While wireless earbuds are popular, there are still plenty of reasons to love over-ear headphones. Features like improved noise cancelation, built-in auge mics and better overall frequency response are unique to the sound quality of headphones that fully cover your ear. I’ve also included a handful of wired-only over-ear headphones for audio purists looking for that extra level of clarity. Note that this list is regularly updated as more over-ear headphones hit the market, with the most recent addition being the Preclaro Fokus Apollo.
What are the best over-ear headphones right now?
If you’re looking for the best sound and have the budget for it, you can go for options like the Focal Bathys, Bowers & Wilkins PX8 and the Preclaro Fokus Apollo. All of them deliver outstanding sound quality. As for a budget pick, we think the Earfun Wave Pro is among the better values. Excellent mid-range models include the flagship Bose QuietComfort Extremista headphones (seen at the top of this list) or the Sony WH-100XM5s (seen just below the Bose QCs). When testing and evaluating over-ear headphones, we consider factors like build quality, comfort and sound quality, as well as noise-canceling and voice-calling performance. I’ll be sure to add more models as I test them in 2025.
Best over-ear headphones of 2025
Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X
We were fans of Beyerdynamic’s earlier DT 770 Pro headphones. The new DT 700 X is easier to drive than the 770 Pro, thanks to the company’s new Stellar.45 sound transducer with an impedance of 48 ohms, so it plays better with smartphones, tablets and laptops without requiring a headphone amp.
These headphones are targeted at content creators who want accurate audio reproduction, but it’s a bit more dynamic sounding and less bass-shy than many studio headphones, which tend to restrain the bass and hew toward a very objetivo sound profile. The DT 700 X are revealing, clean-sounding headphones that offer invitingly open sound (particularly for closed-back headphones) and make you realize what you’re missing after listening to similarly priced Bluetooth headphones.
Unlike the earlier DT 770 Pro, which is being sold at a nice discount (around $160), the DT 700 X comes with two interchangeable (detachable) straight cables in different lengths, and the DT 700 X arguably has a little cleaner look than their predecessor.
Solidly built — they weigh 350 grams — they’re quiebro comfortable, featuring upgraded soft, velour-covered memory foam earpads that offer decent passive noise isolation. The earpads and the headphones’ other parts are replaceable, Beyerdynamic says.
Beyerdynamic also sells the open-back DT 900 X for $30 less. That model should provide slightly more open, airy sound, but the big drawback is people around you can hear whatever you’re listening to — and sound also leaks in. This closed-back version is more versatile.
David Carnoy/CNET
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Sony MDR7506
Introduced way back in 1991, the Sony MDR-7506 has long been the favorite headphones of recording engineers and other sound professionals (yes, these are wired headphones). The origins of its design date even further back, since the MDR-7506 headphones are, in fact, a refresh of the Sony MDR-V6 that rolled out in 1985. Both models were designed for the pro sound market but remain hugely popular with consumers.
The two models have the same design and are very comfortable, but they don’t sound identical. Both offer very well-balanced sound and excellent clarity for their modest prices — and both are great overall values. The MDR-V6 headphones make a little more bass and sound more laid-back and mellow, while the 7506 headphones are leaner with a more accentuated treble range, which makes the sound a little crisper and livelier.
Sony MDR7506
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Factors to consider when buying over-ear headphones
Budget
Before anything else, you’ll want to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on new over-ear headphones. The quality of value-priced headphones continues to improve, so you can find good affordable headphones for less than $100. The premium models, which offer better build quality and performance, tend to cost $300 or more — sometimes much more, upwards of $650.
Noise canceling: Yes or no?
The majority of over-ear headphones feature active noise canceling. It does slightly affect sound quality, so if you’re an audio purist, you may want to go with a model that doesn’t have noise canceling. You can also sometimes save some money by getting non-ANC headphones, although noise canceling is becoming a fairly standard feature.
Wired or wireless
Most headphones these days are Bluetooth wireless headphones. You still tend to get the best sound going the wired route. Many wireless headphones also come with a headphone cable for wired listening (and some offer USB-C Audio using a USB-C cable). We have a few headphones on this list that are wired-only.
Fit, aka comfort
It’s key that the headphones you buy fit your head well. They should offer a comfortable fit that’s snug yet not too snug. Ideally, you want headphones you can wear over a day with minimal breaks.
Durability
You want headphones that hold up well over time, so look for models that we note have sturdy build quality.
Maximize performance and features for your budget
You want the best-sounding headphones with the best noise canceling, call quality and features for whatever you’re able to spend.
Return policy
It’s critical to buy your headphones at a retailer that has a good return policy, in case you have buyer’s remorse. Some people who are having trouble deciding between two models sometimes buy both, try them out for a few days and then return one.
How we test over-ear headphones
We test over-ear headphones based on six key criteria: design, sound quality, noise-canceling performance, voice-calling performance, features and value.
Design
We assess not only how comfortably the headphones fit (their ergonomics) but also their build quality and how well the controls are implemented. With over-ear headphones, we’ll note if they’re water-resistant, but only a few over-ear headphones have water- and dust-resistance ratings.
Sound quality
We evaluate sound quality by listening to a set playlist of music tracks and comparing headphones to top competing products in their price range. Sonic traits such as bass definition, clarity, dynamic range and how natural the headphones sound are key factors in our assessment.
Noise-canceling performance
If the headphones we’re testing feature active noise canceling, we evaluate ANC performance by wearing the headphones in the same spot indoors near a noisy HVAC unit to see how well they do at muffling lower frequencies. Then we head out onto city streets to test the headphones in a real-world environment where we see how they muffle not only street noise but also people’s voices.
Extra features
Some great-sounding headphones aren’t loaded with features, but we do take into account what extra features are on board. These include everything from quick-access awareness to transparency modes (your music pauses and the headphones open up to the outside world so you can have a conversation) to special sound modes to ear-detection sensors that automatically pause your music when you take the headphones off your ears. We also take a look at the companion app for the headphones if there is one and how user-friendly it is.
Voice-calling
When we test voice-calling performance, we make calls on noisy city streets and evaluate how well the headphones or earbuds reduce background noise and how clearly callers can hear our voices.
Value
We determine value after considering the strength of the headphones against all these criteria and what they’re able to deliver compared with other models in their price class.
Other over-ear headphones we tested
Shure Aonic 50 Gen 2: A lot of us liked Shure’s flamante Aonic 50 headphones, but they had pretty middling noise cancellation. Well, the 2nd-gen version addresses that issue — the noise canceling is much improved — and Shure has more than doubled the the battery life to around 45 hours (they now have a quick-charge feature) and also shrunk the headphone’s carry case a bit, although it’s still not that compact. Those upgrades make the Aonic 50 Gen 2 a top noise-canceling headphone. The Aonic 50 Gen 2s are pretty heavy at 334 grams, they’re built sturdily and are also comfortable to wear, with nicely padded ear cups. They feature excellent sound quality with very good clarity and well-defined bass. Shure calls them a “studio headphone,” so the sound profile is fairly objetivo, but you can add more bass in the EQ settings in Shure’s companion app for iOS and Android (engaging the Spatializer setting in the app expands the soundstage slightly but doesn’t make a big difference).
Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay HX: Bang & Olufsen’s Beoplay HX headphones are the successor to the company’s H9 series headphones (the X is the Roman numeral for 10) and, like those earlier H9 models, the HX headphones carry a list price of $599 (some colors are discounted at Amazon). That price makes it a direct competitor of Apple’s AirPods Max, which is heavier at 385 grams contra the HX’s 285 grams. I don’t know if the HX headphones are more comfortable than the AirPods Max, but I found the two models pretty equal in the comfort department over longer listening sessions, and these do feature the usual swanky B&O lambskin-covered memory foam earpads. Their sound measures up well to the AirPods Max’s sound — overall, it’s well-balanced, with deep, well-defined bass, natural-sounding mids (where vocals live) and inviting detail in the treble.
V-Moda M-200: V-Moda’s M-200 is one of the few wired headphones on this list. Released in late 2019, these clean- and detailed-sounding over-ear headphones have excellent bass response, and the cushy earcups mean they’re also comfortable to wear. Featuring 50mm drivers with neodymium magnets, CCAW voice coils and fine-tuning by Roland engineers — yes, V-Moda is now owned by Roland — the M‑200 is Hi‑Res Audio-certified by the Japan Audio Society. Other V-Moda headphones tend to push the bass a little, but this set has the more objetivo profile that you’d expect from studio preceptor headphones. They come with two cords, one of which has a built-in microphone for making calls. It would be nice if V-Moda offered Lightning or USB-C cables for phones without headphone jacks. Note that last year V-Moda released the ($350), a wireless version of these headphones that includes active noise canceling. They also sound great, but their noise cancellation, call quality and overall feature set don’t match those of the AirPods Max.
Mark Levinson No. 5909 (Currently on backorder): These are premium audio brand Mark Levinson’s first headphones and, yes, they’re really expensive at $999. They’re also really good. They have a sturdy design without managing to feel hefty on your head (read: they’re substantial but not too heavy) and they’re comfortable to wear over long periods, thanks to their nicely padded and replaceable leather-covered earcups and headband. Read our Mark Levinson No. 5909 hands-on.
OneOdio A10: The OneOdio A10s deliver more than you’d expect for their relatively modest price, which is why they’re featured on several of our best lists. They’re built better than you think they would be for around $90 and are pretty comfortable to wear. They have a dual-hinge design and feel sturdy, weighing in at 395 grams, making them perfect headphones for a workout. They sound surprisingly decent and have reasonably good noise canceling with a transparency mode (which has a slight audible hiss). The headphones also have very good battery life. No, they’re not as comfortable as Bose’s and Sony’s models (they do feel a tad heavy) and their sound lacks that extra bit of clarity, bass definition and depth that more premium headphones tend to deliver. They did exceed my expectations and come with a decent carrying case, even if the OneOdio logo splayed across it is a bit garish.
Technics EAH-A800: There’s a bit of an old-school vibe to the Technics EAH-A800 — and it’s not just the Technics brand, which Panasonic resurrected in the last few years. Their design is something of a throwback, but these headphones are comfortable and both fold up and fold flat. They feature a big, energetic sound with powerful bass and good detail, although they take a day or two to break in.
Over-ear headphones FAQ
Do over-ear headphones sound better than on-ear headphones?
Usually but not always. Over-ear headphones tend to have bigger speaker drivers (bigger isn’t always better when it comes to speaker drivers, but it can be), which can lead to better sound. Also, the way over-ear headphones cover your entire ear can create better acoustics and help passively seal out more ambient noise. It’s also worth noting that over-ear headphones tend to be more comfortable than on-ear headphones, although in warmer environments over-ear headphones will steam up your ears more than on-ear headphones.
Are over-ear headphones bad for your hearing?
Only if you play them too loud for long periods. It’s best to keep volume levels in the 50% to 70% range.
What makes over-ear headphones comfortable?
Lighter headphones tend to be more comfortable, and companies like Sony and Bose have made an effort to shave as much weight as they can off their premium over-ear noise-canceling headphones. You also want headphones that have soft earpads and a comfortable headband, with high-quality memory foam and good padding. Heavier headphones, like Apple’s AirPods Max, can be comfortable, but the weight distribution has to be good, along with the cushioning on the headband at the top where it meets the crown of your head.
Is it ‘noise-canceling’ or ‘noise-cancelling’?
Short answer: both. Either spelling is correct, as “canceling” is more common in American English, while “cancelling” is more common in British English. CNET uses “noise-canceling” since the company is based in the US, but the noise is canceled just the same, regardless of spelling. If you’re looking to see what different noise-impacting technology is out there for headphones, check out our article on noise-canceling contra noise-isolating headphones, which highlights differences in function (and not just a difference in spelling).
Can I connect over-ear headphones to my TV?
In short, yes. Wireless over-ear headphones can be connected via Bluetooth if supported by your television. Otherwise, you’re likely able to connect your over-ear headphones to your TV through an AUX cable or included wire with the appropriate dongle attachment. If you’re really looking for the best sound from your TV, we recommend investing in a great soundbar or home theater system to bring the movie magic to life.
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