True wireless earbuds are getting better and more popular by the day, but they don't pose a threat to over-ear or other types of headphones on the market. It is true that modern pairs of truly wireless earbuds are more compact and pack more features than ever, but full-sized over-ear headphones are still quite popular for some very obvious and strong reasons. Over-ear headphones are comfortable, provide more immersive sound, have superior battery life, and have more features. They also cover your entire ears, so they isolate the sound better even without ANC. Over-ear headphones are also a no-brainer for those who have sensitive ears and don't like the feeling of silicone tips sitting deep inside their ear canal.
Finding a good pair of over-ear headphones, though, is no easy feat due to the sheer number of options that are available out there. So we decided to make it a little easier for you by rounding up the best over-ear headphones in 2023. Let's dive in!
Our favorite over-ear headphones in 2023
Sony WH-1000XM5
Sony makes some of the best audio products in the world, and the WH-1000XM5 headset comes with a new, sleeker design, even better audio, improved ANC with eight microphones and two processors, and 30 hours of battery life. It's expensive, but it offers a fantastic experience.
- Excellent ANC performance
- Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, LDAC, and more
- A bit on the expensive side
- No IP rating
Sony's WH-1000XM5 headphones are currently the best in the business when it comes to active noise-canceling (ANC). Their incredibly effective ANC system blocks out most, if not all, external noise, including low rumbles of an airplane engine, office chatter, and other noises in your surroundings. The Sony WH-1000XM4 already delivered best-in-class ANC performance, and the WH-1000XM5 headphones are somehow even better at isolating noise. The new model comes equipped with eight microphones and two processors, a step up from a single processor and four-microphone array on its predecessor.
Additionally, the WH-1000XM5 headphones have a new Automatic Personal NC Optimizer, which adjusts the noise cancelation intensity based on ambient noise. The WH-1000XM5 also carries a new synthetic leather and thicker padding on the earcups, meaning they're more comfortable than the previous model and can be worn for long listening sessions without fatigue. The sound quality is excellent for casual listeners, but should you not like the out-of-the-box tuning, the Sony Connect app has many settings and effects to play around with. You also get features like Speak to Chat and Quick Attention mode, which let you easily hear your surroundings without taking off the headphones.
With LDAC codec support, the headphones are ideal for streaming high-resolution music via Apple Music and TiDAL. The new model offers improved call quality thanks to the new beam forming microphones and has 30 hours of battery life, so you won't have to charge them every night. They might be expensive, but there are so many features on hand here that you'll definitely get your money's worth.
Anker Soundcore Life Q30
Premium headphones can get quite pricey, so if you want something more reasonable, the Soundcore Life Q30 are a solid option. Despite their low price, they still have features like ANC, and last up to 60 hours on a charge. These are great over-ear headphones for the budget conscious.
- Affordable price tag
- Good battery life
- Audio leak at high volumes
- Not the most premium design or build quality
You don’t have to pay a premium price to experience good sound and effective ANC, and Anker’s Soundcore Life Q30 headphones are here to prove just that. They offer great value for money, offering fantastic ANC and superb battery life for just $80. They may not be the most premium pair and may lack the aesthetic appeal and refinement of more premium headphones on this list, but they make up for it with good sound quality and performance.
Large oval earcups with generous padding make the Anker Soundcore Life 30 comfortable to wear for long periods. You also get good old physical buttons to control ANC, media playback, and voice assistant on this unit, so you don't have to deal with finicky gestures either. The Anker Soundcore Life 30 offers three levels of ANC: Transport mode, which focuses on reducing lower frequencies such as airplane and bus engine noise; Outdoors mode, which cuts down ambient noise; and Indoors mode, which minimizes human voices and other mid-range frequency sounds. You can switch between these modes and tweak other sound settings using the Anker Soundcore app.
As for the battery life, the Anker Soundcore Life 30 outclass more expensive headsets on this list, offering up to 60 hours of playback without ANC, and up to 40 hours with ANC turned on. They miss out on high-quality codecs such as LDAC and aptX, so they're not recommended for gaming or streaming high-resolution audio. For those use cases, check out the Soundcore Life Q35, which cost more at $130 and boasts LDAC support and a better calling experience.
Apple AirPods Max
The Apple AirPods Max are the best headphones for iPhone and Mac users, offering a premium design, rich sound, Spatial Audio, and great active noise cancelation.
- Great design and build quality
- Good battery life
- Expensive price tag
- No aptX or LDAC high quality codec support
If you're an iPhone or any other Apple device user, the AirPods Max are the best over-ear headphones you can buy. They offer excellent sound quality, a comfortable fit, and easy access to Siri, which is basically all you need from a pair of Apple headphones. The AirPods Max are Apple's first over-ear headphones, and they deliver on the promise of great sound quality. They feature 40mm dynamic drivers that provide rich, detailed sound while their effective ANC can block out the rumble of an airplane engine and other unwanted noise.
The AirPods Max headphones also support Spatial Audio with head-tracking, which creates an immersive surround sound experience and gives you the feeling that sound is coming from all directions. Another noteworthy feature is Adaptive EQ, which automatically adjusts the audio frequencies based on the shape of your ear for a more personalized experience.
Featuring aluminum earcups with a satin finish and a mesh fabric build, AirPods Max are among the most luxurious wireless headphones available, and with a price to match. It's worth noting that they're also a bit on the heavier side, but they're comfortable to wear, thanks to the soft, over-ear cushions. While the AirPods Max can be paired with any smartphone and laptop, additional customization and features like Spatial Audio require iOS or macOS. That's why they're best suited for iPhone users or those with other compatible Apple devices.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
The SteelSeries Arcits Nova Pro is a premium gaming headset. It offers lag-free audio, a retractable microphone, effective ANC, multi-point connectivity, and up to 25 hours of battery life.
- Hot-swappable battery unit
- Packed with a ton of features
- Separate variants for Xbox and PlayStation consoles
- A bit on the expensive side
Whether you're a seasoned competitive player or a casual gamer, a good gaming headset can elevate your gaming experience — and even give you a competitive advantage. There are plenty of options out there when it comes to gaming headphones, but the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is our pick for the best over-ear gaming headphones right now.
These headphones come in a PlayStation or Xbox variant, though both can be used with a PC. It also uses a USB transmitter that delivers wireless audio with minimal latency while offering features like channel mixing, presets, and EQs. The headphones also support Bluetooth connection, so you can simultaneously connect them to your smartphone for taking calls or playing music.
Unlike many other gaming headphones, which rely on passive noise isolation, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro comes equipped with ANC to isolate unwanted background noise for a distraction-free gaming experience. The high-fidelity drivers produce clear and precise audio, and the retractable microphone with AI-powered noise cancelation ensures that you can communicate clearly with your teammates.
The SteelSeries Artics Nova Pro headphones offer a 360-degree spatial audio feature and are fully compatible with Tempest 3D Audio for PS5 and Microsoft Spatial Sound for Xbox. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro has a battery life of up to 25 hours, but you don't really have to worry about it as it supports hot-swappable batteries and comes with a spare unit.
Sennheiser HD 800 S
The Sennheiser HD 800 S is one of the best high-fidelity over-ear headphones on the market right now. These headphones cater well to most genres of music, so they are perfect for audiophiles who are on the lookout for a solid pair of headphones for listening to music.
- Excellent audio reproduction
- Stunning build quality
- Sensitive ambient noise
- Bulky form-factor
If you are looking to buy a premium pair of headphones for listening to music, then look no further than the Sennheiser HD 800 S over-ear headphones. You'll have to spend a lot of money to get your hands on one of these headphones, but they're definitely worth considering if you prioritize critical listening.
One of the best things about these headphones is that they look beautiful and have excellent build quality. They're also super comfortable to wear for long durations, which is also important to consider if you are shopping for a pair of audiophile-grade headphones. They do have an open-back design, meaning they're not very versatile and aren't designed for outdoors or for casual listening. You'll get the best results when they're plugged into an amp, so they go well with a proper studio monitoring setup.
As far as the audio quality is concerned, the Sennheiser HD 800 S ranks among the best in the business. They are great for neutral listening, have a well-balanced mid-range, and they also have spacious and accurate stereo image reproduction for the best listening experience. Overall, they cater well to most music genres, and they're on-par with most other high-fidelity studio monitors out there on the market right now.
The Sennheiser HD 800 S headphones are not without their flaws, but there's plenty to like about them, and they'll deliver a premium and rich experience as long as you're using them in a controlled environment.
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
The new Sennheiser Momemtnum 4 build on an already great pair of headphones, delivering great audio quality and adaptive noise cancellation, paired with stellar battery life for up to 60 hours.
- Excellent batter life
- Great sound quality
- ANC could've been better
- A bit pricey
It's hard to talk about over-ear headphones without mentioning Sennheiser. The company's fourth-gen Momentum 4 Wireless headphones not only deliver exceptional audio, but it also comes with all the bells and whistles that you'd expect from a pair of premium wireless headphones in 2023. More importantly, these headphones shine in the battery department with up to 40 hours of listening time.
While not as classy-looking as their predecessor, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless feature a comfortable fit and lightweight design, making them ideal for office and commute. Their ANC isn't as impressive as the Sony WH-1000XM5 or other premium headphones on the market, but it's good enough to dampen unwanted background noise, allowing you to enjoy your music without raising the volume to dangerous levels.
As far as the audio quality is concerned, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless headphones have a mellow sound with an extra bass kick. They also support aptX Adaptive codec, meaning they are great for gaming and high-res music streaming. Notably, you can also fine-tune the sound, ANC, and tweak other settings using the Sennheiser Smart Connect app. Finally, the Momentum 4 Wireless comes equipped with four beam forming microphones and wind noise suppression, offering a crystal clear calling experience.
But the best strength of these headphones is their insane battery life. Sennheiser advertises up to 60 hours of battery life with ANC on, which is superior to almost every wireless over-ear pair of headphones out there. With ANC turned off, you can squeeze even more battery life out of these cans.
Best over-ear headphones in 2023: Final say
There's no shortage of over-ear headphones on the market, but the Sony WH-1000XM5 is our best overall pick in this particular collection. Sure, you can go with something like the Sennheiser HD 800 S for unmatched audio quality or pick up the Momentum 4 wireless for battery life, but they don't offer a well-rounded experience as Sony's pair. The WH-1000XM5 offers a good mix of features while delivering good sound and battery life. They're not the most affordable pair of headphones on the market, but they're also not as expensive as, say, a Sennheiser HD 800 S or the HiFiMan Sundara. Not to mention, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones also offer the best-in-class ANC and support for SBC, AAC, LDAC, and more.
Sony WH-1000XM5
The Sony WH-1000XM5 is our pick for the best overall over-ear headphones you can buy in 2023. These headphones offer a lot of great features for the price, and they're also comfortable to wear.
These headphones are merely a few of the many great options on the market, but we hope these will provide you with a good starting point in your search for the best cans. While over-ear headphones may provide superior sound and ANC, they cannot match true wireless earbuds when it comes to portability and convenience. If you’re looking to go truly wireless, be sure to check out our round-up of the best true wireless earbuds.