These Are the Best Over-Ear Headphones You Can Buy in 2024
I like to think of in-ear headphones as Crocs. You strive for comfort; everything else is secondary. If you’re here, then you’re willing to give up portability and possibly sound leakage in favor of a more comfortable fit. Over-ear headphones are the opposite of in-ear headphones , which are typically not as comfortable, much more portable, and provide much less sound leakage.
Here are my favorite in-ear headphones money can buy in 2024, whether you’re on a budget, looking for the best active noise-canceling headphones , or the best-sounding pair.
The best over-ear headphones for comfort
Comfort is where over-ear headphones excel, and there are no more comfortable over-ear headphones than the Sennheiser Momentum 4 . The earcups rotate to fit the shape of your head and provide a secure fit, making them ideal headphones for long-term wear. The battery is also exceptionally long-lasting, delivering 60 hours of continuous use, which is much longer than most competitors.
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Headphones: Sennheiser Momentum 4 (currently $299.95).
The best budget over-ear headphones.
Over-ear headphones can be quite expensive, but luckily, you don’t have to spend money on renting good headphones. The Edifier W820NB Plus offers you the best value for money in this review with a host of high-end features including ANC, surround sound, good audio, and memory foam on the ear pads. You’ll get up to 49 hours of battery life, but don’t expect a carrying case or a headphone jack (it has a USB cable that can be plugged into your computer), but for under $100, who’s going to complain?
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Edifier W820NB Plus ($79.99)
The best over-ear headphones for sound
If you’re an audiophile looking for the best sound for your media, check out the Sony WH-1000XM5 . I have been a loyal customer of the 1000X line for many years and always return to these headphones for most of my listening sessions. They also have an exceptional ANC feature and are very comfortable. If you can afford it, they will be worth your money.
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Headphones: Sony WH-1000XM5 ($299).
The best in-ear headphones in terms of battery life
There’s an argument to be made that the headphones with the best battery life should be the ones that have a certain number of measurable hours to count, but when that number is potentially impossible to measure, there’s a clear winner. The Urbanista Los Angeles headphones feature solar charging technology that can potentially give them countless hours of playtime (as long as you keep charging them from the sun). They provide up to 80 hours of use on a full charge, but the battery won’t run out while you’re tanning on them.
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Urbanista Los Angeles (currently $169).
The best over-ear noise-canceling headphones
If you’re looking to tune out the world around you with ANC, the QuietComfort Ultra currently offers the best noise-canceling technology on the market. If you can shell out the money for these headphones, you’ll be getting some of the lightest, most comfortable, and best-sounding headphones on the market. But what really sets them apart is how useful these headphones can be in noisy environments and take calls without any problem. It has features that allow you to recognize your voice in a crowded place and still be heard clearly.
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Headphones: QuietComfort Ultra ($429).
The best wired over-ear headphones
Audiophiles who have been shopping for the best headphones over the years won’t be surprised to see the Sony MDR7506 make the list of the best wired on-ear headphones. They were originally released in 1991 and have evolved over the years, but they have remained a staple of the music and audio industry over the years. If you’re looking for reliable wired headphones that provide a great listening experience, the Sony MDR7506 is for you.
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Sony MDR7506 $84.99