There is nothing like a full size headphone that completely immerse the listener in music, with big sound drivers that create sweat music, over-ear shells that blocking out any noise and stay comfortable at the same time. Of course we would not recommend using this on full blast when you are on the road be it cycling or walking but if you feel like some alone time, to unwind and chill at home or in the office, Over-Ear headphones is your answer.
In-ear headphones while compact and portable does not necessary have the drivers to create good quality sound that cover the entire sound range. It also let outside noise get in the way of good music unless it is equipped with active noise cancellation. Custom fit ear canal adapters in different sizes help isolate outside noise but not block it out completely.
On-ear headphones is a half way point between a small in-ear headphone and a full size over-ear headphone. The thing is, it is not for for everyone as it sits directly on the ears and in order to stay there requires a little pressure from the band that holds it together. Somebody with glasses like me finds it uncomfortable with prolonged use when the headset presses the ears and arms on my glasses together.
With one of these over-ear headphones, you can literrally hear the sound of silence when you have it on without music. With a comfortably padded and lightweight pair, you can enjoy good music for hours and it works great even if you have eye wears as it goes over the arms of the glasses instead of pressing on your ears. The only question is, would you get one with active noise cancellation, a wired or a wireless pair.
Top 10 Over-Ear (Around-Ears) Headphones
Here is a quick list of the top 10 most popular over-ear headphones.
Bose Soundlink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II (black/white) – BLUETOOTH, BEST BATTERY LIFE
Sony MDR100-AAP h.ear High Resolution Audio Headphones (red/yellow/black/pink/blue)
Sennheiser HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone
Philips X2 Fidelio Premium Headphones
Bose ® QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones for Apple devices (black/white) – NOISE CANCELLATION
Beats by Dr Dre Solo2 Wireless Headphones – BLUETOOTH
Sony MDR-ZX770BN Wireless and Noise Cancelling Headphones (black/blue) – BLUETOOTH, NOISE CANCELLATION
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Around Ear Headphones (black/ivory)
B&O BeoPlay H8 Wireless ANC Headphones (gray hazel/argilla bright) – BLUETOOTH, NOISE CANCELLATION
Parrot Zik 2.0 by Philippe Starck Wireless Headphones (black/blue/orange/white/yellow/mocha) – BLUETOOTH, NOISE CANCELLATION
Here is a closer look at each of these headphones:
Bose Soundlink Around-Ear Wireless Headphones II (black/white) – BLUETOOTH
Specifications
Features: Deep compelling music performance with technology from Bose. A combination of TriPort technology and Active EQ delivers sound that’s crisp and strong at any volume, so you can be truly moved by your music as you move with it. Advanced microphone provides clear calls even in windy or noisy environment while enhanced side tone makes your voice sound clearer at the other end. Light and more comfortable than comparable wireless headphones with impact resistant materials. Ear cup controls let you easily switch between calls and music on your smartphone, plus control music and other functions on various Apple, Samsung and Android devices.
Wired or Wireless: Wireless Bluetooth connectivity with seamless switching between two sources e.g. tablet and smartphone. Controls on the phone to switch between calls and music as well as control playlist.
Battery Life: Up to 15 hours with USB charging cable and carry case.
Sony MDR100-AAP h.ear High Resolution Audio Headphones (red/yellow/black/pink/blue)
Specifications
Features: Eye-catching design and stylish colours. Enjoy the subtlest nuances of sound with High-Resolution Audio. Advanced portability on size, weight and design with foldable structure and carrying pouch. 40mm diameter HD driver units reproduces up to 60kHz with titanium-coated diaphragm for a verdant, crisp, expansive sound. Beat Response Control technology delivers a tight, deep bass response, making it suitable for low-end focused music styles. An air vent maximises airflow within the low frequency range, optimising the efficiency of the diaphragm to enable more accurate reproduction of bass rhythms.
Wired or Wireless: Wired tangle free cable with serrated design to resist snags and tangles. Inline remote and mic for hands free calls.
Battery Life: NA
Sennheiser HD 650 Open Back Professional Headphone
Specifications:
Features: state-of-the-art headphones, widely used in professional recording studios globally for their absolute accuracy and attention to detail. Very wide sound stage with wide frequency response is 12 – 39,500 Hz (-10 dB). Superb wearing comfort, gently cushion your ears for long hours of pure listening enjoyment. Maximum SPL: 102 dB, Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.1%. Weight: 260 grams. Specially Tuned Voice Coils Reproduce Liquid Smooth Audio Across the Entire Frequency Spectrum. Computer Matched Transducers Are Assembled in Ireland for Impeccable Quality Control.
Wired of Wireless: Wired 3 m dual-sided cable terminates in a gold plated 1/4″ jack plug (with an adaptor lead to a 3.5 mm jack plug)
Battery Life: NA
The HD 650 is intended for home use rather than portable listening.
Philips X2 Fidelio Premium Headphones
Specifications
Features: High Resolution Audio (Hi-Res) plays your music in its purest form. Acoustic open-back architecture for pristine audio fidelity. Dedicated Cable management clip for tangle-free ease. Deluxe memory foam earpads for long-wearing comfort (Deluxe memory foam ear-pads are matched with a velour material of optimized density with high breathability, to dissipate pressure and heat for longer-wearing comfort) . Breathable velour cushions to help dispel pressure and heat. 50mm high power drivers with double layered earshells.
Wired or Wireless: Wired – OFC low impedance cable for clear transmission and shielding with dedicated cable management clip for tangle- free ease
Battery Life: NA
Bose ® QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones for Apple devices (black/white) – NOISE CANCELLATION
Specifications
Features: Exceptional active noise reduction that monitors the noise around you and cancels it out. A must have for the frequent flyers as it reduces the airplane engine road to a whisper. Once you have this you will never fly without it again. Remarkable sound that delivers music as it was meant to be heard with true to life clear vocals, precise guitars, clean bass and crisp percussion. Soft ear cushions for a comfortable around-ear fit. Foldable design with compact carrying case included. Headphones are lightweight with pillowy-like softness on the headband and ear cushions, while the earcups rotate for a fine-tuned fit.
Wired or Wireless: 1.42 m QC25 inline remote and microphone cable (model for Android/Samsung devices or iOS/Apple iPhone or iPod sold separately – choose the right model when buying).
Battery life: Active noise reduction powered by single AAA battery
The QuietComfort 25 is a must have for frequent flyers, once you have experienced it, you would not fly without it again. Also available in black.
Beats by Dr Dre Solo2 Wireless Headphones [On-Ear] – BLUETOOTH
Specifications
Features: Fine-tuned acoustics for clarity, breadth and balance. Immerse yourself in an emotional sound experience. The Solo2 Wireless has a dynamic and wide range of sound with a natural clarity. The ear cup padding buffers outside noise, bringing you closer to what the artist intended you to hear. Durable housing and compact, foldable design, carry case included. Engineered for comfort. Starting at the centre of the flexible headband, the frame of the Solo2 Wireless has a one-of-a-kind curve that gives it a custom-fit feeling. The headphone’s fast flowing curves, no visible screws, and pivoting earcups complete this natural fit, ergonomically designed for optimal comfort and sound delivery.
Take hands free calls with built-in mic.
Wired or Wireless: Bluetooth up to 30 feet. Use the on-ear controls to adjust your listening experience
Battery life: 12 hours rechargeable battery with LED fuel gauge with USB2.0 charging cable.
The Solo2 Wireless has good battery life, hands free feature and great acoustics.
Sony MDR-ZX770BN Wireless and Noise Cancelling Headphones (black/blue) – BLUETOOTH, NOISE CANCELLATION
Specifications
Features: Powered by lightweight 40mm neodymium dynamic drivers capable of producing 8Hz-22000Hz (Wired) to deliver a punchy, rhythmic response to even the most demanding track. Combined with a highly sensitive diaphragm, you’ll be able to turn the headphones up louder and still enjoy clear, precise audio across the spectrum. Digital Noise Cancelling reduces a variety of ambient noise when listening to music. A microphone built in to the headphones works with the digital noise cancelling engine to cut out unwanted sound. The headphones select the optimal mode (aeroplane, train or office) based on an intelligent analysis of the environment. Activate or deactivate noise cancelling using the on/off switch. Take calls hands free with built in mic.
Wired or Wireless: Bluetooth Wireless support AAC and aptx codec with NFC for pairing, durable audio cable 1.2m supplied in case you run out of juice.
Battery life: 13 hours of continuous playback with Noise cancelling activated and continues to work as passive headphones with supplied cable.
Active noise cancellation wireless headset with cable as fall back in case you run out of juice, easily the cheapest pair you can get with both Wireless, Hands Free and Active NC. Also available in black.
Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 Around Ear Headphones (black/ivory)
Specifications
Features: Closed circumaural design for optimum noise isolation and comfort. Luxurious leather headband and earpads for a feeling of substance and quality. Amazing stereo sound across the audible range thanks to Sennheiser’s 18Ω high-end transducers. Robust, foldable headband for easy storage on the go.
Wired or Wireless: Cabled with Inline smart 3 button remote and mic on the cable are compatible with most smartphones and portable players (including Galaxy and most Android devices)
Battery life: NA
B&O BeoPlay H8 Wireless ANC Headphones (gray hazel/argilla bright) [On-Ear]- BLUETOOTH, NOISE CANCELLATION, TOUCH CONTROL
Specifications
Features: Premium, lightweight, wireless, active noise cancelling (ANC) headphones with two microphones, one inside and one outside for effective noise cancellation. Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound no matter if active noise cancellation is turned on or off. Aluminium touch interface on the right ear cup gives you complete control of your music and hands free function to take and make phone calls. Features no button interface with With simple gestures back and forth, up and down or around, you will be able to control everything right from the ear cup. Want to turn on the active noise cancellation, answer a call, change song or turn up the volume. anodized aluminium and natural leather guarantee absolute comfort and let you travel in style. Powered by Dynamic, 40mm drivers.
Wired or Wireless: Bluetooth 4.0 AptX , Audio cable 3.9′ with 3.5 mm jack included for wired performances.
Battery life: Up to 14 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation and Bluetooth turned on. Micro USB cable for charging, Flight adapter and carrying pouch included. Up to 16 hours with Bluetooth only and 35 hours with ANC only.
At just 255g, BeoPlay H8 is one of the lightest wireless active noise cancelling headphones on the market. Touch control is a neat feature. Also available in Gold or Agrilla Bright as they call it.
Parrot Zik 2.0 by Philippe Starck Wireless Headphones (black/blue/orange/white/yellow/mocha) – BLUETOOTH, NOISE CANCELLATION, TOUCH CONTROL
Specifications
Features: Engineers have collaborated with the French designer Philippe Starck to provide the best audio and innovation in these comfortable and trendy new headphones, the Parrot Zik 2.0. Parrot developed a movement recognition algorithm designed to be more simple and intuitive for the user. Zik 2.0 has a head sensor in the ear cushion which automatically detects if you are wearing the headphones. As soon as you take off the Zik 2.0, the music stops! A tactile panel on the right ear cup allows you to control your music and hands-free calls. To ensure music is heard in all its harmony and depth, Parrot Zik 2.0 audio playback offers full digital 32 bits audio processing. Frequency response is fully customisable with the 5 band pro-equaliser available on the free dedicated application Parrot Zik 2.0. Free app available to download for iOS and Android. Active noise cancelling technology which adapts to your environment. Hands free call function with touch sensitive panel to place a call, answer a call or reject a call. It also reads the name or number of the caller with incoming calls.
Wired or Wireless: Bluetooth AAC and NFC with line in cable 3.5mm plug included for wired performance.
Battery life: Flight mode: ANC activated and line-in, ideal for long flights; will enable you to reach up to 18 hours (wired) Eco mode: ANC activated + line-in + Parrot Concert Hall effect; will enable you to reach up to 7 hours. • Regular mode: ANC activated + Bluetooth + Parrot Concert Hall effect; will enable you to reach up to 6 hours.