The PX8 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Review
The PX8s are expensive, but they sound and look superior to other headphones. The design is enhanced with a 40mm carbon cone driver and Nappa Leather. A DAC mode is available to allow high-res audio.
This Bluetooth flagship comes with Bose's world-class ANC with excellent control and an elegant, comfortable design. The battery life is the most important selling point.
Sound Quality
In general, wireless over-ear headphones tend to sound better than earbuds due to the fact that they completely surround your ears. They also come with larger, more powerful drivers that deliver deep bass and wide soundstages. But this comes at a cost and over-ear headphones usually cost more, with flagship models starting at around $250, PS250 or $450 and often with active noise cancellation.
In the end, it's the choice of your personal taste and what you use headphones for - if you want to listen to music in a noisy space and are looking for comfort over quality of sound, a low-cost pair such as the Jabra Move Wireless or JBL E50 are a good option. The I-MEGO Throne Gold headphones offer great sound quality and battery life. Focal Bathys, on the other hand, are specifically designed for audiophiles, with their DAC mode that supports high-res via USB-C.
The mid-tier price range has plenty of options and includes a variety of brands that offer headphones that sound great at a reasonable price. Poly's (formerly Plantronics') BackBeats pro 2 is a great example. They have a powerful bass and bright treble that are ideal for pop and rock music, but they also have an uncluttered midrange that keeps the instruments and vocals at the forefront. The updated Sennheiser Momentum 4 are another good choice, with a better ANC and a handy companion app that has presets for various listening styles. If you're a lover of Bose's premium headphone, check out the QC35 II for a similar experience with more passive noise isolation and a more robust design.
Audiophiles are trained to distinguish between headphones. But even casual listeners will notice the differences in sound quality between wired and wireless headphones, since the wireless protocol comes with several issues that could affect the quality of audio. For instance, audio codecs may alter the sample rate, bandwidth and latency of a wireless transmission and can result in distortion and loss of audio clarity.
Fortunately this issue is now largely resolved with modern wireless headphones that use the most recent Bluetooth technology and also support advanced audio codecs such as Qualcomm AAC. As a result, most wireless headphones we test offer excellent audio quality at a reasonable price.
Noise Cancellation
Wireless over-ear headphones can be an excellent option to block out the noise in your office or on an plane. These big headphones are typically more comfortable than earbuds. Many models also offer active noise cancellation, which makes your music and sound more clear.
Active noise cancellation uses microphones to detect ambient sounds and then employ frequencies to block out the unwanted noise, to effectively isolate you from the surrounding. The majority of over-ear headphones that have this feature also come with a built-in microphone, which ensures that your voice is clearly heard when you make phone calls. Audio-Technica's M20xBT noise-canceling wireless headsets come with Bluetooth multipoint connectivity and a battery life of up to 60 hours. These headphones are an excellent choice for those who commute and are compact enough to fit into the bag or purse of a person.
The Focal Bathys wireless over-ear headphones are a great option for those looking to invest in a high-end audio experience. They have outstanding audio quality and sophisticated sound cancellation. The first wireless headphones from a French high-end audio company, the Focal Bathys are an audiophile's delight. They have an open back design and luxurious materials such as leather and aluminum details. The headphones come with features, like a companion app that includes an equalizer graphic and presets to fine-tune your listening experience. They deliver excellent isolation with their 40mm Beryllium-coated drivers and the acoustic leather cups. Additionally, they can playback audio losslessly, allowing them to perform as high-end hi-fi headphones when wired.
For a more budget-friendly option Monoprice BT-600ANC is a comfortable, lightweight pair of wireless headphones that offer excellent sound quality and impressive noise cancellation for the price. These headphones come with a wide range of features including ambient-awareness and ANC modes as well as touch controls and support for aptX and Apple AAC for premium audio. The BT-600ANC is also one of the few headphones that come with a programmable ambience awareness mode. This allows you to listen to ambient noise at a reduced volume without having to shut off the music.
Battery Life
The last thing you need is to run out during your commute or during a workout. Wireless headphones eliminate the cord and are a much more practical alternative. However, their battery power diminishes with time, so you'll need a pair with impressive durability capabilities.
Certain models can remain running for days or weeks on a single charge. This longevity comes with some trade-offs. To get there, manufacturers must reduce the size of the battery or compromise other features. The best wireless headphones offer an excellent balance of battery life and performance.
Over-ear headphones typically have larger batteries, but the bulky design means they use more power for features like active noise cancellation. On-ear headsets are smaller and lightweight. They aren't as able to block out noise as their bulkier equivalents.
In terms of battery life, the Cleer Enduro ANC and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless have set the bar for wireless headphones. Both headphones can play music for up to 60 hours with ANC. They can easily outlast top-of-the-line headphones in a similar price range like Sony's W1000XM5 and Bose's S740III.
The Focal's first wireless headphones are a true audiophile's dream. The Focal Px8 headphones have an open-back design, which is comfortable to wear. The headphones deliver a dynamic sound quality with a focus on thumping bass and bright trebles. The Focal headphones Px8 also include a companion application that lets you customize the sound.
On the other the other hand, Focal's wireless headsets are also among the most expensive on the market. This is due in part to their premium materials and build. They also come with an option for fast charging that gives you two hours of audio within just 15 minutes of charging. The Focal Px8 headphones are an excellent option if you're willing trade in a longer battery life for superior sound quality and a comfortable fit.
Comfort
Unlike earbuds, over-ear headphones rest on ears, not around them. good wireless over ear headphones means the ear pads press less against your ears, which reduces pressure on your earlobes. This helps you enjoy listening sessions longer. Ear cups also help seal in your music which makes it more immersive and give you an amazing audio experience. This enhanced experience also improves audio quality because you can hear the subtleties of the music without being distracted by background noise or your own voice.
On the other hand, many over-ear headphones aren't as portable as earbuds. They are more difficult to put in backpacks or pockets due to their heavier design and lack of a folding mechanism. A case is also required to protect them when they are not in use. Although most headphones come with a carrying case, it can be cumbersome and may be a hinderance for those who want to listen to music while on the move.
This pair of wireless headphones is perfect for audiophiles looking for premium headphones that they can use while traveling. The Bose QC35 II is a premium headphone that gives you excellent comfort, high-quality sound and noise cancellation for the price. Its earcups and headband are made of premium materials and are extremely comfortable to wear. The sound quality has improved from the previous model, offering a more clear and rich sound. With a companion app that includes an EQ and presets, you can tweak the sound according to your preferences.
Focal Bathys wireless headphones are yet another top option. They feature high-end design and plenty of comfort. These headphones are available in a range of colors and come with premium leather. They're elegant enough to go with a suit or an evening dress. The default sound profile of these headphones is a bass-heavy. This results in an edgy and sluggish sound that is perfect for EDM and Hip-Hop, as well as other genres of dance music. Vocals and instruments may be buried or obscured in the mix. This is something you can rectify by using the Focal audio application's built-in graphic EQ.
While it's not easy to determine which type of headphone is more comfortable the overall experience is contingent on your personal preference. If you prefer the feel of headphones that are over-ear, try a model with thick padding and medium clamping force. This will stop your earlobes from feeling swollen even when ANC is on.