How we pick our products
Welcome to our big Over Ear Headphones Test 2023. Here we present all the Over Ear headphones we have tested. We have compiled detailed background information and added a summary of customer reviews on the web.
We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best Over Ear headphones for you.
You will also find answers to frequently asked questions in our guide. If available, we also offer interesting test videos. Furthermore, you will also find some important information on this page that you should be aware of when buying over-ear headphones.
Summary
- Unlike on-ear headphones, over-ear headphones do not rest on the ear, but completely enclose the ear. This means your ears won’t hurt even after wearing them for a long time.
- You can find inexpensive headphones for as little as 30 euros. The middle price segment is between 50 and 200 euros. You will find high-end models in the upper price range.
- When buying over-ear headphones, the most important comparison criteria are sound quality, wearing comfort, design and additional features.
The Best Over Ear Headphones: Our Choices
![DOQAUS Bluetooth Headphones Over Ear, [52 Hrs Playtime] Wireless Headphones, 3 EQ Modes, Foldable Hi-Fi Stereo Bass Headphones, Soft Memory Protein Earmuffs, Built-in Mic ＆ Wired Mode for Phone/PC/TV](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41b82sKLHLL._SL500_.jpg)
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying Over Ear headphones
What are the characteristics of over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling?
Unlike the smaller on-ears, which also belong to the shell headphones and rest on the ear, over-ears completely enclose the ear. As a result, they provide better isolation and shield outside noise more effectively.
Where are NC over-ear headphones most commonly used?
Over-ears are mainly used indoors for listening to music. They can be used in any everyday situation. Due to their eye-catching size, they are also becoming increasingly popular as a fashion accessory.
As more and more models are becoming more stylish in terms of colour and design, these types of headphones can also be seen more and more on the streets.
High-end products in particular place a lot of emphasis on high-quality and noble materials.
How much do ANC over-ear headphones cost?
Devices up to €30 have the worst noise cancelling, don’t reproduce music very well and their battery also leaves a lot to be desired. However, if you don’t want to spend a lot of money, these products are a good choice in terms of their price-performance ratio.
Models between 50 and 200 euros form the middle class. Here, the battery life is much better. Active noise cancelling also lets less external noise through.
Products in the top price range can be found from €200 upwards . Here, the subtleties in noise cancellation and music playback are the decisive factors. In addition, they offer maximum wearing comfort.
Where can I buy over-ear headphones with noise cancelling?
In addition to the classic local electronics stores, there is a particularly large selection and variety of models to be found on the internet. Here, you can either browse the websites of certain brands for the products currently on offer or via popular online retailers such as amazon.de.
It is particularly worthwhile to compare the prices in specialist shops with those online. Often, products can be found at a lower price on the internet.
Which manufacturer / brand suits me?
If you attach particular importance to a branded product, you have certainly already been able to find some favourites among the manufacturers.
Bose in particular continues to be the undisputed leader in the market when it comes to noise cancelling. But other top-class brands such as Teufel, AKG, Senneheiser, Philips and Sony are also constantly improving their technologies and are among the best suppliers.
If you don’t favour any particular brand and would like to start with a cheaper model from a smaller manufacturer, you will of course get your money’s worth.
Although the noise reduction here is not as advanced, it is considerably cheaper than a product from Bose.
Do the headphones have a good sound?
Of course, sound quality is one of the most important factors besides noise reduction. After all, what’s the point of expensive headphones if the music they play just sounds tinny and dreary?
The choice of headphones that best suit you depends on your taste in music. Some models have rich bass, while others have clear treble.
Your choice should depend on what you prefer when listening to music. After all, hip hop without proper bass is just as terrible as classical music without decent treble.
In addition, the mid-range frequencies should not be neglected. Here, the experiences of buyers can also help you to get an impression of the sound range.
Note, however, that everyone’s perception of sound is different and opinions are subjective. What seems to be too flat in sound for one person may be a true sound experience for another.
The best thing to do is to try the product yourself and play your favourite music through it. This will give you the best idea of whether the headphones really meet your requirements.
You should also bear in mind that many headphones have a lower quality of music transmission when the noise cancellation is switched off. If Active Noise Cancelling is not important to you, you should therefore opt for normal headphones with comprehensive sound quality.
Does the wearing comfort meet my requirements?
Of course, the higher the quality of the product, the greater the wearing comfort. So when making your purchase, consider how often and for how long you will be wearing your headphones.
If you use them infrequently, a less expensive model may not offer the best fit. For long periods of wear, you should be prepared to spend more money. Your ears will thank you.
Again, the perception of a particular headphone is different for everyone. However, no model should press on or in your ears or become uncomfortable after several hours of wearing.
Good, soft padding made of high-quality materials can work wonders for shell headphones. No seams or anything else should impair wearing comfort. There should also be no sweating under the headphones, as this can also become uncomfortable in the long run.
Ear-cup models are often more comfortable in the long run than their smaller, ear-mounted counterparts. These are more likely to press on the ear.
If you wear glasses, you should always make sure that the earpieces are not pressed too tightly against your head by the headphones. This can also lead to an unbearable wearing experience. Headphones with earpieces are usually adjustable in size and should therefore be adapted to every head shape.
The weight of the headphones can also influence wearing comfort. In the long run, heavy models can give the feeling of pressing on the head or even on the cervical vertebrae. With trial and error and customer reviews, you can be sure to find a comfortable model that won’t pinch you even after a long period of use.
How do I want to connect my headphones?
Do you prefer a model with a cable connection or should it be a Bluetooth device? It all depends on your personal habits and preferences. The advantage of a wireless device is clearly the great freedom of movement and the end of the annoying tangle of cables.
However, with some products there could be problems with the connection if the headphones start to have interference in the transmission at a distance of just a few metres from the paired device. This is not the case with wired headphones. Simply connect the cable to the respective device and the connection is established.
However, make sure that the cable is detachable and thus replaceable. This way, even if the cable breaks, the entire headphone should not have to be replaced.
What functions should my headphones have?
Do you want your headphones to be suitable as a headset for making phone calls? Or are you simply satisfied with being able to play music with them? Do you want to use them for sports and therefore need a non-slip and water-repellent model?
These are all important criteria that you should take into account. Many of today’s models are also made for making phone calls thanks to the integrated microphone and the pairing with the smartphone. You don’t even have to use the mobile phone to answer or hang up. This is simply done via the controls on the headphones themselves or on the remote control on the cable.
In many sporting activities, fast, jerky movements are commonplace. Accordingly, your headphones must be built in such a way that they don’t fall out of your ear with every little movement. In the long run, this would only get on your nerves and interfere with your training. The product should also be made for outdoor sports so that it doesn’t give up the ghost in a small rain shower.
Therefore, pay attention to the manufacturer’s specifications and also read additional customer experiences. This way you are sure to buy the right product.
What do I want to spend?
Understandably, not everyone wants to spend that much money on headphones. Solid alternatives can also be found in the price segment below 100 euros or even below 50 euros. However, these cannot be compared with the technology, wearing comfort and sound quality of high-end models.
| Type | Price |
|---|---|
| “Cheap” headphones | approx. 30€ |
| Mid-range headphones | approx. 50-200€ |
| High-quality headphones | approx. 200€ upwards |
So play it safe if you have more money to spend and like that you are choosing a first-class product. It should definitely be a brand-name product, because that’s the only way to be sure you’re getting the best of the best for your money.
Decision: What types of over-ear headphones are there and which is the right one for you?
Basically, you can distinguish between three different types of over-ear headphones:
- Wireless Over Ear Headphones
- Wired Over Ear Headphones
- Over Ear Headphones with Noise Cancelling
Based on the different areas of application and your own preference, a particular pair of Over Ear headphones is best suited for you. Because of this and the fact that not all over ear headphones are the same, there are different advantages and disadvantages in their use.
We would therefore like to introduce you to the different types in the following section and help you find out which Over Ear headphones are right for you. For this purpose, we will introduce you to the above-mentioned types in more detail and clearly present exactly what their advantages and disadvantages are.
What are the characteristics of wireless over-ear headphones and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
Wireless over-ear headphones are connected to the playback device via Bluetooth and therefore do not require a cable connection. This makes such headphones very comfortable to use and especially suitable for travelling. A cable can twist and possibly even break, a wireless connection avoids this problem.
However, not all players are wirelessly compatible by a long shot. Even if the player has a Bluetooth function, synchronisation of both devices is not always guaranteed. In addition, wireless over-ear headphones must always be recharged, so a long battery life should be ensured.
The Bluetooth codec installed in both devices, i.e. transmitter and receiver, also plays a major role in sound quality. It is important to ensure that both the transmitter and receiver use the same codec in order to guarantee loss-free compression.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of wired over-ear headphones?
Wired over-ear headphones are connected to the playback device via a jack plug, which ensures lossless sound and transmission quality. Since pretty much every playback device has an AUX input, wired over-ear headphones can be connected to all of these devices without any problems.
One disadvantage of the cable, as already mentioned, is the problem of cable breakage and restricted movement when the headphones are connected to the playback device. Beyond that, however, wired over-ear headphones only have advantages.
There are even over-ear headphones that can be connected wirelessly and also have a cable with a jack plug. These headphones combine the advantages of both types and are therefore definitely a recommendation.
What distinguishes over-ear headphones with noise cancelling and what are their advantages and disadvantages?
Noise cancelling reduces background noise to achieve better sound quality. This makes it possible to achieve the best possible sound image, even in places with a lot of ambient noise, such as on the train.
However, over-ear headphones with noise cancelling are among the heaviest in terms of weight. Another problem can arise from the fact that any noise is reduced, including voices of people trying to speak to you or warning noises.
Buying criteria: Use these factors to compare and evaluate over-ear headphones
In the following, we would like to show you which factors you can use to compare and evaluate over-ear headphones. This will make it easier for you to decide whether a certain product is suitable for you or not.
In summary, these are:
- Sound quality
- Battery life
- Features
- Design
- Wearing comfort
In the following paragraphs you can read about the individual purchase criteria and how you can classify them.
Sound quality
For us, sound quality is one of the most important selection criteria. Especially for over-ear headphones with active noise cancelling, you should pay attention to a few things.
However, you must always be aware that ANC headphones without noise cancelling switched on reproduce the music less well. So if you are less interested in noise cancelling and more in sound quality, you might want to go for normal Suround earphones.
The type of music also plays a decisive role. Depending on what kind of music you prefer, either more treble (for example, classical music) or deep bass is important.
If you pay attention to the manufacturer’s descriptions, you can get a better idea of the sound experience. This should reduce the likelihood of making a bad purchase.
Battery life
It should be noted that there are products with batteries (AAA) as well as products with integrated rechargeable batteries. Like the on-ear models, over-ear headphones offer a significantly longer battery life than in-ear earphones.
Top models can last up to 40 hours with a cable and around 20 hours with Bluetooth. Bluetooth headphones come with an extra AUX cable for this purpose.
Features
The range of features varies depending on the price range. You should also consider what accessories are important for you.
All headphones have an integrated microphone. This not only enables active noise cancellation, but can also be used to make phone calls with your smartphone. The buttons for this are located directly on the headphones.
These controls are used to stop or skip songs when you are not answering a phone call. If you choose a Bluetooth device, you can continue to use it with the supplied cable when the battery is empty. A pouch for storing your headphones is also part of the standard equipment.
Design
With manufacturers producing an ever-increasing range of colours and patterns, there should be a design to suit everyone. The same model often comes in different colours. From classic black or white to bright colours, no wish is left unfulfilled.
The shape of the ear cups is also offered in different forms. Folding the headphones also makes it possible to transport them in a space-saving way.
Wearing comfort
Wearing comfort should not be neglected with headphones. All headphones are adjustable in size. However, depending on the price, they are padded differently.
It is important that the padding of the over-ear headphones is of high quality. If the padding is too thin, it can cause pressure points on the ear cups after prolonged use.
However, care should also be taken that the over-ear headphones fit well and securely to prevent slipping, as the ears must be completely enclosed.
Therefore, if possible, try the headphones on beforehand. This is especially important for people who wear glasses, as some models can press uncomfortably on the temples of the glasses after a longer period of time.
Facts worth knowing about over-ear headphones
What is the difference between active and passive noise cancellation?
In summary, passive noise reduction only filters out and attenuates noises, while the passive variant actively combats the interfering frequencies and thus ensures silence.
With passive noise reduction, external noise is attenuated according to the principle of sound damping. This happens with headphones by attenuating the sound from the outside, e.g. through the padding or the insulating design of the device. However, absolute silence cannot be achieved by this method.
In contrast, active noise cancellation uses additional technical aids to shield the interfering noise. The acoustic waves from outside are picked up by microphones in the unit. Matched to this, the device generates a perfectly tuned, opposing sound. When these now collide with each other at the headphones, they cancel each other out and the disturbing noise is eliminated. As a result, music playback is not impaired.
It is also important for headphones without active noise cancelling to have an optimal fit throughout, otherwise the attenuation of the outside world is no longer one hundred percent. This, in turn, is another argument in favour of models with noise cancelling, which provide double protection against disturbing noise through a good fit and the integrated technology.
Image source: unsplash.com / Alphacolor 13
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