Top 5 over-the-ear headphones in 2022

Are you looking for your next headphones? With so many on the market, all that research can seem like a daunting task. Luckily, we did all the hard work for you.

After sorting through several high-quality brands and devices, five options made it to the top of our list.

Whether you want the best noise-canceling headphones or the most attractive ones, we’ve got what you need from brands we all know and trust. Check them out!

1. Best hands-free calling

Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones

These Sony headphones are great for canceling outside noise, work wirelessly, can be controlled with Alexa, offer up to 30 hours of battery life, include Touch Sensor controls and offer speak-to-chat technology. That means the volume automatically reduces when you're having a conversation versus listening to your favorite podcast.

Promising review: "... I have found these headphones as nothing but pure awesomeness! ... Headphones are comfortable so you can wear them forever, but they do have built-in functions like setting them down will pause them instead of turning them off. This comes in handy between phone calls when you want to rest your ears and head! Call quality is crystal clear and nobody on the other end has complained so far!

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$348.00 on Amazon.com

2. Best noise-canceling headphones

New Bose QuietComfort Headphones

These Bose headphones offer volume-optimized Active EQ, which maintains balanced performance at any volume. That means the bass is consistent and the music is clear. Choose between Quiet or Aware modes for full noise-canceling or environment awareness. Enjoy up to 24 hours of battery life from a single charge and enjoy the comfortable feel of synthetic leather paired with impact-resistant nylon. Enjoy the TriPort acoustic architecture, which helps balance the audio and produces high-quality sounds.

Promising review: I didn't realize that noise cancelling tech has advanced as much as it has, in the last 10 years. But, it's incredible. It not only cancels out background urban din, it cancels out speech and music. I tested by, having my wife speak at a regular volume, 5 feet way, and when I toggled on the noise-cancelling, it was as if I had put her on mute!"

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$329.00 on Amazon.com

3. Best spatial audio

Apple AirPods Max

If you aren't familiar, Apple's spatial audio recreates a surround effect through something as small as their AirPods. It works via the 360-degree sound format included in this AirPods Max headset. Choose between green, pink, sky blue, silver or space gray. The AirPods Max includes the noise-canceling headset that allows you to use transparency mode so you can hear everything around you or close off that outside sound. Enjoy theater-like sound and custom acoustic design with the Apple H1 chip software. Memory foam ear cushions create a perfect fit, and when you buy the AirPods Max, you get a smart case and USB-C to lightning cable as well.

Promising review: "The spatial music is amazing. I sometimes had to remove my headphones to make sure the loud audio were not coming from the TV. No conversational headphones at any price can match its spaciousness..."

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$479.00 on Amazon.com

4. Best dynamic headphones

Sennheiser Dynamic Headphones

If you're looking for a good variation in audio range, you want these Sennheiser Dynamic headphones. This lightweight and ergonomic design is comfortable to wear over a long period, and the extended frequency response helps when attempting to calibrate music or working on audio projects. Get up to 32 dB attenuation for outside noise and a frequency response of 8 25000Hz. Please note: This is not a wireless headset.

Promising review: "...I got these for studio monitoring while tracking loud electric guitar. They are perfect for that. I need headphones that block out external sound form my amps, so I can hear the other tracks with which I am playing — without having to turn up the volume to ear-damaging levels. I was impressed by the specs that claim HD280 Pro has great sound isolation..."

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$99.00 on Amazon.com

5. Best overall headphones

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

Some audiophiles are all about that bass, which is precisely what these Bose headphones offer. There are 11 levels of active noise canceling, full bass with crisp sound quality and fantastic voice pickup, so even people who call you can hear how clear your voice is. Use voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant to play what you want to hear, and enjoy up to 20 hours of non-stop sound on a single charge.

Promising review: "They look and design is very sleek and cool. They fit very well and are super comfortable. I love the sound quality and noise cancellation. Since I started using them, people I make phone calls with noticed a great improvement in call quality and reduction of surrounding sound and noise."

Buy Now

$379.00 on Amazon.com

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