The PX8 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Review
The PX8s might be costly but their sound and design are superior to other headphones. The design is enhanced by the 40mm carbon cone driver as well as Nappa Leather. Additionally, a DAC mode that supports hi-res audio.
This Bluetooth flagship offers Bose's industry-leading ANC, excellent control and an elegant, comfortable design. The battery life is the most important selling point.
Sound Quality
Wireless over-ear headphones are more immersive because they surround your ears. They also have larger earcups which allow powerful drivers to provide massive soundstages and deep bass. But this comes at a cost that is why over-ear headphones generally have higher price tags, with flagship models starting at about $250 / PS250 / $450 and often with active noise cancellation.
It's all about personal preference and the way you use your headphones. If you prefer comfort over sound quality and want to listen to music while in a noisy environment such as the Jabra E50 or JBL Move Wireless are excellent options. If you're looking to spend more, the I-MEGO THRONE Gold have a stunning sound quality and battery life while the Focal Bathys are specifically designed for serious audiophiles with their DAC mode that supports hi-res audio via USB-C.
There are also some great headphones that fall in the mid-tier price bracket. A variety of brands make headphones that are great sounding at a reasonable cost. The Poly (formerly Plantronics) BackBeats Pro 2 are a great example, with a powerful bass and bright treble that is perfect for rock and pop as well as a clear mid-range that keeps instruments and vocals prominent. The new Sennheiser Momentum 4 are another good choice, with a better ANC and a handy companion app with presets to suit various listening styles. If you are a fan of Bose's premium headphones, the QC35 II offers a similar experience, but it has a more durable and passive design that blocks out noise.
Audiophiles are trained to recognize between headphones. Even casual listeners can discern the difference between wired and wireless headphones. The wireless protocol has several pitfalls that could affect the quality of audio. For instance, audio codecs may change the bandwidth, sample rate and latency of a wireless transmission, which can lead to distortion and loss of audio detail.
These issues have been largely solved by wireless headphones that utilize the most recent Bluetooth technology. They also have advanced audio codecs, such as Qualcomm AAC. In the end, the majority of wireless headphones we test offer excellent audio quality at a reasonable price.
Noise Cancellation
Wireless over-ear headphones are a great option for blocking out the background noise in your workplace or on an airplane. These big headphones are typically more comfortable than earbuds. Some models also feature active noise cancellation that makes your music and sound clearer.
Active noise cancellation employs microphones to detect ambient noise and then utilize frequencies to counteract it, effectively separating you from your surroundings. Over-ear headphones that have this feature have a microphone built-in to ensure that your voice is clearly heard when you make phone calls. If you are looking for affordable noise-canceling headphones wireless look into the Audio-Technica M20xBT headphones, which come with Bluetooth multipoint connectivity and up to 60 hours of battery life. These headphones are a great choice for commuters and are small enough to fit in a bag or purse.
If you're looking to invest more into your audio experience, the Focal Bathys are a fantastic pair of high-end wireless over-ear headphones with excellent audio quality and advanced noise cancellation. These French high-end audio manufacturers' first pair of wireless headphones is an audiophile's dream with an open back design and luxurious materials such as leather and aluminum accents. They boast a rich suite of features with a companion app with a graphic EQ and presets that allow you to fine-tune your listening profile. They offer excellent isolation thanks to their 40mm Beryllium coated drivers and the acoustic leather cups. Additionally, they can playback audio losslessly that allows them to function as high-end hi-fi headphones when wired.
For a more budget-friendly option, the Monoprice BT-600ANC is a light, comfortable pair of wireless headphones that offer high-quality sound and impressive noise cancellation for the price. These headphones are equipped with a variety of features including ANC and ambient-awareness modes as well as touch controls and support for Apple AAC and aptX for high-quality audio. The BT600ANC are also one of the only headphones that come with an adjustable ambient awareness mode that lets you listen to the surrounding noise at a lower volume without turning off the music.
Battery Life
The last thing you want is to get out of the way on a long commute or during a workout. Wireless headphones remove the need for cords and provide the most convenient solution. The battery power of wireless headphones will drain over time. You need to choose the one with an extended battery.
Some models can run for days or even weeks with just a single charge. However, this endurance comes with a price. To achieve this, manufacturers must reduce the size of the battery, or sacrifice other features. The most effective wireless headphones offer a great balance between battery capacity and performance.
Over-ear headphones are equipped with larger batteries but also use more power to run features such as active noise cancellation. On-ear headsets are more compact and portable. However, they don't have the same noise-blocking features as their more bulky counterparts.
In terms of battery life, the Cleer Enduro ANC and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have set the bar for wireless headphones. The two headphones can be used for a whopping 60 hours when ANC enabled. They can easily outlast other top headphones in similar prices, such as Sony's WH-1000XM5 and Bose's 720 III.
wireless over ear headphones to the Focal Px8's first wireless headphones are an audiophile's dream. The Focal Px8 headphones sport an open-back design that is comfortable to wear. The headphones deliver a dynamic sound profile with an emphasis on the thumpy bass and the bright trebles. The Focal Px8 headphones also feature an app companion to let you customize the sound to suit your preferences.
Focal's headphones are among the most expensive on the market. This is due in part to their top-quality materials and design. The headphones also have an option for fast charging that lets you enjoy two hours of audio within just 15 minutes of charging. The Focal Px8 headphones are a great choice if you're willing to make the sacrifice of longer battery life for excellent sound quality and an incredibly comfortable fit.
Comfort
In contrast to earbuds, the over-ear headphones rest on the ears rather than around them. The earpads will press less against your earlobes and allow you to enjoy your listening experience for a longer time. The ear cups also assist in helping to seal in your music which makes it more immersive and give you an immersive audio experience. This experience is also more immersive and improves the quality of your audio because you can appreciate the subtleties of a song without being distracted by background noise or your personal voice.
Most over-ear headphones are, however, not as portable as earbuds. The heavier construction and absence of folding mechanisms makes them harder to fit in a backpack or pockets. A case is also needed to protect them when not in use. While many headphones come with a carrying case, this can be cumbersome and may be a problem for those who prefer to listen to music while on the move.
This pair of wireless headphones is the best option for audiophiles looking for premium headphones that can be used when traveling. The Bose QC35 II premium headphone offers excellent comfort as well as sound quality and noise cancellation at a low cost. The earcups and the headband are made of top quality materials and are extremely comfortable to wear. The sound quality is superior to its predecessor, with more clarity and a deeper sound. You can also alter the sound to your preference through a companion application that features an EQ and presets.
Another top option is the Focal Bathys Wireless headphones that offer high-end design that is full of fashion and comfort. They are also available in a range of colours and feature premium leather, making them elegant enough to be worn with a suit or an evening dress. These headphones' default sound profile is bass heavy which results in more bass and thump that is perfect for EDM hip-hop, EDM, and other genres of dance music. The Focal audio app comes with a built-in graphic equalizer that can help you correct the sound of instruments and vocals.
While it's not easy to determine which type of headphones are more comfortable the overall experience is contingent on your personal preference. If you prefer the feel of headphones that are over-ear consider a model that has thick padding and medium clamping force. This will keep your earlobes feeling sore even when ANC is on.