The Best On-Ear/Over-Ear Headphones for 2024


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If you’re serious about music, a quality pair of headphones can make a huge difference in your listening experience. But with so many choices, finding the right model can be tough. We’ve highlighted our top picks below, from inexpensive cans to budget-busting masterpieces.

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Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.

Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

HiFiMan Ananda

Best Planar Magnetic Headphones

Why We Picked It

The wired HiFiMan Ananda headphones are a powerhouse and a rare five-star product—their planar magnetic drivers deliver a detailed, spectacular audio experience that conjures a real sense of soundstage. An open design only heightens this sensation, while detachable cables extend their longevity.

Who It’s For

If you are an audiophile who wants superb sound, these headphones are worth the small fortune they command. They do leak audio, however, so make sure to run this purchase by any housemates.

PROS

  • Phenomenal audio performance with superb sense of space, accurate bass, and lovely detail throughout frequency range.
  • Comfortable over long listening sessions.
  • Ships with two detachable cables.

CONS

  • Open design leaks audio.
  • Cables lack inline remote control or mic.

SPECS

Type Circumaural (over-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Stereo 3.5mm
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X

Best for Home Studios

Why We Picked It

The DT 700 Pro X headphones look great and are a joy to wear. Furthermore, their accurate-leaning response makes them ideal for checking mixes, as well as for enjoying music outside of the studio. We’re also fans of their massive, gray, velour earcups that effectively enclose each ear. A detachable mini-XLR cable adds value to the sturdy build.

Who It’s For

First and foremost, you should pick up these headphones if you need to check mixes in your home studio. Beyond that, they simply present music and movies with wonderful authenticity.

PROS

  • Accurate, rich, detailed, and balanced audio
  • Closed design ideal for studio recording and mixing
  • Comfortable fit

CONS

  • Cables lack mics
  • Not for those seeking overwhelming bass depth

SPECS

Type Circumaural (over-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Stereo 3.5mm
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones Overall

Why We Picked It

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones deliver the best active noise cancellation of any over-ear model we’ve tested. In the audio department, they output a pleasing balance of rich lows and crisp highs. Meanwhile, AptX Adaptive support and new immersive audio modes make them more competitive feature-wise with the best from Apple and Sony.

Who It’s For

If you’re looking for the best overall active noise cancellation, the Bose QiuetComfort Ultra Headphones are your top over-ear choice.

PROS

  • Class-leading active noise cancellation
  • Crisp audio with rich bass
  • Adjustable EQ
  • Immersive audio modes with spatial effects

CONS

  • Expensive
  • Adaptive noise cancellation might cause ear pressure

SPECS

Type Circumaural (over-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Bluetooth, Stereo 3.5mm
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Grado SR325x

Best Open-Back Headphones

Why We Picked It

Grado’s SR325x open-back headphones produce exceptionally spacious and detailed sound throughout their frequency range. We’re also big fans of how their metallic accents and woven (though irreplaceable) cable combine for a retro look. Note that Grado headphones tend to fit differently than most others, so they might require a bit of adjustment initially.

Who It’s For

If you want expansive sound from wired headphones with throwback style, these should be at the top of your list. They’re an excellent entry into the world of high-end open-back audio.

PROS

  • Wonderfully wide stereo image
  • Rich bass response, accurate mids, and detailed highs
  • Iconic design

CONS

  • Hardwired cable
  • Few accessories
  • Leaks audio (by design)

SPECS

Type Supra-aural (on-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Stereo 3.5mm
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Learn More

Grado SR325x Review

Sony WH-1000XM5

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Audiophiles

Why We Picked It

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones might be the most well-rounded wireless model we’ve tested: They offer top-tier active noise cancellation and the best possible Bluetooth streaming quality via LDAC. We also like their intuitive controls and full-featured companion app.

Who It’s For

If you want the highest streaming quality over a Bluetooth connection and have an Android phone, these headphones are sure to impress. You can use them just as confidently with an iPhone, though the pricier AirPods Max offer deeper system integrations that you might find more worthwhile.

PROS

  • Excellent audio performance with robust bass depth and crisp highs
  • Top-notch active noise cancellation
  • Intuitive on-ear controls
  • App offers an adjustable EQ and other customization settings
  • Comfortable, stylish design

SPECS

Type Circumaural (over-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Bluetooth, Stereo 3.5mm
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Urbanista Los Angeles

Best for Eco-Conscious Listeners

Why We Picked It

The Urbanista Los Angeles headphones make this list because of their innovative ability to charge via solar power—or really, any light source. Otherwise, they offer solid audio and noise cancellation for the price.

Who It’s For

If you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint, these headphones can help (even if just a little bit). They might also appeal if you want to get rid of all the extra charging cables around your home.

PROS

  • Solar-powered charging
  • Impressive audio performance with rich, deep bass and crisp highs
  • Quality noise cancellation for the price
  • Stylish design

CONS

  • No in-app EQ
  • Noise cancellation slightly impacts sound signature

SPECS

Type Circumaural (over-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Bluetooth
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Apple AirPods Max

Best Headphones for iPhone Users

Why We Picked It

Despite some obvious sculpting, the AirPods Max still sound quite good, with robust lows and detailed highs. Spatial audio remains a bit gimmicky, but their noise cancellation mode often delivers excellent results that match those of top-end Bose and Sony models.

Who It’s For

If you’re an Apple loyalist who wants a seamless headphone experience with iOS devices, nothing comes close to the AirPods Max. And let’s not forget they’re a bit of a status symbol—if you want to stand out in a crowd, these certainly don’t look like many other headphones out there.

PROS

  • Excellent audio performance with rich lows and crisp, detailed highs
  • High-quality active noise cancellation, especially for low-frequency rumble
  • Stunning, unique design
  • Adaptive EQ and Spatial audio
  • Hands-free Siri access

CONS

  • Expensive
  • Sound signature and Adaptive EQ/spatial audio aren’t for purists
  • No user-adjustable EQ
  • Button placement makes it easy to misfire when adjusting fit
  • Smart Case does little to protect the headphones

SPECS

Type Circumaural (over-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Bluetooth
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT

Best for Accurate Audio on a Budget

Why We Picked It

The name Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but these headphones deliver accurate audio with a realistic sense of sub-bass. That excellent sound quality makes up for a lack of extra features.

Who It’s For

If you simply want to hear your music the way the artist or engineer intended, these headphones offer that experience at an affordable price.

PROS

  • Affordable
  • Excellent accuracy, especially in sub-bass range
  • Comfortable fit
  • Strong battery life

CONS

  • A bit light on features
  • No AptX support

SPECS

Type Circumaural (over-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Bluetooth, Stereo 3.5mm
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Anker Soundcore Space One

Best for Noise Cancellation on a Budget

Why We Picked It

The Anker Soundcore Space One headphones offer respectable noise cancellation for under $100 and support hi-res Bluetooth streaming via the LDAC codec. We’re also fans of the bundled companion app, which has an effective EQ and all the customization features you could want. The included cloth carrying case and audio cable for wired listening are nice bonuses, too.

Who It’s For

If you don’t want to spend more than $100 on noise-cancelling headphones, these are for you. They noticeably cut back most environmental sounds, deliver excellent sound, and feel quite premium for the price.

PROS

  • Powerful, bass-forward audio
  • Decent noise cancellation for the price
  • App includes adjustable EQ
  • Supports LDAC codec
  • Included cable enables wired listening

CONS

  • Ineffective button layout

SPECS

Type Circumaural (over-ear)
Wireless
True Wireless
Connection Type Bluetooth, Stereo 3.5mm
Water/Sweat-Resistant
Active Noise Cancellation

Buying Guide: The Best On-Ear/Over-Ear Headphones for 2024


What’s the Difference Between Headphones and Earphones?

There’s an endless selection when it comes to headphone design but you’re basically choosing between padded over-the-ear headphones and snug in-canal earphones. Both have their merits but, for this roundup, we focus on the over-the-ear and around-the-ear design of traditional headphones.

Generally, headphones can reproduce richer low-end audio because they have larger drivers than earphones and don’t rely on an in-ear seal to deliver sound. Some listeners also find headphones more comfortable to wear than earphones. This naturally means that headphones are bulkier and less suitable for the gym.

If you prefer the in-ear design, we have separate lists for the best earphones and the best true wireless models for running.

4 ways you're using your headphones totally wrong — Clarification Please
PCMag Logo 4 ways you’re using your headphones totally wrong — Clarification Please

Do You Need Noise Cancellation?

You might try to dismiss the din of the outside world by cranking up the volume, but the best solution for saving your sanity—and your hearing—is to invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones so you can enjoy your audio at much lower volumes.

Active noise-cancelling headphones use microphones on the earcups to measure outside noise and adjust the signal to cancel it out. It’s an effective technique but requires a fair bit of power. For more, check out our picks for the best noise-cancelling headphones and see how we test noise cancellation.

If you just want to block out sound without active noise cancellation, all over-ear headphones naturally do that to some extent through a process called noise isolation. Essentially, outside noise can’t get in if the earcups form a good seal over your ears. It’s not as effective as the active method, but it’s inherent to the design (meaning you don’t have to pay extra for it) and doesn’t require power.

Anker Soundcore Space One

Anker Soundcore Space One (Credit: Tim Gideon)


What Are the Different Types of Wireless Headphones?

Wireless headphones can be convenient for any situation in which you don’t want to deal with dangling cables—like the gym, for example. And now that many phone manufacturers no longer include 3.5mm audio jacks, wireless connectivity ensures you can connect with all the latest devices.

While most Bluetooth codecs are not yet lossless, headphone and earphone manufacturers have found ways to enhance the signal to compensate for its deficiencies in a way that even audiophiles can appreciate. We’ve included some wireless options here, but if you’re really keen on cutting the cord, check out the best wireless headphones. And if you want to go completely wireless (with no cord at all connecting the two earpieces), check out the best true wireless earbuds—just keep in mind these are about as far from over-ear headphones as you can get.

No matter what type of headphones you want, you can’t go wrong with any of the options here. That said, you don’t need to spend top dollar for a quality pair of cans. If you’re shopping on a budget, take a look at our picks for the best headphones under $50. Once you’ve found the right pair, check out our five easy tips to extend the life of your headphones and eight ways you’re using your headphones wrong.



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