Top 5 Best Over Ear Headphones in 2021 (Reviewed)

In-ear headphones are good for those who want to listen to music but they don’t make the cut when it comes to enjoying music. If you want to immerse yourself to music and feel it at its level best, you need to purchase one of these best over ear headphones.

Without proper research, you may end up buying thousand dollars fancy over ear headphone which doesn’t work the way you expected. Or worse, you may purchase a cheap headphone which promises superior features on paper but doesn’t actually perform.

If you are in the market to buy a premium over ear headphones without the need of breaking your piggy bank, this list if for you. DJs, true audiophiles, and sound producers will know the actual worth of high-quality headphones so don’t try to go for the cheapest options either.

We have reviewed tens of products available today to find top 5 best over ear headphones with features like battery life, budget, noise cancellation, and design.

Our Top 5 Picks for Best Over Ear Headphones in 2021

#1. Sony WH1000XM3 – Best Overall

Let’s start off with industry-leading active noise-canceling wireless headphones – Sony WH1000XM3.

Sony has managed to strike a perfect balance between blocking all the outside noise while providing a great sound experience.

It comes with 40mm drivers with Liquid Crystal Polymer (CLP) diaphragms to support high-res audio experience and can reproduce up to 40 kHz frequency.

With a collapsible design, perfect ergonomics, smooth plastic, and deeper ear cups, they make a perfect companion for flight or daily work commute.

Talking about on-the-go usage, these wireless headphones can last for around 25-30 hours on a single charge. With faster USB Type-C charging, it is able to provide 5 hours of playback time with just 10 minutes of charge.

On the connectivity front, it comes with Bluetooth and NFC. It also has built-in Alexa support for hands-free voice access to music along with Google Assistant compatibility.

It can connect with up to 2 different devices but there’s a catch. You can use only one of the connected devices for music while others for a call. Bose QC35 is a better option considering multiple connectivities.

Few other interesting features include ambient sound mode, touch controls, quick attention mode, and LDAC codec mode. To some, the price may seem outrageous at first, but as stated, if you’re an audiophile, you’ll understand that Sony WH1000XM3 is well worth its money.

#2. Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) – Runner Up

Bose QuietComfort 35 holds a special place in every music lover’s heart. They are known to build the highest quality audio products, and this wireless over ear headphones are no different.

If there’s any over ear headphone that gives neck-to-neck competition to Sony in terms of noise cancellation, it’s Bose QC 35 II.

It has 3 levels of noise cancellation and a noise-rejecting dual-microphone system.

Google Assistant, built-in Alexa, Bluetooth, NFC, and in-line controls make it very user-friendly

To pack it up, it comes with a battery life of up to 20 hrs and you can also use included audio cable to use it for 40 hours in wired mode.

As stated earlier, it supports true multi-connectivity i.e. you can use 2 devices for music and it also speaks the name of the currently connected device. Enabled with Bose AR – an innovative, audio-only take on augmented reality, it takes music listening experience to a new level.

#3. Jabra Elite 85h – Value for Money

Buying a good over ear headphones need not be too expensive and Jabra Elite 85h is living proof of that. You get a good noise cancellation support, amazing sound experience, 8-mic call technology and more for a much lower price.

It’ll provide uninterrupted music experience for up to 36 hours and a quick charge features that provides 5 hours of juice for just 15 minutes charging.

With support to Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistance, you can control it hands-free.

Moreover, it is protected against dust and sweat with nano-coating of the internal components. Within the box, you’ll find an audio cable, carry case, USB type-c cable, flight adapter, and headphones itself.

The design itself is beautiful and we personally loved the titanium black scheme look. You can fold or unfold ear cups to switch off/on the headphones which is a neat feature (it doesn’t have a power button.)

The only major turn off is that active noise cancellation doesn’t work when on calls. It works great when listening to music but stops working when you’re on a call.

But, to provide some level of noise blockage, these headphones use 6 of the 8 built-in microphones to block background noise.

#4. Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBB - Budget Pick

Moving on to our budget pick, these headphones from Audio-Technica offer premium features and build quality at a fraction of cost when compared with the likes of Sony, Bose, or Jabra.

These aren’t wireless but having a 3.5mm connector is one of the solid reasons why they get so much love from the audio world.

Inside, there are two 1.2m cables – one of them is coiled and one is straight.

When it comes to build quality and design, most people will find M50x pleasing.

Although the entire build is plastic, they still look stylish, sturdy, and come in a few different color options.

90° swiveling earcups make them easy to carry and comfortable to wear. On the sound front, it has 45 mm large-aperture drivers which provide exceptional clarity and accurate bass response.

Sadly, being wired they don’t come with any sort of active noise cancellation.

#5. Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO - Audio Producers' Pick

Looks are subjective and if you don’t mind a dull-looking design but great audio experience, Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO should make your inner child happy.

For a current price of under $150, you get strong bass, comfortable design, and a solid sound experience considering the price.

With open construction, treble sound, and 96 dB sound level, these pairs are ideal for studio applications and professional mixing.

It doesn’t come with 3.5mm jack or detachable cable but a practical single-sided coil cable of 3 meters in length.

Extra lightweight design and replaceable velour ear pads make DT 990 PRO more comfortable to wear for long sessions of work.

A good pair of headphones can cost you as high as your mortgage payments. Bur, you don’t need to spend that much with our best over ear headphones in 2021 guide

We have tried to find something for every budget and need and we are sure you won’t be disappointed with our research.

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