One of the ironies of headphones is that we often end up owning multiple pairs while busily pursuing the single ideal set of cans that will suit all our needs and circumstances. Never mind that the perfect headphones don’t exist; we still want them. The closest thing to that do-everything pair of headphones can be found when looking at wireless over-ear models. This is the sweet spot where portability, high-fidelity sound, and lasting comfort mingle to create universally appealing products. There isn’t a human on Earth that doesn’t want convenient, comfortable, and classy cans to keep the music going while they’re on the move.
The key requirements from each variety of headphones are discussed in more detail in our broader headphone-buying guide, but here we’ll focus on the things that set the best Bluetooth over-ear models apart from the rest. We’re also including a couple of on-ear alternatives from AKG and Beats because of the awesome performance of one (the AKG A60NC) and abiding popularity of the other (the Beats Solo 3). The overall champ, though, simply has to be an over-ear pair: their size strikes just the right balance between being big enough to produce awesome sound yet small enough to be useful every day.
In the wireless realm, there aren’t many headphones that convey as much of the emotion and excitement of music as the Bowers & Wilkins PX. Audio-Technica’s DSR9BTs come close, but even they have a more clinical precision to them, whereas this B&W pair isn’t shy about boosting the bass and treble for a more beautiful and engaging rendition. What’s most unique and impressive about the PX, however, is just how many utilitarian boxes they check off while sounding so good. They’re as functional as they are fun.
The pragmatic pluses of the B&W PX are numerous: They’re wireless, obviously, and their battery lasts a reliably long time no matter how loud you blast them. They include noise cancelling, so you can enjoy them in loud environments such as a subway train or while walking along a busy street. And they charge via USB-C, so as long as you have your laptop or Android phone charger with you, you’ll always be able to top them up.
There is one potential deal-breaker with the PX and that’s their level of comfort and fit. Bowers & Wilkins has a history of crafting beautiful headphones with sometimes dubious ergonomics, and the PX is no exception. This recently released pair of cans has a redesigned headband, and it has a softer, friendlier fit than previous models, however it too can cause discomfort after more than an hour of use. You’ll have to make sure you’re entirely comfortable with the PX before confronting the other hurdle to owning them: their $399 price.
Other headphones may be more comfortable, some offer superior noise cancelation, and many fold down into more compact cases, but the Bowers & Wilkins PX trump everything else with their combination of excellent sound and gorgeous design. No other headphones in their class excite the same feeling and emotion; the PX truly make the music sing.
9 Verge Score
If sound quality isn’t your overriding priority, Sony’s 1000X headphones should be at the top of your wireless list. The 2016 edition of these cans is now an absolute steal at $229, having been pushed down in the pecking order by an updated 2017 model whose upgrades are hard to spot. Though they cede the musical crown to the B&W PX, the 1000X are champions in almost everything else: these might be the most comfortable headphones you ever own, their battery lasts a stupendously long time, and they have noise cancelling that only Bose can hope to rival.
The practicality of the 1000X is simply outstanding. With a collapsible design, perfect ergonomics, and a battery that’s never short of power, you can use these headphones as thoughtlessly as you would a wired pair. In that respect, the 1000X are like the Samsung Gear S2, the smartwatch that felt like a regular watch: they offer modern upgrades without taking away old comforts. The noise cancelling, especially, is so good that it makes all portable headphones without it feel inadequate.
Bass is the signature feature of the Sony 1000X sound — which makes for a great start because everybody loves bass, but while the quantity is plentiful, the quality just isn’t as high as that provided by Bowers & Wilkins. In emphasizing the low end, Sony also loses out on some of the high-frequency sparkle and excitement of the PX. Sony’s headphones won’t sweep you up in Hans Zimmer’s Interstellar soundtrack in the same way as the PX, they won’t give you the goosebumps that the PX can trigger at a moment’s notice. But the 1000X are more comfortable, easier to carry around with their nicer case, and almost half the price of their Bowers & Wilkins rival.
9 Verge Score
8.5 Verge Score
It’s impossible to talk about wireless headphones in 2017 without acknowledging Audio-Technica’s grand achievement with the unglamorously titled DSR9BT cans. These headphones work on the basis of something Audio-Technica calls “direct digital drive,” which is to say that there’s no digital-to-analog converter residing between the binary data from your computer and the speakers making sound inside the ear cups. It’s a hard concept to explain, but the important thing is that it leads to a nice improvement in power efficiency and a splendidly clean and undistorted sound.
Not everyone will love the Audio-Technica sound, which can feel lean and is often unforgiving with bad recordings, but audiophiles will swoon for it. The DSR9BTs have the most accurate and faithful sound that you’ll find on any pair of wireless headphones. Bowers & Wilkins has a sweeter, friendlier tuning, but it’s Audio-Technica you’d want to come to if you want the unvarnished truth of your music.
Among the DSR9BT’s strengths are a very wide soundstage and precise, clearly defined treble that makes vocals feel close, immediate, and organic. Any genre of music feels engaging with these headphones, but it is with classical pieces and acoustic instruments that you’ll best appreciate why the DSR9BTs are such an exceptional pair.
The one weakness, and it’s not an insubstantial one, of these headphones is that they’re utterly terrible for mobile use. Unlike the PX and 1000X, Audio-Technica’s DSR9BTs lack noise cancelling and don’t really seal out much of the exterior world. That means getting the most out of the DSR9BTs will only ever be possible in a quiet environment, drastically limiting the variety of scenarios where you could enjoy their excellent sound. Even with a slight price cut down to $499, these headphones are also at the high end of the wireless market, and so buying them has to be considered an indulgence for those who just can’t let go of the best wired sound while cutting the wire.
8 Verge Score
One thing you can no longer say about wireless headphones is that there’s a shortage of choice. If you’re not in love with any of the above top picks, here are some of the alternatives you may also consider in your quest to find the right pair.
8.5 Verge Score
Good Stuff
- Fantastic noise cancellation
- Very comfortable
- Long battery life
Bad Stuff
- Bland design
- Non-replaceable battery
- Not sweat-proof
8 Verge Score
Good Stuff
- Featherlight, effortless to wear for hours
- Noise cancelling doesn't diminish sound fidelity
- Folding design makes them small enough to fit into a jacket pocket
Bad Stuff
- You pay a premium for the smaller on-ear design
- No hard carry case provided
- Construction materials could be better
7.5 Verge Score
Good Stuff
- Built to be abused
- Can shrink down to a very compact shape and include a nice case
- Balanced sound, which improves when going wired
- New earpads are the most comfortable from V-Moda yet
Bad Stuff
- MicroUSB charging
- Still not the best fit and comfort among portable headphones
- Styling won’t be to everyone’s taste
7.5 Verge Score
Good Stuff
- Comfy to wear and lovely to look at
- Good noise cancelling
- Replaceable battery
Bad Stuff
- Sound is too soft and mellowed out
- Touch controls are a nightmare
- Better choices at lower prices
7.5 Verge Score
Good Stuff
- Rock-solid wireless performance
- Entertaining sound, especially with modern electronic music
- Light and comfortable
Bad Stuff
- Flimsy, plastic-rich construction
- Not great at handling acoustic music
- You won't get the most out of these without an iOS device
7 Verge Score
Good Stuff
- Satisfying bass thump
- Collapsible design
- Comfortable, cozy pads
- Flawless operation with Apple devices
Bad Stuff
- Battery life and Bluetooth suffer when not connected to Apple devices
- Sound lacks refinement, vocals lack fullness
- Competitors in same price bracket have more premium build
- MicroUSB is an anachronism, especially in Apple ecosystem
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