Best Over-Ear Wireless Headphones

Over-ear designs often offer the fullest sound available from standard consumer-grade headphones.

Their larger size allows them to completely surround your ear, passively blocking out noise and allowing you to focus on what you're listening to.

This seal, combined with the ability to include larger drivers in the bigger earcups, means that you'll also enjoy richer bass and punchier audio whether you're listening to music, playing games, or watching videos.

Over-ear wireless headphones are also great for people who have sensitive skin on their ears or find in-ear options uncomfortable. 

Many models even feature multiple earcup materials to help you find the perfect balance of seal, padding, and texture!

For most people, size and weight will be the two most noticeable issues related to over-ear wireless headphones.

They're not exactly ideal for the gym as bouncing around is likely to cause them to come loose and move around on your head. 

You also can't simply toss them in your bag or pocket when going about your day. They'll take up more space and could become damaged if you pile things on top of them. 

As such, you'll need to plan for a carrying case most likely if you plan to use them on the go.

This larger size and encapsulating design can also create heat issues. Wearing a model with a particularly tight seal can lead to sweating and discomfort -- both around the earcup and within your ear.

The larger headphone drivers typically require more power to work. So you'll find that battery life on over-ear wireless headphones can vary greatly from model to model -- especially if you really like to crank up the volume.

Finally, if you're someone who likes to hear the ambient noises of your environment while listening -- such as while running or in the office -- over-ear headphones are more likely to block out those noises.

On-ear models or an over-ear model with a listening mode would likely work better here while providing comparable audio quality and fit.

The science behind Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) is really interesting -- and the specifics are way to technical for a quick answer.

However, essentially, ANC headphones use microphones to sample the audio around you and play an opposite sound through the headphones near instantly. The result is that the noises are effectively cancelled.

This works best on low, rumbly noises and droning noises such as fans, the motor of a bus, the clack of a train, or the whir of a plane engine.

But it can also work well to help drown out the murmur of a coffee shop or the audio of a TV or music player in a nearby room with decent success.

In many cases, adding in a low level of music or white noise over the active noise canceling can help to amplify the effect by giving your brain something to focus on besides the background noise.

This will depend on the quality of the headphones you're using. Most of the top-tier options do little to influence the sound you hear while noise cancelling is active.

However, lower-priced models will likely see a noticeable drop in audio quality with ANC is enabled.

Early versions of Bluetooth saw huge differences in features and audio quality.

These days, there are fewer differences to be found. Paired with the fact that headphones are adopting newer Bluetooth versions quicker and there isn't a whole lot to worry about.

For most people, making sure that your headphones use Bluetooth 4.0 or higher will be enough to ensure optimal audio quality and provide access to the most critical features.

However, Bluetooth 5.0 can make a noticeable difference for lossless audio, audio latency, and battery life. So consider a model with this latest version if you're ultra-sensitive to audio synchronization or want the absolute latest features.

This will depend on the model you choose. However, most over-ear wireless headphones allow you to use a male-to-male 3.5mm headphone cable to connect them to your audio device.

Some models will even allow connection using microUSB or USB Type-C. However, those that do will not typically support charging and listening at the same time.

Keep in mind that some features might not be available (such as ANC) if you are using a wired connection and the battery in your headphones is dead or the power is off.

You should always refer to the manual that came with your headphones for the proper instructions.

However, in most cases, giving them a gentle wipe with a damp cloth is enough to keep them looking great and running well for years.

For stubborn dirt, using a gentle soap is probably okay. But always avoid soaking any part of your headphones and never use harsh cleansers, chemicals, or solvents!

If your earcups begin to wear, most manufacturers will allow you to order replacement earcups. There are also third-party options which might even offer an upgrade to your stock earcups!