes breathability and minimizes the amount of pressure on your head. These headphones are also easy to adjust thanks to their digital crown which can be pressed and turned to do everything from pausing calls to skipping tracks to adjusting the volume. And with Personalized Spatial Audio and Active Noise Canceling enabled, these headphones offer up to 20 hours of listening.

The Bose Headphones 700 are a great option if you’re looking for a pair that you can easily take with you to the office. These headphones are made with protein leather cushions that can be controlled with touch or voice and have 11 noise-canceling levels which can be selected depending on your preference. Although these are wireless headphones by design, they do have the ability to transform into wired headphones. And they come with a carrying case for when they’re not in use. For a more in-depth look, check out our Bose 700 headphones review.

If you’re looking to purchase over-ear headphones, but don’t want to break the bank, the Soundcore Space One Noise Canceling Bluetooth Headphones may be just what you seek. For just under $100, these headphones have a longer battery life of up to 40 hours (with active noise canceling) and up to 55 hours (with active noise canceling turned off).

As far as battery life goes, The SonoFlow Active Noise Canceling Headphones are some of the best. Offering up to 70 hours of battery life, these headphones are especially suitable if you are planning on traveling or know you won’t have access to an outlet for a while. Made with a 40mm driver, you’ll enjoy high-quality audio with each use. And, they’re noise-canceling, so you don’t have to hear the outside world if you don’t want to. In addition to their impressive battery life, their 12 EQ presets also make these headphones stand out and help to create more efficient and pleasant listening experiences.

These Bluetooth headphones from Puro Sound Labs are a solid option if you're shopping for over-ear headphones for kids. They have a volume capacity of 85 decibels so you won’t have to worry about them keeping their sound on a dangerously high level. Although these headphones aren’t completely noise canceling, they are noise isolating. If your child would rather wear these headphones on the ear instead of over the ear, the ear cups can be easily removed. Make sure to note that these over-ear headphones are not water-resistant, so we wouldn’t recommend bringing them to the beach, a pool, or an area where you know your children may come into contact with water.

Individuals shopping for over-ear headphones that will cancel out any outside noise should strongly consider the WH-1000XM5 headphones from Sony. They contain a noise-canceling optimizer that will alter themselves to cancel out any external noise based on where you are. They are also extremely lightweight at 0.55 pounds and are water-resistant with an IPX4 rating which means they can withstand some light water splashes if you happen to get some water on them when brushing your teeth or cooking.

These are great headphones if you’re looking for a wired pair that’s particularly durable. These headphones are made with stainless steel, gold, neodymium, and copper. Although these closed-ear headphones are hard to the touch, they can fold over making them easily portable. And they come with a soft case you can put them in while in transit.

These over-ear headphones from JBL deliver on durability and sound quality. Made with 40mm drivers, these headphones can provide sound for up to 50 hours which is long enough to last multiple training sessions. These headphones are also equipped with four microphones if you need to take a call mid-workout and don’t want to pick up your phone. Since they have an active noise-canceling feature, these headphones will keep you in the zone while you’re making your way through your movements. Make sure to note that these headphones have a longer charge time of two hours which is longer than some of our other picks.

Whether you plan on working out or editing a video, the Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Canceling Over-Ear Headphones will be a great tool to keep you focused and hearing every song or noise played with precision for up to 22 hours. These headphones are available in six colors (blue, shadow gray, defiant black-red, red, midnight black, and matte black) and contain a built-in microphone. They tend to maintain their connection longer than some other headphones, too.