The best Bluetooth headphones compared
| Editor's recommendation | Best Apple recommendation | Best price-to-performance ratio alternative I | Best price-to-performance ratio aternative II | Best earcups | Best budget-friendly model | |
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| Product | Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless | Marshall Major IV | ||||
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| Rating | Read the Sony WH-1000XM5 review |
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Read the Momentum 4 Wireless review | Read the Sony WH-1000XM4 review |
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Read the Anker Soundcore Life Q45 review |
| To the offer* |
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Modern Bluetooth headphones offer you very good sound quality thanks to modern wireless standards and high-quality Bluetooth codecs. At the same time, the models are flexible, offer powerful ANC to suppress ambient noise, and shine with smart features. Right from the beginning, however, I would like to separate this article from our list of the best in-ear Bluetooth headphones.
Table of content:
While we compare models like the Sony WF-1000XM4, the OnePlus Pro, or the AirPods in the linked "Best Of" list, we have narrowed it down to just over-ear headphones here. In order to help you decide which model and what type of features you really need, this is where we begin: with a buying guide for Bluetooth headphones.
Buying guide: What you should look for when buying Bluetooth headphones
Over-ear, on-ear, or in-ear?
Let's begin by taking a step back: Which headphone design is right for you? In this article, we'll focus on models that cover your ear as over-ear headphones. This provides better insulation against ambient noise and better wearing comfort. At the same time, over-ear headphones are relatively large and can make your ears feel warm in the summer after wearing it for a prolonged period of time.
On-ear models are quite rare in 2023, but they do have advantages with a smaller form factor. In return, they are inferior to other models in terms of sound and ANC effectiveness.
In-ear Bluetooth headphones are particularly compact and can even fit in a pocket in most cases. While they can also offer very high-quality in terms of ANC and sound, the wearing experience can be uncomfortable in the long run. In addition, battery life is usually limited to six to eight hours when actively listening to music and the tiny earbuds tend to get lost.
Sound quality and flexibility
Thanks to large drivers and good passive noise isolation, you can look forward to high sound quality when buying over-ear headphones. As a rule of thumb, the more money you spend, the higher the sound quality is the end result. You can pay attention to some of the technical specifications when making a purchase decision, which you can then use to evaluate the sound quality without trying it out.
Among them are the size and material choice of the drivers, their frequency response, and the support of high-quality Bluetooth codecs. However, this has never been able to replace a listening test in the technology market or reading reviews that carry detailed descriptions of the sound. You can also adjust the sound to your preferences via equalizers and sound profiles in the companion apps to tweak it further.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Active noise cancellation, abbreviated as ANC, is available in most Bluetooth headphones. Here, the headphones pick up ambient noise via its microphones and play it back in your ear in reversed polarity. The so-called anti-noise cancellation compensates for the surrounding noise and you no longer hear it.
With a good pair of headphones, the ANC level can be controlled in a flexible manner, even fully automatically as an ideal, and there should also be a transparency mode. This allows you to listen to the ambient noise using microphone support, which is very practical in the midst of traffic or during conversations.
Battery life
Another advantage of over-ear models have over true-wireless headphones is the length of its battery life that is often several days long with active noise cancellation. The small in-ear models only last about one working day without additional charging in the charging cradle. Check whether the battery life is sufficient for you when buying a new pair of headphones.
Also another practical aspect to consider is support for Quick-Charging and the possibility to use the headphones as a wired opton even when you are running on an empty battery. You can usually find this information in reviews and on the manufacturer's website.
Comfort features and extras
Since headphones should no longer just play music in 2023, you can look forward to some exciting smart features. The Sony WH-1000XM5, for example, can control how powerful the ANC will be based on your movement patterns. Apple, on the other hand, caused a stir with the introduction of their AirPods Max with realistic spatial audio. All of those features are not that essential, but do come in very handy in everyday life!
The best Bluetooth headphones by price
Best Over-ear headphones with ANC: Sony WH-1000XM5
With an introductory price of $399, the Sony WH-1000XM5 is really expensive. Fortunately, Sony's top headphones are industry leaders in several categories. First and foremost is ANC, which not only reacts intelligently to your surroundings, but also works particularly effectively thanks to eight microphones and its very own V1 ANC chip. The sound quality is also high and the headphones support the high-quality Bluetooth codec LDAC.
Read our Sony WH-1000XM5 hands-on
For 2023, Sony has come up with a design update that seems a bit more stylish and rounded. In his hands-on session for the launch of the WH-1000XM5, the degree of wearing comfort convinced my colleague Antoine Engels.
Recommended for Apple users: Apple AirPods Max
If you have just under $550 to spare and are deeply entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, you should set your sights on the AirPods Max. The company's first over-ear headphones shine with an ultra-high-quality finish alongside a metal casing, offering particularly high sound quality and automatic detection of which Apple device you are currently using for listening to music or podcasts.
To our release news on the AirPods Max
Operation is extremely intuitive thanks to the crown on the right side that was borrowed from the Apple Watch. In addition, the headphones are seamlessly connected to the Apple ecosystem as usual. This means you can connect them conveniently to your iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and all other Apple products. However, an H1 chip for precise tracking like the AirTag is missing.
Best price-to-performance ratio alternative I: Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
When the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless arrived in the editorial office, I was torn. This is because the headphones have almost completely dropped the value and charm of the previous model. Sennheiser has adapted strongly to the design of the competition—but has done the same with the features.
Click here for our review of the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless
Priced at just under 350 euros, the Momentum 4 Wireless proved in their test period that they offer extremely much at this price. The sound quality is excellent and Sennheiser does not have to hide in terms of ANC either. The ultra-long battery life of up to 60 hours is also outstanding. Overall, the Momentum 4 Wireless are recommended if the other models are too expensive for you.
Best price-to-performance ratio alternative II: Sony WH-1000XM4
The Sony WH-1000XM4 is the predecessor to what we consider the best Bluetooth headphones on the market. After experiencing a decent price drop, the headphones are now highly recommended in the price-to-performance range. Armed with industry-leading ANC, high-quality sound, and many smart features, the WH-1000XM4 fully convinced us in our review.
Best over-ear model: Marshall Major IV
If over-ear headphones are not for you, we recommend the Marshall Major IV. We have not yet been able to review this pair of stylish headphones in the editorial office, but there is a review of another device from its stables, the Marshall Monitor II. In addition, I have personally used the Marshall Major III for years and was particularly convinced by the stable quality of the headphones. As an anecdote, the headphones even survived being rolled over by a car. Only one of the two ear cups popped off, but it could be reconnected after bending it back into place.
The Marshall Major IV relies on a similarly stable design that is made of metal and plastic. The ultra-long battery life of up to 80 (!) hours is striking when looking at the hardware specifications. Another positive point is the control via a four-way switch on the right ear cup and the ability to use it as a wired headphones even when the battery runs out of juice. A build-related disadvantage is the stronger perception of ambient noise - you also have to do make without ANC in the Major IV.
The Bluetooth headset with the best value for money: Soundcore Space Q45
Read the full review of the Soundcore Space Q45
If you want to have a good headset but don't have $300 to invest, the Soundcore Space Q45 is for you. The successor of the convincing Life Q35 has the same strengths, while improving its shortcomings like the weak ANC. For its price of just $150, the Space Q45 has a balanced technical sheet that makes it the perfect headset for average users.
The design is successful, the autonomy is excellent and the efficient ANC is pleasant to use in everyday life. The Space Q45 also convinces with its well thought-out companion application and features like multipoint connection as well as LDAC and Bluetooth 5.3 support. All in all, Soundcore has succeeded in creating a headset with a very good price-performance ratio that only suffers from a sound quality that does not reach that of the models it is targeting.
Alternatives in the Bluetooth headphone sector
The Bluetooth headphone industry is extremely competitive due to the number of available options. Since we want to limit ourselves to a subjective selection in this "Best Of" list, there are still some alternatives you can check out, some of which we have already reviewed for ourselves in the editorial office.
4 alternatives for Bluetooth headphones
| Model | Review | Check price |
|---|---|---|
| Bose NCH 700 | Read review | |
| B&W PX7 | Read review | |
| Valco VMK20 | Read review |
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| Orosound Tilde Pro | Read review |
And now, over to you: Which Bluetooth headphones do you recommend and which ones are overpriced Hi-Fi junk in your opinion? I'm looking forward to your discussion in the comments!
This article was updated in January 2023 and comments prior to this update have been retained.
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