The Best On-Ear/Over-Ear Headphones for 2025

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.

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.

A staple in the recording studio, the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X LE headphones produce detailed, transparent sound and are extremely comfortable. This version gets a few important upgrades over the older DT 770, including the company’s latest Stellar.45mm dynamic drivers and a removable cable. Finally, both the earpads and headband are user-replaceable.

If you are in the market for a pair of studio monitors, you can’t do much better than the DT 770 Pro X LE, regardless of price. They are dependable and reproduce all kinds of audio with high accuracy. Non-professionals should also find them enjoyable for home listening.

The Sony MDR-M1 headphones may look somewhat utilitarian, but they are incredibly comfortable to wear. Moreover, their superb audio response makes them well-suited to mixing audio in the studio or passing the time listening at home. We’re also fans of their support for high-resolution audio and detachable mini-XLR cable.

Sony’s MDR line has long been the choice of studio dwellers. The M1 works both in the studio and at home thanks to its outstanding comfort and neutral-yet-pleasing sound.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 headphones deliver excellent audio quality, effective noise cancellation, good transparency modes, and outstanding battery life in an adjustable and fashionable design. The companion app allows you to customize the transparency modes and the sound signature, and you have the option to listen wired via USB-C.

If you don’t want to spend more than $400 on headphones from Bose or Sony, the Cambridge Audio Melomania P100 gets you much of their noise cancellation and audio performance for less than $300.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.