A good pair of headphones can help your favorite audio experience jump up to the next level. Low-tier headphones that don’t have the ideal construction can make your music sound tinny and poorly mastered, while some earbuds don’t offer the range of motion that you’re searching for. Even worse, some headphones deliver great sound but die within a couple hours, cutting your favorite album short.
If you’re looking for the best headphones, we’re here to help. Over-ear headphones are a great choice for gaming, traveling, the gym, music, and anywhere else you would need to wear your favorite pair of headphones. Here are our choices for the best over-ear headphones available on the market today.
SteelSeries Arctis 7P Wireless
Spatial, simultaneous, and customizable
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless headphones are our choice for the best over-ear headphones overall. This Bluetooth headset can connect to several devices at once and provides exceptional comfort, immersive spatial audio, and customizable EQ.
Have you ever been stuck deciding which source of audio you want to listen to? Maybe you have your friends on a Discord call, but you don’t want to cut the volume out of the console you’re playing. If that’s the case, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless headphones are the best over-ear headphones you’ll find, especially if you’re looking forBluetooth audio equipment.
This Bluetooth headset can connect to several devices at once, so you may mix and match your audio sources. It also comes with immersive spatial audio and a customizable EQ setting so you can set the audio to whatever you most prefer. Best of all, their price isn’t as restrictive as many luxury options, so you can pick these up on most budgets.
Sennheiser HD 800 S
Luxurious performance at a high price
Sennheiser is a name that’s synonymous with luxury, and their HD 800 S headphones help drive that point forward. While the price is restrictively high, you’ll struggle to find headphones that can present a quality nearly this high in the market.
Sennheiser is a name we all associate with luxury, so let’s get one thing out of the way - yes, these headphones are exceptionally expensive. As such, we understand that this is an automatic “no” for many people. But if you can fit these headphones into your budget, you’ll experience audio crisper and clearer than you’ve ever experienced.
With an open back form, the real call to attention is the 56mm ring radiator transducers. Sennheiser claims that these are the largest drivers ever used in dynamic headphones, helping to push the audio to an unbelievably polished level. Absorber technology in the headphones helps to remove and reduce unwanted frequencies to make sure the music you’re listening to is as similar to the original source as possible.
Finally, the unique ear cup design helps to direct sound waves at an angle to provide you with a natural, spatial listening experience. Overall, these are headphones that will deliver the best possible audio experience and would be a joy for an audiophile to add to their listening collection.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro
Great for music or for gaming
If you’re looking for headphones that are as great for gaming as they are music, then the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro is the best choice. These headphones are compatible with most modern gaming systems, can combine multiple sources of crystal-clear audio, and more.
Are you stuck between finding a headset that you can use for gaming or headphones that you can use for music? If you’re stuck making this choice, SteelSeries is the brand to look into. Many of us are familiar with SteelSeries because of its peripherals in the gaming industry, where it’s most known for its headsets. But the brand’s headsets aren’t something that’s going to leave you wanting more.
These headphones are able to mix two audio connections at once, so you can combine multiple sources of audio. You can also hot-swap between your batteries to keep the audio going, leaving one to charge while you let the other one keep the music going. These headphones provide incredible audio quality and are also compatible with most modern gaming systems, making them great for console enthusiasts who want to be able to keep their music going while they’re playing their favorite games.
Skullcandy Hesh ANC Over-Ear Headphones
Ideal for music on any budget
For listeners on a budget, the Skullcandy Hesh ANC is an excellent set of headphones that won’t compromise on quality. With refined acoustics, noise cancelling, and 22 hours of battery, this is one of the best headphones you’ll find.
Yes, Skullcandy is still around! Skullcandy had its heyday with earbuds and over-ear headphones in the early 2010s, but they’ve since fallen from the zeitgeist with the rise of so many incredible companies. But Skullcandy is still alive and well, and they’re still making some of the best headphones you can find for any purpose. This pair of over-ear headphones is one of the best pairs you’ll find on the market, but we’re particularly fond of it for itsplace as a budgetpair.
With 22 hours of battery, these headphones will last you throughout an entire weekend of listening, making them perfect for lengthy days of travel or long days of doing chores. The refined acoustics and noise canceling features make this a great set of headphones for music, using Digital Hybrid Active Noise cancelation features.
The headphones will come with an AUX cable for anyone who prefers a hard-wired connection, but the headphones are also Bluetooth-compatible for anyone who prefers wireless. The pricing is excellent at full price, but if you find them on sale, the price is good enough that these may become your clear winner no matter what other headphones you find.
Audio-Technica ATH-WP900
Handcrafted Japanese quality
Audio-Technica is well known for its high-quality audio peripherals, and its headphones are no exception. The ATH-WP900 is a pair of handcrafted Japanese headphones that are sure to deliver some of the best audio you’ve ever experienced.
Audio-Technica is a brand that’s well-known for the exceptional quality they bring to their audio equipment, but most people don’t focus on the brand’s headphones. Instead, this brand is most known forspeakers and record players, where they’ve become arguably the main seller for peripherals and audio equipment. But with this set of headphones, you’ll have one of the best audio experiences you can find without reaching intense luxury prices like with thefamous Bose audio quality.
These headphones are handcrafted in Japan to assure masterful build quality goes into every pair. This has also led to an authentic wooden appearance and a trim that matches. The 53mm drivers will provide you with hard-to-beat sound, while the diamond-like carbon coating helps to contribute to your luxurious audio experience. While these headphones aren’t cheap, they aren’t as restrictively priced as some luxury choices. As a whole, this is going to be the best pair of over-ear headphones for most audiophiles who prioritize quality over price.
HIFIMAN Edition XS
Ideal ergonomic comfort
If you’re looking for studio-quality sound with ideal ergonomics, the HIFIMAN Edition XS headphones are our favorite over-ear headphones. These headphones are created to provide the best, most accurate sound possible without straining your head or ears.
For audiophiles that are looking for studio-quality sound and a comfortable pair of over-ear headphones, the HIFIMAN Edition XS headphones are going to be the clear winner. These headphones are open-back to help sound frequencies travel and provide you with anti-interference features. The headphones are “acoustically transparent,” which is to say that they reduce wave diffraction so that the user gets the best audio experience possible.
Because of this, these headphones provide an incredible range and depth of sound. These studio-quality headphones are great for mixing and mastering audio for this reason, making them a favorite of musicians and content creators who need to hear their audio unadulterated. This method of construction has also lead to lightweight and comfortable headphones with an “ergonomically accurate headband,” so if you’re the type to wear your headphones for hours on end, you’ll love how these feel on your head.
FAQ
Are Over-Ear Headphones The Best Headphones?
Generally, this comes down to a personal preference and is something you should decide for yourself. There are plenty of cons to over-ear headphones, such as that they’re generally more expensive than earbuds. Some people also don’t like the fashion of a large pair of headphones over smaller, more clandestine wireless earbuds. However, headphones have more room to construct incredible audio equipment and often have better audio fidelity than earbuds. It’s a choice you’ll need to make for yourself!
What’s The Difference Between Headphones And Headsets?
Headsets usually refer to gaming or communication headsets. Headsets almost always have a microphone and are built to not only provide good audio, but also to provide the ability to talk to others. As such, headsets will often dedicate resources to making a high-fidelity microphone. Headphones do not use microphones and as such are better for an audio experience.
Where’s The Best Place To Find Over-Hear Headphones?
Places like Walmart and Best Buy are great places to find some high-quality headphones. The official sites for your favorite brands will also be the prime spot to find your new headphones.
