NOISE CANCELLING OVER–EAR HEADPHONES
Group test
ON TEST…
Apple AirPods Max
Bowers & Wilkins PX7
JLab Studio Pro ANC
Sennheiser Momentum 3
Shure Aonic 40
Sony WH–1000XM4
SoundCore Life Q35
Urbanista Los Angeles
Yamaha YH–E700A
When it comes to audio fidelity, over-ear headphones are almost always going to offer a superior listening experience compared to earbuds. This is due to their bigger size and the fact that their drivers are many times larger, which enables them to move more air and thus achieve a richer soundstage. An over-ear design means that the ear cups completely surround each ear, minimising sound leakage both in and out. Additionally, noise cancelling technology, when activated, analyses ambient sound and then cancels it out, providing you with an even more immersive listening experience.
All of this plus wireless operation uses power of course, but these larger bodies are able to house batteries with impressive performance, often going for 20 hours or more on a single charge. These models will pair with any device that has Bluetooth, though they’re designed less for sporting use than for the enjoyment of music and movies from your Mac, iOS device, Apple TV, or Bluetooth-enabled
