The PX8 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones Review
The PX8s might be costly but their sound and design are superior to other headphones. A carbon cone 40mm driver and Nappa leather enhance the design. A DAC mode is included to support hi-res audio.
This Bluetooth flagship offers Bose’s industry-leading ANC as well as excellent control. It also has a sleek, comfortable design. The battery life is its major selling factor.
Sound Quality
In general, wireless headphones tend to sound better than earbuds because they fully surround your ears. They also have larger earcups which allow powerful drivers to produce deep bass and vast soundstages. Over-ear headphones are more expensive, with models that are flagship priced at about $250/PS250/AU$450. They also often feature active noise cancellation.
It’s all about your personal preference and how you use your headphones. If you prefer comfort over sound quality and want to listen to music while in a noisy environment then a pair such as the Jabra E50 or JBL Move Wireless are great alternatives. If you’re looking to spend a bit more, the IMG Throne Gold have a stunning sound and battery life, while the Focal Bathys are specifically designed for serious audiophiles thanks to their DAC mode that can support high-res audio over USB-C.
There are also some fantastic headphones that are priced in the mid-tier bracket. A variety of brands offer headphones that sound great at a low cost. The Poly (formerly Plantronics) BackBeats Pro 2 are a great example, featuring a thumping bass and bright treble that is perfect for rock and pop, but also a clear mid-range that makes instruments and vocals prominent. The newly updated Sennheiser Momentum 4 is another excellent choice. It has improved ANC, and an app companion to it that has the various presets for different styles of listening. If you’re a lover of Bose’s premium headphones, check out the QC35 II for a similar experience with more passive noise cancellation and a more robust design.
Audiophiles are trained to distinguish between headphones. However, even casual listeners can be able to discern the difference in the quality of sound between wired and wireless headphones, since the wireless protocol comes with several issues that can affect audio quality. For instance, audio codecs may alter the bandwidth, sample rate and the latency of wireless transmissions which can cause distortion and loss of clarity.
Fortunately, these issues are now much better with modern wireless headphones that utilize the latest Bluetooth technology and support advanced audio codecs like Qualcomm AAC. The majority of wireless over-ear headphones we test have high-quality audio at a reasonable price.
Noise Cancellation
Wireless Headphones Price over-ear headphones are a great option for blocking out the background noise in your workplace or on an airplane. These headphones are generally more comfortable than earbuds. Many models also come with active noise cancellation which helps to make your music and audio more clear.
Active noise canceling uses microphones to detect ambient sounds and then employ frequencies that counteract the unwanted noise to block out your surroundings. Most over-ear headsets that support this feature have a microphone that is built-in to ensure that your voice can be clearly heard when you make phone calls. If you are seeking a pair of low-cost wireless noise cancelling headphones look into the Audio-Technica M20xBT headphones, which come with Bluetooth multipoint connectivity and up to 60 hours of battery life. These over-ear headphones make the perfect choice for commuters and are small enough to fit in bags or purses.
The Focal Bathys wireless headphones are an excellent choice for those looking to invest in a high-end audio experience. They feature high-quality audio and advanced sound cancellation. These French high-end audio manufacturer’s first pair of wireless headphones are a audiophile’s dream, featuring an open back design and luxurious materials such as aluminum detailing and leather. The headphones are loaded with features, including an app companion to the headphones that comes with an equalizer graphic and presets to fine-tune your listening experience. With their 40mm Beryllium coated drivers and acoustic leather cups, they offer excellent isolation. They also have lossless audio support, allowing them perform as high-end Hi-Fi speakers when wired.
Monoprice BT-600ANC wireless over-ear headphones are an excellent choice for those who are on a tight budget. They’re lightweight and comfortable, with a excellent sound quality and noise cancellation that is impressive. The headphones come with a broad variety of features, such as ambient awareness and ANC modes, touch controls as well as AAC and aptX support to provide high-quality audio on Android and iOS. The BT-600ANC is also among only a few pairs of headphones that come with a programmable ambience awareness mode. This lets you listen to the ambient sound at a lower volume without having to shut off the music.
Battery Life
The last thing you need is to be running out on a long commute or during your workout. Wireless headphones do away with cords and are a much more convenient option. However, their battery power diminishes over time, so you’ll require a pair that has impressive endurance capabilities.
Some models can run for days or even weeks, on a single battery charge. This endurance comes with compromises. To get there, manufacturers need to reduce the battery size or reduce other features. The best wireless headphones are an ideal balance between battery life and performance.
Over-ear headphones have bigger batteries but also use more power to run features such as active noise cancellation. On-ear headphones are smaller and portable. However, they don’t have the same noise-blocking capabilities of their larger counterparts.
The Cleer Enduro ANC and Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Wireless set an industry standard for wireless headphones. Both over-ear headphones can play for a whopping 60 hours with ANC enabled. They will easily beat other top headphones that are in similar prices including Sony’s WH1000XM5 and Bose’s 740 III.
The Focal’s first wireless headphones are a dream for audiophiles. The Focal Px8 over-ear headphones sport an open-back design that is comfortable to wear and easy to use on the eyes. They offer a lively sound profile with an emphasis on thumpy bass and bright trebles. The Focal headphones Px8 include a companion app which lets you personalize the sound.
On the other side, Focal’s wireless headphones are also among the most expensive on the market. This is partly due to their premium materials and a premium build. They also come with a fast-charge port that will give you up to two hours of listening time after just 15 minutes of charge. The Focal Px8 is an excellent option if you’re willing to sacrificing battery life for better sound quality and a more comfortable fit.
Comfort
Over-ear headphones, unlike earbuds rest on the ears instead of being positioned around them. The earpads will not press as hard against your earlobes, allowing you to enjoy your listening experience for a longer time. Ear cups also help to keep your music in place and make it more immersive and offer an amazing audio experience. This also increases audio clarity because you can listen to every detail of music without being distracted by ambient noise or the sound of your own voice.
On the other hand wireless headphones price over-ear headphones aren’t as portable as earbuds. They are more difficult to keep in backpacks or pockets due to their bulkier design and lack of folding mechanism. A case is also needed to protect them when not in use. Most headphones come with a carry bag, but this isn’t ideal for people who prefer to listen to music moving around.
This pair of wireless headphones is perfect for audiophiles searching for premium headphones that they can use while traveling. The Bose QC35 II is a premium headphone that provides excellent comfort, audio quality, and noise cancellation for the price. The earcups are constructed of premium materials and the headband is extremely comfortable. The quality of the sound is superior to its predecessor, with more clarity and a deeper sound. With a companion app that includes an EQ and presets, you can adjust the sound according to your preferences.
Focal Bathys wireless blutooth headphones are a different premium option. They come with high-end design and plenty of comfort. They are also available in a variety of colors and come with premium leather, which makes them fashionable enough to wear with a suit or a formal dress. The default sound profile is bass heavy which results in more bass and thump that is perfect for EDM hip-hop, rap and other dance music genres. Vocals and instruments can be lost or hidden in the mix, which you can fix with the Focal audio app’s built-in graphic equalizer.
Although it’s hard to determine which type of headphone is more comfortable the overall experience will depend on your personal preferences. If you prefer the feel of headphones with over-ears look for a model with thick padding and a moderate clamping force. This will stop your earlobes from feeling sore after long listening sessions even with ANC activated.