Best Over-Ear Headphones of 2025

Mike Davis Avatar
Mike Davis
Last Updated: Jan 13, 2025

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Over-ear headphones are a popular choice for music lovers who want to immerse themselves in their favorite tunes. With their large ear cups that fully enclose the ears, these headphones provide excellent noise isolation and sound quality. They also offer a comfortable fit for extended listening sessions, thanks to their padded headbands and ear cushions. Over-ear headphones come in a variety of styles and price points, from budget-friendly options to high-end models with advanced features like noise cancellation and wireless connectivity. Whether you're a casual listener or an audiophile, there's an over-ear headphone out there that's perfect for you.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones, 60H Playtime, Hi-Res Audio, Deep Bass, Memory Foam Ear Cups, for Travel, Home Office Cover #TOP 1
Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones, 60H Playtime, Hi-Res Audio, Deep Bass, Memory Foam Ear Cups, for Travel, Home Office
ftb score rating icon 9.8
JBL Tune 770NC Headphones Cover #TOP 2
JBL Tune 770NC Headphones
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones Cover #TOP 3
Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Over-Ear Headphones

Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones, 60H Playtime, Hi-Res Audio, Deep Bass, Memory Foam Ear Cups, for Travel, Home Office

A3025
Black
medium
Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones, 60H Playtime, Hi-Res Audio, Deep Bass, Memory Foam Ear Cups, for Travel, Home Office Cover
Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Over Ear Bluetooth Headphones, 60H Playtime, Hi-Res Audio, Deep Bass, Memory Foam Ear Cups, for Travel, Home Office

The Soundcore Anker Life Q20 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are a great value for the price. They have a high quality feel and look, and the sound quality is good. The noise cancellation works well, but there is some minor white noise. The battery life is excellent, and they are comfortable to wear. However, there is some interference with other Bluetooth or Wifi devices, and the plastic parts of the headphones can make noise when moving your head.

What We Like
Comfortable ear padding
Crisp and clear sound quality
Good noise cancelling features
Excellent battery life
Lightweight and durable design
What We Don't Like
May not fit all head sizes
Limited noise cancellation in some modes

JBL Tune 770NC Headphones

JBL
JBLT770NCBLKAM
Black
JBL Tune 770NC Headphones Cover
JBL Tune 770NC - Adaptive Noise Cancelling with Smart Ambient Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, Bluetooth 5.3, Up to 70H Battery Life with Speed Charge, Lightweight, Comfortable & Foldable Design (Black)

The JBL Tune 770NC headphones offer adaptive noise cancelling, ensuring you can focus on your studies or immerse yourself in music without distractions. If you want to stay aware of your surroundings, the Ambient Aware feature lets you hear what's happening around you. Enjoy high-quality sound with Bluetooth 5.3, which allows for seamless streaming. You can also choose between different audio modes for the best experience, whether you are watching a movie or playing a game. Plus, with JBL Pure Bass sound, you’ll feel the music just as if you were at a live concert.

What We Like
Excellent sound quality
Effective noise cancellation
Customizable EQ via app
Comfortable for long use
Great battery life
What We Don't Like
Small ear cup size
Minor fit adjustment needed

Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones

MQTP3LL/A
Black
One Size
Beats Studio Pro Wireless Headphones Cover
Beats Studio Pro - Wireless Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones - Personalized Spatial Audio, USB-C Lossless Audio, Apple & Android Compatibility, Up to 40 Hours Battery Life - Black

The Beats Studio Pro headphones offer an impressive listening experience with their custom acoustic platform, ensuring rich sound whether you’re enjoying music or making calls. You can enjoy lossless audio via USB-C, along with three different sound profiles tailored to enhance your audio experience. With fully-adaptive Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) and a Transparency mode, you can choose to block out distractions or stay aware of your surroundings. The headphones also feature seamless compatibility with Apple and Android devices, making it easy for you to connect and enjoy your favorite tunes without hassle.

What We Like
Comfortable fit
Excellent sound quality
Great battery life
Effective noise cancellation
Sleek and stylish design
What We Don't Like
Wind noise issue

BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones

WH202A
Black
BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones Cover
BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones Over Ear, 65H Playtime and 6 EQ Music Modes Wireless Headphones with Microphone, HiFi Stereo Foldable Lightweight Headset, Deep Bass for Home Office Cellphone PC Ect.

BERIBES Bluetooth Headphones Over Ear are designed for audiophiles with 6 EQ modes, 65 hours of playtime, and a lightweight design for all-day comfort. The latest Bluetooth 5.1 technology provides a faster and more stable transmitter range up to 33ft, and the built-in microphone allows for hands-free calling. The package includes a foldable deep bass headphone, 3.5mm backup audio cable, USB charging cable, and user manual with a one year money back guarantee and three year warranty.

What We Like
Excellent battery life
Great sound quality
Comfortable for long wear
Easy Bluetooth connectivity
Affordable price point
What We Don't Like
Buttons can be a bit noisy
Not fully soundproof
#TOP 5

Soundcore Q20i Active Noise Cancelling Headphones

A3004
White
Medium
Soundcore Q20i Active Noise Cancelling Headphones Cover
Soundcore by Anker Q20i Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wireless Over-Ear Bluetooth, 40H Long ANC Playtime, Hi-Res Audio, Big Bass, Customize via an App, Transparency Mode (White)

The Soundcore Q20i Headphones offer an immersive listening experience with their advanced hybrid active noise cancelling technology, effectively blocking up to 90% of external sounds like engines and chatter. You will enjoy rich and detailed audio thanks to the oversized 40mm drivers and BassUp technology, perfect for music lovers. With an impressive 40-hour battery life when using noise cancelling, you can listen for days without needing a charge. Plus, the dual-connection feature allows you to pair with two devices at once, making it easy to switch between your laptop and phone without missing a beat.

What We Like
Long-lasting battery
Comfortable design
Excellent sound quality
Effective noise cancellation
User-friendly controls
What We Don't Like
A bit tight initially
Normal mode feels odd
#TOP 6

Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Headphones

884367-1100
Sandstone
Regular
Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Headphones Cover
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones with Up to 24 Hours of Battery Life, Sandstone

The Bose QuietComfort Headphones deliver an exceptional listening experience with advanced noise cancellation technology that blocks out distractions, allowing you to immerse yourself in your music. You can enjoy plush ear cushions that provide comfort during extended wear, ensuring that you can listen for hours without discomfort. With two listening modes, you can easily switch between full noise cancellation and awareness of your surroundings, giving you control over your environment. Additionally, the high-fidelity audio and adjustable EQ let you tailor the sound to your preference, enhancing the enjoyment of your favorite tracks.

What We Like
Comfortable for long hours
Excellent sound quality
Effective noise canceling
Stylish design
Long-lasting battery
What We Don't Like
Price may be high for some
#TOP 7

JBL Tune 720BT Wireless Headphones

JBL
JBLT720BTBLKAM
Black
JBL Tune 720BT
JBL Tune 720BT Wireless Headphones Cover
JBL Tune 720BT - Wireless Over-Ear Headphones with JBL Pure Bass Sound, Bluetooth 5.3, Up to 76H Battery Life and Speed Charge, Lightweight, Comfortable and Foldable Design (Black)

The JBL Tune 720BT Headphones deliver an impressive audio experience with their signature JBL Pure Bass sound, perfect for music lovers seeking deep, rich tones. You can enjoy seamless wireless streaming from your smartphone thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 technology, eliminating tangled cords for a hassle-free experience. Personalize your listening with the JBL Headphones App, allowing you to adjust the sound to fit your preferences, whether through preset EQ modes or custom settings. Additionally, the Voice Aware feature lets you manage calls effortlessly, ensuring you can hear your own voice while talking, making conversations clearer and more comfortable.

What We Like
Outstanding sound quality
Long battery life
Comfortable for extended wear
Stable Bluetooth connection
Great value for price
What We Don't Like
Minor discomfort after long use
Could be louder
#TOP 8

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Headphones

WH1000XM4/B
Black
One Size
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Headphones Cover
Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Premium Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones with Mic for Phone-Call and Alexa Voice Control, Black WH1000XM4

Sony’s intelligent industry-leading noise canceling headphones with premium sound elevate your listening experience with the ability to personalize and control everything you hear. Get up to 30 hours of battery life with quick charging capabilities, enjoy an enhanced Smart Listening feature set, and carry conversations hands-free with speak-to-chat.

What We Like
Excellent noise cancellation
Great sound quality
Comfortable for long wear
Impressive battery life
User-friendly connectivity
What We Don't Like
Plastic feel of the product
Headband comfort issues
#TOP 9

Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Headphones

094375870
Black
ATH-M20X
Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Headphones Cover
Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones, Black (AUD ATHM20X)

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Professional Studio Monitor Headphones in black are designed for studio tracking and mixing. They feature 40mm drivers with rare earth magnets and copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, and are tuned for enhanced low frequency performance. The circumaural design contours around the ears for excellent sound isolation in loud environments, and the single side cable exit is convenient for studio use. These headphones are a great choice for professional audio work.

What We Like
Excellent sound quality
Comfortable ear pads
Generously long cable
Stylish design
What We Don't Like
Not replaceable ear pads
Can cause ear sweating
#TOP 10

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

880066-1200
Lunar Blue
Regular
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones Cover
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones, Wireless Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over Ear Noise Cancelling Headphones with Mic, Up to 24 Hours of Battery Life, Lunar Blue - Limited Edition Color

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones provide an immersive listening experience with spatial audio, making your music feel more lifelike. With advanced noise cancellation modes, you can choose to isolate yourself from distractions or stay aware of your surroundings. The built-in microphone ensures crystal-clear phone calls by minimizing background noise, enhancing your conversations. Comfort is key, as the soft ear cushions and well-designed headband make these headphones easy to wear for extended periods. Enjoy the perfect blend of sound quality and comfort while you listen.

What We Like
Exceptional noise cancellation
Lightweight and comfortable
Impressive sound quality
Convenient multipoint connectivity
Good battery life
What We Don't Like
App functionality could improve
Some may find price high
Buying Guide Image

Some Factors You Should Know About Over-Ear Headphones

Today, countless people take advantage of any time to enjoy their favorite music or podcasts. Whether taking a walk, doing sports, on public transport or in the office, many users liven up these times by listening to songs or programs.

For this reason, over-ear headphones are one of the most used technological accessories today, as they allow you to enjoy the content in a private environment and without disturbing the people around you. With this headset purchase guide, we show you everything you need to know to choose the right over-ear headphones.

Over-ear or full-size headphones

Without a doubt, the over-ear headphones are the bulkiest since their earbuds completely surround the ear. Since the headset drivers are located near the ear, but without touching it, a more natural sound experience is created for the brain.

This larger size allows transducers (also known as drivers) of a larger diameter to be installed inside, so the sound quality improves considerably compared to any other headphone format.

Over-ear headphones offer the highest acoustic performance. The reason is none other than, by completely covering the auditory pavilion, it provides better sound isolation, which allows you to better enjoy the audio you are listening to.

You should choose this type of headphones if you are going to spend a lot of time with the headphones on since they are usually built with high-quality materials to make them more comfortable. But, above all, you should buy over-ear headphones if you want to get the best sound quality.

Bluetooth or wired headphones, quality versus comfort

After choosing the headphone format that is most appropriate for your use and needs, the following is to decide what type of connection you prefer to connect the headphones to your playback devices: Bluetooth or cable.

On one hand, the Bluetooth headphones provide a much more comfortable connection since you are not tied by a cable that hinders your movements and you can get up from the chair without fear of cable pulls, or without the cable hindering you while doing other things with hands.

Choosing a Bluetooth headset is perfect if what you are looking for is greater comfort of movements, so they are the ideal headphones to use with the mobile or as headphones for sports.

If you are looking for sound quality, the cable is the best choice to get it. Bluetooth connectivity compresses the audio signal that the player sends to the headphones, which means losing data in the transmission that affects its quality.

Although compression has greatly improved with the arrival of APTX HD codecs, they still cannot match the excellence provided by the cable connection that does allow you to transmit all the audio information provided by the player.

Headphones with active noise cancellation

The active noise cancellation is becoming one of the star features for headphones. This system uses microphones that capture the frequencies of external noise and emit a frequency that counteracts it, creating total silence around you.

The headphones with active noise cancellation are perfect for long trips and isolate yourself in noisy environments such as inside a plane or train. In fact, this technology was developed to reduce the auditory stress of the aviators who had to withstand the constant noise of the engines for long hours.

The use of noise-canceling headphones allows you to isolate yourself from the environment and enjoy only the sound that is played in the headphones. This, depending on the environment, can even be dangerous.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is it better to wear over-ear headphones?

Yes, wearing over-ear headphones is generally considered better than in-ear earphones. Over-ear headphones provide better passive noise isolation or active noise canceling, which helps block out external noise. This allows you to enjoy your audio at lower volumes, reducing the risk of hearing damage.

2. How long should you wear over-ear headphones a day?

It is recommended to limit your exposure to noise when using over-ear headphones. As a general rule, it is advised to use them at levels up to 60% of the maximum volume for a maximum of 60 minutes a day. The duration of headphone use should decrease as the volume increases to minimize the risk of hearing loss.

3. Is it bad to wear noise canceling headphones all day?

Wearing noise canceling headphones throughout the day is generally safe. However, some experts suggest that prolonged and constant use of noise canceling headphones may affect your ability to locate sounds accurately. It is recommended to take periodic breaks from wearing them to allow your ears and brain to readjust.

4. Why do all over-ear headphones hurt my ears?

Over-ear headphones may cause discomfort if they are too tight or worn for an extended period. The pressure exerted by the headphones can squeeze the sensitive cartilage of the ear, leading to discomfort. Additionally, wearing them too tightly or for a long time can cause chafing of the skin, resulting in itchiness, bleeding, and general discomfort.

5. What is the downside of bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction headphones have a few disadvantages. The sound reproduction of bone conduction headphones is not as good as traditional in-ear headphones because the sound is transmitted through the skin and skull. Another downside is that bone conduction headphones can be prone to sound leakage, meaning others may be able to hear what you are listening to.

6. Can other people hear bone conduction headphones?

Yes, other people can hear bone conduction headphones to some extent. Bone conduction headphones may have some sound leakage, but good-quality ones have minimal leakage. The severity of sound leakage can vary depending on the headphones, so it is essential to choose high-quality bone conduction headphones to minimize this issue.

Editor's Notes

During our over-ear headphones research, we found 24 over-ear headphones products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 1,019,765 customer reviews through our big data system to write the over-ear headphones list. We found that most customers choose over-ear headphones with an average price of $118.73.

The over-ear headphones are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of over-ear headphones, including Soundcore, JBL, Beats, BERIBES, Bose. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 41,613 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Mike Davis Avatar

Mike Davis is a professionally trained electrician with six years of working experience in the electronics industry. He has written an array of web and mobile-based articles for e-magazines and blogs. He loves trying out some novel and popular gadgets and his expertise is in the areas of electronics and computers which is built over many years of working and personal experiences.

Over-Ear Headphones Comparison Table

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Brand Soundcore JBL Beats BERIBES Soundcore Bose JBL Sony Audio-Technica Bose
Color Black Black Black Black White Sandstone Black Black Black Lunar Blue
Ear Placement Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear
Form Factor Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear Over Ear
Noise Control Active Noise Cancellation Adaptive Noise Cancellation Active Noise Cancellation Sound Isolation Hybrid Noise Cancellation Active Noise Cancellation Sound Isolation - Sound Isolation Active Noise Cancellation
Model Name Soundcore Life Q20 JBL TUNE 770NC - WH202A Q20i Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones, Bluetooth Over Ear Headphones with Up To 24 Hours of Battery Life, Sandstone JBL Tune 720BT - M20x Bose QuietComfort Ultra Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones with Spatial Audio, Over-the-Ear Headphones with Mic, Up to 24 Hours of Battery Life, Lunar Blue - Limited Edition Color
Connectivity Technology Wireless Wireless - Wireless, Wired Wireless Wireless Wireless - Wired Wireless
Wireless Communication Technology Bluetooth, RF Bluetooth - Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth - Bluetooth Bluetooth
Age Range (Description) Adult Adult - Teen and above Adult Adult Adult - Adult Adult
Material PC + ABS Plastic - Plastic or TPE with memory foam padding Breathable Fabric Leather, Plastic Plastic - Neodymium, Copper-Clad Aluminum, Plastic Leather, Plastic
Cable Feature Without Cable Without Cable - Detachable Without Cable Detachable Without Cable - Tangle Free Detachable
FTB Score
ftb score rating icon 9.8
ftb score rating icon 9.7
ftb score rating icon 9.5
ftb score rating icon 9.3
ftb score rating icon 9.2
ftb score rating icon 9.0
ftb score rating icon 8.8
ftb score rating icon 8.8
ftb score rating icon 8.8
ftb score rating icon 8.6
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