Over-ear headphones

Why a headband model sounds better

A bigger housing fits a bigger driver and a bigger battery, which is where both main advantages over buds come from. This page holds over-ear and on-ear models, wireless ones and wired studio pairs alike.

• 30–60 hours of battery. Charging once a week; a 5-minute top-up gives a couple of hours of music.
• Noise cancelling. The cushion around the ear blocks noise physically and ANC adds to it — on a plane or train the difference from buds is obvious.
• Over-ear or on-ear. Over-ear is comfier for long sessions, on-ear is lighter and packs smaller.
• Studio and editing. Wired models have no latency; 250 Ω and above wants a sound card or amplifier.
• Multipoint. Two devices at once: a laptop meeting and a phone call without re-pairing.

See also

For something smaller, see in-ear headphones; to keep hearing your surroundings, open-ear clips; with a mic and low latency, gaming headsets.

Frequently asked questions

Is ANC worth it in an office? Yes — steady noise such as ventilation and background talk is what it removes best.

Are wired models here too? Yes, studio and office pairs are on the same list — use the Connection filter on the left.

The full range is in the headphones category.