The Best Over-Ear Headphones to Buy in 2024

We already love the budget-friendly Accentum cans that Sennheiser introduced in 2023, and the German audio experts have already gone and added to the lineup with the mid-range Accentum Plus model. They may look almost identical, but there are some key differences to note here, and we can make the argument that these are some of the best-value headphones to launch in years.

Here’s how we’d break it down for Sennheiser fans: You should go for the entry-level Accentum if you want all the basics done brilliantly. But, if you’re happy with the splurge for extra comfort, sound quality and battery life, you’re after the Momentum 4. Somewhere in between and want the best of both worlds? That’s where the Accentum Plus comes in. These deliver stunning sound, more connectivity and better ANC than the model they’re an upgrade from. We’ve tried out a bunch of headphones for this roundup and they’re easily the best you can get for a sub-£200 budget.

The “Sennheiser sound” prioritises richness, clarity and detail without sacrificing the bass thump that adds energy to your playlists. This pair builds on the Accentum slightly with a little more expansion to the soundstage, but both pairs are excellent for audio reproduction and can handle any genre of music. They’re terrific, and an easy recommendation if sound is at the top of your list of requirements.

How about noise-cancelling? It’s an upgrade on the base model and is now adaptive. It works well on the train and in the office so we’ve got no complaints. Are there any real downsides? The feel is a little plasticky and, like the Final UX3000, the earcups aren’t the largest so they might be a tight fit if you’ve got a big noggin. We find them comfy enough for long sessions, though.

Battery life is massive here too – you’ll get up to 50 hours with ANC on, just like on the Accentum. They’re also better for portability, with a smart travel case and a wired cable for passive listening. The touch control system isn’t always our favourite but it’s straightforward and reliable in use, and you get all the expected app-based extras too.

These are superb value and deliver a whole bunch of features that other brands charge well over £300 for. Right now, you’re not finding better than these for under £200.

The circular earcups of the Beoplay HX make them a distinctive option, and they’re especially stunning in the two-tone brown and grey shade that we tried for this roundup. If it’s good looks you’re after, we think these are your best bet. They’re just about the most attractive pair of over-ears on the market, delivering heaps of elegant Scandi style.

B&O offers them in four different colour approaches – Sand, Black Anthracite, Timber and Dark Maroon – and depending on which you pick, these can be subtle and sleek or bold and beautiful.

They’re comfortable to wear for hours on end and give you quality noise-cancelling in addition to the energetic and detailed sound. They’re especially great with vocals, we were particularly impressed when listening to ‘Brothers in Arms’ by Dire Straits on these.

The cans aren’t bulky too, which we consider a major plus, and they come with a much more portable and lightweight travel case when compared to the other Bang & Olufsen pair on our list.

Just like the Px7 S2 model that these new cans replace, these are the complete package for the majority of us looking for a serious pair of headphones. So, if you’re after over-ears that tick every box – including comfort, weight, style, audio quality, noise-cancelling and versatility – it’s the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e that gets our vote.

We must stress that these are similar to the older pair but the “e” stands for “evolved” and what we’re seeing here is a slight but notable improvement. To be honest, you’ll probably only notice it if you ever used the previous ones and even then it’s hard to spot. But there’s a refinement to the build quality and style, in addition to an upgrade to the sound, especially in the bass and midrange.

They still come with that fantastic included carrying case, allowing wired connections via bundled USB-C and 3.5mm cables, as well as Bluetooth multipoint for maintaining two separate connections at once. They’re terrific for comfort, and we can wear them for hours on end without tiring of them – it helps that the noise-cancelling is also top-tier without being overbearing.

The design of the Px7 S2e is clean and stripped-back. Compared to rivals, they’re actually padded and made of sophisticated materials, and we’ll always take proper tactile buttons over unreliable touch controls. For this revision, B&W has gone with a matte approach to its logo and the detailing, and this makes them feel more subtle, differentiating them from the flagship PX8. We also can’t get enough of the brand-new “Forest Green” colour.

When it comes to sound, it remains nuanced, accurate and rich, with far more width and detail than you’d expect from most wireless headphones. They make everything a pleasure to listen to, excelling with all our test tracks – whether instrumental, bass or vocal-heavy. These are fantastic with everything from Whitney Houston, Daft Punk and Fleetwood Mac right through to Hans Zimmer, Childish Gambino and Tchaikovsky. They’re so good that we struggle to tell them apart from the Bowers PX8.

The Accentum is a more wallet-friendly alternative to Sennheiser’s flagship Momentum 4, for those of us who care about brilliant audio quality but aren’t quite as fussed about high-end materials. Happy to put up with a slightly plasticky build and a “just the basics” approach? For £160, you’ll get premium and captivating sound, with a signature that emphasises balance, a bit of punch to the bass and loads of detail.

One area where it rivals its more expensive sibling is in its battery performance. Despite lacking a travel case or pouch, these cans are just as comfortable on the road as they are at home. You get an impressive 50-hour battery life and a quick 10-minute charge restores an extra five hours. They are well-padded and comfortable to wear for several hours, with powerful noise-cancelling and seamless Bluetooth multipoint for device switching.

Unlike some affordable rivals, these don’t skimp on special features in the app, including a wind-reduction mode, equaliser settings and control customisation. Overall, we reckon these are a brilliant option if sound is your top priority and you’d rather not spend the big bucks – it’s a package that prioritises just the most essential elements of your headphone experience. Within the box, you’ll find just the over-ears themselves and a single USB-C charging cable that also works for wired listening if you somehow manage to drain that battery.

We highly recommend the Bose QuietComfort Headphones if you need a reliable and comfortable set of over-ear headphones with physical control buttons instead of touch inputs.

Don’t expect to be blown away by the design – it’s virtually the same as on the QuietComfort 45, SE and 35 before that. The QuietComfort (or “QC” for short) are now among our go-to cans for the commute to work as the powerful active noise-cancelling blocks out nearly all the annoying noises from the train, and we can wear them for hours at a time thanks to the soft ear-cup covers – which cover our ears without ever feeling tight.

Once in use at the office or while working from home, they drown out typing on a mechanical keyboard, our neighbours mowing their lawn and a desk fan. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones use more microphones for an unbeatable ANC performance, but these come surprisingly close to matching the flagship.

Sure, the design of the standard QC isn't as sleek as the Ultra cans and you won’t get the “Immersive Audio” mode or the capacitive touch strip for adjusting the volume from the top-tier pair, but we tend to prefer the simplicity of buttons anyway, and these are ever so slightly lighter than the more expensive Bose set, fitting into a highly compact travel case.

The other closest over-ear competitors come from Sony, its XM4 has a few hours more battery life but a slightly chunkier design. Overall, the QC Headphones are ideal for anyone searching for a good-looking and no-fuss pair of over-ear headphones that puts comfort first.

The Mark Levinson 5909 are the debut headphones from the esteemed American high-end hi-fi brand. And, at a lofty price of £999, these wireless over-ear cans are one serious investment. But, for audiophiles after the best, they're worth it.

They're the epitome of audio excellence, and there's real science behind this. They're optimised to the "Harman curve", the gold standard developed by researchers at Harman International. This tuning is the verified preferred sound signature for most of us.

Not only do they exhibit an exquisite audio profile, but they also boast a premium design with anodised aluminium accents and sumptuous soft leather. The earcups, although slightly lacking in breathability compared to the PX8, are comfortable for all-day wearing. But for those with larger ears, we’d go with the Focal Bathys instead.

When it comes to performance, the 5909s create an intimate and enveloping soundstage, allowing for precise instrumental separation. Gorillaz's 'Feel Good Inc' and Billie Eilish's 'Bad Guy' reveal distinct layers, with bass exhibiting control and presence. Where these headphones shine is in the reproduction of vocals, which have remarkable clarity.

In the box, you get a chunky carry case containing every adapter, cable and accessory you'll need. The noise-cancelling is more than good enough for London trains, but not the headline feature, while the cans deliver 30 hours of battery with ANC on – more than enough for us.

For those after a pair that's adept at providing an immersive sonic experience at your desk or during travels, we'd highly consider the 5909s. The quality rivals that of wired audiophile models within the same price range, although the Focal Bathys offers comparable fidelity and a few hundred quid less.

The key priorities for travel headphones are a small case, low weight, long battery life and effective ANC. This Sony pair ticks all these boxes, and while the brand has released a newer flagship, that model lacks the excellent folding design of these. We’re sure Sony’s aware of just how good this 2020 release is, which is why it’s still manufacturing the ultra-portable and popular XM4s.

When we tried these out, the almost aggressive noise-cancelling completely silenced the roar of our Central Line tube carriage, bringing us peace in conditions that often exceed 90 decibels. It’s superb, but it also got the closest to giving us a bit of a “cabin pressure” feeling with the ANC on.

These used to go for well over £300 but are now consistently under £250, making them one of the best value pairs on the list too. The Bose QuietComfort QC45s are a close competitor that also boasts a small travel case and lightweight form factor.

Overall, the sound here is warm, rich and detailed, and we love how they can tell when you’re on the move or standing still, changing between transparency and noise-cancelling to suit your activity. We found this ideal when rushing into work, and it would be invaluable for anyone hurrying to their gate at the airport. The only real downside is that these achieve a lighter weight by having a more plasticky feel than others in this list.

Most over-ear headphones under £100 make some compromises that would give us some pause before recommending them. But for £90, this new 1More model gets far more right than wrong. They’ve got a monstrous 50-hour battery life that makes it a struggle to get them to run dry (1More says they’ll go for as long as 70 hours with ANC off), rich hi-res audio quality, and comfort to rival much more expensive models.

The build is just a little more plastic than some of the super-premium competition that’s featured within this roundup, but we think they look sleeker than a lot of the cheap cans on the market, and they’re pretty lightweight.

Overall, it’s the specs that make these a worthwhile option though. The active noise-cancelling is great, bringing silence to the office and the commute, and we like that a quick five-minute charge will restore five hours of listening time. This makes them ideal for anyone rushing out of the door in the morning.

The travel case is compact and small, with a handy folding design, and all the relevant cables are housed within the case too. For hybrid workers, these have multipoint to stay connected to your phone and laptop at the same time, and five microphones to pick up your voice and suppress ambient noise while on Zoom calls.

The Bowers & Wilkins PX8 deliver at the pinnacle of wireless performance and come with a high £599 price tag to match the luxe listening experience.

The British brand has precision-engineered these for astounding audio. The design prioritises high-end materials (Nappa leather all over, cast aluminium arms, and custom “Carbon Cone” drive units) and the reduction of vibration. The result is a delight that gives you a stunning and delicate sound, impeccable comfort and understated style.

We adore listening to everything and anything on these cans. They have an enveloping soundstage that lends superb detail to all music while delivering a serious punch. Adele’s ‘Hello’ acts as an ideal demonstration of the nuance they offer with vocals, and they capture the energy and clarity of ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes with aplomb.

The leather is more comfortable than the Mark Levinson model during longer listening sessions, and they feel much more premium than the Focal Bathys. With all three side-by-side, it's clear the PX8 uses the most high-end materials.

Beyond sound, everything we love about the Px7 S2 applies here too. They’ve got the same lovely carrying case and cables (albeit with leather detailing – a nice touch), the same 30-hour battery life, the same compatibility with the polished B&W app and the same decent noise-cancelling. The sheer quality of the Px8 is unavoidable. They’re indulgent and absolutely worth it.

Just want outrageously impressive noise-cancelling and not so fussed about a futuristic design? You’re in luck. Bose went back to basics with its flagship Ultra Headphones, focusing on getting exceptional class-leading ANC into a portable, lightweight, well-built and comfortable package. Nothing else out there cancels noise quite like these, although the Sony WH-1000XM5 comes close.

In our hands-on tests, the Bose headphones manage to not only silence expected interruptions like the rumble of a train but also completely wipe out the sound of our colleagues in the office, traffic on the street, other shoppers in the supermarket and the clatter and chatter in our local coffee shop. We’re talking absolute silence. At last, we can doomscroll on Instagram in peace.

Has this kind of prowess come with extra weight or a less foldable design? Nope. Bose hasn’t sacrificed portability or build quality. We’re happy to see sturdy metal arms and yokes that connect the soft leather-covered earcups, which are also comfortable to wear for hours on end. When you’re finally done, they also fold up back into a little carrying case, which also holds their cables. There’s maybe a slight downside in how many fingerprints the plastic on the earcup exterior picks up, but it’s not a big deal.

The battery life isn’t top-tier at 24 hours, but we also think it’s more than enough for normal people. One upgrade these do have is an immersive mode for spatial audio, but we haven’t found it sounds the most natural and it takes a sledgehammer to the battery, reducing it to 18 hours.

What about sound quality? We reckon it’s exactly what we’re looking for on most occasions when we put on our music. It’s rich, detailed and just a bit bassy to lend a bit of punch to our playlists. Overall, these are a terrific pair of all-rounders, but we just think it’s worth noting that all this travel-ready noise-cancelling goodness comes at a high price compared to certain key rivals. Worth it, though.

We’re fans of the Final UX3000. They're lightweight and compact, yet deliver no-nonsense quality and effective active noise cancelling. And they're a steal at around £120. What’s not to like?

These have a minimalist and discreet design and are a perfect fit for those with smaller ears. They sport the same fingerprint-resistant finish as Final's flagship ZE8000 MK2 earbuds, with a soft coating called "Shibo" texture, described as an “old Japanese word meaning a wrinkle on the surface of paper or leather” – we love it.

What about the listening experience? The UX3000 delivers a balanced and accurate sound signature without sacrificing dynamism. While the soundstage isn’t expansive, instrument separation is precise, and the vocals shine.

Sure, the UX3000 has its quirks, but they're hardly dealbreakers. If you're an EQ aficionado who thrives on tweaking settings, the absence of an accompanying app might take some adjustment. However, we find the default sound so engaging that we don't mind at all.

While other headphones offer lengthier battery life, the UX3000's 25 hours of usage – 35 hours with ANC off – are more than enough for us. Speaking of active noise cancellation, Final takes a unique approach, enabling separate control for ANC and main power. This allows you to enjoy ANC without Bluetooth, a feature Final calls "earmuff" mode – perfect for a wired setup. The performance impresses, tackling low-frequency rumbles, office chatter and wind noise with ease.

Any hi-fi enthusiast respects the name “Focal”. Since 1979, this renowned French brand has been creating gear that captivates the audio world. And in late 2022 it unveiled the Bathys, its first foray into the wireless headphone territory.

It sports a price tag that rivals the Bowers & Wilkins PX8, AirPods Max, and the luxurious Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95. And, when it comes to audio, it delivers some of the best wireless sound we've ever experienced. Its sonic performance prioritises accuracy, neutrality, and clarity, creating a wide and immersive soundstage.

While the 5909 is our top pick for audiophiles, this is exceptional at a better price. We recommend the Bathys to critical listeners on a quest to hear every minute detail, though we still prefer the B&W PX8's comfort and sound signature for our everyday listening.

There’s also the matter of style – the Bathys have a divisive look that won’t suit everyone. It’s quite unusual and stands out, especially if you leave on the setting to have the Focal logo light up when in use. Also, that pattern of closely packed holes feels destined to trigger trypophobia sufferers if you wear these on your commute.

The Bathys is impeccably crafted, robust, and comfortable – a combination tailor-made for reliable performance. While the noise cancellation performs well, we'd opt for these for their excellent audio quality.

We adore the AirPods Max for use with iOS gadgets like iPads and iPhones. If you're Apple's "ecosystem" and you’ve ever seriously considered Apple’s premium cans, we’re here to tell you they’re every bit as good as you’ve heard. They’re ultra-comfortable to wear because they have fabric earcups, rather than foam or leatherette, and they come with loads of added convenience for Apple users. The sound quality is superb, and we can’t get enough of the sleek design.

We set them to split audio with a pair of Beats Solo Pros while watching Yellowjackets on our iPad during a cross-country train journey, they have incredible "spatial audio" for cinematic movies and TV (when viewed on Apple devices, of course) and a class-leading transparency mode that makes it feel like you’re not wearing headphones at all.

The noise-cancelling is powerful and capable, and they instantly pair with all your Apple devices. Aside from some very minor charging quirks – you’ll need that Lighting cable rather than a USB-C, and they have to go back in their unusual “Smart Case” rather than having a typical off button – there’s little to dislike here.

We love wearing Sennheiser’s latest over-ear cans at home connected to our laptop just as much as we do when travelling, and that’s a testament to just how much the quality impressed us.

The sound profile is deeper and fuller than some other models we’ve tried, including the Bose QC45s, and they have no trouble handling a variety of musical genres, from rock to jazz. There’s no muddiness at loud volumes, and we love how quickly they pair once they’re powered on. It’s a seamless and smooth experience.

Aside from a power button, the Momentum 4s use touch and gesture controls. While it took a while for us to get used to the navigation (especially the pinch movement to change the ANC) it’s responsive and works well, even if we wish there was a voice to tell you which mode you’re in.

Our favourite aspect of the headphones is that you’ll be able to enjoy music for ages: they give 60 hours of ANC from a charge – perfect for longer journeys. These have comfortable earcups, but they are fairly large so this is not a set for anyone searching for a subtle pair of cans.

If only luxury will do, you’ve got to consider these gorgeous Bang & Olufsen cans. They’re the most expensive model on our list, and they deliver premium performance to match the sky-high price tag. B&O claims they’re ideal for travellers but we think they’re a top pick for listening at home.

The fairly heavy aluminium carrying case feels a little too large to bring in your backpack but is ideal for the coffee table or displaying on your shelves. Unfold the headphones from the plush interior of their case, and you’ll find that the sound is warm, detailed and precise. We found these transporting when listening to some Pink Floyd and Radiohead.

The adaptive ANC is impressive too, as is the long 38 hours of listening time that you get even with noise cancelling turned on. Overall, the design is sumptuous, with clear attention to detail and loads of aluminium detailing that pairs with the soft and comfortable memory foam and lambskin ear cushions.

If you’re after headwear that will turn heads, look no further. These are some of the most eye-catching models around, so they’re ideal if you’re happy to bring them out into the world. These scream high-end indulgence, though, so we’d be quite happy to leave them at home for our relaxing weekend listening sessions. They also come with all the cables you need and a polishing cloth in the box – an essential to keep them looking their best.

If it’s the very best materials you’re after, this Master & Dynamic model matches the likes of the Bang & Olufsen models and the AirPods Max when it comes to both price and luxury design.

We love the feel of the anodised aluminium and lambskin leather that gives these a seriously premium finish, and they’ve also got a tempered glass surface to cover the logo on each earcup.

The memory foam earcups are a little on the smaller side for us, so we would recommend other headphones on this list if you’ve got bigger ears. The travel case is also a bit bulky, so you’ll need a fair bit of room in your bag to take these with you.

When it comes to sound, they’re just as first-rate as they look, delivering a slightly more bassy profile than some of the others here. We listened to several different genres and were impressed with how they handled the layers and instrumental depths of ‘Snowcone’ by deadmau5, we could feel the reverberations and hear the subtleties of the track.

The noise-cancelling is good, but not as refined as what you’ll get from Sony, Bose or Apple, and there’s a slight background buzz that you’ll only notice on low volumes. Overall, the MW75s are a terrific package with balanced audio, a comfortable design, and high-end construction. They’re a gorgeous pair of headphones, but the high price can make them hard to justify among rivals.