It’s a well-known fact that over ear headphones usually produce the better audio quality than headphones that fit around the ear or earbuds. These models are better at reducing background sounds, can usually offer an improvement in bass and loudness levels and can seal audio in which can significantly improve the impact of surround sound applications. That is probably why they are currently very popular.
However, while circumaural headphones have plenty of positive features to offer the audiophile, some of the lesser brands aren’t without their drawbacks and can be cumbersome for some people to wear or hold in too much heat around the ears. That’s why it’s extremely important to purchase the best over ear headphones possible. Listed below are ten of the best ones which offer all of the benefits of these headphones with less of the negatives that can accompany some of the models currently available.
Best Over Ear Headphones
10Mpow H1 Wireless Headphones With Built-In Microphone
One of the best features of these headphones is that they are compatible with a wide selection of different devices. They can link to Mp3 players, notebooks, Ipads, personal computers and even televisions. However, while it’s wide compatibility may be one of this model’s best features, it certainly isn’t its only one. It’s also lightweight, weighing only 7.5-ounces and cannot only be connected to devices using Bluetooth but can also connect to them via its 3.5mm audio cable. This unit also has a built-in microphone so it can be used for hands-free calling and an extended battery capacity that allows the wearer to enjoy 15 to 20 hours of music on a single charge. Other features of these headphones include a 3-hour charge time, a neodymium 40mm stereo driver and soft over the ear pads that are comfortable and allow the headphones to be worn for long periods of time.
9RockPapa Noise Canceling Headphones for Adults & Children
These circumaural headphones are not only headphones that can be used by adults but they can also be used by children as well. They have a soft ear pad design that not only cradles the ear and is very comfortable to wear but also does quite a good job at canceling background noises so the wearer can concentrate on enjoying their favorite music, movie or audiobook. These headphones are also adjustable, so they can be fit easily to the head and come with a 1.5-meter cord and a 3.5mm jack. They can be hooked up to an MP3 player, computers, tablets, portable game systems or any other device with a compatible jack. Other features of these headphones include a 32ohm impedance, a frequency response of 20-20000HZ and a 102±3dB sensitivity. All of which equates to better sound quality.
8iDeal USA Bluetooth Headphone With Microphone
Manufactured to deliver high-quality sound to the wearer, these headphones are designed for just about anyone who loves crisp, clear music. It has 40mm sound drivers which have a 20db noise level, a 32-ohm speaker impedance and a driver sensitivity of 103±3dB. These headphones can also reduce the ambient noise levels by up to 85-percent with just the flip of a switch using active noise canceling technology. Which means these headphones can be used in many different noisy environments such as the cabin of a plane or in the middle of a traffic jam. Another feature of these headphones is their long lasting 500 mAh battery which only takes about 2-hours to charge but can deliver up to 25-hours of playback. Other great features of these headphones include soft-touch memory foam ear cups that can be rotated 115-degrees and an adjustable headband that allows them to fit a variety of head sizes.
7Criacr Lightweight Foldable Headphone
These headphones are not only designed to be fashionable but also to deliver perfect sound. It does this using a high-quality 40mm driver that gives the user premium acoustic fidelity with perfect balance and clarity and deep bass sounds. They can be used wirelessly using Bluetooth with an effective distance of approximately 33-feet or can be connected to an audio device using a 3.5mm audio cable. Using a 420mAh battery, these headphones can be charged in 3-hours or less and provide up to 15-hours of listening enjoyment. And since it has a built-in microphone, it can also be used to take calls and has the ability to filter out background noises so these calls are crystal clear. All of these features, along with its adjustable headband and comfortable ear muffs, allow the wearer to listen to premium audio for longer periods of time than if they were using lesser quality headphones.
6Audio-Technica ATH-M20x Professional Monitor Headphones
These closed-back headphones are designed to not only deliver high-quality sound but to be durable as well. They are made using premium materials and have 40mm drivers that are made with copper-clad aluminum wire and rare Earth magnets. Another great feature of these headphones is that they are tuned for enhanced performance as far as low-frequency sounds are concerned but also do a fairly good job of handling middle and higher-end notes. They are versatile enough to be used by both studio engineers and by audiophiles who just want to listen to their music. These wired headphones feature a single-sided cable exit, a 6.3mm adapter, and soft ear pads.
5FX-Victoria Dual Mode Lightweight Stereo Headset
These headphones have dual-mode capabilities, which means that they can be used as wireless headphones thanks to the high-capacity rechargeable battery or can be used as wired headphones by using the 3.5mm audio cable, depending on the needs of the listener. They also have soft ear pads that are comfortable to wear, even during long music or gaming sessions, and are fully adjustable as well as foldable. Other features of these headphones include a built-in microphone that gives the wearer a hand-free call function and a wide-range of compatibility with a number of devices including Smartphones, iPods and iPads, tablets and personal computers. All of these features make these headphones versatile and an ideal gift to give to any audiophile.
4Edifier H840 Noise Isolating Headphone
Equipped with features which makes them an ideal pair of headphones for using as monitor headphones or for people to listen to their favorite music, these headphones are a good combination of quality and cost-effectiveness. They are built with 40mm driver units that produce premium sound output and leather headrests that are durable as well as flexible. These wired headphones feature a gold-plated audio plug that delivers a quality connection and a 6-foot high-strength cable that’s long enough for most people’s needs. In or out of the studio, these headphones are sure to deliver sound quality that exceeds expectations.
3Bose Sound Link Headphones
Bose is a company which is known for not only developing the first noise canceling headsets but their name is also synonymous with quality. And that’s why these Sound Link headphones aren’t surprisingly one of the more popular headsets on the market today. These over-the-ear headphones offer the best-in-class sound quality and produce audio that’s deep and completely immersive. Featuring an advanced microphone system as well, these headsets are not only capable of producing great music quality but can also produce high definition voice reproduction, so it’s a good unit for making phone calls. Another feature of these headphones is that it has 15-hours of run time on a single battery charge. This, along with its Bluetooth connectivity, makes this headset perfect for on the go listening to music and audio books or for taking calls from friends, family, and coworkers.
2Bestgot Headphones with Microphone and Removable Audio Cord
These wired headphones cannot be worn by adults but also can be worn by children thanks to its adjustable nature. This foldable headset features a removable audio cable with a 3.5mm plug that’s compatible with a variety of devices including Mp3 and DVD players as well as smartphones and personal computers. This makes this a useful headset for not only listening to music or audio books but also for gaming. It has a microphone so it can also be used for taking calls thanks to its inline controls. All of these features make this model a useful one for a variety of different uses.
1Mpow Stereo Headset With Mic
These headphones come in a variety of colors—from black & gray to pink—and are packed with a number of features which makes them quite useful to music enthusiasts as well as gamers. These ear cup headphones use passive noise canceling to block out outside noise. However, even though it does passively block noise, its main feature is its sound quality. These headphones have 40mm sound drivers that deliver beautiful sound quality and clear phone calls when using this unit as a hands-free headset for taking calls from the office or from family members. Other features of this headphone include the ability to fold up for storage and memory-protein ear muffs that are comfortable to wear for both short-term and long-term music sessions.
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Selecting the Best Over Ear Headphones
In the past, headphones were primarily used to listen to music and that’s really all they were designed to do. However, that has changed over the years as these headphones are now expected to handle a wider range of duties. They are being used not only to listen to music but to use as hands-free headsets and for gaming. So it stands to reason that the best ones have more features than those early models. Which begs the question: What features are needed in these type of headphones. Read on to find out.
Look at the Sound
The first thing that you should look for in a good pair of over-the-ear headsets is the sound drivers. You want to make sure that you buy a set with at least 40mm sound drivers. This means that the diaphragm to the speaker is 40mm. A larger driver can drive more sound and can make a higher sound quality. However, that’s not the only feature to look for in a headset. You’ll also want to take a look at the Ohms. You’ll want to make sure that you impedance match your headphones to your device by making sure their Ohms line up. The last thing you’ll want to check out is the frequency range. Be sure to get a pair of headphones with the widest frequency range possible–like a 10 Hz to 25,000 Hz range. Carefully selecting according to these three specifications will ensure that you at least get a good mid-range set of headphones, if not a high-quality set.
Types of Noise Cancellation
While these type of headphones aren’t specifically known to be noise canceling, how they handle outside noise is as important as the quality of the sound coming from the speakers. Most of these headsets employ Passive Noise Cancellation, which simply means they attempt to just block out outside noises. However, there are some models which employ Active Noise Cancellation, a strategy where the headset matches the wavelength of the outside noise and cancels it out with a matching wavelength.
It’s also important to consider whether your headphones have an open back or a closed back design. Closed-back designs isolate the user better and also help keep your music from being heard by other people. Open back designs aren’t as good at doing this, although they do tend to be more comfortable. Of course, the style that’s chosen depends on the needs of the individual wearing them and what they expect to get out of their audio experience.
Other Features to Think About
There are a wide range of other features that should be thought about before a pair of headphones is purchased. Especially if the headphones are going to be used for other things other than music. For example, if you are going to want to make calls using a headset, then you’ll want to make sure that the headphones have a built-in microphone, otherwise you won’t be able to use it in that way. Other things to consider include:
- Whether the device is foldable
- The softness of the ear padding
- Whether the unit is wired or wireless